Clothes treatment apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a clothes treatment apparatus comprising: a first treatment device having a first cabinet, a tub air supply part, a tub exhaust part and a drum; a second treatment device having a second cabinet, a flow path part and a heat exchange part; a detergent storage part for providing a space in which a detergent is stored, and providing a movement path of water to be supplied to a tub; and a connection part including a connection body, which is provided inside the first cabinet, a water supply chamber, which is provided in the connection body and forms a flow path for guiding, to the tub, the liquid discharged from the detergent storage part, an exhaust chamber, which is provided in the connection body and forms a flow path for discharging the air of the tub to the outside or supplying external air to the tub, and a blocking part, which blocks the air flowing into the exhaust chamber from flowing back to the detergent storage part.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a commercial laundry treating apparatus capable of performing at least one of a washing cycle in which foreign substances are removed from laundry using a detergent, and a drying cycle in which steam or hot air is supplied to laundry to perform sterilization, wrinkle removal, deodorization, and drying of the laundry.Background

[0002] A laundry treating apparatus refers to a washing machine that washes a treatment target such as laundry through a washing cycle, and a dryer that dries a treatment target through a drying cycle. In general, a washing machine and a dryer may be provided as separate apparatuses, however, there is a laundry treating apparatus that is able to perform washing and drying simultaneously to overcome space limitations and improve user convenience.

[0003] For the execution of a washing cycle, a laundry treating apparatus is provided with a cabinet, a tub in which water is stored, a drum providing a space in which a treatment target is accommodated, a driver fixed to the tub and rotating the drum, a support unit supporting the tub, a water supply unit supplying water to the tub, and a drainage unit draining water from the tub.

[0004] For the execution of a drying cycle, the laundry treating apparatus is provided with a flow path unit that draws air from the inside of the tub and resupplies the same to the tub, and a heat exchange unit that is provided in the flow path unit and sequentially performs dehumidification and heating of the air.

[0005] That is, among conventional laundry treating apparatuses, there were those in which both an apparatus for a washing cycle and an apparatus for a drying cycle were installed inside a single cabinet so that the washing cycle and the drying cycle could be selectively executed according to user convenience.

[0006] The conventional laundry treating apparatus having the structure described above has a problem in that it is difficult to apply the same to a commercial laundry treating apparatus that needs to frequently and quickly treat large quantities of a treatment target. That is, in the case of a commercial laundry treating apparatus, a treating space capable of accommodating heavy and bulky laundry is required, and a heat exchange unit for rapid washing and drying of the treatment target is required, and therefore it was difficult to install both the apparatus for washing and the apparatus for drying in a cabinet having a limited volume. Although it is possible to install both the apparatus for washing and the apparatus for drying by designing a cabinet with a large volume, in this case there was a problem in that manufacturing and transportation were difficult. Therefore, in the case of a commercial laundry treating apparatus, the coupling or arrangement between the apparatus for washing and the apparatus for drying was one of the important design considerations.Summary Technical Purpose

[0007] A purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus provided with a first treating apparatus that provides a space for washing a treatment target or drying a treatment target, and a second treating apparatus detachably coupled to the first treating apparatus and supplying air to the treatment target.

[0008] A purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of preventing air supplied from the second treating apparatus to the first treating apparatus from flowing through a flow path that supplies water or detergent to a treatment target.

[0009] A purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which a heat exchanger that is able to switch its function between a heat absorption function and a heat generation function enables effective heat exchange with outside air.

[0010] A purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of reducing volume by efficiently arranging a flow path unit and a heat exchange unit in a second treating apparatus.

[0011] A purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of enhancing washing power through a spray unit that is able to spray water onto a treatment target supplied to the first treating apparatus.Technical Solution

[0012] The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus comprising: a first treating apparatus including: a first cabinet, a tub disposed inside the first cabinet and providing a space in which water may be stored, a tub air supply unit supplying air to the tub, a tub air exhaust unit through which air inside the tub may be discharged, and a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub and providing a space in which a treatment target may be accommodated; a second treating apparatus including a second cabinet detachably coupled to the first cabinet, a flow path unit disposed inside the second cabinet to connect the tub air supply unit and the tub air exhaust unit to each other and defining a circulation flow path for air, and a heat exchange unit configured to sequentially perform dehumidification and heating of air having flowed into the flow path unit; a detergent storage unit providing a space in which detergent may be stored and providing a flow path for water to be supplied to the tub; and a connection unit including: a connection body disposed inside the first cabinet, a water supply chamber provided in the connection body and defining a flow path guiding liquid discharged from the detergent storage unit to the tub, an exhaust chamber provided in the connection body and defining a flow path discharging air from the tub to an outside or supplying outside air to the tub, and a backflow preventer for preventing air having flowed into the exhaust chamber from flowing back to the detergent storage unit.

[0013] The backflow preventer may be provided as a water trap formed inside the water supply chamber.

[0014] The backflow preventer may include: a storage unit disposed inside the connection body and providing a space in which liquid may be stored, wherein the storage unit defines a bottom surface of the water supply chamber; and an extension pipe guiding liquid discharged from the detergent storage unit to the water supply chamber and extending from an upper surface of the water supply chamber toward the bottom surface of the water supply chamber such that the extension pipe may be maintained in a state submerged in the liquid stored in the storage unit.

[0015] The laundry treating apparatus may further comprise: a connection body supply pipe connecting the detergent storage unit and the water supply chamber to each other; and a tub supply pipe connecting the water supply chamber and the tub to each other, wherein the backflow preventer may be provided as a water trap provided in the tub supply pipe or a check valve provided in the connection body and controlling opening and closing of the tub supply pipe.

[0016] The laundry treating apparatus may further comprise: a first communication pipe connecting the tub and the exhaust chamber to each other; and a second communication pipe discharging air inside the exhaust chamber to the inside of the first cabinet or to an outside out of the first cabinet, wherein a flow path cross-sectional area of the first communication pipe may be set to be smaller than a flow path cross-sectional area of the tub air exhaust unit.

[0017] The laundry treating apparatus may further comprise: a drainage pipe discharging water inside the tub to the outside out of the first cabinet, wherein the second communication pipe may be provided to connect the exhaust chamber and the drainage pipe to each other.

[0018] The laundry treating apparatus may further comprise: a connection unit partition wall provided in the connection body and separating the water supply chamber and the exhaust chamber from each other; and a chamber communication hole provided in the connection unit partition wall and communicating an upper space of the water supply chamber and an upper space of the exhaust chamber with each other.

[0019] The laundry treating apparatus may further comprise: an outside air communication hole extending through the connection body and communicating the exhaust chamber and the inside of the first cabinet with each other.

[0020] The laundry treating apparatus may further comprise: a chamber water supply pipe provided to connect a water supply source and the connection body to each other and supplying water from the water supply source to the water supply chamber.

[0021] The laundry treating apparatus may further comprise: a connection body supply pipe connecting the detergent storage unit and the water supply chamber to each other; and a tub supply pipe connecting the water supply chamber and the tub to each other, wherein the chamber water supply pipe may be provided to supply water to the tub supply pipe.

[0022] The chamber water supply pipe may be provided to supply water to the backflow preventer.

[0023] The second cabinet may be disposed on top of the first cabinet.

[0024] The first cabinet may include a first front panel defining a front surface of the first treating apparatus; a first left panel and a first right panel connected to the first front panel to define side surfaces of the first treating apparatus; and a first rear panel provided to face the first front panel and defining a rear surface of the first treating apparatus, and wherein each of a height of the first front panel and a height of the first rear panel may be set to be greater than each of a height of the first left panel and a height of the first right panel.

[0025] The second cabinet may be detachable from a mounting space defined by an upper end of the first front panel, an upper end of the first left panel, an upper end of the first right panel, and an upper end of the first rear panel.

[0026] The second cabinet may include: a second left panel defining a left side surface of the second treating apparatus and seated on an upper end of the first left panel; a second right panel defining a right side surface of the second treating apparatus and seated on an upper end of the first right panel; and a second rear panel defining a rear surface of the second treating apparatus and seated on an upper end of the first rear panel.Advantageous Effects

[0027] The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus provided with a first treating apparatus that provides a space for washing a treatment target or drying a treatment target, and a second treating apparatus detachably coupled to the first treating apparatus and supplying air to the treatment target.

[0028] The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus in which a heat exchanger that is able to switch its function between a heat absorption function and a heat generation function enables effective heat exchange with outside air.

[0029] The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus capable of preventing air supplied from the second treating apparatus to the first treating apparatus from flowing through a flow path that supplies water or detergent to a treatment target.

[0030] The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus capable of reducing volume by efficiently arranging a flow path unit and a heat exchange unit in a second treating apparatus.

[0031] The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus capable of enhancing washing power through a spray unit that is able to spray water onto a treatment target supplied to the first treating apparatus.Brief Description of Drawings

[0032] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example of a laundry treating apparatus. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an example of a first treating apparatus. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a tub, a drum, and a driver provided in the first treating apparatus. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a water supply unit, FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a detergent storage unit, and FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a connection unit. FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a drainage unit and a spray unit. FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an example of a first washing unit. FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a tub air supply unit. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a second washing unit. FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a second treating apparatus. FIG. 15 illustrates an example of a second cabinet provided in the second treating apparatus. FIG. 16 illustrates an example of a first flow path unit and a second flow path unit provided in the second treating apparatus. FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a heat exchange flow path, and FIG. 18 illustrates an example of a blowing flow path and an air supply flow path. FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate an example of a second flow path unit and a heat exchange unit. FIG. 21 illustrates an example of a third flow path unit. FIGS. 22 and 23 illustrate an example of a coupling structure of the first treating apparatus and the second treating apparatus. Best Mode

[0033] The configuration or control method of the apparatus described below is merely for describing embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, and like reference numerals used throughout the specification denote like components.

[0034] The singular form includes the plural form unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In the present specification, terms such as "include," "comprise," or "have" are intended to designate the presence of a feature, numeral, step, operation, component, part, or a combination thereof described in the specification, and do not preclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numerals, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof unless specifically defined otherwise.

[0035] Expressions indicating relative or absolute arrangements, such as "in a certain direction," "along a certain direction," "parallel," "perpendicular," "centered," "concentric," or "coaxial," not only strictly represent such arrangements, but also represent states of relative displacement with a tolerance or with an angle or distance to the extent that the same function is obtained.

[0036] In addition, terms including ordinals such as "first," "second," and the like as used in the present specification may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by such terms, and such terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another component. Therefore, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, a second component may also be referred to as a first component.

[0037] In addition, terms such as "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "side," "front end," "rear end," "upper end," and "lower end" as used in the present specification are defined based on the drawings, or defined based on the arrangement / disposition state between components or between configurations, and the shape and position of each configuration are not limited by these terms.

[0038] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the laundry treating apparatus and a control method thereof will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a laundry treating apparatus 100 may be provided to include a first treating apparatus 100a (processing module, laundry processing module, washing module) that provides a space for washing or drying a treatment target such as laundry, and a second treating apparatus 100b detachably coupled to the first treating apparatus 100a (air processing module, drying module, heat exchange module, detachable module) for drying a treatment target supplied to the first treating apparatus.

[0040] The first treating apparatus 100a may be provided to include a first cabinet 1, and the second treating apparatus 100b may be provided to include a second cabinet 6. As illustrated in the drawing, the second treating apparatus 100b may be provided to be located on top of the first treating apparatus 100a, and in this case, the exterior appearance of the laundry treating apparatus 100 may be formed by the combination of the first cabinet 1 and the second cabinet 6.

