Clothes treatment apparatus

Abstract

A dryer according to one embodiment may comprise: a main body; a drum which is provided inside the main body and which accommodates an object to be dried; an evaporator through which a refrigerant circulates; a heat pump including a compressor and a condenser, and supplying high-temperature dry air to the drum; a condensate water tank for storing condensate water generated by the evaporator; and a connection pipe which is disposed between the condenser and the evaporator, and of which at least a portion is accommodated in the condensate water tank. The refrigerant, that is heat-exchanged with external air while passing through the condenser, can be additionally heat-exchanged with the condensate water in the condensate water tank while passing through at least a portion of the connection pipe.

Description

Garment processing device

[0001] Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a garment treatment device.

[0002] A garment handling device, such as a dryer or garment manager, can perform the function of drying garments (or other items to be dried).

[0003] These clothing treatment devices can be classified into heater type, heat pump type, or hybrid type that uses both heater and heat pump at the same time, depending on the type of heat source for drying.

[0004] As drying capacities increase, larger capacity heat pumps are being installed in garment treatment units.

[0005] Various embodiments of the present disclosure can improve the energy consumption used in a heat pump by utilizing condensate generated in an evaporator of the heat pump.

[0006] According to one embodiment, a dryer may include a main body, a drum provided inside the main body and configured to receive an object to be dried, an evaporator through which a refrigerant circulates, a heat pump including a compressor and a condenser and configured to supply high-temperature dry air to the drum, a condensate tank configured to store condensate generated by the evaporator, and a connecting pipe disposed between the condenser and the evaporator, at least a portion of which is accommodated inside the condensate tank. The refrigerant may be configured to exchange heat with external air while passing through the condenser and to additionally exchange heat with condensate within the condensate tank while passing through at least a portion of the connecting pipe.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the dryer may further include a water level sensor configured to detect a water level within the condensate tank and a drain pump configured to discharge the condensate within the condensate tank to the outside of the condensate tank.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the drain pump may be configured not to operate when the water level in the condensate tank is below a preset level, and to operate when the water level in the condensate tank is above a preset level.

[0009] In one embodiment, the preset water level may be a water level set such that at least a portion of the connecting pipe accommodated inside the condensate tank is submerged in the condensate.

[0010] In one embodiment, at least a portion of the connecting pipe housed within the condensate tank may be configured as a tortuous pattern pipe.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the garment treatment device may further include a water supply device configured to supply water to the condensate tank.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the garment treatment device may further include a control unit configured to control the water supply device. The control unit may control the water supply device to supply water to the condensate tank when the water level in the condensate tank is below a preset water level.

[0013] In one embodiment, the connecting pipe may include a first pipe containing at least a portion of the connecting pipe accommodated in the condensate tank, and a second pipe configured to bypass the first pipe. The dryer may further include a three-way valve configured to regulate the flow of refrigerant discharged from the condenser to pass the refrigerant toward the first pipe or the second pipe.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the dryer may further include a control unit configured to control the three-way valve.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the control unit may control the three-way valve so that the refrigerant discharged from the condenser flows toward the first pipe side when the water level in the condensate tank is equal to or higher than the preset water level. The control unit may control the opening and closing of the three-way valve so that the refrigerant discharged from the condenser flows toward the second pipe side when the water level in the condensate tank is lower than the preset water level.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the control unit may be configured to control the three-way valve so that the refrigerant discharged from the condenser flows toward the second pipe side when the drying process of the garment treatment device starts and the preset time has not elapsed, and to control the three-way valve so that the refrigerant flows toward the first pipe side when the preset time has elapsed.

[0017] In one embodiment, the refrigerant movement path of the second pipe may be shorter than the refrigerant movement path of the first pipe.

[0018] In one embodiment, the second pipe may not be accommodated in the condensate tank.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the refrigerant passing through the first pipe can be cooled by heat exchange with the condensate in the condensate tank.

[0020] In one embodiment, the efficiency of the heat pump can be increased by additionally cooling the refrigerant using the condensate.

[0021] A clothing manager according to one embodiment may include a main body including an internal space arranged to place or receive clothing therein, a heat pump including an evaporator through which a refrigerant circulates, a compressor, and a condenser and configured to supply high-temperature dry air to the internal space, a condensate tank configured to store condensate generated by the evaporator, and a connecting pipe including a first pipe disposed between the condenser and the evaporator and at least a portion of which is received inside the condensate tank. The refrigerant may be configured to exchange heat with external air while passing through the condenser and to additionally exchange heat with condensate within the condensate tank while passing through the first pipe.

[0022] In one embodiment, at least a portion of the connecting pipe accommodated in the condensate tank may be configured as a tortuous pattern pipe.

[0023] In one embodiment, the connecting pipe may include a first pipe including at least a portion of the connecting pipe accommodated in the condensate tank, and a second pipe configured to bypass the first pipe. The garment manager may further include a three-way valve configured to regulate the flow of refrigerant discharged from the condenser to pass the refrigerant toward the first pipe or the second pipe.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the garment manager may further include a control unit configured to control the opening and closing of the three-way valve. The control unit may control the opening and closing of the three-way valve so that the refrigerant flows toward the first pipe side when the water level within the condensate tank is equal to or higher than a preset water level. The control unit may control the opening and closing of the three-way valve so that the refrigerant flows toward the second pipe side when the water level within the condensate tank is lower than the preset water level.

[0025] In one embodiment, the refrigerant movement path of the second pipe may be shorter than the refrigerant movement path of the first pipe.

[0026] According to various embodiments proposed in this disclosure, a garment treatment device can further cool the refrigerant using the condensate by adding a refrigerant pipe structure capable of heat exchange between the condensate and the refrigerant. Furthermore, the temperature of the condensate increases through heat exchange with the refrigerant, thereby reducing the amount of heat loss from the heat pump caused by the condensate stored around the heat pump.

[0027] The effects that can be obtained from the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly derived and understood by those skilled in the art to which the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure pertain from the following description. In other words, unintended effects resulting from implementing the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can also be derived by those skilled in the art from the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a garment treatment device according to one embodiment when implemented as a dryer.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view showing the internal configuration of a garment treatment device according to one embodiment when implemented as a dryer.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a garment treatment device according to one embodiment when implemented as a garment manager.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view showing the internal configuration of a garment treatment device according to one embodiment when implemented as a garment manager.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the flow of refrigerant and the flow of air in a garment treatment device according to one embodiment.

[0033] FIGS. 6A and 6B are drawings specifically illustrating some configurations of a heat pump according to one embodiment.

[0034] Figure 7 is a control block diagram of a garment processing device according to one embodiment.

[0035] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of refrigerant and the flow of air in a garment treatment device according to another embodiment.

[0036] Fig. 9 is a control block diagram of a garment processing device according to another embodiment.

[0037] Fig. 10 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a three-way valve using the operating time of a drying process according to one embodiment.

[0038] Fig. 11 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a three-way valve using a condensate level according to one embodiment.

[0039] Fig. 12 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a three-way valve using the temperature of a refrigerant according to one embodiment.

[0040] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a control method for supplying water in a condensate tank to control the water level according to one embodiment.

[0041] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a garment treatment device using the temperature of a refrigerant and the water level of a condensate tank according to one embodiment.

[0042] The accompanying drawings are referenced in the following description, and specific examples of implementations are illustrated within the drawings. Furthermore, other examples may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the various examples.

[0043] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In connection with the description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals may be used for identical or similar components. Furthermore, in the drawings and related descriptions, descriptions of well-known functions and configurations may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0044] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a garment treatment device according to one embodiment when implemented as a dryer. Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of a garment treatment device according to one embodiment when implemented as a dryer.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the dryer (100) may include a main body (110), a drum (120), a door (130), a control panel (140), an air circulation path (150), a driving unit (160), or a heat pump (170).

[0046] According to one embodiment, the main body (110) may be provided to accommodate components such as a drum (120) or a heat pump (170) therein. The main body (110) may be formed in a hexahedral shape, for example, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The main body (110) may include an upper frame (110a), a lower frame (110b), a rear frame (110d), a front frame (110c), a left frame (110e), and a right frame (not shown). An opening may be formed in the front frame (110c), and a door (130) may be provided at a portion corresponding to the opening. Here, at least two of the upper frame (110a), the lower frame (110b), the front frame (110c), the rear frame (110d), the left frame (110e), or the right frame may be formed integrally, or each may be manufactured separately and then assembled. In addition, each of the upper frame (110a), lower frame (110b), front frame (110c), rear frame (110d), left frame (110e), or right frame may be formed by press molding using a steel plate material or injection molding using a resin material.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the door (130) may be provided to be rotatable by being coupled to a hinge fixed to the front frame (110c). The door (130) may, for example, be made of at least a portion of a transparent material so that a user can view the inside. The user may open and close the door (130) to load or remove an object to be dried (e.g., clothing) from the drum (120) located inside the main body. The door (130) may be locked, for example, by a locking device (not shown) to prevent it from being opened while the dryer (100) is operating.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the door (130) may include a door frame (131) or a glass member (132). The glass member (132) may be formed of, for example, a transparent tempered glass material so as to allow the interior of the drum (120) to be seen. The glass member (132) may be provided to protrude toward the interior of the drum (120) so as to prevent, for example, an object to be dried (e.g., clothing) from being tilted toward the door (130) when the dryer (100) is operated.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the drum (120) may have a cylindrical shape and may have an opening (120a) formed on one side. Specifically, the drum (120) may have a cylindrical shape that is horizontally arranged within the main body (110), and an opening (120a) may be formed at a front portion of the drum (120). The opened portion may be positioned at a location corresponding to a door (130). A user may insert an object to be dried into the drum (120) or take out an object to be dried from the inside of the drum (120) through the opening (120a) of the drum (120). The drum (120) may be configured to be rotatable by receiving power from a driving unit (160).

