Clothes care apparatus

Abstract

Provided is a clothes care apparatus in which clothes are cared for by a circulating airflow. The clothes care apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a cabinet that forms an accommodation space for accommodating clothes; a suction port which is formed inside the cabinet and through which air is drawn from the accommodation space; a discharge port which is formed inside the cabinet and through which air is supplied to the accommodation space; a drying flow path in which air is circulated between the suction port and the discharge port; a desiccant wheel which is mounted on the drying flow path and dehumidifies the air passing through the drying flow path; a drying fan which is mounted on the drying flow path and blows the air from the suction port toward the discharge port; a condensation heat exchanger which is mounted separated from the drying flow path and in which heat is exchanged between the air in the inner space and the air on the surface; a heater mounted so as to heat a portion of the desiccant wheel; a regeneration flow path through which the air is circulated between the portion, heated by the heater, of the desiccant wheel and the inner space of the condensation heat exchanger; and a regeneration fan which is mounted to the regeneration flow path and blows air.

Description

Garment manager

[0001] The present invention relates to a clothing manager, and more specifically, to a device for managing clothing by means of a circulating air flow.

[0002] Recently, various types of clothing care devices have been developed and used along with washing machines that wash clothes.

[0003] For example, drum-type dryers that dry washed clothes, cabinet-type dryers that hang clothes to dry, and refreshers that supply hot air to clothes to refresh them have been developed. "Refreshing" here refers to the process of applying heat and moisture to used clothing to remove wrinkles or remove residual odors.

[0004] In the garment management system described above, hot air can be supplied to the storage space where the garments are stored to process the garments. Furthermore, to increase the efficiency of the hot air treatment, a circulation system can be used to process the garments, circulating the hot air supplied to the storage space to reheat it and then supplying it back to the storage space.

[0005] In relation to a clothing manager that processes clothing by circulating air in a space for receiving the clothing as described above, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0021359 (hereinafter referred to as “prior document 1”) discloses a clothing manager.

[0006] Specifically, the present invention discloses a configuration including a main body including a clothing management room with an open front, a heat exchanger provided in the main body to exchange heat with air in the clothing management room, a door provided to open and close the opening of the main body, at least one dehumidifying passage that enables the clothing management room to be connected to the outside, and the dehumidifying passage including an inlet passage for introducing outside air into the clothing management room and an exhaust passage for discharging air inside the clothing management room to the outside.

[0007] However, the garment manager of prior art 1 has a problem in that it is difficult to dry efficiently in low-humidity areas, as its heat exchange device is a heat pump type that includes an evaporator and a condenser. In other words, due to the characteristics of the heat pump type, drying is not performed well at relative humidity below 20%.

[0008] In addition, the heat pump cooling cycle generally used for moisture drying has excellent drying capacity and is suitable for drying large quantities, but it has problems such as increased manufacturing cost and generation of high-frequency noise because an expensive compressor is required to configure this cooling cycle, making it difficult to apply it to a clothing care machine.

[0009] And, Korean Patent No. 10-1450555 (hereinafter referred to as “Prior Document 2”) discloses a dehumidifier.

[0010] Specifically, a condensation heat exchanger is disclosed, which includes a dehumidifying rotor through which moisture is adsorbed as indoor air passes therethrough, a regeneration mechanism for regenerating the dehumidifying rotor, a condensing path through which regeneration air that has regenerated the dehumidifying rotor passes, a drying path through which indoor air flowing toward the dehumidifying rotor passes, and a regeneration air discharge section formed on one side of the circumference through which air that has passed through the condensing path is discharged.

[0011] However, the dehumidifier of prior art document 2 has a problem in that the structure is not suitable for application to a clothing care machine, as the condensation heat exchanger is located on the drying path, and an increase in the air temperature of the drying path leads to a decrease in the heat transfer rate in the condensation heat exchanger, which deteriorates product performance.

[0012] And, Chinese Patent Publication No. 115726128 (hereinafter referred to as “prior document 3”) discloses a washing and drying device.

[0013] Specifically, the present invention discloses a configuration in which, when a moist circulating air stream discharged from a drum passes through a rotating plate, the rotating plate absorbs moisture in the moist circulating air stream and changes it into a dry circulating air stream, a configuration in which, when a heated regeneration air stream passes through the rotating plate, the rotating plate dries a portion of the rotating plate within the regeneration zone, and a configuration in which, while rotating, the rotating plate circulates between a dehumidifying zone and a regeneration zone, and continuously repeats the absorption and removal of moisture.

[0014] However, the washing and drying device of prior art document 3 has a problem in that the structure is not suitable for application to a clothing care device, as the regeneration path is formed on the outer surface of the condenser for heat exchange, and the regeneration airflow that does not come into contact with the condenser exists, which reduces the condensation efficiency.

[0015] As described above, a garment management device that processes garments by circulating air in the garment storage space faces challenges that must be addressed to improve product performance and achieve a more appropriate structure in terms of manufacturability and usability.

[0016] However, conventional clothing managers have limitations in that they cannot adequately solve these problems.

[0017] The present invention aims to solve the above problems of a clothing manager that treats clothing by means of a circulating air flow.

[0018] Specifically, the present invention aims to provide a clothing manager whose performance for clothing treatment can be further improved by making a structure for dehumidifying clothing using a desiccant.

[0019] In addition, the present invention aims to provide a clothing manager that uses a desiccant to dehumidify and deodorize clothing so as to refresh the clothing, and that allows the used desiccant to be regenerated so that the performance of the clothing management can always be maintained appropriately.

[0020] In addition, the present invention aims to provide a clothing manager whose performance in handling clothing can be further improved by appropriately configuring a condensation heat exchanger for condensing moisture generated during the dehumidification process of clothing.

[0021]

[0022] The technical problems to be achieved in the present invention are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

[0023] To achieve the above or other purposes, a garment manager according to one aspect of the present invention is configured to dehumidify a circulating air stream in which garments are treated by a desiccant wheel. Specifically, a desiccant wheel is installed on a drying path through which air circulates between an intake port and an outlet port, and is configured to dehumidify air passing through the drying path.

[0024] In addition, a garment care device according to one aspect of the present invention is configured to not only dehumidify and deodorize garments using a desiccant wheel, but also regenerate the used desiccant wheel. Specifically, a desiccant wheel is arranged on a drying path to capture moisture and bacteria in the air being blown, and a portion of the desiccant wheel is heated on a regeneration path to regenerate the desiccant wheel.

[0025] In addition, a clothing manager according to one aspect of the present invention is configured such that a condensation heat exchanger that condenses moisture generated during the dehumidification process of clothing is structured so that heat exchange efficiency with a regeneration path is improved without being affected by a temperature rise in a drying path. Specifically, a regeneration path is formed in the internal space of a condensation heat exchanger that is installed separately from the drying path, and a structure is configured such that heat is exchanged between air in the internal space of the condensation heat exchanger and air on the surface.

[0026] In addition, in a clothing manager according to one aspect of the present invention, a cooling path can be formed on the surface of the condensation heat exchanger between the cooling inlet and the cooling outlet of the cooling housing that accommodates the condensation heat exchanger.

[0027] In addition, a garment manager according to one aspect of the present invention can perform steam treatment on garments by supplying steam into the interior of the cabinet.

[0028] In addition, a garment manager according to one aspect of the present invention may have a desiccant wheel and a condensation heat exchanger installed in a machine room formed at the bottom of the receiving space.

[0029] In addition, in a garment manager according to one aspect of the present invention, the rotation axis of the desiccant wheel can be arranged along the front-rear direction of the machine room.

[0030] Additionally, a clothing manager according to one aspect of the present invention may have a condensation heat exchanger arranged on the front side of a desiccant wheel.

[0031] In addition, a clothing manager according to one aspect of the present invention may have a condensation heat exchanger arranged at the bottom of the suction duct.

[0032] In addition, the clothing manager according to one aspect of the present invention may have a cooling inlet of a cooling housing that accommodates a condensation heat exchanger connected to the outside of the cabinet.

[0033] In addition, the clothing manager according to one aspect of the present invention has a cooling inlet formed on the side of the cooling housing so that outside air can be introduced through the side of the cabinet.

[0034] In addition, the clothing manager according to one aspect of the present invention has a cooling discharge port formed on the front surface of the cooling housing so that air inside the cooling housing can be discharged to the machine room.

