Patent Publication Number: US-2023136799-A1

Title: Clothing treatment apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a clothing treatment apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Generally, a clothing treatment apparatus may include a washing machine, a dryer, an apparatus for refreshing clothing, etc. The washing machine may be a washer-dryer combo having a drying function. 
     The washing machine removes contaminants from laundry accommodated in a drum by rotating the drum in a tub where water is stored. The washing machine may be provided with a heating means for heating water or drying laundry. 
     The dryer rotates the drum in a cabinet and applies heat to laundry in the drum to dry the laundry. 
     The clothing treatment apparatus may include a heating means for heating or drying laundry. The clothing treatment apparatus may be provided with an electric heater or a heat pump as the heating means. 
     Recently, research on an induction module as a new heating means is being conducted. 
     Moreover, in the case of using the clothing treatment apparatus as the dryer using an induction heating module, an exhaust-type drying method in which wet air is discharged to the outside and dry air is sucked in or a circulation-type drying method in which air inside a tub is circulated to remove the wet air may be used. 
     The exhaust-type drying method does not need to consider a problem caused by the generation of condensate, but requires communication with the outside, so that there are additional restrictions such as an installation place. 
     In the case of the conventional circulation-type drying method, the generation of condensate is unavoidable when wet air is replaced with dry air. Since the clothing treatment apparatus using the induction module directly heats not washing water but a drum, the drum may be unnecessarily cooled by condensate when the condensate is scattered onto the drum. That is, when the condensate is scattered onto the drum, it is disadvantageous in terms of heat exchange efficiency. 
     Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2018-0023276 has disclosed a structure on which a coil is wound, but contents of condensate condensed through drying using this structure are not disclosed. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure aims to solve the above and other problems. 
     Another objective is to provide a clothing treatment apparatus, such as a dryer, a washing machine, a washer-dryer combo or an apparatus for refreshing clothing, which can circulate air inside a drum. 
     A further objective is to provide a clothing treatment apparatus capable of improving drying efficiency. 
     Another objective is to provide a clothing treatment apparatus provided with an induction heating means. 
     Another objective is to provide a clothing treatment apparatus, in which condensate of a duct through which air of a tub is circulated is not scattered onto a drum. 
     Another objective is to provide a clothing treatment apparatus, in which air directed from a duct to a tub exchanges heat with a heated drum and then flows into the drum. 
     Another objective is to provide a clothing treatment apparatus, in which air directed from a duct to a tub is dispersed and then flows to a drum. 
     Another objective is to provide a clothing treatment apparatus, in which air directed from a duct to a tub flows between a drum and the tub. 
     Another objective is to provide a clothing treatment apparatus, in which air present between a tub and a drum can be introduced through a hole of the drum into the drum. 
     Another objective is to provide a clothing treatment apparatus, in which water condensed in a duct is discharged to the outside. 
     In order to accomplish the above objectives, a clothing treatment apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a drum, an induction heater for heating the drum, and a duct for providing a flow path in which air of a container is circulated. 
     The clothing treatment apparatus includes a container in which the drum is arranged. 
     The container may include a front surface having an opening. The opening may be located in a central portion of the front surface. The front surface may have a ring shape. 
     The container may include a rear surface having an exhaust port. The exhaust port may be located in a lower side of the rear surface of the container. 
     The container may include a body extending between the front surface and the rear surface. The body may have the shape of an elongated cylinder. 
     The clothing treatment apparatus may include a cabinet. 
     The container may be provided in the cabinet. 
     The clothing treatment apparatus may be a washing machine or a washer-dryer combo. In this case, the container may be a tub. The tub may provide a space for accommodating water. The tub may accommodate the drum. 
     The drum may be provided in the container. The drum may be rotatably provided in the container. The drum may provide a space for accommodating laundry. The drum may accommodate laundry. The drum may be formed of metal. 
     The drum may include a body having the shape of an elongated cylinder. The drum may include a hole formed in the body. The drum may include a drum front portion connected to a front end of the drum body. The drum front portion may have a drum opening. 
     The induction heater may be disposed on an outer surface of the container. The induction heater may be spaced apart from the drum and be secured to the container. The induction heater may be located on an upper side of the container body. 
     The induction heater may include a coil. The induction heater may heat the drum through a magnetic field generated when a current is applied to the coil. The induction heater may heat the drum body facing the coil. The drum may be rotated and the induction heater may be secured to the container to heat the entire drum body. The induction heater may heat the drum body as well as both a drum front portion and rear portion by heat conduction. 
     The duct may be disposed on an outer side of the container. 
     The clothing treatment apparatus may include a supply duct disposed on the outer side of the container. The supply duct may extend along the body of the container. The supply duct may include an outlet portion connected to the front surface of the container. 
     The clothing treatment apparatus may include an exhaust duct connected to the supply duct. The exhaust duct may be directly connected to the supply duct or be connected to the supply duct through another component. The exhaust duct may communicate with the exhaust port of the container. 
     The clothing treatment apparatus may include a ventilation portion which generates an air flow from the exhaust duct toward the supply duct. The ventilation portion may be located between the exhaust duct and the supply duct. The ventilation portion may connect the exhaust duct and the supply duct. 
     The front surface of the container may include an inlet port. The inlet port may communicate with the outlet portion of the supply duct. 