[0050] According to one embodiment, the drum (120) may include a plurality of lifters (121) arranged at regular intervals along the circumferential direction on the inside. The lifters (121) lift (or move) an object to be dried (e.g., clothing) while the drum (120) rotates, for example, so that the object to be dried (e.g., clothing) repeatedly rises and falls, thereby allowing multiple surfaces of the object to be dried (e.g., clothing) to be evenly dried.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the control panel (140) may include an input unit (141) or a display unit (142). The input unit (141) may be configured to obtain, for example, a user input for controlling the dryer (100). The input unit (141) may include, for example, a power button for turning the dryer (100) on / off or an operation button for setting a drying operation of the dryer (100). The power button or the operation button may be, for example, a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, or a touch switch, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the input unit (141) may include an input device in the form of a jog shuttle that a user can hold and rotate, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The display unit (142) may display, for example, drying setting or drying operation information in response to a user input. The display unit (142) may include various types of display panels, such as LCD, LED, OLED, QLED, and Micro LED, and may be implemented as a touch screen by providing a touch pad on the front, but the present disclosure is not limited to a specific type of display.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the air circulation path (150) may include an inlet path (151), a connection path (152), and an exhaust path (153). When the dryer (100) is in operation, high temperature and high humidity air may be introduced into the inlet path (151) to dry an object to be dried (e.g., clothing) placed inside the drum (120), and high temperature and low humidity air may be discharged into the exhaust path (153). The high temperature and high humidity air introduced through the inlet path (151) may be heated and dehumidified by a heat pump (170) as it passes through the connection path (152), thereby being converted into high temperature and low humidity air.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the inlet passage (151) may be formed by an inlet duct (111). The inlet duct (111) may be located, for example, at the front lower portion of the drum (120). That is, the inlet duct (111) may be positioned adjacent to the front frame (110c) of the main body (110), but is not limited thereto. The inlet duct (111) may further include, for example, a filter member (112). Air flowing into the inlet passage (151) through the inlet port (151a) inside the drum (120) may include foreign substances (e.g., dust or lint), and such foreign substances may be filtered by the filter member (112) when the air flows into the inlet passage (151).

[0054] According to one embodiment, a connecting passage (152) may be provided at the bottom of the drum (120). Air filtered by the filter member (112) may pass through the inlet passage (151) and enter the connecting passage (152). The air may be heated and dehumidified by the heat pump (170) while passing through the connecting passage (152). The process of heating and dehumidifying the air by the heat pump (170) will be described later.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the exhaust passage (153) may be formed by a exhaust duct (113). The exhaust duct (113) may be located, for example, at the rear of the drum (120). That is, the exhaust duct (113) may be positioned adjacent to the rear frame (110d) of the main body (110), but is not limited thereto. The exhaust duct (113) may be connected, for example, to the rear of the drum (120). Accordingly, high-temperature, low-humidity air passing through the exhaust passage (153) may be discharged to the exhaust port (153a) located at the rear of the drum (120), thereby drying an object to be dried (e.g., clothing) within the drum (120).

[0056] According to one embodiment, the drive unit (160) may include a drive motor (161), a pulley (162), a drive belt (163), or a blower (164). The drive unit (160) may, for example, rotate the drum (120) or use the blower (164) to create a flow of air within the air circulation path (150). The illustrated drive unit (160) is configured such that one drive motor (161) rotates the drum (120) and simultaneously rotates the blower (164), but this is exemplary, and multiple drive motors may be configured to independently rotate the drum (120) and the blower (164).

[0057] According to one embodiment, a drive motor (161) may be provided to transmit rotational power to a pulley (162) and a blower (164). The drive motor (161) may be provided inside the main body (110). The drive motor (161) may be disposed, for example, at the bottom of the drum (120).

[0058] According to one embodiment, the drive belt (163) may be connected to the pulley (162) and may be configured such that a portion of the drive belt wraps around the outer surface of the drum (120). That is, the drive belt (163) may transmit the rotational power of the pulley (162) to the drum (120) to rotate the drum (120). The drum (120) may, for example, rotate clockwise or counterclockwise depending on the driving of the drive motor (161).

[0059] According to one embodiment, the blower (164) may receive rotational power from the drive motor (161). The blower (164) may be provided, for example, to form a flow of air in the air circulation path (150) so that the air can circulate inside. The blower (164) may be provided, for example, in the connection path (152), but is not limited thereto. The blower (164) may be disposed, for example, adjacent to the inlet path (151). Alternatively, the blower (164) may be disposed at a portion where the inlet path (151) and the connection path (152) are connected. Therefore, the air inside the drum (120) may be effectively introduced into the inlet path (151) by the rotation of the blower (164).

[0060] According to one embodiment, the heat pump (170) may include an evaporator (171), a compressor (not shown), a condenser (173), or an expansion valve (not shown). The evaporator (171), the compressor (not shown), the condenser (173), or the expansion valve (not shown) may be disposed at the bottom of the drum (120). The heat pump (170) may be detachably disposed in a modular fashion within the main body (110). In the heat pump (170), a configuration including the evaporator (171) and the compressor (not shown) where heat exchange between air and refrigerant occurs may be referred to as a heat exchanger.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the evaporator (171) may be configured to evaporate refrigerant that has become a low-temperature, low-pressure liquid while passing through an expansion valve (not shown). As the liquid refrigerant evaporates, heat exchange occurs between the evaporator (171) and the surrounding gas. Air passing through (or flowing) the connecting passage (152) first passes through the evaporator (171), and the evaporator (171) may absorb latent heat of the air while evaporating the liquid refrigerant. As the temperature of the air from which the latent heat has been absorbed decreases, moisture contained in the air may be condensed.

[0062] In one embodiment, moisture condensed while passing through the evaporator (171) may be stored as condensate in a condensate tank (e.g., the condensate tank (550) of FIG. 5). The moisture stored in the condensate tank (550) may be used to additionally cool the refrigerant discharged from the condenser (173). Details will be described later.

[0063] According to one embodiment, a compressor (not shown) may be configured to compress a gaseous refrigerant delivered from an evaporator (171). The compressor (not shown) may compress the gaseous refrigerant to a high temperature and high pressure state. Specifically, the compressor (not shown) may receive electric energy from an external source and use the rotational force of an electric motor or the like to compress the gaseous refrigerant to a high temperature and high pressure state. Alternatively, the compressor (not shown) may compress the refrigerant through the reciprocating motion of a piston, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0064] According to one embodiment, the condenser (173) can condense high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant delivered from a compressor (not shown). The condenser (173) can radiate heat generated while condensing the refrigerant to the outside of the condenser (173). The gas that has become a low-temperature, low-humidity state after passing through the evaporator (171) in the connection passage (152) can become a high-temperature, low-humidity state by the heat radiation of the condenser (173) while passing through the condenser (173). That is, while the high-temperature, high-humidity air passes through the connection passage (152), it can be converted into a high-temperature, low-humidity state by the evaporator (171) and the condenser (173) and discharged into the drum (120) through the discharge passage (153). The condensed refrigerant can move back to the evaporator (171) and circulate inside the heat pump (170).

[0065] According to one embodiment, the heat pump (170) may further include a refrigerant temperature sensor (not shown). The refrigerant temperature sensor (not shown) may be, for example, positioned along a path through which the refrigerant passes. For example, the refrigerant temperature sensor (not shown) may be positioned to measure the temperature of the refrigerant passing through the condenser (173). However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the refrigerant temperature sensor (not shown) may also be positioned along a path between a compressor (not shown) and the condenser (173) to measure the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (not shown).

[0066] According to one embodiment, the dryer (100) may further include a heater (180) provided within the air circulation path (150). The heater (180) may be, for example, located on the exhaust path (153). In particular, the heater (180) may be disposed downstream of the evaporator (171) and the condenser (173). Accordingly, the heater (180) may additionally heat the air that has passed through the heat pump (170). The heater (180) may further heat the air by assisting the condenser (173), thereby more quickly increasing the temperature of the air supplied to the drum (120).

[0067] Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a garment treatment device according to one embodiment when implemented as a garment manager. Fig. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of a garment treatment device according to one embodiment when implemented as a garment manager.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 3, a garment manager (300) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a main body (310) or a door (320).

[0069] According to various embodiments, the garment care device (300) can perform a treatment to remove foreign substances or odors attached to clothing or a sterilization treatment. Furthermore, the garment care device (300) can automatically perform wrinkle removal, foreign substance removal, etc. upon receiving instructions through button operation, etc., depending on the type or material of the clothing.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the main body (310) may have a shape of a roughly hexahedron with one open side. The front of the main body (310) may be opened, for example, by a door (320). An opening (310a) may be formed on the front of the main body (310).

[0071] According to one embodiment, the main body (310) may form a first internal space (3121) capable of storing or managing clothing therein. The first internal space (3121) may have a front side opened by, for example, a door (320). For example, at least a portion of the opening (310a) of the main body (310) may be the front side of the first internal space (3121).

