CLOTHING TREATMENT APPARATUS

Abstract

 The present disclosure relates to a clothing treatment apparatus comprising: a drum that provides a space in which clothes are stored; a first heat exchange chamber that receives air discharged from the drum through a chamber inlet and supplies air to the drum through a chamber outlet; a second heat exchange chamber that forms a space separated from the first heat exchange chamber; a heat exchange unit including a refrigerant flow path that provides a path through which a refrigerant moves, a first heat exchanger fixed to the refrigerant flow path to be positioned inside the first heat exchange chamber and absorbing heat from air, a second heat exchanger fixed to the refrigerant flow path to be positioned inside the first heat exchange chamber and supplying heat to the air passing through the first heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger fixed to the refrigerant flow path and positioned in the second heat exchange chamber, a compressor which circulates the refrigerant along the refrigerant flow path, and a switching valve which can switch the function of the third heat exchanger between an endothermic function and an exothermic function; a fan that moves air along the second heat exchange chamber to exchange heat between the refrigerant passing through the third heat exchanger and the air; a supply chamber that supplies air to the second heat exchange chamber during the operation of the fan; and a circuit board having a control circuit for controlling the heat exchange unit and positioned inside the supply chamber.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A laundry treating apparatus is a general term for a washing machine for washing objects, a dryer for drying objects, and a device that performs both washing and drying of a treating object (washing object, or drying object).

[0003] A heat exchanger provided in the existing dryer is a device that supplies dry air to a space (drum) in which an object to be treated is contained. A heat exchanger provided in an exhaust type dryer includes a duct that supplies outside air to a drum and a heater that heats the air introduced into the duct, and a heat exchanger provided in a circulation type dryer includes a circulation path that resupplies air drawn from the drum back to the drum, a heat absorber provided inside the circulation path and removes moisture (dehumidifies) from the air, and a heater that heats the air passing through the heat absorber.

[0004] Bulky and heavy objects may be loaded into commercial dryers and there are many drying cycles, and thus the heat exchanger in a commercial dryer needs to be designed differently from a heat exchanger in a household dryer. In other words, the capacity or output of the heat exchanger provided in the commercial dryer needs to be set to be larger than the capacity or output of the heat exchanger provided in the household dryer.

[0005] A dryer including a heat exchanger as a heat pump needs to be configured such that air and refrigerant moving along a circulation path exchange heat, and thus the dryer requires a fan that moves air drawn from the drum to the drum after passing through the heat absorber and heater of the heat pump, and a controller that controls the heat pump to circulate the refrigerant through the heat absorber and the heater.

[0006] A dryer including a heat exchanger with a large capacity or output is advantageous when the amount of air moved by the fan is increased, but increasing the amount of air moved by the fan may cause a problem of increased noise from the fan.

[0007] The load on the controller is large in the dryer including the heat exchanger with a large capacity or output, and thus when the controller is effectively cooled, a phenomenon may occur in which the drying efficiency decreases.

[0008] To effectively perform heat exchange between an object to be treated and the air, the existing dryer supplies drying air to the drum while rotating the drum in which the object to be treated is received. The drums provided in commercial dryers are designed to be bulkier and heavier than those in household dryers, and thus commercial dryers require a driver design for effectively rotating the heavy and bulky drums.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

[0009] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of effective cooling of a heat exchanger or a controller.

[0010] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of reducing noise generated from a fan for cooling a heat exchanger or a controller.

[0011] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus having a structure advantageous for maintaining the tension of a belt provided to rotate a drum containing a treating object.

[0012] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that maintains the tension of a belt even when a drum vibrates.

[0013] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus including a device for maintaining the tension of the belt when a rotation direction of the drum is changed.

[0014] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of preventing air supplied to a treating target from leaking through a space in which the belt is installed.

Technical Solution

[0015] The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus including a drum that provides a space storing laundry, a first heat exchange chamber that receives air discharged from the drum through a chamber inlet and supplies air to the drum through a chamber output port, a second heat exchange chamber that forms a space separated from the first heat exchange chamber, a heat exchanger including a refrigerant flow path providing a path in which a refrigerant moves, a first heat exchanger fixed to the refrigerant flow path and located inside the first heat exchange chamber to absorb heat from air, a second heat exchanger fixed to the refrigerant flow path and located inside the first heat exchanger to supply heat to air passing through the first heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger fixed to the refrigerant flow path and located inside the second heat exchanger, a compressor that circulates the refrigerant along the refrigerant flow path, and a switching valve that switches a function of the third heat exchanger between an absorption function and a heat generation function, a fan that moves air along the second heat exchange chamber to exchanges heat between air and a refrigerant passing through the third heat exchanger, a supply chamber that supplies air to the second heat exchange chamber based on the fan operating, and a circuit board including a control circuit for controlling the heat exchanger and located inside the supply chamber.

[0016] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a cooler provided on the circuit board and cooling the control circuit by using at least one of air moving along the second heat exchange chamber and air moving along the supply chamber.

[0017] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a chamber supply port located between the third heat exchanger and the fan to supply air inside the supply chamber to the second heat exchange chamber.

[0018] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a chamber supply port that supplies air inside the supply chamber to the second heat exchange chamber, and at least a portion of the cooler may be inserted into the chamber supply port and located inside the second heat exchange chamber.

[0019] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a chamber supply port that supplies air inside the supply chamber to the second heat exchange chamber, and the cooler may be located inside the supply chamber not to be inserted into the chamber supply port.

[0020] At least a portion of the cooler may be provided such that the chamber supply port is located within a space projected onto the circuit board.

[0021] The cooler may be provided such that the chamber supply port is located within a space projected onto the circuit board.

[0022] The cooler may be provided by arranging a plurality of cooling fins parallel to a height direction of the chamber supply port to be spaced apart in a width direction of the chamber supply port.

[0023] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a chamber supply port that supplies air inside the supply chamber to the second heat exchange chamber, a board fixing plate located inside the supply channel and fixed to the circuit board, and a flow path forming unit that forms a space in which the cooler is located between the chamber supply port and the board fixing plate and guides air to the chamber supply port.

[0024] The flow path forming unit may include a first spacer and a second spacer that are provided at opposite ends of the board fixing plate to maintain a gap between the board fixing plate and the chamber supply port.

[0025] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a third heat exchange chamber that forms a space separated from the first heat exchange chamber, is capable of supplying air to the second heat exchange chamber and the supply chamber, and provides a space for mounting the compressor
The third heat exchange chamber and the second heat exchange chamber may be sequentially stacked in a height direction of the first heat exchange chamber.

[0026] The second heat exchange chamber and the supply chamber may be located above the third heat exchange chamber.

[0027] The second heat exchange chamber and the supply chamber may be arranged in a direction perpendicular to a movement direction air moving along the third heat exchange chamber.

[0028] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a first outside air supply port provided on one surface of the third heat exchange chamber to supply outside air to the third heat exchange chamber, and a second outside air supply port provided on one surface of the supply chamber to supply outside air to the supply chamber and located above the first outside air supply port, and the supply chamber may be located above a rear space of the third heat exchange chamber in which the first outside air supply port is located, and the second heat exchange chamber is located above a front space of the third heat exchange chamber.

[0029] The second outside air supply port may be provided in a location that does not expose the circuit board to an outside.

[0030] The laundry treating apparatus may further include an outside air supply port that supplies outside air to the supply chamber, and the outside air supply port may be provided in a location that does not expose the circuit board to an outside. Advantageous Effects

[0031] The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus capable of effective cooling of a heat exchanger or a controller.

[0032] The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus capable of reducing noise generated from a fan for cooling a heat exchanger or a controller.

[0033] The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus having a structure advantageous for maintaining the tension of a belt provided to rotate a drum containing a treating object.

[0034] The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus that maintains the tension of a belt even when a drum vibrates.

[0035] The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus including a device for maintaining the tension of the belt when a rotation direction of the drum is changed.

[0036] The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus capable of preventing air supplied to a treating target from leaking through a space in which the belt is installed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] 

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate an example of a laundry treating apparatus including a first treating device and a second treating device.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 illustrate examples of a receiving portion, an exhaust unit, and a drum provided in a first treating device.