     The outlet portion of the supply duct may communicate with the inlet port of the container. The outlet portion may include an exit which extends rearward to be connected to the inlet port of the container. 
     The inlet port of the container may be located on the outer side of the opening. The inlet port may be located on the upper side of the opening. 
     The inlet port of the container may face the drum front portion. 
     The drum front portion may include an inclined surface which is inclined outward and rearward at a position corresponding to the inlet port of the container. 
     The drum front portion may include an extending portion which extends forward to provide the drum opening. 
     The inlet port of the container may be located behind the drum opening. 
     The exhaust port of the container may be located on the lower side of the container rear surface. 
     The exhaust duct may extend upward from the exhaust port. 
     The clothing treatment apparatus may further include a heat exchange portion disposed inside the exhaust duct. The heat exchange portion may absorb heat from air discharged from the container. 
     The clothing treatment apparatus may further include a condensate discharge portion disposed on the lower side of the exhaust duct. 
     The clothing treatment apparatus may further include a temperature sensor located on the upper portion of the container. The temperature sensor may be located between the container and the drum. The temperature sensor may be located behind the center of the container in a longitudinal direction thereof. 
     An embodiment provides a clothing treatment apparatus including a cabinet, a tub provided in the cabinet, a drum rotatably provided in the tub to accommodate laundry and formed at least partially of a metal material, an induction module provided on an outer surface of the tub and heating an outer surface of the drum through a magnetic field generated when a current is applied to a coil, a supply duct communicating with a front surface of the tub to extend to a rear side of the tub, an exhaust duct communicating with a rear of the tub to extend along a rear surface of the tub, and a ventilation portion introducing air through the supply duct into the tub. The supply duct is provided to form an air flow introduced between an inner circumference of the tub and an outer circumference of the drum during drying, the air introduced between the inner circumference of the tub and the outer circumference of the drum is heated by the induction module, and the heated air exchanges heat with the laundry and then is discharged to the exhaust duct. 
     Further, the clothing treatment apparatus includes a heat exchange portion for condensing air which is subjected to heat exchange in the exhaust duct. 
     Further, the exhaust duct communicates with the tub in a lower side of a rear portion of the tub. 
     Further, a condensate discharge portion is formed in the exhaust duct to guide condensate to the lower side of the tub or a drain pipe and thereby prevent the scattering of the condensate. 
     Further, the clothing treatment apparatus includes a ventilation portion communicating with the supply duct and the exhaust duct, and the ventilation portion is provided to guide air passing through the exhaust duct to the supply duct. 
     Further, the clothing treatment apparatus includes an induction cooling path communicating with the ventilation portion and the induction module, and the ventilation portion includes a first fan provided to circulate air from the exhaust duct to the supply duct, and a second fan provided in the induction cooling path to blow air into the induction module. 
     Further, the first fan and the second fan are rotated via a ventilation-portion motor. 
     Further, the first fan and the second fan are provided to rotate about the same rotating axis. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     In accordance with at least one of embodiments of the present disclosure, an induction heating principle is applied without directly heating water, so that it is excellent in energy efficiency. 
     Further, a ventilation portion generates an air flow from an exhaust duct to a supply duct, so that it is possible to prevent condensate of a duct from being scattered. 
     Further, it is possible to prevent the temperature drop of the drum by preventing the scattering of the condensate. Furthermore, it is possible to improve drying efficiency by preventing the temperature drop of the drum due to the scattering of the condensate. 
     Further, a supply duct is connected to a front surface of a container or a tub, thus reducing the amount of low-temperature air flowing into the drum. 
     Further, the supply duct may be connected to the front surface of the container or the tub to guide the low-temperature air between the drum and the container (or the tub). Further, the drying efficiency can be improved by reducing the amount of low-temperature air flowing into the drum and introducing high-temperature air into the drum. 
     Further, the inlet port of the container may face the drum front portion so that air introduced into the inlet port may be dispersed while surrounding the drum. 
     Further, the introduced air is dispersed, so that a heat exchange area can be increased. Furthermore, energy efficiency can be improved due to an increase in heat exchange area. 
     Further, the drum front portion includes an inclined surface at a position corresponding to the inlet port, so that the introduced air may be guided between the container body and the drum body. Further, the air introduced into the inlet port is guided between the container body and the drum body to improve ventilation efficiency. It is possible to improve heat transfer efficiency by convection due to improvement in ventilation efficiency. 
     Further, the inlet port is located on an upper portion of the front surface so that a relatively large amount of air may be introduced into the upper portion of the drum body and the upper portion of the container body, and a hole formed in the upper portion of the drum body is not closed by laundry, so that heated air can be easily introduced into the drum. 
     Further, the heat exchange portion is located in the exhaust duct, the exhaust duct extends upward, and the condensate discharge portion is located in the lower side of the exhaust duct, so that condensed water may be discharged to the outside without flowing back into the container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a sectional view illustrating a clothing treatment apparatus according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded perspective view illustrating an induction module of the clothing treatment apparatus according to the embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view illustrating an interior of a cabinet according to the embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    is a partial enlarged sectional view of a tub according to the embodiment. 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating a flow in an exhaust duct according to the embodiment. 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram illustrating an air circulation structure according to the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to designate the same or similar components, and a duplicated description thereof will be omitted. 
