Clothing processing apparatus and control method of clothing processing apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a clothing processing apparatus capable of shaking clothes at a processing speed higher than a sensing speed in a state in which steam and hot air are supplied after shaking the clothes at the sensing speed for a sensing time by a moving hanger hanging the clothes. The clothing processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a cabinet; an inner case which provides an accommodation space in which clothes are held inside the cabinet; a machine room which is disposed in the lower part of the inner case and generates at least one of hot air and steam supplied to the inside of the accommodation space; and a moving hanger seated in the upper part of the inner case and provided to shake the clothes in a state where the clothes are hung thereon, wherein the moving hanger is provided to shake the clothes at a processing speed higher than a sensing speed in a state in which at least one of steam and hot air is supplied after the clothes are shaken at the sensing speed for a sensing time.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus and a method for controlling the same. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus and a method for controlling the same capable of performing a refreshing cycle such as sterilization, wrinkle removal, deodorization, and drying of laundry by supplying steam and hot air to the laundry.[Background]

[0002] A laundry treating apparatus refers to an apparatus developed to wash and dry laundry and remove wrinkles on the laundry at home and in a laundry. A concept "laundry treating apparatus" encompasses apparatuses such as a washing machine that washes the laundry, a dryer that dries the laundry, a washer-dryer that provides both washing and drying functions, a laundry management apparatus that refreshes the laundry, and a steamer that removes the wrinkles from the laundry.

[0003] In recent years, a laundry treating apparatus corresponding to the laundry management apparatus that allows the laundry to be kept pleasant and clean without having to immerse the laundry in water and wash the same with detergent has emerged.

[0004] Such an existing laundry treating apparatus performs a refreshing cycle of supplying one of high-temperature air (hot air) and steam to the laundry to deodorize the laundry, dry the laundry, and remove the wrinkles from the laundry.

[0005] In general, such a laundry treating apparatus accommodates the laundry therein by suspending the laundry from an upper end thereof. Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus may place each laundry item in a height direction, so that a plurality of laundry items may also be suspended along a width direction.

[0006] The laundry treating apparatus may be configured such that a component (hereinafter, referred to as a moving hanger) for holding the laundry therein is moveable. Thus, the existing laundry treating apparatus may shake the laundry with the moving hanger when hot air and steam are supplied to the laundry, thereby removing dust and foreign substances from the laundry.

[0007] In one example, because the moving hanger is moved by a motor or the like, information of the laundry including a weight of the laundry may be identified by analyzing a current value or characteristics of current output to the motor.

[0008] However, because the laundry treating apparatus as in the present disclosure does not have a rotatable drum, the laundry is suspended in a state of being stretched in a longitudinal direction.

[0009] Therefore, when the laundry items are shaken with the moving hanger, waveforms in which they are shaken vary depending on lengths or materials thereof even when they have the same weight. Further, the waveforms affect a load of the moving hanger.

[0010] In addition, because a difference in inertial force applied to the moving hanger occurs when the laundry is shaken with a normal wave, vibrates without forming the normal wave, and vibrates without generating the waveform, it is difficult to sense a state of the laundry with the moving hanger.

[0011] Furthermore, the moving hanger is not directly connected to the motor to rotate, but is configured to shake the laundry with a torque greater than that of the motor while a operation frequency is reduced compared to that of the motor by a converter such as a pulley and a belt. In this regard, because of characteristics of a connection structure between the pulley and the belt, the belt rotates the pulley while periodically moving the same from top to bottom. Further, the period may vary by a tension and a length of the belt.

[0012] As such, the moving hanger system characteristics such as the tension affect the load of the motor, which means that the current value of the motor is also affected.

[0013] Because of such limitations, unlike the washing machine and the dryer having the drum, the existing laundry treating apparatus having the moving hanger has a problem in that it is not able to sense the state of the laundry through information of the motor.[Summary][Technical Problem]

[0014] The present disclosure is intended to provide a laundry treating apparatus, such as a laundry management apparatus in which laundry is held in a state of being stretched in a longitudinal direction, capable of sensing one or more of a weight, a length, and a material of the laundry through a moving hanger that shakes the laundry.

[0015] Further, the present disclosure is intended to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of accurately sensing one or more of a weight, a length, and a material of laundry by reflecting characteristics of a moving hanger using a belt and pulley method.

[0016] Further, the present disclosure is intended to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of accurately sensing a state including a weight, a length, and a material of laundry by reflecting a change in tension of a moving hanger using a belt and a change in the belt itself.

[0017] Further, the present disclosure is intended to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of accurately sensing a state of laundry in consideration of both characteristics of current generated in a moving hanger and vibration characteristics of the laundry based on a change in a motor rpm.[Technical Solutions]

[0018] To solve the above-described problems, the present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus including a cabinet, an inner casing providing an accommodation space where laundry is held inside the cabinet, a machine room disposed under the inner casing, wherein one or more of hot air and steam supplied into the accommodation space are generated inside the machine room, and a moving hanger that is seated in an upper portion of the inner casing and shakes the laundry while the laundry is held thereon.

[0019] The moving hanger may, after shaking the laundry at a sensing speed for a sensing duration, shake the laundry at a treatment speed higher than the sensing speed while at least one of steam and the hot air is supplied to the laundry.

[0020] The moving hanger may include a driver that is seated on the inner casing outside the accommodation space and provides power for shaking the laundry, a plurality of hanging portions that hold the laundry thereon inside the accommodation space, a belt that is connected to the driver and transmits the power, and a pulley that is connected to the belt and transmits the power to the hanging portions.

[0021] The belt may reciprocate between an upper end and a lower end of the pulley when the driver is in operation.

[0022] The sensing duration may be equal to or greater than a period for the belt to reciprocate between the upper end and the lower end of the pulley.

[0023] The sensing duration may be set to be equal to or greater than a duration required for the belt to complete a number of rotations that is a multiple of four.

[0024] When one or more of a tension and a material of the belt are varied, the sensing duration may also be varied.

[0025] The sensing duration may increase as the tension of the belt increases.

[0026] When the tension of the belt increases, the sensing duration may increase by an amount equal to or greater than a duration required for the pulley to complete a number of rotations that is a multiple of four.

[0027] The sensing duration may decrease as the tension of the belt decreases.

[0028] When the tension of the belt decreases, the sensing duration may decrease by an amount equal to or greater than a duration required for the pulley to complete a number of rotations that is a multiple of four.

[0029] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a door that is coupled to the cabinet and opens and closes the accommodation space, and a display that is disposed on one of the cabinet and the door and displays laundry information related to a weight, a length, and a material of the laundry, and the display may display the same laundry information when the laundry held on the hanging portion is the same even when the material of the belt is varied to another material.

[0030] The display may display the same laundry information when the laundry held on the hanging portion is the same even when a use time of the belt elapses, a tension of the belt is varied, or an installation environment of the belt including a temperature and a humidity is varied.

[0031] The moving hanger may be controlled to shake the laundry at a first sensing speed for a first sensing duration, then shake the laundry at a second sensing speed higher than the first sensing speed for a second sensing duration, and then shake the laundry at the treatment speed.

[0032] The second sensing duration may be set to be smaller than the first sensing duration.

[0033] The display may display one or more of the weight, the length, and the material of the laundry, and an execution duration of a course for treating the laundry after the sensing duration elapses.

[0034] The moving hanger may be controlled such that the sensing duration decreases as the sensing speed increases.

[0035] The moving hanger may be controlled such that the sensing duration increases as the sensing speed decreases.[Advantageous Effects]

[0036] The present disclosure may sense one or more of the weight, the length, and the material of the laundry through the moving hanger that shakes the laundry in the laundry treating apparatus, such as the laundry management apparatus in which the laundry is held in the state of being stretched in the longitudinal direction.

[0037] Further, the present disclosure may accurately sense one or more of the weight, the length, and the material of the laundry by reflecting the characteristics of the moving hanger using the belt and pulley method.

[0038] Further, the present disclosure may accurately sense the state including the weight, the length, and the material of the laundry by reflecting the change in the tension of the moving hanger using the belt and the change in the belt itself.

[0039] Further, the present disclosure may accurately sense the state of the laundry in consideration of both the characteristics of the current generated in the moving hanger and the vibration characteristics of the laundry based on the change in the motor rpm.[Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0040] FIG. 1 illustrates an outer appearance of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates a structure of a machine room of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the moving hanger of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the moving hanger of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 5 illustrates a structure in which the moving hanger is separated from an inner casing. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the moving hanger. FIG. 7 illustrates an operation state of the moving hanger. FIG. 8 illustrates an operation process of the moving hanger. FIG. 9 illustrates a scheme in which the moving hanger rotates the laundry. FIG. 10 is a control block diagram of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 11 illustrates a scheme in which a driver of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure senses load information of the laundry. FIG. 12 illustrates a state in which the laundry vibrates when the moving hanger is operated. FIG. 13 illustrates that the laundry vibrates with a normal wave when the moving hanger is operated at a resonance frequency. FIG. 14 illustrates that vibration characteristics change when the length of the laundry changes. FIG. 15 illustrates a structure in which a position of the belt periodically varies based on the structure of the moving hanger according to the present disclosure. FIG. 16 illustrates that a period in which the position of the belt changes varies depending on a structure of the moving hanger according to the present disclosure. FIG. 17 illustrates that a period of vibration occurring in the moving hanger changes based on characteristics of the moving hanger according to the present disclosure. FIG. 18 illustrates a control method of sensing a state of the laundry through the moving hanger by the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 19 illustrates a scheme in which the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure senses a state change of the moving hanger. FIG. 20 illustrates a control method of sensing a state change of the moving hanger by the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 21 illustrates a speed change of the moving hanger when the control method of the present disclosure is applied. [Best Mode]

[0041] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present document, same or similar components will be assigned with same or similar reference numerals even in different embodiments, and a description thereof will be substituted by a first description. A singular expression used herein includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed herein, when it is determined that a detailed description of the related known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein, the detailed description will be omitted. In addition, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings are only for making it easy to understand the embodiments disclosed herein, and a technical idea disclosed herein should not be interpreted as being limited by the accompanying drawings.

[0042] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outer appearance of a laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure.

[0043] Referring to (a) in FIG. 1, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may include a cabinet 100 forming the outer appearance thereof and a door 11 pivotably coupled to the cabinet 10.

[0044] The door 11 may have the same height and width as a front surface of the cabinet 100, and may form a front surface of the laundry treating apparatus 1.

[0045] The door 11 may include an input unit that receives a command for operating the laundry treating apparatus, and a display that externally indicates an operating state of the laundry treating apparatus visually, auditorily, or the like.

[0046] Referring to (b) in FIG. 1, an inner casing 20 having an accommodation space 21 for accommodating laundry therein may be disposed inside the cabinet 10. The inner casing 20 may have an opening 21 through which the laundry enters and exits at a front side thereof, and the opening 21 may be shielded by the door 11.

[0047] The inner casing 20 may be made of a plastic resin-based material, and may be made of a reinforced plastic resin-based material that is not deformed by air having a temperature higher than a room temperature or heated air (hereinafter, hot air) and steam or moisture.

[0048] The inner casing 20 may have a height greater than a width thereof. Accordingly, the laundry may be accommodated in the accommodation space 21 in a state of not being folded or wrinkled.

[0049] The laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may include a clothes hanger capable of hanging the laundry in the accommodation space 21 of the inner casing 20. The clothes hanger may be mounted on a moving hanger 100 that is seated in the inner casing 20 and holds the laundry thereon.

[0050] The moving hanger 100 may be exposed to an inner top surface of the inner casing 20, so that the clothes hanger may be mounted thereon. The moving hanger 100 may be configured to reciprocate on the top surface of the inner casing 20 and shake the laundry. A detailed structure of the moving hanger 100 will be described later.

[0051] When the laundry is held on the moving hanger 100, the laundry may be held in a state of being stretched in a height direction while being suspended in air inside the accommodation space 21. Accordingly, the laundry held in the accommodation space 21 may be evenly exposed to hot air and steam, and wrinkles thereof may be removed by a self-weight.

[0052] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may further include a pressurizer 40 coupled to an inner surface of the door 11 to fix the laundry.

[0053] The pressurizer 40 may be pivotably coupled to an inner side of the door 11 and press the laundry fixed to the inner surface of the door 11 toward the inner surface of the door 11.

[0054] The pressurizer 40 may generate intended creases on both sides of the laundry.

[0055] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may further include a machine room 30 in which various apparatuses capable of supplying one or more of hot air and steam to the accommodation space 21 or purifying or dehumidifying external air of the cabinet 10 are installed.

[0056] The machine room 30 may be disposed to be separated or partitioned from the inner casing 20, but may be in communication with the inner casing 20.

[0057] The machine room 30 may be disposed under the inner casing 20. Accordingly, when hot air and steam having a small specific gravity are supplied to the inner casing 20, the hot air and steam may be naturally supplied to the laundry.

[0058] The machine room 30 may include a circulation duct that circulates air inside the inner casing 20 and a plurality of heat exchangers that is disposed in the circulation duct, cools and condenses the air, and heats the air.

[0059] The machine room 30 may include a heat pump system including a compressor that is connected to the plurality of heat exchangers and compresses a refrigerant, which cools or heats the air.

[0060] The machine room 30 may also include a steam supply 50 capable of supplying steam into the inner casing 20. The steam supply 50 may generate steam by heating water. The laundry accommodated in the inner casing may be exposed to hot air generated by the heat pump system and steam generated by the steam supply 50 to be subjected to deodorization, sterilization, wrinkle removal, and drying.

[0061] A water tank 31 that supplies water for generating the steam and a drain tank 32 that collects water condensed in the circulation duct may be disposed in a front portion of the machine room 30.

[0062] The water tank 31 and the drain tank 32 may be detachably disposed in the front portion of the machine room 30. Accordingly, even when the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure is not disposed near a water supply source or a floor drain, a user may detach and transport the water tank 31 and the drain tank 32 whenever necessary.

[0063] The water tank 31 and the drain tank 32 may be arranged side by side along a width direction of the machine room 30.

[0064] In addition, the machine room 30 may further include a drawer 33 for accommodating items necessary for managing the laundry. The drawer 33 may be extendable from the machine room 30, and may have a space for accommodating the items such as an iron defined therein.

[0065] The laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may have seating brackets 60 on which a separate shelf may be seated inside the inner casing 20. The seating brackets 60 may protrude from both side surfaces of the inner casing 20 at the same vertical level.