[0035] In addition, a clothing manager according to one aspect of the present invention may include a heat exchange body in which a condensation heat exchanger is formed of a plurality of channel structures.

[0036] In addition, a clothing manager according to one aspect of the present invention may be configured such that the condensation heat exchanger further includes a heat exchange inlet pipe and a heat exchange outlet pipe.

[0037] In addition, the clothing manager according to one aspect of the present invention may be installed such that the inner surface of the cooling housing and the heat exchange body are spaced apart from each other.

[0038] In addition, in a garment manager according to one aspect of the present invention, the biased flow rate of air supplied to the receiving space can be dispersed by the guide vane.

[0039] In addition, a clothing manager according to one aspect of the present invention may further include a discharge duct in which a guide vane is installed.

[0040] In addition, a clothing manager according to one aspect of the present invention may include a first duct body in which a first vane disperses air and a second duct body in which a second vane disperses air.

[0041] In addition, a clothing manager according to one aspect of the present invention may have a heater structure in which a carbon heating element with relatively high energy efficiency is placed inside a quartz tube so as not to come into contact with the air.

[0042] In addition, a clothing manager according to one aspect of the present invention may be formed by a quartz tube including a first straight section, a second straight section, and a first curved section.

[0043] In addition, the clothing manager according to one aspect of the present invention may be configured such that the first curvature portion has a first radius of curvature greater than the diameter of the quartz tube.

[0044] In addition, in the clothing manager according to one aspect of the present invention, the first straight section and the second straight section may be spaced apart from each other by at least twice the diameter of the quartz tube.

[0045]

[0046] The means for solving the technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the means for solving the problems mentioned above, and other means for solving the problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

[0047] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a garment manager according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] FIGS. 2 and 3 are drawings showing the main configuration of a machine room in a garment manager according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Figure 4 is a drawing showing the main components of the machine room illustrated in Figure 2 separately.

[0050] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a desiccant wheel in a garment manager according to one embodiment of the present invention in more detail.

[0051] FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the connection relationship between each component and the flow of fluid in a clothing manager according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] FIGS. 7 to 9 are drawings showing in more detail the cooling housing and condensation heat exchanger arranged in the machine room of a clothing manager according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] Fig. 10 is a drawing showing a heat exchange body in a clothing manager according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are drawings exemplarily showing a guide vane installed in a discharge duct in a garment manager according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] FIG. 13 is a drawing showing a heater in more detail in a garment manager according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] Fig. 14 is a drawing showing a quartz tube and a carbon heating element in the heater illustrated in Fig. 13.

[0057] Fig. 15 is a drawing showing in more detail the shape of the quartz tube in the heater illustrated in Fig. 13.

[0058] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, in describing the present invention, descriptions of functions or configurations already known will be omitted to clarify the gist of the present invention.

[0059] The X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction described in the embodiments of the present invention may each be directions that are orthogonal to each other. Each of the X direction and the Y direction may be a direction parallel to the horizontal direction, and the Z direction may be a direction parallel to the vertical direction. When the X direction is a direction parallel to the left-right direction, the Y direction may be a direction parallel to the front-back direction. When the X direction is a direction parallel to the front-back direction, the Y direction may be a direction parallel to the left-right direction.

[0060]

[0061] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a garment manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are drawings showing the main components of the machine room (10) in the garment manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the main components of the machine room (10) shown in FIG. 2 separately. FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the desiccant wheel (200) in the garment manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention in more detail. FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the connection relationship between each component and the flow of fluid in the garment manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] Hereinafter, a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, which is a refresher that refreshes clothing and supplies hot air, will be described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the idea of ​​the present invention can be applied to other devices that can be equipped with various dehumidifiers, etc.

[0063] Here, refreshing may mean a process of providing air, heated air, water, mist, steam, etc. to clothing to remove wrinkles, deodorize, sanitize, prevent static electricity, or warm the clothing.

[0064] In addition, the clothing mentioned in this embodiment includes not only clothes and apparel, but also objects that can be worn by people, such as shoes, socks, gloves, hats, and scarves, as well as objects that can be used by people, such as dolls, towels, and blankets, and may include all objects that can be washed.

[0065] A clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a cabinet (100) forming an outer shape, a receiving space (110) formed on the inside of the cabinet (100) to receive clothing, a hanger provided on the inner upper part of the cabinet (100) to place clothing on, a drying path (F10) for dehumidifying and heating air to supply dry air and hot air to the receiving space (110), a steam generator (150) for selectively supplying moisture and steam to the receiving space (110), and a control unit that is linked to each component and controls the operation of each component.

[0066] A door (120) is installed in the cabinet (100) to close the storage space (110) formed inside. A control panel for controlling the garment manager (1000) is provided on the outside of the door (120). A control unit for controlling each component of the garment manager (1000) in conjunction with the control panel is provided in the inner space of the door (120). A hanger for placing separate garments may be provided on the inside of the door (120).

[0067] In the receiving space (110), an outlet (140) for supplying air and hot air supplied from the drying passage (F10) and an intake port (130) for sucking in air and hot air supplied from the outlet (140) to circulate for treating clothes are provided. The outlet (140) and the intake port (130) are each connected to the main components of the drying passage (F10) installed in the machine room (10) described later.

[0068] Meanwhile, a machine room (10) in which the main components of the drying path (F10) and the regeneration path (F20) are installed may be formed at the bottom of the receiving space (110) of the cabinet (100). In this case, a machine room (10) door (120) may be additionally provided to close the machine room (10) separately from the door (120).

[0069] The reason why the machine room (10) is located at the bottom of the receiving space (110) is that hot air and steam supplied to the receiving space (110) have a tendency to rise, so it is desirable for the machine room (10) to be located at the bottom and supply hot air and steam toward the top. The machine room (10) may be configured to accommodate a water supply tank and a drain tank.

[0070] A clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet (100), an intake port (130), an outlet port (140), a drying path (F10), a desiccant wheel (200), a drying fan (400), a condensation heat exchanger (300), a heater (600), a regeneration path (F20), and a regeneration fan (700).

[0071] The cabinet (100) is a part in which a storage space (110) for storing clothing is formed, and processing of clothing can be performed in the storage space (110) inside the cabinet (100).

[0072] The suction port (130) is formed inside the cabinet (100) and is a part where air from the receiving space (110) is sucked in. It can suck in air that has become low-temperature and humid during the process of treating clothing and move it to the main components of the drying channel (F10) and the regeneration channel (F20).

[0073] The outlet (140) is formed inside the cabinet (100) and is a part through which air is supplied to the receiving space (110), and high-temperature dry air for processing clothing can be supplied to the receiving space (110).

[0074] The drying passage (F10) is a section where air circulates between the intake port (130) and the discharge port (140). The intake port (130) may form the inlet of the drying passage (F10), and the discharge port (140) may form the outlet of the drying passage (F10).

[0075] That is, the drying path (F10) may be an air path in which air inside the cabinet (100) is sucked into the intake port (130), dehumidified during the process of being blown, and then supplied back into the interior of the cabinet (100).

[0076] The desiccant wheel (200) is a part installed on a drying channel (F10) to dehumidify air passing through the drying channel (F10), and can be formed by forming a desiccant material having a property of absorbing moisture in the air into a wheel structure capable of rotating around an axis.

[0077] Accordingly, the air passing through the drying path (F10) can be dehumidified and changed to a dry state in the process of passing through the desiccant wheel (200) installed on the drying path (F10).

[0078] As described above, a heat pump type heat exchanger can be used as a configuration installed for dehumidification on the drying path (F10), but this heat pump type has a problem in that drying is not performed well when the relative humidity is below 20% due to its characteristics.

[0079] Additionally, because an expensive compressor is required to configure a heat pump cooling cycle, there is a problem of increased manufacturing costs and high-frequency noise generation.

[0080] Accordingly, the garment manager (1000) according to the present embodiment is configured to perform dehumidification using a desiccant wheel (200) method rather than a heat pump method, thereby improving drying performance in low-humidity areas. Furthermore, garment processing can be performed at a relatively low manufacturing cost, and noise generation during use can be minimized.