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 illustrate examples of a driver.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a sealing portion.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate an example of a tension maintaining portion.

FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 illustrate an example of a second treating device.

FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate an example of an operation of a heat exchanger.

FIG. 18 illustrates an example of a noise reduction unit.

FIG. 19 illustrates another embodiment of a noise reduction unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The configuration of the device or control method described below is intended only to explain embodiments of the present disclosure and not to limit the scope of the disclosure, and reference numerals used identically throughout the specification indicate identical components.

[0039] The singular expressions in the present specification include the plural expressions unless clearly specified otherwise in context. In this specification, the terms such as "include", "comprise", or "have" may be construed to denote a certain characteristic, number, step, operation, constituent element, or a combination thereof, but may not be construed to exclude the existence of or a possibility of addition of one or more other characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, constituent elements, or combinations thereof.

[0040] Expressions indicating relative or absolute arrangements such as "in a certain direction," "along a certain direction," "parallel," "vertically," "to the center," "concentric," or "coaxial" not only strictly indicate such arrangements, but also indicate relative displacements with a tolerance or an angle or distance such that the same function is obtained.

[0041] Although the terms first, second, or the like may be used in the specification to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. Therefore, a first component may be named a second component, and similarly, a second component may also be named a first component.

[0042] The terms such as "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "side," "front end," "rear end," "upper end," and "lower end" used in this specification are defined based on the drawings or based on the arrangement/placement state of the component or between the components, and the shape and location of each component are not limited by these terms.

[0043] Hereinafter, embodiments of a laundry treating apparatus and a control method thereof will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a laundry treating apparatus 100 may include a first treating device 100a (laundry treating module, treater, or drying body) that provides a space for receiving a treating object (laundry, or the like) and a space for heat exchange between the treating object and air, and a second treating device 100b (air processing module, drying module, or heat exchange module) that heat-exchanges the air that has completed heat exchanged with the treating object with a refrigerant and supplies air to the treating object.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 2, the second treating device 100b may be detachably fixed to one surface of the first treating device 100a, and the air supplied to the first treating device 100a through the second treating device 100b may be high-temperature dry air (air having a temperature higher than room temperature and a humidity lower than that of room temperature air).

[0046] The first treating device 100a may include a cabinet 1 (first cabinet), a drum 4 provided inside the first cabinet to accommodate a treating object, and an exhaust unit 3 (first exhaust unit) that guides air discharged from the drum to the second treating device 100b (guides the air to the outside of the first treating device).

[0047] The first cabinet 1 may include a front panel 11 (first front panel) having an input port 111, and a rear panel 12 (first rear panel) providing a space for accommodating the second treating device 100b.

[0048] The front panel 11 may include a door 113 that opens and closes the input port 111, and the rear panel 12 may include a supply port 121 connected to a chamber discharge hole 652 of the second treating device 100b and an output port 123 connected to a chamber inlet hole 651 of the second treating device.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 3, the first cabinet 1 may include a receiving portion 2 that provides a space for receiving the drum 4, and the drum 4 may be rotatably fixed inside a receiving chamber 21 provided in the receiving portion 2.

[0050] A front surface of the receiving chamber 21 may be provided to be closed by the first front panel 11, and a rear surface of the receiving chamber 21 may be provided to be closed by the first rear panel 12. The front surface (front open surface) of the receiving chamber 21 may be provided to surround the input port 111, and the rear surface (rear open surface) of the receiving chamber 21 may be provided to surround the supply port. Therefore, the input port 111 and the supply port provided in the first rear panel 12 may be seen as being connected to each other through the receiving chamber 21.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 4, the receiving chamber 21 may include an upper surface 22, a lower surface 23 (bottom surface), a first side surface 24, and a second side surface 25. The upper surface 22 is provided to be spaced apart from the upper surface of the first cabinet 1, the first side surface 24 is provided to be in contact with the first side surface of the first cabinet 1, and the second side surface 25 may be provided to be in contact with the second side surface of the first cabinet 1. The first side surface of the first cabinet 1 may be fixed to the first side surface 24 of the receiving portion, and the second side surface of the first cabinet 1 may be fixed to the second side surface 25 of the receiving portion.

[0052] To prevent air introduced into the receiving chamber 21 through the supply port 121 from leaking into a space formed between the front surface of the receiving chamber 21 and the first front panel 11, a chamber sealer 261 may be provided on the front surface of the receiving chamber 21.

[0053] The upper surface 22 of the receiving chamber may include a reference surface 224, a first inclined surface 221 that slopes downward toward an upper end of the first side surface 24 from an edge of the reference surface, and a second inclined surface 222 that slopes downward toward an upper end of the second side surface 25 from an edge of the reference surface. The reference surface may include a horizontal surface, and an inclined surface. Unlike in the drawing, the upper surface 22 may include only one of the two inclined surfaces.

[0054] When the inclined surfaces 221 and 222 are provided on the upper surface 22, a space between the drum 4 and the receiving chamber 21 may be reduced, and thus air discharged from the drum 4 to the receiving chamber 21 may be quickly moved to the first exhaust unit 3.

[0055] When the inclined surfaces 221 and 222 are provided on the upper surface 22, a space may be formed to install a driver 5 required to rotate the drum 4 or a coin box required for a commercial laundry treating apparatus at an upper corner of the first cabinet 1, thereby easily reducing the volume of the first cabinet 1. For example, the driver 5 may be located in a space formed by the first inclined surface 221, and the coin box (payment means mounting portion) may be provided in a space formed by the second inclined surface 222.

[0056] The first exhaust unit 3 may include an exhaust chamber 31 (first exhaust chamber) that forms a space separated from the receiving chamber 21, an exhaust duct 34 that guides air introduced into the first exhaust chamber 31 to the second treating device 100b, and an exhaust fan 35 (first exhaust fan) provided inside the exhaust duct.

[0057] The first exhaust chamber 31 may be provided inside the first cabinet 1 to be located below the receiving chamber 21 and may be connected to the receiving chamber 21 through a chamber communication hole 32 provided to pass through the lower surface 23 of the receiving chamber (pass through the upper surface of the first exhaust chamber).

[0058] One surface of the first exhaust chamber 31 may be provided to be opened and closed by an exhaust cover 33. FIG. 3 illustrates an example in which the exhaust cover 33 is provided to open and close an open surface formed in a front portion of the first exhaust chamber 31.

[0059] The exhaust cover 33 may be provided as a panel that is detachable from the first cabinet 1 and has one end that is rotatably fixed to the first cabinet 1. The exhaust cover 33 may be provided to form the front surface of the first treating device 100a together with the first front panel 11.

[0060] To filter the air introduced into the first exhaust chamber 31, a filter 36 may be provided inside the first exhaust chamber 31. To increase a filtration amount, the filter 36 may be fixed at an angle inside the first exhaust chamber 31. That is, the filter 36 may be fixed to the first exhaust chamber 31 such that an upper end of the filter 36 is positioned closer to the exhaust cover 33 than a lower end of the filter 36 (see FIG. 3), or the filter 36 may be fixed such that the lower end of the filter 36 is positioned closer to the exhaust cover 33 than the upper end of the filter 36 (see FIG. 6). Unlike in the drawing, the filter 36 may be provided in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the first exhaust chamber 31.

[0061] The drum 4 may include a drum body 41 that is rotatably provided inside the receiving chamber 21 and stores a treating object.

[0062] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the drum body 41 may be provided in a hollow cylindrical shape, and the receiving chamber 21 may include a drum support 45 that supports a lower circumferential surface of the drum body 41 (the circumferential surface of the drum body located below a horizontal line passing through the center of rotation of the drum body). The drum support 45 may be provided as a roller rotatably fixed inside the receiving chamber 21, and may be provided at each corner in which the lower surface 23 and both side surfaces 24 and 25 of the receiving chamber 21 intersect with each other.

