Clothing treatment apparatus and controlling method thereof

A clothing treatment apparatus and method thereof is provided. The clothing treatment apparatus according to an embodiment includes a main body formed with a space to accommodate clothing, a sprayer disposed inside the main body and configured to spray at least one of steam or air toward the clothing while the clothing is accommodated in the space, and a door connectable to the main body to open and close the space, wherein the door includes a first inlet to allow air from an outside to flow, a second inlet connectable to the first inlet and through which the air from the first inlet flows to the space while the second inlet is connected to the first inlet, and a shutter configured to selectively move toward the second inlet to close the second inlet and move away from the second inlet to open the second inlet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0109258, filed on Sep. 12, 2018, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Devices and methods disclosed herein relate to a clothing treatment apparatus with improved airtightness and a controlling method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, washing machines have been widely used as apparatuses for cleaning materials made of fabrics such clothing, bedding, etc. Processes of dehydration and drying are added to the washing machine separately since laundry is cleaned through friction between washing water accommodated in a water tank and the laundry.

Recently, as devices for managing clothes more convenient than before are developed, clothing treatment apparatuses capable of removing wrinkles, dust or smell of clothing without an additional washing process using cleaning water have been used.

The clothing treatment apparatuses spray steam or air on clothing to stretch out wrinkles of the clothing or deodorize the clothing. Also, in order to prevent steam or air from leaking out, the space in which the clothes are place is gas tight with the outside.

In order to prevent the child from entering the clothes treatment apparatus and being suffocated when the inside of the clothes treatment apparatus is airtight, the clothes treatment apparatus has a choking prevention structure that is ventilated with the inside and outside of the clothes treatment apparatus.

However, such a choking prevention structure has a problem that the efficiency of the clothing treatment is reduced because the apparatus is not ventilated with the outside and airtightness with the outside is not ensured even when the clothing treatment apparatus is operated.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the embodiments relates to providing a clothing treatment apparatus with improved selective airtightness and a controlling method of a clothing treatment apparatus.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a clothing treatment apparatus including a main body formed with a space to accommodate clothing, a sprayer disposed inside the main body and configured to spray at least one of steam or air toward the clothing while the clothing is accommodated in the space, and a door connectable to the main body to open and close the space, wherein the door includes a first inlet to allow air from an outside to flow, a second inlet connectable to the first inlet and through which the air from the first inlet flows to the space while the second inlet is connected to the first inlet, and a shutter configured to selectively move toward the second inlet to close the second inlet and move away from the second inlet to open the second inlet.

The shutter may include a rotational shaft connected to an inside of the door, a driving motor connected to one side of the rotational shaft and configured to rotate the rotational shaft, and a closing member connected to the rotational shaft and configured to close the second inlet as the rotational shaft rotates.

A shape of the closing member may correspond to a shape of the second inlet, wherein an air tightness member contacting the second inlet is disposed on a surface of the closing member.

The apparatus may further include a processor configured to control the driving motor to be in an open state that opens the second inlet and a closed state that closes the second inlet.

The first inlet and the second inlet may form a main air flow path that connects the outside to the space by a short distance, wherein the processor is further configured to control the driving motor to allow the shutter to be spaced apart from the main air flow path in the open state.

The processor may be further configured to control the driving motor to maintain the second inlet in the closed state.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a controlling method of a clothing treatment apparatus, the method including operating a clothing treatment apparatus which includes a space to accommodate clothing, closing an inlet that allows air to flow from an outside to the space as a shutter rotates in a first direction, and opening the inlet as the shutter rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction after the operating of the clothing treatment apparatus ends.

The method may further include stopping the clothing treatment apparatus from being operated while the door is open, and opening the inlet as the shutter rotates in the second direction after the door is closed.

The method may further include re-operating the clothing treatment apparatus, and closing the second inlet as the shutter rotates in the first direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to fully understand the structure and effects of the disclosure, preferable embodiments of the disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. It should be understood, however, that the description of the embodiments is provided to enable the disclosure of the disclosure to be complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure belongs. In the accompanying drawings, the constituent elements are enlarged in size for convenience of explanation and the proportions of the constituent elements can be exaggerated or reduced.

When an element (e.g., a first constituent element) is referred to as being “operatively or communicatively coupled to” or “connected to” another element (e.g., a second constituent element), it should be understood that each constituent element is directly connected or indirectly connected via another constituent element (e.g., a third constituent element). However, when an element (e.g., a first constituent element) is referred to as being “directly coupled to” or “directly connected to” another element (e.g., a second constituent element), it should be understood that there is no other constituent element (e.g., a third constituent element) interposed therebetween.