[0066] The seating bracket 60 may have a light emitting unit that irradiates light into the inner casing 20. The light emitting unit may be configured to irradiate light toward an inner surface of the inner casing 20 to prevent glare.

[0067] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a structure of a machine room.

[0068] The machine room 30 may be disposed under the inner casing 20 and provide a space in which the heat pump system 80 and the steam supply 50 are installed, and may include a duct 90 providing a flow channel for circulating air inside the inner casing 20.

[0069] The duct 90 may define a circulation flow channel in communication with each of an inlet and an outlet of the inner casing 20, and may define a space in which air inside the inner casing 20 flows. A blowing fan may be disposed inside the duct 90. The blowing fan may generate a pressure difference to suck and discharge air inside the accommodation space 21.

[0070] The duct may be defined in a rectangular shape with a partially open upper portion, and a separate cover may be coupled to the upper portion of the duct to complete the internal flow channel. The duct 90 may include an inflow duct 91 in communication with the inner casing 20 and into which air is introduced, a discharge duct 92 spaced apart from the inflow duct 91, in communication with the inner casing 20, and through which air is discharged, and a transfer duct 93 connecting the inflow duct 91 with the discharge duct 92 and defining a flow channel through which air flows.

[0071] The heat pump system 80 may include an evaporator 81 that is accommodated in the duct 90 and cools the air, a condenser 82 that generates hot air by heating air that has passed through the evaporator 81, and a compressor 83 that compresses a refrigerant that has passed through the evaporator 81 to heat the same and supplies the compressed refrigerant to the condenser 82, and may further include an expansion valve that expands and cools the refrigerant that has passed through the condenser 82 and transmits the expanded refrigerant to the evaporator 81.

[0072] The evaporator 81 and the condenser 82 may be accommodated in the transfer duct 93, and the compressor 82 and the expansion valve may be disposed outside the duct 90.

[0073] The evaporator 81 and the condenser 83 may be arranged along a direction in which air flows. For example, the evaporator 81 may be disposed closer to the inflow duct 91 than to the condenser 83, and the condenser 83 may be disposed closer to the discharge duct 92 than to the evaporator 81.

[0074] The steam supply 50 may be disposed inside the duct 90.

[0075] The steam supply 50 may be disposed outside the duct 90 so as not to interfere with the flow of air flowing along the duct 90.

[0076] The steam supply 50 may include a steam generator 51 that receives and stores water therein and generates steam by heating water with a heater or the like inside, and a steam nozzle 52 that supplies steam generated by the steam generator 51 to the accommodation space 21.

[0077] The steam nozzle 52 may be in communication with the inner casing 20, and may be disposed adjacent to the discharge duct 92. The steam generator 51 may be seated and supported on an upper portion of the duct 90, and may support the steam nozzle 52.

[0078] The steam supply 50 may further include a recovery pipe 54 allowing the steam nozzle 52 and the steam generator 51 to be in communication with each other.

[0079] The recovery pipe 54 may recover water condensed without being discharged from the steam nozzle 52 to the outside again into the steam generator 51. The steam nozzle 52 may be disposed upwardly of the steam generator 51, so that steam is naturally supplied to the inner casing 20 by a density difference, and water is recovered into the steam generator 51 by gravity.

[0080] The steam nozzle 52 may not be equipped as a simple hose, but may be made of a plastic material and may be formed in a casing shape in which one or more of steam, air, and water may be accommodated therein.

[0081] The steam supply 50 may further include a steam pipe 53 connecting the steam generator 51 with the steam nozzle 52. Steam generated by the steam generator 51 may be supplied into the steam nozzle 52 along the steam pipe 53 and may be supplied into the inner casing 20.

[0082] The machine room 30 may further include a water supply 60 capable of supplying water for generating steam from the steam supply 50.

[0083] The water supply 60 may receive water from the water tank 31 seated in the front portion of the machine room 30 and supply water to the steam supply 50.

[0084] The water supply 60 may include a water supply pipe 61 that receives water from the water tank 31, a supply pipe 63 that supplies water from the water supply pipe 61 to the steam supply 50, and a water supply pump 62 that supplies power to the water supply pipe 61 to supply water to the supply pipe 63.

[0085] The water tank 31 may be detachably disposed in front of the duct 90, and the water supply pump 62 may be disposed outside the duct 90.

[0086] The supply pipe 63 may be in communication with the steam generator 51 and supply water to the steam generator 51.

[0087] Alternatively, the supply pipe 63 may be in communication with the steam nozzle 52 and supply water to the steam nozzle 52. That is, the water supply 60 may directly supply water to the steam nozzle 52 and indirectly supply water to the steam generator 51 through the recovery pipe 54. Accordingly, the flow channel structure may be simplified.

[0088] The machine room 30 may further include a water discharger 70 configured to collect the water condensed in the evaporator 81 to the drain tank 32.

[0089] The water discharger 70 may include a discharge pipe 71 that is in communication with a bottom surface of the duct 90 and discharges water collected in a lower portion of the duct 90 to the outside of the duct 90, a drain pump 72 that supplies water discharged through the discharge pipe 71 to the drain tank 32, and a drain pipe 73 that supplies water supplied to the drain pump 72 to the drain tank 32.

[0090] In one example, the water discharger 70 may further include a recovery duct 74 that allows the duct 90 and the drain tank 32 to be in communication with each other to re-guide water in the drain tank 32 into the duct 90. Accordingly, even when the drain tank 32 is full, water collected in the drain tank 32 may be prevented from leaking to the outside.

[0091] In the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure, when a refreshing cycle of the laundry of performing the sterilization, the deodorization, the wrinkle removal, the drying, and the like is performed, hot air and steam may be supplied to the inner casing 20 at an appropriate time through the machine room 30, and moisture discharged from the inner casing 20 may be condensed and collected in the drain tank 32.

[0092] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the moving hanger 100 of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0093] The moving hanger 100 according to the present disclosure may include a power transmitter 400 that is disposed in an upper portion of the inner casing 10 and shakes the clothes hanger 900.

[0094] The power transmitter 400 may extend through a top surface of the inner casing. The power transmitter 400 may be formed in a rod shape, a tube shape, or a plate shape having a length greater than a thickness.

[0095] A hanging portion 700 on which the clothes hanger 900 may be seated or mounted may be disposed at a lower portion of the power transmitter 400. As a result, when the power transmitter 400 moves, the hanging portion 700 moves, and the clothes hanger 900 mounted on the hanging portion 700 is shaken, so that the laundry may be shaken off.

[0096] The hanging portion 700 may be integrally formed with the power transmitter 400, or may be equipped as a separate component and mounted on the power transmitter 400.

[0097] The power transmitter 400 may include a plurality of power transmitters, and the hanging portion 700 mounted on the power transmitter 400 may also include a plurality of hanging portions. Accordingly, a large amount of laundry items, corresponding to the number of power transmitters 400, may be held inside the inner casing 20 and be refreshed.

[0098] The moving hanger 100 may include a driver 200 that provides power for moving the power transmitter 400.

[0099] Because the driver 200 is configured to operate by receiving electric energy, it is preferable that exposure thereof to steam or hot air is blocked. Accordingly, the driver 200 may be disposed between the top surface of the inner casing 20 and an upper panel of the cabinet 10 and be prevented from being exposed to the accommodation space 21.

[0100] The power transmitter 400 may extend through the top surface of the inner casing 20 and receive power from the driver 200. The power transmitter 400 may extend through the top surface of the inner casing 20 and extend downwards, so that a lower end thereof may be exposed to the accommodation space 21.

[0101] In one example, the top surface of the inner casing 20 may support weights of the power transmitter 400 and the driver 200. However, the laundry is held and moved on the power transmitter 400, and the weight of the driver 200 is also relatively great. Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may further include a support 800 so as to stably install the moving hanger 100 on the top surface of the inner casing 20.

[0102] The support 800 may be disposed on the inner casing 20 and may be coupled to and supported by the cabinet 1. The support 800 may be made of a metal material having high rigidity.

[0103] The power transmitter 400 and the driver 200 may be seated on the support 800 and disposed on the inner casing 20.

[0104] In one example, the driver 200 includes a motor that rotates a rotation shaft. The driver 200 may move the power transmitter 400 with power of rotating the rotation shaft.

[0105] However, it may be difficult to shake the power transmitter 400 at a sufficient displacement when the rotation shaft rotates only in place.

[0106] Accordingly, the moving hanger 100 may further include a displacement generator 300 that is coupled to the rotation shaft and generates a sufficient displacement for the power transmitter 400 to move.

[0107] The displacement generator 300 may connect the rotation shaft and the power transmitter 400 to each other to transmit the power of the rotation shaft to the power transmitter 400.

[0108] The displacement generator 300 may include an eccentric shaft that rotates while drawing a trajectory greater than a diameter of the rotation shaft by the rotation shaft. The eccentric shaft may generate a displacement that causes the power transmitter 400 to reciprocate within a predetermined range.

[0109] Accordingly, when the driver 200 is in operation, the power generated from the rotation shaft may be transmitted to the power transmitter 400, so that the power transmitter may reciprocate within the predetermined range.

[0110] The moving hanger 100 may be configured to shake the laundry by allowing the power transmitter 400 to perform a reciprocating rotational motion instead of reciprocating the power transmitter 400 left and right.

[0111] Specifically, the moving hanger 100 may allow the power transmitter 400 to perform the reciprocating rotational motion within a predetermined angle range rather than reciprocating the same in a straight line.

[0112] Accordingly, the power transmitter 400 may perform the reciprocating rotational motion left and right at a correct position, and thus the laundry held on the power transmitter 400 may only perform the reciprocating rotational motion left and right and may not linearly reciprocate left and right.

[0113] As a result, even when the laundry rotates inside the inner casing 20 by the power transmitter 400, a movement of a center of gravity thereof inside the inner casing 20 may be limited. Therefore, even when the moving hanger 100 is in operation, vibration generated inside the inner casing 20 may be sharply reduced, and as a result, noise generation may be minimized.

[0114] The moving hanger 100 may further include a reciprocating rotational motion generator 500 that converts continuous rotational energy generated by the driver 200 or the displacement generator 300 into the reciprocating rotational motion of the power transmitter 400.

[0115] The reciprocating rotational motion generator 500 may connect the displacement generator 300 and the power transmitter 400 to each other. The reciprocating rotational motion generator 500 may connect the displacement generator 300 and the power transmitter 400 to each other at a location above the inner casing 20, thereby preventing the laundry from being damaged by the moving hanger 100.

[0116] In one example, the moving hanger 100 may allow only one of the plurality of power transmitters 400 to perform the reciprocating rotational motion.

[0117] However, when only one power transmitter 400 is rotated, a laundry item held on the rotating power transmitter may collide with a laundry item held on another power transmitter 400, so that there is a concern that the laundry item may be damaged or the moving hanger 100 may be damaged.

[0118] Therefore, it is preferable that the moving hanger 100 is configured to rotate all of the plurality of power transmitters 400. In addition, the moving hanger 100 may be configured to rotate the plurality of power transmitters 400 at the same time through the same angle. Accordingly, the power transmitters 400 may be prevented from colliding with each other.

[0119] In one example, in the moving hanger 100, it may be advantageous in controlling the rotation of all the power transmitters 400 that the power of the driver 200 is directly transmitted to all of the plurality of power transmitters.

[0120] However, when the driver 200 includes a plurality of drivers configured to transmit the power to the power transmitters 400, respectively, not only an excessive weight may be applied to the upper portion of the inner casing 20, but also the plurality of drivers 200 need to be controlled.

[0121] Therefore, the moving hanger 100 may be configured such that one driver 200 rotates the plurality of power transmitters 400.

[0122] In this regard, when the displacement generator 300 and the reciprocating rotational motion generator 400 are connected to transmit the power transmitted from one driver 200 to all the respective power transmitters 400, an arrangement and structures of the displacement generator 300 and the reciprocating rotational motion generator 400 may become complicated, and thus reliability may be reduced.

[0123] Therefore, the moving hanger 100 according to the present disclosure may transmit the power generated from the driver 200 to only some of the plurality of power transmitters 400. The reciprocating rotational motion generator 500 may transmit the power transmitted from the driver 200 or the displacement generator 300 only to some power transmitters 400. Therefore, because a configuration of the reciprocating rotational motion generator 500 is simplified, the reliability in transmitting the power may be secured.

[0124] In one example, the moving hanger 100 may further include a connector 600 that transmits the power transmitted to the specific power transmitter 400 to another power transmitter 400.

[0125] For example, the connector 600 may connect the plurality of power transmitters 400 to each other. Accordingly, when one power transmitter 400 rotates, all of power transmitters 400 adjacent thereto or spaced apart therefrom may rotate.

[0126] Specifically, the moving hanger 100 may transmit the power of the driver 200 to only one of the plurality of power transmitters 400, and transmit the power, transmitted to the specific power transmitter, to the remaining power transmitters 400 through the connector 600.

[0127] The displacement generator 300 or the reciprocating rotational motion generator 400 may intensively transmit the power generated by one driver 200 to one power transmitter 400. In addition, the connector 600 may transmit the power, transmitted to the specific power transmitter 400, to all the power transmitters 400.

[0128] The connector 600 may be equipped as a rigid body and connect all the power transmitters 400 to each other, and all the power transmitters 400 may rotate at the same time in the same direction and through the same angle because of the connector 600.

[0129] Accordingly, the moving hanger 100 according to the present disclosure may allow the plurality of power transmitters 400 to perform the reciprocating rotational motion at the same time through the same angle with one driver 200 through the simple configuration.

[0130] FIG. 4 illustrates a structure of the moving hanger 100.

[0131] The moving hanger 100 may include the driver 200 that is fixed to the top surface of the inner casing 20 and provides the power for the power transmitters to move, a plurality of reciprocating rotational motion generators 500 that are coupled to the plurality of power transmitters 400, respectively, and rotate such that a rotation direction thereof is repeatedly changed by receiving the power from the driver 200, and the connector 600 that connects the plurality of reciprocating rotational motion generators to each other.

[0132] The connector 600 may include a singular link that connects the plurality of reciprocating rotational motion generators 500 to each other to integrally rotate the plurality of reciprocating rotational motion generators 500.

[0133] The connector 600 may connect the power transmitters 400 to each other.

[0134] When the connector 600 connects the reciprocating transmitters 500 to each other, the connector 600 may be installed upwardly of the support 800, so that the connector 600 may not be exposed to the inside of the inner casing 20.

[0135] When the connector 600 is equipped as the singular link, interference between the driver 200 and the connector 600 may be minimized.