[0063] In the case of a laundry treating apparatus in which the drum support 45 is located outside the receiving chamber 21, a hole through which the drum support 45 passes needs to be formed in the receiving portion 2, and in this case, there is a disadvantage that air supplied to the receiving chamber 21 is more likely to leak into the first cabinet 1 (reduction in heat exchange efficiency). However, as shown in the drawing, when the drum support 45 is provided inside the receiving chamber 21, the problem described above may be prevented.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 4, the front surface 411 (drum front surface) of the drum body 41 may include a drum input port 413 communicating with the input port 111. Accordingly, the treating object, such as laundry, introduced through the input port 111 may be moved into the drum body 41 through the drum input port 413.

[0065] A lifter 415 may be provided inside the drum body 41. The lifter 415 may be provided as a board protruding from the circumferential surface of the drum body 41 toward the center of rotation of the drum body. The lifter 415 has an effect of promoting heat exchange between the treating object and the air by causing the treating object to fall or roll inside the drum body 41 when the drum body 41 rotates.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 5, a drum rotation shaft 44 may be provided on a rear surface 412 of the drum body. Accordingly, the circumferential surface of the drum body 41 may be supported on the lower surface 23 of the receiving chamber through the drum support 45, and the rear surface 412 of the drum body may be rotatably supported on the first rear panel 12 through the drum rotation shaft 44.

[0067] The rear surface 412 of the drum body may include a drum supply port 42 that guides air supplied from the supply port 121 into the drum body 41. The drum rotation shaft 44 may be provided at the center of the rear surface 412 of the drum body, and the drum supply port 42 may include a plurality of drum through holes arranged to surround the drum rotation shaft 44.

[0068] Air introduced into the drum body 41 through the drum supply port 42 may be discharged into the receiving chamber 21 through a drum exhaust port 43. The circumferential surface of the drum body 41 may be divided into a front circumferential surface 416 connected to the drum front surface 411 and a rear circumferential surface 417 connected to the drum rear surface 412, and the drum exhaust port 43 may include a plurality of through holes provided in the front circumferential surface 416.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 4, to facilitate movement of air discharged from the drum exhaust port 43 to the exhaust chamber 31 (improving drying efficiency), at least a portion of the chamber communication hole 32 may be located within a space in which the drum exhaust port 43 is projected onto the lower surface 23 of the receiving chamber.

[0070] The lower surface 23 of the receiving chamber and the upper surface of the first exhaust chamber 31 may be provided as the same surface. That is, the receiving chamber 21 and the first exhaust chamber 31 may be provided as spaces separated from each other through the lower surface 23. In this case, the chamber communication hole 32 may be provided as a hole formed to pass through the lower surface 23.

[0071] A guide channel 122 may be further provided inside the receiving chamber 21 such that air supplied through the supply port 121 flows directly into the drum body 41 (improving drying efficiency).

[0072] The guide channel 122 may be provided in a shape of a pipe having one end that is in contact with the rear panel 12 to surround the supply port 121 and the other end that is in contact with the rear surface 412 of the drum body to surround the entire drum supply port 42. The guide channel 122 may be provided to be fixed to the first rear panel 12 or to be provided to be fixed to the rear surface 412 of the drum body. FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which the guide channel 122 is fixed to a guide bracket 124 provided on the first rear panel 12. The guide bracket 124 may be provided such that a plurality of brackets may surround the supply port 121.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 6, when the first exhaust fan 35 is operated, air inside the drum body 41 moves from the receiving chamber 21 to the first exhaust chamber 31 through the drum exhaust port 43 and the chamber communication hole 32, and air inside the first exhaust chamber 31 is supplied to the second treating device 100b through the exhaust duct 34 and the output port 123.

[0074] Air supplied to the second treating device 100b through the chamber inlet hole 651 is dehumidified and heated by a heat exchanger 7, and air passing through the heat exchanger 7 is discharged from the second treating device 100b through the chamber discharge hole 652. The air discharged from the chamber discharge hole 652 may move into the drum body 41 through the supply port 121, the guide channel 122, and the drum supply port 42 to exchange heat with a treating object.

[0075] The air that has completed heat exchange inside the drum body 41 may move to the first exhaust chamber 31 through the drum exhaust port 43 and the chamber communication hole 32, and the air inside the first exhaust chamber 31 may move to the chamber inlet hole 651 through the filter 36 and the exhaust duct 34.

[0076] The driver 5 may include a motor 51 and a belt 512 connecting a rotation shaft 511 (driving shaft) of the motor and the circumferential surface of the drum body 41. The belt 512 may be provided to connect the rear circumferential surface 417 of the drum body and the driving shaft 511.

[0077] The motor 51 may be fixed to the receiving chamber 21 or the first cabinet 1 and may be located at a point higher than the drum body 41 in an external space of the receiving chamber 21. When the motor 51 is fixed such that the driving shaft 511 is located higher than an uppermost end of the drum body 41, the tension of the belt 512 may be maintained by the weight of the drum body 41.

[0078] When the drum body 41 is rotated by the motor 51, vibration may occur in the drum body 41, and when the drum body 41 vibrates, the tension acting on the belt 512 may change. When the tension of the belt 512 becomes smaller than a set size, it may be difficult to rotate the drum body 41 at a desired speed, and when the tension of the belt 512 becomes larger than the set size, a problem may occur in which the durability of the driver 5, including the belt 512, is reduced. However, as described above, when the position of the motor 51 is set, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may effectively maintain the tension of the belt 512 even with the vibration of the drum body 41, thereby reducing a problem caused by changes in tension.

[0079] When the weight of the drum body 41 is to be used to maintain the tension of the belt 512, the height of the motor 51 or the height of the driving shaft 511 may be located at a point lower than the uppermost end of the drum body 41, unlike in the drawing.

[0080] The motor 51 may be fixed to the upper surface 22 of the receiving chamber, and the upper surface 22 of the receiving chamber may include a chamber through hole 223 through which the belt 512 is inserted into the receiving chamber 21. FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which the motor 51 is fixed to the first inclined surface 221. In this case, the chamber through hole 223 may be provided in the first inclined surface 221. The interior of the receiving chamber 21 communicates with the interior of the first cabinet 1 (outside of the receiving chamber) through the chamber through hole 223.

[0081] The chamber through hole 223 may be provided in a shape that is in contact with a boundary 225 between the reference surface 224 and the first inclined surface 221, or may be provided in a shape that is not in contact with the boundary 225. FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which a portion of an edge of the chamber through hole 223 comes into contact with the boundary 225. In this case, a straight line connecting the drum rotation shaft 44 and the driving shaft 511 may be closer to a vertical line, which may be more advantageous for maintaining the tension of the belt 512.

[0082] To maintain the tension of the belt 512 even when the drum body 41 vibrates, the motor 51 may be provided such that a distance between the drum body 41 and the driving shaft 511 is maintained when the drum body 41 vibrates. That is, the motor 51 may be provided to moveable over a preset section. FIG. 8 illustrates an example in which the motor 51 is capable of moving along an arc-shaped trajectory when the drum body 41 vibrates.

[0083] The first cabinet 1 or the receiving chamber 21 may include motor supports 52 and 54 for fixing the motor 51.

[0084] The motor support may include a support body 52 fixed to the upper surface of the first cabinet 1 or the receiving chamber 21 to be located in an external space of the receiving chamber 21, and a connecting body 54 rotatably fixed to the support body to support the motor 51.

[0085] The support body 52 may include a first support body 521 and a second support body 522 that are fixed to the upper surface 22 and located outside the receiving chamber 21. One end of the connecting body 54 may be provided with a body rotation shaft 541 that forms the center of rotation, and the other end of the connecting body may be provided with a mounting portion 543 to which the motor 51 is fixed. The body rotation shaft 541 may be rotatably fixed to at least one of the two support bodies 521 and 522.

[0086] The bottom surface of the first support body 521 may have a shape corresponding to the upper surface 22 of the receiving chamber. That is, when the upper surface of the receiving chamber includes the reference surface 224 and the inclined surfaces 221 and 222, the bottom surface of the first support body 521 may include a reference surface contact portion 521a that is in contact with the reference surface, a first inclined surface contact portion 521b that is in contact with the first inclined surface, and a second inclined surface contact portion 521c that is in contact with the second inclined surface.