[0072] According to one embodiment, the door (320) may be provided to open and close the opening (310a) of the main body (310). The door (320) may be coupled to the main body (310) by a device (or component), such as a hinge or a link, for example. A user may open and close the first internal space (3121) using the door (320). Although not shown, an operation unit (not shown) consisting of an input device, such as a button or a touch screen, may be provided on the front of the door (320).

[0073] Referring to FIG. 4, a clothing manager (300) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a main body (310), a door (320), an air conditioning device (350), a humidifying device (360), a blower device (370), or a filter assembly (380).

[0074] According to one embodiment, the body (310) may include an outer housing (311) or an inner housing (312). The outer housing (311) or the inner housing (312) may be supported by a frame to maintain its shape.

[0075] According to one embodiment, the door (320) may further include an exhaust passage (3130) for exhausting air from the first internal space (3121) to the outside. The exhaust passage (3130) may be connected, for example, to a discharge slit (316a) described later when the door (320) is closed.

[0076] According to one embodiment, a second internal space (3111) or a third internal space (3112) may be formed between the outer housing (311) and the inner housing (312). The second internal space (3111) may be, for example, located at the lower portion of the inner housing (312). That is, the second internal space (3111) may be located at the lower portion of the first internal space (3121). Components such as an air conditioning device (350) or a humidifying device (360) may be arranged in the second internal space (3111). The third internal space (3112) may be, for example, located to surround a portion of the upper portion and a portion of the side of the inner housing (312). Components such as a blower device (370) may be arranged in the third internal space (3112).

[0077] According to one embodiment, the inner housing (312) may form a first inner space (3121). The first inner space (3121) may be formed by, for example, an upper surface (312a), a lower surface (312b), a left surface (312c), a right surface (312d), and a rear surface (312e). The front of the first inner space (3121) may be open and may be opened and closed by a door (320). A discharge bracket (316) may be provided at an upper end of the opening (310a) of the main body (310) so as to be installed at a position corresponding to the discharge path (3130) of the door (320). The discharge bracket (316) may include, for example, a plurality of discharge slits (316a) arranged to correspond to the discharge paths (3130) of the door (320).

[0078] According to one embodiment, the garment manager (300) may further include a drain tank (341) or a water tank (342). The drain tank (341) or the water tank (342) may be provided to be detachable from the main body (310), for example. The drain tank (341) or the water tank (342) may be disposed, for example, at the lower portion of the first internal space (3121). The drain tank (341) or the water tank (342) may be disposed in a location visible from the outside when the door (320) is opened, for example.

[0079] The drain tank (341) may be provided to facilitate condensate treatment by, for example, a heat pump (352) of an air conditioning device (350). The water supply tank (342) may be provided to store, for example, water required to generate steam in a humidifier (360). The drain tank (341) and the water supply tank (342) do not necessarily have to be configured separately, and may be configured as an integrated tank that performs the roles of the aforementioned drain tank (341) and the water supply tank (342).

[0080] According to one embodiment, the condensate generated by the heat pump (352) may be accommodated in a condensate tank (e.g., a condensate tank (550) of FIG. 5) to be described later before being discharged to the drain (341). The condensate accommodated in the condensate tank (550) may be used to cool the refrigerant discharged from the condenser (3522) of the heat pump (352). Details will be described later.

[0081] In one embodiment, the air conditioning unit (350) may include a heat pump (352), a first duct (355), or a first fan (356). The air conditioning unit (350) may be configured to, for example, dehumidify or heat air in the first internal space (3121). The air conditioning unit (350) may be arranged to supply hot air to the first internal space (3121), for example. The air conditioning unit (350) may be arranged in the second internal space (3111), for example.

[0082] According to one embodiment, the heat pump (352) may include an evaporator (3521), a condenser (3522), or a compressor (3523). A refrigerant may circulate through the evaporator (3521), the condenser (3522), and the compressor (3523). The refrigerant may be, for example, a gas, but is not limited thereto. The heat pump (352) may be detachably arranged in a modular fashion within the main body (310). In the heat pump (352), a configuration including the evaporator (3521) and the condenser (3522) where heat exchange between air and refrigerant occurs may be referred to as a heat exchanger.

[0083] In the evaporator (3521), the refrigerant can evaporate and absorb latent heat of the surrounding air to condense moisture in the air. The condensed water can move to the drain (341). Therefore, the air introduced into the first inlet (357) can be dehumidified as it passes through the evaporator (3521). The refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator (3521) can be compressed to a low pressure in the compressor (3523) and moved to the condenser (3522). The low-pressure refrigerant moved to the condenser (3522) can heat the surrounding air by releasing latent heat toward the surrounding air. Therefore, the air that passes through the evaporator (3521) can be heated in the condenser (3522) and then discharged through the first outlet (358). In summary, the evaporator (3521) and the condenser (3522) perform a heat exchange function, so that the air passing through the heat pump (352) by the first fan (356) can be dehumidified or heated by sequentially passing through the evaporator (3521) and the condenser (3522).

[0084] According to one embodiment, a first duct (355) may be provided to connect a heat pump (352) and a first fan (356). The first duct (355) may include, for example, a first flow path (3551) provided to allow air drawn in from a first internal space (3121) to pass through the first fan (356) and the heat pump (352) and then be discharged into the first internal space (3121).

[0085] Air within the first internal space (3121) can be introduced into the first flow path (3551) through the first inlet (357). The first inlet (357) can be provided, for example, on the lower surface (312b) of the inner housing (312). Specifically, the first inlet (357) can be provided in front of the lower surface (312b), but is not limited thereto.

[0086] The air dehumidified or heated by the heat pump (352) can be discharged into the first internal space (3121) through the first discharge port (358). The first discharge port (358) can be located, for example, on the lower surface (312b) of the internal housing (312). The first discharge port (358) can be provided, for example, so that the discharged air rises in an inclined direction along the direction of the opening (310a), but is not limited thereto. That is, the first discharge port (358) can be provided so that the air is discharged in an inclined direction from the lower surface (312b) of the internal housing (312) toward the upper front side. Accordingly, the air discharged from the first discharge port (358) can be directed toward the upper front side of the first internal space (3121) and then descend, and be sucked into the first inlet port (357) provided in front of the lower surface (312b) of the internal housing (312).

[0087] According to one embodiment, the first fan (356) can generate wind power to circulate air in the first internal space (3121). The first fan (356) can, for example, suck air in the first internal space (3121) from the first inlet (357), introduce the air into the first duct (355), and discharge the air introduced into the first duct (355) into the first internal space (3121) from the first outlet (358).

[0088] According to one embodiment, the humidifying device (360) may include a steam generating device (361), a steam supply pipe (362), or a steam injection unit (363). The humidifying device (360) may be configured to generate steam using, for example, water supplied from a water tank (342) and then discharge the steam through the steam supply pipe (362) and the steam injection unit (363) to a steam discharge port (364). The steam discharge port (364) may be located, for example, above the first discharge port (358). Alternatively, the steam discharge port (364) may be located below the rear surface (312e) of the inner housing (312). The steam discharged from the steam discharge port (364) may flow to the upper portion of the first internal space (3121) together with the air that is discharged by the first fan (356) from the first discharge port (358).

[0089] According to one embodiment, the clothing manager (300) may include an air circulation path (354). The air circulation path (354) may include a first inlet (357), a first path (3551), and a first outlet (358). The first inlet (357), the first path (3551), and the first outlet (358) may be sequentially connected to the air circulation path (354). High-temperature, high-humidity air of the first internal space (3121) may be introduced through the first inlet (357). The introduced air may be heated and dehumidified by a heat pump while passing through the first path (355) and converted into high-temperature, low-humidity air. The air converted into high-temperature, low-humidity air may be discharged through the first outlet (358).

[0090] According to one embodiment, the steam generating device (361) can generate steam using water supplied from a water tank (342). The steam generating device (361) can generate high-temperature steam by heating water using, for example, a heater provided therein.

[0091] A steam supply pipe (362) may be provided to guide steam generated from, for example, a steam generating device (361) to a steam injection unit (363). The steam injection unit (363) may be provided at the lower portion of the rear surface (312e) of the inner housing (312).

[0092] According to one embodiment, the humidifier (360) may further include a water supply pump (not shown). The water supply pump may be provided, for example, between the water supply tank (342) and the steam generator (361) to move water stored in the water supply tank (342) to the steam generator (361).

[0093] According to one embodiment, the blower device (370) may include a second duct (371) or a second fan (372). The blower device (370) may be disposed, for example, in the third internal space (3112).

[0094] According to one embodiment, the second duct (371) may be provided to allow air to circulate between the first internal space (3121) and the blower (370) through the second inlet (373) and the second outlet (374). That is, one end of the second duct (371) may be connected to the second inlet (373), and the other end may be connected to the second outlet (374). The second duct (371) may include, for example, a second flow path (3711) for air circulation. Here, the second inlet (373) may be located at the upper portion of the rear surface (312e) of the inner housing (312), but is not limited thereto. Here, the second outlet (374) may be located at the upper surface (312a) of the inner housing (312), but is not limited thereto.

[0095] According to one embodiment, the second fan (372) may be disposed within the second duct (371). The second fan (372) may be operated to generate wind power to cause air to flow from the second inlet (373) to the second outlet (374). When the second fan (372) is operated, air drawn in from the second inlet (373) passes through the second fan (372) and is discharged to the second outlet (374). The air may be discharged in a vertical downward direction from the upper surface of the inner housing (312), but is not limited thereto. In addition, the air discharged from the second outlet (374) may flow to the holding member (330) through the support device (325). Therefore, the clothing manager (300) may remove dust or odor from clothing hung on the holding member (330) by using the air discharged from the second outlet (374).