[0041] The first cabinet 1 may be provided to include a front panel 11 (first front panel) defining a front surface of the first treating apparatus 100a, a side panel 12 (first side panel) connected to the first front panel to define a side surface of the first treating apparatus 100a, and a rear panel 13 (first rear panel) provided to face the first front panel 11 and defining a rear surface of the first treating apparatus 100a.

[0042] The first front panel 11 may be provided with a control panel 112 for controlling the laundry treating apparatus 100. The control panel 112 may be provided to control only one of the first treating apparatus 100a and the second treating apparatus 100b, or may be provided to control both the first treating apparatus 100a and the second treating apparatus 100b. The control panel 112 may be provided with a display unit for displaying control commands selectable by the user, and an input unit for receiving control commands from the user.

[0043] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first front panel 11 may also be provided with a first panel body 113 and a second panel body 114. The first panel body 113 may be provided as a panel fixed to the first treating apparatus 100a to define a mounting space for the control panel 112, and the second panel body 114 may be provided as a panel separable from the first treating apparatus 100a.

[0044] The first panel body 113 may be provided to include a cabinet through-hole 111 communicating with the inside of the first treating apparatus 100a, and the second panel body 114 may be provided at a position capable of exposing at least some of the components provided inside the first treating apparatus 100a to the outside out of the first treating apparatus 100a.

[0045] FIG. 2 illustrates, as an example, a case where the first panel body 113 is provided to define an upper area of the first front panel 11, and the second panel body 114 is provided to define a lower area of the first front panel 11.

[0046] The first side panel 12 may be provided to include a left panel 121 (first left panel) defining a left side surface of the first treating apparatus 100a (part of the left side surface of the laundry treating apparatus), and a right panel 122 (first right panel) defining a right side surface of the first treating apparatus 100a (part of the right side surface of the laundry treating apparatus).

[0047] The first treating apparatus 100a may be provided with a mounting space 15 in which the second treating apparatus 100b is fixed. The mounting space 15 may be provided as an open space formed in the upper surface of the first cabinet 1, and FIG. 2 illustrates, as an example, a case where the mounting space 15 is formed by the upper end of the first front panel 11, the upper end of the first left panel 121, the upper end of the first right panel 122, and the upper end of the first rear panel 13.

[0048] Each H1 of the height of the first front panel 11 and the height of the first rear panel 13 may be set to be greater than each of the height of the first left panel 121 and the height of the first right panel 122. Setting the heights of the first front panel 11 and the first rear panel 13 to be greater than those of the side panels 121 and 122 is not only advantageous for positioning and fixing the second treating apparatus 100b when mounting the second treating apparatus 100b in the mounting space 15, but also has the effect of reducing the overall height of the laundry treating apparatus 100.

[0049] In addition, when the height of the first front panel 11 is set to be greater than each of those of the side panels 121 and 122, it will be possible to minimize the increase in a height of the laundry treating apparatus 100 while defining a space in which other devices (devices such as a detergent storage unit) may be able to be installed in the first front panel 11. The first front panel 11 may have the height equal to the height of the first rear panel 13, or may be provided to have a different height from that of the first rear panel 13.

[0050] Inside the first cabinet 1, a first controller 19 for controlling at least one of the first treating apparatus 100a and the second treating apparatus 100a may be provided. The first controller 19 may be provided to receive a control signal from the input unit of the control panel 112, or to transmit a control signal requesting display of information to the display unit of the control panel 112. The first controller 19 may be fixed to the first rear panel 13 and located inside the first cabinet 1.

[0051] Inside the first cabinet 1, a receiving unit 2 defining a washing space or drying space for a treatment target may be provided. FIG. 3 illustrates, as an example, a case where the receiving unit 2 is provided with a tub 2a defining a space for water and a flow path for air, and a drum 2b rotatably provided inside the tub and defining a space in which a treatment target is accommodated.

[0052] The tub 2a may be provided to include a tub body 21 that provides a space in which water is stored and is fixed inside the first cabinet 1 through a tub support unit 23.

[0053] The tub body 21 may be provided in a hollow cylindrical shape. The tub body 21 may be provided to include a tub front surface 21a provided in a direction facing the first front panel 11, a tub rear surface 21b provided in a direction facing the first rear panel 13, and a tub circumferential surface 21c connecting the front surface and the rear surface of the tub body.

[0054] The tub front surface 21a may be provided with an inlet 211 communicating with the inside of the drum 2b, and a mounting tube 212 provided in a shape surrounding the inlet 211 and protruding from the tub front surface 21a toward the cabinet through-hole 111.

[0055] That is, the mounting tube 212 may be provided as a cylinder protruding from the tub front surface 21a toward the first front panel 11, and the inlet 211 may be provided as a hole extending through the tub front surface 21a and located inside the mounting tube 212.

[0056] The mounting tube 212 not only provides a mounting space for a spray unit or tub air supply unit to be described later, but may also serve as a means for guiding a treatment target inserted into the drum 2b through the cabinet through-hole 111 to the inlet 211.

[0057] The inlet 211 may be opened and closed by a door 22 rotatably fixed to the tub front surface 21a. As illustrated in FIG. 2, since the door 22 is rotatably fixed to the tub body 21 rather than to the first front panel 11, the cabinet through-hole 111 is preferably provided in a size and position that does not interfere with the rotation of the door 22 (rotation for opening or closing the inlet).

[0058] That is, when the inlet 211 is closed, the door 22 remains exposed to the outside out of the first cabinet 1 through the cabinet through-hole 111. However, when the inlet 211 is opened, the door 22 is rotatable toward the outside out of the first cabinet 1 through the cabinet through-hole 111.

[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 3, in order to fix the door 22 to the tub front surface 21a, the tub 2a may be provided with a door mounting unit 224. The door mounting unit 224 may be provided to include a first mounting cover 225 fixed to the tub front surface 21a and surrounding the mounting tube 212, and a second mounting cover 226 fixed to the first mounting cover 225 and providing a space in which a hinge 227 of the door is mounted. In order to prevent the inlet 211 from being closed by the door mounting unit 224, the door mounting unit 224 may be provided with an inlet communication hole 228.

[0060] The tub 2a may be connected to the second treating apparatus 100b through a tub air supply unit 24 and a tub air exhaust unit 25. That is, the second treating apparatus 100b may be detachably connected to the tub air supply unit 24 and the tub air exhaust unit 25.

[0061] The tub air supply unit 24 may be provided to supply air into the inside of the tub body 21 through the mounting tube 212, and the tub air exhaust unit 25 may be provided to discharge air from the inside of the tub body 21 to the outside out of the tub through the tub circumferential surface 21c.

[0062] The tub air supply unit 24 may be provided to include a first air supply hole 241 and a second air supply hole 242 provided in the mounting tube 212, and a distribution pipe 243 guiding air to each of the air supply holes 241 and 242.

[0063] The first air supply hole 241 and the second air supply hole 242 may be provided to extend through the mounting tube 212 and communicate with the inlet 211. The distribution pipe 243 may be provided to include a connection pipe 243a connected to the second treating apparatus 100b, a first branch pipe 243b guiding a portion of air flowing into the connection pipe to the first air supply hole 241, and a second branch pipe 243c guiding a portion of air flowing into the connection pipe to the second air supply hole 242.

[0064] In order for the laundry treating apparatus 100 to perform washing or drying of a large amount of a treatment target, it is necessary to design the volume of the tub body 21 and the volume of the drum 2b to be large. Since the drum 2b must be supported by the tub rear surface 21b and be rotatable inside the body 21, the durability of the tub body 21 is important for designing the drum 2b with a large volume. Therefore, the tub body 21 may be made of a metallic material.

[0065] When the tub body 21 is made of a metallic material, the mounting tube 212 is also preferably made of a metallic material, and the distribution pipe 243 may be provided of a material different from that of the mounting tube 212. It may be more advantageous in terms of cost and time to define the distribution pipe 243 provided with the first branch pipe and the second branch pipe described above from a material such as plastic rather than metal. Therefore, when the distribution pipe 243 and the mounting tube 212 are manufactured of different materials, the first treating apparatus 100a may further include a bracket 244 connecting the distribution pipe 243 to the mounting tube 212.

[0066] The distribution pipe 243 may be provided as a flow path having a shape protruding from the mounting tube 212 toward the second treating apparatus 100b. The free end of the connection pipe 243a (the portion to which the second treating apparatus is connected) may be provided to be exposed to the outside out of the first treating apparatus 100a through the mounting space 15 of the first cabinet 1. That is, the free end of the connection pipe 243a may be provided to be located at a point of the vertical level higher than a vertical level of at least one of the upper end of the first front panel 11, the upper end of the first rear panel 13, and the upper end of the first side panel 121 and 122. This is to facilitate coupling of the first treating apparatus 100a and the second treating apparatus 100b.

[0067] The tub air exhaust unit 25 may be provided as an exhaust pipe protruding from the tub circumferential surface 21c toward the second treating apparatus 100b. That is, the tub air exhaust unit 25 may be provided as an exhaust pipe protruding toward the mounting space 15 formed in the upper surface of the first treating apparatus 100a.

[0068] The free end of the tub air exhaust unit 25 (the portion to which the second treating apparatus is connected) may be provided to be located at a point of the vertical level higher than a vertical level of at least one of the upper end of the first front panel 11, the upper end of the first rear panel 13, and the upper end of the first side panel 121 and 122. This is to facilitate coupling of the first treating apparatus 100a and the second treating apparatus 100b. Unlike what has been described above, the free end of the tub air exhaust unit 25 may be provided to be located at a point lower than the upper end of the side panel 12. This is to reduce the height of the laundry treating apparatus 100.

[0069] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the door 22 may be provided to include a door frame 221 rotatably fixed to the hinge 227, a door frame through-hole 222 provided to extend through the door frame, and a door window 223 fixed to the door frame 221 and closing the door frame through-hole.

[0070] The door frame through-hole 222 may be provided at a position corresponding to the inlet 211 (a position communicating with the inlet), and the door window 223 may be provided of a light-transmitting material. In this case, the user may check the inside of the drum 2b from outside the first treating apparatus 100a.

[0071] The door window 223 may be provided to include a first window 223a fixed to the door frame 221 so as to be exposed to the outside out of the first cabinet 1 through the cabinet through-hole 111, and a second window 223b fixed to the door frame 221 so as to be located inside the mounting tube 212.

[0072] The first window 223a may be provided as glass located in the cabinet through-hole 111 and constituting a portion of the first front panel 11, and the second window 223b may be provided as glass protruding from the door frame 221 toward the inlet 211.

[0073] The tub body 21 may receive water through a water supply unit 4, and water inside the tub body 21 may be discharged to the outside out of the laundry treating apparatus 100 through a drainage unit 28.

[0074] The drainage unit 28 may be provided to include a drainage pipe 281 guiding water from inside the tub body 21 to the outside out of the first cabinet 1. The drainage pipe 281 may be provided as a hose having one end fixed to a lower space of the tub circumferential surface 21c (the area of the tub circumferential surface located below a horizontal line passing through the center of the inlet) and the other end extending through the first rear panel 13.

[0075] The drainage pipe 281 may be provided to discharge water from inside the tub body 21 to the outside out of the first cabinet 1 using gravity, or may be provided to discharge water from inside the tub body 21 to the outside out of the first cabinet 1 through a drainage pump. FIG. 4 illustrates the former case as an example, in which case the drainage unit 28 may be further provided with a drainage valve 282 that controls opening and closing of the drainage pipe 281 in response to a control signal from the first controller 19.

[0076] The drainage unit 28 may be further provided with a drainage filter that filters water flowing into the drainage pipe 281, and the drainage filter may be provided so as to be separable from the drainage pipe 281. The drainage valve 282 and the drainage filter may be provided at a position exposed to the outside out of the first cabinet 1 when the second panel body 114 is separated from the first treating apparatus 100a.

