Patent Publication Number: US-8122741-B2

Title: Washing apparatus and control method thereof

Description:
This application claims the benefit of, and is a continuation of, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/979,883 filed Nov. 3, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,600,402 which claims priority to Korean Patent Application Numbers 10-2003-0077592 filed Nov. 4, 2003, 10-2003-0077593 filed Nov. 4, 2003, 10-2003-0077594 filed Nov. 4, 2003, 10-2003-0077595 filed Nov. 4, 2003, 10-2003-0077596 filed Nov. 4, 2003, 10-2003-0077597 filed Nov. 4, 2003, 10-2003-0081084 filed Nov. 17, 2003 and 10-2003-0084085 filed Nov. 17, 2003, and each of the above-identified applications is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a washing apparatus, and more particularly, to a washing apparatus and control method thereof, by which laundry can be dry-cleaned. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Generally, washing apparatuses include a washing machine, a laundry dryer, and a washer/dryer. 
     The washing machine is to perform washing on various kinds of laundries. The laundry dryer is to perform drying on a washing-completed wet laundry. And, the washer/dryer is to perform both of the washing and the drying. 
     Yet, the washing apparatuses such as the washing machine, laundry dryer, washer/dryer, and the like carries out the general washing and/or drying on the laundry. 
     Namely, a general washing apparatus as a home appliance is unable to perform such a special washing as dry cleaning. 
     Recently, a separate dry-cleaning kit is provided to enable a general laundry dryer to carry out laundry dry cleaning, thereby enabling home dry cleaning. 
     The dry-cleaning kit is provided with a wet pad cloth diffusing a prescribed amount of steam and fragrance in case of being heated, a package bag packing a prescribed amount of laundry and the wet pad cloth, a filth remover for removing filth of laundry manually, and a filth-absorbing pad. 
     A process of carrying out dry cleaning using the dry-cleaning kit is explained as follows. 
     First of all, the filth-absorbing pad is put beneath a filth-adhering portion of a laundry. And, the filth remover is coated on the filth-adhering portion of the laundry. 
     In doing so, the filth adhering to the laundry migrates into the filth-absorbing pad to perform the filth removal of the laundry. 
     Subsequently, the filth-removed laundry is put within the package bag together with the wet pad cloth. Having been sealed up, the package bag is put in a laundry dryer. 
     The laundry dryer is then operated to provide hot air or heat to a drum. 
     In doing so, the hot air evaporates the water and fragrance involved in the wet pad cloth within the package bag to refresh the laundry within the package bag. 
     However, the related art laundry dry-cleaning process should be provided with the dry-cleaning kit. 
     Namely, it is impossible for the laundry dryer itself to perform dry cleaning without the dry-cleaning kit. 
     Moreover, the package bag configuring the dry-cleaning kit has a very small capacity enabling to hold 3˜4 suits therein for dry cleaning. 
     Hence, the dry-cleaning kit can save a little cost for dry cleaning. 
     And, a material forming the package bag of the dry-cleaning kit should be carefully selected. 
     For instance, if the package back is perforated, it is unable to use the package bag. And, the material forming the package bag should be heat-resistant not to be melted at high temperature. 
     Moreover, the wet pad cloth of the dry-cleaning kit is put in a specific area within the package bag together with the laundry, thereby being sectionally contacted with the laundry. 
     Namely, since the position of the wet pad cloth is not changed despite the rotation of the drum, dry cleaning is carried out on a sectional portion of the laundry, where the wet pad cloth was initially inputted, only. 
     Besides, a drum type washing machine unnecessarily wastes water in washing a small amount of laundry or a less filthy laundry. In doing so, the drum type washing machine needs the same operational time of a general washing process, thereby wasting power consumption as well. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a washing apparatus and control method thereof that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a washing apparatus and control method thereof, by which laundry can be dry-cleaned and by which dry cleaning can be simultaneously performed on a great quantity of laundry. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing apparatus and control method thereof, by which water and power consumptions are reduced to the minimum extent. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing apparatus and control method thereof, by which a laundry is prevented from being wetted by water provided for dry cleaning as possible as it can be. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a washing apparatus and control method thereof, by which dry cleaning can be carried out on a great quantity of laundries without using a separate dry-cleaning kit. 
     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a washing apparatus according to the present invention includes a body forming an exterior of the washing apparatus, a drum rotatably provided within the body, and 
     at least one or more wet pad cloths loaded within the drum to diffuse prescribed quantities of moisture and fragrance in case of receiving heat of high temperature. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling a washing apparatus includes a wet pad cloth providing step of providing at least one or more wet pad cloths including prescribed amounts of moisture and fragrance with a drum and a dry-cleaning step of providing heat of high temperature to the at least one or more wet pad cloths and rotating the drum in case of a control occurrence for dry cleaning. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a washing apparatus includes a body forming an exterior of the washing apparatus, a drum rotatably provided within the body, and at least one steam providing unit for diffusing steam into the drum. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling a washing apparatus includes a steam generating step of generating steam by heating water in a steam providing unit, a steam spray step of spraying the generated steam into a drum, and a steam discharge step of discharging the steam reaming in the drum outside the drum after completion of dry cleaning. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a washing apparatus includes a body forming an exterior of the washing apparatus, an outer tub provided within the body, a drum rotatably provided within the outer tub, a water supply pipe for supplying water to the outer tub, and a detergent supplying unit for spraying a dry-cleaning detergent into the drum. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling a washing apparatus includes a detergent spray step of spraying a dry-cleaning detergent over a laundry inputted to a drum to separate filth from the laundry, a water spray step of spraying a small amount of water into the drum to remove the filth separated from the laundry, and a laundry drying step of providing hot and dry air to the drum to dry the laundry. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a washing apparatus includes a body forming an exterior of the washing apparatus, an outer tub provided within the body, a drum rotatably provided within the outer tub and having a multitude of perforated holes on a circumference, a water heater provided to a bottom part within the outer tub, and a water supply pipe connected to a portion in the vicinity of a space having the water heater provided thereto within the outer tub to guide a water supply flow of water. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling a washing apparatus includes a water supply step of supplying water to a bottom space within an outer tub via a water supply pipe in case of executing an operation for dry cleaning, a temperature sensing step of sensing a temperature variation via a temperature sensor, and a heat generation control step of stopping supplying the water and driving a water heater to generate heat if a value of the sensed temperature variation exceeds a reference value. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a washing apparatus includes a body forming an exterior of the washing apparatus, an outer tub provided within the body, a drum rotatably provided within the outer tub and having a multitude of perforated holes on a circumference, a water heater provided to a bottom part within the outer tub, a water supply pipe for guiding a water supply flow of water, a sensing unit provided between the water heater and the drum to be short-circuited if a level of the water exceeds a predefined water level, and a controller for controlling a water supply according to whether the sensing unit is short-circuited. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling a washing apparatus includes a water supply step of supplying water to a bottom space within an outer tub via a water supply pipe in case of executing an operation for dry cleaning, a short circuit check step of checking whether a short circuit of an electrode sensor occurs by the supplied water, and a heat generation control step of stopping supplying the water and driving a water heater to generate heat if short circuit of an electrode sensor occurs. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a washing apparatus includes a body forming an exterior of the washing apparatus, an outer tub provided within the body, a drum rotatably provided within the outer tub and having a multitude of perforated holes on a circumference, a water heater provided to a bottom part within the outer tub, a water supply pipe connected to a circumference of the bottom part of the outer tub to guide a water supply flow of water, a drying duct having one end connected to the circumference of the bottom part of the outer tub and the other end connected to an upper circumference of the outer tub to supply hot air to the outer tub, a drying heater provided within the drying duct, and a cooling water supply pipe connected to a pipe path of the drying duct to provide a small amount of cooling water. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling a washing apparatus includes a water supply step of supplying water to a bottom space within an outer tub via a water supply pipe in case of executing an operation for dry cleaning, a cooling water supply step of if a level of the supplied water reaches a predefined first water level, stopping supplying the water via the water supply pipe and supplying a small amount of cooling water via a cooling water supply pipe, a water supply stop step of if the level of the supplied water reaches a predefined second water level, stopping supplying the cooling water via the cooling water supply pipe, and a steam generation step of driving a water heater to generate steam in case of completion of either the cooling water supply step or the water supply stop step. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a washing apparatus includes a body forming an exterior of the washing apparatus, an outer tub provided within the body, a drum rotatably provided within the outer tub and having a multitude of perforated holes on a circumference, and at least one steam providing unit for providing a prescribed amount of steam to an inside of the drum. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling a washing apparatus includes a detergent spray step of spraying a dry-cleaning detergent over a laundry inputted to a drum and a steam providing step of providing steam to an inside of a drum by operating a steam providing unit. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a washing apparatus includes a body forming an exterior of the washing apparatus, a drum rotatably provided within the body, a steam providing unit for providing a prescribed amount of steam toward an inside of the drum, and a laundry rack detachably provided to the inside of the drum to place a laundry thereon. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective diagram of a washing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional diagram of a washing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a front diagram of an interior of a washing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a projected perspective diagram of a wet cloth pad; 
         FIG. 5  is a projected perspective diagram of another wet cloth pad of a washing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a front diagram of an interior of a washing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a front diagram of an interior of a washing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a front diagram of an interior of a washing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which another example of a location of a heating part is shown; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional diagram of a washing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a front diagram of an interior of a washing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective diagram of a filth transfer cloth. 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart of a method of controlling a washing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional diagram of a washing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of an interior of a washing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a flowchart of a method of controlling a washing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional diagram of a washing apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  and  FIG. 18  are schematic cross-sectional diagrams of an interior of a washing apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  is a flowchart of a method of controlling a washing apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 20  and  FIG. 21  are schematic cross-sectional diagrams of an interior of a washing apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 22  is a flowchart of a method of controlling a washing apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional diagram of a washing apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 24  and  FIG. 25  are schematic cross-sectional diagrams of an interior of a washing apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 26  is a flowchart of a method of controlling a washing apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 27  is a cross-sectional diagram of a washing apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 28  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of an interior of a washing apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 29  is a perspective diagram of a steam providing unit of a washing apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 30  is a perspective diagram of a detergent supplying unit of a washing apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 31  is a flowchart of a method of controlling a washing apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 32  is a cross-sectional diagram of a washing apparatus according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 33  is a front diagram of an interior of a washing apparatus according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 34  is a perspective diagram of a laundry rack of a washing apparatus according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 35  is a cross-sectional diagram of a washing apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 36  is a schematic cross-sectional of an interior of a washing apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 37  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of another example of the interior in  FIG. 36 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     First of all, a washing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is to collectively carry out dry cleaning on a great quantity of laundries using a wet pad cloth of a dry-cleaning kit only. 
     In this case, the washing apparatus according to the present invention includes a general washing machine, a washer/dryer, or a laundry dryer. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the washing apparatus includes the laundry dryer for example. 
       FIGS. 1 to 5  show a washing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , a washing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a body  10 , a drum  20 , and a wet pad cloth  60 . 
     The body  10  forms an exterior of the washing apparatus. An entrance  11  for laundry input/output is provided to a front side of the body  10 . And, a rim  13  is provided to the entrance  11 . 
