Laundry treating apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry treating apparatus, comprising: a sensor unit which is provided in an inner case or a machine chamber and senses whether or not laundry falls off; and a control unit that controls at least one of the heater, the compressor, and the sensor unit. The control portion is configured to block driving of the heater if the sensor portion senses that the laundry is dropped.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a laundry processing device and a control method of the laundry processing device. More specifically, it relates to a laundry processing device that can determine whether the laundry has fallen or not by using an illumination sensor and control the laundry processing process according to the time point when the laundry has fallen. Background Art

[0002] Generally, the concept of a clothes treating apparatus includes a washing machine that wets clothes with water to make wet clothes and then removes foreign matter through the chemical action of detergent and the physical action of drum rotation, and a drying machine that dries the wet clothes using hot air and steam.

[0003] However, in recent years, a clothing care machine has emerged that keeps clothes comfortable and clean without soaking clothes in a dry state. This clothing care machine can deodorize the clothes by supplying steam or hot air while the clothes are hung, or perform a refresh program to dry or sterilize the clothes.

[0004] Such clothing care machines can even selectively add fragrance to the clothing, and in recent years, in addition to washing machines and dryers, such clothing care machines have occupied an important proportion among clothing treatment devices.

[0005] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional clothes treating apparatus having a steam supply unit.

[0006] Referring to Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0057545, the existing clothes processing device includes a box body 1 forming an appearance and an inner shell 2, wherein the inner shell 2 is arranged inside the box body 1, and clothes are placed in the inner shell 2.

[0007] The clothes treating device may be provided with: a circulation duct 13 for circulating the air of the inner shell 2; a heat exchanger 15 provided in the circulation duct 13 for exchanging heat with the air; and a compressor 14 for supplying a high-temperature refrigerant to the heat exchanger 15 at the lower part of the inner shell 2. In addition, a hanger for hanging the clothes may be provided inside the inner shell 2. If the compressor 14 is driven, hot air may be supplied to the inner shell 2, thereby increasing the temperature inside the inner shell 2 and drying or sterilizing the clothes.

[0008] On the other hand, referring to Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0065886, a clothes treating device is provided which measures the material of clothes inside an inner housing, the amount of clothes loaded, etc. using a light sensor.

[0009] In the above-mentioned conventional laundry processing apparatus, control parameters for the air supply device or the steam generation device are determined based on the estimated laundry load, thereby having the advantages of being able to effectively perform laundry management and shortening the time required for management.

[0010] However, the existing clothing processing device has the following problem: when clothing falls off from the hanger portion inside the inner shell 2 during clothing processing, the user cannot recognize the clothing that has fallen off from the hanger during clothing processing, so the clothing is damaged when the fallen clothing blocks the steam or hot air injection port.

[0011] Furthermore, since the user realizes after the clothing treatment process is finished that the clothing has not been properly treated due to shedding, he or she is unable to take active measures, which reduces the satisfaction with the product.

[0012] Therefore, a clothing processing device has been developed that directly detects whether clothing has fallen or not by installing a load sensor on a hanger, etc. However, the load sensor has a problem of not being able to detect whether clothing has fallen or not normally due to vibrations generated during clothing processing and the weight of relatively light clothing (less than 1 kg).

[0013] Therefore, the necessity of providing a clothes treating device that can accurately determine whether clothes have fallen or not has become a social concern.

[0014] In addition, the existing clothes processing device cannot determine whether the clothes have fallen before or during the clothes processing, so even if the clothes have fallen, the program will not be terminated but can only be continued.

[0015] Specifically, in the conventional clothes processing apparatus, the clothes processing step starts after the course input / change step of the user selecting the course, and the clothes processing step is not interrupted even if the clothes fall, but is continuously executed until a prescribed time has passed.

[0016] Therefore, the conventional clothes treating apparatus has a risk that the clothes are damaged by the hot and humid wind sprayed during the steam program in the clothes treating step, in the case where the clothes fall and the fallen clothes block the steam spraying port.

[0017] In addition, there is a problem that since steam is not normally sprayed into the inner casing, the clothes hung without falling are not properly processed.

[0018] Therefore, in the case where laundry is sensed to have fallen during laundry treatment, it is necessary to stop the program and control whether to proceed with a subsequent program. Summary of the invention

[0019] Issues to be solved

[0020] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a clothes treating device for sensing whether clothes have fallen during clothes treating and controlling the program differently according to the time point when the clothes have fallen.

[0021] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a clothes treating device for sensing whether clothes have fallen during clothes treating and interrupting the program according to the time point when the clothes have fallen, thereby preventing the clothes from being damaged.

[0022] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a clothing processing device for sensing whether clothing has fallen during clothing processing, and interrupting the program according to the time point when the clothing has fallen, so that the user can recognize the falling of the clothing, thereby preventing the clothing from being damaged by preventing the clothing processing steps from being executed in a state where the clothing has fallen.

[0023] An object of the present invention is to provide a clothes treating device capable of judging whether clothes have fallen or not based on a change in the illumination of light sensed by a sensor unit when the clothes have fallen.

[0024] Technical solutions to problems

[0025] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a clothing processing device, characterized in that it includes: a sensor unit, which is arranged in an inner shell or a mechanical room, sensing whether the clothing has fallen; and a control unit, which controls at least one of the heater, the compressor and the sensor unit; the control unit is configured to block the driving of the heater if the sensor unit senses that the clothing has fallen.

[0026] The control unit may be configured to execute any course of treating the laundry by driving at least one of the heater and the compressor.

[0027] If the sensor part senses the dropping of the laundry before the heater is driven, the control part may block the driving of the heater and stand by.

[0028] The control unit may block driving of the compressor and put the compressor into a standby state.

[0029] If the sensor part senses that the laundry has fallen during the driving of the heater, the control part may interrupt the driving of the heater.

[0030] The control portion may allow driving of the compressor.

[0031] If the sensor part senses that the laundry has fallen during the driving of the compressor, the control part may block the driving of the heater and maintain the driving of the compressor.

[0032] If the sensor part senses that the laundry has fallen during the driving of the compressor, the control part may block the driving of the heater and interrupt the driving of the compressor.

[0033] The sensor portion can be provided with at least one of an illuminance sensor, a radar sensor and a load sensor; the illuminance sensor senses whether light is blocked by the fallen clothes; the radar sensor senses the amount of the clothes by emitting electromagnetic waves as signals and receiving reflected signals; the load sensor is provided on the hanger portion to sense the weight of the clothes.

[0034] The sensor part can be set as the illumination sensor; the clothing processing device can also include a light-emitting part that emits light toward the inside of the inner shell; the sensor part can sense the falling of the clothing by blocking the light emitted from the light-emitting part by the fallen clothing.

[0035] The light emitting unit and the sensor unit may be arranged below the hanger unit.

[0036] The control unit may be configured to block the light emitting unit from emitting light if the sensor unit senses that the laundry has fallen.

[0037] It may also include a door sensing unit that is arranged on the box or the door and senses the opening of the door; if the door sensing unit senses the opening of the door after the driving of either the heater or the compressor is blocked, the control unit may drive either the heater or the compressor again.

[0038] The control unit may be configured such that if any one of the heater and the compressor is driven again, the sensor unit senses again whether the laundry has fallen.

[0039] The clothing processing device may include: a sensor unit, which is arranged in the inner shell or the mechanical room, and senses whether the clothing has fallen; a control unit, which controls at least one of the heater, the compressor and the sensor unit; and a display unit, which is arranged in the box or the door, and displays information transmitted from the control unit; if the sensor unit senses that the clothing has fallen, the control unit can display clothing processing information related to the falling of the clothing on the display unit.

[0040] The laundry handling information may include a state in which the laundry is dropped.

[0041] The control unit may block driving of at least one of the heater and the compressor; and the laundry processing information may include a state in which driving of at least one of the heater and the compressor is interrupted.

[0042] The control unit may display the laundry treatment information on the display unit after blocking driving of at least one of the heater and the compressor.

[0043] The control unit may display the laundry treatment information on the display unit while blocking driving of at least one of the heater and the compressor.

[0044] The laundry processing information may further include an inquiry as to whether to drive any one of the heater and the compressor again in a state where the laundry has fallen.

[0045] The clothes treating apparatus may further include an input unit provided at the door or the housing, and a driving instruction for driving any one of the heater and the compressor again in a state where the clothes have fallen is inputted into the input unit.

[0046] When the drive command is input to the input unit, the control unit may drive one of the heater and the compressor again.

[0047] If the driving command is not input to the input unit, the control unit may block driving of the heater or the compressor.

[0048] Effects of the Invention

[0049] The present invention has the effect of being able to sense whether clothes have fallen during clothes processing and to control the program differently according to the time point when the clothes have fallen.

[0050] The present invention has the effect of being able to sense whether clothes have fallen during clothes processing and interrupting the program according to the time point when the clothes have fallen, thereby preventing the clothes from being damaged.

[0051] The present invention has the ability to sense whether clothes have fallen during clothing processing and interrupt the program according to the time point when the clothes have fallen, so that the user can recognize the falling of the clothes. This can prevent the clothes from being damaged by preventing the clothing processing steps from being performed in a state where the clothes have fallen.

[0052] The present invention has the effect of being able to judge whether the clothes have fallen or not based on the change in illumination of light sensed by the sensor part when the clothes have fallen. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] Figure 1 It is a figure which shows the conventional clothes processing apparatus.

[0054] Figure 2 It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the clothes processing apparatus of this invention.

[0055] Figure 3 It is a diagram showing the upper structure of the inner casing.

[0056] Figure 4 It is a diagram showing the structure of a machine room of the clothes processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0057] Figure 5 1 is a diagram showing a base structure of a machine chamber of a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0058] Figure 6 2 is a diagram showing a circulation duct structure of a clothes processing apparatus according to the present invention.

[0059] Figure 7 It is a diagram for explaining the shape of the circulation duct of the clothes processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0060] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the circulation pipeline.

[0061] Fig. 9 1 is a diagram showing a structure of a control unit installation portion provided on a base of the clothes processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0062] Fig.10 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of the air exhaust part 323 of the clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0063] Fig.11 It is a figure which shows the structure of the base cover of the clothes processing apparatus of this invention.

[0064] Fig.12 It is a diagram showing the structure of an external gas pipe.

[0065] Fig.13 It is a diagram showing the flow of air flowing through the circulation duct.

[0066] Fig.14 It is a diagram showing the installation structure of the steam supply unit.

[0067] Fig.15 It is a diagram showing a specific structure of a steam supply unit.

[0068] Fig.16 1 is a diagram showing a laundry processing apparatus according to the present invention provided with a light emitting unit and a sensor unit.

[0069] Fig.17 It is a diagram showing the spatial area division of the inner casing of the clothes treating device of the present invention.

[0070] Fig.18 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the positions of the light emitting unit and the sensor unit of the laundry processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0071] Fig.19FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the positions of the light emitting unit and the sensor unit of the laundry processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0072] Fig. 20 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the positions of the light emitting unit and the sensor unit of the laundry processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0073] Fig.21 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the positions of the light emitting unit and the sensor unit of the laundry processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0074] Fig. 22 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the positions of the light emitting unit and the sensor unit of the laundry processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0075] Fig.23 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the positions of the light emitting unit and the sensor unit of the laundry processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0076] Fig.24 It is a diagram showing an embodiment of a reflecting part of a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0077] Fig.25 It is a figure which shows the filter part of the clothes processing apparatus of this invention.

[0078] Fig.26 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the positions of the light emitting unit and the sensor unit of the laundry processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0079] Fig. 27 It is a diagram showing the structure of the first reflection plate.

[0080] Fig.28 It is a diagram showing an embodiment of a reflecting part of a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0081] Fig.29 It is a diagram showing an embodiment of a reflecting part of a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0082] Fig.30 1 is a diagram showing a laundry drop area of ​​the laundry treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0083] Fig.31 It is a figure which shows the structure of the filter cover of the clothes processing apparatus of this invention.

[0084] Fig.32 2 is a diagram illustrating a method for controlling a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0085] Fig.33 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for controlling a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0086] Fig.34FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for controlling a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0087] Fig.35 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for controlling a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0088] Fig.36 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for controlling a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0089] Fig.37 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for controlling a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0090] Fig.38 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for controlling a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0091] Below, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification, for the same or similar configurations, the same or similar figure marks are given even in different embodiments, and the first description replaces the subsequent description. Unless the context clearly indicates another meaning, the singular expressions used in this specification include plural expressions. In addition, in the process of describing the embodiments recorded in this specification, when it is determined that the specific description of the relevant known technology makes the subject of the embodiments disclosed in this specification unclear, its detailed description will be omitted. In addition, it should be noted that the drawings are only for the easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and should not be interpreted as the technical idea of ​​the present invention being limited by the drawings.

[0092] Figure 2 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of the clothes treating apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

[0093] Reference Figure 2 (a) The clothes treating apparatus of the present invention may include: a housing 100 forming an exterior; and a door 40 rotatably coupled to the housing 100 .

[0094] The door 40 may include a main body 410 forming the front side of the cabinet 100 and a setting body 420 extending from one side of the main body 410 and capable of setting a display for displaying information of the laundry treating apparatus.

[0095] The setting body 420 may be configured to form a step 43 from the main body 410 toward the rear of the box body 100 .

[0096] On the other hand, at least a portion of the setting body 420 may be configured to overlap in the front-rear direction behind the main body 410. Thus, the step 43 may function as a handle.

[0097] The setting body 420 may be provided with a different material or a different color from the main body 410. In addition, the setting body 420 may be provided with a translucent material through which light emitted from the display can pass.

[0098] Reference Figure 2 (b), an inner shell 200 may be provided inside the box 100, and the inner shell 200 has a storage space 220 for storing clothes. An opening 210 may be provided in front of the inner shell 200, and clothes are put in and out through the opening 210, and the opening 210 may be shielded by the door 40.

[0099] The inner shell 200 may be made of a plastic resin system, and may be made of a reinforced plastic resin system that is not deformed by air having a temperature higher than normal temperature or heated air (hereinafter referred to as hot air), steam, or moisture.

[0100] The inner housing 200 may be configured to have a height greater than a width, so that the clothes can be accommodated in the accommodation space 220 in an undone or unwrinkled state.

[0101] The laundry processing apparatus 1 of the present invention may include a placement portion 500 in the accommodation space 220 of the inner housing 200 for placing laundry.

[0102] The placement portion 500 may include a hanger portion 510 , which is disposed on the upper surface of the inner housing 200 and is used to place clothes.

[0103] If the clothes are placed on the hanger portion 510 , the clothes may be suspended in the air inside the receiving space 220 .

[0104] On the other hand, the placement portion 500 may further include a pressurizing portion 520 that is combined with the inner surface of the door 40 and can fix the clothes.

[0105] The hanger part 510 may be provided in a rod shape arranged along the width direction of the inner housing 200 and may support a hanger on which clothes are hung. In addition, as shown in the figure, the hanger part 510 may also be provided in a clothes hanger shape so that clothes can be directly placed.

[0106] The clothes treating apparatus of the present invention may further include a vibrating unit, and the vibrating unit can remove foreign matter such as dust attached to the clothes by vibrating the hanger unit 510 .

[0107] The placement part 500 may include a pressurizing part 520, which is provided on the door 40 and can fix the clothes by applying pressure. The pressurizing part 520 may include: a supporting part 522 fixed to the inner surface of the door 40 to support one side of the clothes; and a pressing part 521 to pressurize the clothes supported by the supporting part 522.

[0108] The pressing portion 521 may be disposed to move toward or away from the supporting portion 522. For example, the pressing portion 521 may be rotatably disposed on the supporting portion 522 or the inner surface of the door 40.

[0109] Thus, the pressing part 521 and the supporting part 522 can remove wrinkles of the clothes by applying pressure to both sides of the clothes, and can also form expected creases.

[0110] The clothes treating apparatus of the present invention may be provided with a machine room 300 , and the machine room 300 is provided with various devices capable of supplying one or more of hot air and steam to the accommodating space 220 , or purifying or dehumidifying the external air of the housing 100 .

[0111] The machine room 300 may be configured to be separated or partitioned from the inner case 200 , and disposed to communicate with the inner case 200 .

[0112] The machine room 300 may be disposed at a lower portion of the inner case 200. Thus, if hot air and steam having a small specific gravity are supplied to the inner case 200, the hot air and steam may be naturally supplied to the laundry.