[0096] According to one embodiment, the filter assembly (380) may be disposed on the upper portion of the rear surface (312e) of the inner housing (312). The filter assembly (380) may be disposed, for example, at a portion where the first inner space (3121) and the second flow path (3711) are connected. That is, the filter assembly (380) may be disposed at the second inlet (373). The filter assembly (380) may be disposed, for example, to filter (or remove) dust or the like before the air of the first inner space (3121) is introduced into the blower (370).

[0097] According to one embodiment, the garment manager (300) may further include a support device (325) or a mounting member (330). The support device (325) may be disposed, for example, on an upper surface (312a) of the inner housing (312). Specifically, the support device (325) may be disposed adjacent to the second discharge port (374). The support device (325) may be configured to support, for example, a plurality of mounting members (330). The plurality of mounting members (330) may be configured to be detachable from the support device (325).

[0098] According to one embodiment, the mounting member (330) may include at least two types of mounting members. The mounting member (330) may include, for example, a first mounting member designed to support upper garments or a second mounting member designed to support lower garments. A user may use the first mounting member or the second mounting member by hanging or attaching it to the support device (325) as needed.

[0099] According to one embodiment, the holding member (330) may be provided so that air can flow therein. The holding member (330) may be formed with at least one air hole for supplying wind from the second outlet (374) to the clothing. The air hole may be formed, for example, at the top of the holding member (330), but is not limited thereto, and may be formed in various locations and sizes to widely spray air onto the clothing. As the air from the second outlet (374) passes through the holding member (330), dust or foreign substances adhering to the clothing can be removed.

[0100] In the case of the filter assembly (380) provided in the clothing manager (300), when air containing dust or foreign substances passes through the filter assembly (380) and flows into the blower (370), the air may be introduced by concentrating on the upper region (or dust concentration region) (Z) of the filter assembly (380). That is, most of the air in the first internal space (3121) may pass through the upper region (Z) of the filter assembly (380) and flow into the blower (370). The size and position of the illustrated upper region (Z) are exemplary and may vary depending on the arrangement position of the filter assembly (380) or the arrangement position or specifications of the blower (370) within the clothing manager (300).

[0101] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the flow of refrigerant and the flow of air in a garment treatment device according to one embodiment.

[0102] The garment treatment device (500) illustrated in FIG. 5 may be included in a garment treatment device such as the garment treatment device of FIG. 1 (e.g., the dryer (100) of FIG. 1) or the garment treatment device of FIG. 3 (e.g., the garment manager (300) of FIG. 3). In the following, any part overlapping with the above-described content will be omitted.

[0103] Referring to FIG. 5, the garment treatment device (500) may include a receiving portion (510) (e.g., the drum (120) of FIG. 2 or the first internal space (3121) of FIG. 4), an air circulation path (520) (e.g., the air circulation path (150) of FIG. 2 or the air circulation path (354) of FIG. 4), and a blower (530) (e.g., the blower (164) of FIG. 2 or the blower (370) of FIG. 4). The receiving portion (510) may be referred to as a receiving space, a laundry room, a laundry tub, or a chamber. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the receiving portion (510) may include any form in which an internal space is provided to receive garments (or objects to be dried). Air within the receiving portion (510) may circulate along the air circulation path (520). For example, high temperature and humid air within the receiving portion (510) may be dehumidified through the heat pump (540) via the air circulation path (520) and converted into high temperature and low humidity air, and then introduced back into the receiving portion (510). The air may pass through the heat pump (540) along the air circulation path (520) and exchange heat with the refrigerant.

[0104] In one example, the garment treatment device (500) may include a heat pump (540) (e.g., heat pump (170) of FIG. 2 or heat pump (352) of FIG. 4). In one example, the heat pump (540) may include an evaporator (541), a compressor (542), and a condenser (543). For example, the heat pump (540) may be configured to cool air discharged from a receiving portion (510) to form condensate, and then reheat the cooled air.

[0105] High-temperature, high-humidity air discharged from the receiving unit (510) can be converted into low-temperature, low-humidity air as it passes through the evaporator (541). The humid air condenses while being cooled by passing through the evaporator (541), and condensate may be generated as a result of the condensation. The condensate may be stored in a condensate tank (550) described later. The low-temperature, low-humidity air can be converted into high-temperature, low-humidity air as it passes through the condenser (543).

[0106] The refrigerant can sequentially pass through the evaporator (541), compressor (542), condenser (543), and expansion valve (545) through the refrigerant passage (546).

[0107] According to one example, the garment treatment device (500) may include a connecting pipe (544). The connecting pipe (544) may be disposed between the condenser (543) and the evaporator (541). For example, the connecting pipe (544) may be disposed downstream of the condenser (543) on the refrigerant passage (546). For example, the connecting pipe (544) may be disposed adjacent to the refrigerant outlet (5431) of the condenser (543). For example, the connecting pipe (544) may be disposed upstream of the evaporator (541) on the refrigerant passage (546). Refrigerant discharged from the condenser (543) may pass through the connecting pipe (544).

[0108] In one example, the connecting pipe (544) may include a first pipe (5441). The first pipe (5441) may be arranged adjacent to the condenser (543). The first pipe (5441) may be arranged between the evaporator (541) and the condenser (543). The first pipe (5441) may be arranged, for example, between the expansion valve (545) and the condenser (543). When the refrigerant circulates, it may pass through the condenser (543) and then flow into the first pipe (5441).

[0109] According to one example, the first pipe (5441) may be arranged so that at least a portion of the first pipe (5441) is submerged in water (or condensate) within the condensate tank (550). The first pipe (5441) may be arranged to be received within the condensate tank (550). By arranging the first pipe (5441) within the condensate tank (550), the refrigerant passing through the first pipe (5441) may exchange heat with the water (or condensate) stored within the condensate tank (550). The refrigerant, which has exchanged heat with the outside air while passing through the condenser (543), may be configured to further exchange heat with the condensate within the condensate tank (550) while passing through the first pipe (5441).

[0110] For example, the first pipe (5441) may refer to a portion of the connecting pipe (544) accommodated in the condensate tank (550). However, this is not limited thereto, and a separate pipe configuration provided to accommodate the condensate tank (550) may be configured to be separately coupled.

[0111] According to one example, the heat pump (540) may be configured so that the refrigerant sequentially circulates through the evaporator (541), the compressor (542), the condenser (543) and the first pipe (5441).

[0112] According to one example, the garment treatment device (500) may include a condensate tank (550). The condensate tank (550) may be a part that stores or receives condensate. The condensate tank (550) may be configured to be, for example, separable from the garment treatment device (500). However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the condensate tank (550) may be, for example, a part of an internal space forming the garment treatment device (500). The condensate tank (550) may be formed integrally with, for example, a frame (e.g., frame (110) of FIG. 2) or a main body (e.g., main body (310) of FIG. 4). The condensate tank (550) may be disposed, for example, below a part where an evaporator (541) and / or a condenser (543) are disposed. The condensate tank (550) may be referred to as a water tank.

[0113] The condensate tank (550) may be configured to receive not only water condensed by the heat pump (540) but also water supplied directly from the outside. When at least a portion of the first pipe (5441) is immersed in the water contained in the condensate tank (550), the refrigerant passing through the first pipe (5441) can exchange heat with the water in the condensate tank (550).

[0114] In one example, the refrigerant may be further cooled by the water in the condensate tank (550) as it passes through the first pipe (5441). For example, the temperature of the condensate in the condensate tank (550) may be approximately 25 degrees. If the temperature of the refrigerant passing through the condenser (543) is higher than the temperature of the condensate, the refrigerant may be cooled by the condensate while passing through the first pipe (5441). Although the refrigerant may be cooled while passing through the condenser (543), the refrigerant may be further cooled by newly providing a structure for heat exchange with the water in the condensate tank (550).

[0115] For example, if the first pipe (5441) is arranged between the compressor (542) and the condenser (543) and configured to exchange heat with the condensate, not only will the temperature of the refrigerant decrease, but its pressure will also decrease, so that the heat exchange efficiency of the heat pump (540) may decrease. Therefore, in the present disclosure, by arranging the first pipe (5441) between the condenser (543) and the evaporator (541), the refrigerant can exchange heat with the condensate, thereby lowering only the temperature while maintaining the pressure.

[0116] By additionally cooling the refrigerant, the drying efficiency of the clothes treatment device (500) can be increased without increasing the capacity of the heat pump (540). In addition, while the refrigerant is cooled while passing through the first pipe (5441), the water (or condensate) in the condensate tank (550) is heated, so that the temperature in the condensate tank (550) can be increased. Conventionally, heat loss due to the temperature of the condensate occurred in the condensate tank (550) arranged around the heat pump (540), but by adding the first pipe (5441) as in the embodiment of the present disclosure to heat the inside of the condensate tank (550), the heat loss of the heat pump (540) can be minimized or reduced.

[0117] According to one example, the garment treatment device (500) may further include a drain pump (591). The drain pump (591) may be configured to drain water (or condensate) within the condensate tank (550). The garment treatment device (500) may use the drain pump (591) to control the water level within the condensate tank (550).

[0118] According to an example, although not shown, the garment treatment device (500) may further include a water supply device (not shown) for supplying water to the condensate tank (550). The water supply device may be controlled by a control unit (e.g., a control unit (561) of FIG. 7) to be described later. The control unit (561) may supply water to the condensate tank (550) using the water supply device when the water level in the condensate tank (550) is below a preset water level. Here, the preset water level may refer to a water level at which at least a portion of the first pipe (5441) is submerged.