[0081] In this way, the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention has a desiccant wheel (200) installed on a drying path (F10) through which air circulates between an intake port (130) and an outlet port (140) to dehumidify air passing through the drying path (F10), thereby improving the drying efficiency of clothing and enabling a more suitable structure in terms of manufacturing and usability.

[0082] The drying fan (400) is a part installed on the drying path (F10) and blows air from the intake port (130) toward the discharge port (140). By the operation of the drying fan (400), air can be sucked in from the cabinet (100) and the sucked air can be blown in the drying path (F10).

[0083] In this case, in order to maximize the area of ​​the desiccant wheel (200), the drying fan (400) may be installed between the desiccant wheel (200) and the discharge port (140) on the drying path (F10).

[0084] Specifically, the suction side flow path of the drying fan (400) can be formed to have a large area, but the discharge side flow path of the drying fan (400) must be formed to be relatively small compared to the suction side so that a predetermined blowing pressure can be maintained and smooth blowing can be achieved.

[0085] Therefore, in order to maximize the area of ​​the desiccant wheel (200) within the given machine room (10) space and increase the usability of the drying path (F10), it may be desirable for the desiccant wheel (200) to be placed on the suction side rather than the discharge side of the drying fan (400).

[0086] That is, the drying fan (400) must be installed between the desiccant wheel (200) and the discharge port (140) on the drying path (F10) to maximize the area of ​​the desiccant wheel (200) within the given machine room (10) space.

[0087] According to the structure as described above, the drying path (F10) can be configured to circulate along the path of ‘receiving space (110) → intake port (130) → desiccant wheel (200) → drying fan (400) → discharge port (140) → receiving space (110)’.

[0088] The condensation heat exchanger (300) is installed separately from the drying path (F10) and is a section where the air in the internal space and the air on the surface exchange heat. The relatively low temperature air moving through the surface of the condensation heat exchanger (300) can exchange heat with the relatively high temperature air inside the condensation heat exchanger (300).

[0089] Accordingly, the air flowing into the internal space of the condensation heat exchanger (300) can be cooled and changed to a low temperature state during the process of passing through the condensation heat exchanger (300).

[0090] In particular, when the air flowing into the internal space of the condensing heat exchanger (300) contains moisture, the moisture in the air can be removed and changed to a dry state by condensation of moisture due to cooling.

[0091] That is, the high temperature and high humidity air flowing into the internal space of the condensation heat exchanger (300) can be changed into a low temperature and dry state through heat exchange.

[0092] The heater (600) is a part installed to heat a part of the desiccant wheel (200), and in the part of the desiccant wheel (200) heated by the heater (600), the desiccant that has absorbed moisture can be separated from the moisture and regenerated.

[0093] In this case, the part of the desiccant wheel (200) that is heated by the heater (600) undergoes desiccant regeneration, and the remaining part that is not heated undergoes dehumidification by absorbing moisture in the air.

[0094] In addition, the desiccant wheel (200) can be rotated through a predetermined control so that the regeneration and dehumidification parts can be sequentially alternated.

[0095] The regeneration path (F20) is a part where air circulates between a part of the desiccant wheel (200) heated by the heater (600) and the internal space of the condensation heat exchanger (300), and can form a passage through which moisture separated from the desiccant when heated by the heater (600) moves together with the air.

[0096] That is, the regeneration path (F20) may be a path through which air moves in the process of heating and regenerating the desiccant when excessive moisture is adsorbed in the desiccant and the dehumidifying function is not performed smoothly.

[0097] The regeneration fan (700) is a part installed on the regeneration path (F20) and blows air. By the operation of the regeneration fan (700), moisture and air of the heated part of the desiccant wheel (200) can be blown into the internal space of the condensation heat exchanger (300), and air in the internal space of the condensation heat exchanger (300) can be blown back toward the heater (600).

[0098] According to the structure as described above, the regeneration path (F20) can be configured to circulate along the path of ‘regeneration fan (700) → heater (600) → desiccant wheel (200) → internal space of condensation heat exchanger (300) → regeneration fan (700)’.

[0099] In this case, the air in the regeneration path (F20) can be made high temperature by the heater (600) and made humid by the regeneration of the desiccant wheel (200). In this way, the high temperature and humid air can move to the internal space of the condensation heat exchanger (300) and exchange heat with the air on the surface of the condensation heat exchanger (300).

[0100] Accordingly, the air in the internal space of the condensing heat exchanger (300) becomes low-temperature, and moisture is condensed in the internal space of the condensing heat exchanger (300) to become low-temperature dry air, which can then be moved to the regeneration fan (700). In addition, the condensed water condensed in the internal space of the condensing heat exchanger (300) can be moved to a drain or the like and then discharged.

[0101] In this way, the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention has a desiccant wheel (200) disposed on a drying path (F10) to not only capture moisture and bacteria in the air being blown, but also heats and regenerates a portion of the desiccant wheel (200) on a regeneration path (F20), so that the performance for clothing treatment can always be maintained appropriately.

[0102] Meanwhile, in the case where the drying path (F10) and the regeneration path (F20) are formed as described above, the drying path (F10) between the receiving space (110) and the machine room (10) is formed as a waste path, so the temperature within the drying path (F10) inevitably rises during the drying process for clothes.

[0103] In this case, if the condensation heat exchanger (300) is installed on the drying passage (F10), the heat transfer rate in the condensation heat exchanger (300) may decrease when the temperature of the drying passage (F10) rises. Accordingly, the condensation efficiency of the condensation heat exchanger (300) decreases, and this may lead to a decrease in the product performance of the clothing care device (1000).

[0104] Therefore, the clothing manager (1000) according to the present embodiment can install the condensation heat exchanger (300) separately from the drying channel (F10) so that the influence of the temperature rise of the drying channel (F10) does not reach the condensation heat exchanger (300).

[0105] And, the clothing manager (1000) according to the present embodiment is configured so that air in the regeneration path (F20) requiring moisture condensation passes into the internal space of the condensation heat exchanger (300).

[0106] If the air of the regeneration path (F20) requiring moisture condensation passes through the outer surface of the condensation heat exchanger (300), the air close to the condensation heat exchanger (300) may sufficiently exchange heat, but the air passing at a relatively long distance from the condensation heat exchanger (300) may not sufficiently exchange heat for moisture condensation.

[0107] Accordingly, the clothing manager (1000) according to the present embodiment can ensure that the regeneration path (F20) requiring moisture condensation is formed as an internal space of the condensation heat exchanger (300), so that all air in the regeneration path (F20) passing through the condensation heat exchanger (300) can undergo sufficient heat exchange.

[0108] In this way, the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured such that a regeneration path (F20) is formed in the internal space of a condensation heat exchanger (300) installed separately from a drying path (F10), and heat is exchanged between air in the internal space of the condensation heat exchanger (300) and air on the surface, so that the condensation efficiency of the regeneration path (F20) through the condensation heat exchanger (300) can be further improved.

[0109] Figures 7 to 9 are drawings showing in more detail the cooling housing (800) and the condensation heat exchanger (300) placed in the machine room (10) of a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 is a drawing showing the heat exchange body (310) of a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0110] A clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a cooling housing (800), a cooling path (F30), and a cooling fan (900).

[0111] The cooling housing (800) is a part that accommodates a condensation heat exchanger (300) inside, and has a cooling inlet (810) through which outside air is introduced and a cooling outlet (820) through which inside air is discharged, respectively, and can provide a space for introducing air to the surface of the condensation heat exchanger (300) to exchange heat with the air inside the condensation heat exchanger (300).

[0112] In particular, outside air can be introduced into the cooling housing (800) through the cooling inlet (810) formed in the cooling housing (800). Accordingly, the outside air at a relatively low temperature can exchange heat with the air in the internal space of the condensation heat exchanger (300). In addition, the air introduced into the cooling housing (800) can be discharged to the outside of the cooling housing (800) through the cooling outlet (820) formed separately from the cooling inlet (810).

[0113] The cooling channel (F30) is a part where air moves over the surface of the condensation heat exchanger (300) between the cooling inlet (810) and the cooling outlet (820). The cooling inlet (810) may form the inlet of the cooling channel (F30), and the cooling outlet (820) may form the outlet of the cooling channel (F30).

[0114] That is, the cooling path (F30) may be an air path in which outside air is introduced into the cooling housing (800) through the cooling inlet (810), exchanges heat with the air in the internal space of the condensation heat exchanger (300), and then is discharged from the cooling housing (800) through the cooling outlet (820).