     The entrance  11  is open/closed by a door  15 . 
     A motor  17  for rotating the drum  20 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , is provided to an inside bottom part of the body  10 . 
     A hot air supply pipe  31  for a hot air flow and a hot air discharge pipe  32  for discharging a hot air flowing in the drum  20  are provided within the body  10 . 
     A drying heater  33  is provided to the hot air supply pipe  31 , and a blower fan  34  is provided to the hot air discharge pipe  32 . 
     The drum  20  is rotatably provided within the body  10 , and an opening for the laundry input/output is provided toward the entrance  11 . 
     At least one agitation piece  21  is provided to an inner wall of the drum  20  to agitate a laundry for smooth drying. 
     The wet pad cloth  60  is provided within the drum  20 . 
     The wet pad cloth  60  contains moisture and fragrance inside to diffuse them in case of being heated. 
     At least one or more wet pad cloths  60  are preferably provided. 
     Specifically, the wet pad cloth  60  is preferably formed of a material enabling various kinds of filth attached to the laundry to be smoothly transferred. 
     Preferably, the wet pad cloth  60  is detachably provided to the agitation piece  21 . 
     For this, a loading part is provided to the agitation piece  21  to install the wet pad cloth  60 . The loading part includes a loading recess  22  and a fixing holder  23 . 
     The loading recess  22  having a prescribed height is recessed from a surface of the agitation piece  21  to allow one end of the wet pad cloth  60  to be fitted therein. And, the fixing holder  23  is assembled to the loading recess  22  to fix the wet pad cloth  60  thereto and to open/close the loading recess  22 . 
     In doing so, one end of the fixing holder  23  is hinge-coupled to the loading recess  22  and a hook  24  is provided to the other end of the fixing holder  23  to be hooked in the loading recess  22 . 
     A hanging recess  25  is provided to a corresponding portion of the loading recess  22  to catch the hook  24 . 
     Alternatively, the hook may protrude from the loading recess  22  and the hanging recess can be provided to the fixing holder  23 . Alternatively, hooks are provided to both ends of the fixing holder  23  and hanging recesses are formed to both sides of the loading recess  22  confronting the corresponding hooks, respectively. 
     Alternatively, a guide  61 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , is provided in one body to one end of the wet pad cloth  60  and a fitting recess  26  is provided to a topside of the agitation piece  21  so that the guide  61  can be fitted therein. 
     In the configuration of the washing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the drum  20  is hermetically sealed from an external environment so that dry cleaning can be performed within an entire inner space of the drum  20 . 
     Hence, it is able to collectively carry out dry cleaning on a great quantity of laundries. 
     The dry cleaning means a series of cycles for refreshing the laundries. Yet, the dry cleaning may include a series of cycles for removing various kinds of filth from the laundries. 
     Specifically, as the position of the wet pad cloth  60  is changed according to a rotation of the drum  20 , the wet pad cloth  60  evenly comes into contact with the entire laundries to enhance a dry-cleaning effect. 
     This is because the filth of the laundries can be smoothly transferred to the wet pad cloth  60  frequently coming into contact with the laundries and because the steam and fragrance can be evenly provided to the laundries overall. 
     A process of controlling a washing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is explained as follows. 
     First of all, if a user intends to initiate an operation of dry cleaning, the wet pad cloth  60  is loaded in the loading recess  22  of each of the agitation pieces  21  within the drum  20 . 
     In doing so, the number of the wet pad cloths  60  to be loaded preferably depends on a quantity of the laundry to be dry-cleaned. 
     For instance, in case of intending to dry-clean  34  suits, one wet pad cloth  60  is loaded. In case of intending to dry-clean  46  suits, two wet pad cloths  60  are loaded. In case of intending to dry-clean at least six suits, three wet pad cloths  60  are loaded. Preferably, the number of the wet pad cloths  60  to be loaded depends on the quantity of the laundry. 
     Preferably, in case of intending to load at least two wet pad cloths  60 , the wet pad cloths  60  are symmetrically provided to confronting sites, top and bottom sites, or right and left sites within the drum  20  so that the steam and fragrance can be evenly diffused within the drum  20  overall. 
     Having been loaded in the loading recesses  22  of the agitation pieces  21 , the wet pad cloths  60  are fixed thereto by the fixing holders  23 , respectively. Thus, the wet pad cloths  60  can be prevented from being separated from the loading recesses  22  during rotation of the drum  20 , respectively. 
     After the above-explained state has been set up, the laundry to be dry-cleaned is put in the drum  20  and the door  15  is closed. Once an operation mode for dry cleaning is selected, the drying heater  33  and the blower fan  34  are driven to supply hot air or heat to the drum  20 . 
     Namely, an external air is introduced into the body  10  via the hot air supply pipe  31  while the blower fan  34  is rotated. In doing so, the introduced air is passed through the drying heater  33  generating heat to be heated at high temperature. Hence, the heated air, i.e., hot air, is forcibly sucked into the drum  20  via the hot air supply pipe  31 . 
     In doing so, the hot air introduced in the drum  20  makes the respective wet pad cloths  60  diffuse the fragrance and steam. Specifically, as the drum  20  is being rotated, the fragrance and steam diffused from the respective wet pad cloths  60  can be evenly provided to the drum  20  overall. 
     Hence, the laundry within the drum  20  is provided with the fragrance and steam diffused from the respective wet pad cloths  60  to be dry-cleaned. 
     As the drum  20  is being rotated during the above process, the laundry within the drum  20  is repeatedly lifted to fall within the drum  20  by the rotation of the drum  20  and the friction with the respective agitation pieces  21 . 
     In doing so, the laundry repeating to be lifted to fall comes into contact with the wet pad cloths  60  loaded on the agitation pieces  21 , whereby various kinds of filth attached to the laundry are transferred to the respective wet pad cloths  60 . 
     As the drum  20  stops operating after completion of a series of the above processes, the laundry is pulled out of the drum  20  and the used wet pad cloths  60  are unloaded from the agitation pieces  21 , respectively. Thus, the dry cleaning is completed. 
     Of course, in case of intending to keep performing dry cleaning on another laundry, new wet pad cloths  60  are loaded on the corresponding agitation pieces  21 , respectively to execute a series of the aforesaid processes. 
     Meanwhile,  FIG. 5  is a projected perspective diagram of another wet cloth pad of a washing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the wet pad cloth  60  is loaded on an inner wall of the drum  20  instead of the agitation piece  21 . 
     For this, a loading part is provided to the inner wall of the drum  20  to make the wet pad cloth  60  detachable. 
     In doing so, the loading part may include the same loading recess  22  and fixing holder  23  of the first embodiment of the present invention. Yet, considering the drum  20  is made of metal, the loading part has difficulty in forming the loading recess  22 . 
     Preferably, a guide  61  is provided in one body to one end of the wet pad cloth  60  and a receiving part  27  is provided to the inner wall of the drum  20 . 
     In doing so, the receiving part  27  is formed in a manner of protruding from two portions of the inner wall to be bent, thereby having a rail shape. 
     Alternatively, although not shown in the drawing, a portion of the inner wall of the drum  20  is concavely bent to form a rail type receiving part  27 . 
       FIG. 6  is a front diagram of an interior of a washing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     A second embodiment of the present invention includes the elements of the first embodiment of the present invention and further includes a separate fragrance spraying unit  70 . 
     The fragrance spraying unit  70  enables to additionally provide fragrance for dry cleaning to the drum  20 . 
     Even if the fragrance is diffused from the wet pad cloth  60 , the diffused fragrance from the wet pad cloth  60  fails to be evenly diffused into the laundry overall but is discharged outside via the hot air discharge pipe  32 . Hence, fragrance shortage takes place. 
     Hence, the fragrance spraying unit  70  is preferably provided in addition. 
     The fragrance spraying unit  70  includes a fragrance storage box  71  for storing fragrance therein and a nozzle type fragrance spray part  72  for spraying the fragrance stored in the fragrance storage box  71  into the drum  20 . 
     The fragrance spray part  72  may be connected to a pump or the like to forcibly jet the fragrance stored in the fragrance storage box  71  into the drum  20 . Instead, the fragrance spray part  72 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , employs a simple valve configuration to spray the fragrance by turning on/off a pipe. 
     Hence, a user&#39;s satisfaction for the dry cleaning is enhanced since a prescribed amount of the fragrance is additionally provided to the drum  20  from the fragrance spraying unit  70  during the operation of the dry cleaning. 
       FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  schematically show an interior of a washing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     A third embodiment of the present invention includes the elements of the first embodiment of the present invention and further includes a separate steam providing unit  80 . 
     Even if the steam is diffused from the wet pad cloth  60 , the diffused steam from the wet pad cloth  60  fails to be evenly diffused into the laundry overall but is discharged outside via the hot air discharge pipe  32 . Hence, steam shortage takes place. 
     Hence, the steam providing unit  80  is preferably provided in addition. 
     The steam providing unit  80  includes a water storage part  81  for storing a prescribed amount of water therein, a heating part for generating steam by evaporating the water stored in the water storage part  81 , and a nozzle type steam spray part  83  for spraying the generated steam into the drum  20 . 
     The heating part  82  is a heater for generating heat by electricity impression. Alternatively, the drying heater  33  can be used as the heating part  82 . 
     The heating part  82 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , can have a configuration enabling to evaporate water flowing in a steam supply pipe  84  connecting the water storage part  81  and the steam spray part  83  by heating a portion of the steam supply part  84 . Alternatively, the heating part  82 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , can be provided within the water storage part  81 . 
     In this case, the heating part  82  may be a coil or sheath heater. 
     The steam spray part  83  can be connected to a pump or the like to enable the steam, which is generated from evaporating the water flowing through the steam supply pipe  84 , to be forcibly sprayed into the drum  20 . Alternatively, the steam spray part  83  can employ a simple valve configuration to spray the steam by turning on/off a pipe as well. 
     Hence, a user&#39;s satisfaction for the dry cleaning is enhanced since a prescribed amount of the steam is additionally provided to the drum  20  from the steam providing unit  80  during the operation of the dry cleaning. 
     Meanwhile, if the washing apparatus is configured to enable the separate steam or fragrance supply like the second or third embodiment of the present invention, the wet pad cloths containing the steam and fragrance therein are unnecessary. 
     Yet, for the smooth dry cleaning of the laundry, a separate configuration enabling to remove the filth of the laundry is needed. 
     A washing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is characterized in carrying out dry cleaning smoothly without using a wet pad cloth. 
     This is explained with reference to  FIGS. 9 to 12  as follows. In doing so, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like configurations of the first to third embodiments of the present invention. 
     First of all, a washing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention includes a body  10 , a drum  20 , and a steam providing unit  80 . 
     The body  10  forms an exterior of the washing apparatus. An entrance  11  is provided to a front side of the body  10 . And, the entrance  1  is open/closed by a door  15 . 
     A rim  13  is provided to an inner circumference of the entrance  11  to seal up the door  15  and the entrance  11 . 
     The drum  20  is rotatably provided within the body  10 . 
     The steam providing unit  80  is configured to diffuse a prescribed amount of steam into the drum  20  for dry cleaning. And, at least one or more steam providing units  80  are provided. 