[0119] FIGS. 6A and 6B are drawings specifically illustrating some configurations of a heat pump according to one embodiment.

[0120] The structure illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B may be included in the clothing treatment device of FIG. 1 (e.g., the dryer (100) of FIG. 1) or the clothing treatment device of FIG. 3 (e.g., the clothing manager (300) of FIG. 3). For convenience of explanation, FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate the evaporator (541), the condenser (543), and the connecting pipe (544) among the components of the heat pump (540).

[0121] Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the heat pump (540) may include an evaporator (541), a condenser (543), and a connecting pipe (544). The connecting pipe (544) may be disposed between the condenser (543) and the evaporator (541). The connecting pipe (544) may be configured to connect the condenser (543) and the evaporator (541).

[0122] According to an example, the connecting pipe (544) may include a first pipe (5441). The first pipe (5441) may be arranged at the lower side of the evaporator (541) or the condenser (543). Since condensate generated from air passing through the evaporator (541) falls downward (or toward the ground) by gravity, a condensate tank (550) for accommodating the condensate, although not shown, may be arranged at the lower side of the evaporator (541) or the condenser (543). The first pipe (5441) may be arranged so that at least a portion thereof is accommodated within the condensate tank (550).

[0123] For example, the first pipe (5441) may be configured as a zigzag or wavy pipe. Alternatively, the first pipe (5441) may have a tortuous pattern. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first pipe (5441) may be configured in various shapes to extend the length of the pipe accommodated in the condensate tank (550) so that the refrigerant passing through the first pipe (5441) can exchange heat with the condensate for a sufficient period of time.

[0124] Figure 7 is a control block diagram of a garment processing device according to one embodiment.

[0125] The control block diagram illustrated in FIG. 7 may be included in a garment treatment device such as the dryer of FIG. 1 (e.g., dryer (100) of FIG. 1) or the garment manager of FIG. 3 (e.g., garment manager (300) of FIG. 3).

[0126] Referring to FIG. 7, a garment treatment device (500) according to one embodiment may include at least one of an input unit (570), a sensor unit (580), a communication unit (563), a control unit (561), a memory (562), a blower unit (530), a drain pump (591), a display unit (592), or a speaker (593). Hereinafter, a description of a portion that overlaps with the configuration already described above will be omitted.

[0127] In one embodiment, the sensor unit (580) may include a refrigerant temperature sensor (581), a water level sensor (582), or a door sensor (583), but these are exemplary and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The refrigerant temperature sensor (581) may be a sensor configured to detect or measure the temperature of the refrigerant. The refrigerant temperature sensor (581) may be arranged at a specific location to detect or measure the refrigerant temperature at that location. In one example, the refrigerant temperature sensor (581) may be arranged at the condenser (543) to measure the temperature (or average temperature) of the condenser.

[0128] The water level sensor (582) may be provided to determine or identify the water level of a condensate tank (e.g., the condensate tank (550) of FIG. 5). For example, as the drying cycle of the garment treatment device (500) progresses, condensate may be generated and stored in the condensate tank (550), so that the water level of the condensate tank (550) may vary. The control unit (561) may, for example, determine whether the first pipe (5441) disposed within the condensate tank (550) is locked to some extent based on the water level of the condensate tank (550). The door sensor (583) may be provided to determine whether the user has closed the door (e.g., the door (130) of FIG. 2 or the door (320) of FIG. 4) before the control unit (561) performs an operation.

[0129] In one embodiment, the communication unit (563) may include one or more modules that enable wireless communication between the garment treatment device (500) and a wireless communication system, between the garment treatment device (500) and another device, or between the garment treatment device (500) and an external server. In some embodiments, the communication unit (563) may also include one or more modules that connect the garment treatment device (500) to one or more networks. In one embodiment, the communication unit (563) may include at least one of a mobile communication module, a wireless Internet module, a short-range communication module, or a location information module.

[0130] A mobile communication module can transmit and receive wireless signals with at least one of a base station, an external terminal, or a server on a mobile communication network constructed according to, for example, technical standards or communication methods for mobile communications. The wireless signals can include, for example, various forms of data such as voice call signals, video call signals, or text / multimedia message transmission and reception.

[0131] The wireless Internet module may be, for example, WLAN (Wireless LAN), Wi-Fi (Wireless-Fidelity), Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), WiBro (Wireless Broadband), WiMAX (World Interoperability for Microwave Access), HSDPA (High Speed ​​Downlink Packet Access), HSUPA (High Speed ​​Uplink Packet Access), LTE (Long Term Evolution), or LTE-A (Long Term Evolution-Advanced), but is not limited thereto, and may transmit and receive data according to at least one wireless Internet technology, including Internet technologies not listed above.

[0132] The short-range communication module is for short-range communication, and may support short-range communication using at least one of Bluetooth, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), UWB (Ultra-Wide Band), ZigBee, NFC (Near Field Communication), Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and Wireless USB (Universal Serial Bus) technologies, for example. The short-range communication module may support wireless communication between the garment processing device (500) and a wireless communication system, between the garment processing device (500) and another device, or between the garment processing device (500) and a network in which another device is located, for example, through a short-range wireless communication network. Here, the wireless short-range communication network may be a short-range wireless personal area network.

[0133] The location information module may be, for example, a module for obtaining the location of the garment processing device (500), and may be a GPS (Global Positioning System) module or a Wi-Fi module. If the garment processing device (500) utilizes a GPS module, information regarding the location of the garment processing device (500) may be received using signals transmitted from GPS satellites. If the garment processing device (500) utilizes a Wi-Fi module, information regarding the location of the garment processing device (500) may be received based on information from a wireless access point (AP) that transmits and receives wireless signals with the Wi-Fi module.

[0134] According to one embodiment, the control unit (561) can control the overall operation of the garment treatment device (500). To this end, the control unit (561) can include one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), an application processor (AP), or a communication processor (CP). The control unit (561) can be, for example, a microcontroller (Micro Control Unit, MCU).

[0135] The control unit (561) may, for example, control hardware or software components connected to the control unit (561) by driving an operating system or application program, and may also perform various data processing and operations. In addition, the control unit (561) may load commands or data received from at least one of the other components into volatile memory and process them, and store various data in non-volatile memory.

[0136] The control unit (561) can control the drying process using a signal received from, for example, the input unit (570) or the communication unit (563). The control unit (561) can receive operation information about the clothing treatment device (500) from the sensor unit (580) and perform feedback control. For example, the control unit (561) can receive information about the refrigerant temperature of the condenser (543) from the refrigerant temperature sensor (581) and control the circulation of the refrigerant. For example, the control unit (561) can receive information about the water level of the condensate tank (550) from the water level sensor (582) and control the operation of the drain pump (591). For example, the control unit (561) can control the drain pump (591) not to operate when the water level in the condensate tank (550) is lower than a preset water level. For example, the control unit (561) can control the drain pump (591) to operate when the water level in the condensate tank (550) is higher than a preset water level. For example, the control unit (561) can operate the blower (530) to circulate air in the receiving portion (e.g., the drum (120) of FIG. 2 or the first internal space (3121) of FIG. 4).

[0137] The control unit (561) may transmit information about the clothing treatment device (500) to, for example, another device that is communicatively connected to the clothing treatment device (500). For example, the control unit (561) may transmit information about the water level of the condensate tank (550) to another device using the communication unit (563). For example, the control unit (561) may transmit information about the temperature of the condenser (543) to another device using the communication unit (563). For example, the control unit (561) may transmit information about the operating status of the drain pump (591) to another device using the communication unit (563).

[0138] According to one embodiment, the memory (562) can store data supporting various functions of the garment treatment device (500). The memory (562) can store, for example, a plurality of application programs (or applications) used in the garment treatment device (500), data for the operation of the garment treatment device (500), and commands. At least some of these application programs can be downloaded from an external server via wireless communication. In addition, at least some of these application programs can be stored in the memory (562) from the time of shipment for the basic functions of the garment treatment device (500). The application programs can be stored in the memory (562) and driven by the control unit (561) to perform operations (or functions) of the garment treatment device (500), for example. According to some embodiments, the memory (562) may be included as a part of the control unit (561) configuration.

[0139] According to one embodiment, the garment treatment device (500) may further include a speaker (593). The speaker (593) may be provided to audibly provide the user with information for guiding user input or information related to the current administration.

[0140] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of refrigerant and the flow of air in a garment treatment device according to another embodiment.

[0141] The garment treatment device (800) illustrated in FIG. 8 may be included in a garment treatment device such as the garment treatment device of FIG. 1 (e.g., the dryer (100) of FIG. 1) or the garment treatment device of FIG. 3 (e.g., the garment manager (300) of FIG. 3).

[0142] Among the configurations of the clothing treatment device (800) of FIG. 8, the same reference numbers are used for the configurations that are substantially the same as those of the clothing treatment device (500) of FIG. 5, and the description will focus on the configurations that are different from those of the clothing treatment device (500) of FIG. 5.

[0143] Referring to FIG. 8, the garment treatment device (800) may include a heat pump (810). In one example, the heat pump (810) may include a connecting pipe (811) and a three-way valve (813).