[0077] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the drum 2b may include a drum body 26 provided in a hollow cylindrical shape and located inside the tub body 21.

[0078] A drum inlet 261 communicating with the inlet 211 may be disposed on the front surface of the drum body 26, and a plurality of drum through-holes 263 communicating the inside of the drum body with the inside of the tub body 21 may be disposed on the circumferential surface of the drum body 26.

[0079] In order to allow a treatment target to repeatedly rise and fall inside the drum body when the drum body 26 rotates (to increase washing power), a plurality of lifters 262 may be provided inside the drum body 26.

[0080] The drum body 26 may be rotatable by a drum shaft 264 and a driver 27. The drum shaft 264 may be fixed to the rear surface of the drum body 26 and provided to extend through the tub rear surface 21b, and the driver 27 may be provided to be located outside the tub body 21 and rotate the drum shaft 264.

[0081] The driver 27 may be provided to include a bearing housing 272 fixed to the tub rear surface 21b and rotatably fixing the drum shaft 264 to the tub body 21, a motor 273 fixed to the tub support unit 23, and a power transmission unit transmitting power of the motor to the drum shaft 264. The motor 273 may be provided to be controlled by the first controller 19.

[0082] The bearing housing 272 may be fixed to the tub rear surface 21b through a driver support body 271. The driver support body 271 may be provided to include a hub to which the bearing housing 272 is fixed, and a plurality of hub fixing bars arranged radially from the hub.

[0083] The tub rear surface 21b is provided with a tub rear surface through-hole, and the hub is provided with a hub through-hole connected to the tub rear surface through-hole. The drum shaft 264 is exposed to the outside out of the tub body 21 through the tub rear surface through-hole and the hub through-hole, and the drum shaft 264 exposed to the outside out of the tub body 21 is rotatably fixed to the hub through the bearing housing 282.

[0084] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the power transmission unit may be provided to include a first pulley 275 fixed to a rotation shaft 274 of the motor, a second pulley 276 fixed to the drum shaft 264, and a belt 277 connecting the two pulleys.

[0085] Unlike what is illustrated in the drawing, the power transmission unit may also be provided with a first gear fixed to the rotation shaft 274 of the motor and a second gear fixed to the drum shaft 264. Furthermore, the power transmission unit may be provided to connect the first gear and the second gear, and may be further provided to include a third gear that sets the rotation speed of the drum body 26 (sets the rotation speed of the second gear).

[0086] As mentioned above, the tub body 21 is fixed inside the first cabinet 1 through the tub support unit 23, and receives water through the water supply unit 4.

[0087] The tub support unit 23 may be provided to include a first support body 231 defining a bottom surface of the laundry treating apparatus 100, and a second support body 235 providing a space in which the tub body 21 is fixed and located on top of the first support body 23.

[0088] The tub body 21 may be fixed to the second support body 235 through a tub fixing unit 238, and the tub fixing unit 238 may be provided to include a first strap 238a and a second strap 238b that fix the tub circumferential surface 21c to the second support body 235.

[0089] The first strap 238a may be provided to fix a front area of the tub circumferential surface 21c to the second support body 235, and the second strap 238b may be provided to fix a rear area of the tub circumferential surface 21c to the second support body 235.

[0090] In order to reduce vibration of the tub body 21, the second support body 235 may be provided to be connected to the first support body 231 through a damper 236 and a spring 237.

[0091] In addition, in order to reduce vibration of the tub body 21, the first treating apparatus 100a may be further provided with a tub weight. The tub weight may be provided to include at least one of a first weight 239a fixed to the second support body 235 and a second weight 239b fixed to the tub circumferential surface 21c.

[0092] FIG. 4 illustrates, as an example, a case where the first weight 239a is fixed to a front surface of the second support body 235, and FIG. 6 illustrates, as an example, a case where the second weight 239b is fixed to the first strap 238a. Both the first weight 239a and the second weight 239b are located in a front area of the tub body 21, which takes into account that the driver 27 is provided in the rear area of the tub body 21.

[0093] The water supply unit 4 is a means for guiding water provided from a water supply source located outside the laundry treating apparatus 100 to the tub body 21, and the water supply unit 4 may be provided as a flow path directly connecting the water supply source and the tub body 21, or may be provided as a flow path supplying detergent together with water supplied from the water supply source to the tub body 21. FIG. 6 illustrates the latter case as an example.

[0094] The water supply unit 4 may be provided to include a detergent storage unit 41 defining a space in which detergent is stored, a storage unit water supply pipe 42 supplying water from the water supply source to the detergent storage unit 41, a water supply valve 44 (see FIG. 3) that controls opening and closing of the storage unit water supply pipe 42 in response to a control signal from the first controller 19, and a tub supply pipe 46 supplying liquid discharged from the detergent storage unit 41 (water, or a mixture of water and detergent) to the tub body 21.

[0095] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the detergent storage unit 41 may be provided to include a housing 41a and 41b fixed inside the first cabinet 1, and a drawer 41c provided with a detergent storage space 416 in which detergent is stored and retractable from the housing.

[0096] The housing may be provided to include a housing body 41a fixed to the first front panel 11 and located inside the first cabinet 1, and a housing cover 41b fixed to the housing body and defining an upper surface of the detergent storage unit 41. In order for the drawer 41c to be retractable from the housing to the outside out of the first cabinet 1, the first front panel 11 may be provided with a drawer outlet.

[0097] The detergent storage space 416 provided in the drawer 41c may be provided as a plurality of spaces so that detergent may be able to be separately stored. FIG. 7 illustrates, as an example, a case where the detergent storage space 416 is provided with a first storage unit 417, a second storage unit 418, and a third storage unit 419.

[0098] The first storage unit 417 may be provided as a space in which a first detergent used in a washing cycle (detergent for pre-washing) is stored, the second storage unit 418 may be provided as a space in which a second detergent used in a washing cycle (detergent for main washing) is stored, and the third storage unit 419 may be provided as a space in which a third detergent used in a rinsing cycle (additives, fabric softener, bleach, etc.) is stored.

[0099] One surface of the first storage unit 417 is provided with a first discharge port 417a communicating with the housing body 41a, one surface of the second storage unit 418 is provided with a second discharge port 418a communicating with the housing body 41a, and one surface of the third storage unit 419 is provided with a third discharge port 419a communicating with the housing body 41a.

[0100] One surface of the housing body 41a may be provided with a housing discharge port 411, and the housing cover 41b may be provided with housing flow paths 412, 413, 414, and 415 that supply water to the drawer 41c.

[0101] The housing flow path may be provided to include a first flow path 412 supplying water to the first storage unit 417, a second flow path 413 supplying water to the second storage unit 418, and a third flow path 414 supplying water to the third storage unit 419.

[0102] In this case, the storage unit water supply pipe 42 may be provided to include a first water supply pipe 421 supplying water to the first flow path 412, a second water supply pipe 422 supplying water to the second flow path 413, and a third water supply pipe 423 supplying water to the third flow path 414.

[0103] The water supply valve 44 may control opening and closing of the first flow path 412, the second flow path 413, and the third flow path 414 in response to a control signal from the first controller 19.

[0104] Water supplied to the first flow path 412 flows to the housing body 41a through the first storage unit 417 and the first discharge port 417a, water supplied to the second flow path 413 flows to the housing body 41a through the second storage unit 418 and the second discharge port 418a, and water supplied to the third flow path 414 flows to the housing body 41a through the third storage unit 419 and the third discharge port 419a.

[0105] Water and detergent discharged from the drawer 41c to the housing body 41a may move to the outside out of the housing body 41a through the housing discharge port 411, and water and detergent discharged from the housing body 41a may move to the tub body 21 through the tub supply pipe 46.

[0106] The housing cover 41b may be further provided with a spray unit supply flow path (fourth flow path, 415) for supplying water to a spray unit to be described later. In this case, the storage unit water supply pipe 42 may be further provided with a fourth water supply pipe 424 connecting the water supply source and the fourth flow path 415. The fourth water supply pipe 424 may be provided so that its opening and closing is controlled by the water supply valve 44.

[0107] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first treating apparatus 100a may be provided with a communication unit 29 (outside air communication unit) capable of discharging air from inside the tub body 21 to the outside or supplying outside air to the tub body 21.

[0108] Water may remain in the tub body 21 and the drum body 26, and the laundry treating apparatus 100 provided with the communication unit 29 has the effect of enabling hygienic management of the tub and the drum by reducing the possibility of water remaining in the tub body and the drum body.

[0109] In addition, the laundry treating apparatus 100 provided with the communication unit 29 can prevent the inside of the tub body 21 from being sealed even when the door 22 closes the inlet 211. Therefore, the laundry treating apparatus 100 can prevent accidents that may occur due to the tub body 21 being sealed.

[0110] In order to prevent fluid (water, foam, foreign substances) inside the tub body 21 from being discharged to the outside out of the first cabinet 1 through the communication unit 29, the first treating apparatus 100a may be provided with a connection unit 5 connecting the flow path formed by the water supply unit 4 and the flow path formed by the communication unit 29.

[0111] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the connection unit 5. The connection unit 5 may be provided to include a connection body 51 fixed inside the first cabinet 1, a water supply chamber 511 provided in the connection body 51 and defining a flow path that guides liquid discharged from the detergent storage unit 41 to the tub body 21, and an exhaust chamber 515 provided in the connection body 51 and defining a flow path that discharges air from the tub body 21 to the outside or supplies outside air to the tub body 21.

[0112] The water supply chamber 511 receives liquid through a water supply chamber inlet 512, and liquid flowing into the water supply chamber 511 is discharged to the outside out of the water supply chamber 511 through a water supply chamber outlet 513.

[0113] The water supply chamber inlet 512 may be connected to the housing discharge port 411 of the detergent storage unit through a connection body supply pipe 45, and the water supply chamber outlet 513 may be connected to the tub body 21 through a tub supply pipe 46.

[0114] The water supply chamber inlet 512 may be disposed on an upper surface 519 (connection unit cover) of the connection body 51, and the water supply chamber outlet 513 may be disposed on a lower surface of the connection body 51.

[0115] The exhaust chamber 515 may be provided to be connected to the tub (receive air) through an exhaust chamber inlet 516 provided to extend through the connection body 51, and to communicate with outside air through an exhaust chamber outlet 517 provided to extend through the connection body 51 (provided to discharge air). The exhaust chamber inlet 516 may be disposed on a surface of the connection body 51 facing the tub rear surface 21b, and the exhaust chamber outlet 517 may be disposed on a side surface or lower surface of the connection body 51.

[0116] The communication unit 29 may be provided to include a first communication pipe 291 connecting the tub body 21 and the exhaust chamber inlet 516, and a second communication pipe 292 connected to the exhaust chamber outlet 517. The second communication pipe 292 may be provided to guide air inside the exhaust chamber 515 to the inside of the first cabinet 1 or to the outside out of the first cabinet 1.

[0117] The water supply chamber 511 and the exhaust chamber 515 may be provided to define spaces separated from each other through a connection unit partition wall 518, and the connection unit partition wall 518 may be provided with a chamber communication hole or chamber communication groove 518a that communicates the upper space of the water supply chamber 511 with the upper space of the exhaust chamber 515.

[0118] Since the first communication pipe 291 is connected to the tub body 21 through the tub rear surface 21b, water or foam inside the tub body 21 may flow back to the exhaust chamber 515 through the first communication pipe 291. When the chamber communication hole or chamber communication groove 518a is provided in the connection unit partition wall 518, the first treating apparatus 100a will be able to recover water or foam that has flowed back to the exhaust chamber 515 to the tub body 21 through the water supply chamber 511.