The terms such as “first,” “second,” and so on may be used to describe a variety of elements, but the elements should not be limited by these terms. The terms are used simply to distinguish one element from other elements. For example, without departing from the scope of the disclosure, the first element may be referred to as a second element, and similarly, the second element may also be referred to as a first element.

The singular expression also includes the plural meaning as long as it does not differently mean in the context. In this specification, terms such as ‘include’ and ‘have/has’ should be construed as designating that there are such characteristics, numbers, operations, elements, components or a combination thereof in the specification, not to exclude the existence or possibility of adding one or more of other characteristics, numbers, operations, elements, components or a combination thereof.

FIG. 1is a perspective view illustrating a clothing treatment apparatus1according to an embodiment of the disclosure,FIG. 2is a perspective view illustrating a clothing treatment apparatus1when a door20is opened, andFIG. 3is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A ofFIG. 1.

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, a clothing treatment apparatus1may include a door20pivotally combined with a main body10equipped with an accommodation space S inside.

The main body10may form the outside of the clothing treatment apparatus1, and include the accommodation space S for accommodating items such as clothing C inside, a spray unit (sprayer)30disposed under the accommodation space S, a plurality of spray holes O disposed toward the accommodation space S so that air or steam discharged from the spray unit30may be sprayed, and a circulation fan40that circulates air or steam discharged from the spray unit30into the accommodation space S.

The accommodation space S may be formed to be large enough to accommodate the clothing C in the main body10, and the shape thereof may vary to the extent necessary.

The accommodation space S may be sealed to the outside apart from the plurality of spray holes O when the clothing treatment apparatus1operates. Accordingly, wrinkles of the clothing C placed in the accommodation space S may be stretched out by the air or steam sprayed from the plurality of spay holes O in the sealed space, and the smell of the clothing C may be deodorized.

Referring toFIG. 3, the spray unit30may be disposed inside the main body10, and may spray at least one of steam or air toward the clothing C.

The spray unit30may inhale air flowing into from the outside or air in the accommodation space S, dehydrate or heat the inhaled air selectively and spray the air to the inside of the accommodation space S in which the clothing C is placed.

In addition, the spray unit30may not only hydrate or heat the inhaled air but also mix the inhaled air with hot vapor to spray air in the form of steam to the accommodation space S in which the clothing C is placed.

Accordingly, the spray unit30may implement air in various states to be sprayed into the accommodation space S according to a user's selection of processing the clothing C.

The plurality of spray hole O may be disposed in each of the upper, lower, left and right of the accommodation space (S), and may spray air formed in the spray unit30toward the clothing C disposed in the accommodation space S.

The plurality of spray holes O may be disposed in various positions in the accommodation space S according to selection.

The circulation fan40may be disposed on a path on which air flows from the spray unit30to the accommodation space S, and move the air discharged from the spray unit30to the plurality of spray holes O disposed in the accommodation space S.

The circulation fan40may inhale external air into the clothing treatment apparatus1or discharge the air, and circulate air of the clothing treatment apparatus1overall.

FIG. 3illustrates that the circulation fan40is an axial flow fan, but the present invention is not limited to a particular type of fan and any type of fan may be used depending on needs.

Referring toFIG. 2, a door20may be provided in the main body10to close and open the accommodation space S.

The door20may form one surface of the outside of the clothing treatment apparatus1and partition the outside of the clothing treatment apparatus1and the accommodation space S.

The door20may include a front place21and a rear plate22disposed on the rear surface of the front plate21.

A display (not shown) for a user to control the operation of the clothing treatment apparatus1and the state of the clothing treatment apparatus1may be disposed on the front plate21.

The rear place22may cover one side surface of the main body10, and may have a larger cross-section than the front plate21.

In addition, the rear plate22may be formed to be spaced apart from the front plate21at predetermined intervals to allow external air to flow in along the edge of the front plate21.

A main air flow path MF through which external air flows and a first inlet P1corresponding to the inlet of the main air flow path MF may be formed between the rear plate22and the front plate21.

A gasket70contacting the edge of the main body10may be disposed on the edge of the rear surface of the rear plate22. Accordingly, the rear plate22may be disposed on one side surface of the main body10to close the inside of the main body10.

In addition, a cover23combined with one surface of the rear surface22may be included to form the main air flow path MF and an arrangement space Q in which the shutter50is disposed (seeFIG. 9A).