[0115] The cooling fan (900) is a part installed on the cooling path (F30) and blows air from the cooling inlet (810) toward the cooling outlet (820). By the operation of the cooling fan (900), outside air can be introduced into the cooling housing (800) and the introduced air can be discharged from the cooling housing (800).

[0116] According to the structure as described above, the cooling path (F30) can be formed as a path of 'outdoor space → cooling inlet (810) → internal space of cooling housing (800) (surface of condensing heat exchanger (300)) → cooling outlet (820) → cooling fan (900) → outdoor space'.

[0117] Accordingly, since the cooling path (F30) is separated from not only the drying path (F10) but also the regeneration path (F20), only heat transfer occurs between the cooling path (F30) and the regeneration path (F20), and the air between them may not mix.

[0118] Therefore, regardless of the humidity in the outside air, the air on the regeneration path (F20) in a high temperature and high humidity state can be cooled and moisture condensed by utilizing the relatively low temperature outside air.

[0119] In this way, in the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, a cooling path (F30) is formed on the surface of the condensation heat exchanger (300) between the cooling inlet (810) and the cooling outlet (820) of the cooling housing (800) that accommodates the condensation heat exchanger (300), so that relatively low-temperature outside air can effectively exchange heat with the air in the internal space of the condensation heat exchanger (300).

[0120] A garment manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a steam generator (150) that supplies steam to a receiving space (110).

[0121] Specifically, a steam generator (150) may be provided inside the machine room (10). The steam generator (150) is configured to generate steam and selectively supply moisture and steam to the inside of the cabinet (100).

[0122] Humid air (the 'air' described in the embodiment of the present invention may be 'air containing moisture') formed by the steam generator (150) is supplied toward the receiving space (110) of the clothing manager (1000), and the moisture can circulate inside the receiving space (110), thereby supplying moisture to the clothing.

[0123] In this way, the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention performs steam treatment on clothing by supplying steam into the interior of the cabinet (100), so that it can exhibit a sterilizing effect due to the high temperature of the steam as well as a refreshing effect due to the swelling of the clothing material.

[0124] In a garment manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, a machine room (10) may be formed at the bottom of a receiving space (110) of a cabinet (100). In this case, a desiccant wheel (200) and a condensing heat exchanger (300) may be installed in the machine room (10).

[0125] Since hot air and steam supplied to the receiving space (110) have a tendency to rise, it may be desirable for the machine room (10) to be located at the bottom of the receiving space (110) and to supply hot air and steam toward the top.

[0126] In addition, since the air that has become moist at low temperature during the process of handling clothes in the receiving space (110) has a tendency to descend, it may be desirable for the machine room (10) to be located at the bottom of the receiving space (110) so that the moist air at low temperature moves toward the bottom.

[0127] Accordingly, the main components of the drying path (F10), regeneration path (F20), and cooling path (F30) arranged in the machine room (10) are arranged at the bottom of the receiving space (110), and the desiccant wheel (200) and condensing heat exchanger (300) can also be installed in the machine room (10) formed at the bottom of the receiving space (110).

[0128] In this way, the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention has a desiccant wheel (200) and a condensation heat exchanger (300) installed in a machine room (10) formed at the bottom of a receiving space (110), so that high-temperature dry air having a tendency to rise can smoothly move upward from the drying path (F10) toward the receiving space (110), and low-temperature moist air having a tendency to descend can smoothly move downward from the receiving space (110) toward the drying path (F10).

[0129] In a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the desiccant wheel (200) has a rotation axis (X) in the front-back direction. d ) can be arranged to rotate around the axis.

[0130] As described above, when a machine room (10) is formed at the bottom of the receiving space (110), the air in the drying path (F10) can have a circulation path in which it descends from the receiving space (110), passes through the desiccant, and then rises back to the receiving space (110).

[0131] Accordingly, in order to maximize the area of ​​the desiccant wheel (200) through which the air of the drying path (F10) passes, the path of the drying path (F10) in the machine room (10) and the rotation axis (X) of the desiccant wheel (200) d ) is preferably formed in parallel.

[0132] In this case, in order for the drying path (F10) to be formed along the shortest efficient path, the drying path (F10) in the machine room (10) is formed along the transverse direction and the rotation axis (X) of the desiccant wheel (200) d ) also needs to be formed along the transverse direction.

[0133] And, since it is desirable for the condensate generated within the receiving space (110) to be discharged from the receiving space (110) through the suction port (130), the suction port (130) needs to be placed on the front side of the receiving space (110) to prevent the condensate in the receiving space (110) from being discharged to the outside through the door (120).

[0134] Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, the intake port (130) may be arranged on the front side of the receiving space (110), and the discharge port (140) may be arranged on the rear side of the receiving space (110).

[0135] Accordingly, the drying path (F10) in the machine room (10) is formed along the front-back direction among the transverse directions, and the rotation axis (X) of the desiccant wheel (200) d ) can also be formed along the front-back direction among the horizontal directions.

[0136] In this way, the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention has a rotation axis (X) of the desiccant wheel (200) d ) is arranged along the front-rear direction of the machine room (10), so that the main components such as the desiccant wheel (200) can be efficiently arranged in a structure in which the machine room (10) is formed at the bottom of the receiving space (110).

[0137] In a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, a condensation heat exchanger (300) may be placed on the front side of a desiccant wheel (200).

[0138] In order to maximize the condensation efficiency through the condensation heat exchanger (300), it is necessary to maximize the area of ​​the condensation heat exchanger (300) placed in the machine room (10).

[0139] However, since other components such as a desiccant wheel (200) are placed within the machine room (10), the condensation heat exchanger (300) needs to be placed in a position that minimizes interference with these other components.

[0140] In order to maximize the area of ​​the condensation heat exchanger (300) as described above while minimizing interference with other components, the condensation heat exchanger (300) needs to be arranged parallel to the desiccant wheel (200). Accordingly, the condensation heat exchanger (300) can be arranged parallel to the front or rear side of the desiccant wheel (200) within the machine room (10).

[0141] However, as described above, since it is preferable that the drying fan (400) be installed between the desiccant wheel (200) and the discharge port (140) on the drying path (F10), the drying fan (400) may be installed on the rear side of the desiccant wheel (200).

[0142] Therefore, the condensing heat exchanger (300) may be arranged in front of the desiccant wheel (200) for a more efficient arrangement of the machine room (10).

[0143] In this way, since the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention has the condensation heat exchanger (300) arranged on the front side of the desiccant wheel (200), the main components such as the desiccant wheel (200) can be efficiently arranged within the given machine room (10) space.

[0144] A clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a suction duct (160) that forms part of a drying path (F10) and is connected to a suction port (130). In this case, a condensation heat exchanger (300) may be placed at the bottom of the suction duct (160).

[0145] That is, the suction duct (160) forms a passage for air flowing into the suction port (130) of the drying path (F10) to move. To this end, the suction duct (160) can connect the suction port (130) and the desiccant wheel (200). In addition, the suction duct (160) is arranged below the suction port (130) so that air can move downward.

[0146] The air introduced into the intake port (130) from the receiving space (110) can descend at an angle close to vertical along the intake duct (160). In addition, since the desiccant wheel (200) is arranged in the front-rear direction (Y direction) of the drying path (F10), the air descended at an angle close to vertical as described above can move by sharply turning its path at an angle close to 90°.

[0147] Accordingly, a blind spot may be generated in the lower part of the desiccant wheel (200) where the air flow of the drying passage (F10) cannot reach. In addition, the lower part of the desiccant wheel (200) adjacent to the part heated by the heater (600) does not substantially contribute to the moisture absorption performance of the air of the drying passage (F10), so it may be desirable to concentrate the air of the drying passage (F10) in the upper part of the desiccant wheel (200).

[0148] Accordingly, the suction duct (160) does not need to be arranged to cover the entire area of ​​the desiccant wheel (200), and may be arranged to be biased toward the upper portion of the desiccant wheel (200). As a result, a free space may be formed at the lower portion of the suction duct (160) corresponding to the lower portion of the desiccant wheel (200), and thus, arranging the condensation heat exchanger (300) at the lower portion of the suction duct (160) may be an efficient arrangement structure for the machine room (10).