[0144] According to an example, the connecting pipe (811) may be arranged between the condenser (543) and the evaporator (541). For example, the connecting pipe (811) may be arranged on the downstream side of the condenser (543) on the refrigerant passage (546). For example, the connecting pipe (811) may be arranged on the upstream side of the evaporator (541) on the refrigerant passage (546). The refrigerant discharged from the condenser (543) may pass through the connecting pipe (811).

[0145] According to an example, the connecting pipe (811) may include a first pipe (8111) and a second pipe (8112).

[0146] According to an example, the first pipe (8111) may be arranged between the condenser (543) and the evaporator (541). For example, the first pipe (8111) may be arranged downstream of the condenser (543) on the refrigerant passage (546). For example, the first pipe (8111) may be arranged upstream of the evaporator (541) on the refrigerant passage (546). The refrigerant discharged from the condenser (543) may optionally pass through the first pipe (8111).

[0147] According to an example, the first pipe (8111) may be arranged so that at least a portion of the first pipe (8111) is submerged in water (or condensate) within the condensate tank (550). The first pipe (8111) may be arranged to be received within the condensate tank (550). By arranging the first pipe (8111) within the condensate tank (550), the refrigerant passing through the first pipe (8111) may exchange heat with the water (or condensate) stored within the condensate tank (550). The refrigerant, which has exchanged heat with the outside air while passing through the condenser (543), may be configured to further exchange heat with the condensate within the condensate tank (550) while passing through the first pipe (8111).

[0148] For example, the first pipe (8111) may refer to a portion of the connecting pipe (544) accommodated in the condensate tank (550). However, this is not limited thereto, and a separate pipe configuration provided to accommodate the condensate tank (550) may be configured to be separately coupled.

[0149] In one example, the second pipe (8112) may be disposed between the condenser (543) and the evaporator (541). For example, the second pipe (8112) may be disposed downstream of the condenser (543) on the refrigerant path. For example, the second pipe (8112) may be disposed upstream of the evaporator (541) on the refrigerant path. Refrigerant discharged from the condenser (543) may optionally pass through the second pipe (8112). The second pipe (8112) may not be accommodated within the condensate tank (550). For example, the second pipe (8112) may be configured to bypass the condensate tank (550). The second pipe (8112) may be a straight or curved pipe. The second pipe (8112) may be a pipe provided to shorten the path of the refrigerant moving from the condenser (543) to the evaporator (541), unlike the first pipe (8111).

[0150] According to one example, the three-way valve (813) may be configured to control the movement path of the refrigerant discharged from the condenser (543). The three-way valve (813) may be configured to control opening and closing so that the refrigerant discharged from the condenser (543) passes through one of the first pipe (8111) or the second pipe (8112) described later. The three-way valve (813) may be arranged to be directly connected to the refrigerant discharge port of the condenser (543).

[0151] In one example, the first pipe (8111) may be formed longer than the second pipe (8112). For example, the path of the refrigerant passing through the first pipe (8111) may be longer than the path of the refrigerant passing through the second pipe (8112). The time it takes for the refrigerant to pass through the first pipe (8111) and reach the evaporator (541) may be longer than the time it takes for the refrigerant to pass through the second pipe (8112) and reach the evaporator (541). Therefore, if the refrigerant moves along the second pipe (8112) rather than the first pipe (8111), the refrigerant circulation path may be shortened.

[0152] Fig. 9 is a control block diagram of a garment processing device according to another embodiment.

[0153] The control block diagram illustrated in FIG. 9 may be included in a garment treatment device such as the dryer of FIG. 1 (e.g., dryer (100) of FIG. 1) or the garment manager of FIG. 3 (e.g., garment manager (300) of FIG. 3).

[0154] Among the control block diagram configurations of Fig. 9, the same reference numbers are used for configurations that are substantially the same as those of the control block diagram of Fig. 7, and the newly added configurations will be described with emphasis compared to Fig. 7.

[0155] Referring to FIG. 9, the garment treatment device (800) may further include a three-way valve (813). A control unit (840) (e.g., control unit (561) of FIG. 7) may be configured to control the opening and closing of the three-way valve (813). The control unit (840) may control the opening and closing of the three-way valve (813) to selectively control the refrigerant discharged from the condenser (543) to flow into one of the first pipe (e.g., first pipe (8111) of FIG. 8) or the second pipe (e.g., second pipe (8112) of FIG. 8) depending on the situation.

[0156] According to an example, the control unit (840) can control the opening and closing of the three-way valve (813) using the water level sensor (582). If the control unit (840) detects that the water level in the condensate tank (550) is lower than a preset level using the water level sensor (582), the control unit (840) can control the three-way valve (813) so that the refrigerant discharged from the condenser (543) is directed to the second pipe (8112). Here, the preset water level may be a water level set such that at least a portion of the first pipe (8111) is submerged in the condensate. If the control unit (840) detects that the water level in the condensate tank (550) is higher than a preset level using the water level sensor (582), the control unit (840) can control the three-way valve (813) so that the refrigerant discharged from the condenser (543) is directed to the first pipe (8111). If the water level in the condensate tank (550) is lower than the preset water level, it is difficult to sufficiently exchange heat between the first pipe (8111) and the condensate, so the control unit (840) can move the refrigerant to the second pipe (8112). If the water level in the condensate tank (550) submerges at least a portion of the first pipe (8111) so that the refrigerant passing through the first pipe (8111) can sufficiently exchange heat with the condensate, the control unit (840) can control the three-way valve (813) to allow the refrigerant to flow to the first pipe.

[0157] According to an example, the control unit (840) can control the opening and closing of the three-way valve (813) using the time at which the drying process starts. For example, when the drying process for drying the inner clothes starts in the operation of a dryer (e.g., the dryer (100) of FIG. 1) or a clothing manager (e.g., the clothing manager (300) of FIG. 3), the control unit (840) can control the three-way valve (813) based on a preset time from the start time. For example, the control unit (840) can control the three-way valve (813) so that the refrigerant passes through the second pipe (8112) before the preset time. For example, the control unit (840) can control the three-way valve (813) so that the refrigerant passes through the first pipe (8111) after the preset time. The preset time may refer to the time when the condensate in the condensate tank (550) is filled to a sufficient amount to cover at least a portion of the first pipe (8111) as the drying process progresses. The preset time may vary depending on the performance of the heat pump (810).

[0158] According to an example, the control unit (840) can control the opening and closing of the three-way valve (813) using the temperature of the refrigerant passing through the condenser (543). The control unit (840) can measure the temperature (or average temperature) of the condenser (543) using the refrigerant temperature sensor (581). When the temperature of the condenser (543) is lower than a preset temperature, the control unit (840) can control the three-way valve (813) so that the refrigerant flows into the second pipe (8112). When the temperature of the condenser (543) is higher than the preset temperature, the control unit (840) can control the three-way valve (813) so that the refrigerant flows into the first pipe (8111). If the temperature of the condenser (543) is lower than the preset temperature, even if the refrigerant passes through the first pipe (8111), the temperature difference with the condensate is small, so sufficient heat exchange does not occur, and therefore the second pipe (8112) can be opened to shorten the refrigerant circulation path.

[0159] Fig. 10 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a three-way valve using the operating time of a drying process according to one embodiment.

[0160] FIG. 10 illustrates a flow chart that can be applied to the clothing treatment device of FIG. 1 (e.g., the dryer (100) of FIG. 1) or the clothing treatment device of FIG. 3 (e.g., the clothing manager (300) of FIG. 3). Hereinafter, a control method of a heat pump (810) to which a three-way valve (e.g., the three-way valve (813) of FIG. 8) is applied will be described in detail.

[0161] Referring to FIG. 10, a control unit (e.g., control unit (840) of FIG. 9) can initiate a drying process (1010) by operating a heat pump (810) and a blower (530). However, this is not limited thereto, and the control unit (840) can additionally activate other components to initiate the drying process.

[0162] When the drying process begins, the control unit (840) can calculate the operating time of the drying process (1020). For example, the control unit (840) can calculate how much time has passed since the drying process began.

[0163] The control unit (840) can determine whether the operation time has exceeded a preset time (1030). The control unit (840) can determine whether the operation time has exceeded a preset time based on the operation time calculated in operation 1020. Here, the preset time may refer to the time taken until the level of the condensate contained in the condensate tank (550) covers the first pipe (8111) as the drying process progresses. However, this is not limited thereto, and the preset time may be set to various values.

[0164] If the control unit (840) determines that the operating time has exceeded the preset time, it can control the three-way valve (813) to allow the refrigerant to pass through the first pipe (8111) (1040). If the operating time exceeds the preset time, the refrigerant can exchange heat with the condensate to obtain an additional refrigerant cooling effect, so the control unit (840) can control the three-way valve (813) to allow the refrigerant to flow through the first pipe (8111).

[0165] If the control unit (840) determines that the operating time does not exceed the preset time, it can control the three-way valve (813) to allow the refrigerant to pass through the second pipe (8112) (1050). If the operating time does not exceed the preset time, the refrigerant is not sufficiently heated to exchange heat with the condensate, so the three-way valve (813) can be controlled to allow the refrigerant to move through the second pipe (8112) with a shorter travel path.

[0166] Fig. 11 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a three-way valve using a condensate level according to one embodiment.

[0167] FIG. 11 illustrates a flow chart that can be applied to the clothing treatment device of FIG. 1 (e.g., the dryer (100) of FIG. 1) or the clothing treatment device of FIG. 3 (e.g., the clothing manager (300) of FIG. 3). Hereinafter, a control method of a heat pump (810) to which a three-way valve (e.g., the three-way valve (813) of FIG. 8) is applied will be described in detail.