[0113] The machine room 300 may include a heating unit 340 capable of supplying hot air to the inner casing 200. The heating unit 340 may be configured as a heat pump system or as a heater that directly uses electric energy to heat air.

[0114] In the case where the heating unit 340 is provided as a heat pump system, the air exhausted from the inner casing 200 may be dehumidified and heated again and supplied to the inner casing 200. The specific structure of the heating unit 340 will be described later.

[0115] The machine room 300 may include a steam supply part 800 capable of supplying steam to the inside of the inner housing 200. The steam supply part 800 may be configured to directly supply steam to the inside of the inner housing 200. The specific structure of the steam supply part 800 will be described later.

[0116] To this end, the inner housing 200 may be provided with a plurality of through holes 230 , and the plurality of through holes 230 penetrate through one side of the inner housing 200 and communicate with the machine chamber 300 .

[0117] The air in the accommodation space 220 may be supplied to the machine room 300 through the through hole 230 , and one or more of hot wind and steam generated in the machine room 300 may be supplied to the accommodation space 200 .

[0118] The through hole 230 may include: an inlet hole 231, which passes through the lower surface of the inner shell 200, and the air inside the inner shell 200 is discharged or sucked into the machine room 300 through the inlet hole 231; and an outlet hole 232, which passes through the lower surface of the inner shell 200 and spits out the hot air generated in the machine room 300.

[0119] The discharge hole 232 may be disposed at a position biased toward the back side of the lower surface of the inner case 200. For example, the discharge hole 232 may be disposed between the lower surface and the back side of the inner case 200 and inclined to the ground so as to face the hanger portion 510.

[0120] In addition, the inflow hole 231 may be disposed at a position biased toward the front in the lower surface of the inner housing 200 . Thus, the inflow hole 231 may be disposed to be separated from the discharge hole 232 .

[0121] The through hole 230 may include a steam hole 233 for supplying the steam generated by the steam supply part 800. The steam hole 233 may be disposed at one side of the discharge hole 232.

[0122] On the other hand, a water supply tub 3 for supplying water to the steam supply part 800 and a drainage tub 4 for collecting condensed water condensed in the heat supply part 340 may be provided in front of the machine room 300 .

[0123] The water supply tub 3 and the drainage tub 4 may be installed so as to be detachable in front of the machine room 300. Thus, the laundry processing apparatus 1 of the present invention may be freely installed without being restricted by a water supply source or a drainage source.

[0124] On the other hand, a drawer 5 can be provided in front of the machine room 300, and the drawer 5 can be introduced and drawn out from the front to form an additional storage space. The drawer 50 can also store a steam generator or an iron.

[0125] Figure 3 It is a diagram showing the upper structure of the inner casing.

[0126] The hanger part 510 of the clothes treating apparatus of the present invention may include a power transmission part 513 , which is disposed on the upper part of the inner housing 200 and configured to make the hanger 511 swing.

[0127] A hanging portion 512 for placing or positioning the hanger 511 may be provided at the lower portion of the power transmission portion 513 .

[0128] Therefore, when the power transmission part 513 moves, it drives the hanging part 512 to move, which has the effect of shaking the clothes as the hanger 511 placed on the hanging part 512 shakes.

[0129] The power transmission parts 513 may be provided in plurality, and the hanging parts 512 coupled to the power transmission parts 513 may also be provided in plurality. Thus, a large number of clothes corresponding to the number of the power transmission parts 513 can be placed inside the inner housing 200 for care.

[0130] Figure 3 The illustration is based on the case where the hanger portion 510 and the power transmission portion 513 are arranged along the width direction of the inner housing 200 .

[0131] The hanger 510 and the power transmission part 513 may be arranged along the direction in which the clothes are arranged in the accommodation space. For example, if the clothes are arranged in the front-to-back direction in the inner shell 200, the hanger 510 and the power transmission part 513 may be arranged in the front-to-back direction of the inner shell 200.

[0132] The following description will be based on the situation where the hanger portion 510, the plurality of power transmission portions 513, and the plurality of hanging portions 512 are arranged along the width direction of the inner shell 200, but this is only one embodiment. The hanger portion 510, the plurality of power transmission portions 513, and the plurality of hanging portions 512 can be arranged along a direction designed to place or arrange a plurality of clothes in the storage space.

[0133] The hanger portion 510 may further include a driving portion 514 that provides power to move the power transmission portion 513 .

[0134] The driving unit 514 may also be provided to be exposed to the inside of the inner housing 200 as long as it can transmit power to the power transmission unit 513. However, since the driving unit 514 is operated by receiving electric energy, it is preferably not exposed to steam or hot air.

[0135] The driving unit 514 may be disposed between the upper surface of the inner housing 200 and the box body 10 without being exposed to the accommodation space 210 .

[0136] The power transmission part 513 may penetrate the upper part of the inner housing 200 and receive the power of the driving part 514. The power transmission part 513 may penetrate the upper part of the inner housing 200 and extend downward, and the lower end of the power transmission part 513 may be exposed to the accommodation space 210.

[0137] The power transmission part 513 may be provided in a rod shape, a tube shape, a plate shape, or the like whose length is greater than its thickness.

[0138] Figure 4 It is a diagram showing the structure of a machine room of the clothes processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0139] Figure 4 (a) is a view of the machine room 300 viewed from the front. Figure 4 (b) is a diagram of the machine room 300 as viewed from the rear.

[0140] The machine room 300 may include a structure for supplying hot air to the clothes processing space, circulating the air in the clothes processing space, supplying steam to the clothes processing space, or purifying the air outside the cabinet.

[0141] The machine room 300 may include a base portion 310 that supports various devices or a space for installing various devices. The base portion 310 may provide an area for installing various devices.

[0142] The base portion 310 may be provided with a circulation duct 320 in which air flowing in from the inner case 200 or the outside of the housing 100 moves.

[0143] The circulation duct 320 may be provided in a shell shape with an open top surface, and a part of the heat supply unit 340 may be provided inside the circulation duct 320 .

[0144] When the heat supply unit 340 is configured as a heat pump system, the circulation pipe 320 may include heat exchangers 341 and 343 described below and a compressor 342 for supplying a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant to the heat exchangers.

[0145] The heat exchangers 341 and 343 may be accommodated in the circulation duct 320 and dehumidify the air by cooling the air flowing in the circulation duct 320 , or may generate hot air by heating the air.

[0146] In the case where the circulation duct 320 is configured to suck air from outside the housing 100 , an external air duct 370 for sucking external air may be provided in front of the circulation duct 320 .

[0147] The circulation duct 320 may be disposed to communicate with the external gas duct 370 and selectively inhale external air.

[0148] The water supply bucket and the drainage bucket may be detachably coupled to the front of the circulation pipe 320. The water supply bucket 3 and the drainage bucket 4 may be placed and arranged on the upper portion of the external gas pipe 370.

[0149] The circulation duct 320 may be combined with the base portion 310, or may be integrally provided with the base portion 310. For example, the base portion 310 and the circulation duct 320 may be manufactured by injection molding.

[0150] The machine room 300 may include a base cover 360 configured to communicate with the circulation pipe 320 and the inflow hole 231 .

[0151] The base cover 360 may be combined with an upper portion of the circulation duct 320 and configured to guide the air sucked from the inflow hole 231 to the inside of the circulation duct 320 .

[0152] The base cover 360 may block the air inside the circulation duct 320 from being discharged to the outside by shielding the upper surface of the circulation duct 320. The lower portion of the base cover 360 and the upper surface of the circulation duct 320 may form one side of the flow path of the circulation duct 320.

[0153] The base cover 360 may include an inflow portion 362 connecting the inflow hole 231 and the circulation duct 320. The inflow portion 362 may be provided in a duct shape and function as an air intake duct transferring air inside the inner case 200 to the circulation duct 320.

[0154] The machine room 300 may be provided with a steam supply unit 800 that receives water by connecting with the water supply tub 3 and generates steam and supplies it to the inner case 200. The steam supply unit 800 may be installed and disposed on an upper portion of the base cover 360.

[0155] The steam supply part 800 may be disposed behind the inflow part 362 .

[0156] The machine room 300 may include a fan setting part 350, and the fan setting part 350 is configured to communicate with the circulation duct 320 and the inner housing 200. The fan setting part 350 may include: an air supply fan 353, which provides power for the air inside the circulation duct 320 to move in one direction; and a fan cover 351, which accommodates the air supply fan 353 and is combined with or extended to the circulation duct 320.

[0157] The fan installation portion 350 may further include an exhaust duct 352 , and the exhaust duct 352 is configured to communicate with the circulation duct 320 and the exhaust hole 232 .

[0158] The exhaust duct 352 may be provided to extend from the lower portion of the fan cover 351 toward the exhaust hole 232 with a cross-sectional shape and a cross-sectional area corresponding to the exhaust hole 232 .

[0159] As a result, air inside the inner case 200 may flow in through the base cover 360 , pass through the circulation duct 320 , and then be supplied to the inner case 200 again through the fan installation portion 350 .

[0160] Figure 5 31 is a diagram showing a mechanical chamber base structure of a laundry processing apparatus of the present invention. The base portion 310 may be provided with a compressor installation portion 313, and the compressor 342 supplying refrigerant to the heat exchangers 341 and 343 is provided in the compressor installation portion 313. The compressor installation portion 313 may be arranged outside the circulation duct 320.

[0161] In addition, the base portion 310 may be provided with a control portion or a control panel C for controlling the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention.

[0162] The base portion 310 may be provided with a control unit installation portion 313 , and the control unit installation portion 313 forms a space at the lower portion of the circulation duct 320 into which the control unit C can be inserted.

[0163] The control unit C may be configured to control all electronically controllable components, such as the compressor 342 , the steam supply unit 800 , the air supply fan 353 , and the like.

[0164] Since the control unit C is inserted and supported by the base 310 , it is possible to buffer vibration or impact applied to the control unit C. In addition, since the control unit C is disposed close to all electronic components, the occurrence of control errors such as noise can be minimized.

[0165] In addition, a steam supply unit is disposed at the upper portion of the circulation duct 320, and a control unit C is disposed at the lower portion of the circulation duct 320. Thus, the circulation duct 320 can be provided in a straight duct shape between the steam supply unit 800 and the control unit C. Therefore, the flow path resistance of the air passing through the circulation duct 320 can be minimized.

[0166] The circulation pipe 320 , the external gas pipe 370 , the steam supply part 800 , the control part C, and the heating part 340 may be provided on the base part 310 in a module form.

[0167] Thus, the base portion 310 can be easily installed and maintained as it is introduced into or withdrawn from the machine room 300 to the front or rear.

[0168] Figure 5 (a) is a three-dimensional view of the base portion 310 viewed from the front. Figure 5 (b) and Figure 5 (c) is a three-dimensional view of the base portion 310 as viewed from the rear.

[0169] The base portion 310 may be disposed on a base plate forming a lower surface of the laundry treating apparatus. The base portion 310 itself may form a lower surface of the laundry treating apparatus.

[0170] The base portion 310 may include a base bottom 311 forming a support surface. The base bottom 311 may form a lower surface of the laundry treatment device. In addition, the base bottom 311 may be disposed on an upper surface of the bottom surface of the housing 100 forming a lower surface of the laundry treatment device.

[0171] The base portion 310 may be integrally provided with the circulation duct 320 forming at least a portion of a flow path for air movement. The circulation duct 320 may be formed by extending upward from the base bottom portion 311 .

[0172] The circulation duct 320 may include: a duct body 321 extending from the bottom 311 of the base to form a flow path; a heat exchanger setting portion 3212 providing a space inside the duct body 321 for setting an evaporator 341 or a condenser 343; and an air exhaust portion 323, which is arranged at the rear of the duct body 321 to exhaust the air of the duct body 321.

[0173] The air discharge portion 323 may be provided in a tube shape extending rearward from the duct body 321. A diameter of the air discharge portion 323 may be smaller than a width of the duct body 321.

[0174] The air discharge portion 323 may be connected to the fan housing 350 . The air discharged from the air discharge portion 323 may be guided to the inside of the inner housing 200 through the fan housing 350 .

[0175] The circulation duct 320 may include an external gas suction portion 322 formed through a front surface of the duct body 321 .

[0176] The external gas suction part 322 may be provided to communicate with the external gas pipe 370. The external gas pipe 370 may be disposed and supported in front of the external gas suction part 322.

[0177] The circulation duct 320 may be provided with a damper for opening and closing the external air suction part 322. By opening and closing the damper, the external air may be allowed or blocked to flow into the circulation duct 320.

[0178] The base portion 310 may include a compressor installation portion 312, and the compressor installation portion 312 provides a space for installing the compressor 342. The compressor installation portion 312 may be formed at one side of the base bottom 311 and may be formed integrally with the base bottom 311.

[0179] The compressor installation portion 312 may also be formed with a protrusion capable of supporting the compressor 342. The compressor installation portion 312 may be disposed at a position biased toward the rear of the base portion 310. The compressor installation portion 312 may be disposed so that at least a portion overlaps with the air discharge portion 323 in the width direction.

[0180] The compressor installation portion 312 may be provided with a buffer member that reduces vibration transmitted from the compressor 342. The buffer member may be fixed to the protrusion.

[0181] The base 310 may include a control unit installation portion 313 in which the control unit C is installed. The control unit installation portion 313 may be formed between the base bottom 311 and the circulation duct 320. The control unit installation portion 313 may be installed between the base bottom 311 and the bottom surface of the circulation duct 320. The control unit installation portion 313 may be installed in a duct shape that is open at the lower part of the circulation duct 320 in either the front or the rear.

[0182] The structure of the control unit setting unit 313 will be described later.

[0183] Figure 6 2 is a diagram showing a circulation duct structure of a clothes processing apparatus according to the present invention.

[0184] The circulation duct 320 may extend from the bottom of the base to the upper part to form a flow path for air flow. The circulation duct 320 may include a heat exchanger setting portion 3212, and the heat exchanger setting portion 3212 provides a space for setting the evaporator 341 and the condenser 343. The heat exchanger setting portion 3212 may be set inside the duct body 321.

[0185] The duct body 321 may be provided with an upper surface opened. The condenser 343 and the evaporator 341 may be inserted and installed through the opening of the duct body 321 .

[0186] The opening of the duct body 321 may be shielded by the base cover 360 , and the base cover 360 and the duct body 321 may form a flow path of the circulation flow path 320 .

[0187] The front surface of the duct body 321 may be spaced apart from the front end of the base bottom 311 toward the rear.

[0188] Thus, the base bottom 311 can ensure a support surface 3111 for installing and supporting at least one of the water supply bucket 3 or the drainage bucket 4 and the external gas pipe 370 .

[0189] On the other hand, the heating unit 340 may include: an evaporator 341, which is arranged inside the circulation pipe 320 and is configured as a heat exchanger for dehumidifying by cooling the air flowing into the circulation pipe 320; a condenser 343, which is configured as a heat exchanger for forming hot air by heating the air passing through the evaporator 341; a compressor 342, which supplies a refrigerant for heat exchange with the air to the condenser 343 and is configured outside the circulation pipe 320; and an expansion valve 344, which expands the refrigerant passing through the condenser 343 for cooling.

[0190] On the other hand, since the duct body 321 is integrally formed on the base portion 310 , the height of the heat exchanger installation portion 3212 can be more ensured, and the heights of the condenser 343 and the evaporator 341 can be increased.

[0191] As a result, the width of the condenser 343 and the evaporator 341 in the front-rear direction can be shortened, thereby reducing the number of refrigerant pipes passing through the condenser and the evaporator. This has the effect of reducing the flow loss of air passing through the condenser and the evaporator.

[0192] On the other hand, the sum of the length of the evaporator 341 and the length of the condenser 343 may be less than the length of the heat exchanger setting part 3212. Thus, the front-to-back length of the heat exchanger setting part 3212 may be equal to or less than half the length of the duct body 321.

[0193] Therefore, the heat exchanger installation portion 3212 may be sufficiently separated from the external air suction portion 322 , so that a sufficient space for the external air and the air inside the inner casing 200 to flow in may be ensured inside the circulation duct 320 .

[0194] On the other hand, the interior of the duct body 321 may include a setting partition wall 3211 that divides the heat exchanger setting part 3212 and the outside of the heat exchanger setting part 3212. The setting partition wall 3211 may protrude from the side of the duct body 321 and support the front of the evaporator 341.

[0195] In addition, the duct body 321 may be expanded with the partition wall 3211 as a reference width and extend rearward.