[0119] A portion of the air supplied to the tub body 21 through the tub air supply unit 24 may flow into the water supply chamber 511 through the tub supply pipe 46, or may flow into the water supply chamber 511 through the first communication pipe 291 and the chamber communication hole 518a.

[0120] When air that has flowed into the water supply chamber 511 flows back to the detergent storage unit 41, drying efficiency may decrease (e.g., increased execution time of the drying cycle), or condensed water may remain inside the housing 41a and 41b of the detergent storage unit 41 or in the drawer 41c.

[0121] In order to reduce the problems described above, the connection body 51 may be further provided with a backflow preventer 52. The backflow preventer 52 is a means for preventing the air that has flowed from the tub body 21 into the connection body 51 from flowing to the detergent storage unit 41.

[0122] FIG. 8 illustrates, as an example, a case where the backflow preventer 52 is provided as a water trap formed inside the water supply chamber 511. The backflow preventer 52 may be provided to include a storage unit 521 provided to define a bottom surface of the water supply chamber 511 and providing a space in which liquid is stored, and an extension pipe 522 extending from the upper surface 519 of the connection body (upper surface of the water supply chamber) toward the bottom surface of the water supply chamber 511.

[0123] The storage unit 521 may be provided as a groove formed by the bottom surface of the water supply chamber 511 being recessed concavely, and the extension pipe 522 may be provided as a flow path extending from the water supply chamber inlet 512 toward the storage unit 521. The free end of the extension pipe 522 (one end of the extension pipe where the discharge port is formed) is preferably provided with a length sufficient to remain submerged in the liquid stored in the storage unit 521. For example, the length of the extension pipe 522 may be set so that the free end of the extension pipe is located at a point lower than the maximum water level set in the storage unit 521.

[0124] Unlike what has been described above, the backflow preventer may also be provided as a water trap formed in the tub supply pipe 46 or a check valve that controls opening and closing of the tub supply pipe 46.

[0125] The water trap formed in the tub supply pipe 46 may be formed by locating a portion of the tub supply pipe 46 at a point lower than the outlet of the tub supply pipe (one end of the tub supply pipe connected to the tub rear surface). The check valve may be provided as a valve having a structure that opens the water supply chamber outlet 513 by water supplied into the water supply chamber 511.

[0126] In order to increase the amount of water supplied to the tub body 21 (to supply water to the tub body quickly), the water supply unit 4 may further include a chamber water supply pipe 43 directly connecting the water supply source and the water supply chamber 511.

[0127] The chamber water supply pipe 43 may be further provided to include at least one of a chamber first water supply pipe 431 that supplies water to the tub supply pipe 46 (supplies water to the water supply chamber outlet) and a chamber second water supply pipe 432 that supplies water to the backflow preventer 52 (supplies water to the storage unit, supplies water to the water trap). Opening and closing of the chamber first water supply pipe 431 and the chamber second water supply pipe 432 may be controlled by the water supply valve 44.

[0128] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the tub supply pipe 46 may be fixed to an area of the tub rear surface 21b of a vertical level that is higher than that of a horizontal line L1 passing through the drum shaft 264. When water begins to be supplied into the tub body 21, the pressure in the area of the vertical level higher than that of the horizontal line L1 in the interior space of the tub body 21 will be lower than the pressure in the area of the vertical level lower than that of the horizontal line L1, so that one end of the tub supply pipe 46 is preferably fixedly disposed at a point of the vertical level higher than a vertical level of the horizontal line L1. Since vibration may be transmitted to the tub body 21 and the connection body 51 during rotation of the drum body 26, at least a portion of the tub supply pipe 46 may be provided as a corrugated pipe.

[0129] The first communication pipe 291 may be provided to be fixed to an area of the tub rear surface 21b of the vertical level that is higher than the vertical level of the horizontal line L1 passing through the drum shaft 264, and to connect the tub body 21 to the exhaust chamber 515, and the second communication pipe 292 may be provided to connect the drainage pipe 281 and the exhaust chamber outlet 517.

[0130] Since the first communication pipe 291 is connected to the interior space of the tub body 21 through the tub rear surface 21b, water or foam inside the tub body 21 may flow into the exhaust chamber 515 through the first communication pipe 291. When the second communication pipe 292 is connected to the drainage pipe 281, water or foam that has flowed into the exhaust chamber 515 may be guided to the drainage pipe 281 and discharged to the outside out of the laundry treating apparatus 100.

[0131] Air supplied to the tub body 21 through the tub air supply unit 24 can maintain high drying efficiency when supplied to the second treating apparatus 100b through the tub air exhaust unit 25, however, in the laundry treating apparatus 100 provided with the communication unit 29, a portion of the air inside the tub body 21 may be exhausted to the outside through the first communication pipe 291.

[0132] In order to reduce the phenomenon described above, the flow path resistance of the exhaust chamber 515 may be set to be greater than the flow path resistance of the flow path unit (circulation flow path unit, 7) of the second treating apparatus 100b to be described later. For example, the flow path cross-sectional area of the first communication pipe 291 may be set to be smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area of the tub air exhaust unit 25. The flow path cross-sectional area of the second communication pipe 292 may be set to be the same as the flow path cross-sectional area of the first communication pipe 291, or may be set to be smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area of the first communication pipe.

[0133] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the connection body 51 may be further provided with an outside air communication hole 293 that discharges air that has flowed into the exhaust chamber 515 to the inside of the first cabinet 1 or introduces air from the inside of the first cabinet 1 into the exhaust chamber 515.

[0134] In preparation for a case where the first treating apparatus 100a is provided with a detergent supply device (not shown) (in preparation for a case where an independent detergent supply device is added), the connection body 51 may be further provided with a detergent supply pipe 514 that guides detergent supplied from the detergent supply device to the water supply chamber 511.

[0135] The detergent supply device may be provided with a second detergent storage unit disposed inside the first cabinet 1 and providing a space in which detergent is stored, a detergent pump disposed inside the first cabinet 1 and moving the detergent of the second detergent storage unit, and a detergent supply flow path connecting the detergent pump and the detergent supply pipe 514.

[0136] The detergent supply pipe 514 may be provided as a pipe fixed to a side surface, an upper surface 519, and the like of the connection body 51, and may be provided so as to be openable and closable through a stopper or the like. Therefore, when the detergent supply device is added, the first treating apparatus 100a will be able to supply detergent to the tub body 21 through the water supply chamber 511.

[0137] As illustrated in FIG. 9, the first treating apparatus 100a may be provided with spray units 3a and 3b.

[0138] The spray unit may be provided to include at least one of a first washing unit 3a fixed to the mounting tube 212 and spraying water onto the door 22, and a second washing unit 3b fixed to the mounting tube 212 and spraying water into the inside of the drum 2b. FIG. 9 illustrates, as an example, a laundry treating apparatus provided with both the first washing unit 3a and the second washing unit 3b.

[0139] Each of the first washing unit 3a and the second washing unit 3b may be provided to spray water supplied from the water supply source, or may be provided to spray water from inside the tub body 21. FIG. 9 illustrates, as an example, a case where the first washing unit 3a is provided to spray water supplied from the water supply source, and the second washing unit 3b is provided to spray water from inside the tub body 21.

[0140] As illustrated in FIG. 7, when the first washing unit 3a is provided to spray water supplied from the water supply source, the first washing unit 3a may receive water through a nozzle supply pipe 35 connected to the fourth flow path 415.

[0141] As illustrated in FIG. 9, the first washing unit 3a may be provided in an area of the circumferential surface of the mounting tube 212 located on top of a horizontal line L2 passing through the center of the inlet 211. FIG. 9 illustrates, as an example, a case where the first washing unit 3a is located in a space between a point 10 degrees counterclockwise and a point 10 degrees clockwise based on the uppermost point of the mounting tube 212 along the circumferential surface of the mounting tube 212.

[0142] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the first washing unit 3a may be provided to include a washing nozzle body 31 fixed to the mounting tube 212, a washing flow path 32 provided in the washing nozzle body, a first spray port 321 that discharges water inside the washing flow path 32 to one surface 223b of the door facing the inlet 211, and a second spray port 322 that discharges water inside the washing flow path 32 into the inside of the drum body 26.

[0143] In order to fix the first washing unit 3a, the mounting tube 212 is provided with a washing nozzle mounting unit. The washing nozzle mounting unit may be provided to include a washing nozzle mounting hole 213 and a washing nozzle fixing hole 213a provided to extend through the mounting tube 212.

[0144] The washing nozzle mounting hole 213 may be provided in an area of the circumferential surface of the mounting tube 212 located on top of the horizontal line L2 passing through the center of the inlet 211, and the washing nozzle fixing hole 213a may be provided as two holes arranged in a front-rear direction of the mounting tube 212 with the washing nozzle mounting hole 213 therebetween.

[0145] The washing nozzle body 31 is inserted into the washing nozzle mounting hole 213, and one end of the washing nozzle body 31 (the portion to which the nozzle supply pipe is connected) is located outside the mounting tube 212, and the other end of the washing nozzle body 31 is provided to be located inside the mounting tube 212.

[0146] The washing nozzle body 32 may be fixed to the mounting tube 212 through a washing nozzle fixing unit 311. The washing nozzle fixing unit 311 may be provided with a fastening hole provided in the washing nozzle body 31, and a fastening bolt that penetrates the fastening hole and is fastened to the washing nozzle fixing hole 213a.

[0147] The mounting tube 212 may be provided with a washing nozzle sealing unit for preventing air or water from being discharged through the washing nozzle mounting hole 213 and the washing nozzle fixing hole 213a.

[0148] The first spray port 321 and the second spray port 322 may be provided at the other end of the washing nozzle body 31 and located inside the mounting tube 212. The first spray port 321 may be provided to spray water toward the second window 223b provided in the door, and the second spray port 322 may be provided to spray water into the inside of the drum body 26.

[0149] Since the second window 223b is provided in the direction where the drum inlet 261 is located, foreign substances, detergent, foam, etc. discharged from a treatment target may remain on the surface of the second window 223b during operation of the first treating apparatus 100a. The first spray port 321 may serve as a means for preventing the aforementioned foreign substances from remaining on the second window 223b. Therefore, the first washing unit 3a is preferably provided to receive water from the water supply source rather than being provided to receive water stored in the tub body 21.

[0150] Water discharged from the second spray port 322 may be sprayed into the inside of the drum body 26 through the inlet 211 and the drum inlet 261. Therefore, the second spray port 322 may serve as a means for enhancing washing power by directly spraying water onto a treatment target stored inside the drum body 261.

[0151] As illustrated in the drawing, the washing nozzle body 31 may be further provided with a third spray port 323 that sprays water toward a lower area of the second window 223b. The third spray port 323 may be provided to be located between the first spray port and the second spray port. In this case, the upper area of the second window 223b may be cleaned by the first spray port 321, and the lower area of the second window 223b may be cleaned by the third spray port 323.

[0152] In order to facilitate diffusion of water discharged from the first spray port 321 (to improve the washing power of the second window) and to facilitate diffusion of water discharged from the second spray port 322 (to improve the washing power of a treatment target), the first washing unit 3a may be further provided with at least one of a first spray guide 33 and a second spray guide 34.

[0153] As illustrated in (a) in FIG. 11, the first spray guide 33 may be provided to guide water discharged from the first spray port 321 to the second window 223b, and the second spray guide 34 may be provided to guide water discharged from the second spray port 322 into the inside of the drum body 26. That is, the first spray guide 33 may be provided as a protruding surface disposed under the first spray port 321 and protruding toward the door 22, and the second spray guide 34 may be provided as a protruding surface disposed under the second spray port 322 and protruding toward the position where the drum inlet 261 is located.