     The steam providing unit  80  includes a heating part  82  for generating steam from evaporating water by heat at high temperature, a steam supply pipe  84  for a flow of the steam, a steam spray part  83  for diffusing the steam flowing via the steam supply pipe  84  into the drum  20 , and a water storage part  81  for storing a prescribed amount of water therein for generation of the steam. 
     The steam spray part  83  has a nozzle shape to enable smooth spray of the steam, and a steam outlet is provided within the drum  20 . 
     Preferably, the steam outlet of the steam spray part  83 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , is perforated into the rim  13  to be exposed to an inside of the drum  20 . 
     The water storage part  81  is connected to a water supply valve  17  connected to a service pipe or the like to enable automatic water supply from outside. 
     The heating part  82  constructing the steam providing unit  80  may include a coil heater enclosing the steam supply pipe  84 . Alternatively, the heating part  82 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , is preferably provided within the water storage part  81 . 
     Moreover, the heating part  82  preferably includes a sheath heater enabling to directly heat the water stored in the water storage part  81  for steam generation. 
     In case of providing the heating part  82  within the water storage part  81 , it is preferable that the steam providing unit  80  further includes a water level sensor  85  for sensing a level of the water stored in the water storage part  81 . 
     If the amount of the water stored in the water storage part  81  is insufficient, the heating part  82  may excessively generate the heat. If the amount of the water stored in the water storage part  81  is excessively sufficient, it takes a long time to evaporate the water for the steam generation. Hence, the water level sensor  85  enables to maintain a uniform level of the water stored in the water storage part  81 . In this case, the uniform level is enough for the smooth steam generation. 
     Namely, if the water level measured by the water level sensor  85  is higher than a reference value, water supply to the water storage part  81  is cut off. If the water level measured by the water level sensor  85  is lower than the reference value, supplementary water supply to the water storage part  81  is enabled. 
     Preferably, the washing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 10 , further includes a detergent supplying unit  90  to enhance the dry cleaning effect. 
     Of course, the detergent supplying unit  90  is skippable. Yet, efficiency of dry cleaning without using a detergent is too low. Hence, it is preferable that the detergent supplying unit  90  is further included to supply the detergent to the drum  20 . 
     In doing so, the detergent is a solvent mixed with a petroleum solvent. 
     Preferably, fragrance is further added to the detergent to be given to the laundry to be dry-cleaned. 
     Namely, the dry cleaning not only refreshes the laundry but also provides the fragrance to the laundry, thereby enhancing user&#39;s satisfaction. 
     The detergent supplying unit  90  includes a detergent storage box  91  for storing the dry-cleaning detergent therein. 
     The detergent storage box  91  is provided within the body to enable detergent supplement. 
     And, the detergent supplying unit  90  includes a detergent spray part  93  for spraying the detergent stored in the detergent storage box  91  into the drum  20 . 
     Preferably, a detergent outlet of the detergent spray part  93  is perforated into the rim  13  to be exposed to the inside of the drum  20  together with the steam spray part  83 . 
     The detergent spray part  93  can be connected to a pump or the like to enable to forcibly spray the detergent into the drum  20 . Alternatively, the detergent spray part  93 , as shown in the drawing, can employ a simple valve configuration to spray the detergent by turning on/off a pipe as well. 
     Instead, the detergent provided via the detergent supplying unit  90  may include not the petroleum based solvent but the fragrance only. 
     Namely, although not shown in the drawing, at least one fragrance spraying unit  70  for providing the fragrance may be provided to the washing apparatus of the present invention instead of the detergent supplying unit  90 . 
     Besides, although not shown in the drawing, the detergent supplying unit  90  and the fragrance spraying unit  70  can be separately provided to the washing apparatus of the present invention. 
     Preferably, the washing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , further includes a filth transfer cloth  50 . 
     In this case, filth attached to the laundry to be dry-cleaned is transferred to the filth transfer cloth  50  to be removed from the laundry. Preferably, the filth transfer cloth  50  is formed of a fabric material more efficient in transferring the filth thereto than the laundry. 
     Specifically, the filth transfer cloth  50  may be inputted to the drum  20  operated for dry cleaning. Preferably, the filth transfer cloth  50  is detachably provided within the drum  20 . 
     Namely, in case of being simply put in the drum  20 , the filth transfer cloth  50  is raveled with the laundry in the course of the dry cleaning to play a role in transferring the filth out of a specific portion of the laundry only. Hence, in order to enable the filth transfer cloth  50  to come into contact with more portions of the laundry, it is preferable that the filth transfer cloth  50  and the laundry are separately moved. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is characterized in that the filth transfer cloth  50  is assembled to an inside of the drum  20 . 
     In doing so, the filth transfer cloth  50 , as proposed in the present embodiment, is loaded on the agitation piece  21  for smooth agitation of the laundry. Alternatively, the filth transfer cloth  50  can be loaded on the inner wall of the drum  20 . 
     A method of controlling a washing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to a flowchart in  FIG. 12  as follows. 
     First of all, a controller (not shown in the drawing) controlling an operation of a laundry dryer keeps checking a presence or non-presence of a request for a dry-cleaning operation (S 11 ). 
     Namely, when an operation control of the laundry dryer is requested by a user, the controller decides whether the operation selected by the user is for the dry cleaning or a general laundry drying. Hence, the controller detects the presence of the request for dry cleaning. 
     In doing so, in case of the presence of the request for the dry-cleaning operation, the controller requests an input of the laundry to be dry-cleaned. 
     In such a case, the user inputs the laundry to be dry-cleaned to the drum  20 , closes the door  15 , and then selects a continuous execution of the dry-cleaning operation. 
     Preferably, in the course of inputting the laundry by the user, at least one or more filth transfer cloths  50  are loaded on the agitation pieces  21  within the drum  20 , respectively. 
     Alternatively, after completion of loading the filth transfer cloth  50  and inputting the laundry, the user may request the dry-cleaning operation so that the controller can immediately control the various elements for the dry-cleaning operation. 
     Subsequently, once the dry cleaning is ready to be executed by a series of the aforesaid procedures, the drum is rotated (S 13 ) and the detergent supplying unit  90  is controlled to supply the detergent stored in the detergent storage box  91  to the drum  20  (S 13 ). 
     In doing so, as the detergent is evenly sprayed into the drum  20  overall by the detergent spray part  93 , various kinds of filth are separated from the laundry by the detergent. 
     It can be controlled that the detergent keeps being sprayed during the execution of the dry-cleaning operation. And, it can be also controlled that the detergent stops being sprayed in case of starting to provide the steam within the drum  20 . 
     After completion of supplying the detergent, water is supplied to the water storage part  81  and power is applied to the heating part  82  to evaporate the water. Hence, the steam is generated (S 14 ). 
     In doing so, the water level sensor  85  and the water supply valve  17  closing/opening the water supply pipe, i.e., service pipe, interoperate with the controller to maintain a constant level of the water stored within the water storage part  81 . 
     For instance, if the water level sensed by the water level sensor  85  is lower than a reference water level, the water supply valve is turned on to enable the corresponding water supply. 
     And, the steam generated from the above process flows via the steam supply pipe  84  to be supplied to the drum  20  via the steam spray part  83 . 
     Hence, the steam having been supplied to the drum  20  activates the detergent involved in the laundry to separate the filth from the laundry, whereby the laundry is refreshed. 
     In doing so, the fragrance included in the detergent adsorbs to the laundry to remove odors of the laundry and solvent. 
     In the course of performing the above process, since the drum  20  is being rotated by the driven motor  17  to keep agitating the laundry within the drum  20 , the filth transfer cloth  50  is moved by the rotation of the drum  20  to have the filth, which was separated from the laundry, transferred thereto as well as the overall laundry can be evenly refreshed 
     Hence, it is able to prevent the laundry from being contaminated again by the filth separated from the laundry. 
     After completion of the dry cleaning through a series of the aforesaid processes, the controller turns off the water supply valve  17  as well as cuts off the power supplied to the heating part  82  (S 16 ). 
     In doing so, the steam remaining within the drum  20  is discharged outside the drum  20  to protect the user from danger such as a burn caused by the high-temperature steam, which can be done by driving the blower fan  34 . 
     Namely, the blower fan  34  is driven to rotate so that the steam within the drum  20  can be discharged outside the body  10  via the hot air discharge pipe  32 . 
     In doing so, it is preferable to control the drying heater  33  not to generate heat. Yet, the dry-cleaned laundry can be dried by generating heat from the drying heater  33 . 
     Once the drum  20  stops operating after completion of a series of the aforesaid processes, the laundry is pulled out and the used filth transfer cloths  50  are detached from the drum  20 . Thus, the dry cleaning is completed. 
     Of course, in case of intending to keep performing dry cleaning on another laundry, new filth transfer cloths  50  are loaded in the drum  20 , respectively to execute a series of the aforesaid processes. 
     Meanwhile, the washing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is applicable to other kinds of apparatuses as well as the laundry dryer. 
     Namely, the washing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is applicable to a washer/dryer, a general drum type washing machine, and the like. 
     A fifth embodiment of the present invention is characterized in applying the configuration of the fourth embodiment of the present invention to a dryer/washer. 
     This is explained in detail with reference to  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  as follows. 
     First of all, a washing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention includes a body  110 , an outer tub  120 , a drum  130 , a waster supply pipe  112 , and a detergent supplying unit  190 . 
     The body  110  forms an exterior of a washer/dryer. An entrance  111  is provided to a front side of the body  110 . And, the entrance  111  is open/closed by a door  115 . 
     A rim  113  is provided to an inner circumference of the entrance  111  for seal-up between the door  115  and the entrance  111 . 
     Within the body  110 , provided are the outer tub  120  and a drying unit providing heated air to an inside of the outer tub  120 . 
     The drying unit includes a drying duct  141 , a drying heater  143  provided to a pipe of the drying duct  141 , and a blower fan  144  for forcible air circulation. 
     An air inlet of the drying duct  141  is connected to a lateral side of the outer tub  120  and an air outlet of the drying duct  141  is connected to a topside of the outer tub  120 . 
     The drum  130  is rotatably provided within the outer tub  120 . 
     The water supply pipe  112  is configured to supply water to the outer tub  120 . One end of the water supply pipe  112  is exposed outside the body  110  to be connected to a service pipe (not shown in the drawing). 
     In this case, it is preferable that a detergent box  119  storing various detergents necessary for washing is provided to the pipe path of the water supply pipe  112 . 
     And, the detergent supplying unit  190  is configured to spray a dry-cleaning detergent into the drum  130 . 
     The detergent supplying unit  190  includes a detergent storage box  191  for storing the dry-cleaning detergent therein and a detergent spray part  193  for spraying the detergent stored in the detergent storage box  191  in a vaporized state. 
     Preferably, a detergent outlet of the detergent spray part  193  is perforated into the rim  113  to be exposed to the inside of the drum  130 . 
     The detergent spray part  193  can be connected to a pump or the like to enable to forcibly spray the detergent stored in the detergent storage box  191  into the drum  130 . Preferably, the detergent spray part  193 , as shown in the drawing, can employ a simple valve configuration to optionally spray the detergent via a separate valve  194 . 
     Besides, the detergent storage box  191  and the detergent box  119  provided to the pipe path of the water supply pipe  112  can be separately provided. Alternatively, it is preferable that they are formed in one body to enhance efficiency of an overall installation space. 