[0196] As a result, the width of the heat exchanger installation portion 3212 can be set to be larger than half of the width of the base portion 310. In addition, the width of the circulation duct 320 can be set to be larger than half of the width of the base portion 310.

[0197] The width of the condenser 343 and the width of the evaporator 341 may also be set to be greater than half of the entire width of the base portion 310 .

[0198] As described above, if the widths of the condenser 343 and the evaporator 341 are ensured, there is an effect that the heat exchange capacity can be sufficiently ensured.

[0199] In addition, the fan cover 350 may be configured to overlap the condenser 343 or the evaporator 341 in the front-to-back direction. Thus, the air passing through the evaporator 341 and the condenser 343 can flow into the fan cover 350 without bending the flow path. That is, the air flowing into the circulation duct 320 does not bend the flow path in the process of moving to the fan cover, thereby having the effect of minimizing flow loss.

[0200] Figure 7 It is a diagram for explaining the shape of the circulation duct of the clothes processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0201] The base bottom 310 and the circulation flow path 320 of the base portion 310 may be integrally formed by mold injection.

[0202] The mold for molding the inner surface of the duct body 321 can be drawn out and removed from the inside of the duct body 321 toward the upper direction. At this time, the wall surface of the duct body 321 can be set to be inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the removal direction of the mold to facilitate the drawing out of the mold.

[0203] The width of the lower surface 321 a of the duct body 321 may be greater than the width of the upper surface 321 b of the duct body 321 .

[0204] Specifically, the distance between the walls of the duct body 321 facing each other can increase as the distance from the base bottom 311 increases. The distance between the left side and right side of the circulation flow path facing each other can increase along the lead-out direction of the mold. Thus, the mold can be easily removed.

[0205] On the other hand, the air discharge part 323 may include: an air extension pipe 3231 extending from the rear of the duct body 321 to have a smaller diameter and width; and an air discharge pipe 3232 extending from the air extension pipe 3231 in a pipe shape with a uniform diameter, and a hollow 3233 is formed inside the air discharge pipe 3232. The air extension pipe 3231 may perform the function of a nozzle, thereby being able to increase the speed of the discharged air.

[0206] In addition, the mold for molding the air discharge portion 323 can be removed as shown in the previous figure. After the inner side of the air discharge portion 323 is led forward into the inside of the circulation flow path 320, it can be removed toward the upper open surface of the circulation flow path 320. In the above process, the air discharge portion 323 can be formed in a structure that is easy to remove from the mold.

[0207] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the circulation pipeline.

[0208] The partition wall 3211 may be protruded inward from the inner wall of the pipe body 321, or the outer wall of the circulation pipe may be recessed inward.

[0209] The heat exchanger installation portion 3212 may be formed between the heat exchanger installation partition wall 3211 and the air discharge portion 323 .

[0210] The mold for forming the air outlet portion 323 can be removed by leading it toward the front of the air outlet portion 323 and then leading it toward the upper part. When leading the mold for forming the air outlet portion 323 toward the front from the inside of the air outlet portion 323, it is necessary to prevent it from interfering with the partition wall provided for the heat exchanger. To this end, the design value of the air outlet portion 323 can be adjusted.

[0211] Specifically, when forming the air discharge portion 323, the mold for forming the front side and the mold for forming the rear side can be separately set based on the parting line 3233 of the air discharge portion 323 in the figure. As a result, the removal directions of the molds can also be different from each other. Based on the parting line of the air discharge portion 323, the mold for forming the front part can be led out forward, and based on the parting line of the air discharge portion 323, the mold for forming the rear part can be led out rearward.

[0212] That is, in order to prevent the mold that is led out to the front from interfering with the partition wall set on the heat exchanger during the process of being led out, the distance 1 (321a) in the accompanying drawing may be smaller than the distance 2 (321c). The distance 1 (321a) may refer to the distance between the parting line of the air discharge portion 323 and the front end of the air discharge portion 323. In addition, the distance 1 (321a) may refer to the distance between the parting line of the air discharge portion 323 and the rear opening of the circulation duct. The distance 2 (321c) may refer to the distance between the front end of the air discharge portion 323 and the partition wall set on the heat exchanger. In addition, the distance 2 (321c) may refer to the distance between the rear opening of the circulation duct and the partition wall 3211 set on the heat exchanger.

[0213] Fig. 9 1 is a diagram showing a structure of a control unit installation portion provided on a base of the clothes processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0214] Fig. 9 (a) is a diagram showing a method of installing the control unit C in the control unit installation part 313.

[0215] The control unit C can be configured to control the laundry processing device of the present invention to execute all devices required for any process of the program for nursing laundry. The control unit C can be configured with a PCB substrate, but is not limited thereto, and can be configured with various devices for control.

[0216] The control unit C may be inserted into and placed in the control unit setting portion 313 .

[0217] The control unit installation portion 313 may be disposed at a lower portion of the circulation pipe 320 .

[0218] The bottom surface of the circulation duct 320 may form the top surface of the control unit installation portion 313. The control unit installation portion 313 may be disposed at a lower position than the air discharge portion 323.

[0219] The control part setting part 313 may be formed integrally with the base bottom 311. The control part setting part 313 may be formed as a recessed space at the lower part of the circulation duct during the process of molding the circulation duct 320 on the base 310.

[0220] The control part C can be introduced into the control part setting part 313 in a sliding manner from the back to the front.

[0221] A support 3131 surrounding the control part may also be provided on the surface of the control part C. The support 3131 may be provided above and below the control part to prevent foreign matter from entering the control part.

[0222] In addition, the bracket 3131 can prevent heat or vibration from being transferred to the control unit C and causing damage to the circuit substrate inside the control unit C. The bracket 3131 can be made of a metal material.

[0223] Fig. 9 (b) is a diagram showing a state in which a control unit is provided in the control unit setting portion.

[0224] As described above, the control portion C may be disposed to form a predetermined angle with the base bottom 311 .

[0225] For example, the control portion C may be configured to be inclined toward the water storage portion 326. Thus, when water flows to the upper portion of the control portion C, the water can quickly escape from the control portion C, and the bottom surface of the circulation pipe 320 may be formed to be inclined toward the water storage portion 326.

[0226] The control portion C may include a support member 3132 that is formed to protrude toward the side.

[0227] The control unit setting portion 313 may include ribs 3134 protruding from both sides of the setting portion. The support member 3132 of the control unit may be placed on the upper side of the ribs 3134.

[0228] The support member 3132 of the control part may support the entire load of the control part C. If the support member 3132 of the control part is supported on the upper side of the rib 3134 , the control part C may be spaced apart from the base bottom 311 by a predetermined distance.

[0229] The ribs 3134 may be formed integrally with the base portion 310. The ribs 3134 may be formed together with the base portion 310 during injection molding, so as to be integrally formed with the base bottom 311, the circulation pipe 320, and the like.

[0230] A protrusion 3133 may be provided on the front side of the control unit C. In addition, a guide member protruding toward the rear may be provided on the inner side of the control unit setting part 313. The protrusion may be combined with the guide member. The protrusion may be inserted into the guide member. When the control unit is introduced into the control unit setting part, the control unit may be aligned to a specified position in such a way that the protrusion is combined with the guide member.

[0231] In addition, the two side surfaces of the control part can be positioned in a manner that the support members are placed on the ribs as described above. Using the above-described coupling process, the control part can be coupled to a prescribed position of the control part setting part without an additional fastening member.

[0232] Fig.10 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of the air exhaust part 323 of the clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0233] The base portion 310 may include an air discharge portion 323 for discharging processed air toward the fan housing.

[0234] The air discharge portion 323 may be arranged to communicate with the inside of the circulation duct 320 or the duct body 321 and the fan cover 350. The air discharge portion 323 may be arranged in a bell mouth shape. By being arranged in a bell mouth shape, the flow loss of air can be reduced and the air circulation efficiency can be improved.

[0235] The air exhaust pipe 3232 of the air exhaust portion 323 can be set in a tube shape, with the parting line 3233 as a reference. During the process of removing the mold, the mold arranged in front of the parting line 3233 can be led out forward, and the mold arranged behind the parting line 3233 can be led out backward.

[0236] The fan installation part 350 may be supported by being coupled to the air outlet pipe 3232. The fan cover 351 may have a coupling hole coupled to the outer peripheral surface of the air outlet pipe 3232, and the air supply fan 353 may be disposed at the coupling hole.

[0237] The fan cover 351 may include a discharge duct 352 extending from an outer peripheral surface or an outer side of the air supply fan 353 toward the discharge hole 232 .

[0238] The fan cover 351 and the exhaust duct 352 may form a flow path inside which the air supply fan 353 is accommodated and through which air can flow.

[0239] A motor for rotating the air supply fan 353 may be coupled to and supported outside the fan cover 351 .

[0240] Fig.11 It is a figure which shows the structure of the base cover of the clothes processing apparatus of this invention.

[0241] The base cover 360 may be combined with an upper surface of the circulation duct 320 to prevent the inside of the circulation duct 320 from being exposed.

[0242] The base cover 360 may include: an inflow body 361 combined with an upper surface of the circulation duct 320 to connect the inner shell 200 and the circulation duct 320 ; and a shielding body 363 extending from the inflow body 361 to shield the circulation duct 320 .

[0243] The inflow body 361 may be in a pipe shape and is provided to communicate the inflow hole 231 of the inner shell with the inside of the circulation pipe 320. The inflow body 361 may be more protruding upward than the shielding body 363.

[0244] The inflow body 361 may be disposed at a position further forward than the evaporator 341 so as not to face the evaporator 341 and the condenser 343 , and may be disposed at a position further forward than the partition wall 3211 .

[0245] The inflow body 361 may function as an inflow duct for moving the air in the inner casing 200 toward the circulation duct 320 .

[0246] An inflow portion 362 through which the air of the inner case 200 can pass may be provided inside the inflow body 361 .

[0247] Specifically, the base cover 360 may include: a first rib 362 a extending along the width direction of the inflow body 361 ; and a second rib 362 b spaced rearward from the first rib 362 a and extending along the width direction of the inflow body 361 .

[0248] The first rib 362a and the second rib 362b may be disposed in parallel. The first rib 362a and the second rib 362b may be disposed in a plate shape extending in a vertical direction, and the height may correspond to the height of the inflow body 361 .

[0249] The front surface of the inflow body 361 and the first rib 362a may form a first inflow port 3621 , the first rib 362a and the second rib 362b may form a second inflow port 3623 , and the second rib 362b and the rear surface of the inflow body 361 may form a third inflow port 3622 .

[0250] The area of ​​the first inlet 3621 and the area of ​​the third inlet 3622 may be the same as each other, and the area of ​​the second inlet 36222 may be smaller than the areas of the first inlet 3621 and the third inlet 3622 .

[0251] The base cover 360 may include: a damper portion 364 configured to open and close the inflow portion 362 ; and a driving portion 365 coupled to the damper portion 364 to control the opening and closing of the damper portion 364 .

[0252] The damper portion 364 may include: a first damper portion 3641 configured to open and close the first inlet 3621 ; and a second damper portion 3642 configured to open and close the third inlet 3622 .

[0253] The first damper portion 3641 may be provided in a plate shape having an area corresponding to the first inlet 3621 , and may be rotatably coupled to both side surfaces of the inlet body 361 inside the first inlet 3621 .

[0254] The second damper portion 3642 may be provided in a plate shape having an area corresponding to the third inlet 3622 , and may be rotatably provided on both side surfaces of the inlet body 361 inside the third inlet 3622 .

[0255] The second inlet 3623 may be provided with a blocking filter 366 . Although the blocking filter 366 allows air to pass through, it can filter foreign matter such as dust and fluff.

[0256] The blocking filter 366 may be provided so as to be inserted into the second inlet 3623 to partition the first inlet 3621 and the third inlet 3622. The blocking filter 366 may be extended to the second inlet 3623 to contact the bottom surface of the circulation duct 320.

[0257] The blocking filter 366 may be provided as a filter capable of filtering even the moisture. For example, the blocking filter 366 may be provided as a high efficiency particulate air filter or the like.

[0258] On the other hand, the second inlet 3623 may be further combined with a shielding member that shields the second inlet 3623 if the blocking filter 366 is inserted.

[0259] The driving part 365 may include: a motor that provides power capable of selectively rotating the first damper part 364 and the second damper part 365; and a plurality of gear members that can selectively rotate the first damper part 364 and the second damper part 365 as they rotate by meshing with the motor.

[0260] The first inlet 3611 and the third inlet 3622 may be selectively opened by the driving unit 365 .

[0261] The air contained in the inner shell 200 may flow into the circulation duct 320 along the first inlet 3621 or along the third inlet 3622 through the driving unit 365 .

[0262] Of course, the driving unit 365 can control the first damper 3641 and the second damper 3642 to fully open the first inlet 3611 and the third inlet 3622 , or can control the first damper 3641 and the second damper 3642 to fully cover the first inlet 3611 and the third inlet 3622 .

[0263] The driving unit 365 may be provided in any structure as long as it can rotate the first damper 3641 and the second damper 3642. For example, it may be provided in combination of a motor, a driving gear rotated by the motor, and a driven gear coupled to the first damper and the second damper and rotated by the rotation of the driving gear.

[0264] The base cover 360 may include a shielding body 363 extending from the inflow body 361 and capable of shielding the evaporator 341 and the condenser 343. The shielding body 363 may have a plate shape.

[0265] The base cover 360 may be detachably coupled to the upper surface of the circulation duct 320 using an inflow hook 3612 extending from the lower surface of the inflow body 361 .

[0266] The circulation pipe 320 may be provided with a coupling portion coupled to the inflow hook 3612 in a detachable manner.

[0267] Fig.12 It is a diagram showing the structure of an external gas pipe.

[0268] Reference Fig.12 (a), the external gas pipe 370 may be combined with the base portion 310 .

[0269] The external gas pipe 370 may be provided to communicate with the external gas suction part 322 .

[0270] The external air duct 370 may include an external air damper 373 for opening and closing the external air suction part 322 , and an external air driving part 374 for controlling to selectively open the external air suction part 322 by rotating the external air damper 373 .

[0271] The external air damper 373 may be provided in a plate shape capable of sealing the external air suction part 322 , and may be rotatably coupled to both side surfaces of the external air suction part 322 .

[0272] The external gas driving part 374 may be provided with an actuator that is coupled to the external gas pipe 370 or the circulation pipe 320 and rotates the external gas damper 373 .

[0273] The external gas pipeline 370 may include: an extension pipeline 372 extending forward from the external gas suction part 322 in front of the external gas suction part 322; and an intake pipeline 371 extending forward from the extension pipeline 372, and external gas can flow in through the intake pipeline 371.

[0274] The air intake duct 371 may extend from the lower portion of the extension duct 372, and a water supply bucket 3 and a water discharge bucket 4 may be disposed on the upper portion of the air intake duct 371. The water supply bucket 3 and the water discharge bucket 4 may be combined with the air intake duct 371, or may be disposed on the air intake duct 371.

[0275] The air intake duct 371 may include: an external air port 3711 formed at one end or a free end of the air intake duct 371 , through which external air is sucked; and a partition rib 3712 configured to partition the external air port 3711 .

[0276] The external air port 3711 may be disposed at a lower position than the door 40 so as not to be blocked by the door 40 .

[0277] The partition rib 3712 may be configured to partition the interior of the external air port 3711 , thereby blocking entry of foreign matter or the user's body.

[0278] Reference Fig.12 (b), if the external air driving unit 374 rotates the external air damper 373 to open the external air suction unit 322, the suction duct 371 and the circulation duct 320 may be communicated with each other.

[0279] At this time, if the air supply fan 352 is driven, the air outside the cabinet may flow into the circulation duct 320. If the compressor 342 is driven, the outside air may be dehumidified while passing through the circulation duct 320 and supplied to the inside of the inner case 200.

[0280] The door 40 may further include: an exhaust port for exhausting the air inside the inner housing 200 to the outside; and an exhaust damper for selectively opening and closing the exhaust port. The exhaust port may be arranged to face the accommodation space of the inner housing 200.

[0281] Thus, the dehumidified air can be discharged from the discharge port.

[0282] In addition, the external air may be filtered while passing through the blocking filter 366 and discharged again to the outside of the housing 100 .

[0283] Fig.13 It is a diagram showing the flow of air flowing through the circulation duct.

[0284] Reference Fig.13 (a) can be controlled so that the external air damper 373 shields the external air intake portion 322 , the first damper 3641 opens the first inlet 3621 , and the second damper 3642 shields the third inlet 3622 .