[0136] For example, the singular link may be coupled to a front portion or a rear portion of the reciprocating rotational motion generator 500, and the displacement generator 300 or the driver 200 to be described later may be disposed at the rear of or in front of the reciprocating rotational motion generator 500.

[0137] The connector 600 may rotate the plurality of reciprocating rotational motion generators 500 while reciprocating in a width direction of the inner casing 20.

[0138] The driver 200 may include a motor 210 that rotates a rotation shaft 210, a power shaft 240 that rotates together when the rotation shaft 210 rotates, and a converter 230 that connects the power shaft 240 with the rotation shaft 210 and transmits a rotational force of the rotation shaft 210 to the power shaft 240.

[0139] The motor 210 may be fixed to the top surface of the inner casing 20 and rotate the rotation shaft 220. However, the rotation shaft 220 is configured to rotate at an RPM too high compared to an appropriate cycle for the motor 210 to allow the power transmitter 400 to perform the reciprocating rotational motion. When the RPM of the rotation shaft is lowered in consideration of this, there is a concern that an output of the motor 210 may not be transmitted to the power transmitter 400.

[0140] To solve such a problem, the converter 230 may transmit an output of the rotation shaft 220 to the power transmitter 400 as it is, but lower the RPM of the rotation shaft 220.

[0141] The converter 230 may rotate by being connected to the rotation shaft 220, but may rotate with a diameter greater than that of the rotation shaft 220. Accordingly, while rotating at an RPM lower than the RPM of the rotation shaft 220, the converter 230 may increase a torque of the rotation shaft 220 and transmit the increased torque.

[0142] The power shaft 240 is a component that is rotated by the converter 230, is equipped separately from the rotation shaft 230, and directly transmits the power to the power transmitter 400.

[0143] The reciprocating rotational motion generator 500 may be coupled to the power transmitter 400 to be rotatable together with the power transmitter 400.

[0144] The reciprocating rotational motion generator 500 may include each reciprocating lever 510 that is coupled to an upper portion of each power transmitter 400 and rotates the power transmitter 400.

[0145] The reciprocating lever 510 may be formed in a rib or rod shape having a center of rotation coupled to a support shaft 410.

[0146] The reciprocating levers 510 may be respectively coupled to upper ends of the plurality of power transmitters 400, and some reciprocating levers 510 may be connected to the converter 230 to receive the power from the motor 210.

[0147] The reciprocating lever 510 may perform the reciprocating rotational motion through a predetermined angle when the converter 230 is rotated by the motor 210. The power transmitter 400 may be coupled to the center of rotation of the reciprocating lever 510 and rotate together with the reciprocating lever 510.

[0148] The plurality of reciprocating levers 510 may be connected to each other by the connector 600.

[0149] The connector 600 may connect respective one ends of the plurality of reciprocating levers 510 to each other.

[0150] Accordingly, when one of the plurality of reciprocating levers 510 rotates, the connector 600 may move, so that the plurality of reciprocating levers 510 may rotate simultaneously and at the same time.

[0151] The power transmitter 400 and the reciprocating lever 510 may be supported by the support 800. In addition, the motor 210 and the converter 230 may also be supported by the support 800.

[0152] FIG. 5 illustrates that the moving hanger 100 according to the present disclosure is separated from the inner casing 20.

[0153] The power transmitter 400 may extend downwards from above the inner casing, and the hanging portion 700 may be coupled to the lower portion of the power transmitter 400.

[0154] Each reciprocating rotational motion generator 500 may be coupled to each power transmitter 400, and may be coupled to an upper portion of the power transmitter 400 to be easily connected to the driver 200.

[0155] The power transmitter 400 and the reciprocating rotational motion generator 500 respectively include a plurality of power transmitters and a plurality of reciprocating rotational motion generators arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the width direction of the inner casing.

[0156] The connector 600 connects the plurality of power transmitters 400 or the plurality of reciprocating rotational motion generators 500 to each other. Accordingly, the connector 600 may simultaneously rotate the plurality of power transmitters 400 or the plurality of reciprocating rotational motion generators 500.

[0157] The power transmitter 400 may include the support shaft 410 extending through the top surface of the inner casing 20 and coupled to the reciprocating lever 510.

[0158] The support shaft 410 may extend through the support 800 to be exposed to a space above the support 800 or the inner casing 20.

[0159] The power transmitter 400 may include an auxiliary support 420 coupled to the support shaft 410 and exposed to the accommodation space. The auxiliary support 420 may be formed in a rod shape, and the hanging portion 700 may be coupled and fixed to a lower portion of the auxiliary support 420.

[0160] The auxiliary support 420 may be fixed to the support shaft 410 and rotated together with the support shaft 410. Accordingly, when the support shaft 410 is rotated by the reciprocating lever 510, the auxiliary support 420 coupled to the support shaft 410 is also rotated, so that the hanging portion 700 may also be rotated left and right.

[0161] The reciprocating levers 510 may include a main lever 511 that directly receives the power from the driver 200 and performs the reciprocating rotational motion and auxiliary levers 512 that receive the power from the main lever 511 through the connector 600.

[0162] The main lever 511 may be provided as a single unit and directly receive the power from the driver 200.

[0163] In the driver 200, the motor 210 may include a vertical motor 211 coupled to the support 800 and a vertical rotation shaft 221 rotated by the vertical motor 211.

[0164] The converter 230 may include a driving pulley 231 coupled to the vertical rotation shaft 221 to rotate together with the vertical rotation shaft 221, a transmission pulley 232 coupled to the power shaft 240 to rotate the power shaft 240, and a belt 233 connecting the driving pulley 231 with a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the transmission pulley 232.

[0165] The converter 230 may further include a pulley support 224 rotatably supporting the power shaft 240 and the transmission pulley 232. The pulley support 224 may support the transmission pulley 232 to be disposed in parallel with the driving pulley 231, and may be seated on the support 800.

[0166] The power shaft 240 may transmit the power transmitted from the rotation shaft 220 to one of both ends of the main lever 511.

[0167] The power shaft 240 may be coupled with the displacement generator 300 to be described later and allow the main lever 511 to perform the reciprocating rotational motion around the support shaft 410.

[0168] The connector 600 may include a link bar 610 connecting an end of both ends of the main lever 511, which is not connected to the power shaft 240, with respective one ends of the auxiliary levers 512.

[0169] The auxiliary lever 512 may be rotatably coupled to the support shaft 410, and may extend in one direction from a portion thereof coupled to the support shaft 410 to be connected to the link bar 610.

[0170] The link bar 610 may be formed in a shape of a straight frame connecting the one end of the main lever 511 with the respective one ends of the auxiliary levers 512. In this regard, the one end of the main lever 511 and the respective one ends of the auxiliary levers 512 may be arranged in parallel with each other based on the link bar 610 or the width direction.

[0171] The link bar 610 may be provided as a single unit, and rotate the main lever 511 and the auxiliary levers 512 simultaneously and at one time around the respective support shafts 410.

[0172] The inner casing 20 may include a through hole 23 on which a portion of the support 800 is seated to expose the power transmitters 400 to the accommodation space 22.

[0173] The through hole 23 may be defined in a top surface 22 of the inner casing, and the through hole 23 may be defined along a direction in which the power transmitters 400 are arranged.

[0174] For example, the power transmitters 400 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other along the width direction of the inner casing, and the through hole 23 may be defined along the width direction of the inner casing.

[0175] The laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may further include support frames 12 disposed outside the inner casing and supporting the cabinet 1.

[0176] The support frames 12 may be disposed at positions corresponding to edges of the cabinet 1 or edges of the inner casing 20 and may be made of a metal material that maintains the outer appearance of the laundry treating apparatus. Both ends of the support 800 are seated on and supported by the support frames 12, thereby preventing unnecessary impact or weight from being transmitted to the top surface 22 of the inner casing.

[0177] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the moving hanger 100 according to the present disclosure.

[0178] The power transmitter 400 may include the support shaft 410 extending through the top surface of the inner casing 20 and coupled to the reciprocating lever 510, the auxiliary support 420 coupled to the support shaft 410 and exposed to the accommodation space 21, and the hanging portion 700 coupled to the auxiliary support 420 and holding the clothes hanger 900 or the laundry thereon.

[0179] The support shaft 410 may be formed in a cylindrical shape having a length greater than a diameter, and may be easily rotated by the reciprocating lever 510.

[0180] The support shaft 410 may have a diameter much smaller than that of the auxiliary support 420, thereby extending through the inner casing or the support 800 with a smaller area size. Accordingly, a possibility of leaking hot air or steam, supplied to the accommodation space, to the space above the inner casing 20 may be further reduced.

[0181] The auxiliary support 420 may have a cross-sectional area greater than that of the support shaft 410 and may have a length greater than that of the support shaft 410. Accordingly, the auxiliary support 420 may secure rigidity and area size to rotate the hanging portion 700 and the clothes hanger 900 while supporting them.

[0182] The support 800 may include a support plate 810 through which the support shaft 410 extends and on which the driver 200 may be supported. The support plate 810 may be equipped as a metal plate to ensure rigidity and durability, and may extend in a direction in which the plurality of power transmitters 400 are arranged.

[0183] The support 800 may include an extending body 812 extending upwards from each of both ends of the support plate 810 to define a space in which the driver 200 and the reciprocating rotational motion generator 500 are seated between the inner casing 20 and an upper portion of the cabinet 10, and a seating body 813 extending from each extending body 821 to be seated on the support frame 12.

[0184] The support 800 may include a shaft coupling portion 820 through which the support shaft 410 extends.

[0185] The shaft coupling portion 820 may include a plurality of shaft coupling portions so as to be disposed at positions corresponding to positions at which the power transmitters 400 are disposed, and the plurality of shaft coupling portions may be arranged to be spaced apart along a longitudinal direction of the support plate 810.

[0186] In one example, the support 800 may further include an auxiliary plate 880 coupled to a lower portion of the support plate 810. The auxiliary plate 880 may be made of a resin-based material, and may partially accommodate an outer circumferential surface of the power transmitter 400 therein.

[0187] The auxiliary plate 880 may include a plurality of accommodation holes 882 defined below the support plate 810 and rotatably accommodating the respective power transmitters 400 therein, a plurality of extension steps 883 extending from the respective accommodation holes 882 to have a greater width, and fixing plates 881 extending from the respective extension steps 883, facing the support plate 810, and coupled and fixed to the support plate 810.

[0188] The accommodation hole 882 may be defined at an upper end of the support shaft 410 or the auxiliary support 420 and prevent hot air or air from being discharged to the shaft coupling portion 820. The extension step 883 may serve to disperse a weight or an impact transmitted to the auxiliary plate 880, and may serve to prevent collision or interference between the accommodation hole 882 and the clothes hanger 900.

[0189] The support 800 may further include a seating plate 820 seated on top of the support plate 810.

[0190] The seating plate 820 may serve to support a bearing seated in the shaft coupling portion 820, and may also serve to prevent the reciprocating lever 510 and the connector 600 from colliding or rubbing with the support plate 810.

[0191] The seating plate 820 may include a seating board 861 seated on top of the support plate 810 and a seating hole 862 defined through the seating board 861 in an area corresponding to the shaft coupling portion 820.

[0192] The reciprocating levers 510 may include the main lever 511 that directly receives the power from the driver 200 and the auxiliary levers 512 that receive the power from the main lever 511 through the connector 600.

[0193] The main lever 511 and the auxiliary levers 512 may be coupled to the respective support shafts 410 and rotate around the support shafts 410.

[0194] The link bar 610 may include a link body 611 seated on the main lever 511 and the auxiliary levers 512 and connecting them to each other, and connection hooks 612 protruding from the link body 611 and rotatable by the main lever 511 and the auxiliary levers 512.

[0195] The reciprocating levers 510 may include link bearings 513 coupled to one end of the main lever 511 and respective one ends of the auxiliary levers 512 and rotatably supporting the connection hooks 612.

[0196] When the link bar 610 rotates left and right, the main lever 511 or the auxiliary levers 512 may perform the reciprocating rotational motion left and right.

[0197] The reciprocating rotational motion generator 500 may further include a support bearing 530 capable of rotatably supporting the support shaft 410 or the reciprocating lever 510.

[0198] The support bearing 530 may rotatably accommodate the support shaft 410 therein and may be seated in the shaft coupling portion 620.

[0199] The reciprocating lever 510 may be disposed on top of the support bearing 530.

[0200] The support bearing 530 may be equipped as a stacked configuration or as a ball bearing or an oil-less bearing.

[0201] The seating plate 860 may support the support bearing 530, and may block exposure of hot air or moisture at an outer circumferential surface of the support bearing 530.

[0202] In addition, the auxiliary plate 880 may also be disposed under the support bearing 530 to block exposure of hot air or moisture at the outer circumferential surface of the support bearing 530.

[0203] FIG. 7 illustrates an operation scheme of the moving hanger 100 according to the present disclosure.

[0204] Referring to (a) in FIG. 7, the main lever 511 may include a main body 5111 coupled to the support shaft 410 and coupled to the connection bar 610.

[0205] The main body 5111 may include a main central hole 5115 coupled to the support shaft 410 to rotate the support shaft 410, and may extend to both sides from the main central hole 5115.

[0206] The main body 5111 may include a main reception hole 5112 defined at one end thereof to receive the power from the driver 200, and a main transmission hole 5113 defined at the other end thereof onto which the connection bar 610 is seated and coupled.

[0207] The main body 5111 may further include a stepped portion 5114 extending from the central hole to the main reception hole 5112, but forming a step. In the main body 5111, one end of the main body 5111 or the main transmission hole 5113 may be defined lower than the main central hole 5115 because of the stepped portion 5114.

[0208] As a result, a length at which the power shaft 240 disposed on the main central hole 5115 or the eccentric shaft 310 to be described later extends from the converter 230 may be secured.

[0209] In one example, the auxiliary lever 512 may include an auxiliary central hole 5125 coupled to the support shaft 410, and an auxiliary body 5121 extending from the auxiliary central hole 5125 to one side and having an auxiliary transmission hole 5123 coupled to the link bar 610.

[0210] The auxiliary body 5121 may be shorter in length than the main body 5111.

[0211] A distance from the main central hole 5115 to the main transmission hole 5113 may be set to be the same as a distance from the auxiliary central hole 5125 to the auxiliary transmission hole 5123.

[0212] The link bar 610 may be seated on the auxiliary transmission holes 5123 and the main transmission hole 5113 to connect the auxiliary levers 512 and the main lever 511 to each other.