The cover23may protrude toward the accommodation space S, and accordingly, the shutter50for selectively opening and closing the second inlet P2may be disposed inside the cover23.

The door20may include the first inlet P1connected to the outside, the second inlet P2connecting the first inlet P1to the accommodation space S, and the shutter50for selectively opening and closing the second inlet P2.

The first inlet P1may be formed between the front plate21and the rear plate22along the edge of the door20, and may form the inlet of the main air flow path MF through which external air of the clothing treatment apparatus1flows.

It has been illustrated that the first inlet P1is formed under the door20, but it is not limited thereto. The first inlet P1may be formed in various shapes in various positions.

The second inlet P2may form the outlet of the main air flow path MF, and connect the main air flow path MF to the accommodation space S. Accordingly, when the external air flows into the inside of the clothing treatment apparatus1, the air may flow into the accommodation space S through the first inlet P1, the main air flow path MF and the second inlet P2.

In other words, the first inlet P1and the second inlet P2may form the main air flow path MF for connecting the outside of the clothing treatment apparatus1and the accommodation space S by the shortest distance.

Therefore, even if a person enters the clothing treatment apparatus1when the clothing treatment apparatus is not operated, the person in the clothing treatment apparatus1may be prevented from being suffocated through the structure in which the accommodation space S is ventilated from the outside.

Hereinafter, referring toFIG. 4, the flow path formed in the clothing treatment apparatus1will be described in detail.

Referring toFIG. 4including an area C of the clothing treatment apparatus, the main air flow path MF for connecting the outside of the clothing treatment apparatus1to the accommodation space S of the clothing treatment apparatus1may be formed through an arrangement space Q formed between the front plate21and the rear plate22of the door20.

To be specific, the main air flow path MF may be formed through a first space G1formed between the rear plate22and the front plate21and a second space G2formed between the rear plate22and the cover23.

The arrangement space Q may be the same as the second space G2.

Air flowing from the outside or air inhaled in the accommodation space S may be converted into air necessary for a user through the spray unit30.

The air may be sprayed into the accommodation space S along the first and second circulation flow paths F1and F2by the circulation fan40disposed on the circulation flow paths F1and F2.

The first and second circulation flow paths F1and F2may correspond to the path that air moves when the clothing treatment apparatus1is operated, and the main air flow path MF may be a path in which external air moves into the accommodation space S when the apparatus treatment apparatus1is not operated.

To be specific, the first circulation flow path F1may be a path through which hot steam that changes its state in the spray unit30is discharged, and the second circulation flow path F2may be a path to spray the air inhaled in the accommodation space S toward the clothing C, and remove dust of the clothing C.

However, the first and second circulation flow paths F1and F2may be embodies as various paths to the extent necessary. The state of air flowing through the first and second circulation flow paths F1and F2may vary.

In addition, the main air flow path MF may be closed by the shutter50to prevent the air sprayed into the accommodation space S of the clothing treatment apparatus1from being discharged to the outside when the clothing treatment apparatus1is operated.

Hereinafter, referring toFIG. 5andFIG. 7, the detailed structure of the shutter50will be described.

FIG. 5is an enlarged perspective view illustrating part C ofFIG. 2,FIG. 6is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a shutter50ofFIG. 5, andFIG. 7is a perspective view illustrating a shutter50.

Referring toFIG. 5andFIG. 6, the shutter50may be disposed in an arrangement space Q formed between the rear plate22and the cover23to selectively open and close the second inlet P2.

The rotational shaft51and the driving motor52of the shutter50may be fixed to one surface of the rear plate22. Accordingly, the shutter50may rotate based on the rotational shaft51while being fixed to one surface of the rear plate22to selectively open and close the second inlet P2.

Referring toFIG. 7, the shutter50may include a rotational shaft51connected to the inside of the door, a driving motor52connected to one side of the rotational shaft51to rotate the rotational shaft51, and a closing unit (member)53connected to the rotational shaft51to close the second inlet P2as the rotational shaft51rotates.

A one end51aof the rotational shaft51may be rotatably fixed to one surface of the rear plate22, and the other end opposite to the one end51amay be fixed to one surface of the rear plate22through the driving motor52connected to the other end of the rotational shaft51.

Accordingly, the rotational shaft51may be disposed in parallel with one surface of the rear plate22, and may rotate in connection with the driving motor52.