[0285] When the air supply fan 352 is driven, air inside the inner housing 200 may flow in from the first inlet 3621 and be filtered while passing through the blocking filter 366 .

[0286] If the compressor 342 is driven, the air passing through the blocking filter 366 may be dehumidified and heated while passing through the evaporator 341 and the condenser 343 .

[0287] The air passing through the heat exchanger may be supplied to the inside of the inner case 200 via the fan installation part 350 .

[0288] This state may be a state in which steam is not supplied to the inner case 200. This is because, if steam is supplied to the inner case 200, the moisture wets the blocking filter 366, and thus the performance of the blocking filter 366 cannot be ensured.

[0289] As a result, when steam is not supplied to the inner shell 200, or before steam is supplied to the inside of the inner shell 200, or even after steam is supplied to the inside of the inner shell 200 but the humidity becomes low, the air inside the inner shell 200 can pass through the first inlet 3641 and filter out foreign matter, fluff, etc. when passing through the blocking filter 366.

[0290] Reference Fig.13 (b) can be controlled so that the external air damper 373 covers the external air intake portion 322 , the first damper 3641 covers the first inlet 3621 , and the second damper 3642 opens the third inlet 3622 .

[0291] When the air supply fan 352 is driven, air in the inner case 200 may flow in from the third inlet 3622 . Since the third inlet 3622 is disposed downstream of the blocking filter 366 , the air flowing in from the third inlet 3622 does not pass through the blocking filter 366 .

[0292] If the compressor 342 is driven, the air having passed through the blocking filter 366 may be dehumidified and heated while passing through the evaporator 341 and the condenser 343 .

[0293] The air passing through the heat exchanger may be supplied to the inside of the inner case 200 via the fan installation part 350 .

[0294] As a result, when steam is supplied to the inner shell 200 or the humidity inside the inner shell 200 is very high, the blocking filter 366 can be blocked from being exposed to moisture by allowing air in the inner shell 200 to flow in from the third inlet 3622 while blocking the air from flowing in from the first inlet 3621.

[0295] Reference Fig.13 (c) can be controlled so that the external air damper 373 opens the external air intake part 322 , the first damper 3641 covers the first inlet 3621 , and the second damper 3642 covers the third inlet 3622 .

[0296] When the air supply fan 352 is driven, the air inside the inner housing 200 is blocked from flowing in through the inlet portion 362, and only the external air of the housing 100 can flow into the circulation duct 320 and pass through the blocking filter 366. Thus, foreign matter such as dust contained in the external air can be filtered by the blocking filter 366.

[0297] If the compressor 342 is driven, the air passing through the blocking filter 366 may be dehumidified while passing through the evaporator 341 and the condenser 343 .

[0298] The air passing through the heat exchanger is supplied to the inside of the inner case 200 via the fan installation part 350, so that fresh hot air can be supplied to the clothes.

[0299] At this time, when the door 40 is provided with a device for discharging the air inside the inner shell 200 to the outside, the air outside the box can be discharged in a purified and dehumidified state as it passes through the blocking filter 366 and the heating unit 340.

[0300] As a result, in the laundry processing apparatus of the present invention, the external air driving part 374 and the inflow driving part 365 can be controlled by the control part C to determine the flow directions of the air inside the inner shell 200 and the air outside the box.

[0301] Fig.14 It is a diagram showing the installation structure of the steam supply unit.

[0302] The steam supply part 800 may be seated and supported on the base cover 360 .

[0303] The steam supply part 800 may include a steam housing 810 disposed at the base cover 360 and storing water for generating the steam.

[0304] The steam supply unit 800 may further include a mounting bracket 870 , and the mounting bracket 870 may be configured to fix the steam housing 810 to the base cover 360 .

[0305] The setting bracket 870 may be combined with the base cover 360 and fix the steam housing 810 .

[0306] The mounting bracket 870 may include: a lower panel 871 for supporting the lower surface of the steam housing 810 ; and side panels 872 for supporting both side surfaces of the steam housing 810 on the lower panel 871 .

[0307] The setting bracket 870 may also include one or more fixing clips 873 that extend from the side panel 872 and prevent the steam housing 810 from detaching.

[0308] The fixing clip 873 may be detachably disposed on the upper portion or side of the steam housing 810 .

[0309] The compressor 342 may be disposed at a lower position than the steam supply part 800 .

[0310] The setting bracket 870 may be provided to block the heat generated in the compressor or the heat generated in the refrigerant compressed in the compressor from being transferred to the steam supply part 800 .

[0311] The bracket 870 may also prevent the fire from spreading to the steam supply unit 800 when a fire occurs in the compressor 342 .

[0312] On the other hand, the base cover 360 may include a fastening portion 3631 provided on the shielding body 363 and detachably coupled to the steam supply portion 800. The fastening portion 3631 may be detachably coupled to a protrusion protruding from the lower portion of the steam housing 810.

[0313] Thus, even if a large amount of water is contained in the steam housing 810 , the steam housing 810 can be stably placed on the base cover 360 .

[0314] In addition, since the steam shell 810 is arranged at a higher position than the circulation duct 320, the distance between the steam shell 810 and the inner shell 200 is smaller than the distance between the circulation duct 320 and the inner shell 200, so that the condensation of the steam generated by the steam shell 810 can be minimized before reaching the inner shell 200.

[0315] Fig.15 It is a diagram showing a specific structure of a steam supply unit.

[0316] Reference Fig.15 (a), the steam supply unit 800 may include: a steam housing 810 capable of receiving and storing water for generating steam; and a heater unit 840 accommodated in the steam housing 810, generating steam by heating the water.

[0317] The steam housing 810 may be provided in the form of a housing with an upper portion opened, and may be provided to accommodate the heater unit 840 .

[0318] The steam supply unit 800 may further include a housing cover 820 , which is combined with the steam housing 810 and prevents the heater unit 840 from being exposed to the outside, thereby preventing the water from flowing out.

[0319] The housing cover 820 may be provided with: a water level sensor 850 for sensing the water level of the steam housing 810 ; and a steam sensor 860 for sensing the temperature inside the steam housing 810 or sensing whether steam is generated inside the steam housing 810 .

[0320] Reference Fig.15 (b), the steam housing 810 may include a housing body 811 providing a space for storing the water and accommodating the heater part 840 .

[0321] The housing body 811 may be provided in a shape with an upper opening, so that various components can be easily provided inside the housing body 811 .

[0322] The housing body 811 may include a heater insertion hole 8111 that penetrates one side of the housing body 811 , and the heater 840 may be inserted into or drawn out of the housing body 811 through the heater insertion hole 8111 .

[0323] The housing body 811 may include a recovery pipe 814 capable of discharging water contained therein to the outside.

[0324] The recovery pipe 814 can remain blocked by the shielding cover 8141 so as to be opened only when the residual water inside the steam shell 810 is removed, and can include a shielding clamp 8142, which keeps the shielding cover 8141 coupled to the recovery pipe 814 to prevent the shielding cover 8141 from being separated at will.

[0325] Therefore, when repairing the steam housing 800 or preventing the steam housing 800 from freezing and cracking, the water inside the steam housing 800 can be discharged through the recovery pipe 814.

[0326] On the other hand, a heater fixing part 830 may be provided inside the housing body 811, and the heater fixing part 830 may support or fix the heater part 840. The heater fixing part 830 may include: a fixing clip 831 to fix the heater part 840; and a clamping member 833 to fix the supporting clip 831 to the housing body 811.

[0327] The fixing clip 831 may be configured to accommodate or surround at least a portion of the heater portion 840 .

[0328] On the other hand, the steam supply part 800 may be provided with a water supply pipe 815 for receiving water. The water supply pipe 815 may receive water by being communicated with the water supply tub 30.

[0329] The water supply pipe 815 may be provided on the housing cover 820 or disposed on the upper portion of the steam housing 810. Thus, it is possible to prevent water from flowing back through the water supply pipe 815 again.

[0330] The steam supply unit 800 may be provided with a steam pipe 813 that discharges steam generated by driving the heater unit 840 to the outside. The steam pipe 813 may also be provided on the upper portion of the housing cover 820 so as to block water from being discharged from the steam pipe 813. The steam pipe 813 may be communicated with the steam hole 233 of the inner housing 200.

[0331] The housing cover 820 may be provided with a water level sensor hole 854 , and the water level sensor may be disposed in the water level sensor hole 854 .

[0332] The water level sensor 850 may include: one or more contact protrusions 852, which are inserted into the water level sensor hole 854 and sense the water level by being immersed in water; and a sensor body 851, which is combined with the water level sensor hole 854 or supported by the shell cover 820 in order to keep the contact protrusion 852 in a floating state inside the steam shell 810.

[0333] The sensor body 851 may be coupled to the housing cover 820 using a sensor fastening member 853 .

[0334] On the other hand, the housing cover 820 may be provided with an insertion hole 864, and the steam sensor 860 may be provided in the insertion hole 864. The steam sensor 860 may include: a sensing device 861 inserted into the insertion hole 864 to sense whether steam is generated inside the steam housing 810; a support platform 863 to fix the sensing device 861 to the housing cover 820; and a coupling member 862 to couple the support platform 863 to the housing cover 820.

[0335] The sensing device 861 may be provided as a humidity sensor or a temperature sensor, and senses whether steam is generated inside the steam housing 810 .

[0336] On the other hand, the housing cover 820 may be provided with a cover hook 821 , and the cover hook 821 may extend forward and be combined with the base cover 860 .

[0337] In addition, a fixing protrusion 822 may be further provided at the rear of the housing cover 820 , and the fixing protrusion 822 may fix the lower portion of the inner housing 200 or an additional steam exhaust portion 900 .

[0338] The heater part 840 may be configured to be inserted into the heater insertion hole 8111 and accommodated in the steam housing 810 and heat water by receiving power.

[0339] The heater unit 840 may be provided by a sheath heater or the like, and may be controlled by the control unit 700 to be repeatedly driven and stopped.

[0340] The heater part 840 may include a first heater 841 which heats water by receiving a first power, and a second heater 842 which heats water by receiving a power greater than the first power.

[0341] As a result, the second heater 842 may be configured to heat more water than the first heater 841 to generate more steam.

[0342] The first heater 841 and the second heater 842 may be configured to share and consume the maximum heater power allowed by the heater unit 840 in the laundry processing apparatus. That is, if the first heater 841 consumes a portion of the maximum heater power, the second heater 842 consumes the remaining portion of the maximum heater power.

[0343] For example, in the case where the normal maximum heater power allowed by the heater unit 840 is 1500 W, the first heater 841 may be set to consume 600 W, and the second heater 842 may be set to consume 880 W. Considering the error, etc., 20 W may be allocated less.

[0344] Of course, the heater unit 840 may include more than three heaters, for example, the first heater 841, the second heater 842 and the third heater 843, and the first heater 841, the second heater 842 and the third heater 843 share and consume the maximum heater power.

[0345] The following description will be based on a case where the heater unit 340 includes the first heater 841 and the second heater 842 .

[0346] The first heater 841 and the second heater 842 may be formed of metal pipes in a “U” shape.

[0347] The heater portion 840 may include a heater seal 843 that may fix the first heater 841 and the second heater 842 and seal the heater through hole 8111 , and may include a terminal portion 844 that supplies current to the first heater 841 and the second heater 842 .

[0348] The terminal portion 844 may include a first terminal 844 a for supplying current to the first heater 841 , and a second terminal 844 b for supplying current to the second heater 842 .

[0349] The first heater 841 and the second heater 842 may be arranged at the same height. Thus, the first heater 841 and the second heater 842 may be configured to generate steam by heating water at the same water level.

[0350] Thus, the control part 700 can adjust the amount of steam generated and the power consumption by using the first heater 841 and the second heater 842 entirely or selectively.

[0351] Fig.16 1 is a diagram showing a laundry processing apparatus according to the present invention provided with a light emitting unit and a sensor unit.

[0352] In the existing clothes treating apparatus, there is a problem that clothes fall off the hanger during the clothes treating process.

[0353] As a result, the user cannot recognize the clothes that have fallen off the hanger during the clothes treatment process, so there is a problem that the clothes are damaged when the steam or hot air injection port is blocked by the fallen clothes.

[0354] Furthermore, since the user realizes after the clothing treatment process is finished that the clothing has not been properly treated due to shedding, he or she is unable to take proactive measures, which reduces the satisfaction with the product.

[0355] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention can provide a clothing processing device, which includes: a box body 100, in front of which an opening is provided; an inner shell body 200, which is provided inside the box body 100 and provides a space for accommodating clothing; a door 40, which is combined with the box body and opens and closes the opening; a hanger part 510, which is provided on the upper part of the inner shell body 200, and the clothing is placed on the hanger part 510; a machine room 300, which is provided at a position lower than the bottom surface of the inner shell body 200 and is provided to supply at least one of hot air and steam to the inside of the inner shell body 200; a light-emitting part 600, which is provided on any one of the inner shell body 200, the door 40, and the machine room 300, and emits light to the inside of the inner shell body 200; and a sensor part 700, which is provided on any one of the inner shell body 200, the door, and the machine room, and senses that the clothing dropped from the hanger part 510 blocks at least a part of the light emitted from the light-emitting part 600.

[0356] In the laundry processing apparatus of the present invention, no matter where the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 are arranged, as long as the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 reaches the sensor unit 700, the sensor unit 700 can sense the illumination change to determine whether the laundry has fallen or not.

[0357] The laundry treating apparatus may include a light emitting unit 600 configured to emit light toward the inside of the inner housing 200 .

[0358] The light emitting unit 600 may emit any light as long as it can be sensed by the sensor unit 700. For example, the wavelength of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 may be in the range of ultraviolet rays, visible rays, and the like.

[0359] Compared with infrared rays, ultraviolet rays, etc., it is preferred that the wavelength of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 belongs to the visible light range. Since infrared rays can pass through objects, they will pass through the clothes even if they fall, while visible rays are electromagnetic waves that can be recognized by the human eye and cannot pass through objects. In addition, if visible rays are used, it is more suitable to sense the falling of clothes by blocking light and can protect the user's vision.

[0360] The light source of the light emitting unit 600 may be composed of any light emitting device such as an LED or an electric lamp.

[0361] The laundry treating apparatus may include a sensor part 700 receiving the light emitted from the light emitting part 600 .

[0362] The sensor unit 700 may be provided as an illuminance sensor for sensing changes in illuminance of light emitted from the light emitting unit 600. Illuminance is a measure of brightness, and when a large amount of light is incident, the illuminance becomes high, and when a small amount of light is reflected, the illuminance becomes low.

[0363] The sensor part 700 may sense at least one of whether the light emitted from the light emitting part 600 is received and the intensity of the light.

[0364] The sensor unit 700 may be disposed at a position where it can completely receive the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600. The specific disposition positions of the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 will be described later.

[0365] The light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be provided in one or more portions.

[0366] When there are two or more light emitting units 600, the amount of light received by the sensor unit 700 increases, so whether the clothes have fallen off can be more accurately understood.

[0367] In the laundry processing apparatus of the present invention, when laundry falls during the laundry processing process, it can be determined whether the laundry has fallen based on the change in illumination of the light sensed by the sensor unit 700 .

[0368] For example, the sensor part 700 is arranged at a position closer to the bottom surface of the inner shell 200 than the hanger part. When the clothes have not fallen, the sensor part 700 senses a first value. If the sensor part 700 senses a value smaller than the first value, the control part C can determine that the clothes have fallen.

[0369] Fig.17 It is a diagram showing the spatial area division of the inner casing of the clothes treating device of the present invention.

[0370] The inner case 200 may include a first space area V1, a second space area V2, and a third space area V3 divided according to height.

[0371] The first spatial region V1 may be defined by a space between a first position a and a second position b.

[0372] The first position a may be a region corresponding to an upper surface of the inner case 200 or a lower surface of the hanger portion 510 .

[0373] The second position b may be located at a position spaced downward from the first position a by a first height h1.

[0374] The second position b may be spaced apart from the first position a by a length corresponding to 1 / 3 of the length from the first position a to the fourth position d or 1 / 3 of the height of the inner housing 200 .

[0375] The height of the first spatial region V1 may be a first height h1.

[0376] The first height h1 may be greater than the length of the hanger in a height direction.

[0377] The first height h1 may be 1 / 3 of the length from the first position a to the fourth position d.

[0378] A hanger portion 510 may be provided in the first space region V1.