[0154] In order to widen the vertical (height direction of the door, height direction of the drum body) diffusion range of water discharged from each of the spray ports 321 and 322, the first spray guide 33 may be provided to include a convex curved surface facing the first spray port 321, and the second spray guide 34 may be provided to include a convex curved surface facing the second spray port 322.

[0155] In order to widen the lateral (width direction of the door, width direction of the drum body) diffusion range of water discharged from each of the spray ports 321 and 322, the first washing unit 3a may be further provided with at least one of a first diffusion portion 331 and a second diffusion portion 341.

[0156] As illustrated in (b) in FIG. 11, the first diffusion portions 331 may be provided to respectively connect both opposing side edges of the first spray port 321 with both opposing side edges of the first spray guide 33, and the second diffusion portions 341 may be provided to respectively connect both opposing side edges of the second spray port 322 with both opposing side edges of the second spray guide 34.

[0157] The first washing nozzle 3a described above may be fixed directly to the mounting tube 212, or may be fixed to the mounting tube 212 through the bracket 224 mentioned above.

[0158] As illustrated in FIG. 12, the bracket 224 is a means for fixing the distribution pipe 243 to the mounting tube 212. The bracket 224 may include a fastening body 245 fixed to an outer circumferential surface of the mounting tube 212, a first communication hole 245a provided to extend through the fastening body and communicating with the first air supply hole 241 of the mounting tube, and a second communication hole 245b provided to extend through the fastening body and communicating with the second air supply hole 242 of the mounting tube.

[0159] The fastening body 245 may be provided of a material different from that of the tub body 21 (the material of the mounting tube), and may be fixed to the mounting tube 212 through fastening means such as bolts. However, the fastening body 245 may be provided of the same material as the distribution pipe 243.

[0160] In order to reduce the inflow of foreign substances into the air supply holes 241 and 242, the first communication hole 245a and the second communication hole 245b may be provided with a plurality of bracket partition walls. The bracket partition walls may be provided along the width direction or height direction of each communication hole.

[0161] The bracket 244 may be provided with a first fastening pipe 246 connecting the first branch pipe 243b to the first communication hole 245a, and a second fastening pipe 247 connecting the second branch pipe 243c to the second communication hole 245b.

[0162] In the space of the fastening body 245 between the first fastening pipe 246 and the second fastening pipe 247, a washing unit mounting unit 248 on which the first washing unit 3a is mounted may be provided. When the fastening body 245 is fixed to the mounting tube 212, the washing unit mounting unit 248 is provided to be located on top of the washing nozzle mounting hole 213 of the mounting tube.

[0163] The first treating apparatus 100a may be provided with a temperature sensing sensor 219 for temperature measurement, in which case the fastening body 245 may be provided with a sensor mounting unit 249 on which the temperature sensing sensor 219 is mounted, and the mounting tube 212 may be provided with a sensor mounting hole 218 (see FIG. 13) communicating with the sensor mounting unit 249. The temperature sensing sensor 219 fixed to the sensor mounting unit 249 may be located inside the mounting tube 212 through the sensor mounting hole 218.

[0164] The sensor mounting unit 249 may be provided to be located between the first fastening pipe 246 and the second fastening pipe 247.

[0165] The temperature sensing sensor 219 may be provided to be capable of measuring at least one of the temperature inside the drum body 26, the temperature of a treatment target inside the drum body, and the temperature of air supplied from the second treating apparatus 100b. An infrared temperature sensor that measures the temperature of a treatment target by detecting infrared rays emitted from the treatment target may be one example of the temperature sensing sensor 219.

[0166] In order to measure the temperature inside the drum body 26, the temperature of a treatment target, or the temperature of air supplied to the tub body 21, the temperature sensing sensor 219 is preferably provided in an upper area of the mounting tube 212. Therefore, the temperature sensing sensor 219 may be located in a space between a point 10 degrees counterclockwise and a point 10 degrees clockwise based on the uppermost point of the mounting tube along the circumferential surface of the mounting tube.

[0167] As illustrated in FIG. 9, the second washing unit 3b may be provided to include a circulation pump 35 that moves water inside the tub body 21, a circulation nozzle 36 fixed to the mounting tube 212 and spraying water toward the drum inlet 261, and a circulation flow path 37 connecting the circulation pump 35 and the circulation nozzle 36.

[0168] The circulation pump 35 may be provided to include a pump chamber 351 that receives water from inside the tub body 21 through the drainage pipe 281, a pump drainage pipe 354 connecting the pump chamber 351 to the circulation flow path 37, and a pump motor 353 that rotates a pump impeller located inside the pump chamber 351 to move water to the pump drainage pipe 354.

[0169] The drainage pipe 281, the pump chamber 351, and the pump motor 353 may be located in a space formed between the first support body 231 and the second support body 235. Therefore, when the second panel body 114 is separated from the first treating apparatus 100a, the pump chamber 351 and the pump motor 353 may be exposed to the outside out of the first treating apparatus 100a. Considering the durability of the pump motor 353, the pump motor 353 is preferably fixed to the first support body 231 and located in the space formed between the first support body 231 and the second support body 235 (the space between the upper surface of the first support body and the bottom surface of the second support body formed by the damper or spring).

[0170] The circulation nozzle 36 may be provided to include a first nozzle 36a fixed to the mounting tube 212 and located to the left of a vertical line V passing through the center of the inlet 211, and a second nozzle 36b fixed to the mounting tube 212 and located to the right of the vertical line V.

[0171] The first nozzle 36a may be fixedly disposed in an area of a circumferential surface of the mounting tube 212 located between the highest point of the mounting tube and a point 90 degrees counterclockwise therefrom, and the second nozzle 36b may be fixedly disposed in an area of the circumferential surface of the mounting tube 212 located between the highest point of the mounting tube and a point 90 degrees clockwise therefrom. Since a treatment target is often located on the bottom surface of the drum body 26 during the washing cycle, washing power may be able to be increased when each of the nozzles 36a and 36b is provided to spray water toward the bottom surface of the drum body 26 from a point of the vertical level higher than the vertical level of the horizontal line L2 passing through the center of the inlet 211.

[0172] The circulation flow path 37 may be provided to include a connector 371 connected to the pump drainage pipe 354, a first circulation water supply pipe 376 guiding water flowing into the connector 371 to the first nozzle 36a, and a second circulation water supply pipe 377 guiding water flowing into the connector 371 to the second nozzle 36b.

[0173] The connector 371 is a means for making the timing at which the first nozzle 36a begins spraying and the timing at which the second nozzle 36b begins spraying the same.

[0174] The connector 371 may be provided to include a connector body 372 fixed to the second support body 235, a connector flow path 373 provided inside the connector body 372 and receiving water through the pump drainage pipe 354, a connector first drainage pipe 374 supplying water inside the connector flow path 373 to the first circulation water supply pipe 376, and a connector second drainage pipe 375 guiding water inside the connector flow path 373 to the second circulation water supply pipe 377.

[0175] The connector body 372 may be fixed to one surface of the second support body 235 through a connector bracket 372a so as to be located below the inlet 211.

[0176] Considering that the tub body 21 is fixed to the second support body 235 and the second support body 235 is connected to the first support body 231 through a damper and a spring, the connector body 372 is preferably fixed to the second support body 235 that vibrates together with the tub body 21. In addition, at least a portion of the pump drainage pipe 354 is preferably provided as a corrugated pipe.

[0177] In order to mount the first nozzle 36a and the second nozzle 36b on the mounting tube 212, the mounting tube 212 may be provided with a circulation nozzle mounting unit.

[0178] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the circulation nozzle mounting unit may be provided to include a mounting tube first through-hole 214, a mounting tube second through-hole 215, a first nozzle mounting hole 216, and a second nozzle mounting hole 217 provided to extend through the mounting tube 212.

[0179] The first nozzle 36a may be provided to include a circulation nozzle first body 361 fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the mounting tube 212, a first spray flow path 362 provided inside the circulation nozzle first body 361 and guiding water in the direction where the drum inlet 261 is located, and a first nozzle supply pipe 363 supplying water to the first spray flow path 362.

[0180] The first nozzle supply pipe 363 may protrude from the circulation nozzle first body 361 and be inserted into the mounting tube first through-hole 214, and the first circulation water supply pipe 376 may be connected to one end of the first nozzle supply pipe 363 exposed to the outside out of the mounting tube 212.

[0181] One surface of the circulation nozzle first body 361 (the surface in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the mounting tube, the bottom surface of the circulation nozzle first body) may be provided with a first nozzle fixing hole 365 communicating with the first nozzle mounting hole 216. Therefore, by fastening a first fastener 216a (bolts, etc.) to the first nozzle fixing hole 365 through the first nozzle mounting hole 216, the circulation nozzle first body 361 may be fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the mounting tube 212.

[0182] In order to prevent water leakage through the mounting tube first through-hole 214, the first treating apparatus 100a may be provided with a first supply pipe sealer 366 disposed on the circumferential surface of the first nozzle supply pipe 363 and sealing the mounting tube first through-hole 214.

[0183] In addition, in order to prevent water leakage through the first nozzle mounting hole 216, a first mounting hole sealer 367 may be provided between the circulation nozzle first body 361 and the inner circumferential surface of the mounting tube 212. The first mounting hole sealer 367 may be provided as a ring-shaped sealer surrounding the first nozzle fixing hole 365.

[0184] In order to prevent a treatment target from being damaged by the circulation nozzle first body 361, the upper surface of the circulation nozzle first body 361 (the surface exposed inside the mounting tube) may be provided as an inclined surface inclined downward from the direction where the drum inlet 261 is located toward the position where the inlet 211 is located. Furthermore, the upper surface of the circulation nozzle first body 361 may be provided as a curved surface having a convex shape toward the center of the inlet 211.

[0185] The second nozzle 36b may be provided with the same structure as the first nozzle 36a. That is, the second nozzle 36b may be provided to include a circulation nozzle second body 381 fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the mounting tube 212, a second spray flow path 382 provided inside the circulation nozzle second body 381 and guiding water in the direction where the drum inlet 261 is located, and a second nozzle supply pipe 383 supplying water to the second spray flow path 382.

[0186] The second nozzle supply pipe 383 may protrude from the circulation nozzle second body 381 and be inserted into the mounting tube second through-hole 215, and the second circulation water supply pipe 377 may be connected to one end of the second nozzle supply pipe 383 exposed to the outside out of the mounting tube 212.

[0187] One surface of the circulation nozzle second body 381 (the surface in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the mounting tube, the bottom surface of the circulation nozzle second body) may be provided with a second nozzle fixing hole 385 communicating with the second nozzle mounting hole 217. Therefore, by fastening a second fastener 217a (bolts, etc.) to the second nozzle fixing hole 385 through the second nozzle mounting hole 217, the circulation nozzle second body 381 may be fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the mounting tube 212.

[0188] In order to prevent water leakage through the mounting tube second through-hole 215 and water leakage through the second nozzle mounting hole 217, the first treating apparatus 100a may be provided with a second supply pipe sealer 386 disposed on the circumferential surface of the second nozzle supply pipe 383 and sealing the mounting tube second through-hole 215, and a second mounting hole sealer 387 located between the circulation nozzle second body 381 and the inner circumferential surface of the mounting tube 212.

[0189] In order to prevent a treatment target from being damaged by the circulation nozzle second body 381, the upper surface of the circulation nozzle second body 381 (the surface exposed inside the mounting tube) may be provided as an inclined surface inclined downward from the direction where the drum inlet 261 is located toward the position where the inlet 211 is located. Furthermore, the upper surface of the circulation nozzle second body 381 may be provided as a curved surface having a convex shape toward the center of the inlet 211.