[0149] In this way, since the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention has the condensation heat exchanger (300) arranged at the bottom of the suction duct (160), in a structure in which the machine room (10) is formed at the bottom of the receiving space (110), the condensation heat exchanger (300) can be arranged in a blind spot where the flow of air moving from the suction port (130) to the desiccant wheel (200) does not reach.

[0150] In a garment manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, a machine room (10) may be formed at the bottom of a receiving space (110) of a cabinet (100). In this case, a cooling housing (800) may be installed in the machine room (10) so that a cooling inlet (810) may be connected to the outside of the cabinet (100).

[0151] As described above, the main components of the drying path (F10), the regeneration path (F20), and the cooling path (F30) arranged in the machine room (10) are arranged in the lower part of the receiving space (110), and the desiccant wheel (200) and the condensing heat exchanger (300) can also be installed in the machine room (10) formed in the lower part of the receiving space (110).

[0152] Accordingly, the cooling housing (800) that accommodates the condensation heat exchanger (300) can also be installed in the machine room (10) formed at the bottom of the accommodation space (110). In addition, this machine room (10) can also be covered by a cabinet (100).

[0153] Therefore, in order for outside air to flow into the interior of the cooling housing (800), some or all of the cooling inlets (810) formed in the cooling housing (800) need to be connected to the exterior of the cabinet (100).

[0154] In this way, in the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the cooling inlet (810) of the cooling housing (800) that accommodates the condensation heat exchanger (300) is connected to the outside of the cabinet (100), so that outside air can smoothly flow into the cooling path (F30).

[0155] In a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, a cooling inlet (810) is formed on the side of the cooling housing (800) so that outside air can be introduced through the side of the cabinet (100).

[0156] As described above, in order to maximize the area of ​​the condensing heat exchanger (300) while minimizing interference with other components, the condensing heat exchanger (300) needs to be arranged parallel to the desiccant wheel (200).

[0157] Accordingly, the cooling housing (800) that accommodates the condensation heat exchanger (300) is also arranged so that the condensation heat exchanger (300) is parallel to the desiccant wheel (200), so that the side of the cooling housing (800) can face the side of the cabinet (100).

[0158] In this case, in order for the outside air flowing into the cooling housing (800) to come into contact with the surface of the condensation heat exchanger (300) over a greater portion, it is preferable that the cooling inlet (810) be formed on the side of the cooling housing (800).

[0159] Accordingly, the cooling inlet (810) formed on the side of the cooling housing (800) is arranged on the side of the cabinet (100), so that outside air can be introduced into the cooling housing (800) through the side of the cabinet (100).

[0160] In particular, from the user's perspective, access to and use of the front side of the clothing manager (1000) is frequent, and access to and use of the side side of the clothing manager (1000) is relatively infrequent, so it is preferable that the cooling housing (800) for introducing outside air be placed on the side of the cabinet (100) corresponding to the side of the clothing manager (1000).

[0161] In this way, the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention has a cooling inlet (810) formed on the side of the cooling housing (800) so that outside air is introduced through the side of the cabinet (100), and thus the cooling housing (800) can be efficiently arranged so that outside air can be introduced by utilizing the side of the cabinet (100) that is relatively unexposed to the user.

[0162] In a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, a cooling discharge port (820) is formed on the front surface of the cooling housing (800) so that air inside the cooling housing (800) can be discharged to the machine room (10).

[0163] Since the air that flows into the cooling housing (800) and exchanges heat with the condensing heat exchanger (300) changes to a relatively high temperature state, it may not be desirable for the user to be directly exposed to such high temperature air.

[0164] Accordingly, the cooling exhaust port (820) through which the air inside the cooling housing (800) is discharged is formed on the front surface of the cooling housing (800) and placed within the machine room (10), thereby allowing the heat-exchanged high-temperature air to diffuse and be discharged through the machine room (10).

[0165] In this case, a cooling fan (900) may be installed in the cooling exhaust port (820) to ensure smooth air movement in the cooling path (F30).

[0166] In this way, the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention has a cooling exhaust port (820) formed on the front surface of the cooling housing (800) so that air inside the cooling housing (800) is discharged to the machine room (10), so that high-temperature air discharged from inside the cooling housing (800) can be diffused through the machine room (10) without being directly exposed to the user.

[0167] In a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, a condensation heat exchanger (300) may include a heat exchange body (310) in which a plurality of channels are formed on a plate-like plane, through which air of a regeneration channel (F20) passes into an internal space, and air of a cooling channel (F30) passes through a surface.

[0168] That is, as illustrated in Fig. 10, the heat exchange body (310) may be configured with a structure in which pipes are reciprocated in one direction and continuously connected, and a channel (passageway) through which air can pass is formed between adjacent pipes.

[0169] Accordingly, air of the regeneration channel (F20) passes into the pipe of the heat exchange body (310), air of the cooling channel (F30) passes through the surface and channel of the heat exchange body (310), and heat exchange can occur between the regeneration channel (F20) and the cooling channel (F30).

[0170] In this way, the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a heat exchange body (310) in which the condensation heat exchanger (300) is formed with a plurality of channel structures, so that the heat exchange area in the condensation heat exchanger (300) can be formed larger.

[0171] In a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the condensation heat exchanger (300) may further include a heat exchange inlet pipe (320) and a heat exchange discharge pipe (330).

[0172] The heat exchange inlet pipe (320) is the part where air from the regeneration path (F20) flows into the interior of the heat exchange body (310), and the heat exchange discharge pipe (330) is the part where air from the regeneration path (F20) is discharged from the interior of the heat exchange body (310).

[0173] Accordingly, the regeneration path (F20) can be configured to circulate along the path of 'regeneration fan (700) → heater (600) → desiccant wheel (200) → heat exchange inlet pipe (320) → inside of heat exchange body (310) → heat exchange discharge pipe (330) → regeneration fan (700)'.

[0174] In this way, the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured such that the condensation heat exchanger (300) further includes a heat exchange inlet pipe (320) and a heat exchange discharge pipe (330), so that the inflow and outflow of regeneration flow path (F20) air to the heat exchange body (310) can be smoothly performed.

[0175] In a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchange body (310) may be installed spaced apart from the inner surface of the cooling housing (800).

[0176] The heat exchange body (310) of the condensing heat exchanger (300) is accommodated inside the cooling housing (800), and air of the cooling path (F30) passes over the surface of the heat exchange body (310) inside the cooling housing (800).

[0177] In this case, if the heat exchange body (310) is concentrated on a specific part inside the cooling housing (800), the flow of air passing over the surface of the heat exchange body (310) may not occur evenly. In particular, if the heat exchange body (310) comes into contact with a specific part inside the cooling housing (800), air may not pass smoothly through the contact part.

[0178] As described above, if the air flow inside the cooling housing (800) is uneven or the air flow in a specific part is obstructed, the heat exchange performance through the heat exchange body (310) may deteriorate, so it is preferable that the heat exchange body (310) be arranged so that there is sufficient space between it and the inner surface of the cooling housing (800).

[0179] In this way, in the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the inner surface of the cooling housing (800) and the heat exchange body (310) are installed to be spaced apart from each other, so that the air of the cooling path (F30) can evenly pass through the entire surface of the heat exchange body (310) within the cooling housing (800).

[0180] FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are drawings exemplarily showing a guide vane (500) installed in a discharge duct (170) in a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0181] A clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a guide vane (500) installed between the drying fan (400) and the discharge port (140) to disperse air supplied to the receiving space (110).

[0182] That is, by installing a guide vane (500) between the drying fan (400) and the discharge port (140), the air supplied from the discharge port (140) to the receiving space (110) by the drying fan (400) can be evenly distributed to each part of the receiving space (110).

[0183] When the drying fan (400) is installed between the desiccant wheel (200) and the discharge port (140) on the drying path (F10) as described above, the discharge flow of air supplied to the receiving space (110) may be biased toward a specific part and become uneven depending on this arrangement.

[0184] In particular, depending on the arrangement of the drying fan (400) and the discharge port (140), flow unevenness in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) of the receiving space (110) may occur.

[0185] In this case, when uneven air flow occurs in the receiving space (110), a difference in dryness occurs on the left and right walls of the receiving space (110), and unnecessary additional time is required for drying, which may become a factor that reduces the system efficiency of the entire clothing manager (1000).