[0379] If clothes such as small jackets, children's clothes, skirts, etc. are placed on the hanger portion 510, small clothes having a length less than the first height may be arranged in the first space area V1.

[0380] The second space region V2 may be disposed at a lower position than the first space region V1 and defined by a space between the second position b and a third position c disposed at a lower position than the second position b.

[0381] The second space region V2 may include a central portion of the inner shell 200 in a height direction.

[0382] If clothes of normal length, such as shirts and jackets, are placed on the hanger portion 510 , they may be arranged in the first space area V1 and the second space area V2 .

[0383] The third space region V3 may be disposed at a lower position than the second space region V2 and may be defined by a space between the third position c and the fourth position d.

[0384] If longer clothing such as coats and pants are placed on the hanger portion 510 , they may be arranged in the first space area V1 , the second space area V2 , and the third space area V3 .

[0385] The fallen clothes may be disposed in the third space region V3 which is lower than the second space region V2. Specifically, the fallen clothes may be disposed in the lower part of the third space region V3.

[0386] The light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be disposed in at least one space among the first space region V1 , the second space region V2 , and the third space region V3 .

[0387] The sensor unit 700 may be disposed at a position lower than the first position a.

[0388] The sensor unit 700 may be disposed at a position higher than the fourth position d.

[0389] Thus, if the sensor unit 700 senses that the light emitting unit 600 is turned off while the light emitting unit 600 remains on, it can be determined that the clothes have fallen off.

[0390] Fig.18 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the positions of the light emitting unit and the sensor unit of the laundry processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0391] The clothes treating apparatus or the control unit C of the present invention can determine whether the clothes have fallen or not by sensing the increase in illumination through the sensor unit 700.

[0392] When the clothes are hung on the hanger 510, the clothes block the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 from the sensor unit 700. When the clothes fall, the light previously blocked by the clothes reaches the sensor unit 700 due to the falling of the clothes. As a result, the clothes treating device or the control unit C can determine whether the clothes fall by sensing the increase in illumination.

[0393] The light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be provided as a single unit.

[0394] The light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be disposed in the same spatial region.

[0395] In a case where the light-emitting portion 600 and the sensor portion 700 are arranged at a position lower than a position (hereinafter referred to as a blocking position) e of the inner surface of the inner shell 200 or the door 40 corresponding to a height equivalent to the lower end of the clothing when the clothing is hung on the hanger portion 510, the light emitted from the light-emitting portion 600 will not be blocked from the beginning and will not reach the sensor portion 700, so the sensor portion 700 cannot sense changes in illumination.

[0396] For example, when the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 are arranged in the second spatial area V2 or the third spatial area V3, short and small clothes are only arranged in the first spatial area V1, so even if the clothes fall, the sensor unit 700 cannot sense the increase in illumination.

[0397] Therefore, it is preferred that the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 are at least provided at a position above the blocking position e.

[0398] The blocking position e is disposed in at least one of the first space region V1, the second space region V2 and the third space region V3. Even when the blocking position e is located in the first space region V1, in order to sense the falling of clothes, the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 are preferably disposed in the upper part of the first space region V1.

[0399] In addition, the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 are preferably disposed at a lower position than the hanger unit 510. Thus, the influence of the hanger unit 510 can be minimized, and the sensor unit 700 can sense the change in illumination of light by utilizing clothing blocking the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600.

[0400] Fig.19 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the positions of the light emitting unit and the sensor unit of the laundry processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0401] The sensor unit 700 and the light emitting unit 600 may be disposed in different spatial regions. As a result, the sensor unit 700 and the light emitting unit 600 may be disposed at different heights.

[0402] For example, the light emitting unit 600 may be disposed in the second space region V2, and the sensor unit 700 may be disposed in the first space region V1.

[0403] The light emitting unit 600 may be configured to radiate light toward the sensor unit 700 so that the sensor unit 700 can sense the light.

[0404] The light emitting unit 600 may be configured to emit light toward a region where the sensor unit 700 can sense light. The sensor unit 700 may be disposed on an inner surface of the inner housing 200 corresponding to an inner portion of a maximum inclination angle of light irradiated from the light emitting unit 600. The light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be disposed on surfaces of the inner housing 200 that face each other.

[0405] The light emitting unit 600 may be configured such that the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 can pass through the first space region V1. Thus, even when short clothes are hung, the sensor unit 700 can sense the increase in light illumination by blocking the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 with the clothes.

[0406] In order to guide the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 to the sensor unit 700 disposed in another spatial area, a reflective unit 400 and the like may be further disposed.

[0407] Fig. 20 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the positions of the light emitting unit and the sensor unit of the laundry processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0408] At least one of the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be provided.

[0409] The number of the light emitting unit 600 and the number of the sensor unit 700 may be different. When more than two light emitting units 600 are provided, more than two sensor units 700 may also be provided.

[0410] Even when two or more light emitting units 600 are provided, only one sensor unit 700 may be provided.

[0411] More than two light emitting units 600 may be disposed in different spatial regions. For example, the light emitting unit 600 may further include a first light emitting unit 610 disposed in the first spatial region V1 and a second light emitting unit 620 disposed in the second spatial region V2.

[0412] The first light emitting portion 610 and the second light emitting portion 620 may be disposed on one surface of the inner housing 200 .

[0413] The first light emitting portion 610 and the second light emitting portion 620 may be disposed side by side along a height direction of one side of the inner housing 200 .

[0414] The sensor unit 700 may be provided so that a surface facing a surface on which the light emitting unit 600 is provided faces at least one of the first light emitting unit 610 and the second light emitting unit 620 .

[0415] The first light emitting portion 610 may be configured such that light emitted from the first light emitting portion 610 reaches the sensor portion 700 through the first spatial region V1 and the second spatial region V2 .

[0416] The second light emitting portion 620 may be configured such that light emitted from the second light emitting portion 620 reaches the sensor portion 700 through the second space region V2.

[0417] Therefore, the clothing processing device or control unit C can use the blocking of light emitted from the first light-emitting unit 610 to sense the falling of clothing set in the first space area V1, and can use the blocking of light emitted from the second light-emitting unit 620 to sense the falling of clothing set in the second space area V2.

[0418] Thus, the sensor unit 700 can determine whether the clothes have fallen or not by sensing the change in illumination of light regardless of where the blocking position e is set.

[0419] In addition, since the sensor part 700 receives the light emitted from the light emitting part 600 at one time, the laundry treating apparatus or the control part C can simply control the sensor part 700 at one time.

[0420] Fig.21FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the positions of the light emitting unit and the sensor unit of the laundry processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0421] A plurality of clothes may be placed on the hanger portion 510 provided in the first space region V1 from one side of the inner case 200 toward another side facing the one side. For example, the clothes may be placed along the width direction of the inner case 200.

[0422] In this case, the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be respectively disposed on both sides of the inner housing 200. However, in the case of a plurality of clothes, even if a part of the clothes falls, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 will remain blocked by the clothes placed on at least one of the two sides of the fallen clothes, so that the sensor unit 700 cannot sense the change in illumination.

[0423] Therefore, the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be disposed on at least one of the back side of the inner housing 200 and the door. For example, the light emitting unit 600 may be disposed on the door so that the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 is directed toward the inside of the inner housing 200.

[0424] In this case, the sensor unit 700 may be disposed on the rear surface of the inner housing 200 to face the light emitting unit 600 .

[0425] Different from the above description, the light emitting unit 600 may be disposed on the back side of the inner housing 200 , and the sensor unit 700 may be disposed on the door.

[0426] In the case where the hanger portion 510 is disposed along the front-rear direction of the inner housing 200 , the sensor portion 700 and the light emitting portion 600 may be disposed on both side surfaces of the inner housing 200 .

[0427] As a result, the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be arranged in the inner surface of the inner shell 200 and the inner surface of the door 40 along the direction in which the hanger unit 510 is arranged, and may also be arranged at positions corresponding to the positions where the hanger unit 510 is arranged.

[0428] The light emitting part 600 and the sensor part 700 may be disposed on the same line as a width direction of the hanger part 510 which is longer than a thickness direction of the hanger part 510 or a width direction of clothing hung on the hanger part 510 .

[0429] That is, the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be disposed on both sides of the clothing hung on the hanger unit 510 .

[0430] For example, the light emitting unit 600 may be configured to emit light toward the side of the clothes hung on the hanger unit 510. Therefore, in the case where the clothes are not dropped, the clothes hung on the hanger unit 510 may block the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600.

[0431] The number of the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be equal to the number of the hanger unit 510. For example, if five hanger units 510 are provided, the number of the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may also be five.

[0432] The light emitting portion 600 may further include a first light emitting portion 610 , a second light emitting portion 620 , a third light emitting portion 630 , a fourth light emitting portion 640 and a fifth light emitting portion 650 .

[0433] The first light emitting portion 610 , the second light emitting portion 620 , the third light emitting portion 630 , the fourth light emitting portion 640 , and the fifth light emitting portion 650 may be arranged in a row such that the intervals therebetween are the same as the intervals between the hanger portions 510 .

[0434] The sensor unit 700 may further include a first sensor unit 710 , a second sensor unit 720 , a third sensor unit 730 , a fourth sensor unit 740 , and a fifth sensor unit 750 .

[0435] The intervals between the first sensor part 710 , the second sensor part 620 , the third sensor part 730 , the fourth sensor part 740 , and the fifth sensor part 750 may be the same as the intervals between the hanger parts 510 .

[0436] That is, the first sensor unit 710, the second sensor unit 720, the third sensor unit 730, the fourth sensor unit 740 and the fifth sensor unit 750 can be arranged in a row so that the intervals between them are the same as the intervals between the first light-emitting unit 610, the second light-emitting unit 620, the third light-emitting unit 630, the fourth light-emitting unit 640 and the fifth light-emitting unit 650.

[0437] The first sensor portion 710 , the second sensor portion 720 , the third sensor portion 730 , the fourth sensor portion 740 , and the fifth sensor portion 750 are arranged to face the first light emitting portion 610 , the second light emitting portion 620 , the third light emitting portion 630 , the fourth light emitting portion 640 , and the fifth light emitting portion 650 , respectively.

[0438] If clothing located between the first light emitting portion 610 and the first sensor portion 710 falls, light emitted from the first light emitting portion 610 due to the falling clothing reaches the first sensor portion 710, and the first sensor portion 710 may sense an increase in the illumination of the light.

[0439] The light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be disposed in any one of the first space region V1 , the second space region V2 , and the third space region V3 .

[0440] When the blocking position e is located above the sensor unit 700, the clothes cannot block the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600, and thus it may be impossible to determine whether the clothes have fallen. Therefore, the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 are preferably disposed in the first space region V1.

[0441] If at least one of the clothes hung on the hanger part 510 falls, the sensor part 700 senses the light emitted from the light emitting part 600 disposed on the same line as the clothes. As a result, the clothes treating apparatus or the control part C can sense that the illuminance of the light emitted from the light emitting part 600 increases.

[0442] Therefore, even when there are a plurality of clothes, the clothes treating apparatus can determine whether clothes have fallen by sensing an increase in the illumination of light through the sensor unit 700, and can even determine which clothes have fallen.

[0443] Fig. 22 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the light emitting unit and the sensor unit of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0444] The laundry processing device or the control unit C may also determine whether the laundry has fallen by sensing the decrease in illumination through the sensor unit 700. When the laundry falls, the fallen laundry blocks the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600. Therefore, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 cannot reach the sensor unit 700, so that the sensor unit 700 can sense the abnormal decrease in illumination.

[0445] That is, the sensor part 700 may be disposed closer to the bottom surface of the inner case 200 than the hanger part, and the sensor part 700 may sense the first value using the light irradiated from the light emitting part 600 when the clothes are not dropped.

[0446] If the sensor part 700 senses a value smaller than the first value, the control part C may determine that the laundry has fallen.

[0447] The light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be arranged in a width direction or a front-rear direction based on the bottom surface of the inner housing 200 . Thus, part of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 may be blocked by the clothing dropped to the bottom surface of the inner housing 200 .

[0448] For example, the sensor part 700 may be disposed on the back side of the inner shell 200 , and the light emitting part 600 may be disposed at a position closer to the front than the sensor part 700 ; or the sensor part 700 may be disposed on a side surface of the inner shell 200 , and the light emitting part 600 may be disposed on the side surface of the sensor part 700 .

[0449] The sensor unit 700 and the light emitting unit 600 may be disposed on different surfaces of the inner housing 200 .

[0450] The sensor unit 700 may be disposed on a surface facing a surface on which the light emitting unit 600 is disposed.

[0451] At this time, since the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 cannot reach the sensor unit 700 due to the fallen clothes, it is preferred that the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 are arranged to face each other.

[0452] For example, the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be respectively disposed on two side surfaces of the inner housing 200 to face each other.

[0453] Alternatively, the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be respectively disposed to face at least one of the back surface of the inner housing 200 and the door.

[0454] An embodiment of the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention is shown in which the light emitting unit 600 is disposed on the door, and the sensor unit 700 is disposed on the back side of the inner housing 200 .

[0455] The light emitting unit 600 may be disposed in the middle of the width direction of the door. Thus, no matter where the sensor unit 700 is disposed, the unsensable area can be reduced, so that no matter where the clothes fall, the clothes can be sensed and more light from the light emitting unit 600 can be received.

[0456] The light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be arranged in the same spatial region. For example, the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be arranged in the third spatial region V3. Since the clothes are located in the third spatial region V3 when the clothes fall, it is preferred that the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 are arranged in the third spatial region V3.

[0457] The light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be arranged at a position lower than the hanger unit 510. The light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be arranged at a position lower than the lowest height e of the clothes. That is, the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be arranged closer to the bottom surface of the inner housing 200 than the hanger unit 510. Thus, the clothes processing device or the control unit C can minimize the influence of the clothes hung on the upper part to determine whether the clothes have fallen or not.

[0458] Therefore, when judging whether the clothes have fallen or not by sensing the reduction in illumination of light caused by the fallen clothes through the sensor unit 700, it is possible to judge whether the clothes have fallen or not by only using the reduction in illumination of light blocked by the fallen clothes without being affected by the length of the clothes or the like.

[0459] In addition, when the sensor unit 700 senses the decrease in light illumination caused by the fallen clothes to determine whether the clothes have fallen, it is possible to more simply and accurately determine whether the clothes have fallen even when there are a plurality of clothes.

[0460] In addition, by using the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 to a minimum, material costs and the like can be reduced.

[0461] Fig.23 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the positions of the light emitting unit and the sensor unit of the laundry processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0462] The light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be disposed to face each other at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the inner housing 200 .

[0463] The light emitting portion 600 may be disposed on an upper surface of the inner housing 200 .

[0464] Alternatively, the light emitting portion 600 may be disposed at a lower portion of the hanger portion 510 .

[0465] The sensor portion 700 may be disposed on the bottom surface of the inner housing 200 so that the sensor portion 700 is blocked by clothing when clothing falls.

[0466] Alternatively, the sensor unit 700 may be disposed inside the machine room or the inflow body, thereby facilitating repair and power supply.

[0467] Different from the above description, the light emitting unit 600 may be disposed at the lower portion of the inner housing 200, and the sensor unit 700 may be disposed at the upper portion of the inner housing 200. In this case, the light emitting unit 600 may be disposed in the machine room or in the inflow body.

[0468] The light emitting portion 600 and the sensor portion 700 may be disposed to face each other on a straight line.

[0469] Specifically, if the clothes fall, the sensor unit 700 is blocked, so that the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 is blocked. As a result, the clothes treating device or the control unit C can determine whether the clothes fall by sensing the decrease in illumination of the light through the sensor unit 700.

[0470] At least one of the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be provided. In particular, the more the sensor units 700, the better. In most cases, when clothes fall, they fall to the periphery of the previously hung area due to gravity. Therefore, when a plurality of the sensor units 700 are provided, the sensor unit 700 can more accurately determine whether the clothes have fallen.

[0471] For example, three sensor parts 700 may be disposed on the bottom surface of the inner housing 200 . The sensor part 700 may include a first sensor part 710 , a second sensor part 720 , and a third sensor part 730 .

[0472] The first sensor unit 710 , the second sensor unit 720 , and the third sensor unit 730 may be arranged in a row.

[0473] At least one of the first sensor portion 710 , the second sensor portion 720 , and the third sensor portion 730 may be disposed to face the light emitting portion 600 .

[0474] When clothes fall, the clothes may fall on the upper part of at least one of the first sensor part 710, the second sensor part 720 and the third sensor part 730, and block at least one of the first sensor part 710, the second sensor part 720 and the third sensor part 730.