     The suffixes “module” and “unit” for components used in the following description are given or used in consideration of only the ease of describing the specification, and do not have distinct meanings or roles. 
     When it is determined that the detailed description of the known art related to an embodiment disclosed in the specification may be obscure the gist of the embodiment, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Further, it is to be understood that the accompanying drawings are merely for making those skilled in the art easily understand the embodiment disclosed herein, the technical spirit of the present disclosure is not limited to the accompanying drawings, and the present disclosure covers various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments that fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
     Although the terms “first”, “second”, etc. may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another component. 
     It should be understood that when a component is referred to as being “coupled” or “connected” to another component, it can be directly coupled or connected to the other component or intervening components may be present therebetween. In contrast, it should be understood that when a component is referred to as being “directly coupled” or “directly connected” to another component, there are no intervening components present. 
     Herein, the singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
     Furthermore, although each drawing is described for the convenience of description, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments may be implemented by combining at least two or more drawings without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
       FIG.  1    is a sectional view illustrating a clothing treatment apparatus according to an embodiment. 
     The clothing treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be a washing machine, a dryer, a washer-dryer combo, or a device for refreshing clothing. 
     The clothing treatment apparatus includes a drum  3  and an induction heater  8  (or induction module) which heats the drum  3 . 
     Further, the clothing treatment apparatus may include a container  2  in which the drum  3  is arranged. The container  2  may include a tub which provides a space for accommodating water and the drum. When the clothing treatment apparatus is the washing machine or the washer-dryer combo, the container  2  may be the tub. 
     Hereinafter, the washer-dryer combo will be described as a representative example of the clothing treatment apparatus. However, the clothing treatment apparatus of the present disclosure is not limited to the washer-dryer combo. Hereinafter, the container  2  may also be referred to as the tub  2 . 
     The clothing treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cabinet  1  which defines an appearance, a tub  2  which is provided in the cabinet, and a drum  3  which is rotatably provided in the tub  2  and accommodates an object (e.g., a laundry object, a drying object, or a refresh object). For instance, when clothing is washed by washing water, this may be referred to as the laundry object. When wet clothing is dried using heat, this may be referred to as the drying object. When dry clothing is refreshed using hot air, cool air or steam, this may be referred to as the refresh object. Thus, clothing may be washed, dried or refreshed through the drum  3  of the clothing treatment apparatus. 
     The cabinet  1  may include a cabinet opening which is provided on the front of the cabinet  1  to allow the object to be put into and taken out from the cabinet. The cabinet  1  may be provided with a door  12  which is rotatably mounted on the cabinet to open or close an input port. 
     The door  12  may include an annular door frame  121  and an inspection window  122  provided on a central portion of the door frame. 
     Here, when a direction is defined to help the understanding of the detailed structure of the clothing treatment apparatus which will be described below, a direction facing the door  12  with respect to the center of the cabinet  1  may be defined as a front. 
     Further, a direction diametrically opposite to the direction facing the door  12  may be defined as a rear, and right and left directions may be naturally defined depending on the above-defined front-rear direction. 
     The tub  2  is provided in a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis thereof being parallel to a lower surface of the cabinet or forming 0 to 30° with the lower surface, thus defining a space in which water may be stored, and has on a front thereof a tub opening  21  to communicate with the input port. 
     The tub  2  may be fixed to the lower surface (bottom surface) of the cabinet  1  by a lower support portion  13  including a support bar  13   a  and a damper  13   b  connected to the support bar  13   a . Thus, vibration generated in the tub  2  may be attenuated by the rotation of the drum  3 . 
     Further, an elastic support portion  14  secured to the upper surface of the cabinet  1  may be connected to the upper surface of the tub  2 . This may also serve to attenuate vibration generated in the tub  2  and transmitted to the cabinet  1 . 
     The drum  3  is provided in a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis thereof being parallel to the lower surface (bottom surface) of the cabinet or forming 0 to 30° with the lower surface, thus accommodating the object, and may have on a front thereof a drum opening  31  communicating with the tub opening  21 . An angle between the central axis of the tub  2  and the bottom surface may be the same as an angle between the central axis of the drum  3  and the bottom surface. 
     Further, the drum  3  may include a plurality of through holes  33  which are provided to pass through the outer circumference. Through the through holes  33 , air and washing water may be introduced between the interior of the drum  3  and the interior of the tub  4 . 
     A lifter  35  may be further provided on the inner circumference of the drum  3  to stir the object when the drum is rotated, and the drum  3  may be rotated by a driving portion  6  which is provided in back of the tub  2 . 
     The driving portion  6  may include a stator  61  which is secured to the rear surface of the tub  2 , a rotor  63  which is rotated by the electromagnetic action with the stator, and a rotating shaft  65  which passes through the rear surface of the tub  2  to connect the drum  3  and the rotor  63 . 
     The stator  61  may be secured to the rear surface of a bearing housing  66  which is provided on the rear surface of the tub  2 , and the rotor  63  may include a rotor magnet  632  which is provided on the outside of the stator in the radial direction, and a rotor housing  631  which connects the rotor magnet  632  and the rotating shaft  65 . 
     A plurality of bearings  68  may be provided in the bearing housing  66  to support the rotating shaft  65 . 
