A fabric treating apparatus includes a casing that includes a treating chamber and a machinery room that is located below the treating chamber. The fabric treating apparatus further includes a base that is located at a bottom of the machinery room. The fabric treating apparatus further includes a heat pump module that is configured to condition air supplied to the treating chamber. The fabric treating apparatus further includes at least one supporter that is configured to support the heat pump module and that defines a space between the base and the heat pump module. The fabric treating apparatus further includes a steam generating module that is located in the space and that is configured to generate steam and supply steam to the treating chamber. The fabric treating apparatus further includes a controller that is configured to control at least one of the heat pump module or the steam generating module.
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0. 19. A fabric treating apparatus comprising:
a casing that comprises:
an open front;
a treating chamber that is configured to receive clothes; and
a machinery room that is located below the treating chamber;
a base that is located at a bottom of the machinery room;
a blower configured to suction air from the treating chamber and to circulate air;
an air intake duct that is located in front of the blower with respect to the open front and configured to guide air from the treating chamber to the blower;
a heat pump module that is located behind the blower with respect to the open front and is configured to condition air supplied to the treating chamber;
at least one supporter that located behind the blower with respect to the open front and includes a shelf (i) that is supported by legs that are fixed to the base and (ii) that supports the heat pump module and that defines a space (i) between the base and the heat pump module and (ii) below the shelf; and
a steam generating module that is located behind the blower with respect to the open front and in the space, and that is configured to generate steam and supply steam to the treating chamber,
wherein a steam generating module fixing tab is located at one of the steam generating module or the at least one supporter,
wherein the fabric treating apparatus further comprises an installation hole that is configured to receive the steam generating module fixing tab,
wherein the installation hole is located (i) at the steam generating module when the steam generating module fixing tab is located at the at least one supporter, or (ii) at the at least one supporter when the steam generating module fixing tab is located at the steam generating module, and
wherein the blower is located between the air intake duct and the heat pump module and is coupled to the air intake duct and the heat pump module such that the blower suctions air from the treating chamber via the air intake duct and discharges air to the heat pump module.
0. 37. A fabric treating apparatus comprising:
a casing having:
an open front;
a treating chamber that is configured to receive clothes; and
a machinery room that is located below the treating chamber;
a base that is located at a bottom of the machinery room;
a blower configured to suction air from the treating chamber and to discharge the suctioned air;
an air intake duct that is located in front of the blower with respect to the open front and configured to guide air from the treating chamber to the blower;
a heat pump module that is located behind the blower with respect to the open front and is configured to condition air discharged by the blower and to supply the conditioned air to the treating chamber;
at least one supporter that is located behind the blower with respect to the open front and that includes a shelf (i) that is supported by legs that are fixed to the base and (ii) that supports the heat pump module and that defines a space (i) between the base and the heat pump module and (ii) below the shelf; and
a steam generating module that is located behind the blower with respect to the open front and in the space, and that is configured to generate steam and supply steam to the treating chamber,
wherein a steam generating module fixing tab is located at one of the steam generating module or the at least one supporter,
wherein the fabric treating apparatus further comprises an installation hole that is configured to receive the steam generating module fixing tab,
wherein the installation hole is located (i) at the steam generating module when the steam generating module fixing tab is located at the at least one supporter, or (ii) at the at least one supporter when the steam generating module fixing tab is located at the steam generating module, and
wherein the air intake duct includes an opening configured to communicate with the treating chamber, and an outlet coupled to the blower, the opening of the air intake duct being positioned higher than the outlet of the air intake duct such that air flows downwardly between the treating chamber and the blower.