[0213] Referring to (b) in FIG. 7, the driver 200 may be constructed such that the power shaft 240 is inserted into the main reception hole 5112. Accordingly, the power shaft 240 may be directly rotated to rotate the main reception hole 5112 left and right.

[0214] In other words, only the rotation of the power shaft 240 may not generate sufficient displacement to rotate the main reception hole 5112 left and right based on the main central hole 5115.

[0215] To this end, the moving hanger 100 according to the present disclosure may include the displacement generator 300 that is coupled to the power shaft 240 and generates a displacement greater than a radius of rotation of the power shaft 240.

[0216] The displacement generator 300 may convert the in-place rotational motion of the power shaft 240 into a displacement motion of moving in a reciprocating manner within a predetermined range. The displacement motion may be transmitted to the reciprocating rotational motion generator 500, so that the power transmitter 400 may perform the reciprocating rotational motion.

[0217] For example, the displacement generator 300 may further include the eccentric shaft 310 extending from the power shaft 240 and rotating along a trajectory of a predetermined radius.

[0218] A diameter of the eccentric shaft 310 may be set to be smaller than a diameter or a width of the main reception hole 5112. Accordingly, the eccentric shaft 310 may be inserted into and supported by the main reception hole 5112.

[0219] However, the predetermined radius at which the eccentric shaft 310 rotates may be set to be greater than the width or the diameter of the main reception hole 5112. As a result, when the eccentric shaft 310 rotates, the main reception hole 5112 may be pushed by the eccentric shaft 310 and move left and right with respect to the main central hole 5115.

[0220] As a result, when the eccentric shaft 310 rotates in a specific direction x, the main reception hole 5112 of the main body 511 may also perform the reciprocating rotational motion along a predetermined direction y, and as a result, the central hole 5115 of the main body may also rotate in the same direction as the main reception hole 5112, and the main transmission hole 5113 may perform the reciprocating rotational motion in a direction z opposite to the predetermined direction.

[0221] When the eccentric shaft 310 rotates, the support shaft 410 may perform the reciprocating rotational motion together with the main central hole 5115, and thus, the power transmitter 400 may perform the reciprocating rotational motion. Further, the main transmission hole 5113 may also perform the reciprocating rotational motion to reciprocate the link bar 610, so that the auxiliary central hole 5125 of the auxiliary lever 521 may also perform the reciprocating rotational motion around the support shaft 410. In addition, the power transmitter 400 coupled to the auxiliary lever 521 may also perform the reciprocating rotational motion.

[0222] The power transmitter 400 may have a screw thread along a circumference of an upper portion of the support shaft 410.

[0223] The main transmission hole 5113 and the auxiliary center hole 5125 may be directly coupled and fixed to the respective support shafts 410 using the screw thread or the like.

[0224] However, the support shaft 410 of the power transmitter 400 may further include a transmitter coupling portion 415 extending through the main transmission hole 5113 or the auxiliary center hole 5125 and then coupled to the screw thread of the support shaft 410 to fix the support shaft 410 to the main transmission hole 5113 or the auxiliary center hole 5125

[0225] Accordingly, the support shaft 410 and the reciprocating lever 510 are coupled to each other by the transmitter coupling portion 415, so that the support shaft 410 and the reciprocating lever 510 may rotate simultaneously.

[0226] FIG. 8 illustrates a process in which the moving hanger 100 according to the present disclosure operates.

[0227] Referring to (a) in FIG. 8, in the main lever 511, the main reception hole 5112 may rotate to the left with respect to the main central hole 5115 by the rotation of the eccentric shaft 310 (No. 1).

[0228] When the main reception hole 5112 rotates to the left, the main center hole 5115 may also rotate counterclockwise (No. 2). In this process, the power transmitter 400 coupled to the main center hole 5115 may rotate counterclockwise.

[0229] The main reception hole 5113 rotates counterclockwise with respect to the main center hole 5115. In this regard, the link bar 610 may move to the right as the main reception hole 5113 moves (No. 3).

[0230] When the link bar 610 moves to the right, the auxiliary accommodation hole 5123 in the auxiliary lever 512 rotates counterclockwise with respect to the auxiliary center hole 5125. Because the link bar 610 is connected to the plurality of auxiliary levers 512, all the auxiliary levers 512 rotate counterclockwise (No. 4).

[0231] When the auxiliary lever 512 rotates counterclockwise, the power transmitter 400 coupled to the auxiliary center hole 5125 also rotates counterclockwise (No. 5).

[0232] Referring to (b) in FIG. 8, in the main lever 511, the main reception hole 5112 may rotate to the right with respect to the main central hole 5115 by the rotation of the eccentric shaft 310 (No. 1).

[0233] When the main reception hole 5112 rotates to the right, the main center hole 5115 may also rotate clockwise (No. 2). In this process, the power transmitter 400 coupled to the main center hole 5115 may rotate clockwise.

[0234] The main reception hole 5113 rotates clockwise with respect to the main center hole 5115. In this regard, the link bar 610 may move to the left as the main reception hole 5113 moves (No. 3).

[0235] When the link bar 610 moves to the left, the auxiliary accommodation hole 5123 in the auxiliary lever 512 rotates clockwise with respect to the auxiliary center hole 5125. Because the link bar 610 is connected to the plurality of auxiliary levers 512, all the auxiliary levers 512 rotate clockwise (No. 4).

[0236] When the auxiliary lever 512 rotates clockwise, the power transmitter 400 coupled to the auxiliary center hole 5125 also rotates clockwise (No. 5).

[0237] When this process is repeated, the main lever 511 may receive the power from the driver 200 and perform the reciprocating rotational motion clockwise and counterclockwise, so that the power transmitter 400 coupled to the main lever 511 may perform the reciprocating rotational motion and the link bar 610 may reciprocate left and right.

[0238] While reciprocating left and right, the link bar 610 may allow the auxiliary lever 512 to perform the reciprocating rotational motion, and may allow the power transmitter 400 coupled to the auxiliary lever 512 to perform the reciprocating rotational motion.

[0239] The link bar 610 is formed as a rigid body, and the auxiliary levers 512 and the main lever 511 are coupled to the link bar 610 at positions spaced apart from the respective support shafts 410 by the same length.

[0240] Accordingly, the auxiliary levers 512 and the main lever 511 may perform the reciprocating rotational motion through the same angle because of the link bar 610, and as a result, all the power transmitters 400 may rotate simultaneously and at the same time through the same angle, and angles at which they perform the reciprocating rotational motion may also be the same as each other.

[0241] The main lever 511 may be disposed between the auxiliary levers 512. In addition, the auxiliary levers 512 may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the main lever 511. Accordingly, a load may be evenly applied to both sides of the connection bar 610 connected to the main lever 511.

[0242] However, as long as the power of the main lever 511 may be transmitted to the auxiliary levers 512, the main lever 511 and the auxiliary levers 512 may be arranged in any arrangement or order.

[0243] FIG. 9 illustrates an operation scheme of the moving hanger according to the present disclosure.

[0244] Referring to (a) in FIG. 9, when the driver 200 operates, the power transmitter 400 may rotate to the right by the reciprocating rotational motion generator 500. In this regard, all the power transmitters 400 connected to the connector 600 may also rotate to the right.

[0245] Referring to (b) in FIG. 9, when the driver 200 continues to operate, the power transmitter 400 may rotate to the left by the reciprocating rotational motion generator 500. In this regard, all the power transmitters 400 connected to the connector 600 may also rotate to the left.

[0246] While this process is repeated, the power transmitter 400 may rotate left and right.

[0247] The power transmitter 400 may rotate left and right while being fixed at the correct position. The power transmitter 400 may be fixed to the support 800 such that there is no change in position in a front and rear direction and a left and right direction when rotating.

[0248] The power transmitter 400 may be fixed such that there is no change in position in a vertical direction, a front and rear direction, and a width direction.

[0249] However, the power transmitter 400 may rotate left and right using the vertical direction or a height direction in which the power transmitter extends as a rotation axis. As a result, when the driver 200 is in operation, the hanging portion 700 may perform the reciprocating rotational motion left and right around the power transmitter 400, and there may be no change in position thereof.

[0250] Referring to (c) in FIG. 9, the clothes hanger 900 may include a hook 910 mounted on the hanging portion 700 and a seating portion 950 coupled to the hook 910. A surface-treated portion 950 that prevents the laundry from being slid may be formed on a surface of the seating portion 950.

[0251] The seating portion 950 may be formed to be bilaterally symmetrical with respect to the hook 910. The clothes hanger 900 may be mounted on the hanging portion 700 such that the seating portion 950 is directed in the front and rear direction.

[0252] When the power transmitter 400 rotates to the left, in the clothes hanger 900, based on the hook 910, a left side of the seating portion 950 may rotate to the left and a right side of the seating portion 950 may rotate to the right. In this regard, an angle I through which the left side of the seating portion 950 rotates may be the same as an angle (theta) through which the right side of the seating portion 950 rotates, and a distance at which the left side of the seating portion 950 moves may be the same as a distance at which the right side of the seating portion 950 moves.

[0253] As a result, based on the clothes hanger 900, a weight and a force of moving to the left are the same as a weight and a force of moving to the right, so that they may be offset from each other.

[0254] Similarly, even when the power transmitter 400 rotates to the right, as a result, based on the clothes hanger 900, the weight and the force of moving to the left are the same as the weight and the force of moving to the right, so that they will be offset from each other.

[0255] As a result, even when the power transmitter 400 rotates, the forces applied to the clothes hanger 900 may be offset from each other, and as a result, a vibration force, an excitation force, and an inertial force generated from the clothes hanger 900 itself may be minimized. Accordingly, an inertial force or the like generated from the plurality of power transmitters 400 may be minimized, so that vibration or noise generated from the entire moving hanger 100 may be minimized, and generation of vibration or noise from the entire laundry treating apparatus 1 may be sharply reduced.

[0256] As a result, even when the driver 200 is in operation at a maximum output, the vibration generated from the moving hanger 100 or the entire laundry treating apparatus 1 may not be significant.

[0257] Instead, because each of surfaces of the laundry items held on the respective clothes hangers 900 rotates left and right and is shaken to remove dust, a great dust removal performance may be secured.

[0258] In addition, the power transmitter 400 may extend through the inner casing 20 to receive the power, and perform the reciprocating rotational motion clockwise and counterclockwise.

[0259] The power transmitter 400 may perform the reciprocating rotational motion left and right in a state in which a position thereof is fixed in the upper portion of the accommodation space 21.

[0260] The power transmitter 400 is fixed so as not to vary in position in the vertical direction and the left and right direction. In addition, not only an upper portion but also a lower portion of the power transmitter 400 are fixed such that their positions are not varied in the vertical direction and the left and right direction.

[0261] That is, the power transmitter 400 may perform the reciprocating rotational motion through a predetermined angle less than one full rotation in a state in which a center of rotation thereof is fixed.

[0262] No matter how fast the power transmitter 400 rotates, the position of the power transmitter 400 is fixed.

[0263] Therefore, the vibration and noise generated by the power transmitter 400 inside the inner casing 20 may be minimized.

[0264] FIG. 10 illustrates a system in which the moving hanger operates.

[0265] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may include a controller C that operates one or more of the moving hanger 100, the steam generator 50, and the heat pump system 80 to perform an arbitrary course for treating the laundry.

[0266] The controller C may perform various courses configured by a series of control methods capable of performing the refreshing cycle such as the drying, the deodorization, the sterilization, and the wrinkling removal of the laundry.

[0267] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may further include an input unit I that inputs a command for performing the course to the controller C, and a display D that receives information from the controller C and indicates a state of the laundry treating apparatus. The input unit I and the display D may be disposed on one of the cabinet 10 and the door 11.

[0268] The controller C may operate the moving hanger 100 when the command for performing the course is input or a command for receiving the power is input from the input unit I or the like.

[0269] The controller C may operate the moving hanger 100 by operating the driver 200. The driver 200 may receive a command from the controller C and operate the transmitter 300 to shake the laundry.

[0270] The controller C may provide a signal for directly operating the driver 200, and may also receive information on the driver 200.

[0271] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may include a current detector 260 that receives electrical information such as a current and a voltage output from the driver 200 and transmits the electrical information to the controller C.

[0272] In addition, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may include a position sensor 270 that senses a position of the power transmitter 400 or the connector 600 and transmits the sensed position to the controller C. The position sensor 270 may sense rotation angles of the rotation shaft 210 and the power shaft 240 or a position of the eccentric shaft 310.

[0273] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may sense laundry information including one or more of a weight, a length, a material, a property, and a type of the laundry based on a control system for operating the moving hanger 100. The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may optimize and adjust one or more of a strength, a type, a time, and an option value of a refreshing course for treating the laundry based on the sensed laundry information.

[0274] For example, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may be operated by adjusting one or more of an operation speed of the moving hanger 100, an operation time and an operation output of the steam generator 50, and an operation time and an operation rpm of the heat pump 80 based on the sensed laundry information.

[0275] The operation speed of the moving hanger 100 may be defined as one of an operation rpm of the driver 200 and a speed at which the power transmitter 400 moves.

[0276] The operation speed of the moving hanger 100 may be defined based on a speed at which the laundry is shaken or a speed at which an upper end of the laundry is shaken.

[0277] Based on the sensed laundry information, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may differently adjust a mechanical force applied to the laundry, an amount of steam supplied to the laundry and a time during which the laundry is exposed to steam, and a temperature of hot air supplied to the laundry and a time during which the laundry is exposed to hot air.

[0278] Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may not perform a uniform course as it is regardless of the laundry information, but may treat the laundry in a customized manner based on the laundry information.

[0279] In one example, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may include a separate sensor to sense the laundry information. For example, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may sense the weight of the laundry by placing a weight sensor or the like on the moving hanger 100, and may sense the length, the material, the type, or the like of the laundry with a radar sensor, the position sensor 270, or the like using light, a radio wave, or the like inside the inner casing.

[0280] However, when multiple sensors for directly sensing the laundry information are installed in the laundry treating apparatus, not only production and repair costs may increase, but also it may be difficult to maintain durability of the sensors because of the characteristics that hot air and steam are supplied into the laundry.

[0281] To this end, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may be configured such that the controller C calculates the electrical information applied to or output from the moving hanger 100 while operating the moving hanger 100.

[0282] The electrical information may include one or more of a current value, a power value, and a waveform, an amplitude, and a period of a current or power applied to or output from the motor 210 while operating the driver 200.