     Further, a spider  67  may be provided on the rear surface of the drum  3  to easily transmit the rotating force of the rotor  63  to the drum  3 , and the rotating shaft  65  may be secured to the spider  67  to transmit the rotation power of the rotor  63 . 
     Meanwhile, the clothing treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a water supply hose  51  supplied with water from the outside, and the water supply hose  51  defines a flow path which supplies water to the tub  2 . 
     Further, a gasket  4  may be provided between the input port of the cabinet  1  and the tub opening  21 . The gasket  4  serves to prevent water in the tub  2  from leaking into the cabinet  1  and to prevent the vibration of the tub  2  from being transmitted to the cabinet  1 . 
     Meanwhile, the clothing treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a drain portion  52  which discharges water in the tub  2  to the outside of the cabinet  1 . 
     The drain portion  52  may include a drain pipe  522  forming a drain path through which water in the tub  2  moves, and a drain pump  521  which generates a pressure difference in the drain pipe  522  to drain water through the drain pipe  522 . 
     In detail, the drain pipe  522  may include a first drain pipe  522   a  which connects the lower surface of the tub  2  and the drain pump  521 , and a second drain pipe  522   a  which is connected at one end thereof to the drain pump  521  to define a flow path where water moves to the outside of the cabinet  1 . 
     The clothing treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include an induction module  8  which inductively heats the drum  3 . 
     The induction module  8  is mounted on the circumferential surface of the tub  2 . The induction module inductively heats the circumferential surface of the drum  3  through a magnetic field generated by applying a current to a coil around which wire is wound. Thus, the heating portion may be referred to as an induction heater. If the induction heater is driven, the outer circumference of the drum opposite to the induction module  8  may be heated to very high temperature within a very short time. 
     The induction module  8  may be arranged outside or inside the duct  71  or  72 . 
     The induction module  8  may be controlled by a controller  9  which is secured to the cabinet  1 . The controller  9  controls the internal temperature of the tub, by controlling the driving of the induction module  8 . The controller  9  may include a processor which controls the driving of the clothing treatment apparatus, and may include an inverter processor which controls the induction module. That is, the driving of the clothing treatment apparatus and the driving of the induction module  8  may be controlled through one processor. 
     However, in order to ensure control efficiency and prevent the overload of the processor, a processor for controlling the driving of the general clothing treatment apparatus and a processor for controlling the induction module  8  may be individually provided, and be communicatively connected to each other. 
     A temperature sensor  95  may be provided in the tub  2 . The temperature sensor  95  may be connected to the controller  9 , and transmit information about the internal temperature of the tub  2  to the controller  9 . Particularly, the temperature sensor may be provided to sense the temperature of washing water or wet air. Therefore, this may be referred to as a washing-water temperature sensor. 
     The temperature sensor  95  may be provided near the bottom in the tub. Thus, the temperature sensor  95  may be positioned below the lowermost end of the drum.  FIG.  1    shows the temperature sensor  95  provided to be in contact with the bottom surface of the tub. However, the temperature sensor may be preferably provided to be spaced apart from the bottom surface by a predetermined distance. This allows the washing water or air to surround the temperature sensor so that the temperature of the washing water or air is precisely measured. The temperature sensor  95  may be mounted to pass through the tub from the lower portion to the upper portion, but may be mounted to pass through the tub from the front to the rear. That is, the temperature sensor may be mounted to pass through the front surface (surface forming the tub opening) of the tub instead of the circumferential surface thereof. 
     Therefore, when the clothing treatment apparatus heats the washing water through the induction module  8 , the temperature sensor may detect whether the washing water is heated to target temperature. Based on the detected result of the temperature sensor, the driving of the induction heater may be controlled. 
     Further, when all of the washing water is drained, the temperature sensor  95  may detect the temperature of the air. Since residual washing water or coolant is present in the bottom of the tub, the temperature sensor  95  may sense the temperature of wet air. 
     Meanwhile, the clothing treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a drying temperature sensor  96 . The drying temperature sensor  96  may be different in installation position and temperature measurement target from the above-described temperature sensor  95 . The drying temperature sensor  96  may detect the temperature of air heated through the induction module  8 , i.e. the drying temperature. Thus, the temperature sensor may detect whether air is heated up to the target temperature. Based on the detected result of the drying temperature sensor, the driving of the induction heater may be controlled. 
     The drying temperature sensor  96  may be located on the upper portion of the tub  2 , and be provided near the induction module  8 . That is, the drying temperature sensor may be provided on the inner surface of the tub  2  outside the projection surface of the induction module  8  to detect the temperature of the outer circumference of the opposite drum  3 . The above-described temperature sensor  95  may be provided to detect the temperature of the surrounding water or air, and the drying temperature sensor  96  may be provided to detect the temperature of the drum or the drying air temperature around the drum. 
     Since the drum  3  is configured to rotate, the temperature of the outer circumference of the drum may be indirectly sensed by sensing the temperature of air near the outer circumference of the drum  30 . 
     The temperature sensor  95  may be provided to determine whether to continue the driving of the induction heater up to a target temperature or whether to vary the output of the induction heater. The drying temperature sensor  96  may be provided to determine whether to overheat the drum. When it is determined that the drum is overheated, the driving of the induction heater may be forcibly stopped. 