0. 1. A fabric treating apparatus comprising:
a casing that comprises:
a treating chamber that is configured to receive clothes; and
a machinery room that is located below the treating chamber;
a base that is located at a bottom of the machinery room;
a heat pump module that is configured to condition air supplied to the treating chamber;
at least one supporter (a) that includes a shelf (i) that is supported by legs that are fixed to the base and (ii) that supports the heat pump module and that defines a space (i) between the base and the heat pump module and (ii) below the shelf and (b) that includes a first supporter fixing tab that includes a surface that faces the base and that is located at a lower part of at least one of the legs;
a steam generating module that is located in the space and that is configured to generate steam and supply steam to the treating chamber; and
a controller that is configured to control at least one of the heat pump module or the steam generating module, the controller being located in the space and below the steam generating module,
wherein the base includes a first supporter fixing part that includes a first supporter fastening hole that is configured to receive the first supporter fixing tab.
0. 2. The fabric treating apparatus of
0. 3. The fabric treating apparatus of
0. 4. The fabric treating apparatus of
the at least one supporter comprises:
a first supporter that includes a second supporter fixing tab; and
a second supporter that includes the first supporter fixing tab,
the base comprises:
a second supporter fixing part that defines a second supporter fastening hole that is configured to receive the second supporter fixing tab,
the second supporter fixing tab is configured to slide into the second supporter fastening hole in a first direction, and
the first supporter fixing tab is configured to slide into the first supporter fastening hole in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.
0. 5. The fabric treating apparatus of
the base comprises a metal material, and
the first supporter fixing part comprises a plastic material.
0. 6. The fabric treating apparatus of
0. 7. The fabric treating apparatus of
0. 8. The fabric treating apparatus of
0. 9. The fabric treating apparatus of
the casing includes an opening that is located at a rear side of the casing and that is configured to receive the controller,
the heat pump module is located above the controller, and
the fabric treating apparatus further comprises a blower that is configured to blow air into an interior of the heat pump module.
0. 10. The fabric treating apparatus of
a panel that is detachably coupled to the casing and that is configured to close the opening.
0. 11. The fabric treating apparatus of
0. 12. The fabric treating apparatus of
0. 13. The fabric treating apparatus of claim of
0. 14. The fabric treating apparatus of
an air intake duct that is configured to guide air into the blower and that is located in front of the blower.
0. 15. The fabric treating apparatus of
0. 16. The fabric treating apparatus of
0. 17. A fabric treating apparatus comprising:
a casing that comprises:
a treating chamber that is configured to receive clothes; and
a machinery room that is located below the treating chamber;
a base that is located at a bottom of the machinery room;
a heat pump module that is configured to condition air supplied to the treating chamber;
at least one supporter that includes a shelf (i) that is supported by legs that are fixed to the base and (ii) that supports the heat pump module and that defines a space (i) between the base and the heat pump module and (ii) below the shelf;
a steam generating module that is located in the space and that is configured to generate steam and supply steam to the treating chamber; and
a controller that is configured to control at least one of the heat pump module or the steam generating module, the controller being located in the space and below the steam generating module,
wherein a steam generating module fixing tab is located at one of the steam generating module or the at least one supporter, and
wherein the fabric treating apparatus defines an installation hole that is configured to receive the steam generating module fixing tab and that is located at another of the steam generating module or the at least one supporter opposite the steam generating module fixing tab.
0. 18. The fabric treating apparatus of
the at least one supporter comprises a pair of supporters that are spaced apart from each other and that are about perpendicular to a front and rear direction of the base,
the installation hole is located on one of the pair of the supporters, and
the steam generating module is coupled, by a fastening member, to another one of the pair of the supporters opposite the installation hole, and
the steam generating module fixing tab is inserted into the installation hole.
0. 20. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein:
the at least one supporter comprises a pair of supporters that are spaced apart from each other and that are about perpendicular to a front and rear direction of the base,
the installation hole is located on one of the pair of the supporters,
the steam generating module is coupled, by a fastening member, to another one of the pair of the supporters opposite the installation hole, and
the steam generating module fixing tab is inserted into the installation hole.
0. 21. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the blower includes:
a fan rotated by a motor;
an opening of the blower that connects the air intake duct and configured to introduce air to the fan; and
a vent configured to discharge air blown by the fan to the heat pump module.