[0283] Typically, in the washing machine, the dryer, and the like, the weight of the laundry is calculated by analyzing a current value output from the driver that rotates the drum accommodating the laundry therein. This is possible in the washing machine and the dryer because the accommodated laundry items agglomerate like a lump inside the drum regardless of the type, the material, and the length of the laundry. In other words, in the washing machine and the dryer, a current value required to rotate the driver or a current value output from the driver is determined based on the weight of the laundry regardless of a state of the laundry, and there are few variables affecting the current value.

[0284] However, in the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure like a laundry management apparatus, only the upper portion of the laundry is held on the moving hanger 100, and the remaining portion thereof is placed in a state of being stretched in the accommodation space 21. As a result, when the moving hanger 100 is in operation, the laundry vibrates along the height direction and forms various waveforms.

[0285] In other words, the laundry vibrates independently of the vibration of the moving hanger 100, and the vibration generated from the laundry as such acts as a load of the moving hanger 100.

[0286] An amplitude or a form of the vibration generated from the laundry affects the current value and the power value applied to or output from the driver 200.

[0287] As a result, in the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure, when the weight of the laundry is simply sensed only with the electrical information while operating the moving hanger 100, reliability may be very low.

[0288] For example, the laundry may have different vibration waveforms or amplitudes at the same frequency depending on the length thereof. In addition, when the laundry items have the same weight, but have different lengths, vibration waveforms or amplitudes of the respective laundry items may be different from each other even when they vibrate at the same frequency. As a result, even when the motor 210 of the driver 200 is operated at the same speed, when the lengths of the laundry items held on the respective power transmitters 400 are different from each other, the controller is highly likely to calculate that the weights of the laundry items are different from each other.

[0289] When the moving hanger 100 is operated slowly, the laundry may be shaken while moving along the moving hanger 100 integrally from the upper portion to the lower portion thereof. However, when the moving hanger 100 is operated rapidly, the upper portion of the laundry may start to be shaken with great amplitude and period, but the lower portion of the laundry may not be able to follow the vibration of the upper portion of the laundry or may follow the vibration late because of an inertial force, so that diffraction in which the laundry is bent may occur.

[0290] Furthermore, when the operation frequency of the moving hanger 100 or the power transmitter 400 corresponds to a resonance frequency of the laundry, the laundry may vibrate with a normal wave in which an area in which the laundry vibrates and an area in which the laundry is fixed are fixed. When the laundry vibrates with the normal wave, an inertial force different from that when the laundry does not vibrate with the normal wave is transmitted to the moving hanger 100, thereby causing a great error in the electrical information of the driver 200.

[0291] In addition, even when the laundry vibrates while forming the normal wave, a multiple (n) of the normal wave generated from the laundry may vary depending on the operation speed of the driver 200 or the power transmitter 400. In this case, even when the laundry vibrates with the same normal wave, different inertial forces may be provided to the moving hanger 100, so that the electrical information of the driver 200 may be changed.

[0292] In summary, the electrical information applied to the driver 200 or the electrical information output from the driver 200 when the moving hanger 100 is in operation is greatly affected not only by the weight of the laundry but also by the vibration characteristics of the laundry. Because the vibration characteristics of the laundry depend on the operation speed of the driver 200 or the power transmitter 400, factors affecting the electrical information that may be sensed by the driver 200 may be regarded as the weight of the laundry and the operation speed of the driver 200 or the power transmitter 400.

[0293] Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may calculate the laundry information including one or more of the weight and the length of the laundry in consideration of not only the weight of the laundry but also the vibration characteristics of the laundry based on the operation speed of the driver 200 or the power transmitter 400.

[0294] FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment in which the controller of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure senses the laundry information with the moving hanger.

[0295] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure operates the moving hanger 100 by operating the driver 200 with the controller C.

[0296] The driver 200 may continuously rotate the rotation shaft 210 and the power shaft 240 in one direction and reciprocate the power transmitter 400 through the displacement generator 300 to shake the laundry.

[0297] The reciprocation of the power transmitter 400 is a concept including at least one of a linear reciprocation, a reciprocating rotational motion through a predetermined angle, a pendulum movement, and a periodic movement of the power transmitter 400.

[0298] In other words, even when the moving hanger 100 operates in any embodiment, the moving hanger 100 installed in the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may reciprocate the power transmitter 400 by controlling the driver 200.

[0299] In the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure, when the moving hanger 100 is in operation, the power transmitter 400 may change a movement direction of the hanging portion 700 twice every one cycle, regardless of how the driver 200 and the transmitter 300 operate.

[0300] Whenever the hanging portion 700 and the laundry held on the hanging portion 700 through the clothes hanger 900 change the movement direction thereof, a considerable inertial force is generated. Accordingly, the hanging portion 700 transmits the inertial force to the power transmitter 400 twice during one reciprocation cycle.

[0301] When the hanging portion 700 reciprocates, the driver 200 transmits the inertial force together with the load applied to move the power transmitter 400. Whenever the inertial force is periodically received, the driver 200 is applied with an additional load.

[0302] As a result, because the laundry generates the inertial force based on a predetermined period while the driver 200 is in operation, the electrical information output from the driver 200 or received through the driver 200 may include a graph indicating a movement state of the hanging portion 700.

[0303] Accordingly, the controller C of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may analyze the electrical information itself and the inertial force of the laundry, which may be sensed from the electrical information, to calculate the laundry information including the vibration characteristics of the laundry.

[0304] Furthermore, the controller C may sense the inertial force applied to the driver 200 to recognize the period in which the hanging portion 700 reciprocates and also recognize a time point at which the hanging portion 700 changes the movement direction thereof.

[0305] In addition, the controller C may sense a magnitude of the inertial force and a change in the magnitude of the inertial force to sense a movement state of the laundry.

[0306] For example, when the controller C receives the electrical information from the driver 200, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may extract a DC component and an AC component from the electrical information.

[0307] The DC component is an electrical signal having a predetermined absolute value and includes information on a load required when operating the driver 200 to a specific RPM. As the laundry is heavier, a greater load will be required for the driver 200, so that the DC component may include information reflecting the weight of the laundry. Accordingly, the controller C may obtain information necessary to calculate the weight of the laundry by analyzing the DC component.

[0308] The AC component is an electrical signal having a predetermined period and may include information reflecting the vibration characteristics of the laundry. In the process in which the laundry vibrates or in the process in which the hanging portion 700 periodically changes the movement direction thereof, the inertial force may be transmitted to the driver 200, and the transmitted inertial force may be reflected as the AC component.

[0309] The controller C may analyze the AC component to obtain information necessary for calculating the vibration characteristics of the laundry, a vibration period of the laundry, and the like.

[0310] In the case of having a predetermined period like the AC component, a second harmonic has the clearest signal in the periodic graph, and has reliable information on period. Accordingly, the controller C may preferentially extract or select the second harmonic from among the sensed AC components, and analyze the vibration characteristics of the laundry in detail through the second harmonic.

[0311] The characteristics in which the laundry vibrates may vary depending on the length and the material of the laundry. Therefore, the vibration characteristics include the laundry information related to the length of the laundry and the material of the laundry. Accordingly, the controller C may calculate even the laundry information such as the length and the material of the laundry through the vibration characteristics analyzed through the AC component analysis.

[0312] Furthermore, the controller C may change the operation speed of the driver 200 or the power transmitter 400 to additionally track and sense a change in the electrical information of the driver 200 again, and accordingly, may check the previously sensed laundry information and recalculate the laundry information again.

[0313] As a result, when operating the driver 200, the controller C may analyze both an absolute value of the electrical information including one or more of the current and the voltage during the operation of the driver 200, and the vibration characteristics of the electrical information to calculate the laundry information.

[0314] FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of calculating the weight of the laundry in the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0315] Referring to (a) in FIG. 12, in the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure, long laundry L may be disposed in the accommodation space 20 while being held on the moving hanger 100.

[0316] Referring to (b) in FIG. 12, the moving hanger 100 in the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may operate the driver 200 to reciprocate the power transmitter 400. Because the hanging portion 700 is coupled to the power transmitter 400 and the clothes hanger 900 is mounted on the hanging portion 700, the laundry held on the clothes hanger 900 may reciprocate and vibrate together with the power transmitter 400.

[0317] The moving hanger 100 may be operated at a specific frequency to shake the laundry supported by the power transmitter 400.

[0318] The moving hanger 100 being operated at the specific frequency means that the moving hanger 100 reciprocates at a specific period. That is, the moving hanger 100 being operated at the specific frequency means that the power transmitter 400 that actually reciprocates the laundry is periodically operated at a specific frequency. In addition, the driver 200 will operate at a specific speed to operate the power transmitter 400 at the specific frequency. That is, when the motor 210 is operated at a specific RPM, the power transmitter 400 may be operated at the specific frequency, which may be defined as the moving hanger 100 being operated at the specific frequency.

[0319] When the moving hanger 100 starts to be operated at a low frequency, the long laundry L reciprocates along the power transmitter 400. In this process, an upper end of the laundry L moves together with the power transmitter 400, but the farther a portion of the laundry L is from the power transmitter 400, the more inertia acts thereon, causing it to tend to remain stationary. As a result, the laundry moves in such a manner that a lower portion thereof lags progressively farther behind relative to the upper end thereof, with a lower end of the laundry L moving in the most delayed state.

[0320] In addition, when the power transmitter 400 stops to change the movement direction thereof, the upper end of the laundry L stops together with the power transmitter 400, but the lower end of the laundry tends to continue moving because of the inertial force. As a result, the lower the position along the laundry, the farther it moves relative to the power transmitter 400, so that the bottom end of the laundry moves the most.

[0321] When the power transmitter 400 reciprocates at a relatively low speed because the frequency at which the moving hanger 100 is operated is low, a vibration amplitude at which the lower end of the laundry reciprocates is greater than a vibration amplitude at which the upper end of the laundry reciprocates.

[0322] In this situation, when the frequency at which the moving hanger 100 is operated becomes higher, the power transmitter 400 reciprocates faster than before, and the magnitude of the inertial force generated by the laundry L becomes greater. As a result, a displacement difference between the lower end of the laundry and the upper end of the laundry may become greater.

[0323] In addition, when the power transmitter 400 is shaken by the laundry, an additional load that the moving hanger 100 has to take charge of is applied. Such a load is the greatest when the power transmitter 400 changes the movement direction thereof.

[0324] Referring to (c) in FIG. 12, when the moving hanger 100 is operated at a higher frequency, the speed at which the power transmitter 400 reciprocates becomes higher. In this regard, the displacement difference between the upper portion and the lower portion of the laundry causes movement directions of the upper portion and the lower portion of the laundry to differ.

[0325] Furthermore, as the displacement difference of the laundry gradually increases from the upper to the lower portion and aligns with a reciprocating displacement of the power transmitter 400, the laundry develops distinct portions that vibrate in different directions from top to bottom, thereby vibrating while forming a waveform.

[0326] When the laundry vibrates, vibration energy is transmitted to the moving hanger 100, and acts as the additional load applied to the driver 200.

[0327] In addition, when the moving hanger 100 is operated at a higher frequency, the laundry vibrates while forming more waveforms. As a result, an entirety of the laundry L vibrates as different portions thereof move in different directions from the upper to the lower portions without moving entirely in the same direction.

[0328] In other words, when the driver 200 is operated by being accelerated from a low speed and thus is operated at a specific speed or higher, the entirety of the laundry L does not vibrate in the same direction, and the different portions thereof move in the different directions. As a result, the laundry may be diffracted while forming a waveform in the height direction.

[0329] The diffraction occurring in the laundry L may be defined as a state in which points on the laundry L exhibit different amplitude directions.

[0330] When the driver 200 is operated at a speed equal to or higher than that at which the diffraction occurs in the laundry L, the laundry L is formed with a node 'n' area that does not vibrate at least instantaneously with respect to the moving hanger 100 and an antinode 'a' area that vibrates the most in a movement direction or an opposite direction thereof with respect to the moving hanger 100.

[0331] When the power transmitter 400 reciprocates faster, more nodes n and antinodes a are formed in the laundry L.

[0332] In addition, when the moving hanger 100 is operated at the same frequency as the resonance frequency of the laundry, the laundry L may vibrate or diffract while forming the normal wave.

[0333] When the laundry vibrates with the normal wave, it means that the laundry vibrates such that a position of the node n, which appears to be stationary on the laundry, does not change over time, and a position of the antinode a, which vibrates with the greatest amplitude on the laundry, also does not change over time.

[0334] The normal wave is generated whenever the moving hanger 100 is operated at an n-multiple of the resonance frequency. As a result, whenever the driver 200 reaches a specific speed section, the laundry vibrates with the normal wave, so that the positions of the area in which the node n is formed and the area in which the antinode a is formed in the laundry may not be changed.

[0335] When amplitude directions of vibrations generated in the laundry are different from each other, the vibrations may be offset from each other and may not be entirely transmitted to the moving hanger 100. When the laundry vibrates with the normal wave, a vibration pattern generated in the laundry may be symmetrically formed along the height direction of the laundry. As a result, when the laundry vibrates with the normal wave, most of the vibrations generated in the laundry may be offset, and vibrations transmitted to the moving hanger 100 may be minimized.

[0336] FIG. 13 illustrates a change in the vibration pattern of the laundry based on the operation frequency of the moving hanger.

[0337] Referring to (a) in FIG. 13, when the moving hanger 100 is operated at a fundamental frequency or lower, the entire laundry L may move in the same direction. When the moving hanger 100 is operated at the fundamental frequency, the portions of the laundry L may only have different amplitudes, and may have the same movement direction.

[0338] The fundamental frequency may be defined as an operation frequency of the moving hanger 100 at which the waveform or the vibration starts to occur on the laundry.

[0339] When the moving hanger 100 is operated at the fundamental frequency or lower, the waveform does not occur in the laundry, so that the entire laundry may move in the same direction.

[0340] A first speed, as a speed at which the driver 200 is operated, may be defined as a speed at which the moving hanger 100 is operated at the fundamental frequency. From a time point when the driver 200 is in a stopped state to a time point when the driver 200 is operated at the first speed at which the diffraction starts to occur in the laundry L, the entire laundry L may move in the same direction.

[0341] In other words, although the amplitude of the upper end of the laundry and the amplitude of the lower end of the laundry may be different from each other, the movement direction of the power transmitter 400 and the movement direction of the entire laundry may be the same as each other.