     And, the detergent stored in the detergent storage box  191  includes a solvent mixed with a petroleum solvent. Preferably, fragrance is further added to the detergent to be given to the laundry. 
     Preferably, the washing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention further includes a water heater  160 . 
     The water heater  160  is provided to a bottom part within the outer tub  120  to generate steam by heating water. 
     A method of controlling a washing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to a flowchart in  FIG. 15  as follows. 
     First of all, once a request for an operation of dry cleaning occurs, an input of the laundry to be dry-cleaned is requested. 
     After completion of inputting the laundry, a dry-cleaning operation starts. 
     Of course, it can be set up that the request for the dry-cleaning operation is made after completion of inputting the laundry. 
     Once the dry cleaning is executed, the detergent supplying unit  190  sprays the dry-cleaning detergent onto the laundry inputted to the drum  130 . 
     Preferably, an amount of the detergent sprayed into the drum  130  is set up not to soak the laundry therein. 
     Preferably, by controlling the drum  130  to rotate on spraying the dry-cleaning detergent, the dry-cleaning detergent is evenly coated on the laundry overall. 
     In doing so, the drum  130  may keep being rotated in one rotational direction. Preferably, it is controlled to alternately repeat to rotate the drum  130 , clockwise and counter clockwise. 
     And, various kinds of filth are separated from the laundry by chemical reaction of the dry-cleaning detergent coated on the laundry. 
     During the above process, the water heater  160  generates heat. 
     Accordingly, the water collected in the bottom part of the outer tub  120  is evaporated to generate the steam within the drum  130 . 
     In doing so, it is preferable that the water remains in a state of being supplied prior to inputting the laundry to the drum  130 . Preferably, the water was supplied at the water level not to flood the bottom part of the drum  130 . 
     The above-generated steam activates the detergent infiltrated into the laundry to enable smooth separation of the filth. 
     Of course, it is preferable that a time sufficient for enabling the smooth separation of the filth from the laundry is provided after completion of the dry-cleaning detergent spray and the steam supply. 
     After completion of a series of the aforesaid processes, water is injected into the drum  130  via the water supply pipe  112  to remove the filth separated from the laundry. 
     This is to prevent the filth, which was separated from the laundry, from contaminating the laundry again. 
     In doing so, an amount of the water injected into the drum  130  is preferably set small not to soak the laundry. 
     After completion of the above process, power is supplied to the drying heater  143  and the blower fan  144  is driven, whereby hot drying air is supplied to the drum  130  via the drying duct  141  to dry the laundry. 
     After completion of drying the laundry, the operation for the dry-cleaning mode is terminated. 
     Meanwhile, since the above-explained washing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention generated the steam by evaporating the water supplied to the bottom part within the outer tub  120 , the level of the water should be maintained constant. 
     If the level of the water is excessively high, it is not preferable that the laundry within the drum  130  is soaked. If the level of the water is too low, it is difficult to generate the steam. 
     To overcome such problems, a configuration and control method for maintaining a constant level of the water supplied to the bottom part of the outer tub are provided by embodiments of the present invention, which are explained with reference to  FIGS. 16 to 19  as follows. 
     First of all, a washing apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention includes a body  210 , an outer tub  220 , a drum  230 , a water heater  260 , and a water supply pipe  212 . 
     The body  210  forms an exterior of the washing apparatus. An entrance  211  is provided to a front side of the body  210 . And, the entrance  211  is open/closed by a door  215 . 
     The outer tub  220  is provided within the body  210 , and the drum  230  is rotatably provided within the outer tub  220 . 
     A multitude of perforated holes  231  are formed in a circumference of the drum  230  to allow water and steam to flow into the drum  230 . 
     The water heater  260  is provided to a bottom part within the outer tub  220  to heat the water supplied to the outer tub  220 . 
     In doing so, a part (herein after called loading part)  221 , where the water heater  260  is loaded, is provided by a concave portion of the outer tub  220  and is connected to a drainpipe  223  for draining the water after completion of washing. And, a drain valve  225  is provided to the drainpipe  223 . 
     Specifically, the water heater  260  enables steam generation as well as operates to heat the water. 
     Namely, in the embodiment of the present invention, the steam for refreshing the laundry is generated using the water heater  260  instead of using a separate steam generator. 
     The water supply pipe  212  is a pipe path through which the water flows. The water supply pipe  212  guides to supply the water provided from the service pipe or the like via the water supply valve  217  to an inside of the outer tub  220 . 
     In this case, a detergent box  219  for storing a detergent is provided to the pipe path of the water supply pipe  212  so that the detergent can be included in the water flowing into the outer tub  220 . 
     The detergent box  219  is provided to an upper space within the body  210  to enable a detergent input. 
     In the related art, a water outlet of the water supply pipe  212  for supplying the water to a part provided with the water heater  260  is connected to the upper part of the outer tub  220 , whereby the laundry to be dry-cleaned could be soaked in the supplied water. Such a problem needs to be solved. 
     Preferably, the water supply pipe  212  is connected to the outer tub  220  in the vicinity of the part provided with the water heater  260 , i.e., the loading part  221 . 
     In this case, the water outlet of the water supply pipe  221 , as shown in  FIG. 17 , is preferably connected to a circumference of the bottom part of the outer tub  220 . 
     This is to prevent the water from being splashed on the circumference of the drum  230  while the water is supplied to the outer tub  220  via the water supply pipe  212 . 
     Preferably, the water outlet of the water supply pipe  212 , as shown in the drawing, is bent upward from a bottom part thereof to prevent the splash of the water. 
     Preferably, a level of the water supplied to the loading part  221  within the outer tub  220  is set up not to exceed a bottom of the drum  230 . 
     If the water level exceeds the bottom of the drum  230 , the water may flow in the drum  230  via the perforated holes formed on the outer circumference of the drum  230  to soak the laundry. 
     Preferably, a series of configurations are further provided to sense the level of the water supplied to the outer tub  220 . 
     The present invention is characterized in further including a water level sensing unit provided to a bottom space within the outer tub  220 . 
     The water level sensing unit senses the water level within the loading part  221  to control the water supply valve  217  and the water heater  260 , whereby the water level can be maintained uniform within the loading part. 
     The water level sensing unit may include a pressure sensor generally used in water level detection. Yet, considering that an amount of the water for the dry-cleaning operation is extremely smaller than a water amount necessary for washing, it is disadvantageous to use the pressure sensor having a relatively great deviation of a water supply amount. 
     Preferably, the sensing unit includes a temperature sensor  251  checking whether to supply the water by sensing a peripheral temperature. 
     In doing so, it is preferable that the temperature sensor  251  is located higher than the water heater  260  as well as lower than the bottom of the drum  230 . 
     By enabling the water heater  260  to generate heat only if submerged under the water, it is able to prevent excessive heat generation of the water heater  260 . 
     Preferably, the temperature sensor  251  is placed between the water heater  260  and the bottom of the drum  230  to leave a maximum distance from the water heater  260 . 
     Such a configuration is provided to minimize the problem that the temperature sensor  251  may fail in sensing a temperature precisely due to the heat generation of the water heater  260 . 
     A method of controlling the above-explained washing apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to a flowchart in  FIG. 19  as follows. 
     First of all, a controller (not shown in the drawing) controlling an operation of a drum type washing machine keeps checking a presence or non-presence of a request for a dry-cleaning operation (S 110 ). 
     Namely, when an operation control of the drum type washing machine is requested by a user, the controller decides whether the operation selected by the user is for the dry cleaning or a general laundry washing. Hence, the controller detects the presence of the request for dry cleaning. 
     In doing so, in case of the presence of the request for the dry-cleaning operation, the controller requests an input of the laundry to be dry-cleaned. 
     In such a case, the user inputs the laundry to be dry-cleaned to the drum  230 , closes the door  215 , and then selects a continuous execution of the dry-cleaning operation. 
     Of course, after completion of inputting the laundry, the user may request the dry-cleaning operation so that the controller can immediately control the various elements for the dry-cleaning operation. 
     Subsequently, once the dry cleaning is ready to be executed by a series of the aforesaid procedures, the controller (not shown in the drawing) controls the water supply valve  217  to enable a water supply to the water supply pipe  212  (S 120 ). 
     Hence, the water is introduced into the outer tub  220  via the water supply pipe  212 . In doing so, since the water outlet of the water supply pipe  212  is located under the outer tub  220 , it is able to prevent the water from being directly injected to an outside of the drum  230 . Thus, it is able to prevent the laundry from being wet as well. 
     As mentioned in the foregoing description, the water supplied to the outer tub  220  is introduced into the loading part  221  provided with the water heater  260  to gradually rise from the initial state in  FIG. 17  toward an upper part of the loading part  221 . In doing so, the pipe path of the drainpipe  223  connected to the loading part  221  is cut off. 
     While the water supply is in progress, the controller keeps receiving the sensing signals for the temperature variation from the temperature sensor  251  to check whether the sensed temperature is instantly varies over a reference temperature value (S 130 ). 
     In this case, the reference temperature value is a value resulting from an instant and abrupt temperature variation instead of a uniform variation of a temperature increase that varies in proportion to a temperature increase. The reference temperature value can be set to ±2° C. and the like. 
     For instance, Considering that the temperature of the water is about 15° C. and that the temperature sensor  251  performs its temperature sensing under an environment at about 30° C., if the water is supplied to reach the temperature sensor  251 , the temperature  251  detects a temperature drop on measuring the temperature of the water. In such a manner, a current level of the water can be detected. 
     Once it is detected that the water level reaches a required water level, the controller controls the water supply valve  217  to stop supplying the water. A corresponding state is shown in  FIG. 18 . 
     Thus, it is able to prevent the water from flowing in the drum  230 . 
     Subsequently, power is supplied to the water heater  260  (S 140 ) and the hot steam for the dry cleaning is then produced from heat generated from the water heater  260 . 
     Namely, the heat generation of the water heater  260  evaporates the water within the outer tub  220 . The generated steam by the evaporation is introduced into the drum  230  via the perforated holes  231  to refresh the laundry within the drum  230 . 
     In doing so, the drum  230  is being rotated to agitate the laundry within the drum  230 , which helps the laundry refreshed more smoothly. 
     And, the steam generation according to the above process keeps occurring during a dry-cleaning setup time. If the dry-cleaning time is set longer than the time taken for the water in the bottom part within the outer tub  220  to be entirely evaporated, shortage of the water takes place to rapidly raise the temperature of the portion provided with the water heater  260 . 
     Of course, the dry-cleaning time can be set shorter than the evaporation time of the water. In such a case, an amount of the steam supplied for the dry cleaning may become in short to lower dry-cleaning performance. It is also able to increase a water storage amount by modifying a shape of the loading part  221  within the outer tub  120 . In such a case, the shape modification needs to redesign other elements. 
     Accordingly, in the embodiment of the present invention, overheating occurrence is checked by sensing the temperature continuously using the temperature sensor  251  in the same manner of an early stage of the water supply while the steam is generated (S 150 ). 
     Namely, in case that the temperature is abruptly raised in the middle of checking the temperature variation using the temperature sensor  251 , it is decided that the water is in short. Hence, an additional water supply to the loading part  221  provided with the water heater  260  within the outer tub  220  is performed (S 160 ). 