     In addition, the clothing treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may have a drying function. In this case, the clothing treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be referred to as a washer-dryer combo. 
     The drying may be performed using the induction module  8 . That is, washing water may be heated during washing, an object may be heated during spin-drying, and an object may be heated during drying, through one induction heater. 
     When the drum  3  is driven and the induction module  8  is driven, the entire drum  3  may be substantially heated. The heated drum exchanges heat with wet laundry to heat the laundry. Of course, air in the drum may also be heated. Thus, if air is supplied to the interior of the drum  3 , air from which water is evaporated through heat exchange may be discharged to the outside of the drum  3 . 
     The supply position of the air and the discharge position of the air may be determined so that heated air is uniformly supplied to the drying object and the wet air is smoothly discharged. 
     This will be described below in detail. 
     Thus, since the air itself is not directly heated, the temperature of heating air may be lower than the temperature of heating air in a general heater heating dryer. Therefore, the effect capable of preventing damage or deformation of clothing due to high temperature may be expected. 
     However, as described above, since the drum is driven, the induction heater is driven, clothing repeatedly rises and falls as the drum is driven, and the heating position of the drum is not at the lower portion but at the upper portion of the drum, the overheating of the clothing can be effectively prevented. 
     A control panel  92  may be provided on the front surface or upper surface of the clothing treatment apparatus. The control panel may be provided for a user interface. The control panel may perform various user inputs, and display various pieces of information. That is, a manipulation portion for user manipulation and a display portion for displaying information to a user may be provided on the control panel  92 . 
       FIG.  2    is an exploded perspective view illustrating an induction module of the clothing treatment apparatus according to the embodiment. 
     Hereinafter, the induction module of the clothing treatment apparatus according to the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to  FIG.  2   . 
     The clothing treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be provided with the induction may be provided with the induction module  8  for inductively heating the drum  3 . The induction module  8  may heat the drum  3  to heat washing water or dry laundry. The principle of heating the drum  3  using the induction module  8  is as follows. 
     The induction module  8  is mounted on the outer circumference of the tub  2 , and heats the drum  3  through a magnetic field generated by applying a current to the coil  81  around which the wire is wound. The wire may be formed of a core and a coating surrounding the core. The core may be a single core. A plurality of cores may be entangled to form one core. Thus, the thickness or diameter of the wire may be determined by the thickness of the core and coating. 
     If an alternating current that is changed in phase flows through the coil  81  around which the wire is wound, the coil  81  forms a radial AC magnetic field according to the Ampere&#39;s circuital law. 
     The AC magnetic field concentrates on the drum (metal material) made of a conductor having high magnetic permeability. The magnetic permeability refers to a degree to which a medium is magnetized with respect to a given magnetic field. At this time, according to Faraday&#39;s law of induction, an eddy current is formed in the drum  3 . The eddy current flows through the drum  3  made of the conductor, and is converted into Joule heat by the resistance of the drum  3  itself, so that the inner wall of the drum  3  is directly heated. 
     If the inner wall of the drum  3  is directly heated, the temperature of air in the drum  3  and the temperature of laundry contacting the inner wall of the drum  3  are increased together. Therefore, since the laundry may be directly heated, faster drying is possible compared to a drying apparatus using only a hot air drying method that is an indirect heating method, or a low temperature dehumidifying and drying method. 
     In the case of the clothing treatment apparatus having a washing function, washing water may be heated without a separate heating wire and flow path. Since the washing water continuously contacts the inner and outer walls of the drum  3  heated to a high temperature, it is not necessary to form a separate flow path and heating wire under the tub. According to the above-described method, it is possible to more rapidly heat washing water compared to a method in which the separate flow path and heating wire are formed under the tub and washing water is heated using the flow path and heating wire. 
     The induction module  8  according to this embodiment may include a coil  81 , a base housing  82 , and a module cover  83 . 
     The induction module  8  may be provided on the outer surface of the tub  2 , and be provided to heat the outer surface of the drum  3  through the magnetic field generated when a current is applied to the coil  81 . 
     Specifically, the induction module  8  may include the base housing  82  which is provided to be spaced apart from the outer surface of the tub  2  by a predetermined distance. 
     The base housing  82  may be provided to accommodate and support the wound coil  81 . The base housing  82  may have a shape corresponding to that of the outer circumference (or circumferential surface) of the tub  2 , so that the base housing may be uniformly spaced apart from the tub  2 . 
     Thus, the amount of the magnetic field transmitted through the base housing  82  is not changed depending on the position of the circumferential surface of the tub  2 , so that uniform heating is possible. 
     The tub  2  may include a tub connector  22 . The tub connector  22  may be provided to secure the induction module  8  to the circumferential surface of the tub  2 . The base housing  82  and the tub  2  may be spaced apart from each other by the length of the tub connector  22 . 
     The base housing  82  may be provided with a housing connector  821  to correspond to the position of the tub connector  22 . The tub connector  22  and the housing connector  821  may be coupled to each other, so that the induction module  8  may be secured to the outer circumference of the tub  2 . 
     The coil  81  may be wound and provided in the base housing  82 . The coil  81  may be wound along the upper surface of the base housing  82 , and may be provided to be slightly shorter in length than the tub  2 . 