[0342] Referring to (b) in FIG. 13, when the moving hanger 100 is operated at the fundamental frequency or higher, the diffraction may occur in the laundry L. In addition, when the moving hanger 100 is operated at the resonance frequency higher than the fundamental frequency, the laundry L may vibrate with the normal wave.

[0343] Whenever the frequency corresponds to n-multiple of a minimum resonance frequency, the laundry may vibrate while forming the normal wave. Accordingly, a minimum frequency at which the moving hanger 100 is capable of first vibrating the laundry with the normal wave may be defined as the minimum resonance frequency.

[0344] An operation speed of the driver 200 when the moving hanger 100 is operated at the minimum resonance frequency may be defined as a second speed. The second speed may be set higher than the first speed. The second speed may be defined as a minimum resonance speed.

[0345] When the driver 200 is operated at the first speed or higher, the diffraction may occur in the laundry L. As a result, areas having different vibration directions may be formed in the laundry L along the height direction.

[0346] When the driver 200 is operated at the second speed, the reciprocation period of the moving hanger 100 may correspond to a reciprocal number of the resonance frequency of the laundry L, and the laundry L may vibrate with the normal wave.

[0347] When the laundry L vibrates with the normal wave, the position of the node n, which is the area without the vibration in the laundry L, is fixed, and the position of the antinode a, which is an area having a maximum amplitude, is also fixed.

[0348] When the driver 200 is operated at the second speed and a first normal wave is generated in the laundry L, one node n may be formed, and the antinodes a may be formed in a number greater by one than the number of node n, including the upper end of the laundry.

[0349] In other words, when the driver 200 is operated at the second speed, the laundry may be shaken at a first resonance frequency f1 and may be vibrated with a first (n=1) normal wave.

[0350] The resonance frequency at which the laundry L vibrates with the normal wave may be determined as a unique characteristic of each laundry item. f n = v λ n = v 2 l n n = 1 , 2 , 3 ⋯

[0351] Equation (1) represents the resonance frequency of the moving hanger 100 at which the laundry L may vibrate while forming the normal wave.

[0352] The resonance frequency f corresponds to a vibration period T of the moving hanger 100 or a reciprocal number of the reciprocation period T.

[0353] In Equation (1), v is related to tension and line density of the laundry and is able to be determined by fiber characteristics of each laundry item, and l represents the length of the laundry.

[0354] As a result, the resonance frequency f that generates the normal wave in the laundry L is set differently based on the length l of the laundry, and decreases as the length l of the laundry increases.

[0355] Referring to (c) in FIG. 13, the moving hanger 100 may be operated at a frequency twice higher than the minimum resonance frequency.

[0356] As a result, the operation speed of the driver 200 may become twice as fast, and thus the vibration period of the power transmitter 400 may be reduced by half. As a result, the laundry may vibrate while forming the normal wave at f2 corresponding to twice the first resonance frequency.

[0357] An operation speed of the driver 200 when the moving hanger 100 is operated at the frequency twice (n=2) the minimum resonance frequency may be defined as a third speed.

[0358] That is, the laundry L may vibrate with a form of a second normal wave (n=2) in which two nodes n exist and three antinodes a exist in the laundry L.

[0359] Positions at which the nodes n and the antinodes a are generated when the laundry L vibrates with the second normal wave (n=2) are different from positions at which the node n and the antinodes a are generated when the laundry L vibrates with the first normal wave (n=1).

[0360] Accordingly, when the frequency at which the moving hanger 100 is operated is determined to be a multiple of the resonance frequency, the area in which the maximum amplitude is generated in the laundry may be changed.

[0361] Using this, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may concentrate energy generated from the moving hanger 100 on a specific area of the laundry. In addition, the moving hanger 100 may change the frequency to selectively vibrate different specific areas of the laundry with focus. As a result, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may more strongly shake off dust or the foreign substances on the laundry.

[0362] Referring to (d) in FIG. 13, the moving hanger 100 may be operated at a frequency three times higher than the minimum resonance frequency.

[0363] An operation speed of the driver when the moving hanger 100 is operated at the frequency three times higher than the minimum resonance frequency may be defined as a fourth speed.

[0364] The driver 200 may be operated at a speed three times higher than the second speed, which is the speed at which the laundry vibrates with the first normal wave, and the period of the power transmitter 400 is reduced to 1 / 3.

[0365] As a result, the laundry vibrates at a resonance frequency f3 while forming a third normal wave (n=3), so that three nodes n may be formed and four antinodes a may be formed in the laundry L. Positions at which the nodes n and the antinodes a are generated when the laundry L vibrates with the third normal wave (n=3) are different from both the positions at which the nodes n and the antinodes a are generated when the laundry L vibrates with the first normal wave (n=1) and when the laundry L vibrates with the second normal wave (n=2). In addition, a spacing between one node n and another node n may be narrower than before.

[0366] However, the amplitude of the antinode a may be the same as that when the moving hanger 100 is operated at the minimum resonance frequency or the resonance frequency twice higher than the minimum resonance frequency.

[0367] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may adjust the frequency of the moving hanger 100 to set a greater number of areas in which the laundry vibrates for even vibration or to set a smaller number of areas in which the laundry vibrates for concentrated vibration.

[0368] Referring to (e) in FIG. 13, when the moving hanger 100 is operated at a frequency four times higher than the minimum resonance frequency and the driver 200 is operated at a speed four times higher than the second speed at which the laundry vibrates with the first normal wave, the reciprocation period of the power transmitter 400 is reduced to 1 / 4.

[0369] An operation speed of the driver when the moving hanger 100 is operated at the frequency four times higher than the minimum resonance frequency may be defined as a fifth speed.

[0370] In such a manner, an operation speed of the driver 200 when the moving hanger 100 is operated at a frequency k times (n=k) higher than the minimum resonance frequency may be defined as a k+1 speed.

[0371] As a result, the laundry vibrates at a resonance frequency of f4, and the laundry L vibrates with a fourth normal wave (n=4). The laundry L vibrates as four nodes n are formed and five antinodes a are formed. Positions at which the nodes n and the antinodes a are generated when the laundry L vibrates with the fourth normal wave (n=4) are different from all of the position at which the nodes n and the antinodes a are generated when the laundry L vibrates with the first normal wave (n=1), when the laundry L vibrates with the second normal wave (n=2), and when the laundry L vibrates at the third normal wave (n=3).

[0372] In addition, the spacing between one node n and another node n may be narrower than before. When the amplitude of the power transmitter 400 is the same, the amplitude of the antinode a may be the same.

[0373] When the driver 200 is operated faster, the spacing between the nodes n formed in the laundry may be narrower, and the positions at which the nodes n are formed may also vary.

[0374] As described above, when the moving hanger 100 vibrates at the n-multiple of the minimum resonance frequency or when the driver 200 vibrates at an n-multiple of the second speed corresponding to the minimum resonance speed, the laundry L may vibrate in a form of a normal wave proportional to the n-multiple.

[0375] According to Equation (1), the resonance frequency at which the laundry vibrates with the normal wave is determined differently depending on the length of the laundry. In addition, an operation speed or an operation RPM of the driver 200 at which the laundry may vibrate with the normal wave may also be determined as a unique value for each laundry.

[0376] In one example, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may distinguish whether the laundry vibrates randomly or vibrates while forming the normal wave.

[0377] In the moving hanger 100, while increasing the operation frequency, when the corresponding operation frequency corresponds to the resonance frequency of the held laundry, the laundry vibrates with the normal wave, and thus the vibration characteristics of the laundry become different from those before and after.

[0378] In other words, when the laundry does not vibrate with the normal wave, a vibration change is linear or a vibration change amount is predictable. However, when the laundry vibrates with the normal wave, the vibration characteristics are rapidly changed unlike when vibrating at frequencies lower and higher than the resonance frequency.

[0379] Using this, the controller C may sense that the frequency of the moving hanger 100 is the resonance frequency of the held laundry through a sudden change in the current value or the power value output from or applied to the motor 210 of the driver 200.

[0380] For example, when the laundry vibrates at the resonance frequency, the current value or the power value sensed by the driver 200 may have a peak value instantaneously.

[0381] Alternatively, when the laundry vibrates with the normal wave, the vibrations may be more attenuated than when the laundry does not vibrate with the normal wave, and thus a smaller amount of vibrations may be transmitted to the moving hanger 100. Accordingly, the controller C may sense that the corresponding frequency is the resonance frequency of the held laundry through a rapid decrease in the load applied to the driver 200.

[0382] Alternatively, the controller C may sense whether the frequency of the moving hanger 100 corresponds to the resonance frequency of the laundry in the manner described with reference to FIG. 13. The controller C may analyze characteristics of the second harmonic in the electrical information including the current value or the power value of the driver 200 to sense in real time whether the laundry vibrates at the resonance frequency. For example, the controller C may sense that the frequency of the moving hanger 100 is the resonance frequency of the held laundry through an occurrence of a singularity in which at least one of a waveform, an amplitude, and a period of the second harmonic is rapidly changed.

[0383] In addition, the controller C may sense whether the laundry vibrates at the resonance frequency by identifying a change in the operation speed of the driver 200 when the laundry vibrates at the resonance frequency. For example, the controller C may identify the resonance frequency of the laundry by sensing a temporary change in the operation speed of the driver 200 between when the laundry vibrates at the resonance frequency and when the laundry vibrates at a frequency different from the resonance frequency.

[0384] In addition, the controller C may sense the resonance frequency through a temporary change in the inertial force transmitted to the moving hanger 100 when vibrating at the resonance frequency.

[0385] In addition, even when the actual laundry does not vibrate at the resonance frequency, the controller C may immediately estimate the resonance frequency of the corresponding laundry by matching the second harmonic output from the driver 200 when the corresponding laundry vibrates with a table or data stored in advance.

[0386] In addition, the controller C may identify whether the sensed resonance frequency corresponds to an actual resonance frequency. For example, when the moving hanger 100 is operated at a frequency corresponding to a multiple of the resonance frequency sensed by the controller C, whether the change sensed by the above-described method periodically appears may be checked.

[0387] As a result, the controller C may calculate and sense one or more of the resonance frequency of the laundry, the operation speed of the driver 200 for vibrating the laundry at the resonance frequency, the RPM of the driver 200, and the reciprocation period of the power transmitter 400 through the moving hanger 100.

[0388] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a control method in which the laundry treating apparatus accurately senses the weight of the laundry using the vibration characteristics of the laundry will be described.

[0389] In one example, when the laundry L vibrates and the node n is formed on the laundry, vibration generated from below the node n may not be fully transmitted to the moving hanger 100.

[0390] In addition, when the laundry L vibrates with the normal wave, because the position of the node n is always fixed, the vibration generated in the laundry L may be blocked by the node n and may not be fully transmitted to the moving hanger 100.

[0391] In addition, as the laundry L vibrates with a greater multiple of the normal waves L, the spacing between one node n and another n becomes smaller, and thus a total amount of vibration energy of the laundry remaining between two nodes becomes smaller.

[0392] As a result, a position of a node closest to the moving hanger 100 becomes closer to the moving hanger 100 as the laundry vibrates with a greater normal wave, so that less vibration or smaller inertial force is transmitted to the moving hanger 100.

[0393] In summary, even when the weights of the laundry items are the same, the vibration energy or the inertia force transmitted from the laundry L to the moving hanger 100 varies depending on the position at which the node n is generated in the laundry L, the distance between the moving hanger 100 and the node n adjacent thereto, whether the laundry L vibrates with the normal wave or vibrates with an arbitrary waveform.

[0394] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may roughly sense the weight of the laundry held on the moving hanger 100 through the current value generated by the driver 200 while operating the moving hanger 100. The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may comprehensively analyze a current waveform of the driver 200, including the vibration characteristics of the laundry based on the operation speed of the driver 200, detection of the resonance frequency occurring in the laundry, and the change in the vibration characteristics of the laundry when the operation speed of the driver 200 is varied, thereby accurately correcting and calculating the weight of the laundry held on the moving hanger 100.

[0395] Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure senses the weight of the laundry will be described. However, this is merely an example, and the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may sense the weight of the laundry through the above-described method by operating the driver 200 at an arbitrary speed.

[0396] In one example, when the weight of the laundry is sensed through the operation of the moving hanger 100, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may perform the operation in a speed section in which the vibration generated from the laundry is minimized to minimize the vibration characteristics of the laundry.

[0397] To this end, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may calculate the weight of the laundry while operating the moving hanger 100 at a frequency lower than the resonance frequency at which the normal wave is generated in the laundry.

[0398] In addition, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may calculate the weight of the laundry while operating the moving hanger 100 at a frequency lower than the fundamental frequency (period) at which the waveform or the vibration starts to occur on the laundry.

[0399] That is, when calculating the weight of the laundry held on the moving hanger 100, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may operate the driver 200 in a speed section equal to or lower than the speed at which the laundry vibrates with the normal wave.

[0400] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may calculate the weight of the laundry by operating the driver 200 in a speed section equal to or lower than the second speed, which is the minimum resonance speed.

[0401] Specifically, the controller C of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may sense the weight of the laundry through the electrical information applied to or output from the driver 200 while increasing the operation frequency of the moving hanger 100 in a section from a speed of 0 to the second speed.

[0402] In addition, the controller C may operate the driver 200 in a section equal to or lower than the first speed and sense the weight of the laundry to minimize an influence of the vibration of the laundry on the driver 200 and to exclude an influence of the node n generated when the laundry vibrates while causing the diffraction.

[0403] That is, the controller C may analyze the load applied to the driver 200 and calculate the weight of the laundry by operating the moving hanger 100 in a speed section lower than a speed at which the diffraction of the laundry begins to occur to exclude the influence of the vibration of the laundry on the driver 200.

[0404] The calculation of the weight of the laundry through the operation of the driver 200 by the controller C may use the existing method of using the motor for rotating the drum in the washing machine, the dryer, or the like.

[0405] As a result, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may accurately sense the weight of the laundry. In addition, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may operate the machine room to supply the steam or the hot air to the laundry after sensing the weight of the laundry. That is, one or more of steam and hot air supplied to the laundry may be set differently based on the sensed weight of the laundry, and the operation frequency of the moving hanger 100 may also be controlled differently.

[0406] For example, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may operate the moving hanger 100 at a frequency equal to or lower than the fundamental frequency when sensing the weight of the laundry, but may operate the moving hanger 100 at a frequency higher than the fundamental frequency when performing an arbitrary course for treating the laundry. Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may transmit a greater physical force to the laundry when treating the laundry, so that more foreign substances may be removed from the laundry or the laundry may be more evenly exposed to the supplied steam and hot air.