[0190] FIG. 14 illustrates an example of the second treating apparatus 100b.

[0191] The second treating apparatus 100b may be provided to include the second cabinet 6, a flow path unit 7 and 8 disposed inside the second cabinet 6, and a heat exchange unit 9 provided in the flow path unit and removing moisture from air (dehumidifying) or heating air.

[0192] The second cabinet 6 may include a support frame 61 mounted to the first cabinet 1, a side panel 65 (second side panel) fixed to the support frame 61 and defining a side surface of the second cabinet, a rear panel 64 (second rear panel) fixed to the support frame 61 and defining a rear surface of the second cabinet, and an upper panel 66 fixed to the support frame 61 and defining an upper surface of the second cabinet.

[0193] The second side panel 65 may be provided with a left panel 651 (second left panel) defining a left side surface of the second cabinet, and a right panel 652 (second right panel) defining a right side surface of the second cabinet.

[0194] The second rear panel 64 may be provided with a panel exhaust port 641 that communicates the inside of the second cabinet 6 with the outside. Therefore, through the panel exhaust port 641, air inside the second cabinet 6 may be discharged to the outside, and outside air may flow into the inside of the second cabinet 6.

[0195] A frame panel 62 may be disposed on the front surface of the support frame 61. The frame panel 62 may be provided to define a space in which a portion of the flow path unit 7 and 8 is supported.

[0196] Furthermore, the support frame 61 may be provided with a front panel 67 (second front panel) defining a front surface of the second cabinet. The second front panel 67 may be provided in a shape surrounding the frame panel 62 so that the frame panel 62 is not exposed to the outside. In addition, in order for a user to easily access the frame panel 62, the second front panel 67 may be rotatably fixed to the support frame 61, the frame panel 62, or the upper panel 66, etc.

[0197] The second front panel 67 may be provided to be rotatable toward the upper portion of the second cabinet 6. In this case, the rotation axis of the second front panel 67 may be disposed on the upper panel 66, an upper area of the support frame 61, or an upper area of the frame panel 62. Unlike what is illustrated in the drawing, the frame panel 62 may also be provided to be rotatable toward the lower portion of the second cabinet 6.

[0198] When the second cabinet 6 is mounted to the first cabinet 1, a lower end of the second side panel 651 and 652 may be connected to an upper end of the first side panel 121 and 122 of the first treating apparatus, and a lower end of the second rear panel 64 may be connected to an upper end of the first rear panel 13. When the second cabinet 6 is mounted to the first cabinet 1, the second front panel 67 may be provided to be located on the same plane as the first front panel 11.

[0199] As illustrated in FIG. 15, the support frame 61 may be provided to include a lower frame 611 detachably coupled to the mounting space 15 of the first cabinet 1, an upper frame 617 located on top of the lower frame 611 and to which the upper panel 66 is fixed, and a connection frame 618 connecting the frames 611 and 617.

[0200] The front surface of the support frame 61 may be closed by the frame panel 62, both opposing side surfaces of the support frame 61 may be closed by the second side panels 651 and 652, the upper surface of the support frame 61 may be closed by the upper panel 66, and the rear surface of the support frame 61 may be closed by the second rear panel 64.

[0201] As mentioned above, the interior space of the first cabinet 1 communicates with the outside through the mounting space 15. In order to connect the interior space of the first cabinet 1 and the interior space of the support frame 61, the bottom surface of the support frame 61 may be provided with a communication space 612 communicating with the mounting space 15.

[0202] The support frame 61 may be provided with a support panel 613 that divides the communication space 612 into an open surface and a closed surface. The closed surface refers to the area of the communication space 612 where the support panel 613 is located, and the open surface may be defined as the area of the communication space 612 where the support panel 613 is not located. Since the communication space 612 is connected to the mounting space 15, the mounting space 15 may also be considered to be divided into an open surface and a closed surface by the support panel 613.

[0203] The inside of the support frame 61 may be divided into a front space 6a where the frame panel 62 is located and a rear space 6b where the second rear panel 64 is located, and the support panel 613 may be fixed to the lower frame 611 and located in the rear space 6b.

[0204] The front space 6a may be defined as a space located on top of the open surface (a space located on top of the tub air supply unit), and the rear space 6b may be defined as a space located on top of the closed surface. The frame panel 62 will form one surface of the front space 6a, and the second rear panel 64 will form one surface of the rear space 6b.

[0205] The support panel 613 may be fixed to the lower frame 611 and provided along the width direction (Y-axis direction) or the length direction (X-axis direction) of the laundry treating apparatus, and FIG. 15 illustrates, as an example, a case where the support panel 613 is provided along the width direction of the laundry treating apparatus.

[0206] The support panel 613 may be provided to include a support body 614 on which a portion of the components of the flow path unit 7 and 8 or a portion of the components of the heat exchange unit 9 is supported, and a fixing body 615 that fixes the support body 614 to the lower frame 611.

[0207] The support body 614 may be provided to be located at a point lower than the lower frame 611. That is, the lowest end of the support body 614 may be provided to be located at a point lower than the bottom surface of the support frame 61 (the communication space, the lowest end of the lower frame). When the second cabinet 6 is mounted to the first cabinet 1, the edge of the bottom surface of the support frame 61 is supported by the panels 11, 12, and 13 of the first cabinet that form the mounting space 15, and the support body 614 will be located inside the first cabinet 1. That is, when the second cabinet 6 is fixed to the first cabinet 1, the support body 614 will be located at a point lower than the upper end of the first side panel 12.

[0208] Since the support panel 613 is provided to support the flow path unit 7 and 8 or the heat exchange unit 9, when the support body 614 is provided to be located at a point lower than the lower frame 611, it is expected to have the effect of reducing the overall height of the laundry treating apparatus 100.

[0209] The frame panel 62 may be provided to include a panel first through-hole 621, a panel second through-hole 622, and a panel third through-hole 623 that communicate the inside of the second cabinet 6 with the outside.

[0210] The panel first through-hole 621 may be provided to be opened and closed by a panel first door 624 rotatably fixed to the frame panel 62, and the panel second through-hole 622 may be provided to be opened and closed by a panel second door 626 rotatably fixed to the frame panel 62.

[0211] The panel first door 624 may be provided as a space in which a second controller 63 that controls the second treating apparatus 100b is mounted. In this case, the panel first through-hole 621 may serve as a controller outlet that exposes the second controller 63 to the outside out of the second cabinet 6.

[0212] The flow path unit 7 and 8 may be provided with a filter that filters air discharged from the tub body 21, and the panel second through-hole 622 may serve as a filter outlet through which the filter is drawn out to the outside out of the second cabinet 6.

[0213] The panel third through-hole 623 may serve as a means (panel air supply port) for supplying air from outside the second cabinet 6 to the flow path unit 7 and 8.

[0214] As illustrated in FIG. 14, the flow path unit may be provided to include a first flow path unit 7 connected to the tub body 21 and defining an air circulation flow path, and a second flow path unit 8 defining a flow path for outside air.

[0215] As illustrated in FIG. 16, the first flow path unit 7 may be provided to include an exhaust flow path 71 connected to the tub air exhaust unit 25, an air supply flow path 72 connected to the tub air supply unit 24, a heat exchange flow path 73 connected to the exhaust flow path, and a blowing flow path 74 in which a fan for moving air is mounted and which connects the heat exchange flow path 73 and the air supply flow path 72.

[0216] The exhaust flow path 71 may be provided as an exhaust duct 711 detachably fixed to the tub air exhaust unit 25 of the first treating apparatus. In order to reduce transmission of vibration of the tub body 21 to the heat exchange flow path 73, the exhaust duct 711 may be provided with an exhaust flow path corrugated portion 712 in at least a portion thereof.

[0217] The air supply flow path 72 may be provided as an air supply duct 721 fixed to the blowing flow path 74 and providing a flow path for air discharged from the blowing flow path. In order to reduce transmission of vibration of the tub body 21 to the air supply duct 721, the air supply duct 721 may be provided with an air supply flow path corrugated portion 722 in at least a portion thereof or at one end thereof.

[0218] The heat exchange flow path 73 may be provided as a heat exchange duct 73b fixed to the support panel 613. The heat exchange duct 73b may be provided to include a first heat exchange duct 734 in which the first heat exchanger provided in the heat exchange unit 9 is mounted, a second heat exchange duct 735 in which the second heat exchanger provided in the heat exchange unit 9 is mounted, and a connection duct 736 connecting the heat exchange ducts 734 and 735.

[0219] The heat exchange duct 73b may be fixed to the bottom surface (support body, 614) of the support panel 613, or may be fixed to a duct seating portion 616 provided in the support panel 613. The duct seating portion 616 is a means that protrudes from the support body 614 toward the heat exchange duct 73b to maintain a spacing between the bottom surface of the heat exchange duct 73b and the support body 614.

[0220] As will be described later, since air flowing from the tub body 21 into the first heat exchange duct 73b through the exhaust duct 711 condenses as it passes through the first heat exchanger, condensed water may remain inside the heat exchange duct 73b. In order to discharge the condensed water remaining inside the heat exchange duct 73b, the second treating apparatus 100b may be provided with a condensate discharge unit 75, and the condensate discharge unit 75 may be provided in the space formed between the bottom surface of the heat exchange duct 73b and the support body 614 by the duct seating portion 616.

[0221] As illustrated in FIG. 17, the condensate discharge unit 75 may be provided to include duct communication holes 751, 752, and 753 communicating with the inside of the heat exchange duct 73b, and a water collecting body 754 in which condensed water discharged through the duct communication hole is stored. The water collecting body 754 may be provided to be located between the bottom surface of the heat exchange duct 73b and the support body 614.

[0222] The duct communication hole may be provided with a duct first communication hole 751, a duct second communication hole 752, and a duct third communication hole 753 provided to extend through the bottom surface of the heat exchange duct 73b.

[0223] The duct first communication hole 751 may be provided to be located below the first heat exchanger 91, the duct second communication hole 752 may be provided to be located between the first heat exchanger 91 and the second heat exchanger 92, and the duct third communication hole 753 may be provided to be located below the refrigerant pipe 96 (refrigerant flow path) passing through the two heat exchangers 91 and 92.

[0224] The water collecting body 754 may be provided to include a first water collecting chamber 754a in which condensed water discharged from the duct first communication hole 751 and the duct second communication hole 752 is stored, and a second water collecting chamber 754b in which condensed water discharged from the duct third communication hole 753 is stored.

[0225] The first water collecting chamber 754a may be divided into a first storage space 756 and a second storage space 757 through a water collecting chamber partition wall 755. When the first water collecting chamber 754a is provided to communicate with the inside of the heat exchange duct 73b, air flowing into the heat exchange duct 73b may move to the second heat exchanger 92 through the first water collecting chamber 754a without passing through the first heat exchanger 91. Such a phenomenon may be a cause of reduced heat exchange efficiency, and when the water collecting chamber partition wall 755 is provided inside the first water collecting chamber 754a, the aforementioned phenomenon may be able to be reduced.

[0226] When the water collecting chamber partition wall 755 is provided, the first storage space 756 will be a space for storing condensed water discharged from the first heat exchanger 91 through the duct first communication hole 751, and the second storage space 757 will be a space for storing condensed water discharged through the duct second communication hole 752 (condensed water that scatters or moves from the first heat exchanger toward the position where the second heat exchanger is located).

[0227] The second water collecting chamber 754b is a means for storing condensed water falling from the refrigerant pipe 96. A portion of the air flowing into the heat exchange duct 73b may condense on the surface of the refrigerant pipe 96, and condensed water formed on the surface of the refrigerant pipe 96 may be discharged to the second water collecting chamber 754b through the duct third communication hole 753.