[0087] To increase the strength of the first cabinet 1, two side surfaces 5211 and 5212 of the first support body 521 may be in contact with the two side surfaces of the first cabinet 1. The first side surface of the first cabinet may be fixed to one side surface 5212 of the first support body, and the second side surface of the second cabinet may be fixed to the other side surface 5211 of the first support body.

[0088] The laundry treating apparatus may include a first controller 18 configured to control the first treating device 100a, and the first support body 521 may have a controller mounting portion 19 to which the first controller 18 is fixed.

[0089] To form a space for installing the connecting body 54, the second support body 522 may be fixed at a point spaced apart from the first support body 521. The shape of the second support body 522 may be provided in the same way as the first support body 521, or may be provided in a different shape.

[0090] To maintain a distance between the first support body 521 and the second support body 522 and to firmly support the body rotation shaft 541 (to firmly support the connecting body), the support body 52 may further include a third support body 523 (shaft support body) connecting the first support body 521 and the second support body 522.

[0091] In this case, the body rotation shaft 541 may be provided to pass through the first support body 521, the bend portions 523a and 523b at both ends of the third support body 523, and the second support body 522, and one end of the connecting body 54 may be fixed to the body rotation shaft 541 and may be located between the first bend portion 523a and the second bend portion 523b.

[0092] The connecting body 54 may be located in the center of the two support bodies 521 and 522, or may be fixed to be located at a point close to one of the two supporting bodies. Considering ease of installation and repair, the connecting body 54 may be disposed close to either the first support body 521 or the second support body 522. When the connecting body 54 is located at a point close to the first support body 521, a space in which the connecting body 54 is moveable toward the second support body 522 between the two bend portions 523a and 523b may be formed (see FIG. 9).

[0093] To prevent the driving shaft 511 from interfering with the support body 52 when the motor 51 vibrates together with the drum body 41, and to reduce a change in tension of the belt 512 by providing a movement path of the driving shaft 511 when the drum body 41 vibrates, the driver 5 may include a path forming unit 524 and an elastic force providing unit 542.

[0094] FIG. 8 illustrates an example in which a path forming unit 542 is provided to guide the driving shaft 511 to move along the same trajectory as the movement trajectory of the motor (an arc-shaped trajectory). The path forming unit 524 may be provided as a slit formed to pass through the first support body 521. The slit may be provided as an arc with a radius equal to a length from the body rotation shaft 541 to the driving shaft 511, and may be provided to extend from the inside of the first support body 521 to the upper end of the first support body 521.

[0095] The elastic force providing unit 542 may be provided to provide elastic force to the connecting body 54 such that a distance between the motor 51 and the drum body 41 is maintained. The elastic force providing unit 542 may be provided as a tension spring (a spring that provides a force to pull the mounting portion away from the receiving chamber) or as a compression spring (a spring that provides a force to push the mounting portion away from the receiving chamber).

[0096] When provided with a compression spring, the elastic force providing unit 542 may have one end fixed to the upper surface 22 of the receiving chamber and the other end fixed to the mounting portion 543. When provided with a tension spring, the elastic force providing unit 542 may have one end fixed to the mounting portion 543 and the other end fixed to the support body 52. When the elastic force providing unit 542 is provided as a tension spring, a spring fastener 525 may be provided at the upper end of the first support body 521. Considering ease of assembly or repair, the elastic force providing unit 542 may be provided as a tension spring.

[0097] To prevent a treating object from twisting, a rotation direction of the drum body 41 needs to be changed, and when the rotation direction of the drum body 41 is changed, a large change in the tension of the belt 512 may occur.

[0098] To reduce the change in tension due to the change in the rotation direction of the drum body 41, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include a tension maintaining portion 56.

[0099] The tension maintaining portion 56 may include a tension body 561 that is freely rotatably connected to the driving shaft 511, a driving pulley 563 that is fixed to the driving shaft 511 and supports an inner surface 512b of the belt 512, and a first pulley 564 and a second pulley 565 that are rotatably fixed to the tension body 561 and support an outer surface 512a of the belt.

[0100] The fact that the driving shaft 511 is fixed to the tension body 561 to be freely rotatable means that the driving shaft 511 is fixed to the tension body 561 through a bearing 562. Accordingly, the tension body 561 may rotate around the driving shaft 511 regardless of whether the driving shaft 511 rotates.

[0101] The first pulley 564 may be located on one side of the left and right of the driving pulley 563, and the second pulley 565 may be located on the other side of the left and right of the driving pulley 563.

[0102] The center of rotation of the driving pulley 563, the center of rotation of the first pulley 564, and the center of rotation of the second pulley 565 may be arranged in a straight line, or may be arranged to form a triangle as shown in FIG. 9.

[0103] The driving pulley 563, the first pulley 564, and the second pulley 565 may be provided on a surface facing a location of the first support body 521 (location of the motor) in a space provided by the tension body 561. That is, the driving pulley 563, the first pulley 564, and the second pulley 565 may be provided to be located in a space formed between the tension body 561 and the first support body 521.

[0104] In the driver 5 having the structure described above, the belt 512 is formed to pass through the upper surface 22 of the receiving chamber via the chamber through hole 223, air inside the receiving chamber 21 may leak into the first cabinet 1 through the chamber through hole 223 (problems of reduced drying efficiency and increased drying time occur).

[0105] To prevent the problem described above, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include a sealing portion 28 that blocks air from leaking from the receiving chamber 21 through the chamber through hole 223.

[0106] The sealing portion 28 may include a through-hole cover 281 that is coupled to the receiving chamber 21 and the first support body 521 to prevents air from leaking through the chamber through hole 223, and a slit cover 285 that prevents air from leaking through the path forming unit 524.

[0107] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the through-hole cover 281 may include a sealing chamber 282 defining a closed space, a first open hole 283 provided on one surface of the sealing chamber 282 and closed by the first support body 521, and a second open hole 284 provided on the other surface of the sealing chamber 282 and surrounding the chamber through hole 223.

[0108] The first open hole 283 may be provided as an open surface formed in the through-hole cover 281 such that one surface (side surface, or the like) of the sealing chamber 282 is exposed, or may be provided as a hole formed to pass through one surface of the through-hole cover 281 and communicating with the sealing chamber 282. In the latter case, the first open hole 283 may be provided as an arc-shaped hole or slit having a shape that does not interfere with a slit 524 provided in the first support body (a shape that does not hinder the movement of the driving shaft).

[0109] The second open hole 284 may be provided as an open surface formed in the through-hole cover 281 such that one surface (bottom surface, or the like) of the sealing chamber 282 is exposed, or may be provided as a hole formed to pass through one surface of the through-hole cover 281 and surrounding the sealing chamber 282.

[0110] The through-hole cover 281 may be fixed to the first inclined surface 221 and fixed between a corner of the first cabinet 1 and the receiving chamber 21. In this case, the height of the through-hole cover 281 (the height of the sealing chamber) may increase further away from the boundary 225 between the reference surface 224 and the first inclined surface 221.

[0111] The height of the sealing chamber 282 is set such that a height H1 further from the boundary 225 is higher than a height H2 closer to the boundary in consideration of the movement of the driving shaft 511 and the tension maintaining portion 56 when the drum body 41 rotates. That is, when the height of the sealing chamber 282 is set such that a portion further from the boundary 225 has a greater height, the movement of the tension maintaining portion 56 during vibration of the drum body 41 may be prevented from being interfered with by the through-hole cover 281.

[0112] As shown in FIG. 9, the slit cover 285 may be provided in a shape that is capable of closing the path forming unit 524 and may be fixed to at least one of the connecting body 54 and the motor 51.

[0113] The slit cover 285 may include a cover body 286 that is fixed to the mounting portion 543 of the connecting body and is in contact with the first support body 521, and a cover through hole 287 that is provided in the cover body 286 and through which the driving shaft 511 passes.