0. 22. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 21, wherein the fan is located lower than the vent.
0. 23. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 21, wherein the fan guides air introduced from the opening of the blower along an axial direction associated with a rotation of the fan, moves air from the fan along a circumferential path, and discharges air from the circumferential path at the vent.
0. 24. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the base includes a blower installation tab that is coupled to the blower to couple together the blower and the base.
0. 25. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the air intake duct includes an opening configured to fluidly communicate with the treating chamber, and an air flow path through which air passes, and
wherein a width of the air flow path in a front-and-rear direction is smaller than a width of the air flow path in a left-and-right direction.
0. 26. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 25, wherein air from the opening of the air intake duct is guided downwardly along the air intake duct, and a flow direction of the air is changed by the blower when outputted toward the heat pump module.
0. 27. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 25, wherein one of the blower or the air intake duct includes a pin extended in a front-and-rear direction, and the blower includes a pin hole to receive the pin in the air intake duct or the air intake duct includes the pin hole to receive the pin in blower, such that the air intake duct and the blower are aligned by inserting the pin into the pin hole when being coupled to each other.
0. 28. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 25, further comprising
a bottom surface configured to provide a bottom of the treating chamber; and
an air outlet of the treating chamber to supply conditioned air from the heat pump module,
wherein the opening of the air intake duct is connected to a front region of the bottom surface to communicate with the treating chamber, and
wherein the air outlet of the treating chamber is located at rear side of the treating chamber.
0. 29. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 21, wherein the heat pump module includes:
a housing configured to define an inner space to house a condenser and an evaporator;
an air inlet configured to introduce air into the inner space; and
an air outlet configured to discharge air being heat-exchanged to the treating chamber,
wherein a height of the air inlet of heat pump module is greater than a height of the fan of the blower.
0. 30. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:
a sump configured to collect condensed water generated from at least one of the heat pump module or the steam generating module,
wherein the condensed water is generated when air passes through an evaporator of the heat pump module or when steam moves along a steam supply path from the steam generating module.
0. 31. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 30, wherein the sump is located in an inner lower region of the air intake duct.
0. 32. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:
an opening of the casing located at a rear side of the casing;
a panel detachably coupled to the casing and configured to cover at least a portion of the rear side of the casing when attached to cover the opening of the casing; and
a controller that is configured to control at least one of the blower, the heat pump module, or the steam generating module,
wherein the controller is positioned to be exposed to or is accessible of the casing when the panel is detached from the casing.
0. 33. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 32, wherein the controller is located behind the blower with respect to the open front.
0. 34. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:
an air outlet of the treating chamber to supply conditioned air from the heat pump module into the treating chamber; and
a steam outlet to supply steam generated from steam generating module into the treating chamber,
wherein the air outlet of the treating chamber and the steam outlet are located at a rear side of the treating chamber.
0. 35. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the legs include a mount configured to be fixed to the base.
0. 36. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 35, wherein the base includes a hole configured to fix the mount.
0. 38. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 37, wherein the blower includes an inlet to receive air from the air intake duct and an outlet to force air to the heat pump module, the inlet of the blower being positioned lower than the outlet of the blower such that the blower changes a flow direction of air received from the air intake duct and directs air to flow upwardly toward the heat pump module.
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This application 20 for closing the open front of the treating chamber 11.
A hanger rod 30 on which clothes hangers are to be hung is provided in an upper part of the treating chamber 11. The hanger rod 30 may be configured to move in a back and forth, up and down and/or right and left direction in the treating chamber 11 by a driving device, such as a motor. In some implementations, such movement is a reciprocating motion with a predetermined cycle.
A machinery room 12 may be provided outside the treating chamber 11 (e.g., below the treating chamber 11) within the casing 10, and various devices, such as a heat pump module 110, a controller 120, and a steam generating module 130, may be disposed in the machinery room 12. In some implementations, the casing 10 may include a base 400 which defines a bottom of the machinery room 12. The base 400 may be formed with a metal sheet.