[0475] Thus, the clothing processing device or the control unit C can determine whether the clothing has fallen by sensing a decrease in the illumination of light through at least one of the first sensor unit 710, the second sensor unit 720 and the third sensor unit 730.

[0476] In addition, whether the clothes have fallen or not can be judged only by utilizing the reduction in illumination of the light blocked by the fallen clothes, without being affected by the length, quantity, etc. of the clothes.

[0477] Fig.24 It is a diagram showing an embodiment of a reflecting part of a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0478] On the other hand, in the case where the light emitting portion 600 and the sensor portion 700 are arranged to face each other, the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 goes straight and reaches the sensor portion 700. Therefore, in the case where clothing is dropped in an area other than the area where the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 goes straight toward the sensor portion 700, the light is not blocked by the clothing, and thus the sensor portion 700 may not sense the illumination change.

[0479] The laundry treatment device may include: a first drop region S1 disposed between the light emitting portion 600 and the sensor portion 700; and an unsensible region X defined by a region outside the first drop region S1. If laundry drops in the first drop region S1, the dropped laundry blocks the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600, so the sensor portion 700 can sense a decrease in illumination, but if laundry drops in the unsensible region, the dropped laundry cannot block the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600, so the sensor portion 700 cannot sense a decrease in illumination.

[0480] However, in the case where the dropped clothes slightly fall to the first drop area S1, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 is also blocked by a part of the clothes, so the sensor unit 700 can sense the reduction of illumination.

[0481] In order to minimize the unsensable area X and thereby determine whether the clothes have fallen regardless of where the clothes have fallen, the clothes treating apparatus may further include a reflecting portion 400 .

[0482] The reflective unit 400 may be provided with one or more reflective plates for reflecting the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 .

[0483] The reflective plate may be provided on a surface of the inner surface of the inner case 200 that is different from a surface on which the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 are provided.

[0484] For example, the reflective portion 400 may include: a first reflective plate 410 disposed on a side surface of the inner housing 200; and a second reflective plate 420 disposed on a surface facing a surface on which the first reflective plate 410 is disposed.

[0485] The first reflective plate 410 and the second reflective plate 420 may be disposed at the center of the width direction of one surface of the inner housing 200. Thus, the unsensible area X may be reduced by additionally ensuring the second drop area S2 and the third drop area S3.

[0486] For example, the first reflecting plate 410 and the second reflecting plate 420 may be disposed to face each other.

[0487] The first reflective plate 410 and the second reflective plate 420 may be disposed at the center of one surface of the inner housing 200 in the width direction.

[0488] The clothing processing device may further include: a second dropping area S2, which is formed by the light irradiated from the light emitting portion 600 being reflected from the first reflecting plate 410 and reaching the sensor portion 700; and a third dropping area S3, which is formed by the light irradiated from the light emitting portion 600 being reflected from the second reflecting plate 420 and reaching the sensor portion 700.

[0489] Compared with the case where the reflecting portion 400 is not provided, the width of the non-sensible area X is reduced when the reflecting portion 400 is provided. When the clothes fall and a part of the clothes falls to any one of the first drop area S1, the second drop area S2 and the third drop area S3, the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 is blocked by the fallen clothes, so that the sensor portion 700 can sense that the illumination of the light emitting portion 600 is reduced.

[0490] Thus, the clothes treating apparatus can minimize the unsensable area X, so that no matter where the clothes fall on the bottom surface of the inner shell 200, it can be determined whether the clothes have fallen.

[0491] Fig.25 It is a figure which shows the filter part of the clothes processing apparatus of this invention.

[0492] In the laundry treating apparatus 1 , a filter 380 may be included at an upper portion of the machine room 300 to prevent dust from flowing into the inside of the circulation duct 320 .

[0493] The filter unit 380 may be installed at the inflow body 361 and filter dust flowing into the inflow body 361 .

[0494] The filter unit 380 may include a main body filter 386, which is installed on the upper portion of the inflow body 361 of the base cover 360 and is configured to shield a portion of the upper surface of the inflow body 361. The main body filter 386 may be formed of a mesh material that can block larger dust and through which light can pass.

[0495] The filter unit 380 may further include a main body cover 385, and the main body filter 386 is placed on the main body cover 385. The main body cover 385 may be arranged on the upper part of the inflow body. The main body cover 385 may shield one side of the upper part of the first inflow port 3621 and the third inflow port 3622. The portion of the main body cover 385 that shields the top surface of the first inflow port 3621 and the third inflow port 3622 may be perforated. In the case where the main body filter 386 is not installed, the main body cover 385 may prevent dust from flowing into the interior of the circulation duct 320 by blocking larger dust.

[0496] The filter unit 380 may further include a filter fixing unit 384 to fix the main body cover 385 and the main body filter 386. The filter fixing unit 384 may be disposed on the upper portion of the base cover 360. The circumferential surface of the main body cover 385 may be coupled to the filter fixing unit 384 and may be attached to and detached from the filter fixing unit 384.

[0497] The laundry processing device may further include a filter cover 382 on the upper portion of the main body cover 385. The filter cover 382 may be larger than the width of the main body cover 385. The filter cover 382 may cover one side of the main body filter 386. The lower surface of the filter cover 382 may be formed as a lattice-shaped injection molding. The filter cover 382 may be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the inner housing 200 so that the air inside the inner housing 200 flows into the circulation duct 320.

[0498] A blocking cover 381 may be provided on the upper portion of the filter cover 382. The blocking cover 381 may completely shield the top surface of the opening of the machine room 300.

[0499] Fig.26 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the positions of the light emitting unit and the sensor unit of the laundry processing apparatus of the present invention.

[0500] The light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be disposed at any position as long as the fallen clothes prevent the sensor unit 700 from sensing the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600.

[0501] Therefore, the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 are preferably provided below the hanger unit 510. The position below the hanger unit 510 includes the second space region V2 and the third space region V3 in the inner housing 200 and the machine room 300.

[0502] Therefore, any one of the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be disposed inside the machine room, and the remaining one of the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be disposed in the inner housing 200 or the door 40 .

[0503] The light emitting unit 600 may be disposed at a lower position than the inner housing 200, especially inside the machine room 300. This facilitates power supply and repair, and minimizes the influence of clothes hanging inside the inner housing 200 when determining whether clothes have fallen.

[0504] The light emitting unit 600 may be disposed toward the sensor unit 700 so that the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 is received by the sensor unit 700. In this case, the filter cover 382 may not be provided.

[0505] Since the clothes exist in the third space area V3 when the clothes are dropped and the sensor part 700 senses that the light is blocked by the dropped clothes, the sensor part 700 may be disposed at the lower portion of the inner shell 200, namely, the third space area V3.

[0506] In order for the sensor unit 700 to sense the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 disposed inside the machine room 300 , preferably, the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 are disposed in a width direction or a front-rear direction with respect to the bottom surface of the inner housing 200 .

[0507] That is, a portion of the path of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 needs to pass in parallel with the bottom surface of the inner housing 300 in the width direction or the front-rear direction.

[0508] Therefore, the sensor part 700 can be configured on the back side of the inner shell 200, and the light-emitting part 600 can be configured at a position closer to the front than the sensor part 700, or the sensor part 700 can be configured on a side surface of the inner shell 200, and the light-emitting part 600 can be configured on the side surface of the sensor part 700.

[0509] Since there is a high possibility that the clothes fall to the rear of the inner shell 200 when the clothes fall, it is preferred that the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 crosses the inner shell 200 in the front-rear direction.

[0510] For example, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 may be arranged to face the rear of the inner housing 200. Therefore, preferably, the sensor unit 700 is also arranged on the rear surface of the inner housing 200 to face the inside of the inner housing 200.

[0511] In the case where the laundry falls, the fallen laundry blocks the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600. Therefore, the laundry treating apparatus or the control unit C may determine that the laundry falls by sensing the abnormal illumination reduction through the sensor unit 700.

[0512] The light emitting unit 600 may be disposed on the upper portion of the main body filter 386 in the front or rear portion of the main body cover 385 .

[0513] Even inside the machine room, the light emitting unit 600 may be disposed at a position lower than the main body filter 386. Thus, dust or the like filtered by the main body filter 386 can be prevented from degrading the performance of the light emitting unit 600, and light can be prevented from being exposed to the eyes of the user.

[0514] The light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be disposed with the body filter 386 interposed therebetween. Thus, the light emitting unit 600 is disposed such that light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 passes through the body filter 386 and can be sensed by the sensor unit 700.

[0515] The light emitting unit 600 may be provided on one side of the inflow body 361. The light emitting unit 600 may be provided on the front side or the rear side of the inflow body 361 so as to emit light toward the upper part of the inflow body 361. That is, the light emitting unit 600 may be provided so as to emit light toward the upper part of the first inflow port 3621 or the third inflow port 3622. A shielding member for shielding the second inflow port 3623 may be further combined with the second inflow port 3623 of the inflow body 361. Therefore, it is not possible to provide the light to be emitted toward the upper part of the second inflow port 3623, and thus, it is preferably provided on the front side or the rear side of the inflow body 361 rather than on the side of the inflow body 361.

[0516] The light emitting unit 600 may further include a lighting setting unit capable of setting a light source. The lighting setting unit may be set to penetrate the front side or the back side of the inflow body.

[0517] By setting the light-emitting part 600 at the lower part of the main filter 386, the clothing processing device or the control part C uses the sensor part 700 to sense the illumination change of the light emitted from the light-emitting part 600, so as to not only determine whether the clothing has fallen, but also determine whether the main filter 386 is loaded or unloaded or the contamination degree of the main filter 386.

[0518] On the other hand, the machine room 300 may be arranged to be biased to the left side of the laundry processing device. The center of the width direction of the machine room 300 may not coincide with the center of the width direction of the laundry processing device. The center of the width direction of the laundry processing device may be on the right side of the machine room 300.

[0519] Therefore, the light emitting portion 600 may be disposed on the same line as the center of the width direction of the laundry treating apparatus, rather than the center of the width direction of the machine room 300 .

[0520] The sensor unit 700 may be disposed at the center of the width direction of the back side of the inner housing 200. Thus, the sensor unit 700 and the light emitting unit 600 may be disposed on a straight line at the center of the width direction of the inner housing 200.

[0521] That is, the sensor part 700 can be set at the center of the width direction of the back side of the inner shell, the inflow body 361 can be configured at a position biased to one side of the bottom surface of the inner shell, and the light-emitting part 600 can be configured at a position inside the inflow body 361 corresponding to the sensor part 700.

[0522] Different from the above description, the positions of the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be interchanged with each other.

[0523] The light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 may be provided in one piece. Thus, the laundry treating apparatus can reduce material costs and manufacturing costs, and can effectively sense whether the laundry has fallen or not by using one sensor unit 700.

[0524] On the other hand, when the light emitting portion 600 is disposed at the lower portion of the main body filter 386, due to the angle of light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 and the step between the main body cover 385 and the inner shell 200, the light cannot reach the sensor portion 700 disposed on the back side of the inner shell 200.

[0525] In order for the sensor part 700 to sense the change in the illumination of the light emitted from the light emitting part 600 , it is necessary to guide the light emitted from the light emitting part 600 toward the lower part of the inner housing 200 and finally reach the sensor part 700 .

[0526] Therefore, when the light-emitting unit 600 is disposed inside the mechanical room 300, in order to guide the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 600 to the sensor unit 700 and ensure sensing of the required illumination amount, a reflecting unit 400 may be further included. The reflecting unit 400 is disposed at a position higher than the light-emitting unit 600 and guides the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 600 to the sensor unit 700.

[0527] The reflective portion 400 may be configured to reflect the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 and enable the sensor portion 700 to sense the position, angle, and quantity of the light.

[0528] The reflective portion 400 may be configured to reflect the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 and guide the light to the sensor portion 700 regardless of where the light emitting portion 600 and the sensor portion 700 are disposed.

[0529] The reflective portion 400 may be disposed above the light emitting portion 600 and arranged in a straight line with the light emitting portion 600. The light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 may directly reach the reflective portion 400.

[0530] The reflective portion 400 may be disposed between the light emitting portion 600 and the sensor portion 700 .

[0531] The reflecting portion 400 may be disposed at a position higher than the main body filter 386 and arranged between the main body filter 386 and the light emitting portion 600. The reflecting portion 400 may be disposed on one surface of the main body cover 385. Thus, the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 may be guided to the reflecting portion 400, so that even the contamination degree of a local area of ​​the main body filter 386 can be sensed.

[0532] The reflecting portion 400 may be disposed between the filter cover 382 and the main body filter 386. The reflecting portion 400 may be provided on the lower surface of the filter cover 382. Preferably, the reflecting portion 400 is provided on the lower surface of the filter cover 382 to overcome the step between the main body cover 385 and the bottom surface of the inner housing 200 and guide the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 from the reflecting portion 400 to the sensor portion 700 existing on the back surface of the inner housing 200.

[0533] When the reflector 400 is disposed at the lower portion of the filter cover 382, ​​the filter cover 382 may further include a reflector 400 installation portion for installing the reflector 400 on the lower surface of the filter cover 382. The specific structure of the filter cover 382 will be described later.

[0534] Thus, the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 can be guided to the sensor portion 700 by utilizing the space between the filter cover 382 and the bottom surface of the inner shell 200, so that the sensor portion 700 can sense the reduction in illumination caused by the dropped clothes.

[0535] Fig. 27 It is a diagram showing the structure of the first reflection plate.

[0536] The reflective portion 400 may include a first reflective plate 410 , and the first reflective plate 410 is disposed on the same line as the light emitting portion 600 in a height direction.

[0537] The first reflective plate 410 may be disposed on a lower surface of the filter cover 382 .

[0538] The first reflection plate 410 may be disposed at the center of the filter cover 382 in the width direction.

[0539] The light emitting unit 600 , the sensor unit 700 , and the first reflective plate 410 may be arranged on a straight line, and the first reflective plate 410 may be provided with a first reflective surface 411 for reflecting light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 directly toward the sensor unit 700 .

[0540] The first reflective surface 411 may be disposed toward the rear of the laundry treating device.

[0541] The first reflection plate 410 may be provided with a hook 414 that can be coupled to the filter cover 382 .

[0542] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a first path R1 through which the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 is guided toward the sensor portion 700 via the first reflective surface 411 .

[0543] The first path R1 may pass through a lower portion of the inner case 200. The first path R1 may pass close to a bottom surface of the inner case 200.

[0544] When the clothes fall, the fallen clothes block the light passing through the first path R1. Therefore, the sensor part 700 senses the abnormal illumination reduction, so that the clothes treating device or the control part C can determine that the clothes fall.

[0545] Fig.28 The following is an example of a reflecting part of a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0546] Fig.28 (a) shows an exploded perspective view of the filter unit 380. Fig.28 (b) shows a cross section of the machine room cut transversely.

[0547] Only by the first reflective plate 410 , the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 may not be sufficiently transmitted to the sensor unit 700 .

[0548] Therefore, if Fig.28As shown in (a), the reflective portion 400 may further include a second reflective plate 420 and a third reflective plate 430 symmetrically arranged on both sides of the first reflective plate 410 to fully transmit the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 to the sensor portion 700 .

[0549] The second reflective plate 420 and the third reflective plate 430 may be disposed on the lower surface of the filter cover 382 close to two side surfaces of the filter cover 382 .

[0550] At this time, the first reflective plate 410 may further include: a second reflective surface 412 for reflecting the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 toward the second reflective plate 420 ; and a third reflective surface 413 for reflecting the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 toward the third reflective plate 430 .

[0551] In addition, the second reflection plate 420 may be provided with a fourth reflection surface 421 for reflecting the light reflected from the second reflection surface 412 toward the sensor unit 700. The third reflection plate 430 may be provided with a fifth reflection surface 431 for reflecting the light reflected from the third reflection surface 413. Thus, the light reflected from the fourth reflection surface 421 and the fifth reflection surface 431 may be sensed by the sensor unit 700.

[0552] That is, the first reflection plate 410 may reflect the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 toward the second reflection plate 420 and the third reflection plate 430. The light reflected from the second reflection plate 420 and the third reflection plate 430 may be sensed by the sensor unit 700.

[0553] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a second path R2 in which the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 is guided toward the sensor portion 700 via the second reflecting surface 412 of the first reflecting plate 410 and the fourth reflecting surface 421 of the second reflecting plate 420 .