[0114] To prevent the slit 524 from opening even when the connecting body 54 moves, the length of the cover body 286 may be set to be greater than or equal to the length of the slit 524. A range of motion of the connecting body 54 (rotation angle, range of movement of the motor, and range of movement of the driving shaft) may be set to a range in which the slit 524 is not opened by the cover body 286.

[0115] The cover body 286 may include a base 286a in which the cover through hole 287 is formed, an upper extension body 286b extending upward from the base, and a lower extension body 286c extending downward from the base. The length of the upper extension body and the length of the lower extension body may be set to be the same, or one of the two extension bodies may be set to be longer than the other. FIG. 9 illustrates an example in which the length of the upper extension body 286b is set greater than the length of the lower extension body 286c.

[0116] As more treating objects are fed into the drum body 41, the weight of the drum body 41 increases, and as the weight of the drum body 41 increases, the motor 51 may move toward the upper surface of the receiving chamber 21. In this situation, when the drum body 41 rotates, the motor 51 may move more frequently toward the receiving chamber 21 than toward the receiving chamber 21. Therefore, when the length of the upper extension body 286b is set greater than the length of the lower extension body 286c, it may be advantageous for maintaining the sealing of the slit 524.

[0117] The cover body 286 may be fixed to the mounting portion 543 through a fastener 289. The fastener 289 may include a plurality of hooks arranged along an edge of the base 286a, and the hooks may be detachably fastened to the mounting portion 543.

[0118] The cover body 286 may be located inside the through-hole cover 281 or outside the through-hole cover 281. That is, the cover body 286 may be located inside the sealing chamber 282 or outside the sealing chamber 282. FIG. 10 illustrates an example in which the cover body 286 is located outside the sealing chamber 282.

[0119] As illustrated in FIG. 8, to prevent air inside the sealing chamber 282 from leaking out through the path forming unit 542 and the cover through hole 287, the sealing portion 28 may further include a through hole sealer 288 that is fixed to the mounting portion 543 and closes the cover through hole 287.

[0120] The fastener 289 may be provided to be fastened to the edge of the through hole sealer 288, and the through hole sealer 288 may be provided to close the cover through hole 287.

[0121] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the rotation speed and rotation direction of the motor 51 described above may be controlled by a controller (first controller 18) of the first treating device, and the tension of the belt 512 may be maintained by reciprocating along an arc-shaped trajectory through the connecting body 54, the belt 512, and the elastic force providing unit 542 when the drum body 41 vibrates.

[0122] To ensure the movement space of the motor 51, the motor 51 may be provided not to move beyond a space formed above the first inclined surface 221. That is, the motor 51 may be located not to exceed a diameter of the drum body 41.

[0123] To ensure the movement space of the mounting portion 543 provided in the connecting body 54 (to ensure the movement space of the motor rotation shaft), the slit 524 may be provided at a point closer to the second side surface 25 of the receiving chamber than the boundary 225 between the reference surface and the first inclined surface (at an edge of the first inclined surface, located on an opposite side of the boundary). That is, the slit 524 may be provided at a point further from the body rotation shaft 541 relative to the boundary 225.

[0124] The elastic force providing unit 542 may also be located closer to the edge of the first inclined surface 221 (the edge connected to the second side surface) than to the boundary 225 to effectively support the connecting body 54. FIG. 11 illustrates an example in which the elastic force providing unit 542 is located between the slit 524 and an edge of the first inclined surface 221, located opposite to the boundary 225.

[0125] The driver 5 described above may minimize changes in the tension of the belt 512 even when the rotation direction of the drum body 41 is changed, as shown in (a) and (b) of FIG. 12.

[0126] That is, when the drum body 41 which rotates counterclockwise ((a) of FIG. 12) is rotated clockwise ((b) of FIG. 12), a temporary imbalance may occur between a force acting on the belt 512 in contact with the second pulley 565 and a force acting on the belt 512 in contact with the first pulley 564. However, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may change the location of the pulleys 564 and 565 as the tension body 561 rotates around the driving shaft 511 (rotating from A to B), thereby maintaining the tension of the belt 512.

[0127] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the second treating device 100b may include a cabinet 6 (second cabinet) that is detachably fixed to a rear surface 12 (first rear panel) of the first treating device 100a, and the heat exchanger 7 provided inside the second cabinet 6.

[0128] The second cabinet 6 may include a base panel 63 defining a bottom surface of the second treating device, a front panel 61 (second front panel) formed on a surface facing the first rear panel 12 and defining one surface of the second treating device, a rear panel 62 (second rear panel) defining another surface of the second treating device, and an upper panel 64 formed on the upper surface of the second treating device.

[0129] Inside the second cabinet 6, a first heat exchange chamber 65 (first chamber), a second heat exchange chamber 66 (second chamber) provided as a space separated from the first heat exchange chamber 66, and a third heat exchange chamber 67 (third chamber) separated from the first heat exchange chamber 66 and connected to the second heat exchange chamber 66 may be provided.

[0130] The first heat exchange chamber 65 may include a flow path (first flow path) that forms an air movement path parallel to a height direction (Y-axis direction) of the second treating device 100b, and the second heat exchange chamber 66 and the third heat exchange chamber 67 may be connected to each other and may include a single flow path (second flow path) through which air is capable of moving in the height direction of the second treating device.

[0131] The first flow path and the second flow path may be configured as independent flow paths. FIG. 13 illustrates an example in which the two flow paths are formed through a partition 613 that separates the interior of the second cabinet 6.

[0132] As illustrated in FIG. 14, the first heat exchange chamber 65 may receive air discharged from the first treating device 100a through the chamber inlet hole 651, and the air inside the first heat exchange chamber 65 may be supplied to the first treating device 100a through the chamber discharge hole 652.

[0133] The chamber inlet hole 651 may be located downstream of the first flow path, and the chamber discharge hole 652 may be located upstream of the first flow path.

[0134] The heat exchanger 7 may include the first heat exchange chamber 65 and has the property in which air heated by the heat exchanger 7 rises, and thus, when the chamber inlet hole 651 and the chamber discharge hole 652 are located at the lower and upper portions of the first flow path, respectively, with the heat exchanger in between, air may be supplied to the first treating device 100a more effectively.

[0135] The second rear panel 62 may include a first rear panel 621 of a chamber, defining a rear surface of the first flow path (a flow path formed by the first heat exchange chamber), and a second rear panel 622 of the chamber, defining a rear surface of the second flow path (a flow path formed by the second heat exchange chamber and the third heat exchange chamber).

[0136] The second treating device 100b may include an exhaust unit 9 (second exhaust unit). The second exhaust unit 9 is a device that moves air along the second flow path, and the second exhaust unit 9 may include an exhaust chamber 91 (second exhaust chamber) connected to the outside of the second cabinet 6.

[0137] The second exhaust chamber 91 may be a flow path connected to the second heat exchange chamber 66 and may be located above the first heat exchange chamber 65 and the second heat exchange chamber 66 as shown in the drawing. Unlike in the drawing, the second exhaust chamber 91 may be located only above the first heat exchange chamber 65 or only above the second heat exchange chamber 66.

[0138] The second exhaust chamber 91 may be formed by upper surfaces of the first heat exchange chamber 65 and the second heat exchange chamber 66, a rear panel 12 (first rear panel) of the first treating device, two side panels 611 and 612 of the second cabinet, a chamber panel 914, and the upper panel 64. Unlike in the drawing, the first rear panel 12 may be replaced by the second front panel 61, and the chamber panel 914 may be replaced by the second rear panel 62.

[0139] As shown in FIG. 15, the second exhaust chamber 91 may communicate with the second heat exchange chamber 66 through a first communication hole 912 and with the outside of the second cabinet 6 through a second communication hole 913.

[0140] The first communication hole 912 may be provided to pass through an upper surface (bottom surface of the second exhaust chamber) of the second heat exchange chamber 66, and the second communication hole 913 may be provided to pass through the chamber panel 914.

[0141] The second treating device 100b may include a fan 92 (second exhaust fan) that moves air from the second heat exchange chamber 66 into the second exhaust chamber 91.