[0186] Accordingly, the clothing manager (1000) according to the present embodiment can evenly supply air to the entire portion of the receiving space (110) by distributing the discharge flow, which may be biased toward a specific portion by the drying fan (400), by installing the guide vane (500) between the drying fan (400) and the discharge port (140).

[0187] In this way, the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention disperses the uneven flow rate of air supplied to the receiving space (110) by the guide vane (500), so that the circulating air flow is evenly supplied to the entire receiving space (110), thereby enabling more efficient clothing treatment.

[0188] A clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a discharge duct (170) forming part of a drying path (F10) and connecting a drying fan (400) and a discharge port (140). In this case, a guide vane (500) may be installed in the discharge duct (170).

[0189] That is, the discharge duct (170) forms an air passage for air passing through the drying fan (400) in the drying path (F10) to move to the discharge port (140). For this purpose, the discharge duct (170) can connect the drying fan (400) and the discharge port (140).

[0190] In such a case, as described above, the air passing through the discharge duct (170) may have its discharge flow rate concentrated in a specific portion.

[0191] Accordingly, by installing a guide vane (500) in the discharge duct (170), the air supplied by the drying fan (400) can be dispersed while passing through the discharge duct (170) and then supplied to the receiving space (110) through the discharge port (140).

[0192] In this way, the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention further includes a discharge duct (170) in which a guide vane (500) is installed, so that air can move stably and effectively between the drying fan (400) and the discharge port (140).

[0193] Here, the discharge duct (170) is placed below the discharge port (140) so that air can move upward.

[0194] In a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the discharge duct (170) may include a first duct body (171) and a second duct body (172).

[0195] The first duct body (171) is formed with a duct inlet (173) at the bottom, is connected to a drying fan (400), and is formed in a shape in which the cross-sectional area increases as it goes upward, and can form the lower part of the discharge duct (170).

[0196] The second duct body (172) has a duct outlet (174) formed at the top and is connected to the discharge port (140), and is a part that connects the first duct body (171) and the discharge port (140), and can form the upper part of the discharge duct (170).

[0197] As described above, since the discharge side flow path of the drying fan (400) is formed relatively small, the duct inlet (173) connected to the drying fan (400) also needs to be formed relatively small.

[0198] On the other hand, in order to supply air evenly to each part of the receiving space (110), the open area of ​​the discharge port (140) needs to be secured as large as possible, as long as there is no interference with other components or functional problems. Accordingly, the duct outlet (174) connected to the discharge port (140) also needs to be formed relatively large.

[0199] In this way, the duct inlet (173) and the duct outlet (174) of the discharge duct (170) may have different sizes, and the positions of the duct inlet (173) and the duct outlet (174) may also be formed differently depending on the positions of the drying fan (400) and the discharge port (140) in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction).

[0200] Accordingly, the first duct body (171) forming the lower part of the discharge duct (170) is formed in a shape in which the cross-sectional area increases as it goes upward, and the second duct body (172) forming the upper part of the discharge duct (170) is formed to correspond to the discharge port (140), so that the first duct body (171) and the second duct body (172) are combined to form the discharge duct (170), which may be preferable when considering the shape and arrangement of the drying fan (400) and the discharge port (140).

[0201] In a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, a guide vane (500) may include a first vane (510) installed in a first duct body (171) to disperse air passing through the first duct body (171).

[0202] As described above, since the first duct body (171) is formed in a shape in which the cross-sectional area increases as it goes upward, the air passing through the first duct body (171) may be biased toward a specific portion depending on the cross-sectional shape of the first duct body (171) in addition to the influence of the drying fan (400).

[0203] Therefore, it may be desirable to install the first vane (510) in the first duct body (171) so that the air is uniformly distributed to each section on the cross-section while passing through the first duct body (171).

[0204] Here, the first vane (510) may include a plate-shaped first blade (511) that is arranged obliquely along the cross-sectional shape of the first duct body (171). In addition, the first blade (511) may be formed so that a portion thereof has a curvature.

[0205] In a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the guide vane (500) may further include a second vane (520) installed in the second duct body (172) to disperse air passing through the second duct body (172).

[0206] As described above, air can be distributed by the first vane (510) in the process of the first duct body (171), but there may be cases where such air is not supplied evenly to each part of the receiving space (110).

[0207] For example, if the discharge port (140) is arranged biasedly on one side in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) within the receiving space (110), if the air dispersed from the first duct body (171) is supplied as is to the receiving space (110), the discharge flow rate may be biased toward the part where the discharge port (140) is arranged biasedly.

[0208] Therefore, considering the arrangement of the discharge port (140) within the receiving space (110), it may be desirable to install a second vane (520) in the second duct body (172) so that the air is dispersed once again during the process of passing through the second duct body (172).

[0209] Here, the second vane (520) may include a vane frame (521) and a second blade (522). In addition, a plurality of second blades (522) may be installed. In this case, the angle formed by each second blade (522) with the vane frame (521) may be different.

[0210] In this way, the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first duct body (171) in which a first vane (510) disperses air and a second duct body (172) in which a second vane (520) disperses air, so that the shape and arrangement of the drying fan (400) and the discharge port (140) can be made more diverse, while the air to be supplied to the receiving space (110) can be appropriately dispersed.

[0211] FIG. 13 is a drawing showing in more detail the heater (600) in the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a drawing showing the quartz tube (620) and the carbon heating element (630) in the heater (600) shown in FIG. 13. FIG. 15 is a drawing showing in more detail the shape of the quartz tube (620) in the heater (600) shown in FIG. 13.

[0212] In a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the heater (600) may include a heating housing (610), a quartz tube (620), and a carbon heating element (630).

[0213] The heating housing (610) is a part installed on a part of the desiccant wheel (200), and forms the main exterior of the heater (600), so that the remaining main components of the heater (600) can be installed in the heating housing (610).

[0214] The quartz tube (620) is formed in the shape of a circular pipe with a constant diameter (D) and is continuously arranged inside the heating housing (610). It may be a type of glass tube made by melting and mixing quartz. In this case, the quartz tube (620) may be formed in various lengths and shapes depending on the shape of the heating housing (610).

[0215] The carbon heating element (630) is a part that is continuously arranged along the inside of the quartz tube (620) and generates heat by supplying power, and can generate heat for heating and regenerating the desiccant.

[0216] This carbon heater (630) is a heater made by utilizing the fact that carbon generates heat through electrical resistance, and is made of graphite or carbon-carbon composite material, so it can exhibit higher energy efficiency than a general coil (Ni-Cr) heater.

[0217] Specifically, the carbon heater (630) can reach a specific temperature in a relatively short time compared to a coil heater, thereby reducing the time and energy required to dry clothes. Furthermore, the carbon heater (630) has a relatively high absorbance of water compared to a coil heater, thereby enabling it to use more energy to dry water at the same output.

[0218] In addition, since the carbon heating element (630) is placed inside the quartz tube (620), contact with external air can be blocked during the heating process. That is, the quartz tube (620) is formed as a circular pipe structure in which the inside and outside are sealed, and since the carbon heating element (630) is placed inside the quartz tube (620), external air can not come into contact with the carbon heating element (630) when the carbon heating element (630) is heating.

[0219] If the heating element comes into contact with external air during the heating process, odor-causing factors in the air may be heated, generating an undesirable odor. This undesirable odor may adversely affect the clothing contained within the clothing care device (1000) and may cause problems such as discomfort to the user.

[0220] Therefore, considering energy efficiency, it may be desirable to use a carbon heater (630) and to place the carbon heater (630) inside a quartz tube (620).

[0221] In this way, the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention has a heater (600) in which a carbon heating element (630) with relatively high energy efficiency is arranged inside a quartz tube (620) and does not come into contact with the air, so that not only can the drying performance of clothing be further improved, but also an inappropriate odor can be prevented from being generated during the heating process.

[0222] In a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the quartz tube (620) may include a first straight portion (621), a second straight portion (622), and a first curved portion (625).

[0223] The first straight section (621) is a part of a quartz tube (620) formed to extend in the longitudinal direction, and can extend straight in the first direction within the heating housing (610).

[0224] The second straight section (622) is another part of the quartz tube (620) that is formed to extend in the longitudinal direction and is spaced apart from the first straight section (621), and can extend straight in the second direction within the heating housing (610).