[0554] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a third path R3 in which the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 is guided toward the sensor portion 700 via the third reflective surface 413 of the first reflective plate 410 and the fifth reflective surface 431 of the third reflective plate 430 .

[0555] When the laundry falls, the fallen laundry blocks the light passing through the second path and the third path. Therefore, the laundry treating device or the control unit C can determine that the laundry falls by sensing an abnormal decrease in illumination through the sensor unit.

[0556] In addition, by guiding the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 to the first path R1 , the second path R2 , and the third path R3 , even the contamination degree of a local area of ​​the body filter 386 can be sensed.

[0557] Fig.29 It is a diagram showing an embodiment of a reflecting part of a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0558] like Fig.28 As shown, when the reflecting part 400 includes the first reflecting plate 410, the second reflecting plate 420, and the third reflecting plate 430, when the clothing falls and blocks at least one of the first path R1, the second path R2, and the third path R3, the sensor part 700 can sense about 0 to 66% of the light emitted from the light emitting part 600. However, when the main body filter 386 is installed and the clothing is not fallen, the sensor part 700 can sense about 60 to 70% of the light emitted from the light emitting part 600. Therefore, the amount of light sensed by the sensor part 700 when the clothing falls and when the clothing is not fallen has an overlapping range, and if less than about 66% of the light is sensed, it cannot be sensed, and there is a possibility that the accuracy of judging the clothing falling is reduced.

[0559] Therefore, in order to eliminate the scope of the duplication, in the clothing processing device, when the light emitting portion 600 is arranged at the lower portion of the main body filter 386, the sensor portion 700 is arranged at the inner shell 200 or the door 40 and is configured to be closer to the filter portion 380 than the hanger portion 510, the reflecting portion 400 may include only the second reflecting plate 420 and the third reflecting plate 430 in addition to the first reflecting plate 410.

[0560] By providing the second reflecting plate 420 and the third reflecting plate 430 , the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 may pass through the body filter 386 and go through the second path R2 and the third path R3 .

[0561] If the laundry falls to the bottom surface of the inner case 200 , the laundry may block at least one of the second path R2 and the third path R3 .

[0562] Thus, the control unit C can determine whether the clothes have fallen by sensing the change in illumination of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 through the sensor unit 700.

[0563] Specifically, when the main body filter 386 is installed and the clothes are not dropped, the sensor part 700 can sense about 60-70% of the light emitted from the light emitting part 600. At this time, when the clothes are dropped and block at least one of the second path R2 and the third path R3, about 0-50% can be sensed.

[0564] Therefore, the overlapping range in the amount of light sensed by the sensor unit 700 when the clothes fall and when the clothes do not fall is eliminated, so that the control unit C can also accurately judge whether the clothes fall and whether the main filter 386 is loaded and unloaded only by the second reflector 420 and the third reflector 430 arranged on both sides of the filter cover 382.

[0565] Fig.30 1 is a diagram showing a laundry drop area of ​​the laundry treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0566] On the other hand, since the light emitting unit 600 emits light toward the rear of the inner housing 200 when the light emitting unit 600 is disposed in the machine room or the lower part of the main body filter, an area blocked by the filter cover 382 and thus not sensed by the sensor unit 700 may be generated, i.e., an unsensible area X. If clothes fall into the unsensible area X, the fallen clothes cannot block the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600, and thus the sensor unit 700 cannot sense the reduction in illumination.

[0567] Therefore, a reflective portion 400 may be further included, wherein the reflective portion 400 is configured to disperse the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 in at least two directions, so that the sensor portion 700 senses that the clothes dropped to the bottom surface block the light emitted from the light emitting portion 600 .

[0568] like Fig.30 As shown in (a), since there is a higher possibility that the clothes fall to the rear of the inner shell 200, or the area of ​​the fallen clothes is larger than the unsensable area X and only falls on a part of the unsensable area X, even if the light-emitting unit 600 is arranged at the lower part of the machine room 300 or the main body filter 366, the sensor unit 700 can sense the illumination change of the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 600.

[0569] However, if Fig.30 As shown in (b), when a very small piece of clothing such as a scarf falls or falls in front of the inner shell 200, the area of ​​the fallen clothing is narrower than the unsensable area X and therefore may fall into the unsensable area X.

[0570] Therefore, if Fig.30As shown in (c), in order to minimize the non-sensible area X of the sensor part 700, the reflective part 400 can be arranged between the sensor part 700 and the light emitting part 600 on both sides of the sensor part 700 and the light emitting part 600.

[0571] The second reflective plate 420 and the third reflective plate 430 may be disposed close to both sides of the filter cover 382. In addition, in order to minimize the unsensable area X of the sensor unit 700, the second reflective plate 420 and the third reflective plate 430 may be disposed close to the back side of the filter cover 382.

[0572] Thus, the second reflecting plate 420 and the third reflecting plate 430 may be configured to be maximally close to both sides and the back of the filter cover 382 , thereby minimizing the unsensable area X.

[0573] The reflective portion 400 may be disposed closer to the light emitting portion 600 than the sensor portion 700 .

[0574] The sensor unit 700 and the light emitting unit 600 may be arranged along the front-rear direction with the bottom surface as a reference, and the reflective unit 400 may be arranged along the width direction with the bottom surface as a reference.

[0575] The plurality of reflection parts 400 may be symmetrically arranged with respect to the sensor part 700 .

[0576] The plurality of reflective units 400 may be symmetrically arranged with respect to the sensor unit 700 and the light emitting unit 600 .

[0577] Fig.31 It is a figure which shows the structure of the filter cover of the clothes processing apparatus of this invention.

[0578] Fig.31 (a) is a bottom perspective view of the filter cover 382, Fig.31 (b) is a diagram showing the lower surface of the filter cover 382 on which the reflecting portion 400 is provided.

[0579] The filter cover 382 may be provided with a first reflective plate installation portion 3821 a on a lower surface of the filter cover 382 where the first reflective plate 410 can be installed.

[0580] The filter cover 382 may further include a second reflective plate installation portion 3821b on which the second reflective plate 420 can be installed and a third reflective plate installation portion 3821c on which the third reflective plate 430 can be installed on the lower surface of the filter cover 382. The second reflective plate installation portion 3821b and the third reflective plate installation portion 3821c may be symmetrically arranged on both sides of the first reflective plate installation portion 3821a.

[0581] The filter cover 382 may be provided with a coupling member installation portion 3822 on a lower surface of the filter cover 382 , where the coupling member 383 may be installed. The coupling member 383 is detachably coupled to the filter fixing portion 384 .

[0582] The filter cover 382 may include a hook 3823 on a lower surface of the filter cover 382 and supported by the filter fixing portion 384 .

[0583] The filter cover 382 may be provided with a fragrance sheet installation portion 3824 at a lower portion of the filter cover 382 where a fragrance sheet may be installed, and the fragrance sheet may deodorize the air.

[0584] Fig.32 2 is a diagram illustrating a method for controlling a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0585] Since the existing clothes processing device cannot determine whether the clothes have fallen before or during the clothes processing, even if the clothes have fallen, the program can only be continued without ending.

[0586] Specifically, in the conventional clothes processing apparatus, the clothes processing step starts after the user selects the course input / change step of the course, and the clothes processing step is not interrupted even if the clothes fall, but is continuously executed until a prescribed time has passed.

[0587] The clothing processing step may include at least one of the following two steps: a steam injection step of supplying steam to the interior of the inner shell 200 by driving the heater part 840 and a drying step of supplying hot air to the interior of the inner shell 200 by driving one or more of the compressor 342 and the air supply fan 353.

[0588] The existing clothes treating apparatus has a risk that, in the case where clothes fall and the fallen clothes block the steam spraying port, the clothes are damaged by the hot and humid wind sprayed during the steam program in the clothes treating step.

[0589] In addition, there is also the problem that the steam cannot be normally sprayed into the interior of the inner shell, resulting in that the clothes that have not fallen but are in a hanging state cannot be properly processed.

[0590] Therefore, when it is sensed that laundry has fallen during laundry treatment, it is necessary to stop the program and control whether a subsequent program is to be executed.

[0591] Therefore, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may be configured to block the driving of the heater part 840 if the sensor part 700 senses that the laundry has fallen.

[0592] Blocking the driving of the heater part 840 includes interrupting the driving of the heater part 840 when the heater part 840 is being driven, and not starting the driving of the heater part 840 when the heater part 840 is not being driven.

[0593] Specifically, if the user turns on the power of the laundry treating apparatus so that power is supplied, the course input / change step may be performed.

[0594] The laundry treating apparatus may further include an input unit provided at the door 40 or the housing 100 and receiving an input or a change instruction of the course.

[0595] In the course input / change step (not shown), the user can select and input a desired course through the input unit. If the user selects a desired course through the input unit, the compressor 342, the heater unit 840, the vibrating unit 520, etc. start to drive according to the course. For example, when the normal laundry treatment course is selected, the heater unit 840 can be started to generate steam.

[0596] After the process input / change step (not shown), the clothing processing apparatus or the control unit C may perform a clothing drop sensing step A1 capable of determining whether clothing has dropped by sensing illumination changes based on the sensor unit 700 .

[0597] On the other hand, the sensor unit 700 of the laundry processing device of the present invention may include all means capable of sensing the falling of the laundry. For example, the sensor unit 700 may be configured as any one of an illumination sensor that senses whether light is blocked by the falling laundry, a radar sensor that senses the amount of the laundry by emitting electromagnetic waves as signals and receiving reflected signals, and a load sensor that is provided at the hanger unit 510 and senses the amount of the laundry.

[0598] However, as mentioned above, the sensor unit 700 is preferably provided as an illumination sensor. Thus, the sensor unit 700 can indirectly and quickly grasp the falling of clothes by sensing the illumination change caused by the blocking or arrival of light.

[0599] In the clothing processing device of the present invention, when the sensor unit 700 is provided as an illumination sensor, a light emitting unit 600 that emits light toward the sensor unit 700 or the inner shell 200 may be further included. The sensor unit 700 may be provided at a position capable of completely receiving the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600. The specific setting positions of the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 have been described above. In order for the sensor unit 700 to sense whether the clothing has fallen by blocking the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600 by the fallen clothing, the light emitting unit 600 and the sensor unit 700 are preferably provided at a position lower than the hanger unit 510.

[0600] Therefore, in the clothing drop sensing step A1, the sensor unit 700 can determine whether the clothing has dropped by sensing the change in illumination of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 600.

[0601] The laundry drop sensing step A1 may be performed at any time before the laundry treating step is performed after the power of the laundry treating apparatus is turned on or during the execution of the laundry treating step.

[0602] That is, the laundry drop sensing step A1 may be performed at any time before at least one of the steam generator 800 and the compressor 342 is driven after the power of the laundry treatment device is turned on or during the driving of at least one of the steam generator 800 and the compressor 342. In the laundry drop sensing step A1, when the laundry treatment device determines that the laundry has dropped by sensing an abnormal increase in illumination or an abnormal decrease in illumination, a blocking step A2 of blocking the driving of at least one of the heater part 840 and the compressor 342 is performed without executing the subsequent program and ending. Ending includes the case of interrupting the process selected by the user and the case of not starting the process at all.

[0603] For example, when the user selects the normal laundry treatment course and an abnormal increase in illumination or an abnormal decrease in illumination is sensed during the operation of the heater unit 840, the operation of the heater unit 840 may be interrupted. Alternatively, when an abnormal increase in illumination or an abnormal decrease in illumination is sensed before the operation of the heater unit 840, the operation of the heater unit 840 may not be started.

[0604] Alternatively, if a specified time has passed after the laundry processing step is stopped, the power supply of the laundry processing device may also be turned off. Thus, even if the user does not know that the laundry processing step is interrupted due to the falling of the laundry, the power supply of the laundry processing device may be turned off after a specified time, thereby minimizing unnecessary energy consumption.

[0605] As described above, when the sensor unit 700 senses an abnormal illumination change in the laundry drop sensing step A1 and the program is interrupted, there is a problem that laundry processing is not performed contrary to the user's expectation, causing inconvenience.

[0606] Therefore, when an abnormal illumination change is sensed by the sensor unit 700 in the abnormal illumination change sensing step A1 and the program is interrupted, it is necessary to make the user aware of this.

[0607] The clothing processing device of the present invention may further include a display unit, which is disposed on the housing 100 or the door 40 and displays information transmitted from the control unit C. In the notification step A3, if the sensor unit 700 senses that the clothing has fallen, the control unit C may display clothing processing information related to the falling of the clothing on the display unit.

[0608] Thus, in the case where the sensor unit 700 senses the dropping of clothes in the clothes dropping sensing step, the notification step A3 may be further performed after the clothes processing step A2 is immediately stopped.

[0609] The control unit C may display the laundry processing information on the display unit after blocking driving of at least one of the heater unit 840 and the compressor 342 .

[0610] Alternatively, the control unit C may display the laundry processing information on the display unit while blocking driving of at least one of the heater unit 840 and the compressor 342 .

[0611] The laundry processing information may include the state of the laundry falling. Thus, the laundry processing step can be prevented from being executed in the state of the laundry falling by making the user aware of the laundry falling, thereby preventing the laundry from being damaged.

[0612] In the notification step A3, the user may be notified of the interruption of the laundry treatment step due to the laundry falling. That is, the laundry treatment information may include a state in which the driving of at least one of the heater 840 and the compressor 342 is interrupted.

[0613] Fig.33 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for controlling a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0614] On the other hand, even if the sensor part 700 senses an abnormal illumination change in the laundry drop sensing step and the laundry processing step is interrupted as described above, the degree of the problem and the control method may differ depending on the time point when the laundry drops.

[0615] For example, if clothes fall during steam spraying, the fallen clothes block the steam spraying port, so the clothes may be more seriously damaged when they fall during the steaming step than when they fall during the drying step after the steaming step.

[0616] In addition, in the case where the laundry falling is sensed and the laundry processing step is interrupted, it is necessary for the user to control whether the subsequent laundry processing step is performed or not.

[0617] In the clothing processing device of the present invention, the control unit C can be configured to execute any process of processing the clothing by driving at least one of the heater unit 840 and the compressor 342, and to control at least one of the heater unit 840 and the compressor 342 differently according to the time point when the clothing falls during the execution of the process.

[0618] Thus, the laundry processing device of the present invention can control the execution of the laundry processing step according to the time point when the laundry falls. In addition, the execution of the subsequent laundry processing step can be controlled according to the user's intention or automatically.

[0619] In addition, the control unit C may be configured to block the light emitting unit 600 from emitting light if the sensor unit 700 senses that the laundry has fallen.

[0620] Fig.33 2 is a diagram showing a control method when laundry falls before steam is sprayed.

[0621] Specifically, the clothes treating apparatus of the present invention may perform a process input step B1 of receiving an instruction to perform the clothes treating step.

[0622] If the course input step is performed, the laundry treating step may be performed.

[0623] During this process, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may perform a drop sensing step B2 of sensing whether the laundry has dropped.

[0624] If the sensor part 700 senses that the laundry has fallen before the heater part 840 is driven, the control part may block the driving of the heater part 840 and stand by by performing the blocking step B3.

[0625] At this time, if the laundry drop is sensed after the course input step B1 and before the steam spraying step B5, the blocking step B3 of interrupting the laundry treatment step may be performed, and the notifying step B4 may be performed.

[0626] Specifically, in the steam spraying step B5, the heater unit 840 may be driven even before the steam is sprayed. Therefore, if the clothes are sensed to have fallen in the clothes falling sensing step B2 after the heater unit 840 is driven and before the steam is sprayed, the driving of the heater unit 840 may be blocked in the blocking step B3. Thus, the user's convenience can be improved by preventing the clothes from falling before the steam is sprayed and thus preventing the clothes from being processed from the beginning.

[0627] In addition, the control unit C may block driving of the compressor 342 and put the compressor 342 into standby mode in addition to the heater unit 840 .

[0628] If the laundry is sensed to have fallen in the laundry falling sensing step B2 after the course input / change step B1 and before the heater part 340 is driven, the notification step B4 may be performed without starting the laundry processing step. Thus, the user may open the door, hang the laundry on the hanger part 510 again, and perform the course input / change step B1 again.

[0629] The laundry processing apparatus may further include a display unit, which is disposed on the housing 100 or the door 40 and displays information transmitted from the control unit C. If the sensor unit 700 senses that the laundry has fallen, the control unit C may display an interruption due to the falling of the laundry on the display unit.