[0168] Referring to FIG. 11, a control unit (e.g., control unit (840) of FIG. 9) can initiate a drying process (1110) by operating a heat pump (810) and a blower (530). However, this is not limited thereto, and the control unit (840) can additionally activate other components to initiate the drying process.

[0169] The control unit (840) can measure the water level of the condensate tank (550) using the water level sensor (582) (1120). The water level sensor (582) can be placed in the condensate tank (550). For example, the control unit (840) can estimate the amount of condensate contained in the condensate tank (550) using the water level sensor (582).

[0170] The control unit (840) can determine whether the water level of the condensate tank (550) is equal to or higher than a preset water level (1130). The control unit (840) can determine whether the water level of the condensate tank (550) is equal to or higher than a preset water level based on the water level measured in operation 1120. Here, the preset water level may be a water level that covers at least a portion of the first pipe (8111). However, this is not limited thereto, and the preset water level may be set to various values.

[0171] If the control unit (840) determines that the water level of the condensate tank (550) is higher than a preset level, the control unit (840) can control the three-way valve (813) to allow the refrigerant to pass through the first pipe (8111) (1140). If the water level of the condensate tank (550) is higher than a preset level, the refrigerant can exchange heat with the condensate to obtain an additional refrigerant cooling effect, so the control unit (840) can control the three-way valve (813) to allow the refrigerant to flow through the first pipe (8111).

[0172] If the control unit (840) determines that the water level of the condensate tank (550) is below a preset level, it can control the three-way valve (813) to allow the refrigerant to pass through the second pipe (8112) (1150). If the water level of the condensate tank (550) is below a preset level, the refrigerant is not sufficient to exchange heat with the condensate, so the three-way valve (813) can be controlled to move the refrigerant through the second pipe (8112) which has a shorter movement path.

[0173] Fig. 12 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a three-way valve using the temperature of a refrigerant according to one embodiment.

[0174] FIG. 12 illustrates a flow chart that can be applied to the clothing treatment device of FIG. 1 (e.g., the dryer (100) of FIG. 1) or the clothing treatment device of FIG. 3 (e.g., the clothing manager (300) of FIG. 3). Hereinafter, a control method of a heat pump (810) to which a three-way valve (e.g., the three-way valve (813) of FIG. 8) is applied will be described in detail.

[0175] Referring to FIG. 12, a control unit (e.g., control unit (840) of FIG. 9) can initiate a drying process (1210) by operating a heat pump (810) and a blower (530). However, this is not limited thereto, and the control unit (840) can additionally operate other components to initiate the drying process.

[0176] The control unit (840) can measure the temperature of the refrigerant using the refrigerant temperature sensor (581) (1220). The control unit (840) can measure the temperature of the refrigerant passing through the condenser (543) using the refrigerant temperature sensor (581). At this time, the temperature of the refrigerant may be the average temperature of the refrigerant passing through the condenser (543) or the temperature of the refrigerant at the midpoint of the condenser (543). Although FIG. 12 illustrates that the control unit (840) measures the temperature of the refrigerant between operations 1210 and 1230, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the control unit (840) may measure the temperature of the refrigerant periodically or non-periodically.

[0177] The control unit (840) can determine whether the temperature of the refrigerant is higher than a preset temperature (1230). Here, the temperature of the refrigerant may be the temperature of the refrigerant passing through the condenser (543). Here, the preset temperature may be a temperature higher than the water contained in the condensate tank (550). For example, the preset temperature may be 40 degrees or higher. However, this is not limited thereto, and the preset temperature may be set to various values.

[0178] If the control unit (840) determines that the temperature of the refrigerant is higher than a preset temperature, it can control the three-way valve (813) to allow the refrigerant to pass through the first pipe (8111) (1240). If the temperature of the refrigerant is higher than the preset temperature, the refrigerant can exchange heat with the condensate to obtain an additional refrigerant cooling effect, so the control unit (840) can control the three-way valve (813) to allow the refrigerant to flow through the first pipe (8111).

[0179] If the control unit (840) determines that the temperature of the refrigerant is lower than the preset temperature, it can control the three-way valve (813) to allow the refrigerant to pass through the second pipe (8112) (1250). If the temperature of the refrigerant is lower than the preset temperature, the refrigerant is not sufficiently heated to exchange heat with the condensate, and therefore, the three-way valve (813) can be controlled to allow the refrigerant to move through the second pipe (8112) with a shorter travel path.

[0180] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a control method for supplying water in a condensate tank to control the water level according to one embodiment.

[0181] FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart that can be applied to the garment treatment device of FIG. 1 (e.g., the dryer (100) of FIG. 1) or the garment treatment device of FIG. 3 (e.g., the garment manager (300) of FIG. 3). The control method of FIG. 13 can be applied to the garment treatment device (500) of FIG. 5 or the garment treatment device (800) of FIG. 8.

[0182] Below, a control method is described based on the assumption that a water supply device (not shown) for supplying water to a condensate tank (e.g., a condensate tank (550) of FIG. 5) is additionally configured in the garment treatment device (500, 800). FIG. 13 describes a control method for raising the water level of the condensate tank (550) relatively quickly at the beginning of the drying process.

[0183] Referring to FIG. 13, a control unit (e.g., a control unit (561) of FIG. 7 or a control unit (840) of FIG. 9) can start a drying process by operating a heat pump (e.g., a heat pump (540) of FIG. 5 or a heat pump (810) of FIG. 8) and a blower (e.g., a blower (530) of FIG. 5) (1310). However, this is not limited thereto, and the control unit (561, 840) can additionally operate other components to start the drying process.

[0184] The control unit (561, 840) can measure the water level of the condensate tank (550) using the water level sensor (582) (1320). The water level sensor (582) can be placed in the condensate tank (550). For example, the control unit (561, 840) can estimate the amount of condensate contained in the condensate tank (550) using the water level sensor (582). Unlike the illustrated example, the control unit (561, 840) is not limited to the operation sequence and can be configured to measure the water level of the condensate tank (550) at any time.

[0185] The control unit (561, 840) can perform control to turn ON (or start) the operation of the water supply device and turn OFF (or stop) the operation of the drain pump (591) (1330). It may take a long time to raise the water level of the condensate tank (550) to a preset level with only condensate. Here, the preset water level may be a water level that covers at least a portion of the first pipe (544, 811). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the preset water level may be set to various values. In the present disclosure, a separate water supply device (not shown) can be provided to quickly raise the water level in the condensate tank (550) in the initial operation of the drying process. The control unit (561, 840) can operate the water supply device to supply water into the condensate tank (550). The control unit (561, 840) can control the operation of the drain pump (591) to prevent water from being discharged from the condensate tank (550).

[0186] The control unit (561, 840) can determine whether the water level of the condensate tank (550) is equal to or higher than a preset water level (1340). The control unit (561, 840) can determine whether the water level of the condensate tank (550) is equal to or higher than a preset water level based on the water level measured in operation 1320. If the control unit (561, 840) determines that the water level of the condensate tank (550) is not equal to or higher than the preset water level, the control unit (561, 840) can perform operation 1330 again.

[0187] If the control unit (561, 840) determines that the water level of the condensate tank (550) is higher than a preset level, it can perform a control to stop the operation of the water supply device (1350). In some cases, the control unit (561, 840) can also operate the drainage pump (591) to discharge a portion of the water contained in the condensate tank (550). After operation 1350, water can be supplied into the condensate tank (550) by the condensate generated during the drying process.

[0188] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a garment treatment device using the temperature of a refrigerant and the water level of a condensate tank according to one embodiment.

[0189] FIG. 14 illustrates a flowchart that can be applied to the garment treatment device of FIG. 1 (e.g., the dryer (100) of FIG. 1) or the garment treatment device of FIG. 3 (e.g., the garment manager (300) of FIG. 3). The control method of FIG. 14 can be applied to the garment treatment device (500) of FIG. 5 or the garment treatment device (800) of FIG. 8.

[0190] Below, a control method is described assuming that a water supply device (not shown) for supplying water to a condensate tank (e.g., a condensate tank (550) of FIG. 5) is additionally configured in the clothing treatment device (500, 800).

[0191] Referring to FIG. 14, a control unit (e.g., control unit (561) of FIG. 7 or control unit (840) of FIG. 9) can start a drying process by operating a heat pump (e.g., heat pump (540) of FIG. 5 or heat pump (810) of FIG. 8) and a blower (e.g., blower (530) of FIG. 5) (1410). However, this is not limited thereto, and the control unit (561, 840) can additionally operate other components to start the drying process.

[0192] The control unit (840) can measure the temperature of the refrigerant using the refrigerant temperature sensor (581) and measure the level of the condensate tank (550) using the level sensor (582) (1420). The control unit (840) can measure the temperature of the refrigerant passing through the condenser (543) using the refrigerant temperature sensor (581). At this time, the temperature of the refrigerant may be the average temperature of the refrigerant passing through the condenser (543) or the temperature of the refrigerant at the midpoint of the condenser (543). Although FIG. 14 illustrates that the control unit (840) measures the refrigerant temperature between operations 1410 and 1430, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the control unit (840) may measure the temperature of the refrigerant periodically or non-periodically. The level sensor (582) may be disposed in the condensate tank (550). For example, the control unit (561, 840) can estimate the amount of condensate contained in the condensate tank (550) using the water level sensor (582). Unlike the illustrated example, the control unit (561, 840) is not limited to the operating sequence and can be configured to measure the water level of the condensate tank (550) periodically or non-periodically at any time.