     This can prevent other components in the clothing treatment apparatus from being heated. 
     However, when the length of the coil is excessively shorter than that of the tub  2 , it may be difficult to effectively transmit heat. Thus, the coil may be wound to be disposed adjacent to the front surface of the tub  2  and the rear surface of the tub  2 . 
     A module cover  83  may be provided on the upper surface of the coil  81  to correspond to the size of the base housing  82 . The module cover  83  may be coupled to the base housing  82  to be mounted on the outer circumference of the tub  2 . 
       FIG.  3    is a perspective view illustrating an interior of the cabinet according to the embodiment. 
     An opening  21  (see  FIG.  1   ) may be formed in the front surface of the tub  2 , and a gasket  4  may be connected to the opening  21 . 
     The clothing treatment apparatus according to this embodiment may include a supply duct  71  and an exhaust duct  72 . 
     The supply duct  71  may be provided to communicate with the front surface  23  (see  FIG.  4   ) of the tub  2  and extend to the rear of the tub  2 . 
     The supply duct  71  may be provided to communicate with the front surface  23  of the tub  2 , extend a predetermined length in a radial direction of the tub  2 , and extend from the upper side of the tub  2  to the rear side of the tub  2 . 
     That is, the outlet portion  711  of the supply duct  71  may be provided to extend in the radial direction of the tub  2 , and the supply duct  71  may be provided to extend to the rear of the tub  2 . 
     The supply duct  71  may not be provided to immediately put air into the drum  3 , but may be provided to introduce a maximum amount of air into a space between the tub  2  and the drum  3 . 
     Further, the air introduced into the tub  2  may be more advantageous for drying if it is heated by the induction module  8 . 
     The air introduced into the tub  2  may become dry air while passing through the exhaust duct  72 . The dry air has a higher water content than wet air, but air with a higher temperature has a higher water content than air with a relatively lower temperature if the air has the same dryness. 
     The supply duct  71  may be connected to the upper side of the front surface  23  of the tub  2 . The outlet portion  711  of the supply duct  71  may be connected to the upper side of the front surface  23  of the tub. The air introduced into the tub  2  may be moved to the space between the tub  2  and the drum  3  to exchange heat with the drum  3  which is heated by the induction module  8 . 
     The supply duct  71  may be provided to form the flow of air introduced between the inner circumference of the tub  2  and the outer circumference of the drum  3  during drying. The air introduced between the inner circumference of the tub  2  and the outer circumference of the drum  3  through the supply duct  71  may be heated by the induction module  8 . The heated air may be discharged to the exhaust duct  72  after exchanging heat with the laundry (dry load) to remove water from the laundry. 
     The air introduced into the space between the drum  3  and the tub  2  may flow through a through hole  33  (see  FIG.  4   ) formed in the drum  3  to dry the clothing accommodated in the drum  3 . 
     The ventilation portion  75  may be provided to introduce air through the supply duct  71  into the tub  2 . 
     The ventilation portion  75  may include a ventilation-portion housing  750  and a fan. 
     The ventilation-portion housing  750  may include a first fan receiving portion  751 , and a second fan receiving portion  752 . A first fan may be received in the first fan receiving portion  751 . A second fan may be received in the second fan receiving portion  752 . 
     The ventilation-portion housing  750  is connected to the supply duct  71  and the exhaust duct  72  which will be described later to provide a path along which air moves. 
     The fan may generate air flow in a direction from the exhaust duct  72  toward the supply duct  71 . The fan may include a first fan and a second fan. 
     The first fan (received in  751 ) may be provided to introduce the air discharged from the tub  2  through the exhaust duct  72  into the ventilation portion  75 . Here, the first fan may be operated to blow the air introduced from the exhaust duct  72  into the supply duct  71 . 
     That is, the air may be circulated in the order of the tub  2 , the exhaust duct  72 , the ventilation portion  75 , and the supply duct. 
     The second fan (received in  752 ) may be provided to blow the air into the induction module  8 . 
     The clothing treatment apparatus according to this embodiment may include an induction cooling path  753  provided to be connected to the ventilation portion  75  and the induction module  8 . To be more specific, the induction cooling path  753  may be connected to an induction-cooling-path connector  832  formed on the upper side of the module cover  83  and the ventilation-portion housing  750 . 
     The second fan may be provided in the ventilation-portion housing  750  to communicate with the induction cooling path  753 . The air introduced through the exhaust duct  72  may be branched into the induction module  8  and the front surface of the tub  2  to be blown by the operation of the first fan and the second fan. 
     The first fan and the second fan may be operated through one ventilation-portion motor (not shown). 
     In detail, in order to rotate the first fan and the second fan with one ventilation-portion motor, the first fan and the second fan may be provided to rotate about the same rotating axis. 
     Thus, it is possible to cool the induction module  8  without providing a separate motor. 
     The air passing through the induction module  8  may be discharged to a space between the base housing  82  and the module cover  83  of the induction module  8 . The cabinet  1  and the tub  2  are provided to prevent the movement of water, but are not a sealed structure which prevents even the flow of air. 
     Therefore, the air discharged to the outside of the induction module  8  may be introduced into the tub  2  again. 
     An exhaust port may be formed in the rear surface of the tub  2 . The exhaust port may be located on the lower side of the rear surface. 