An air outlet 51 discharging air blown by a blower 140 into the treating chamber 11, and a steam outlet 52 discharging steam generated by a stream steam generating module 130 may be formed in the lower part of the treating chamber 11. In some implementations, the air outlet 51 and the steam outlet 52 are formed as one body on a low panel 50 which defines a lower part of the treating chamber 11.
The steam generating module 130 is a device which generates steam. The steam generating module 130 may include a heater for applying heat to water. Steam generated according to an operation of the heater may be guided to the steam outlet 52 via a predetermined steam supply path.
A water supply tank 41 for storing water to be supplied to the steam generating module 130 may be disposed in the lower part of the treating chamber 11. The water supply tank 41 may be detachably coupled to the casing 10. A user may fill the water supply tank 41 with water after detaching the water supply tank 41 from the casing 10.
A sump may be disposed in the machinery room 12 to collect condensed water which is generated while steam generated by the steam generating module 130 moves along the steam supply path. The sump may be connected to the treating chamber 11 via a path. In some implementations, the condensed water on the bottom of the treating chamber 11 may be gathered in the sump.
A water drain pump 182 may be mounted on a base 400 to discharge the condensed water from the sump to a drain container 42. The drain container 42 may be detachably coupled to the casing 10. A user may detach the drain container 42 from the casing 10 and empty the drain container 42. The sump may be disposed in an inner low part of an air intake duct 150, and a nozzle module 181 may be further provided to discharge the condensed water stored in the sump to the drain container 42 via the water drain pump 182.
On the base 400, a water supply pump 186 may be mounted to supply water stored in the water supply tank 41 to the steam generating module 130. The water supply pump 186 may be connected to the steam generating module 130 via a water supply hose 185.
The heat pump module 110 is provided for air conditioning. The conditioned air is supplied to the treating chamber 11. The heat pump module 110 may be connected to the compressor 160 via a refrigerant line. The heat pump module 110 may include a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator through which refrigerant passes in order when transferred via the refrigerant line.
Referring to
The blower 140 is an air blowing device, and may include a fan which is rotated by a motor. A vent 142 discharging air blown by the fan is connected to the air inlet 110a of the housing 111. Accordingly, the air blown by the blower 140 is supplied to the housing 111 through the air inlet 110a, and the supplied air is heated by heat exchanging with the condenser. And the heated air is discharged through the air outlet 110b of the housing 111. In some implementations, the blower 140 is a centrifugal blower configured to guide the air, which is introduced through an opening 141 opened in an axial direction of the fan (e.g., centrifugal fan), toward the vent 142 via a scroll-type path embracing the surroundings of the fan.
The air intake duct 150 guiding air toward the opening 141 of the blower 140 may be disposed in front of the blower 140. The air intake duct 150 may be fixed by the blower 140. In some implementations, the duct 150 may be fixed by the base 400.
A blower installation tab 420 may be formed in the base 400. The blower installation tab 420 may formed by cutting a portion of the base 400 and bending the cut portion in a vertical direction. The blower 140 may be coupled to the blower installation tab 420 by a fastening member, such as a bolt and a screw.
The air intake duct 150 may include an air inflow path through which air passes. For efficient use of the inner space of the machinery room 12, the air intake duct 150 may be extended upward from the opening 141 of the blower 140. The air inflow path may have a width in a front-and-rear direction, which is smaller than a width in a left-and-right direction. The air intake duct 150 may have an opening 151 formed on a top surface thereof, and an outlet connected the vent 142 of the blower 140. Air inside the treating chamber 11 may be introduced through the opening 151.
The supporter 170 supports the heat pump module 110, and defines a predetermined space S below the heat pump module 110. The space S may be formed between the support 170 and the base 400 below the heat pump module 110. That is, as being supported by the supporter 170, the heat pump module 110 is disposed in an upper side being spaced apart from the base 400. The heat pump module 110 is space apart from the base 400, thereby the space S is provided in the base 400. Devices, for example, the steam generating module 130 and the controller 120, are mounted in the space S.