[0142] The second exhaust fan 92 may include a housing 921 (fan housing) fixed to the second exhaust chamber 91, a housing inlet 922 connecting the housing to the first communication hole 912, a housing output port 923 that discharges air inside the housing, and an impeller 924 provided inside the housing. The impeller 924 may be provided to be rotated by a fan motor 925 fixed to the outside of the housing 921.

[0143] The second treating device 100b may further include a supply chamber 68 that supplies air to the second heat exchange chamber 66. The supply chamber 68 may include a flow path that supplies air to the second heat exchange chamber 66 when the second exhaust fan 92 is operated.

[0144] As shown in (b) of FIG. 15, the third heat exchange chamber 67, the second heat exchange chamber 66, and the second exhaust chamber 91 may be sequentially stacked in a height direction (Y-axis direction) of the first heat exchange chamber 65. That is, the second heat exchange chamber 66 may be located above the third heat exchange chamber 67, and the second exhaust chamber 91 may be located above the second heat exchange chamber 66.

[0145] The supply chamber 68 may be located at the same or similar height as the second heat exchange chamber 66. That is, the second heat exchange chamber 66 and the supply chamber 68 may be arranged side by side in a direction (X-axis direction or Y-axis direction) perpendicular to a direction of movement of air moving from the third heat exchange chamber 66 toward the second exhaust fan 92.

[0146] (b) of FIG. 15 illustrates an example in which the second heat exchange chamber 66 and the supply chamber 68 are arranged side by side in a depth direction (Z-axis direction) of the third heat exchange chamber 67 and are located above the third heat exchange chamber 67. In this case, the supply chamber 68 may be located above a rear space of the third heat exchange chamber 67, and the second heat exchange chamber 66 may be located above a front space of the third heat exchange chamber 67.

[0147] Although not shown in the drawing, the second heat exchange chamber 66 and the supply chamber 68 may be arranged side by side in the width direction (X-axis direction) of the third heat exchange chamber 67.

[0148] The second heat exchange chamber 66 may define a second flow path that receives air from the third heat exchange chamber 67, and the supply chamber 68 may define a third flow path that supplies air supplied from the third heat exchange chamber 67 to the second heat exchange chamber 66. In this case, the second rear panel 622 of the chamber may define the rear surface of the third flow path.

[0149] The second rear panel 622 of the chamber may include a first outside air supply port 623 that supplies air to the third heat exchange chamber 67 and a second outside air supply port 624 that supplies air to the supply chamber 68. Accordingly, air outside the second cabinet 6 may be introduced into the third heat exchange chamber 67 through the first outside air supply port 623, some of the air inside the third heat exchange chamber 67 may move to the second exhaust chamber 91 through the second heat exchange chamber 66, and the remainder of the air inside the third heat exchange chamber 67 may move to the second heat exchange chamber 66 through the supply chamber 68. That is, the supply chamber 68 may receive air through the third heat exchange chamber 67 and the second outside air supply port 624.

[0150] The heat exchanger 7 may include a refrigerant flow path 76 defining a refrigerant circulation flow path, a first heat exchanger 71 fixed to the refrigerant flow path 76 and located inside the first heat exchange chamber 65 and absorbing heat from air, a second heat exchanger 72 fixed to the refrigerant flow path 76 and located inside the first heat exchange chamber 65 and releasing heat to air that has passed through the first heat exchanger 71, a third heat exchanger 73 fixed to the refrigerant flow path 76 and located in the second heat exchange chamber 66, a compressor 74 located inside the third heat exchange chamber 67 and moving the refrigerant along the r refrigerant flow path 76, and a flow path switching unit 75 capable of changing a direction of the refrigerant supplied to the third heat exchanger 73.

[0151] The first heat exchanger 71 is a device (evaporator, or heat absorber) that absorbs heat from air flowing into the first heat exchange chamber 65, evaporates a refrigerant, and removes (condenses) water vapor contained in the air. The second heat exchanger 72 is a device (condenser, or heater) that releases heat to air passing through the first heat exchanger to condense the refrigerant and heat the air.

[0152] The first heat exchanger 71 may be located below the second heat exchanger 72 and may be inclined downward toward a bottom surface of the first heat exchange chamber 65. Water vapor contained in the air condenses while passing through the first heat exchanger 71, and thus may often remain on a surface of the first heat exchanger 71. Therefore, when the first heat exchanger 71 is fixed to the first heat exchange chamber 65 in an inclined structure, there is an effect of facilitating removal of condensate from a surface of the first heat exchanger 71.

[0153] When the first heat exchanger 71 is fixed to the first heat exchange chamber 65 in an inclined structure, the first heat exchanger 71 may be installed with an area larger than a flow path cross-sectional area of the first heat exchange chamber 65, and thereby the first heat exchanger 71 may more effectively exchange heat with the air.

[0154] To remove condensate falling from the first heat exchanger 71, a drainage unit may be provided on a bottom surface of the first heat exchange chamber 65. The drainage unit may include a water collection chamber 654 provided on a bottom surface of the first heat exchange chamber 65 to provide a space for storing condensate, and a drain pipe 655 for discharging the condensate of the water collection chamber 654 to the outside of the second cabinet 6.

[0155] The laundry treating apparatus 100 may prevent hygiene problems caused by condensation remaining on a bottom surface of the first heat exchange chamber 65 through the drainage unit, or problems caused by condensation evaporating and flowing into the drum body 41.

[0156] The third heat exchanger 73 may perform the same function (heat absorption function) as the first heat exchanger and may also perform the same function (heat generation function) as the second heat exchanger. The function of the third heat exchanger 73 may be switched in various ways. FIG. 16 illustrates an example of switching the function through the flow path switching unit 75.

[0157] As illustrated in FIG. 16, the flow path switching unit 75 may include a valve body 751 that provides a space for storing refrigerant, a refrigerant inlet 752 that introduces refrigerant into the valve body, a first connecting pipe 753 that communicates the inside of the valve body 751 with the outside, a second connecting pipe 754 that communicates the inside of the valve body 751 with the outside, a third connecting pipe 755 that communicates the inside of the valve body 751 with the outside, and a switching valve 756 that is movable inside the valve body and connects two of the three connecting pipes to each other.

[0158] The switching valve 756 may reciprocate between a preset first point and second point. In this case, the switching valve 756 may connect the second connecting pipe 754 and the third connecting pipe 755 (the refrigerant inlet is connected to the first connecting pipe) at the first point, and the first connecting pipe 753 and the second connecting pipe 754 may connect (the refrigerant inlet is connected to the third connecting pipe) at the second point.

[0159] In this case, the refrigerant flow path 76 includes a first refrigerant pipe 761 that guides a refrigerant discharged from the compressor 74 to the second heat exchanger 72, a second refrigerant pipe 762 that guides the refrigerant that has passed through the second heat exchanger 72 (refrigerant that has finished heat exchange with air in the second heat exchanger) to the refrigerant inlet 752, and a third refrigerant pipe 763 that guides the refrigerant discharged from the first connecting pipe 753 to the third heat exchanger 73. The third refrigerant pipe 763 may include a control valve 77 for controlling the pressure of a refrigerant.

[0160] The refrigerant flow path 76 may include a fourth refrigerant pipe 764 that guides the refrigerant passing through the third heat exchanger 73 to the third connecting pipe 755, a fifth refrigerant pipe 765 that guides the refrigerant discharged from the second connecting pipe 754 to the first heat exchanger 71, and a sixth refrigerant pipe 766 that guides the refrigerant passing through the first heat exchanger 71 to the compressor 74.

[0161] By means of the flow path switching unit 75, the third heat exchanger 73 may receive the refrigerant that has passed through the control valve 77 and may also receive the refrigerant that has not passed through the control valve 77.

[0162] A process of removing moisture from the treating object (drying cycle) may be performed more quickly as the amount of heat exchange between the refrigerant and air passing through the first heat exchanger 71 and the amount of heat exchange between the refrigerant and air passing through the second heat exchanger 72 increases. When the cross-sectional area of the first heat exchanger 71 and the cross-sectional area of the second heat exchanger 72 are designed to be wide to increase the amount of heat exchange, a problem may arise in which the total volume of the second treating device 100b increases due to an increase in the volume of the heat exchanger 7 and in some cases, a problem may arise in which the compressor overheats.