[0228] The second water collecting chamber 754b may be provided as a space communicating with the first water collecting chamber 754a, or may be provided as a space separated from the first water collecting chamber 754a. Considering the heat exchange efficiency mentioned above, the second water collecting chamber 754b is preferably provided as a space separated from the first water collecting chamber 754a.

[0229] Condensed water inside the first water collecting chamber 754a may be discharged through a first chamber drainage pipe 758, and condensed water inside the second water collecting chamber 754b may be discharged through a second chamber drainage pipe 759. Condensed water discharged through the chamber drainage pipes 758 and 759 may be discharged to the outside out of the second cabinet 6 through a condensate drainage pipe 76 provided in the support panel 613.

[0230] As illustrated in FIG. 16, the condensate drainage pipe 76 may be provided to include a condensate first drainage pipe 761 fixed to the support body 614 and connected to the first chamber drainage pipe 758, and a condensate second drainage pipe 762 fixed to the support body 614 and connected to the second chamber drainage pipe 759.

[0231] The condensate first drainage pipe 761 and the condensate second drainage pipe 762 are means for guiding condensed water to the outside out of the second cabinet 6, and the condensate first drainage pipe 761 and the condensate second drainage pipe 762 may be provided to guide condensed water to the drainage pipe 281 provided in the first treating apparatus 100a.

[0232] The heat exchange duct 73b may be provided to be directly connected to the exhaust duct 711, or may be provided to be connected to the exhaust duct 711 through a filter duct 73a. The filter duct 73a is a space in which a filter 733 that filters air supplied to the exhaust duct 711 is mounted.

[0233] One surface of the filter duct 73a may be provided with a filter outlet 731 communicating with the panel second through-hole 622, and another surface of the filter duct 73a may be provided with an exhaust duct connector 732 connected to the exhaust duct 711. FIG. 16 illustrates, as an example, a case where the filter outlet 731 is disposed on a front surface of the filter duct 73a (the surface facing the frame panel) and the exhaust duct connector 732 is disposed on the bottom surface of the filter duct 73a.

[0234] The blowing flow path 74 may be provided to include a blowing duct 74a fixed to the support panel 613 and connecting the heat exchange duct 73b and the air supply duct 721, and a blowing fan (first flow path fan, 74b) that moves air along the first flow path unit 7.

[0235] As illustrated in FIG. 18, the blowing duct 74a may be provided to include a duct first body 741 and a duct second body 743 fixed to the support panel 613 so as to be spaced apart along the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the laundry treating apparatus, and a blowing duct inlet 742 provided to extend through the duct first body 741.

[0236] One end of the heat exchange duct 73b (one end of the second heat exchange duct) is fixed to the duct first body 741, and air discharged from the heat exchange duct 73b flows into the inside of the duct bodies 741 and 742 through the blowing duct inlet 742.

[0237] Inside the duct first body 741 and the duct second body 743, a guide 746 is provided that guides air flowing into the blowing duct inlet 742 to a blowing duct exhaust port 747.

[0238] The first flow path fan 74b may be provided with a blowing duct impeller 749 (first impeller) located inside the guide 746, and a first fan motor 748 fixed to the duct second body 743 and rotating the first impeller 749. In order to facilitate assembly or repair of the first fan motor 748, the duct second body 743 may be further provided with a blowing duct through-hole 744, and a blowing duct cover 745 that closes the blowing duct through-hole and to which the first fan motor 748 is fixed.

[0239] As illustrated in FIG. 14, the second treating apparatus 100a may be provided with a second flow path unit 8. As described above, the second flow path unit 8 is a means for introducing outside air into the inside of the second cabinet 6, and may be fixed to the support frame 61 or the second side panel 651 and 652 and located in a left area or right area of the front space 6a.

[0240] FIG. 14 illustrates, as an example, a case where the second flow path unit 8 is fixed to the support frame 61 through a fixing frame 619, and the fixing frame 619 may be provided to connect the lower frame 611 and the upper frame 617 (structural reinforcement effect of the support frame), or may be fixed to the second side panel 651 and 652 and provided to be located in the front space 6a. In this case, the second flow path unit 8 may be located in the space (corner area of the front space) formed between the second side panel 651 and 652, the frame panel 62, and the air supply duct 721 in the front space 6a.

[0241] As illustrated in FIG. 19, the second flow path unit 8 may be provided to include a first outside air duct 82 disposed inside the second cabinet 6 and into which outside air flows, a second outside air duct 83 connected to the first outside air duct 82 and provided with a third heat exchanger 93 provided in the heat exchange unit 9, and a second flow path fan 84 that moves air.

[0242] The first outside air duct 83 may be provided as a flow path extending along the length direction (X-axis direction) of the second cabinet, and the second outside air duct 83 may be provided as a flow path extending along the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the second cabinet. One surface of the second outside air duct 83 may be provided with a duct through-hole 831 that discharges air to the second flow path fan 84.

[0243] The second flow path fan 84 may be provided to include a second fan housing 841 fixed to the second outside air duct 83, closing the duct through-hole 831, and defining a space in which a second impeller 846 is accommodated, a housing inlet 842 connected to the duct through-hole 831 and introducing air into the inside of the second fan housing 841, a housing outlet 843 discharging air inside the second fan housing 841 into the inside of the second cabinet 6, and a second fan motor 845 fixed to the second fan housing 841 and rotating the second impeller 846.

[0244] When the second impeller 846 rotates by the second fan motor 845, outside air flows into the second fan housing 841 through the first outside air duct 82 and the second outside air duct 83, and air inside the second fan housing 841 may be discharged into the inside of the second cabinet 6 through the housing outlet 843. The air discharged into the inside of the second cabinet 6 may be discharged to the outside out of the second cabinet 6 through the panel exhaust port 641 provided in the second rear panel 64.

[0245] The second outside air duct 83 is provided in a shape extending along the height direction of the second cabinet 6, and the second flow path fan 84 is provided in the second outside air duct 83 in order to reduce the possibility of the second flow path fan 84 overheating.

[0246] During operation of the second treating apparatus 100b, heated air is supplied to the tub body 21, so the temperature of the circumferential surface of the tub body 21 rises. Since the second flow path unit 8 is located on top of the tub body 21, if the second flow path fan 84 is located close to the tub body 21, there is a possibility of overheating due to heat radiated to the outside out of the tub body 21. However, configuring the second flow path unit 8 as described above can significantly reduce the possibility of the second flow path fan 84 overheating.

[0247] As illustrated in FIG. 20, one surface of the first outside air duct 82 may be fixed to the frame panel 62, and another surface of the first outside air duct 82 may be fixed to the fixing frame 619.

[0248] As illustrated in FIG. 19, the first outside air duct 82 may be provided to receive outside air through at least one of a first introduction hole 821 and a second introduction hole 822. The first introduction hole 821 may be provided to be connected to the panel air supply port 623 provided in the frame panel 62, and the second introduction hole 822 may be provided to receive outside air through the third flow path unit 85 provided in the frame panel 62.

[0249] FIG. 15 illustrates, as an example, a case where the third flow path unit 85 is provided in the panel first door 624 provided in the frame panel 62. Unlike what is illustrated in the drawing, the third flow path unit 85 may also be provided in a board fixing unit 631 to be described later.

[0250] The second controller 63 may be provided as a circuit board 637 for controlling the second treating apparatus 100a, and the circuit board 637 is provided with a control circuit that controls at least one of the flow path unit 7 and 8 and the heat exchange unit 9.

[0251] The second controller 63 may be fixed to the frame panel 62 or the panel first door 624 through a board fixing unit 631. The board fixing unit 631 may be provided to include a fixing plate 632 to which the circuit board 637 is fixed, and a spacer that fixes the fixing plate 632 to the panel first door 624.

[0252] The spacer may be provided with a first spacer 633 and a second spacer 634 protruding from the fixing plate 632 toward the panel first door 624. The first spacer 633 and the second spacer 634 may be provided as two plates extending along the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the panel first door 624. The first spacer 633 and the second spacer 634 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other along the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the panel first door 624. In this case, the third flow path unit 85 may be formed by the fixing plate 632, the first spacer 633, the second spacer 634, and the panel first door 624.

[0253] In order to supply air to the third flow path unit 85, the panel first door 624 may be provided with a front space communication hole 851 and a third flow path fan 852. The front space communication hole 851 may be provided to extend through the panel first door 624 and communicate the space between the two spacers 633 and 634 with the inside of the second front panel 67, and the third flow path fan 852 may be provided to supply air from the inside of the second front panel 67 to the front space communication hole 851.

[0254] Air flowing into the third flow path unit 85 may be discharged to the first introduction hole 821 of the second flow path unit or into the inside of the second cabinet 6 through a third flow path unit discharge port. FIG. 19 illustrates, as an example, a case where the third flow path unit discharge port is provided with a third flow path unit first discharge port 85a connected to the second introduction hole 822 (discharging air to the second introduction hole) and a third flow path unit second discharge port 85b discharging air into the inside of the second cabinet 6.

[0255] In order to cool the control circuit provided in the circuit board 637, the inside of the third flow path unit 85 may be provided with a heat dissipation unit 638 (heat exchange fin). The heat dissipation unit 638 may be provided as a plurality of metal plates that extend through the fixing plate 632 such that one end is connected to the control circuit and the other end is located inside the third flow path unit 85. The plurality of metal plates constituting the heat dissipation unit 638 may be arranged to be spaced apart along the width direction of the third flow path unit 85.

[0256] The first introduction hole 821 and the second introduction hole 822 may be provided to receive air from outside the second cabinet 6 through the outside air supply port 81 provided in the second front panel 67.

[0257] FIG. 20 illustrates, as an example, a case where the outside air supply port 81 is disposed on the upper surface of the second front panel 67, however, the outside air supply port 81 may also be disposed on the side surface of the second front panel 67 or the lower surface of the second front panel 67. However, when the outside air supply port 81 is disposed on the upper surface of the second front panel 67, it will be advantageous for supplying outside air to the second flow path unit 8 and the third flow path unit 85.

[0258] The heat exchange unit 9 may be provided to include the first heat exchanger 91 provided in the first heat exchange duct 734 and removing moisture from air, the second heat exchanger 92 provided in the second heat exchange duct 735 and heating air, the third heat exchanger 93 provided in the second flow path unit 8 and performing heat exchange with outside air, a refrigerant pipe 96 defining a circulation flow path for refrigerant passing through the heat exchangers 91, 92, and 93, and a compressor 94 that moves refrigerant along the refrigerant pipe.

[0259] As illustrated in FIG. 19, the refrigerant pipe 96 may be provided with a control valve 97 that adjusts the pressure of refrigerant, and a switching unit 95 that controls the flow path of refrigerant discharged from the second heat exchanger 92.

[0260] The refrigerant pipe 96 may be provided to include a first refrigerant flow path 961 guiding refrigerant discharged from the compressor 94 to the second heat exchanger 92, a second refrigerant flow path 962 guiding refrigerant that has passed through the second heat exchanger 92 (refrigerant that has completed heat exchange with air in the second heat exchanger) to the switching unit 95, a third refrigerant flow path 963 and a fourth refrigerant flow path 964 connecting the switching unit 95 and the third heat exchanger 93, a fifth refrigerant flow path 965 connecting the switching unit 95 and the first heat exchanger 91, and a sixth refrigerant flow path 966 guiding refrigerant that has passed through the first heat exchanger 91 to the compressor 94. In this case, the control valve 97 may be provided in the third refrigerant flow path 963 and located between the switching unit 95 and the third heat exchanger 93.