     Of course, it is preferable that a timing point of stopping the water supply is decided by sensing the temperature variation in the course of re-executing the water supply to prevent the laundry from being wet by the oversupply of the water. 
     If the amount of the steam supplied for the dry cleaning is decided as sufficient in the course of performing a series of the aforesaid processes, the power applied to the water heater  260  is cut off (S 170 ). 
     In doing so, a generated steam amount according to the heat generation time of the water heater  260  is previously acquired through a test and the like and the acquired value is previously set up, by which it is able to decide the steam amount through such a simple process as a process of counting the heat generation time of the water heater  260  and the like. 
     Namely, if the setup time arrives via the time counting, the power applied to the water heater  260  is cut off. 
     Of course, a humidity sensor (not shown in the drawing) for checking the amount of the steam within the outer tub  220  is further provided to an inner space of the outer tub  220 , whereby the power applied to the water heater  260  is cut off if the humidity sensed by the humidity sensor reaches a predefined humidity. 
     After completion of the dry cleaning through the aforesaid processes, the drain valve  225  is controlled to open the drainpipe  223  so that the remaining water within the loading part  221  is discharged (S 180 ). Thus, the operation for the dry cleaning is terminated. 
     Meanwhile, a washing apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention is characterized in using an electrode sensor instead of the temperature sensor of the sixth embodiment of the present invention, which is explained in detail as follows. 
     First of all, a washing apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, as sown in  FIG. 20  and  FIG. 21 , includes a body  210 , an outer tub  220 , a drum  230 , a water heater  260 , a water supply pipe  212 , an electrode sensor, and a controller. 
     In this case, the body  210 , outer tub  220 , drum  230 , water heater  260 , and water supply pipe  212  have the same configurations of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
     The electrode sensor includes a first electrode  252  and a second electrode  253 . 
     The first and second electrodes  252  and  253  play a role in sensing that the level of the water supplied to the bottom part within the outer tub  200  avoids exceeding the bottom of the drum  230  and are placed between the water heater  260  and the drum  230 . 
     Namely, the first electrode  252  is located in the vicinity of the water heater  260  and the second electrode  253  is located above the first electrode  252 . Hence, in case that the level of the water exceeds a setup water level, an electric current is turned on between the first and second electrodes  252  and  253 . 
     Preferably, controls of the water supply valve  225  and the water heater  260  are executed in case that electric current is turned on between the first and second electrodes  252  and  253 . 
     Specifically, the first electrode  252  is preferably located above the water heater  260  and the second electrode is preferably located below the bottom of the drum  230 . 
     The electrode sensor is provided to one site opposite to the other site connected to the water outlet of the water supply pipe  212  in the space having the water heater  260  provided thereto. Hence, it is able to prevent a malfunction of driving the water heater  260  to generate heat when the electrodes  252  and  253  are shorted by the splashed water prior to the completion of supplying the water to the predefined water level. 
     Namely, by enabling the water heater  260  to generate heat only if the water heater is fully submerged under the water, it is able to prevent the overheating of the water heater  260 . 
     The controller (not shown in the drawing) plays a role in controlling the heat generation of the water heater  260  by checking the presence or non-presence of the short circuit between the electrodes  252  and  253  optionally. 
     The embodiment of the present invention further includes a humidity sensor  254  in the inner space of the outer tub  220 . 
     The humidity sensor  254  checks an amount of the generated stream within the outer tub  220  to enable the control of the water heater  260 , thereby enhancing refresh performance on the laundry through appropriate humidity maintenance. 
     A method of controlling the above-explained washing apparatus according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to a flowchart in  FIG. 22  as follows. 
     First of all, a controller (not shown in the drawing) controlling an operation of a drum type washing machine keeps checking a presence or non-presence of a request for a dry-cleaning operation (S 210 ). 
     Namely, when an operation control of the drum type washing machine is requested by a user, the controller decides whether the operation selected by the user is for the dry cleaning or a general laundry washing. Hence, the controller detects the presence of the request for dry cleaning. 
     In case of the presence of the request for the dry-cleaning operation, the controller requests an input of the laundry to be dry-cleaned. 
     In such a case, the user inputs the laundry to be dry-cleaned to the drum  230 , closes the door  215 , and then selects a continuous execution of the dry-cleaning operation. 
     Of course, after completion of inputting the laundry, the user may request the dry-cleaning operation so that the controller can immediately control the various elements for the dry-cleaning operation. 
     Subsequently, once the dry cleaning is ready to be executed by a series of the aforesaid procedures, the controller controls the water supply valve  217  to enable a water supply to the water supply pipe  212  (S 220 ). 
     Hence, the water is introduced into the outer tub  220  via the water supply pipe  212 . In doing so, since the water outlet of the water supply pipe  212  is located under the outer tub  220 , it is able to prevent the water from being directly injected to an outside of the drum  230 . Thus, it is able to prevent the laundry from being wet as well. 
     As mentioned in the foregoing description, the water supplied to the outer tub  220  is introduced into the loading part  221  provided with the water heater  260  to gradually rise toward an upper part of the loading part  221 . In doing so, the pipe path of the drainpipe  223  connected to the loading part  221  is cut off. 
     While the water supply is in progress, the controller keeps checking a presence or non-presence of short circuit between the electrodes  252  and  253  (S 230 ). 
     In doing so, as the level of the supplied water gradually rises, the water level, as shown in  FIG. 20 , reaches the first electrode  252 . As the water keeps being supplied, so the water level exceeds the first electrode  252  to reach the second electrode  253 . 
     If so, the first and second electrodes  252  and  253  are short-circuited. Hence, the controller decides that the level of the water has reached the necessary water level and then controls the water supply valve  217  to stop supplying the water. 
     Thus, it is able to prevent the water from flowing in the drum  230 . 
     Subsequently, the controller allows power to be supplied to the water heater  260  (S 240 ) so that the hot steam for the dry cleaning can be produced by the heat generated from the water heater  260 . 
     Namely, the heat generation of the water heater  260  evaporates the water within the outer tub  220 . The generated steam by the evaporation is introduced into the drum  230  via the perforated holes  231  of the drum  230  to refresh the laundry within the drum  230 . 
     In doing so, the drum  230  is being rotated to agitate the laundry within the drum  230 , which enhances a refreshing effect of the laundry. 
     And, the steam generation according to the above process keeps occurring during a dry-cleaning setup time. If the dry-cleaning time is set longer than the time taken for the water in the bottom part within the outer tub  220  to be entirely evaporated, shortage of the water takes place to rapidly raise the temperature of the portion provided with the water heater  260 . 
     Of course, the dry-cleaning time can be set shorter than the evaporation time of the water. In such a case, an amount of the steam supplied for the dry cleaning may become in short to lower dry-cleaning performance. It is also able to increase a water storage amount by modifying a shape of the loading part  221  within the outer tub  220 . In such a case, the shape modification needs to redesign other elements. 
     Accordingly, it is preferable that the presence or non-presence of the short circuit between the electrodes keeps being checked in the same manner of an early stage of the water supply while the steam is generated (S 250 ). 
     Namely, in case of the presence of the short circuit between the electrodes, it is decided that the water is in short. Hence, an additional water supply to the loading part  221  provided with the water heater  260  within the outer tub  220  is performed (S 260 ). 
     Of course, it is preferable that a timing point of stopping the water supply is decided by keeping checking the presence or non-presence of the short circuit between the electrodes in the course of re-executing the water supply to prevent the laundry from being wet by the oversupply of the water. 
     If the amount of the steam supplied for the dry cleaning is decided as sufficient in the course of performing a series of the aforesaid processes, the power applied to the water heater  260  is cut off (S 270 ). 
     In doing so, the steam amount can be confirmed through a sensing value of the humidity sensor  254  provided within the outer tub  220 . 
     Namely, in keeping checking the humidity within the outer tub  220 , if the humidity reaches a predefined humidity, the power applied to the water heater  260  is cut off. 
     In this case, the predefined humidity means a steam amount most appropriate for refreshing the laundry, which can be acquired by a test value on which no limitation is put. 
     Alternatively, a generated steam amount according to the heat generation time of the water heater  260  can be previously acquired through a test and the like and the acquired value is previously set up, by which it is able to decide the steam amount through such a simple process as a process of counting the heat generation time of the water heater  260  and the like. 
     Namely, if the setup time arrives via the time counting, the power applied to the water heater  260  is cut off. 
     After completion of the dry cleaning through the aforesaid processes, the drain valve  225  is controlled to open the drainpipe  223  so that the remaining water within the loading part  221  can be discharged (S 280 ). Thus, the operation for the dry cleaning is terminated. 
     Meanwhile, since the water for the use of the steam generation is preferentially supplied to the water supply pipe in the fifth to seventh embodiments of the present invention, it is difficult to maintain a precise water level. 
     Namely, the water supplement is supposed to amount to a small quantity. Yet, the water supplement could be excessively made. 
     To overcome such a problem, a washing apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention is characterized in maintaining a precise level of water supplied for steam generation, which is explained in detail as follows. 
     First of all, a washing apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 23 to 25 , includes a body  310 , an outer tub  320 , a drum  330 , a water heater  360 , a water supply pipe  312 , a drying duct  341 , and a cooling water supply pipe  345 . 
     The body  310  forms an exterior of the washing apparatus. An entrance  311  is provided to a front side of the body  210 . And, the entrance  311  is open/closed by a door  315 . 
     The outer tub  320  is provided within the body  310 , and the drum  330  is rotatably provided within the outer tub  320 . 
     A multitude of perforated holes  331  are formed in a circumference of the drum  330  to allow water and steam to flow into the drum  330 . 
     The water heater  360  is provided to a bottom part within the outer tub  320  to heat the water supplied to the outer tub  320 . 
     In doing so, a part (herein after called loading part)  321 , where the water heater  360  is loaded, is provided by a concave portion of the outer tub  320  and is connected to a drainpipe  323  for draining the water after completion of washing. And, a drain valve  324  opening/closing a pipe path of the drainpipe  323  is provided to the drainpipe  323 . 
     Specifically, the water heater  260  enables steam generation as well as operates to heat the water. 
     Namely, in the embodiment of the present invention, the steam for refreshing the laundry is generated using the water heater  360  instead of using a separate steam generator. 
     The water supply pipe  312  is a pipe path through which the water flows. The water supply pipe  312  guides to supply the water provided from the service pipe or the like via the water supply valve  317  to an inside of the outer tub  320 . 
     In this case, a detergent box  319  storing a detergent is provided to the pipe path of the water supply pipe  312  so that the detergent can be added to the water flowing into the outer tub  320 . 
     The detergent box  319  is provided to an upper space within the body  310  to enable a detergent input. And, fragrance used in dry cleaning can be included in the detergent supplied via the detergent box  319 . 
     In the related art, a water outlet of the water supply pipe  312  for supplying the water to a part provided with the water heater  360  is connected to the upper part of the outer tub  320 , whereby the laundry to be dry-cleaned could be soaked in the supplied water. Such a problem needs to be solved. 
     Preferably, the water supply pipe  312  is connected to the outer tub  320  in the vicinity of the part provided with the water heater  360 , i.e., the loading part  321 . 
     In this case, the water outlet of the water supply pipe  321  is preferably connected to a circumference of the bottom part of the outer tub  320 . 