[0163] The heat exchanger 7 may switch a function of the third heat exchanger 73 between a heat absorption function and a heat generation function through the flow path switching unit 75. Accordingly, the heat exchanger 7 may supply high-temperature dry air to the first treating device 100a more quickly and effectively by setting the function of the third heat exchanger 73 to either the heat absorption function and the heat generation function in a specific section during execution of a drying cycle, which is divided into a preheating period, a constant drying rate period, and a falling drying rate period.

[0164] The preheating period may be defined as a period in which the temperature of laundry increases while a degree of dryness hardly changes, the constant drying rate period may be defined as a period in which the degree of dryness increases rapidly (the moisture content decreases rapidly) while the temperature of laundry hardly changes, and the falling drying rate period may be defined as a period in which the degree of dryness hardly changes while the temperature of laundry increases.

[0165] In an early stage of the drying cycle (preheating period), the temperature of air discharged from the drum body 41 (the temperature of the air flowing into the first heat exchange chamber) is low. Therefore, in the early stage of the drying cycle, the amount of energy absorbed by a refrigerant (heat absorption amount) needs to be increased to raise the temperature of the air supplied to the drum body 41, and thereby a time required to enter the constant drying rate period may be shortened (a time required for the preheating period to proceed may be shortened).

[0166] FIG. 16 illustrates a case in which the switching valve 756 is located at a first point. In this case, the switching valve 756 may guide a refrigerant that has passed through the second heat exchanger 72 to the control valve 77, and a refrigerant that has passed through the control valve 77 may pass through the third heat exchanger 73 and then pass through the valve body 751 to be supplied to the first heat exchanger 71.

[0167] Accordingly, when the second exhaust fan 92 is operated, the refrigerant passing through the third heat exchanger 73 may absorb thermal energy from the air moving along the second flow path (second heat exchange chamber and third heat exchange chamber). Therefore, the heat exchanger 7 may shorten an execution time of the drying cycle (drying time) by shortening a duration of the preheating period.

[0168] In the case of the heat exchanger 7 that is not provided in the third heat exchanger 73, a rotational speed (operating frequency) of the compressor 74 needs to be increased to increase the heat absorption amount at the early stage of the drying cycle, and thus vibration or noise of the compressor at the beginning of the drying cycle may be a problem, but the heat exchanger 7 according to the present disclosure may prevent such problems.

[0169] In a late stage of the drying cycle (after a late stage of the constant drying rate period or the falling drying rate period), the amount of energy absorbed by the refrigerant increases because the temperature of the air discharged from the drum body 41 is high. Therefore, in the late stage of the drying cycle, the heat absorbed by the refrigerant needs to be released quickly such that an end time of the drying cycle may be advanced and the heat exchanger 7 may be stably controlled (preventing overheating of the compressor, or the like).

[0170] FIG. 17 illustrates a case in which the switching valve 756 is located at a second point. In this case, the switching valve 756 guides a refrigerant that has passed through the second heat exchanger 72 to the third heat exchanger 73, and a refrigerant that has passed through the third heat exchanger is supplied to the first heat exchanger 71 via the control valve 77 and the valve body 751.

[0171] Accordingly, when the exhaust fan 35 is operated, the second heat exchanger 72 may release heat to the air moving along the first heat exchange chamber 65, and when the second exhaust fan 92 is operated, the third heat exchanger 73 may release heat to the air moving along the second flow path. Accordingly, the heat exchanger 7 may effectively release the heat absorbed by the refrigerant in the late stage of the drying cycle, thereby shortening a drying time and preventing overheating of the compressor.

[0172] As shown in FIG. 15, the heat exchanger 7 described above may be controlled by a controller 8 (second controller), and the second controller 8 may be provided in the supply chamber 68.

[0173] The second controller 8 may include a board fixing plate 81 located inside the supply chamber 68, a circuit board 83 fixed to the board fixing plate 81, and a control circuit provided on the circuit board 83 to control the heat exchanger 7.

[0174] The board fixing plate 81 may be fixed to one surface of the supply chamber 68 or one surface of the second heat exchange chamber. (b) of FIG. 15 illustrates an example in which the board fixing plate 81 is fixed to one surface (mounting surface 661) of the second heat exchange chamber. The mounting surface 661 may be provided as a partition separating the second heat exchange chamber 66 and the supply chamber 68.

[0175] The control circuit provided in the circuit board 83 may be provided as a circuit capable of controlling at least one of the compressor 74 and the control valve 77, and an example of the control circuit may be an inverter circuit or inverter driver that controls the rotational speed (operating frequency) of the compressor 74.

[0176] To cool the control circuit, the second controller 8 may include a cooler 84. The cooler 84 may include a plurality of cooling fins that are fixed to the circuit board 83 and connected to the control circuit. That is, the cooler 84 may be provided by arranging the plurality of cooling fins parallel to a height direction (Y-axis direction) of the second heat exchange chamber 66 to be spaced apart in a width direction (X-axis direction) of the second heat exchange chamber 66.

[0177] The cooler 84 may be configured to cool the control circuit by using at least one of air moving along the second heat exchange chamber 66 and the air moving along the supply chamber 68.

[0178] To this end, the mounting surface 661 may include a chamber supply port 662 connecting the supply chamber 68 and the second heat exchange chamber 66, and the cooler 84 may be located at the chamber supply port 662. The chamber supply port 662 is a through hole provided to pass through the mounting surface 661 and may be located between the third heat exchanger 73 and the second exhaust fan 92.

[0179] The concept that the cooler 84 is located in the chamber supply port 662 includes both cases in which at least a portion of the cooler 84 is inserted into the chamber supply port 662 and located inside the second heat exchange chamber 66) and cases in which the cooler 84 is located outside the second heat exchange chamber 66 (located inside the supply chamber) not to be inserted into the chamber supply port 662.

[0180] When the cooler 84 is located outside the second heat exchange chamber 66, at least a portion of the cooler 84 may be provided at the same height as the chamber supply port 662. When the cooler 84 is located outside the second heat exchange chamber 66, all or part of the cooler 84 may be provided such that the chamber supply port 662 is located within a space projected onto the circuit board 83.

[0181] When the cooler 84 includes a plurality of cooling fins, the plurality of cooling fins may be located inside the supply chamber 68 (outside the second heat exchange chamber) and to be in contact with the mounting surface 661. In this case, the chamber supply port 662 may be divided into a plurality of through holes, with left and right edges closed by the cooling fins and upper and lower edges open.

[0182] When the second exhaust fan 92 is operated, outside air is introduced into the third heat exchange chamber 67 through the first outside air supply port 623 and into the supply chamber 68 through the second outside air supply port 624.

[0183] Some of the air inside the third heat exchange chamber 67 may be moved to the second exhaust chamber 91 via the third heat exchanger 73, and the remaining of the air in the third heat exchange chamber 67 may be supplied to the supply chamber 68. Thus, the supply chamber 68 may receive outside air through the third heat exchange chamber 67 and the second outside air supply port 624.

[0184] To reduce the possibility of foreign substances, including water, being supplied to the circuit board 83, the second outside air supply port 624 may be provided in a location that does not expose the circuit board 83 to the outside. That is, the second outside air supply port 624 may be located at a point lower than the circuit board 83, or may be located at a point spaced apart from the left edge or the right edge of the circuit board 83.

[0185] The air inside the supply chamber 68 is introduced into the second heat exchange chamber 66 through the chamber supply port 662. Accordingly, the cooler 84 may be cooled by air moving along the second heat exchange chamber 66 after completing heat exchange with the third heat exchanger 73 or by air supplied to the second heat exchange chamber 66 through the supply chamber 68.

[0186] Outside air is supplied to the compressor 74 provided in the third heat exchange chamber 67 while the second exhaust fan 92 operates, and thus according to the present disclosure, heat exchange between the air and the third heat exchanger 73, cooling of the compressor 74, and the control circuit may be simultaneously executed through the second exhaust fan 92.