A plurality of supporters 170 may be provided. In some implementations, a pair of supporters 170 are spaced apart from each other in a front-and-rear direction on the base 400. The pair of supporters 170 may include supporter 170(1), 170(2). The supporter 170(1) may locate further forward than the supporter 170(2).
Referring to
The supporter fixing part 410 may be formed by cutting a portion having a predetermined length from the base 400 in a direction crossing a direction in which the supporter fixing tab 174 is inserted and then upwardly pressing a predetermined peripheral area 412 of the cut portion (e.g., the supporter fastening hole 411).
With the supporter fixing tab 174 being inserted into the supporter fixing part 410 through the supporter fastening hole 411, an upward movement of the supporter 170 is restrained as the supporter fixing tab 174 is retained by a bottom surface of the peripheral area 412 of the supporter fastening hole 411.
At least two supporters 170 may be provided. In some implementations, as shown in
By cutting and bending a metal plate according to a predetermined lay out, the supporter 170 may be formed to have the legs 171 and 172, the supporter fixing tab 174, and the shelf 173, which are integrated in the supporter 170 as one body. In some implementations, the supporter 170 may be formed of a molded product of synthetic resin, or may be formed with two or more components coupled to one another.
The heat pump module 110 may be disposed on the shelf 173. The shelf 173 may include a pair of side surfaces 173b which faces front side and rear side, respectively, and a top surface 173a connecting the pair of side faces 173b. The shelf 173 may be formed by bending a metal plate at least twice.
Referring to
Referring to (b) of
The controller 120 controls various devices composing the fabric treating apparatus 1, and may include a circuit substrate and electric components mounted on the circuit substrate. The heat pump module 110, the steam generating module 130, the blower 140 and/or the compressor 160 may be controlled by the controller 120.
The circuit substrate is accommodated in a body which defines an exterior of the controller 120. The controller 120 may be disposed in the space S between the supporter 170 and the base 400. In some implementations, the controller 120 is disposed on the base 400.
Referring to
In some implementations, the controller fixing tab 121 projects in a forward direction from the body of the controller 120, and may be inserted into or separated from the controller fixing hole 414 according to forward or backward movement of the controller 120 on the base 400.
An opening (see
In some implementations, the casing 10 may include a panel closing the opening, and the panel may be detachably coupled to the casing 10.
When the controller 120 is installed in the base 400 or detached from the base 400 for maintenance, the controller 120 may be transferred into or from the machinery room 120 through the opening. In some implementations, where the heat pump module 110 is disposed above the controller 120 and the blower 140 is disposed in front of the controller 120, the blower 140 or the controller 120 may not cause a problem when an attempt is made to detach the controller 120, so that the controller 120 may be drawn out from the machinery room 12 without detaching the blower 140 from the device assembly 2, and thus, facilitating repairing or replacing the controller 120.
The steam generating module 130 may be disposed inside the space S, and, in some implementations, above the controller 120. The steam generating module 130 may be fixed by the supporter 170. One of the steam generating module 130 and the supporter 170 may have a steam generating module fixing tab formed thereon, the other one may have an installation hole 175 (see
The steam generating module installation hole 175 may be formed on the side surface 173b of the shelf 173. With the steam generating module fixing tab being inserted into the steam generating module installation hole 175, the steam generating module 130 is temporarily installed in the supporter 170. Then, being temporarily installed in the supporter 170(1), the steam generating module 130 may be secured to the supporter 170(2) by a fastening member.
Hereinafter, referring to
Referring to (b) of
Referring to (c) of
Referring to (d) of
Referring to (e) of
Referring to (f) of
Referring to (g) of
Referring to (h) of
Doh, Youngjin, Ahn, Jaehyun, Kim, Sunyong
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