The driving motor52may rotate the rotational shaft51, and provide a driving force to the shutter50. The driving motor52is illustrated as being disposed on one side of the rotational shaft51, but disposed on one side of the clothing treatment apparatus1to the extent necessary to transmit a driving force to the rotational shaft51through various constituent elements.

The closing unit53may open and close the second inlet P2in connection with the rotational shaft51. The closing unit53may be connected to the rotational shaft51through a connection unit55extended at a predetermined interval in one direction from the rotational shaft51.

The shape of the closing unit53may correspond to the shape of the second inlet P2. Accordingly, when the closing unit53closes the second inlet P2, the second inlet P2may be completely closed, and the accommodation space S may be completely sealed to the outside of the clothing treatment apparatus1.

In addition, an air tightness member54contacting the second inlet P2may be disposed on the surface of the closing unit53.

The air tightness member54may be configured to prevent the closing unit53from not completely closing the second inlet52, and may be formed of an elastic material such as a gasket.

Accordingly, even if there is a small space between the second inlet P2and the closing unit53, the air tightness member54may fill the small space to block the accommodation space S from the outside of the clothing treatment apparatus1.

In addition, a cover surface56may be disposed between the connection units55formed at predetermined intervals.

The cover surface56may cover the space between the respective connection units and the space between the rotational shaft51and the closing unit53.

Accordingly, the cover surface56may integrally connect the connection unit55, the rotational shaft51, and the closing unit53. The closing unit53may integrally move in parallel with the rotational shaft51according to the rotation of the rotational shaft51.

The shutter50except the driving motor52may be integrally formed by injection molding. Accordingly, the manufacturing process of the shutter50may be simple to reduce the manufacturing costs.

Hereinafter, referring toFIG. 8toFIGS. 9A and 9B, the operation of the shutter50will be described in detail.

FIG. 8is a block diagram illustrating a processor and a shutter50,FIG. 9Ais a cross-sectional view illustrating an open state of a shutter50, andFIG. 9Bis a cross-sectional view illustrating a close state of a shutter50.

Referring toFIG. 8, the clothing treatment apparatus1may further include a processor80for controlling the operation of the shutter50.

The processor80may include at least one of a central processing unit (CPU), a controller, an application processor (AP), or a communication processor (CP), and an ARM processor.

The processor80may control the clothing treatment apparatus1. The processor80, when a clothing process control command is input, may control each constituent element in the clothing process apparatus so that the operation according to the input clothing process control command may be performed.

In addition, the processor80may control the driving motor52to be in an opened state to close the second inlet P2(seeFIG. 9A) or a close state to close the second inlet P2(seeFIG. 9B).

Referring toFIG. 9A, the processor80may control the driving motor52so that the shutter50in an opened state may be spaced apart from the main air flow path MF.

The processor80may rotate the shutter50to be distant from the second inlet P2so that the shutter50may not be disposed on the main air flow path MF in an open state in which the shutter50opens the second inlet P2.

Accordingly the shutter50may not block the main air flow path MF in an open state to maintain the main air flow path MF which is the shortest distance between the outside of the clothing treatment apparatus1and the accommodation space S, thereby improving the breathability of the clothing treatment apparatus1.

Referring toFIG. 9B, the processor80may control the driving motor52to maintain the closing of the second inlet P2in the closed state.

The closing unit53of the shutter50may increase the contact surface with the second inlet P2to implement the complete closing through the complete contact with the second inlet P2, thereby increasing the friction force with the second inlet P2.

Therefore, if a continuous force is not applied to the closing unit53in a closed state blocking the second inlet P2, the closing unit53may be spaced apart from the second inlet P2, so that the close state blocking the second inlet P2cannot be maintained.

Accordingly, the processor80may consistently operate the driving motor52so that the closing unit53may consistently close the second inlet P2.

As described above, the clothing treatment apparatus1equipped with the shutter50for selectively closing and opening the second inlet P2may vent the outside of the clothing treatment apparatus1and the accommodation space S by opening the second inlet P2when the clothing treatment apparatus1is not operated.

Therefore, the clothing treatment apparatus1may prevent a person entering the clothing treatment apparatus1from being suffocated.

When the clothing treatment apparatus1is operated, the shutter50may close the second inlet P2to separate the accommodation space S from the outside of the clothing treatment apparatus1.

Accordingly, air circulating inside the clothing treatment apparatus1may not be leaked to the outside of the clothing treatment apparatus1, and thus the circulation efficiency and the processing efficiency of the clothing treatment apparatus1may be improved.