[0187] To implement the effect described above, the compressor 74, the third heat exchanger 73, and the second exhaust fan 92 may be sequentially provided in the height direction of the first heat exchange chamber 65. That is, the third heat exchanger 73 may be located at a higher point than the compressor 74, and the second exhaust fan 92 may be located at a higher point than the third heat exchanger 73.

[0188] To facilitate supply of air from the third heat exchange chamber 67 to the second heat exchange chamber 66 through the chamber supply port 662 (to facilitate heat exchange in the cooler), the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include flow path forming units 821 and 822.

[0189] FIG. 14 illustrates an example in which the flow path forming units 821 and 822 are provided on the board fixing plate 81. The flow path forming unit of FIG. 14 may not only provide a space in which the cooler 84 is located between the chamber supply port 662 and the board fixing plate 81, but also guide the air inside the supply chamber 68 to the chamber supply port 662.

[0190] The flow path forming unit may include a first spacer 821 and a second spacer 822 that are provided at both ends facing each other of the board fixing plate 81 and maintain a gap between the board fixing plate 81 and the mounting surface 661. The first spacer 821 and the second spacer 822 may be provided as boards extending in a height direction of the second heat exchange chamber 66.

[0191] The laundry treating apparatus 100 may generate noise or vibration when the second exhaust fan 92 is operated. To reduce noise from the second exhaust fan 92, the second exhaust chamber 91 may include a noise reduction unit 93.

[0192] The noise reduction unit 93 may be provided between the second exhaust fan 92 and the second communication hole 913 and may be provided as a space or device that lowers the pressure of the air discharged from the second exhaust fan 92.

[0193] (a) of FIG. 18 illustrates an example in which the noise reduction unit 93 is provided as a space formed by separating the housing output port 923 of the second exhaust fan 92 and the second communication hole 913.

[0194] (b) of FIG. 18 illustrates an example of the noise reduction unit 93 that reduces noise of the second exhaust fan by setting a movement direction F1 of the air discharged from the second exhaust fan 92 and a movement direction F2 of the air discharged from the second exhaust chamber 91 through the second communication hole 913 differently.

[0195] An angle C between the movement direction F1 of the air discharged from the housing output port 923 of the second exhaust fan and the movement direction F2 of the air discharged through the second communication hole 913 may be configured to form an angle of 50 to 90 degrees.

[0196] In the case of the noise reduction unit 93 that reduces noise by generating a space between the housing output port 923 and the second communication hole 913, it may be seen that noise of the second exhaust fan may be reduced most effectively when the angle C is approximately 90 degrees.

[0197] When the angle C is greater than 90 degrees, there may be a disadvantage that it takes a long time for the air inside the second exhaust chamber 91 to be discharged through the second communication hole 913, and when the angle C is less than 50 degrees, an exhaust time may be shortened, but it may be seen that an effect of reducing noise is not as great as when the angle C is large.

[0198] FIG. 19 illustrates another embodiment of the noise reduction unit 93. The noise reduction unit 93 according to the present embodiment may include a first reduction unit flow path 931 connected to the housing output port 923, and a second reduction unit flow path 932 connected to the first reduction unit flow path 931 and having a flow path cross-sectional area wider than a flow path cross-sectional area of the first reduction unit flow path.

[0199] A movement direction F3 of the air discharged to the second exhaust chamber 91 through the first reduction unit flow path 931 and the second reduction unit flow path 932 may be provided to be perpendicular to the movement direction F2 of the air discharged through the second communication hole 913.

[0200] Unlike in the drawing, either the first reduction unit flow path 931 or the second reduction unit flow path 932 may be provided to guide air in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction F2 of the air discharged through the second communication hole 913.

[0201] To shorten a time for the air discharged from the second exhaust fan 92 to the second exhaust chamber 91 to be discharged to the outside, the noise reduction unit 93 may further include a third reduction unit flow path 933 that guides the air discharged from the second reduction unit flow path 932 to the second communication hole 913. The third reduction unit flow path 933 may be provided in any structure as long as the structure is capable of guiding an output port 934 of the second reduction unit flow path to the second communication hole 913.

[0202] When considering noise reduction of the second exhaust fan 92, a flow path cross-sectional area of the third reduction unit flow path 933 may be set to be greater than or equal to a flow path cross-sectional area of the first reduction unit flow path 931. Although not shown in the drawing, the cross-sectional area of the third reduction unit flow path 933 may be set to be greater than or equal to the flow path cross-sectional area of the second reduction unit flow path 932.

[0203] The laundry treating apparatus and control method described above are examples of the present disclosure, and therefore the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the structure or control method described above.

Claims

1. A laundry treating apparatus comprising:

a drum that provides a space storing laundry;

a first heat exchange chamber that receives air discharged from the drum through a chamber inlet and supplies air to the drum through a chamber output port;

a second heat exchange chamber that forms a space separated from the first heat exchange chamber;

a heat exchanger including a refrigerant flow path providing a path in which a refrigerant moves, a first heat exchanger fixed to the refrigerant flow path and located inside the first heat exchange chamber to absorb heat from air, a second heat exchanger fixed to the refrigerant flow path and located inside the first heat exchanger to supply heat to air passing through the first heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger fixed to the refrigerant flow path and located inside the second heat exchanger, a compressor that circulates the refrigerant along the refrigerant flow path, and a switching valve that switches a function of the third heat exchanger between an absorption function and a heat generation function;

a fan that moves air along the second heat exchange chamber to exchanges heat between air and a refrigerant passing through the third heat exchanger;

a supply chamber that supplies air to the second heat exchange chamber based on the fan operating; and

a circuit board including a control circuit for controlling the heat exchanger and located inside the supply chamber.

2. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cooler provided on the circuit board and cooling the control circuit by using at least one of air moving along the second heat exchange chamber and air moving along the supply chamber.

3. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a chamber supply port located between the third heat exchanger and the fan to supply air inside the supply chamber to the second heat exchange chamber.

4. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a chamber supply port that supplies air inside the supply chamber to the second heat exchange chamber,
wherein at least a portion of the cooler is inserted into the chamber supply port and located inside the second heat exchange chamber.

5. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a chamber supply port that supplies air inside the supply chamber to the second heat exchange chamber,
wherein the cooler is located inside the supply chamber not to be inserted into the chamber supply port.

6. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the cooler is provided such that the chamber supply port is located within a space projected onto the circuit board.

7. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cooler is provided such that the chamber supply port is located within a space projected onto the circuit board.

8. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cooler is provided by arranging a plurality of cooling fins parallel to a height direction of the chamber supply port to be spaced apart in a width direction of the chamber supply port.

9. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a chamber supply port that supplies air inside the supply chamber to the second heat exchange chamber;

a board fixing plate located inside the supply channel and fixed to the circuit board; and

a flow path forming unit that forms a space in which the cooler is located between the chamber supply port and the board fixing plate and guides air to the chamber supply port.

10. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the flow path forming unit includes a first spacer and a second spacer that are provided at opposite ends of the board fixing plate to maintain a gap between the board fixing plate and the chamber supply port.

11. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third heat exchange chamber that forms a space separated from the first heat exchange chamber, is capable of supplying air to the second heat exchange chamber and the supply chamber, and provides a space for mounting the compressor.

12. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the third heat exchange chamber and the second heat exchange chamber are sequentially stacked in a height direction of the first heat exchange chamber.

13. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second heat exchange chamber and the supply chamber are located above the third heat exchange chamber.

14. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second heat exchange chamber and the supply chamber are arranged in a direction perpendicular to a movement direction air moving along the third heat exchange chamber.

15. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a first outside air supply port provided on one surface of the third heat exchange chamber to supply outside air to the third heat exchange chamber; and

a second outside air supply port provided on one surface of the supply chamber to supply outside air to the supply chamber and located above the first outside air supply port,

wherein the supply chamber is located above a rear space of the third heat exchange chamber in which the first outside air supply port is located, and the second heat exchange chamber is located above a front space of the third heat exchange chamber.

16. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an outside air supply port that supplies outside air to the supply chamber,
wherein the outside air supply port is provided in a location that does not expose the circuit board to an outside.

Drawing