     This is to prevent the water from being splashed on the circumference of the drum  330  while the water is supplied to the outer tub  320  via the water supply pipe  312 . 
     Preferably, the water outlet of the water supply pipe  312  is bent upward from a bottom part thereof to prevent the splash of the water. 
     The drying duct  341  is configured to provide hot air to the outer tub  320 . An air inlet of the drying duct  341  is connected to a lower circumference of the outer tub  320  and an air outlet of the drying duct  341  is connected to an upper circumference of the outer tub  320 . 
     A drying heater  343  for heating flowing air and a blower fan  344  forcibly blowing to move the air are provided to a pipe path within the drying duct  341 . 
     And, the cooling water supply pipe  345  is connected to the pipe path of the drying duct  341  and is configured to provide a small amount of cooling water. 
     Preferably, the cooling water supply pipe  345  is connected to a location enabling the cooling water to be directly provided to the bottom part of the outer tub  320 , i.e., the air inlet of the drying duct  341 . 
     The cooling water supply pipe  345  can be configured to be connected to the service pipe via a separate pipe path. Preferably, the cooling water supply pipe  345  is connected to the water supply valve  318  to enable the water supply by a control of the water supply valve  317 . 
     Meanwhile, the water heater  360  generates heat if a level of the water supplied to the outer tub  320  does not exceed the bottom of the drum  330  and is enough for the water heater  360  to be submerged. 
     In case the water is supplied to exceed a height of the bottom of the drum  330 , the water is introduced into the drum  330  via the perforated holes  331  of the drum  330  to wet the laundry. In case of generating heat from the water heater  360  even if the water fails to reach a sufficient water level, the excessive heat generation from the water heater  360  can transform the drum  330 , outer tub  320  and other various electric/electronic parts. 
     Hence, it is preferable that the level of the supplied water is accurately known to adjust the water supply appropriately. For this, the embodiment of the present invention further includes a water level sensor  351  installed in a lower space of the outer tub  320  provided with the water heater  360  to sense the level of the water supplied to the loading part  321 . 
     In this case, the water level sensor  351  may be a temperature sensor enabling a water level measurement according to a temperature variation within the loading part  321 , an electrode sensor enabling a water level measurement through a confirmation of a short-circuited or cut-off state between a pair of electrodes respectively located in different heights, or a pressure sensor enabling a water level measurement through a confirmation of a pressure of the water. 
     Moreover, the embodiment of the present invention further includes a humidity sensor  352  provided to an inner space of the outer tub  320 . 
     The humidity sensor  352  checks an amount of the generated steam within the outer tub  320  to enable a control of the water heater  360 , thereby enhancing refreshing performance of the laundry thorough appropriate humidity maintenance. 
     A method of controlling the above-explained washing apparatus according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to a flowchart in  FIG. 26  as follows: 
     First of all, a controller controlling an operation of the washing apparatus keeps checking a presence or non-presence of a request for a dry-cleaning operation (S 310 ). 
     Namely, when an operation control of the drum type washing machine is requested by a user, the controller decides whether the operation selected by the user is for the dry cleaning or a general laundry washing. Hence, the controller detects the presence of the request for dry cleaning. 
     In doing so, in case of the presence of the request for the dry-cleaning operation, the controller requests an input of the laundry to be dry-cleaned. 
     In such a case, the user inputs the laundry to be dry-cleaned to the drum  330 , closes the door  315 , and then selects a continuous execution of the dry-cleaning operation. 
     Of course, after completion of inputting the laundry, the user may request the dry-cleaning operation so that the controller can immediately control the various elements for the dry-cleaning operation. 
     Subsequently, once the dry cleaning is ready to be executed by a series of the aforesaid procedures, the controller controls the water supply valve  317  to enable a water supply to the water supply pipe  312  (S 320 ). 
     In doing so, it can be also controlled that the water supply can be performed using both of the water supply pipe  312  and the cooling water supply pipe  345 . 
     Hence, the water is introduced into the outer tub  320  via the water supply pipe  312 . In doing so, since the water outlet of the water supply pipe  312  is located under the outer tub  320 , it is able to prevent the water from being directly injected to an outside of the drum  330 . Thus, it is able to prevent the laundry from being wet as well. 
     As mentioned in the foregoing description, the water supplied to the outer tub  320  is introduced into the loading part  321  provided with the water heater  360  to gradually rise toward an upper part of the loading part  321 . In doing so, the pipe path of the drainpipe  323  connected to the loading part  321  is cut off. 
     While the water supply is in progress, the controller keeps checking a presence or non-presence of the level of the supplied water using the water level sensor  351 . 
     In doing so, if it is checked that the level of the supplied water, as shown in  FIG. 24 , has reached a predefined first level, the controller controls the water supply valve  317  to stop supplying the water via the water supply pipe  312  but enables a small amount of water to be supplied via the cooling water supply pipe  345  only (S 340 ). 
     In this case, the predefined first water level corresponds to an installation height of the water heater  360 . 
     Once the water supply is performed via the cooling water supply pipe  345 , the water flowing through the cooling water supply pipe  345  is introduced into the drying duct  341  to flow in the bottom part within the outer tub  320  along the drying duct  341  and keeps being supplied to the loading part  321 . 
     During such a process, the water level keeps being checked by the water level sensor  351  (S 350 ). If it is confirmed that the water level, as shown in  FIG. 25 , reaches a predefined second water level, the controller controls the water supply valve  317  to stop supplying the water via the cooling water supply pipe  345 . 
     In this case, the predefined second water level means a water level enabling the water heater to be fully submerged under the water but failing to reach the bottom of the drum  330 . 
     Specifically, since a supply amount (e.g., about 0.05 l/min) of the water flowing via the cooling water supply pipe  345  is very small, the water level gradually rises to minimize a water level deviation. 
     Hence, since the water is supplied enough not to reach the bottom of the drum  330 , it is able to prevent the laundry from being wet. And, the water heater  360  can be prevented from generating excessive heat according to water shortage since the water supply corresponding to a maximum amount is enabled. 
     After completion of the water supply for the stream generation, power is supplied to the water heater  360  (S 360 ) so that the hot steam for the dry cleaning can be produced by the heat generated from the water heater  360 . 
     Namely, the heat generation of the water heater  360  evaporates the water within the outer tub  320 . The generated steam by the evaporation is introduced into the drum  330  via the perforated holes  331  of the drum  330  to refresh the laundry within the drum  330 . 
     In doing so, the drying heater  343  and the blower fan  344  provided within the drying duct  341  are maintained to stop operating, whereby the steam can be smoothly supplied to the drum  330 . 
     Moreover, in doing so, the drum  330  is being rotated to agitate the laundry within the drum  330 , which enhances refreshing performance on the laundry. 
     And, the steam generation according to the above process keeps occurring during a dry-cleaning setup time. If the dry-cleaning time is set longer than the time taken for the water in the bottom part within the outer tub  320  to be entirely evaporated, shortage of the water takes place to rapidly raise the temperature of the portion provided with the water heater  360 . 
     Of course, the dry-cleaning time can be set shorter than the evaporation time of the water. In such a case, an amount of the steam supplied for the dry cleaning may become in short to lower dry-cleaning performance. It is also able to increase a water storage amount by modifying a shape of the loading part  321  within the outer tub  320 . In such a case, the shape modification needs to redesign other elements. 
     Accordingly, the embodiment of the present invention further proposes that the water level keeps being checked using the water level sensor  351  in the same manner of an early stage of the water supply while the steam is generated (S 370 ). 
     Namely, if the water level confirmed by the water level sensor  351  is lower than a predefined third water level, it is decided that the water is in short. Hence, an additional water supply to the loading part  321  provided with the water heater  360  within the outer tub  320  is performed. 
     In doing so, the water is set up to be supplied via the cooling water supply pipe  345 . And, it is preferable that a timing point of stopping the water supply is decided by keeping checking whether the level of the water reaches the second water level using the water level sensor  351  in the course of re-executing the water supply to prevent the laundry from being wet by the oversupply of the water. 
     If the amount of the steam supplied for the dry cleaning is decided as sufficient in the course of performing a series of the aforesaid processes, the power applied to the water heater  360  is cut off (S 380 ). 
     In doing so, the steam amount can be confirmed through a sensing value of the humidity sensor  352  provided within the outer tub  320 . 
     Namely, in keeping checking the humidity within the outer tub  320 , if the humidity reaches a predefined humidity, the power applied to the water heater  360  is cut off. 
     In this case, the predefined humidity means a steam amount most appropriate for refreshing the laundry, which can be acquired by a test value on which no limitation is put. 
     Alternatively, a generated steam amount according to the heat generation time of the water heater  360  can be previously acquired through a test and the like and the acquired value is previously set up, by which it is able to decide the steam amount through such a simple process as a process of counting the heat generation time of the water heater  360  and the like. 
     Namely, if the setup time arrives via the time counting, the power applied to the water heater  360  is cut off. 
     After completion of the dry cleaning through the aforesaid processes, the drain valve  324  is controlled to open the drainpipe  323  so that the remaining water within the loading part  321  can be discharged (S 390 ). Thus, the operation for the dry cleaning is terminated. 
     Meanwhile, a ninth embodiment of the present invention is characterized in applying the configuration of the washing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention to a dryer/washer configured different from that of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, which is explained in detail with reference to  FIGS. 27 to 30  as follows. 
     First of all, a washing apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention includes a body  410 , an outer tub  420 , a drum  430 , and a steam providing unit  480 . 
     The body  410  forms an exterior of the washing apparatus. An entrance  411  is provided to a front side of the body  410 . And, the entrance  411  is open/closed by a door  415 . 
     A rim  413  is provided to an inner circumference of the entrance  411  for seal-up between the door  415  and the entrance  411 . 
     The outer tub  420  is provided within the body  410 , and the drum  430  is rotatably provided within the outer tub  420 . 
     A multitude of perforated holes  431  are formed in a circumference of the drum  430  to allow water and steam to flow into the drum  430 . 
     And, the steam providing unit  480  is configured to diffuse a prescribed amount of steam into the drum  430  for dry cleaning. And, at least one or more steam providing units  480  are provided. 
     In this case, the dry cleaning means not only a series of processes for refreshing the laundry but also a series of processes for removing various kinds of filth from the laundry. 
     The steam providing unit  480 , as shown in  FIG. 29 , includes a heating part  482  for generating steam from evaporating water by heat at high temperature. 
     The steam providing unit  480  includes a steam supply pipe  484  for a flow of the steam generated from the evaporation by the heating part  482 . 
     And, the steam providing unit  480  includes a steam spray part  483  for diffusing the steam flowing via the steam supply pipe  484  into the drum  430 . 
     The steam spray part  483  has a nozzle shape to enable smooth spray of the steam, and a steam outlet is provided within the drum  430 . Preferably, the steam outlet of the steam spray part  483  is perforated into the rim  413  to be exposed to an inner space of the drum  430 . 
     And, the steam spray part  483  can be connected to a pump or the like to enable the steam, which is generated from evaporating the water flowing through the steam supply pipe  484 , to be forcibly sprayed into the drum  430 . Preferably, the steam spray part  483  further includes a first open/close valve  486  provided to the steam supply pipe  484  opening/closing a pipe path of the steam supply pipe  484  to spray the steam selectively. 