Hereinafter, referring toFIG. 10, the detailed operation of the clothing treatment apparatus1will be described.

FIG. 10is a flowchart to explain a controlling method of a clothing treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Before the clothing treatment apparatus1is operated in operation S00, the second inlet P2may be in an open state. Therefore, the clothing treatment apparatus1may vent the accommodation space S and the outside of the clothing treatment apparatus1.

The clothing treatment apparatus1including the accommodation space S in which the clothing C is place may operate in operation S10.

Through the operation signal input of a user, wrinkles may be stretched out by softening the fabrics of the clothing C by spraying hot steam discharged from the spray unit30to the clothing C. The clothing treatment apparatus1may spray the dehydrated air discharged from the spray unit30to the clothing C, and remove the wrinkles of the clothing C by drying the clothing C again.

In addition, the clothing treatment apparatus1may remove wrinkles by pressing the clothing C through a separate pressing means having a flat shape.

The clothing treatment apparatus1may remove the wrinkles of the clothing C effectively by compressing the clothing C by spraying steam to the front surface and the rear surface of the clothing C at the same time and then spraying compressed air onto the front surface and the rear surface in the same position of the clothing C.

The clothing treatment apparatus1may deodorize the smell of the clothing C by filtering hot steam or air passing through the clothing C and spraying the hot steam or air toward the clothing C.

When the clothing apparatus treatment apparatus1is operated in operation S10, the shutter50may rotate in a predetermined first direction X (seeFIG. 9B) to close the second inlet P2so that the outside and the accommodation space S are separated.

When a user continuously operates the clothing treatment apparatus1without opening the door20(H1), the operation and process of the clothing treatment apparatus1may be ended in a state in which the second inlet P2is closed in operation S30.

When the clothing treatment apparatus1is operated, the operation of the clothing treatment apparatus1may be stopped according to user selection (H2). Since the shutter50may maintain the state in which the second inlet P2is closed, air cannot still flow between the accommodation space S and the outside of the clothing treatment apparatus1in operation S20-1.

When a user operates the clothing treatment apparatus1again without opening the door20after the operation of the clothing treatment apparatus1is stopped (H21), the operation and process of the clothing treatment apparatus1may be performed without the change of the state in which the second inlet P2is closed in operation S20-4.

When the user opens the door20after the operation of the clothing treatment apparatus1is stopped (H22), the second inlet P2may maintain a closed state in operation S20-2.

When the opened door20is closed again in operation S20-3, the shutter50may rotate in the second direction Y opposite to the first direction X, so that the second inlet P2may be opened.

Therefore, even if there is a person in the clothing treatment apparatus1, in order to prevent the person from being suffocated, the second inlet P2may be opened and the clothing treatment apparatus1may vent the accommodation space S and the outside of the clothing treatment apparatus1.

When the clothing treatment apparatus1is operated again according to user selection in operation S20-4, the shutter50may close the second inlet P2again by rotating in the first direction X.

In addition, after the clothing treatment apparatus1is operated, when the door20is opened (H3), the second inlet P2may still maintain a closed state. In other words, when then door20is opened such as when the user adds the clothing C to the clothing treatment apparatus in the operation, the second inlet P2may maintain a closed state.

When the door20is closed in operation S20-3, the shutter50may rotate in the second direction Y to open the second inlet P2. In other words, the second inlet P2may be opened to prevent a person from being suffocated considering the case that a person is in the clothing treatment apparatus1.

However, when the user operates the clothing treatment apparatus1again in operation S20-4, the shutter50may close the second inlet P2by rotating in the first direction (X).

When the operation and process of the clothing treatment apparatus1is completed in operation S30, the shutter50may rotate in the second direction (Y) again and open the second inlet P2. Therefore, the air used in the clothing treatment apparatus1may be discharged to the outside.

However, the controlling method of the clothing treatment apparatus1described above may determine whether to open and close the second inlet P2based on whether the door20is opened, but it is not limited thereto. The second inlet P2may be opened by rotating the shutter50when it is detected that the person is in the clothing treatment apparatus1through a detection sensor (not shown) provided in the clothing treatment apparatus1.

In other words, the opening of the second inlet P2may be determined by the operation of the detection sensor (not shown) as well as whether the door20is opened.

In the above description, the various embodiments of the disclosure have been described separately, but each embodiment is not necessarily to be implemented alone, the configuration and operation of each embodiment is implemented in combination with at least one other embodiment.

Although embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not construed as being limited to the described embodiments, but is defined by the appended claims as well as equivalents thereto.