[0407] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may differently determine the maximum frequency for operating the moving hanger 100 depending on the weight of the laundry. When one or more of the steam and the hot air are supplied to the inner casing 20, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may control the maximum frequency of operating the moving hanger 100 to vary depending on the weight of the laundry.

[0408] For example, even when the moving hanger 100 is operated at the same frequency, the heavier the laundry, the greater the vibrations generated. Accordingly, the maximum frequency at which the moving hanger 100 is operated may be set to be lower as the weight of the laundry becomes greater.

[0409] For example, when the laundry is heavier, more hot air or steam should be supplied to the laundry to complete the treatment such as the drying, the deodorization, the sterilization, the dehumidification, and the like of the laundry. Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may control the steam generator 50 such that an amount of steam supplied to the inner casing is greater or a spray time of the steam is greater when the weight of the laundry is sensed to be great than when the weight of the laundry is sensed to be small. In addition, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may control the compressor 83 and the blowing fan such that a supply amount of the hot air or a supply time of the hot air is greater when the laundry is heavy than when the laundry is light.

[0410] FIG. 14 illustrates a principle in which the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure is able to sense the length of the laundry.

[0411] (a) in FIG. 14 illustrates that the driver 200 is operated at a specific speed higher than a second speed V2 in a state in which the long laundry L is held on the moving hanger 100, and (b) in FIG. 21 illustrates that the driver 200 is operated at the same specific speed as when the long laundry L is held on the moving hanger 100 in a state in which short laundry l is held on the moving hanger 100.

[0412] According to Equation (1), because the resonance frequency is inversely proportional to the length of the laundry, the short laundry l may have a resonance frequency greater than that of the long laundry L, and a normal wave of the same order may be formed in the short laundry l only when the moving hanger 100 is operated at a higher speed.

[0413] Referring to (a) in FIG. 14, the specific speed may correspond to a speed four times higher than the second speed or the minimum resonance speed with respect to the long laundry L. Accordingly, the long laundry L may vibrate while forming the fourth normal wave.

[0414] Referring to (b) in FIG. 14, even when the short laundry l is held, the driver 200 may be operated at the same speed. In other words, also in (b) in FIG. 21, the driver 200 may be operated at an operation speed capable of forming the fourth normal wave in the long laundry L.

[0415] In the case of the short laundry l, the operation speed may correspond to an operation speed that forms the second normal wave in the short laundry. That is, in the case of the short laundry l, because the length of the laundry is shorter than that of the long laundry L, the short laundry l has a resonance frequency different from that of the long laundry L.

[0416] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may also sense the length of the laundry by operating the moving hanger 100 using the properties in which the laundry has the different resonance frequency depending on the length thereof. f n = v λ n = v 2 l n n = 1 , 2 , 3 ⋯

[0417] Referring to Equation (1) described above, a resonance frequency fn at which the laundry vibrates with the normal wave is inversely proportional to the length of the laundry. However, even when the resonance frequency fn is known, there may be a limit in that the length l of the laundry may not be accurately sensed when a value of v in Equation 1 is not clearly known. ν = T μ ≈ mg μ

[0418] Referring to Equation (2) above, the v is a square root of the tension T of the laundry divided by a linear density m, and the tension of the laundry corresponds to the weight of the laundry.

[0419] Because the linear density m corresponds to a constant value when the laundry is the same, the controller C may identify the length l of the laundry when the weight of the laundry and the resonance frequency fn are sensed.

[0420] To this end, the controller C may directly calculate the weight of the laundry through the electrical information of the driver 200 in a weight sensing step A1, and may calculate length of the laundry through the weight of the laundry and the resonance frequency while sensing one or more resonance frequencies at which the laundry may vibrate with the normal wave while changing the operation speed of the driver 200 in a length sensing step A2.

[0421] When the controller C is not able to specifically sense or calculate the linear density m, the controller C may sense two or more resonance frequencies at which the laundry may vibrate with the normal wave, and calculate the length l of the laundry through this.

[0422] In addition, the controller C may sense the resonance frequency at which the laundry may vibrate with the normal wave through the moving hanger 100, and calculate the length l of the laundry through the electrical information output from the driver 200 when changing the operation frequency of the moving hanger 100.

[0423] As a result, the controller C may calculate the weight of the laundry by operating the driver 200 in a speed section lower than the second speed v2 at which the laundry may initially vibrate at the resonance frequency, and may calculate the length of the laundry by operating the driver 200 in a speed section equal to or higher than the second speed at which the laundry may initially vibrate at the resonance frequency.

[0424] The speed section lower than the second speed may include the first speed, and in an operation section s, the driver 200 may be operated at a speed higher than the second speed.

[0425] FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment in which a system state of the moving hanger according to the present disclosure varies.

[0426] As described above, the laundry held on the moving hanger 100 is not aggregated in the drum but is placed to be stretched in the height direction, and only one side of the laundry is held on the moving hanger 100, so that the vibration characteristics of the laundry based on the operation frequency of the moving hanger 100 and the change thereof should be considered to sense the weight and the length of the laundry by operating the moving hanger 100.

[0427] However, a system constituting the moving hanger 100 according to the present disclosure may periodically vary when the moving hanger 100 is operated, as well as characteristics of the components constituting the moving hanger 100 may vary, so that system change characteristics of the moving hanger 100 should be considered together to sense the weight and the length of the laundry by operating the moving hanger 100.

[0428] For example, referring to FIG. 6, the moving hanger 100 according to the present disclosure does not transmit the power of the motor 210 to the displacement generator 300 and the power transmitter 400 as it is, but indirectly transmits the same through the coupling of the belt and the pulley.

[0429] In other words, although the rotation shaft 221 of the motor 210 always rotates at the correct position regardless of the operation speed, because the driving pulley 231 and the transmission pulley 232 rotate about the two shafts, the rotation shaft 211 and the power shaft 240, and rotate by being coupled to each other by the belt 233, the system characteristics may vary as the belt 233 rotates.

[0430] Referring to (a) in FIG. 15, the belt 233 is in contact with outer circumferential surfaces of the driving pulley 231 and the transmission pulley 232, and a thickness of the belt 233 is smaller than thicknesses of the driving pulley 231 and the transmission pulley 232.

[0431] At least one of the driving pulley 231 and the transmission pulley 232 may be thicker than the belt 233 to prevent the belt 233 from deviating from the driving pulley 231 and the transmission pulley 232.

[0432] In addition, at least one of the driving pulley 231 and the transmission pulley 232 may be thicker than the belt 233, and an entirety of the belt 233 in a thickness direction may be in surface contact with the driving pulley 231 and the transmission pulley 232. Accordingly, the power of the motor 210 may be transmitted as much as possible without loss.

[0433] In one example, the driving pulley 231 and the transmission pulley 232 are coupled to an inner circumferential surface of the belt 233 and provide a tensile force to the belt 233. In this situation, because the belt 233 has a section in which it moves upwards and downwards on one or more of the driving pulley 231 and the transmission pulley 232, the driving pulley 231 and the transmission pulley 232 may rotate to generate a periodic change in the tensile force of the belt 233.

[0434] As a result, when the driving pulley 231 and the transmission pulley 232 rotate, the belt 233 may rotate and move together with the driving pulley 231 and the transmission pulley 232, and may reciprocate vertically on the outer circumferential surface of at least one of the driving pulley 231 and the transmission pulley 232.

[0435] Specifically, referring to (a) to (e) in FIG. 15, even when the belt 233 starts to rotate at a center of the transmission pulley 232, it may move to an upper portion of the transmission pulley 232, then descend to the center again, then move to a lower portion of the transmission pulley 232, and then ascend to the center of the transmission pulley 232 again.

[0436] As a result, the belt 233 periodically moves through a total of four areas, which are an upper end area, a central area, a lower end area, and the central area of the transmission pulley 232 while rotating. Accordingly, the converter 230 has an operation period that corresponds to a multiple of four of the operation period of the moving hanger 100.

[0437] Because the operation period is longer than the reciprocation period of the moving hanger or the vibration period of the laundry, it may be defined as a low-frequency period.

[0438] The low-frequency period of the converter 230 also affects the load of the motor 210. Accordingly, the power transmitted from the motor 210 to the laundry may also be transmitted based on the low-frequency period.

[0439] FIG. 16 illustrates that a period of vibration occurring in the moving hanger is changed depending on characteristics of the moving hanger according to the present disclosure.

[0440] Referring to FIG. 16, illustrated is a harmonic change of the moving hanger 100 sensed by the driver 200 while the moving hanger 100 reciprocates for 25 cycles when various types of laundry items, which are a jacket, a wool coat, a suit, a dress, and a shirt from the top to the bottom at a distal end of a graph, with the same weight of 1.2kg are held on the moving hanger 100.

[0441] When there is no change in the system of the moving hanger 100, it is expected that, although an amplitude of a harmonic itself generated during each cycle of the moving hanger 100 may be different for each laundry item, there will be no change in the amplitude of the harmonic or the change will appear based on a one-cycle motion of the moving hanger 100.

[0442] However, it may be seen that, regardless of the materials of the laundry items, magnitudes of the harmonics of all the laundry items continuously vary while the moving hanger 100 moves up to a sixteenth cycle, and then waveforms of the harmonics are repeated in the same manner as in a first cycle.

[0443] In other words, it means that the maximum amplitude and the like generated in the laundry periodically change at a specific time interval rather than for every one cycle of the moving hanger 100.

[0444] Therefore, it may be seen that, to sense the state of the laundry, the change in the harmonic caused by the moving hanger 100 system should be considered. Further, it is necessary to comprehensively identify the current value of the driver 200 for a duration equal to or longer than one cycle of the system harmonic of the moving hanger 100 to obtain corrected laundry information such as exact weight and length, and a material of the laundry.

[0445] FIG. 17 illustrates a state in which a period in which a position of a belt is changed varies based on a change of the belt.

[0446] Because such harmonic characteristics of the moving hanger 100 system are generated by the belt 233, the harmonic characteristics may be changed depending on the tension of the belt 233.

[0447] For example, in FIG. 17, only the tension of the belt may be set greater, and all other structures, sizes, and lengths may be the same as those of the moving hanger in FIG. 15.

[0448] When the tension of the belt 233 becomes greater, the belt 233 may move more slowly in the thickness direction of the driving pulley 231 and the transmission pulley 232. In other words, when the tension of the belt 233 becomes greater, a frictional force between the belt 233, and the outer circumferential surface of the driving pulley 231 and the outer circumferential surface of the transmission pulley 232 becomes stronger, so that the belt 233 may move slowly in the thickness direction of the driving pulley 231 and the transmission pulley 232.

[0449] For example, when the belt 233 reciprocates between the upper end and the lower end of the transmission pulley 232 and returns to the initial position while the transmission pulley 232 rotates four times in FIG. 15, it may be seen in FIG. 17 that the belt 233 reciprocates between the upper end and the lower end of the transmission pulley 232 only after the driving pulley rotates eight times.

[0450] When the tension is small as illustrated in FIG. 15, the belt 233 may directly ascend from the center to the upper end of the transmission pulley 232 with a single rotation of the same transmission pulley 232. However, when the tension is great as illustrated in FIG. 17, the belt 233 may only ascend up to half the distance from the center to the upper end of the transmission pulley 232.

[0451] Furthermore, as the tension of the belt 233 becomes greater, more rotation of the transmission pulley 232 will be required for the belt 233 to reciprocate between the upper end and the lower end of the transmission pulley 232.

[0452] As a result, because of the coupling between the pulley and the belt 233, the moving hanger 100 system according to the present disclosure may be seen as having one harmonic period T corresponding to a multiple of four of both a belt length and the belt tension.

[0453] Even when the tension of the belt 233 is different in FIGS. 15 and 17, when the transmission pulley 232 is rotated at high speed, the period in which the belt 233 reciprocates between the upper end and the lower end of the transmission pulley 232 will be reduced. Therefore, it may be seen that the moving hanger 100 system has one harmonic period T inversely proportional to the operation speed of the motor 200.

[0454] As a result, it may be seen that when the moving hanger 100 is operated, a self-generated harmonic T ave generated in the moving hanger 100 itself is proportional to a multiple of four of the tension of the belt 233 and inversely proportional to the rotation speed of the motor 210.

[0455] In one example, the characteristics of the system harmonic period (hereinafter, a system period) may be described in another manner.

[0456] When the moving hanger 100 is operated in the moving hanger 100 system, the system period T ave generated in the moving hanger 100 itself may be summarized as follows. T ave = 4 n × L B π D 2 × 60 ω rpm , MH

[0457] Here, n is a factor related to the tension of the belt and corresponds to a natural number, LB is the length of the belt, D2 is a diameter of the transmission pulley 232, and w is an angular velocity of the motor 210.

[0458] Referring to FIG. 6, when a separation distance L between a center of the driving pulley 231 and the transmission pulley 232 is increased, the length of the belt 233 may also be increased, and a free length LB of the belt, which is not currently in contact with the driving pulley 231 and the transmission pulley 232, but is able to be in contact with the transmission pulley 232, may also be increased in the belt 233.

[0459] Currently, as an area corresponding to the free length LB of the belt comes into contact with one of the transmission pulley 232 and the fixed pulley 231 so as to vertically reciprocate thereon, a system frequency of the moving hanger 100 is generated.

[0460] The portion corresponding to the free length LB will begin to continuously be in contact with the transmission pulley 232, and a period in which it returns to the initial position again from the transmission pulley 232 may be set to a multiple of four, as a least common multiple, of reciprocation between the upper and lower ends of the driving pulley 231 and reciprocation between the upper and lower ends of the transmission pulley 232. The free length LB may be defined by a following equation: LB =√(C^2+((D2-D1) / 2)^2). C corresponds to a linear distance between the power shaft 240 and the motor shaft 221.

[0461] Accordingly, it may be seen that the system period is proportional to a multiple of four of the length of the belt and inversely proportional to the rotation shaft of the motor 210.

[0462] FIG. 18 illustrates a control method of sensing a state of the laundry through a moving hanger by the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0463] As a result, to identify the state information of the laundry through the moving hanger 100, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure needs to sense the system period of the moving hanger and the vibration characteristics of the laundry based on the operation of the moving hanger 100.

[0464] To this end, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may first perform a system sensing step S1 of sensing the system period of the moving hanger 100.

[0465] In other words, it is necessary to identify the system period of the moving hanger 100, because only after this period has elapsed may the weight and the length be accurately sensed based on the resonance frequency of the moving hanger 100 or the current value of the motor 210.