     And, the steam providing unit  480  includes a water storage part  481  for storing a prescribed amount of water therein to supply the water to the steam supply pipe  484 . 
     An inlet of the water storage part  481  is connected to a water supply valve  417  connected to a service pipe or the like and an outlet of the water storage part  481  is connected to the steam supply pipe  484 . 
     The heating part  482  may include a coil heater enclosing the steam supply pipe  484 . Alternatively, the heating part  482  preferably includes a sheath heater provided within the water storage part  481  to directly heat to evaporate the water stored in the water storage part  481 . 
     In case of providing the heating part  482  within the water storage part  481 , it is preferable that the steam providing unit  480  further includes a water level sensor  485  for sensing a level of the water stored in the water storage part  481 . 
     If the amount of the water stored in the water storage part  481  is insufficient, the heating part  482  may excessively generate the heat. If the amount of the water stored in the water storage part  481  is excessively sufficient, it takes a long time to evaporate the water for the steam generation. Hence, the water level sensor  485  enables to maintain a uniform level of the water stored in the water storage part  481 . In this case, the uniform level is enough for the smooth steam generation. 
     Namely, if the water level measured by the water level sensor  485  is higher than a reference value, water supply to the water storage part  481  is cut off. If the water level measured by the water level sensor  485  is lower than the reference value, supplementary water supply to the water storage part  481  is enabled. 
     Preferably, the washing apparatus according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention further includes a detergent supplying unit  490  to enhance the dry cleaning effect. 
     This is because efficiency of dry cleaning without using a detergent is too low. 
     Namely, by providing the detergent to the laundry, it is able to enhance dry-cleaning performance due to chemical reaction. 
     In this case, the detergent is a solvent mixed with a petroleum solvent. 
     Preferably, fragrance is further added to the detergent to be given to the laundry to be dry-cleaned. 
     Namely, the dry cleaning not only refreshes the laundry but also provides the fragrance to the laundry, thereby enhancing user&#39;s satisfaction. 
     Of course, the detergent supplied via the detergent supplying unit  490  may include the fragrance only without the petroleum-based solvent. 
     Namely, although not shown in the drawings, the detergent supplying unit  490  may include at least one fragrance spray part providing the fragrance. 
     Besides, although not shown in the drawing, the detergent supplying unit  490  and the fragrance spray part can be separately provided. 
     The detergent supplying unit  490  includes a detergent storage box  491  storing the dry-cleaning detergent therein. 
     The detergent storage box  491  is provided within the body  410  to enable detergent supplement. 
     And, the detergent supplying unit  490  includes a detergent spray part  493  for spraying the detergent stored in the detergent storage box  491  into the drum  430  and a detergent supply pipe  494  for guiding the detergent within the detergent storage box  491  to the detergent spray part  493 . 
     Preferably, a detergent outlet of the detergent spray part  493  is exposed to the inside of the drum  430 . 
     More preferably, a detergent outlet of the detergent spray part  493  is perforated into the rim  413  to be exposed to the inside of the drum  430 . 
     The detergent spray part  493  can be connected to a pump or the like to enable to forcibly spray the detergent stored in the detergent storage box  491  into the drum  430 . Preferably, the detergent spray part  493  further includes a second open/close valve  496  for opening/closing the pipe path of the detergent supply pipe  494  so that the detergent can be selectively sprayed. 
     Alternatively, the detergent spray part  493  and the steam spray part  483  can be built in one body. 
     Besides, the detergent storage box  491  enables to store a washing detergent as well. 
     Namely, the detergent storage box  491 , as shown in  FIG. 29 , includes a first storage part  497  storing the dry-cleaning detergent and a second storage part  498  storing the washing detergent. 
     Preferably, the second storage part  498  is connected to the water supply pipe  412  so that a small amount of the water is sprayed into the drum  430  via the detergent spray part  493 . 
     Of course, a configuration storing the washing detergent only and the detergent storage box  491  can be separately provided. 
     Preferably, the washing apparatus according to the present invention further includes a drying unit. 
     The drying unit includes a drying duct  441  for providing hot and dry air to the drum  430  and a drying heater  443  for heating the air flowing through the drying duct  441 . 
     In this case, a blower fan  444  forcibly blowing the air within the drying duct  441  is further provided to a pipe path of the drying duct  441 . 
     A method of controlling the above-explained washing apparatus according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to a flowchart in  FIG. 31  as follows. 
     First of all, a controller controlling an operation of the washing apparatus keeps checking a presence or non-presence of a request for a dry-cleaning operation (S 410 ). 
     Namely, when an operation control of the drum type washing machine is requested by a user, the controller decides whether the operation selected by the user is for the dry cleaning or a general laundry washing. Hence, the controller detects the presence of the request for dry cleaning. 
     In doing so, in case of the presence of the request for the dry-cleaning operation, the controller requests an input of the laundry to be dry-cleaned. 
     In such a case, the user inputs the laundry to be dry-cleaned to the drum  430 , closes the door  415 , and then selects a continuous execution of the dry-cleaning operation. 
     Of course, after completion of inputting the laundry, the user may request the dry-cleaning operation so that the controller can immediately control the various elements for the dry-cleaning operation. 
     Subsequently, once the dry cleaning is ready to be executed by a series of the aforesaid procedures, the second open/close valve  496  is controller to spray the dry-cleaning detergent into the laundry inputted to the drum  430 . 
     A method of controlling the above-explained washing apparatus according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to a flowchart in  FIG. 26  as follows. 
     First of all, a controller controlling an operation of the washing apparatus keeps checking a presence or non-presence of a request for a dry-cleaning operation (S 310 ). 
     Namely, when an operation control of the drum type washing machine is requested by a user, the controller decides whether the operation selected by the user is for the dry cleaning or a general laundry washing. Hence, the controller detects the presence of the request for dry cleaning. 
     In doing so, in case of the presence of the request for the dry-cleaning operation, the controller requests an input of the laundry to be dry-cleaned. 
     In such a case, the user inputs the laundry to be dry-cleaned to the drum  330 , closes the door  315 , and then selects a continuous execution of the dry-cleaning operation. 
     Of course, after completion of inputting the laundry, the user may request the dry-cleaning operation so that the controller can immediately control the various elements for the dry-cleaning operation. 
     Subsequently, once the dry cleaning is ready to be executed by a series of the aforesaid procedures, an amount of the detergent sprayed into the drum  430  is set up not to soak the laundry therein. In doing so, the detergent includes the solvent and the fragrance. 
     Preferably, by rotating the drum  430  on spraying the dry-cleaning detergent, the dry-cleaning detergent is evenly coated on the laundry overall. 
     In doing so, the drum  430  may keep being rotated in one rotational direction. Preferably, it is controlled to alternately repeat to rotate the drum  430 , clockwise and counter clockwise. 
     Hence, various kinds of filth are separated from the laundry by the dry-cleaning detergent sprayed by the detergent spray part  493 . 
     During the above process, the water heater  160  is activated to generate the steam (S 440 ) and the generated steam is sprayed into the outer tub (S 450 ). 
     Namely, the water introduced into the water storage part  481  is evaporated by the generated heat of the heating part  482  and the evaporated water in a steam state is then guided by the steam supply pipe  484  to be sprayed into the space within the outer tub  420 . 
     In doing so, the first open/close valve  486  is turned on. 
     Moreover, the steam sprayed into the outer tub  420  is introduced into the drum  430  via the perforated holes  431  of the drum  430  and then keeps being supplied to the laundry to refresh. 
     Specifically, the above-generated steam activates the detergent infiltrated into the laundry to enable smooth separation of the filth. 
     Of course, a next process is preferably carried out after a time sufficient for enabling the smooth separation of the filth from the laundry has passed after completion of the dry-cleaning detergent spray and the steam supply. 
     After completion of a series of the aforesaid processes, a small amount of water is injected into the drum  430  via the steam spray part  483  or the detergent spray part  493  to remove the filth separated from the laundry. 
     This is to prevent the filth, which was separated from the laundry, from contaminating the laundry again. 
     Since detergent the spray part  493  is configured to face the inside of the drum  430 , a series of the process spraying the water into the drum  430  is preferably performed via the detergent spray part  493 . 
     Of course, in doing so, the water is supplied to the second storage part  498  of the detergent storage box  491  so that the water sprayed into the drum  430  does not include the dry-cleaning detergent. 
     Specifically, an amount of the water injected into the drum  130  is preferably set small not to soak the laundry. 
     Moreover, a series of the process of spraying the water can be carried out prior to supplying the steam to the drum  430 . 
     In this case, the steam plays a role in refreshing the laundry rather than induces the activation of the detergent. 
     After completion of the above process, dry and hot air is provided to the outer tub  420  (S 470 ) so that the laundry can be dried by the dry air. 
     In doing so, the dry air is provided by the heat generation of the drying heater  443  and is then supplied to the outer tub  420  by the driven blower fan  444 . 
     After completion of drying the laundry, the operation for the dry-cleaning mode is terminated. 
     Of course, the operation for the dry-cleaning mode can be completed in a manner of discharging the steam from the drum  430  not by providing the dry air but by driving the blower fan  444 . 
     Meanwhile, the above-described configurations according to the first to ninth embodiments of the present invention have difficulty in evenly providing the steam and fragrance to the raveled laundries since the laundries within the drum are moved according to the rotation of the drum. 
     Accordingly, a washing apparatus according to a tenth or eleventh embodiment of the present invention provides a configuration for refreshing the laundry smoothly, which is explained in detail as follows. 
       FIGS. 32 to 34  show the configuration according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention. 
     First of all, a washing apparatus according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention includes a body  510 , a drum  520 , a steam providing unit  580 , and a laundry rack  540 . In this case, the washing apparatus is a laundry dryer. 
     Preferably, the washing apparatus further includes a fragrance spraying unit  570 . 
     The steam providing unit  580  is configured to diffuse a prescribed amount of steam into the drum  510 . 
     The steam providing unit  580  includes a heating part  582  for generating steam from evaporating water by heat at high temperature, a steam supply pipe  584  for a flow of the steam generated from the evaporation by the heating part  582 , and a steam spray part  583  for diffusing the steam flowing via the steam supply pipe  584  into the drum  530 . 
     The steam spray part  583  has a nozzle shape to enable smooth spray of the steam, and a steam outlet is provided within the drum  530 . Preferably, the steam outlet of the steam spray part  583  is perforated into the rim  513  to be exposed to an inner space of the drum  530 . 
     And, the steam spray part  583  can be connected to a pump or the like to enable the steam, which is generated from evaporating the water flowing through the steam supply pipe  584 , to be forcibly sprayed into the drum  530 . Preferably, the steam spray part  483  further includes a valve configuration, as shown in the drawings, to spray the steam by selectively opening/closing a pipe path thereof. 
     And, the steam providing unit  580  further includes a water storage part  581  for storing a prescribed amount of water therein to supply the water to the steam supply pipe  584 . Preferably, the water storage part  581  is connected to a water supply valve  517  connected to a service pipe or the like. 
     The heating part  582  preferably includes a sheath heater provided within the water storage part  581  to directly heat to evaporate the water stored in the water storage part  581 . Alternatively, the heating part  582  may include a coil heater enclosing the steam supply pipe  584 . 