[0630] Fig.34 2 is a diagram showing a control method when laundry falls after steam is sprayed.

[0631] The laundry processing apparatus of the present invention may further perform a process input step C1 of receiving an instruction to perform the laundry processing step.

[0632] If the process input step C1 is performed, the steam spraying step C2 of generating steam supplied to the inside of the inner case 200 by driving the heater part 840 may be performed.

[0633] Thereafter, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may perform a drop sensing step C3 of sensing whether the laundry has dropped.

[0634] If the sensor part 700 senses that the laundry has fallen while the heater part 840 is being driven, the control part C may perform a blocking step C4 of interrupting the driving of the heater part 840 .

[0635] If the laundry drop sensing step C3 is performed and the drop of laundry is sensed while the steam spraying step C2 is being performed, the steam spraying step C2 may be stopped by performing the blocking step C4 and then the notifying step C5 may be performed.

[0636] The concept of stopping the steam spraying step C2 may include stopping the driving of the heater part 840 and only stopping the steam spraying while continuing to drive the heater part 840 .

[0637] In the notification step C5, if the sensor unit 700 senses that the clothes have fallen, the control unit C may display information on the display unit indicating that the clothes have been interrupted due to the clothes falling. This can prevent the clothes from being damaged by the steam sprayed during the steam program when the steam spray port is blocked by the fallen clothes.

[0638] like Fig.34 (a) In the case where the laundry is sensed to have fallen in the laundry falling sensing step C3, the power supply of the laundry processing device can be turned off after a predetermined time has passed after the notification step C5. Thus, even if the user does not know that the laundry processing step is interrupted, unnecessary energy consumption can be minimized.

[0639] Or, if Fig.34 (b), the control unit C may allow the compressor 342 to be driven. That is, the blocking step C3 may include not blocking the driving of one or more of the compressor 343 and the fan 353 but allowing the driving, or maintaining the driving if the driving is in progress.

[0640] The laundry processing device may automatically perform the drying step C6 after the notification step C5-1. Thus, by drying the hanging laundry immediately, the laundry can be prevented from being in the steam-spraying state for a long time after the steam is interrupted, thereby minimizing the damage to the laundry.

[0641] In the case where no laundry drop is sensed in the laundry drop sensing step C3 - 1 , the steam spraying may be terminated and the drying step C6 may be performed as the next step.

[0642] Fig.35 is a diagram showing another control method when laundry falls after steam spraying.

[0643] The laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may further perform a process input step D1 of receiving an instruction to perform the laundry treating step.

[0644] If the process input step D1 is performed, the steam spraying step D2 of generating steam supplied to the inside of the inner case 200 by driving the heater part 840 may be performed.

[0645] During this process, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may perform a drop sensing step D3 of sensing whether the laundry has dropped.

[0646] If the sensor part 700 senses that the laundry has fallen during the driving of the heater part 840 , the control part C may preferentially interrupt the driving of the heater part 840 .

[0647] If the laundry drop sensing step 3 is performed and the laundry drop is sensed during the steam spraying step D2, the blocking step D4 of interrupting the driving of the heater part 840 may be performed, and the steam spraying step D2 may be immediately stopped and then the notifying step D5 may be performed.

[0648] In the notification step D5, the user may be asked whether to continue the steam spraying step D2 even if the falling of the laundry is sensed.

[0649] The laundry processing apparatus of the present invention may perform a confirmation step D6 of inquiring whether to drive any one of the heater part 840 and the compressor 342 again in the state where the laundry falls, when performing the notification step D5.

[0650] The notification step D5 and the confirmation step D6 may be performed simultaneously. An input unit may be further included, the input unit being provided on the door 40 or the housing 100, the input unit receiving a driving instruction for driving any one of the heater unit 840 and the compressor 342 again when the clothes are dropped.

[0651] If the driving instruction is not input to the input unit in the notification step D5, the control unit C may keep blocking the driving of the heater unit 840 or the compressor 342. That is, if the user chooses to interrupt the steam spraying step D2 and end the process without executing the drying step D7, all programs may be ended immediately.

[0652] On the contrary, if the driving instruction is input to the input unit in the notification step D5, the control unit may drive one or more of the heater unit 840 and the compressor 343 again. That is, if the user chooses to continue the process, the drying step D7 may be started. Thus, even if the clothes fall, the user's intention can be reflected to the greatest extent, and the matching clothes processing step can be selected to be performed or not.

[0653] Fig.36 2 is a diagram showing a control method when laundry drops during the drying step after steam spraying is completed.

[0654] If the sensor unit 700 senses that the laundry has fallen while the compressor 342 is being driven during the drying step E3, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may perform a blocking step E5 of completely blocking the driving of the heater unit 840 and the compressor 342.

[0655] That is, if the clothes falling sensing step E4 is performed after the steam spraying step E2 or during the drying step E3 and clothes falling is sensed, the clothes treating apparatus of the present invention may immediately perform the blocking step E5 of stopping the drying step E3, and then perform the notification step E6. The stopping in the blocking step E5 may include stopping the driving of the compressor 342 and stopping only the spraying of hot air while continuing to drive the compressor 342.

[0656] In the notification step E6, a phrase notifying the user of the fact that the drying step has been interrupted due to the falling of the clothes can be presented, thereby preventing the clothes from being damaged by the hot air when the hot air injection port is blocked by the falling clothes.

[0657] Fig.37 2 is a diagram showing another control method when laundry drops during the drying step after the steam spraying is finished.

[0658] If the laundry drops after the drying step, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may perform the blocking step F5 of interrupting the driving of one or more of the compressor 342 and the fan 353 and the notifying step F6.

[0659] At this time, the clothes treating apparatus of the present invention may execute a confirmation step F7 to inquire the user whether to continue the process. If the user chooses to continue the drying step F3 in the confirmation step F7, the interrupted drying step F3 may be continued. On the contrary, if the user chooses to interrupt the drying step F3 and end the process in the notification step F6, all programs may be immediately ended and the power may be disconnected.

[0660] However, if the laundry drop is not sensed in the laundry drop sensing step F4, the steam spraying step F2 may be ended and the drying step F3 as the next step may be completed.

[0661] On the other hand, unlike the above-mentioned embodiment, in the case where the clothes are sensed to have fallen during the execution of the drying step F3 after the steam spraying step F2 is finished, the clothes treating apparatus of the present invention may unconditionally complete the drying step F3 without stopping the drying step F3. This is because, unlike the steam spraying step F2, the clothes dropped in the drying step F3 are less likely to be damaged, and it is the last step of the process, so it is more advantageous to end the process.

[0662] Fig.38 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for controlling a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0663] On the other hand, as mentioned above, if the falling of clothes is sensed during or after the steam injection and the clothes processing step is stopped, even if the user opens the door and hangs the fallen clothes on the hanger part 510 again, the subsequent clothes processing step is not executed and the process is ended, and the user needs to execute the process again from the beginning.

[0664] Therefore, the present invention provides a laundry treating apparatus which, in a case where the laundry treating step is stopped due to the sensing of the dropping of laundry during the laundry treating process, restarts the laundry treating step if the opening of a door is sensed.

[0665] The present invention may further include a door sensing unit, which is disposed on the housing 100 or the door 40 and senses the opening of the door 40. If the door sensing unit senses that the door 40 is opened after the driving of either the heater unit 840 or the compressor 342 is blocked, the control unit C may drive either the heater unit 840 or the compressor 342 again.

[0666] In this embodiment, the process from the process input step G1 to the blocking step G4 and the notification step G5 can be performed in the same manner.

[0667] The laundry treating apparatus may further perform a door opening sensing step G6. In the door opening sensing step G6, it may be sensed whether the door 40 is opened. In the door opening sensing step G6, all means capable of sensing the opening of the door may be used.

[0668] In the notification step G5, if the user recognizes that the clothes have fallen, the user may open the door 40 and hang the fallen clothes again on the hanger part 510. Therefore, it is preferable that the door opening sensing step is performed after the notification step G5.

[0669] In the door opening sensing step G6, if the door is not opened, the laundry processing step may be directly ended, and the power of the laundry processing device may be turned off after a predetermined time.

[0670] In the door opening sensing step G6, if it is sensed that the door is opened, the laundry treating step may be started again.

[0671] The laundry treatment step may be performed again from the beginning, but in the case where the process is started again from the beginning, there may be a problem of wasting unnecessary time and energy.

[0672] Therefore, it is preferred to continue the previously executed laundry processing step and start again. For example, when the laundry is sensed to have fallen at the time point when the drying step starts, the laundry processing device may only perform the drying step without starting again from the steaming step. Thus, even if the process is not restarted from the beginning, the user can normally end the laundry processing without wasting time.

[0673] The control unit C may be configured such that if any one of the heater unit 840 and the compressor 342 is driven again, the sensor unit 700 senses again whether the clothes have fallen. Thus, even if the clothes treatment step is restarted and the clothes fall again, the clothes can be prevented from being damaged and the clothes treatment can be completely completed.

[0674] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various improvements and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the technical concept of the present invention as provided by the following claims.

Claims

1. A clothes processing device, characterized in that: include: Box; An inner shell, disposed inside the box body, providing a space for accommodating clothes; A hanger portion, arranged at the upper portion of the inner shell, and the clothes are placed on the hanger portion; a machine room, which is in communication with the inner shell and is provided with a heater and a compressor, wherein the heater generates steam supplied to the inner shell and the compressor pressurizes a refrigerant that exchanges heat with air supplied to the inner shell; A sensor unit, disposed in the inner housing or the machine room, for sensing whether the clothing has fallen; as well as a control unit that controls at least one of the heater, the compressor, and the sensor unit; The control part is configured to block the driving of the heater if the sensor part senses that the laundry has fallen.

2. The clothes treating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control unit is configured to execute any process of treating the clothes by driving at least one of the heater and the compressor; The control unit is configured to control at least one of the heater and the compressor differently according to a time point when the laundry falls during execution of the course.

3. The clothes treating device according to claim 2, characterized in that: If the sensor part senses the drop of the laundry before the heater is driven, the control part blocks the driving of the heater and stands by.

4. The clothes treating device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The control unit further blocks driving of the compressor and stands by.

5. The clothes treating device according to claim 4, characterized in that: It also includes a display unit, which is arranged on the box or the door and displays the information transmitted from the control unit; If the sensor part senses that the laundry has fallen, the control part displays information that the display part is interrupted due to the laundry falling.

6. The clothes treating device according to claim 2, characterized in that: If the sensor part senses that the laundry has fallen during the driving of the heater, the control part interrupts the driving of the heater.

7. The clothes treating device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The control unit allows driving of the compressor.

8. The clothes treating device according to claim 6, characterized in that: It also includes a display unit, which is arranged on the box or the door and displays the information transmitted from the control unit; If the sensor part senses that the laundry has fallen, the control part displays information that the display part is interrupted due to the laundry falling.

9. The clothes treating device according to claim 2, characterized in that: If the sensor part senses that the laundry has fallen while the compressor is being driven, the control part blocks the driving of the heater and maintains the driving of the compressor.

10. The clothes treating device according to claim 9, characterized in that: It also includes a display unit, which is arranged on the box or the door and displays the information transmitted from the control unit; If the sensor part senses that the laundry has fallen, the control part displays information that the display part is interrupted due to the laundry falling.

11. The clothes treating device according to claim 2, characterized in that: If the sensor part senses that the laundry has fallen during the driving of the compressor, the control part blocks the driving of the heater and interrupts the driving of the compressor.

12. The clothes treating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sensor unit is provided with at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of an illumination sensor, a radar sensor, and a load sensor; The illumination sensor senses whether light is blocked by the fallen clothing; the radar sensor sensing the laundry amount of the laundry by emitting electromagnetic waves as signals and receiving reflected signals; The load sensor is disposed on the hanger portion to sense the weight of the clothes.

13. The clothes treating device according to claim 12, characterized in that: The sensor unit is provided with the illumination sensor; Also included is a light emitting portion that emits light toward the interior of the inner housing; The sensor part senses the dropped laundry by blocking the light emitted from the light emitting part by the dropped laundry.

14. The clothes treating device according to claim 13, characterized in that: The light emitting unit and the sensor unit are arranged below the hanger unit.

15. The clothes treating device according to claim 14, characterized in that: The mechanical room also includes: An inflow body, which is in communication with the bottom surface of the inner shell, and air flows into the inflow body; a circulation duct provided with a heat exchange portion for heating the air flowing in from the inflow body to generate the hot air; and a discharge pipe, communicating with the circulation pipe and the interior of the inner shell, and arranged at a position further rearward than the inflow body; The light emitting portion is disposed on the inflow body; The sensor part is arranged on the back side of the inner shell.

16. The clothes treating device according to claim 15, characterized in that: The sensor further includes a reflecting portion that is disposed above the light emitting portion and guides the light emitted from the light emitting portion toward the sensor portion.

17. The clothes treating device according to claim 16, characterized in that: The mechanical room also includes: a main body filter mounted on the inflow main body; and A filter cover is arranged at a position higher than the main filter; The reflection part includes two side reflection plates arranged on two sides of the filter cover.

18. The clothes treating device according to claim 13, characterized in that: The control unit is configured to block the light emitting unit from emitting light if the sensor unit senses that the laundry has fallen.

19. The clothes treating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a door sensing unit disposed on the box or the door and sensing that the door is opened; If the door sensing part senses that the door is opened after driving of any one of the heater and the compressor is blocked, the control part drives any one of the heater and the compressor again.

20. The clothes treating device according to claim 19, characterized in that: The control unit is configured such that if any one of the heater and the compressor is driven again, the sensor unit senses again whether the laundry has fallen.

21. A clothes processing device, characterized in that: include: The box body has an opening at the front; An inner shell, disposed inside the box body, providing a space for accommodating clothes; A door, combined with the box body, opens and closes the opening; A hanger portion, arranged at the upper portion of the inner shell, and the clothes are placed on the hanger portion; a machine room, which is in communication with the inner shell and is provided with a heater and a compressor, the heater generating steam and the compressor pressurizing a refrigerant that exchanges heat with air supplied to the inner shell; A sensor unit, disposed in the inner housing or the machine room, for sensing whether the clothing has fallen; a control unit that controls at least one of the heater, the compressor, and the sensor unit; as well as A display unit, disposed on the box or the door, for displaying information transmitted from the control unit; If the sensor part senses that the laundry has fallen, the control part displays laundry handling information related to the laundry falling on the display part.

22. The clothes treating device according to claim 21, characterized in that: The laundry handling information includes a state in which the laundry is dropped.

23. The clothes treating device according to claim 21, characterized in that: The control unit blocks driving of at least one of the heater and the compressor; The laundry processing information includes a state in which driving of at least one of the heater and the compressor is interrupted.

24. The clothes treating device according to claim 23, characterized in that: The control unit displays the laundry processing information on the display unit after interrupting driving of at least one of the heater and the compressor.

25. The clothes treating device according to claim 23, characterized in that: The control unit displays the laundry processing information on the display unit while blocking driving of at least one of the heater and the compressor.

26. The clothes treating device according to claim 23, characterized in that: The laundry processing information further includes an inquiry as to whether to drive any one of the heater and the compressor again in a state where the laundry is dropped.

27. The clothes treating device according to claim 24, characterized in that: The device further includes an input unit provided at the door or the housing, and a driving instruction for driving one of the heater and the compressor again in a state where the clothes have fallen is inputted into the input unit.

28. The clothes treating device according to claim 27, characterized in that: When the drive command is input to the input unit, the control unit drives one of the heater and the compressor again.

29. The clothes treating device according to claim 27, characterized in that: If the drive command is not input to the input unit, the control unit blocks the driving of the heater or the compressor.

30. A clothes processing device, characterized in that: include: Box; An inner shell, disposed inside the box body, providing a space for accommodating clothes; A hanger part, comprising a power transmission part, a driving part and at least one hanger, the clothes are placed on the hanger, the power transmission part is arranged on the upper part of the inner shell and is arranged to shake the hanger, and the driving part is connected to the power transmission part and provides power to shake the hanger; a machine room, which is in communication with the inner shell and is provided with a heater and a compressor, wherein the heater generates steam supplied to the inner shell and the compressor pressurizes a refrigerant that exchanges heat with air supplied to the inner shell; A sensor unit, disposed in the inner housing or the machine room, for sensing whether the clothing has fallen; as well as a control unit that controls at least one of the heater, the compressor, and the sensor unit; The control part is configured to block the driving of the heater if the sensor part senses that the laundry has fallen.

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