     The exhaust duct  72  may be provided to communicate with the rear of the tub  2  and extend along the rear surface of the tub  2 . 
     In detail, the exhaust duct  72  may be connected to the lower side of the rear of the tub  2  and extend along the rear surface of the tub  2 . 
     A heat exchange portion  721  may be provided in the exhaust duct  72 . Thus, if the exhaust duct is connected to the lower side of the rear of the tub  2 , it is possible to secure time when wet air passing through the exhaust duct  72  may sufficient heat exchange. 
     The heat exchange portion  721  may be provided as a separate component such as a heater, or may be provided in the form of a partition wall which separates paths from each other when a separate flow path for cooling is formed in the exhaust duct  72 . 
     That is, the heat exchange portion  721  is not limited to a specific form. 
     The exhaust duct  72  may include a condensate discharge portion  722 . 
     The wet air passing through the exhaust duct  72  may perform heat exchange with the heat exchange portion  721  to remove condensate. The condensate formed in the exhaust duct  72  may descend toward the lower side of the exhaust duct  72 . If the condensate discharge portion  722  is not present, the descending condensate is accumulated in the entrance of the exhaust duct  72 . Thus, the condensate discharge portion  722  for discharging the condensate may be provided on the entrance of the exhaust duct  72 , i.e. the lower side of the exhaust duct  72 . 
     The condensate may be guided through the lower side of the tub  2  to a drain pipe  522  using the condensate discharge portion  722  to be discharged, or may be directly connected to the drain pipe  522  to be discharged. 
     Although  FIG.  3    shows that the supply duct  71  has a predetermined inclination, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, as long as the supply duct  71  extends to the rear side of the tub  2 , the detailed shape of the supply duct  71  is not limited. 
       FIG.  2    shows that the induction-cooling-path connector  832  is formed around the center of the module cover  83 , and  FIG.  3    shows that the induction-cooling-path connector  832  is not formed around the center of the upper side of the induction module  8  but is provided on a side thereof. 
     That is, the induction-cooling-path connector  832  is provided on the module cover  83  to form a space where air for cooling the induction module  8  may pass. However, the induction-cooling-path connector is preferably provided so that air introduced through the induction-cooling-path connector  832  can effectively exchange heat with the entire induction module  8 . 
     That is, as shown in  FIG.  2   , as long as the air is evenly dispersed to the front and rear sides of the induction module  8  to perform heat exchange even if the induction-cooling-path connector  832  is provided on the center, the induction-cooling-path connector  832  may be provided on the center of the module cover  83 . 
       FIG.  4    is a partial enlarged sectional view of the tub according to the embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , the tub  2  may include a front surface  23 , a rear surface, and a body  20  extending between the front surface  23  and the rear surface. The body may have the shape of an elongated cylinder. 
     The opening  21  (see  FIG.  1   ) may be formed in the front surface  23 . The opening  21  may be located in the central portion of the front surface  23 . The front surface  23  may have the shape of a ring. 
     An inlet port  24  may be formed in the front surface  23 . The inlet port  24  may be located in the outer side of the opening  21 . The inlet port  24  may be located in an upper side of the opening  21 . The inlet port  24  may face the front portion  30  of the drum  2 . 
     The inlet port  24  may communicate with the outlet portion  711  of the supply duct  71 . 
     The outlet portion  711  of the supply duct  71  may include an exit connected to the inlet port  24  of the tub  2 . The exit of the outlet portion  711  may extend rearward. The outlet portion  711  may include a portion extending upward from the rearwardly extending exit. 
     The drum  2  may include a body  32  having the shape of an elongated cylinder. The drum  2  may include a hole  33  which is formed in the body  32 . The air and the washing water may flow through the hole  33  between the inside and outside of the drum  2 . 
     The drum  2  may include a drum front portion  30  connected to the front end of the drum body  32 . The drum front portion  30  may extend in a direction from the drum body  32  toward the drum center and the front. 
     The drum front portion  30  may provide a drum opening  31 . A user may put laundry through the drum opening  31  into the drum  2 , and take the laundry out from the drum  2 . 
     The drum front portion  30  may face the inlet port  24 . 
     The drum front portion  30  may include an inclined surface  301  at a position corresponding to the inlet port  24 . The inclined surface  301  may be inclined rearward in a direction from an inner side to an outer side. The inner end of the inclined surface  301  may overlap the inlet port  24  in the radial direction of the drum  3 . 
     The drum front portion  30  may further include a portion extending from the inner end of the inclined surface  301  to the inner side of the drum  3  in a radial direction thereof. A boundary between the extending portion and the inner end of the inclined surface  301  may be formed at a position corresponding to the inlet port  24 . 
     Thus, the air introduced into the inlet port  24  may be dispersed and flow between the drum body  32  and the tub body  20 . 
     Thereby, the air introduced into the inlet port  24  may be guided between the drum body  32  and the tub body  20 . 
     The drum front portion  30  may include an extending portion which extends forward to provide the drum opening  31 . 
     The inlet port  24  may be located in back of the drum opening  31 . 
     The gasket  4  may include a tubular body  40 , a tub coupler  41  located in back of the body  40 , and a cabinet coupler  42  located in front of the body  40 . 