[0225] The first curvature portion (625) is formed to have a constant first radius of curvature (R1) and is another part of the quartz tube (620) that connects the first straight portion (621) and the second straight portion (622), and the first straight portion (621) and the second straight portion (622) that are spaced apart from each other can be connected to make the quartz tube (620) continuous as a whole.

[0226] Since it may be spatially inefficient to extend the quartz tube (620) only straightly depending on the shape of the heating housing (610), it may be desirable to connect the straight first straight portion (621) and the second straight portion (622) with a first curved portion (625) formed to have a curvature.

[0227] In particular, since the first curved portion (625) is manufactured by forming the quartz tube (620) to have a curvature, the first curved portion (625) is formed to have a constant first radius of curvature (R1), so that it is possible to minimize a specific part of the first curved portion (625) from becoming vulnerable to stress during the process of forming, manufacturing, and use.

[0228] In this way, the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured such that the quartz tube (620) includes a first straight portion (621), a second straight portion (622), and a first curved portion (625), so that the quartz tube (620) and the carbon heating element (630) can be appropriately placed within the heating housing (610).

[0229] In a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the first radius of curvature (R1) of the first curved portion (625) may be greater than or equal to the diameter (D) of the quartz tube (620).

[0230] As described above, in that the first curved portion (625) is manufactured by forming the quartz tube (620) to have a curvature, if the first curvature radius (R1) of the first curved portion (625) is too small, it is not only difficult to form and manufacture the first curved portion (625) to have a constant curvature, but there is also a concern that its durability may be reduced.

[0231] Therefore, considering these characteristics of the quartz tube (620), it may be desirable for the first curvature portion (625) to have a first radius of curvature (R1) that is at least equal to or greater than the diameter (D) of the quartz tube (620).

[0232] In this way, the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention is formed so that the first curvature portion (625) has a first curvature radius (R1) that is greater than or equal to the diameter (D) of the quartz tube (620), so that an appropriate arrangement can be made that reflects constraints according to the shape when manufacturing the quartz tube (620).

[0233] In a clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the distance (S) between the first straight section (621) and the second straight section (622) may be at least twice the diameter (D) of the quartz tube (620).

[0234] As described above, in that the first curved portion (625) is formed to have a first radius of curvature (R1) that is greater than or equal to the diameter (D) of the quartz tube (620), the distance (S) between the end of the first straight portion (621) and the end of the second straight portion (622), each connected to the first curved portion (625), needs to be greater than twice the diameter (D) of the quartz tube (620).

[0235] In addition, in order for the heat of the carbon heating element (630) to be evenly released within the heating housing (610), it may be desirable for the distance (S) between the remaining portion of the first straight portion (621) and the remaining portion of the second straight portion (622) to be at least twice the diameter (D) of the quartz tube (620).

[0236] For example, if the distance (S) between the end of the first straight section (621) and the end of the second straight section (622) is twice the diameter (D) of the quartz tube (620), but the distance (S) between the remaining part of the first straight section (621) and the remaining part of the second straight section (622) is less than twice the diameter (D) of the quartz tube (620), the first straight section (621) and the second straight section (622) may be arranged at a relative incline. Accordingly, in the heating housing (610), the emitted heat overlaps and is excessively amplified in the area between the first straight section (621) and the second straight section (622), but a blind spot may be generated in the outer area of ​​the first straight section (621) and the second straight section (622) where the emitted heat does not reach or only weakly reaches.

[0237] Therefore, when considering uniform heat dissipation within the heating housing (610), it may be desirable to make the distance (S) between the first straight section (621) and the second straight section (622) at least twice the diameter (D) of the quartz tube (620).

[0238] In this way, in the clothing manager (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the first straight section (621) and the second straight section (622) are spaced apart from each other by more than twice the diameter (D) of the quartz tube (620), so that the arrangement of the first straight section (621) and the second straight section (622) can be effectively achieved while appropriately securing the first curvature radius (R1) of the first curved section (625).

[0239] Here, air can be introduced into the heating housing (610) through a housing inlet (611) formed on the side, and air can be discharged through a front surface (612) open toward the desiccant wheel (200).

[0240] The heater (600) may further include a reflector (640) disposed between the rear surface (613) of the heating housing (610) and the quartz tube (620) to reflect heat emitted from the carbon heating element (630).

[0241] In addition, the reflector (640) is installed spaced apart from the rear surface (613) of the heating housing (610), and a plurality of through holes (641) can be formed.

[0242] The heater (600) may further include a power line (650) that is introduced into the heating housing (610) and connected to both ends of the quartz tube (620). In this case, the power line (650) may be introduced through a portion of the side of the heating housing (610) that is spaced apart from the housing inlet (611).

[0243] Meanwhile, the quartz tube (620) may further include a third straight section (623) and a second curved section (626).

[0244] The third straight section (623) is another part of the quartz tube (620) that is formed to extend in the longitudinal direction and is spaced apart from the second straight section (622), and can extend straight in the third direction within the heating housing (610).

[0245] The second curvature portion (626) is formed to have a constant second radius of curvature (R2) and is another part of the quartz tube (620) that connects the second straight portion (622) and the third straight portion (623), and the second straight portion (622) and the third straight portion (623) that are spaced apart from each other can be connected to make the quartz tube (620) continuous as a whole.

[0246] The second radius of curvature (R2) of the second curved portion (626) may also be greater than or equal to the diameter (D) of the quartz tube (620), and the distance (S) between the second straight portion (622) and the third straight portion (623) may also be greater than or equal to twice the diameter (D) of the quartz tube (620).

[0247] And, the first straight section (621), the second straight section (622), and the third straight section (623) can be arranged on the same plane.

[0248]

[0249] While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, such modifications or variations should not be understood individually from the technical spirit or perspective of the present invention, and such modified embodiments should fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

[0250] - Explanation of symbols -

[0251] 10: Machine room 100: Cabinet

[0252] 110: Reception space 120: Door

[0253] 130: Inlet 140: Outlet

[0254] 150: Steam generator 160: Suction duct

[0255] 170: Discharge duct 171: First duct body

[0256] 172: Second duct body 173: Duct inlet

[0257] 174: Duct outlet 200: Desiccant wheel

[0258] 300: Condensing heat exchanger 310: Heat exchange body

[0259] 320: Heat exchange inlet pipe 330: Heat exchange outlet pipe

[0260] 400: Drying fan 500: Guide vane

[0261] 510: 1st vane 520: 2nd vane

[0262] 600: Heater 610: Heating housing

[0263] 620: Quartz tube 621: 1st straight section

[0264] 622: Second straight section 625: First curved section

[0265] 630: Carbon heating element 700: Regeneration fan

[0266] 800: Cooling housing 810: Cooling inlet

[0267] 820: Cooling exhaust vent 900: Cooling fan

[0268] 1000: Garment Manager F10: Drying Oil

[0269] F20: Regeneration oil F30: Cooling oil

[0270] X d : Rotation axis of the desiccant wheel

[0271] According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, a desiccant wheel is installed on a drying path through which air is circulated between an intake port and an outlet port, thereby dehumidifying the air passing through the drying path, thereby improving the drying efficiency of clothes and enabling a more suitable structure in terms of manufacturability and usability.

[0272] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, a desiccant wheel is disposed on a drying path to capture moisture and bacteria in the air being blown, and a part of the desiccant wheel is heated and regenerated on a regeneration path, so that the performance for treating clothes can always be maintained appropriately.

[0273] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, a regeneration path is formed in the internal space of a condensation heat exchanger installed separately from a drying path, and the air in the internal space of the condensation heat exchanger and the air on the surface are structured to exchange heat, so that the condensation efficiency of the regeneration path through the condensation heat exchanger can be further improved.

[0274] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, since a cooling path is formed on the surface of the condensation heat exchanger between the cooling inlet and the cooling outlet of the cooling housing accommodating the condensation heat exchanger, relatively low-temperature outside air can effectively exchange heat with the air in the internal space of the condensation heat exchanger.

[0275] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, steam treatment is performed on clothing by supplying steam into the interior of the cabinet, so that a sterilizing effect due to the high temperature of the steam and a refreshing effect due to swelling of the clothing material can be achieved.