[0466] The system sensing step S1 needs to be performed for the system period T of the moving hanger or longer while operating the moving hanger 100 to identify the system period T.

[0467] A laundry sensing step S2 of starting to sense the state of the laundry may be performed.

[0468] The laundry sensing step S2 may correspond to sensing the weight of the laundry while maintaining the operation speed of the moving hanger 100 for a predetermined duration.

[0469] In the laundry sensing step S2, even after the vibration characteristics of the laundry are identified, the current value of the driver 200 needs to be collected for the system period T or longer to accurately sense the state of the laundry.

[0470] The laundry sensing step S2 may be performed when the system sensing step S1 is completed, but may be simultaneously performed during the system sensing step S1.

[0471] That is, the system period T may be identified while performing the system sensing step S1, and when the system period T is identified, the state of the laundry may be calculated by calculating the current value of the motor 210 corresponding to the system period T.

[0472] However, when the system sensing step S1 and the laundry sensing step S2 are performed at the same operation speed of the motor, the length of the laundry may not be sensed.

[0473] Accordingly, the laundry sensing step S2 may be understood as a step of sensing the weight of the laundry.

[0474] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may perform an additional sensing step S3 of operating the motor 210 at a constant speed for a predetermined duration, which is different from the operation speed of the motor in the laundry sensing step S2. Through the additional sensing step S3, information on the current value of the motor 210 may be checked in two speed sections, so that one or more of the length and the material of the laundry may be calculated.

[0475] Also in the additional sensing step S3, to sense the length or the material of the laundry, the current value of the motor 210 needs to be collected for the system period T or longer.

[0476] However, when the operation speed of the motor 210 is changed in the additional sensing step S3, a sensing duration of the additional sensing step S3 may also be changed. This is because the system period T varies depending on the operation speed. For example, when the operation speed of the motor 210 in the additional sensing step S3 is higher than that in the laundry sensing step S2 or the state sensing step S1, the sensing duration of the additional sensing step S3 may be shorter than that of the laundry sensing step S2 or the state sensing step S1. As a result, the additional sensing step S3 may be performed more quickly than the laundry sensing step S2 or the state sensing step S1.

[0477] When the additional sensing step S3 is also ended, the controller of the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may obtain not only the system of the moving hanger 100 but also the laundry information of one or more of the weight, the length, and the material of the laundry.

[0478] Accordingly, based on the obtained information, an accelerating operation step S4 of increasing the operation frequency of the moving hanger 100 may be performed to optimally shake the laundry.

[0479] The accelerating operation step S4 may correspond to a step of removing dust from the laundry in earnest as one or more of hot air and steam are supplied.

[0480] Before the accelerating operation step S4, hot air and steam may or may not be supplied.

[0481] The sensing duration may include the sensing durations of the state sensing step, the laundry sensing step, and the initial sensing step, and may be defined as a duration from the start of the operation of the moving hanger until the accelerating operation step of operating the moving hanger at the treatment speed.

[0482] FIG. 19 illustrates an embodiment in which the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure senses the system period of the moving hanger.

[0483] In the state sensing step S1, to check the system period T of the moving hanger 100, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure needs to rotate the driver 210 longer than the period T.

[0484] After operating the moving hanger 100 for a long time, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may calculate the system period T by identifying an amplitude change of a low-frequency signal sensed by the driver 200.

[0485] However, this may result in a relative delay, and therefore it is necessary to complete the state sensing step S1 within one system period T without excessively operating the moving hanger 100 beyond the system period T.

[0486] To this end, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may frequently sense the amplitude of the low-frequency signal generated by the moving hanger 100. For example, the amplitude of the low-frequency signal may be sensed every time the moving hanger 100 completes one cycle of operation.

[0487] For example, when a sensing time point at the start is X1, a sensing time point after one cycle corresponds to X2, and a sensing time point after eleven cycles corresponds to X11.

[0488] Accordingly, the amplitude of the low-frequency signal may be sensed every time the moving hanger 100 completes one reciprocating motion and returns to its initial position. While tracking this, the period of the moving hanger 100 may be sensed by sensing repetition of peaks, troughs, or specific points of the amplitude.

[0489] FIG. 20 illustrates a control method of sensing whether a change has occurred in the system of the moving hanger by the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0490] The state sensing step S1 may be performed only once and may be omitted thereafter. This is because the system of the moving hanger 100 is not a factor that is easily changed once determined. Accordingly, in the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure, when the state sensing step S1 is performed once and a history thereof is stored, the state sensing step S1 may be omitted for a predetermined duration or until a user's request is made.

[0491] However, when there is the user's request, when the moving hanger 100 is operated for a limited number of times, or at predetermined intervals such as seasonal changes, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may perform a change sensing step of checking whether the change has occurred in the system of the moving hanger 100 such as whether the tension of the belt 233 has been changed, whether the belt 233 has been replaced, or whether the frictional force is constant when the pulleys rotate, in the state sensing step S1.

[0492] For example, the tension of the belt 233 may vary depending on humidity and temperature and may vary based on aging of the belt 233, and when the belt 233 is replaced, it may be identified in the change sensing step.

[0493] The change sensing step may immediately identify whether the change has occurred through whether the system period T identified in the state sensing step S1 and the previously stored system period T are the same.

[0494] Therefore, the change sensing step may determine the difference in the system period T more quickly than by operating the driver 200 for the duration equal to or longer than the period T to sense the system period T in the state sensing step S1.

[0495] For example, the change sensing step may include an operation step S11 of operating the motor 210 to rotate the rotation shaft.

[0496] While performing the operation step S11, the controller may perform a reach sensing step S12 of checking whether the pulley 232 and the belt 233 have been operated for one cycle. The fact that the pulley 232 and the belt 233 have been operated for one cycle corresponds to one reciprocating motion of the moving hanger 100. This represents one cycle of the low-frequency signal and is conceptually different from the system period T, in which a maximum amplitude of the low-frequency signal varies over its period. Therefore, the period corresponding to one reciprocating motion of the moving hanger 100 is defined as a pulley period.

[0497] The operation step S11 may be continuously performed during the change sensing step.

[0498] After the reach sensing step S12, a measurement step S13 of measuring the amplitude of the low-frequency signal of the moving hanger 100 system during the sensed pulley period may be performed.

[0499] When the measurement step S13 is performed, a calculation step S14 of calculating the low-frequency signal may be performed. The calculation step S14 may be the same as the method described in FIG. 19, but may be performed more quickly than the method disclosed in FIG. 19.

[0500] For example, the calculation step S14 may correspond to identifying a waveform only up to a peak or a trough. For example, when a section in which the amplitude increases and then decreases is found or a section in which the amplitude decreases and then increases is found, the waveform of the low-frequency signal may be immediately predicted, allowing the system period T to be calculated, and the low-frequency calculation step S14 may then be completed.

[0501] Thereafter, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may perform a determination step S15 of determining whether the system period T has been changed from the previous system period.

[0502] Because the steps up to the calculation step S14 may be performed before the system period T elapses, and the determination step S15 may be performed almost simultaneously with the calculation step S14, the steps up to the determination step S15 may be completed before the system period T elapses.

[0503] When the system period T has been changed from the previous system period, a new system period T may be updated such that the system period value may be utilized immediately when the state sensing step is omitted in the future. In addition, the new system period T may be used to sense the weight, the length, and the material of the laundry.

[0504] However, when there is no change in the system period T, it may be determined that the state of the moving hanger 100 is the same.

[0505] Thereafter, the driver 200 may be operated for the system period T or longer to sense the weight, the length, and the like of the laundry, or the operation thereof may be ended before running for the full system period T.

[0506] Accordingly, an execution duration of the change sensing step may be shortened, the user may be immediately notified, and energy may be saved.

[0507] Alternatively, when the state sensing step S1 is performed, the change sensing step may also be simultaneously performed during the state sensing step S1.

[0508] Because of the change sensing step, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may accurately sense one or more of the weight / length / material of the laundry even when the humidity / temperature is changed or the belt 233 itself is replaced with another belt.

[0509] For example, in a state in which the same laundry is held on the moving hanger 100, even when the humidity / temperature is changed or the belt 233 itself is replaced with another belt, one or more of the weight / length / material of the laundry may be calculated to be the same.

[0510] When the laundry information is configured to be displayed, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure will display the laundry information in the same manner even when the humidity / temperature is changed or the belt 233 itself is replaced with another belt.

[0511] However, when a type of the belt 233 is changed, a material thereof is changed, or the tension thereof is changed, the system period T is changed, so that respective durations for the state sensing, the laundry sensing, the additional sensing, and the like may be changed.

[0512] FIG. 21 illustrates a speed change of the moving hanger when the control method of the present disclosure is applied.

[0513] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may perform the state sensing step S1 during a first sensing duration t1 while operating the driver 200. The state sensing step S1 may be performed while the driver 200 is operated at a first speed V1.

[0514] The first sensing duration t1 may be set to be longer than the system period T.

[0515] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may perform the laundry sensing step during a second sensing duration t2 while operating the driver 200. The laundry sensing step S2 may be performed at an operation speed different from that of the state sensing step S1. For example, the laundry sensing step may be performed while the driver 200 is operated at a second speed V2 or a speed lower the second speed.

[0516] When the driver 200 is operated faster in the laundry sensing step S2 than in the state sensing step S1, the second sensing duration t2 may be shorter than the first sensing duration t1. This takes into account shortening of the system period T.

[0517] The laundry sensing step S2 may correspond to sensing of the weight.

[0518] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may perform the additional sensing step S3 during a third sensing duration t2 while operating the driver 200.

[0519] In the additional sensing step S3, the driver 200 may rotate at a third speed.

[0520] In this case, a third sensing duration t3 may be shorter than the second sensing duration t2. This takes into account that the system period T has been further reduced.

[0521] The additional sensing step S3 may be a step of sensing the length of the laundry.

[0522] When the additional sensing step S3 is completed, because the state of the laundry has been sensed, the accelerating operation step S4 of removing dust from the laundry with hot air and steam in earnest and refreshing the laundry may be performed.

[0523] In the accelerating operation step S4, the operation speed of the driver 200 may be higher than in the state sensing step S1, the laundry sensing step S2, and the additional sensing step S3. This may be defined as a treatment speed.

[0524] For example, the treatment speed may be set to be equal to or higher than the fourth speed.

[0525] However, an operation duration of the accelerating operation step S4 may be set to be greater than the sensing duration.

[0526] In summary, the operation speeds of the driver 200 in the state sensing step S1, the laundry sensing step S2, and the additional sensing step S3 may be set to be lower than the operation speed in the accelerating operation step S4. Accordingly, the operation speeds of the driver 200 in the state sensing step S1, the laundry sensing step S2, and the additional sensing step S3 may be defined as a sensing speed.

[0527] In this case, it may be seen that the sensing duration decreases as the sensing speed increases.

[0528] Conversely, when the sensing speed is lowered, the sensing duration will increase.

[0529] The first sensing duration t1, the second sensing duration t2, and the third sensing duration t3 may be collectively referred to as a sensing duration because they are durations for sensing the state of the laundry and the system state of the moving hanger 100.

[0530] In one example, in the laundry sensing step S2, the length of the laundry may be sensed.

[0531] This is because the laundry sensing step S2 is performed at the operation speed different from that of the state sensing step S1. In this case, the additional sensing step S3 may be omitted.

[0532] In addition, in the state sensing step S1, the weight of the laundry may also be simultaneously sensed.

[0533] On the other hand, unlike the above description, the state sensing step S1 may be performed at an arbitrary speed such as the second speed and the third speed. In this case, the laundry sensing step S2 may also be always performed at an arbitrary speed other than the second speed. This is because not only the system characteristics but also vibration characteristics of the load may be considered together in the state sensing step.

[0534] However, it is preferable that the laundry sensing step S2 is performed at the same speed as in the state sensing step S1 in consideration of energy efficiency of the driver 200.

[0535] The present disclosure may be modified and implemented in various forms, so that the scope of the rights is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Therefore, when the modified embodiment includes the elements of the claims of the present disclosure, it should be regarded as belonging to the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A laundry treating apparatus comprising: a cabinet; an inner casing providing an accommodation space where laundry is held inside the cabinet; a machine room disposed under the inner casing, wherein one or more of hot air and steam supplied into the accommodation space are generated inside the machine room; and a moving hanger seated in an upper portion of the inner casing and configured to shake the laundry while the laundry is held thereon, wherein the moving hanger is configured to, after shaking the laundry at a sensing speed for a sensing duration, shake the laundry at a treatment speed higher than the sensing speed while at least one of steam and the hot air is supplied to the laundry.

2. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moving hanger includes: a driver seated on the inner casing outside the accommodation space and configured to provide power for shaking the laundry; a plurality of hanging portions configured to hold the laundry thereon inside the accommodation space; a belt connected to the driver and configured to transmit the power; and a pulley connected to the belt and configured to transmit the power to the hanging portions, wherein the belt is configured to reciprocate between an upper end and a lower end of the pulley when the driver is in operation, wherein the sensing duration is equal to or greater than a period for the belt to reciprocate between the upper end and the lower end of the pulley.

3. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sensing duration is set to be equal to or greater than a duration required for the belt to complete a number of rotations that is a multiple of four.

4. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein, when one or more of a tension and a material of the belt are varied, the sensing duration is also varied.

5. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sensing duration increases as the tension of the belt increases.

6. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 5, wherein, when the tension of the belt increases, the sensing duration increases by an amount equal to or greater than a duration required for the pulley to complete a number of rotations that is a multiple of four.

7. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sensing duration decreases as the tension of the belt decreases.

8. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 7, wherein, when the tension of the belt decreases, the sensing duration decreases by an amount equal to or greater than a duration required for the pulley to complete a number of rotations that is a multiple of four.

9. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a door coupled to the cabinet and configured to open and close the accommodation space; and a display disposed on one of the cabinet and the door and configured to display laundry information related to a weight, a length, and a material of the laundry, wherein the display is configured to display the same laundry information when the laundry held on the hanging portion is the same even when the material of the belt is varied to another material.

10. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the display is configured to display the same laundry information when the laundry held on the hanging portion is the same even when a use time of the belt elapses, a tension of the belt is varied, or an installation environment of the belt including a temperature and a humidity is varied.

11. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moving hanger is controlled to: shake the laundry at a first sensing speed for a first sensing duration; then shake the laundry at a second sensing speed higher than the first sensing speed for a second sensing duration; and then shake the laundry at the treatment speed.

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