     The tub front surface  23  may include a forwardly extending coupler  26 . The coupler  26  provides a tub opening  21 . 
     The coupler  26  of the tub  2  may be inserted into the tub coupler  41  of the gasket  4 . Therefore, the gasket  4  and the tub  2  may be coupled to each other. 
     Similarly, the cabinet  1  may be provided with a coupler which provides an opening in a front surface thereof, and the coupler may be inserted into the cabinet coupler  42  of the gasket  4 . Therefore, the gasket  4  and the cabinet may be coupled to each other. 
       FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating a flow in an exhaust duct according to the embodiment. 
     As described above, the exhaust duct  72  is provided to extend from the rear side of the tub  2  to the upper side of the tub  2 . 
     The exhaust duct  72  may be provided to guide wet air discharged from the tub  2 . A heat exchange portion  721  may be provided in the exhaust duct  72  to exchange heat with wet air. 
     Therefore, wet air discharged from the tub  2  may flow along the exhaust duct  72 , so that condensate may be generated. Gravity acts on the condensate in a direction opposite to the flow direction of the wet air. Therefore, the condensate may flow down along the exhaust duct  72 . 
     The condensate flowing down through the exhaust duct  72  may be less affected by gravity. In detail, the condensate flows down in the direction of gravity, but the influence of gravity may be reduced by the flow of wet air. Therefore, the scattering of the condensate toward the tub  2  may be minimized. 
     If the condensate is scattered and introduced into the tub  2 , the temperature of the drum  3  heated by the induction module  8  may be lowered, so that efficiency may be reduced. 
     Therefore, air is circulated in a direction opposite to the gravity acting on the condensate, thus minimizing a possibility that the condensate is introduced into the tub  2  and scattered to the drum  3 . 
       FIG.  5 ( a )  and  FIG.  5 ( b )  show the simulation result of the inside of the exhaust duct  72  according to the circulating direction of the air. 
     In the case that the air circulating direction is equal to the gravity direction as shown in  FIG.  5 ( a ) , water easily flows into the tub  2  when the condensate contacts the entrance of the exhaust duct  72 . 
     In contrast, in the case that the air circulating direction is different from and opposite to the gravity direction as shown in  FIG.  5 ( b ) , the scattering of water from the entrance of the exhaust duct  72  to the inside of the tub  2  may be minimized. 
       FIG.  6    is a diagram illustrating an air circulation structure according to the embodiment. 
       FIG.  6 ( a )  is a diagram showing that air is introduced in a direction opposite to the above-described direction, i.e., through the exhaust duct  72  to the inside of the tub  2 ,  FIG.  6 ( b )  is a diagram showing that the air introduced in the same direction as the above-described direction, i.e., the air introduced through the inlet port  24  to the tub  2  flows into the drum  2 , and  FIG.  6 ( c )  is a diagram showing that the upper surface of the front of the tub  2  and the supply duct  71  are connected such that air is introduced into a space between the drum  3  and the tub  2  while the air flows through the supply duct  71  to the inside of the tub  2 . 
     Before the description, terms which will be described below will be defined. 
     Herein, an effective air volume (%) may be defined as a drum passing flow rate/a circulation air volume. 
     Herein, an effective work (%) may be defined as a drum transfer energy/induction module heating energy. 
     Herein, a temperature deviation may be defined as a standard deviation of temperature from the entrance of the drum to the rear surface. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 FIG. 6(a) 
                 FIG. 6(b) 
                 FIG. 6(c) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Effective air volume (%) 
                   23% 
                   48% 
                   24% 
               
               
                 Effective work (%) 
                 38.7% 
                 37.3% 
                 39.4% 
               
               
                 Temperature deviation 
                 2.4 
                 5.6 
                 0.85 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Hereinafter, an example will be described with reference to Table 1 and  FIGS.  6 ( a ) to  6 ( c ) . 
     The flow rate passing through the drum  3  in which laundry or a drying object is accommodated is the largest in the case of  FIG.  6 ( b ) . The reason is because the gasket  4  and the supply duct  71  are connected to each other in  FIG.  6 ( b ) . Since the supply duct  71  is connected to the opening side of the gasket  4 , air introduced into the drum  3  is the largest compared to other cases. 
     However, since the air is not heated by the induction module  8  in the case of being introduced through the gasket  4 , it cannot be seen that the drying effect is greater than that of  FIG.  6 ( c ) . 
     As for the effective work and the temperature deviation, the largest thermal energy is transmitted to the drum  3  and the temperature deviation in the front-rear direction of the drum  3  is small in the case of  FIG.  6 ( c ) , so that drying may be evenly performed throughout the drum  3 . 
     The same result as the above-described result is not always derived, and the numerical values shown in Table 1 and  FIG.  6    may vary depending on the measurement method or measurement standard. 
     Certain embodiments or other embodiments of the disclosure described above are not mutually exclusive or distinct from each other. Any or all elements of the embodiments of the disclosure described above may be combined with another or combined with each other in configuration or function. 
     For example, a configuration “A” described in one embodiment of the disclosure and the drawings and a configuration “B” described in another embodiment of the disclosure and the drawings may be combined with each other. Namely, although the combination between the configurations is not directly described, the combination is possible except in the case where it is described that the combination is impossible. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.