[0261] The switching unit 95 may supply refrigerant supplied through the second refrigerant flow path 962 to the third refrigerant flow path 963, or may supply it to the fourth refrigerant flow path 964.

[0262] When the switching unit 95 supplies refrigerant to the third refrigerant flow path 963, the refrigerant passes through the control valve 97 and is supplied to the third heat exchanger 93, and refrigerant that has passed through the third heat exchanger 93 will be recovered to the switching unit 95 through the fourth refrigerant flow path 964 and then supplied to the first heat exchanger 91 through the fifth refrigerant flow path 965. In this case, the third heat exchanger 93 will perform the same function as the first heat exchanger 91 (heat absorption function).

[0263] When the switching unit 95 supplies refrigerant to the fourth refrigerant flow path 964, the refrigerant is supplied to the third heat exchanger 93. Refrigerant that has passed through the third heat exchanger 93 will be recovered to the switching unit 95 through the third refrigerant flow path 964 and the control valve 97, and then supplied to the first heat exchanger 91 through the fifth refrigerant flow path 965. In this case, the third heat exchanger 93 will perform the same function as the second heat exchanger 92 (heat generation function).

[0264] As illustrated in FIG. 21, when the second impeller 846 rotates by the second fan motor 845, outside air flows into the inside of the second front panel 67 through the outside air supply port 81.

[0265] A portion of the outside air flowing into the inside of the second front panel 67 is supplied to the first introduction hole 821 through the panel air supply port 623. During operation of the third flow path fan 852, a portion of the outside air flowing into the second front panel 67 will be supplied to the third flow path unit 85.

[0266] A portion of the air inside the third flow path unit 85 will be supplied to the second introduction hole 822 through the third flow path unit first discharge port 85a, and a portion of the air inside the third flow path unit 85 will be discharged into the inside of the second cabinet 6 through the third flow path unit second discharge port 85b. Since the heat dissipation unit 638 is provided inside the third flow path unit 85, the laundry treating apparatus 100 can cool the control circuit of the circuit board 637 through the process of supplying outside air to the second flow path unit 8.

[0267] Air flowing into the first outside air duct 82 through the first introduction hole 821 and the second introduction hole 822 moves to the second fan housing 841 along the second outside air duct 83, and in this process, refrigerant passing through the third heat exchanger 93 may perform heat exchange with outside air.

[0268] Air flowing into the second fan housing 841 may be discharged into the inside of the second cabinet 6 through the housing outlet 843. In this case, the housing outlet 843 may be provided to discharge air toward the first fan motor 748 fixed to the blowing duct 74a.

[0269] During operation of the second treating apparatus 100b, the temperature of the second heat exchanger 92, the compressor 94, and the first fan motor 748 will rise, and if the temperature of the aforementioned devices becomes excessively high, there is a possibility that drying efficiency will decrease. When the housing outlet 843 is provided to discharge air toward the first fan motor 748, the laundry treating apparatus 100 can prevent the temperature of the first fan motor 748 from rising excessively.

[0270] The third flow path unit second discharge port 85b discharges air inside the third flow path unit 85 into the inside of the second cabinet 6, thereby causing air inside the second cabinet 6 to move to the outside out of the second cabinet 6 through the panel exhaust port 641. Therefore, the laundry treating apparatus 100 can prevent the temperature of the second heat exchanger 92, the compressor 94, and the first fan motor 748 provided in the rear space 6b from rising excessively.

[0271] As described above, the third heat exchanger 93 may perform a heat generation function by the switching unit 95, and may also perform a heat absorption function. The timing at which the third heat exchanger 93 switches its function may be adjusted by the second controller 63 controlling the switching unit 95. For example, the function of the third heat exchanger 93 may be set to the heat absorption function at the beginning of the drying cycle (the area where the dryness is smaller than the reference dryness), and may be set to the heat generation function at the later stage of the drying cycle (the area where the dryness is equal to or greater than the reference dryness).

[0272] In any case, the third heat exchanger 93 is more advantageous from the perspective of drying efficiency when provided to perform heat exchange with outside air rather than being provided to perform heat exchange with air moving along the first flow path unit 7 (air discharged from the tub body). Since the temperature of the rear space 6b is likely to become higher than the temperature of the front space 6a during operation of the second treating apparatus 100b, the second flow path unit 8 is preferably provided in the front space 6a, which has fewer factors causing temperature increase than the rear space 6b and is advantageous for introducing outside air.

[0273] In order to maximize the distance between the second flow path unit 8 and devices whose temperature rises during operation of the second treating apparatus 100b, the second flow path unit 8 and the compressor 94, or the second flow path unit 8 and the heat exchangers 91 and 92, may be arranged diagonally inside the second cabinet 6.

[0274] That is, as illustrated in FIG. 20, the second flow path unit 8 may be provided in the left area of the front space 6a, and the compressor 94 and the heat exchangers 91 and 92 may be provided in the right area of the rear space 6b. The second flow path unit 8 may be provided in a corner area of the front space 6a formed by the frame panel 62 and the second left panel 651, and the compressor 94 may be provided in a corner area of the rear space 6b formed by the second right panel 652 and the second rear panel 64.

[0275] In order to define a space for mounting the compressor 94 in the corner area of the rear space 6b, the first heat exchange duct 734 and the second heat exchange duct 735 may be connected at a preset angle. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 22, the connection duct 736 may be provided inclined at an angle A greater than 0 degrees and smaller than 90 degrees with respect to a straight line parallel to the second heat exchange duct 735, and may connect the first heat exchange duct 734 and the second heat exchange duct 735. In this case, the compressor 94 may be fixed to the support panel 613 and located between the connection duct 736 and the corner of the rear space 6b.

[0276] In order to facilitate coupling or separation of the second treating apparatus 100b from the first treating apparatus 100a, at least one of the free end of the exhaust duct 711 (the portion provided with the exhaust flow path corrugated portion) and the free end of the air supply duct 721 (the portion provided with the air supply flow path corrugated portion) may be provided to be located on the open surface of the communication space 612.

[0277] In addition, the tub air supply unit 24 and the tub air exhaust unit 25 may be provided to be located below the open surface. Furthermore, the tub air supply unit 24 may be provided to protrude from the mounting tube 212 toward the open surface, and the tub air exhaust unit 25 may be provided to protrude from the circumferential surface 21c of the tub body toward the open surface.

[0278] In order to facilitate coupling or separation of the second treating apparatus 100b from the first treating apparatus 100a, at least one of the free end of the tub air supply unit 24 (the portion to which the air supply duct is connected) and the free end of the tub air exhaust unit 25 (the portion to which the exhaust duct is connected) may be provided to be located at a point of the vertical level higher than a vertical level of the upper end of the first cabinet 1.

[0279] FIG. 23 illustrates, as an example, a case where the free end of the tub air supply unit 24 (the portion to which the air supply duct is connected) is located at a point of the vertical level higher than a vertical level of the upper end of the first cabinet 1.

[0280] When the upper end of the first front panel 11 or the upper end of the first rear panel 13 is provided to be located H1 at a point of the vertical level higher than a vertical level of the upper end of the first side panel 121 and 122, the free end of the tub air supply unit 24 may be provided to be located at a point of the vertical level higher than a vertical level of the upper end of the first front panel 11 or the upper end of the first rear panel 13.

[0281] As described above, the bottom surface (support body) 614 of the support panel 613 is provided to be located H2 at a point lower than the lowest end of the support frame 61, and the heat exchange flow path 73 and the blowing flow path 74 are fixed to the bottom surface of the support panel 613, so the present disclosure can reduce the overall height of the laundry treating apparatus 100.

[0282] Since the laundry treating apparatus described above relates to one example of the present disclosure, the scope of the present disclosure cannot be limited to the structure or control method described above.

Claims

1. A laundry treating apparatus comprising: a first treating apparatus including: a first cabinet, a tub disposed inside the first cabinet and providing a space in which water is stored, a tub air supply unit supplying air to the tub, a tub air exhaust unit through which air inside the tub is discharged, and a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub and providing a space in which a treatment target is accommodated; a second treating apparatus including a second cabinet detachably coupled to the first cabinet, a flow path unit disposed inside the second cabinet to connect the tub air supply unit and the tub air exhaust unit to each other and defining a circulation flow path for air, and a heat exchange unit configured to sequentially perform dehumidification and heating of air having flowed into the flow path unit; a detergent storage unit providing a space in which detergent is stored and providing a flow path for water to be supplied to the tub; and a connection unit including: a connection body disposed inside the first cabinet, a water supply chamber provided in the connection body and defining a flow path guiding liquid discharged from the detergent storage unit to the tub, an exhaust chamber provided in the connection body and defining a flow path discharging air from the tub to an outside or supplying outside air to the tub, and a backflow preventer for preventing air having flowed into the exhaust chamber from flowing back to the detergent storage unit.

2. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the backflow preventer is provided as a water trap formed inside the water supply chamber.

3. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the backflow preventer includes: a storage unit disposed inside the connection body and providing a space in which liquid is stored, wherein the storage unit defines a bottom surface of the water supply chamber; and an extension pipe guiding liquid discharged from the detergent storage unit to the water supply chamber and extending from an upper surface of the water supply chamber toward the bottom surface of the water supply chamber such that the extension pipe is maintained in a state submerged in the liquid stored in the storage unit.

4. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a connection body supply pipe connecting the detergent storage unit and the water supply chamber to each other; and a tub supply pipe connecting the water supply chamber and the tub to each other, wherein the backflow preventer is provided as a water trap provided in the tub supply pipe or a check valve provided in the connection body and controlling opening and closing of the tub supply pipe.

5. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first communication pipe connecting the tub and the exhaust chamber to each other; and a second communication pipe discharging air inside the exhaust chamber to the inside of the first cabinet or to an outside out of the first cabinet, wherein a flow path cross-sectional area of the first communication pipe is set to be smaller than a flow path cross-sectional area of the tub air exhaust unit.

6. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a drainage pipe discharging water inside the tub to the outside out of the first cabinet, wherein the second communication pipe is provided to connect the exhaust chamber and the drainage pipe to each other.

7. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a connection unit partition wall provided in the connection body and separating the water supply chamber and the exhaust chamber from each other; and a chamber communication hole provided in the connection unit partition wall and communicating an upper space of the water supply chamber and an upper space of the exhaust chamber with each other.

8. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an outside air communication hole extending through the connection body and communicating the exhaust chamber and the inside of the first cabinet with each other.

9. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a chamber water supply pipe provided to connect a water supply source and the connection body to each other and supplying water from the water supply source to the water supply chamber.

10. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a connection body supply pipe connecting the detergent storage unit and the water supply chamber to each other; and a tub supply pipe connecting the water supply chamber and the tub to each other, wherein the chamber water supply pipe is provided to supply water to the tub supply pipe.

11. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the chamber water supply pipe is provided to supply water to the backflow preventer.

12. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second cabinet is disposed on top of the first cabinet.

13. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first cabinet includes a first front panel defining a front surface of the first treating apparatus; a first left panel and a first right panel connected to the first front panel to define side surfaces of the first treating apparatus; and a first rear panel provided to face the first front panel and defining a rear surface of the first treating apparatus, and wherein each of a height of the first front panel and a height of the first rear panel is set to be greater than each of a height of the first left panel and a height of the first right panel.

14. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second cabinet is detachable from a mounting space defined by an upper end of the first front panel, an upper end of the first left panel, an upper end of the first right panel, and an upper end of the first rear panel.

15. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second cabinet includes: a second left panel defining a left side surface of the second treating apparatus and seated on an upper end of the first left panel; a second right panel defining a right side surface of the second treating apparatus and seated on an upper end of the first right panel; and a second rear panel defining a rear surface of the second treating apparatus and seated on an upper end of the first rear panel.

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