[0276] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, since a desiccant wheel and a condensation heat exchanger are installed in a machine room formed at the lower part of the receiving space, high-temperature dry air having a tendency to rise can smoothly move upward from the drying passage toward the receiving space, and low-temperature moist air having a tendency to descend can smoothly move downward from the receiving space toward the drying passage.

[0277] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, since the rotation axis of the desiccant wheel is arranged along the front-rear direction of the machine room, the main components such as the desiccant wheel can be efficiently arranged in a structure in which the machine room is formed at the lower part of the receiving space.

[0278] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, since the condensation heat exchanger is arranged on the front side of the desiccant wheel, the main components such as the desiccant wheel can be efficiently arranged within a given machine room space.

[0279] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, since the condensation heat exchanger is arranged at the lower part of the suction duct, in a structure in which a machine room is formed at the lower part of the receiving space, the condensation heat exchanger can be arranged in a blind spot where the flow of air moving from the suction port to the desiccant wheel does not reach.

[0280] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, since the cooling inlet of the cooling housing accommodating the condensing heat exchanger is connected to the outside of the cabinet, outside air can smoothly flow into the cooling passage.

[0281] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, a cooling inlet is formed on the side of the cooling housing so that outside air is introduced through the side of the cabinet, so that the cooling housing can be efficiently arranged while outside air can be introduced by utilizing the side of the cabinet that is relatively unexposed to the user.

[0282] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, a cooling outlet is formed on the front surface of the cooling housing so that air inside the cooling housing is discharged to the machine room, so that high-temperature air discharged inside the cooling housing can be diffused through the machine room without being directly exposed to the user.

[0283] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, since the condensation heat exchanger includes a heat exchange body formed of a plurality of channel structures, the heat exchange area in the condensation heat exchanger can be formed larger.

[0284] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, since the condensing heat exchanger further includes a heat exchange inlet pipe and a heat exchange discharge pipe, the inflow and discharge of regeneration air to the heat exchange body can be smoothly performed.

[0285] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, since the inner surface of the cooling housing and the heat exchange body are installed to be spaced apart from each other, the air of the cooling flow path can evenly pass through the entire surface of the heat exchange body within the cooling housing.

[0286] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, since the biased flow rate of air supplied to the receiving space is distributed by the guide vane, the circulating air flow is evenly supplied to the entire portion of the receiving space, so that more efficient clothing processing can be achieved.

[0287] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, since a discharge duct in which a guide vane is installed is further included, the movement of air between the drying fan and the discharge port can be performed stably and effectively.

[0288] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, since the discharge duct includes a first duct body through which the first vane disperses air and a second duct body through which the second vane disperses air, the shape and arrangement of the drying fan and the discharge port can be made more diverse, while the air to be supplied to the receiving space can be appropriately distributed.

[0289] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, since a carbon heating element with relatively high energy efficiency is arranged inside a quartz tube and the heater is structured so as not to come into contact with the air, not only can the drying performance of clothes be further improved, but also an inappropriate odor can be prevented from being generated during the heating process.

[0290] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, since the quartz tube includes a first straight section, a second straight section, and a first curved section, the quartz tube and the carbon heating element can be appropriately arranged within the heating housing.

[0291] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, since the first curvature portion is formed to have a first radius of curvature greater than the diameter of the quartz tube, an appropriate arrangement can be made that reflects constraints according to the shape when manufacturing the quartz tube.

[0292] In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, the first straight section and the second straight section are spaced apart from each other by more than twice the diameter of the quartz tube, so that the arrangement of the first straight section and the second straight section can be effectively achieved while appropriately securing the first curvature radius of the first curved section.

Claims

1. A cabinet that forms a storage space for clothing; An intake port formed inside the cabinet through which air from the receiving space is sucked in; An outlet formed inside the cabinet to supply air to the receiving space; A drying path through which air circulates between the above suction port and the above discharge port; A desiccant wheel installed on the drying path to dehumidify air passing through the drying path; A drying fan installed on the drying path to blow air from the suction port toward the discharge port; A condensing heat exchanger installed separately from the above drying path and in which the air in the internal space and the air on the surface exchange heat; A heater installed to heat a portion of the above desiccant wheel; A regeneration path through which air circulates between a portion of the desiccant wheel heated by the heater and the internal space of the condensation heat exchanger; and A regeneration fan installed on the above regeneration path to blow air; Garment manager including.

2. In paragraph 1, A cooling housing that accommodates the condensation heat exchanger inside and has a cooling inlet for introducing outside air and a cooling outlet for discharging inside air, respectively; A cooling path through which air moves onto the surface of the condensing heat exchanger between the cooling inlet and the cooling outlet; A clothing manager further comprising a cooling fan installed on the cooling channel and blowing air from the cooling inlet toward the cooling outlet.

3. In paragraph 2, A garment manager further comprising a steam generator for supplying steam to the above-mentioned receiving space.

4. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 3, The above cabinet has a machine room formed at the bottom of the above storage space, A clothing manager, wherein the desiccant wheel and the condensation heat exchanger are installed in the machine room.

5. In paragraph 4, A clothing care machine in which the above desiccant wheel is arranged to rotate around a rotational axis in the forward and backward directions.

6. In paragraph 5, A clothing care machine wherein the above condensing heat exchanger is arranged on the front side of the desiccant wheel.

7. In paragraph 6, Further comprising a suction duct forming part of the above drying path and connected to the suction port; A clothing manager, wherein the above condensing heat exchanger is placed at the lower part of the suction duct.

8. In paragraph 2 or 3, The above cabinet has a machine room formed at the bottom of the above storage space, A clothing manager, wherein the cooling housing is installed in the machine room and the cooling inlet is connected to the outside of the cabinet.

9. In paragraph 8, A clothing manager in which the cooling inlet is formed on the side of the cooling housing so that outside air is introduced through the side of the cabinet.

10. In paragraph 9, A clothing manager in which the cooling outlet is formed on the front surface of the cooling housing so that air inside the cooling housing is discharged to the machine room.

11. In paragraph 2 or 3, The above condensing heat exchanger, A clothing care device comprising a heat exchange body in which a plurality of channels are formed on a flat surface of a plate, through which air of the regeneration path passes into the internal space and air of the cooling path passes through the surface.

12. In paragraph 11, The above condensing heat exchanger, A heat exchange inlet pipe through which the air of the above regeneration path is introduced into the interior of the heat exchange body, and A clothing manager further comprising a heat exchange exhaust pipe through which air of the above regeneration path is discharged from the inside of the heat exchange body.

13. In paragraph 12, A clothing manager, wherein the heat exchange body is installed spaced apart from the inner surface of the cooling housing.

14. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 3, A clothing manager further comprising a guide vane installed between the drying fan and the outlet to disperse air supplied to the receiving space.

15. In paragraph 14, Further comprising a discharge duct forming part of the above drying path and connecting the drying fan and the discharge port; The above guide vane is installed in the discharge duct, a clothing manager.

16. In paragraph 15, The above discharge duct is, A first duct body formed with a duct inlet formed at the bottom and connected to the drying fan and having a shape in which the cross-sectional area increases as it goes upwards; and A duct outlet is formed at the top, and a second duct body is included that is connected to the outlet and connects the first duct body and the outlet. The above guide vane is, A first vane installed in the first duct body and dispersing air passing through the first duct body; and A clothing manager comprising a second vane installed in the second duct body and dispersing air passing through the second duct body.

17. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 3, The above heater, A heating housing installed on a part of the above desiccant wheel, A quartz tube formed in the shape of a circular pipe with a constant diameter (D) and continuously arranged inside the heating housing; and A clothing care device comprising carbon heating elements that are continuously arranged along the inside of the quartz tube and generate heat by power supply.

18. In paragraph 17, The above quartz tube, A first straight section formed to extend in the longitudinal direction, A second straight section formed to extend in the longitudinal direction and spaced apart from the first straight section, and A clothing manager comprising a first curvature portion formed to have a constant first radius of curvature (R1) and connecting the first straight portion and the second straight portion.

19. In paragraph 18, A clothing care device, wherein the first radius of curvature (R1) of the first curvature portion is greater than or equal to the diameter (D) of the quartz tube.

20. In paragraph 19, A clothing manager, wherein the distance (S) between the first straight section and the second straight section is at least twice the diameter (D) of the quartz tube.

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