[0193] The control unit (840) can determine whether the temperature of the refrigerant is higher than a preset temperature (1430). Here, the temperature of the refrigerant may be the temperature of the refrigerant passing through the condenser (543). Here, the preset temperature may be a temperature higher than the water contained in the condensate tank (550). For example, the preset temperature may be 40 degrees or higher. However, this is not limited thereto, and the preset temperature may be set to various values.

[0194] If the control unit (840) determines that the temperature of the refrigerant is lower than the preset temperature, it can control the three-way valve (813) to allow the refrigerant to pass through the second pipe (8112) (1450). If the temperature of the refrigerant is lower than the preset temperature, the refrigerant is not sufficiently heated to exchange heat with the condensate, and therefore, the three-way valve (813) can be controlled to allow the refrigerant to move through the second pipe (8112) with a shorter travel path.

[0195] Again, in operation 1430, if the control unit (840) determines that the temperature of the refrigerant is higher than the preset temperature, the control unit (561, 840) can determine whether the water level of the condensate tank (550) is higher than the preset water level (1440). The control unit (561, 840) can determine whether the water level of the condensate tank (550) is higher than the preset water level based on the water level measured in operation 1420.

[0196] If the control unit (561, 840) determines that the water level of the condensate tank (550) is below a preset water level, it can control the three-way valve (813) to allow the refrigerant to pass through the second pipe (8112) (1470).

[0197] The control unit (561, 840) can perform a control to turn on the operation of the water supply device and turn off the operation of the drain pump (591) (1480). Since it may take a long time to raise the water level of the condensate tank (550) to a preset level using only condensate, a water supply device can be used. Here, the preset water level may be a water level that covers at least a portion of the first pipe (544, 811). However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the preset water level may be set to various values. The control unit (561, 840) can operate the water supply device to supply water into the condensate tank (550). The control unit (561, 840) can control to stop the operation of the drain pump (591) so that water is not discharged from the condensate tank (550).

[0198] Actions 1470 and 1480 do not necessarily have to be performed in the order shown in Figure 14, and the order may be reversed.

[0199] Again, in operation 1440, if the control unit (561, 840) determines that the water level of the condensate tank (550) is higher than a preset water level, the control unit (561, 840) can control the three-way valve (813) to allow the refrigerant to pass through the first pipe (8111) (1460). If the temperature of the refrigerant is higher than the preset temperature, the refrigerant can exchange heat with the condensate to obtain an additional refrigerant cooling effect, so the control unit (840) can control the three-way valve (813) to allow the refrigerant to flow through the first pipe (8111).

[0200] Condensate TankCondensate TankThe terminology used in this disclosure is only used to describe specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. For example, a singular element should be understood to include plural elements unless the context clearly indicates only a singular element. Phrases such as "A or B," "at least one of A and B," "at least one of A or B," "A, B, or C," "at least one of A, B, and C," and "at least one of A, B, or C," as used herein, can each include any one of the items listed together in that phrase, or all possible combinations thereof. It should be understood that the term "and / or" as used herein encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the listed items. The terms "include," "have," "comprise," and the like used in this disclosure are intended to specify only the presence of a feature, component, part, or combination thereof described in this disclosure, and the use of these terms does not exclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, components, parts, or combinations thereof. The expressions "first," "second," and the like used in this disclosure can modify various components regardless of order and / or importance, and are only used to distinguish one component from another, without limiting the components.

[0201] The expression "configured to" used in the present disclosure can be appropriately used interchangeably with, for example, "suitable for," "capable of," "designed to," "modified to," "made to," or "capable of." The term "configured to" may not necessarily mean only something "specially designed" in terms of hardware. Instead, in some situations, the expression "a device configured to" may mean that the device is "capable of" doing something together with other devices or components. For example, the phrase "a device configured (or set) to perform A, B, and C" may mean a dedicated device for performing the corresponding operations, or a general-purpose device that can perform various operations including the corresponding operations.

[0202] Meanwhile, the terms “upper side,” “lower side,” and “front-rear direction” used in the present disclosure are defined based on the drawings, and the shape and position of each component are not limited by these terms.

[0203] Although the foregoing description in this disclosure has focused on specific embodiments, it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to such specific embodiments, but rather encompasses various modifications, equivalents, and / or alternatives of the various embodiments.

Claims

1. Main body (110); A drum (120) provided inside the main body (110) and configured to accommodate a drying target; A heat pump (540, 810) comprising an evaporator (541), a compressor (542) and a condenser (543) through which refrigerant circulates and configured to supply high temperature dry air to the drum (120); A condensate tank (550) configured to store condensate generated by the above evaporator (541); and It includes a connecting pipe (544, 811) arranged between the condenser (543) and the evaporator (541) and at least a portion of which is accommodated inside the condensate tank (550). A dryer configured so that refrigerant that has exchanged heat with outside air while passing through the condenser (543) is subjected to additional heat exchange with condensate in the condensate tank (550) while passing through at least a portion of the connecting pipe (544, 811).

2. In paragraph 1, A water level sensor (582) configured to detect the water level within the condensate tank (550); and It further includes a drain pump (591) configured to discharge the condensate inside the condensate tank (550) to the outside of the condensate tank (550). If the water level in the condensate tank (550) is lower than the preset water level, the drain pump (591) is not operated, and if the water level in the condensate tank (550) is higher than the preset water level, the drain pump (591) is operated. A dryer in which the above-described preset water level is a water level set such that at least a portion of the connecting pipe (544, 811) accommodated inside the condensate tank (550) is submerged in the condensate.

3. In paragraph 1 or 2, A dryer, wherein at least a portion of the connecting pipe (544, 811) accommodated inside the condensate tank (550) is composed of a tortuous pattern pipe.

4. In clauses 1 to 3, A dryer further comprising a water supply device configured to supply water to the condensate tank (550).

5. In paragraph 4, Further comprising a control unit (561, 840) configured to control the above water supply device, The above control unit (561, 840) A dryer that controls water to be supplied to the condensate tank (550) using the water supply device when the water level in the condensate tank (550) is below a preset water level.

6. In clauses 1 to 5, The above connecting pipe (811) is A first pipe (8111) including at least a portion of the connecting pipe (811) accommodated in the condensate tank (550); and Including a second pipe (8112) configured to bypass the first pipe (8111); The above dryer, A dryer further comprising a three-way valve (813) configured to control the flow of refrigerant so that the refrigerant discharged from the condenser (543) passes to the first pipe (8111) or the second pipe (8112).

7. In paragraph 6, A dryer further comprising a control unit (840) configured to control the above three-way valve (813).

8. In paragraph 7, The above control unit (840) When the water level in the above condensate tank (550) is higher than the preset water level, the three-way valve (813) is controlled so that the refrigerant discharged from the condenser (543) flows toward the first pipe (8111). A dryer that controls the opening and closing of the three-way valve (813) so that the refrigerant discharged from the condenser (543) flows toward the second pipe (8112) when the water level in the condensate tank (550) is below the preset water level.

9. In paragraph 7, The above control unit (840) A dryer configured to control the three-way valve (813) so that the refrigerant discharged from the condenser (543) flows toward the second pipe (8112) if the preset time has not elapsed when the drying process of the above clothing treatment device starts and is based on a preset time, and to control the three-way valve (813) so that the refrigerant flows toward the first pipe (8111) if the preset time has elapsed.

10. In clause 8 or 9, The refrigerant movement path of the second pipe (8112) is shorter than the refrigerant movement path of the first pipe (8111), The above second pipe (8112) is not accommodated in the condensate tank (550), the dryer.

11. A main body (310) including an internal space (3121) provided to place or accommodate clothing therein; A heat pump (540, 810) comprising an evaporator (541), a compressor (542) and a condenser (543) through which refrigerant circulates and configured to supply high temperature dry air to the internal space (3121); A condensate tank (550) configured to store condensate generated by the above evaporator (541); and A connecting pipe (544, 811) is disposed between the condenser (543) and the evaporator (541), and includes a first pipe (5441, 8111) at least part of which is accommodated inside the condensate tank (550). The refrigerant, which has exchanged heat with the outside air while passing through the above condenser (543), is configured to additionally exchange heat with the condensate in the above condensate tank (550) while passing through the above first pipe (5441, 8111). Clothing manager.

12. In paragraph 11, A garment manager, wherein at least a portion of the connecting pipe (811) accommodated in the condensate tank (550) is configured as a tortuous pattern pipe.

13. In paragraph 11 or 12, The above connecting pipe (811) is A first pipe (8111) including at least a portion of the connecting pipe (811) accommodated in the condensate tank (550); and Including a second pipe (8112) configured to bypass the first pipe (8111); The above clothing manager, A clothing manager further comprising a three-way valve (813) configured to control the flow of refrigerant so that the refrigerant discharged from the condenser (543) passes through the first pipe (8111) or the second pipe (8112).

14. In paragraph 13, A control unit (840) configured to control the three-way valve (813) so that the refrigerant flows toward the first pipe (8111) when the water level in the condensate tank (550) is higher than the preset water level, and to control the three-way valve (813) so that the refrigerant flows toward the second pipe (8112) when the water level in the condensate tank (550) is lower than the preset water level. Clothing manager.

15. In one of the clauses 11 to 14, A clothing manager in which the refrigerant movement path of the second pipe (8112) is shorter than the refrigerant movement path of the first pipe (8111).

Images