     In case of providing the heating part  582  within the water storage part t 81 , it is preferable that the steam providing unit  580  further includes a water level sensor  585  for sensing a level of the water stored in the water storage part  581 . 
     Preferably, the water level sensor  585  maintains a uniform level of the water stored in the water storage part  581 . In this case, the uniform level is enough for the smooth steam generation. If the amount of the water stored in the water storage part  581  is insufficient, the heating part  482  may excessively generate the heat. If the amount of the water stored in the water storage part  581  is excessively sufficient, it takes a long time to evaporate the water for the steam generation. 
     Namely, if the water level measured by the water level sensor  585  is higher than a reference value, water supply to the water storage part  581  is cut off. If the water level measured by the water level sensor  585  is lower than the reference value, supplementary water supply to the water storage part  581  is enabled. 
     And, the laundry rack  540 , as shown in  FIG. 34 , is preferably configured to enable the laundry to be spread thereon. 
     Namely, the laundry can be spread on the laundry rack  540  to enhance dry-cleaning performance. 
     Preferably, the laundry rack  540  is detachably provided within the drum  520 . Namely, the laundry rack  540  can be optionally used in a dry-cleaning mode. 
     The laundry rack  540  includes a rack frame  541  having a laundry placed thereon, a front supporter  542  provided to a front side of the rack frame  541  to load the rack frame  541  in the drum  520 , and a rear supporter  543  provided to a rear side of the rack frame  541  to load the rack frame  541  in the drum  520  together with the front supporter  542 . And, the front and rear supporters  542  and  543  are built in one body of the rack frame  541 . 
     In this case, the rack frame  541  approximately has a flat panel shape so that the spread laundry can be placed thereon. 
     Preferably, at least two rack frames  541  are provided to enable a multitude of laundries to be placed thereon. The at lest two rack frames  541  are stacked one by one to configure a multi-floor shape. And, the at least two rack frames  541  are built in one body. Alternatively, the at least two rack frames  541  are separable. 
     Specifically, even if the laundry is spread to be put on each of the rack frames  541 , each of the rack frames  541  has a configuration enabling air to flow upward and downward through it. Preferably, each of the rack frames  541  has a lattice shape. 
     The front supporter  542  is configured to be placed on a part of the body  510  where the entrance  511  is formed. Yet, the front supporter  542  is configured not to close an air inlet of a hot air discharge pipe  532 . 
     And, the rear supporter  543  is configured to be loaded on a rear inside of the drum  520 . 
     Moreover, the fragrance spraying unit  570  is configured to additionally provide a prescribed amount of fragrance to the laundry for dry cleaning. 
     The fragrance spraying unit  570  includes a fragrance storage box  571  for storing fragrance therein and a nozzle type fragrance spray part  573  for spraying the fragrance stored in the fragrance storage box  571  into the drum  520 . 
     Preferably, a fragrance outlet of the fragrance spray part  573  is configured to be exposed to an inner space of the drum  520 . 
     More preferably, the fragrance outlet of the fragrance spray part  573  is perforated into the rim  513  to be exposed to the inner space of the drum  520  together with the steam spray part  583 . 
     The fragrance spray part  573  may be connected to a pump or the like to forcibly jet the fragrance stored in the fragrance storage box  571  into the drum  520 . Instead, the fragrance spray part  573 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , employs a valve configuration to spray the fragrance by turning on/off a pipe path thereof. 
     And, the fragrance provided by the fragrance spraying unit  570  may further include a petroleum-based solvent added detergent to enhance dry-cleaning performance. 
     Although not shown in the drawing, a device for spraying such a detergent as a solvent and the like may be further provided apart from the fragrance spraying unit  570 . 
     A method of controlling a washing apparatus according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention is explained as follows. 
     First of all, the laundry rack  540  is loaded in the drum  520 . A multitude of laundries to be dry-cleaned are then put on the rack frames  541  of the laundry rack  540 . 
     In doing so, the rear supporter  543  is placed on the inside of the drum  520  and the front supporter  542  is placed on the entrance side of the body  510 . 
     Preferably, each topside of the rack frames  541  is leveled. 
     Once an operation of a dry-cleaning mode is executed, heat is generated from the heating part  582  to evaporate the water stored in the water storage part  581 . Hence, a great quantity of steam is generated. 
     The generated steam flows along the steam supply pipe  584  to be sprayed into the drum  520  via the steam spray part  583 . 
     In doing so, the water level sensor  585  and the water supply valve  517  are controlled to maintain a constant level of the water stored in the water storage part  581 . 
     Hence, the laundries put on the rack frames  541  are refreshed by the steam supplied to the drum  520 . 
     Since each of the rack frame  541  has the lattice shape enabling air ventilation, the steam supplied inside the drum  520  freely travels the entire space within the drum  520  to refresh the laundries. 
     Simultaneously, the fragrance spraying unit  570  operates to spray the fragrance stored in the fragrance storage box  571  into the drum  520  via the fragrance spray part  573 . 
     In doing so, the fragrance adsorbs to the laundries to remove odor of the laundry. 
     After completion of the dry cleaning through a series of the processes, power applied to the heating part  582  is cut off. 
     Thereafter, the blower fan  534  is driven to externally discharge the steam remaining within the drum  520 , thereby enabling to protect the user from danger such as a burn caused by the high-temperature steam. 
     Optionally, by driving the drying heater  533  prior to execute the steam discharge using the blower fan  534 , it is able to dry the dry-cleaned laundries. 
     Meanwhile, the configuration of the washing apparatus according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention is applicable to other apparatuses as well as the laundry dryer. 
     Namely, the configuration of the washing apparatus according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention is applicable to a drum type washer/dryer, a general drum type washing machine, and the like. 
     An eleventh embodiment of the present invention is characterized in applying the configuration of the tenth embodiment of the present invention to a drum type washer/dryer, which is explained in detail with reference to  FIG. 35  and  FIG. 36  as follows. 
     First of all, a washing apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention includes a body  610 , an outer tub  620 , a drum  630 , a steam providing unit  680 , and a laundry rack  640 . 
     The body  610  forms an exterior of a drum type washer/dryer. 
     An entrance  611  for a laundry input is provided to a front side of the body  610 . And, the entrance  611  is open/closed by a door  615 . 
     In the body  610 , provided are the outer tub  620 , a water supply pipe  612  guiding a flow of water supply, and a drying unit providing heated air to an inside of the outer tub  620 . 
     The drying unit includes a drying duct  641  for an air flow, a drying heater  643  provided to a pipe path of the drying duct  641 , and a blower fan  644  for forcible air circulation. 
     An air inlet of the drying duct  641  is connected to a lateral side of the outer tub  620  and an air outlet of the drying duct  641  is connected to a topside of the outer tub  620 . 
     The drum  630  is rotatably provided within the outer tub  620 . 
     A multitude of perforated holes  631  for water communication are provided to a circumference of the drum  630 . 
     The steam providing unit  680  includes a heating part  682  for generating steam from evaporating water by heat at high temperature, a steam supply pipe  684  for a flow of the steam generated from the evaporation by the heating part  682 , a steam spray part  683  for diffusing the steam flowing via the steam supply pipe  684  into the drum  630 , and a water storage part  681  provided to a pipe path of the water supply pipe  612 . 
     Preferably, a water level sensor  685  is further provided within the water storage part  681 . 
     Considering that the water supply from outside is performed via the water supply valve  617 , the steam providing unit  680  needs no separate pipe path for supplying water to the water storage part  681 . 
     Namely, the water storage part  681  is just provided to the pipe path of the water supply pipe  612  connected to the water supply valve  617 . 
     In this case, a separate pipe valve (snot shown in the drawing) enabling a selective water supply to the water storage part  681  or detergent box  619  is preferably provided to the pipe path of the water supply pipe  612 . 
     Moreover, instead of using the heating part  682  of the steam providing unit  680 , it is able to use a water heater  660 , as shown in  FIG. 37 , provided to a bottom part within the outer tub  620  to adjust a water temperature. 
     In this case, the water supply pipe  612  is connected to the bottom part of the outer tub  620 . This is to prevent the supplied water from being splashed on the laundry within the drum  630  during the water supply. 
     And, the steam spray part  683  of the steam providing unit  680  is configured to be exposed to the inside of the outer tub  620  only. 
     In doing so, the steam spray part  683  is not exposed to the inside of the drum  630  because the steam having been provided to the inside of the outer tub  620  only can be supplied to the inside of the drum  630  via a multitude of the perforated holes  631  provided to the circumference of the drum  630 . 
     And, the laundry rack  650  has the same configuration of the laundry rack of the tenth embodiment of the present invention. 
     Namely, a plurality of rack frames  651  are built in one body to construct a multi-floor shape. a front supporter  652  is configured to be placed on a part of the body  610  where the entrance  611  is formed. And, a front supporter  652  is configured to be loaded on a rear inside of the drum  630 . 
     Preferably, the washing apparatus according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention further includes a fragrance spraying unit  670 . 
     The fragrance spraying unit  670  includes a fragrance storage box  671  storing fragrance therein and a fragrance spray part  673  spraying the fragrance. 
     Of course, the fragrance storage box  671  can be replaced by the detergent box  619  as well. 
     A method of controlling a washing apparatus according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention is explained as follows. 
     First of all, the laundry rack  650  is loaded in the drum  630 . A multitude of laundries to be dry-cleaned are then put on the rack frames  651  of the laundry rack  650 . 
     In doing so, the rear supporter  653  is placed on the inside of the drum  630  and the front supporter  652  is placed on the entrance side of the body  610 . 
     Preferably, each topside of the rack frames  651  is leveled. 
     Once an operation of a dry-cleaning mode is executed, heat is generated from the heating part  682  to evaporate the water stored in the water storage part  681 . Hence, a great quantity of steam is generated. 
     In doing so, the water is supplied to the water storage part  681  according to the control of the water supply valve  617  and the water level sensor  685  and the water supply valve  617  are controlled to maintain a constant level of the water stored in the water storage part  681 . 
     Moreover, the generated steam flows along the steam supply pipe t 84  to be sprayed into the outer tub drum  620  via the steam spray part  683 . 
     The steam having been sprayed into the outer tub  620  is passed through the perforated holes  631  of the drum  630  to refresh the laundries put on the rack frames  651 . 
     Simultaneously, the operation of the fragrance spraying unit  670  is controlled to spray the fragrance stored in the fragrance storage box  671  into the drum  630  via the fragrance spray part  673 . 
     In doing so, the fragrance adsorbs to the laundries to remove odor of the laundries. 
     After completion of the dry cleaning through a series of the processes, powers applied to the heating part  682  and the water supply valve  617  are cut off. 
     Thereafter, the blower fan  644  within the drying duct  641  is driven to externally discharge the steam remaining within the drum  630 , whereby a temperature within the drum  630  is lowered. 
     Preferably, the drying heater  643  is controlled not to generate heat, thereby enhancing efficiency of cooling down the steam. 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides the following effects or advantages. 
     First of all, in the first to third embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of the wet pad cloths for dry cleaning are provided within the drum, whereby a great quantity of laundries can be dry-cleaned. 
     Specifically, a plurality of the wet pad cloths are rotated together with the drum to provide the fragrance and steam to the respective laundries evenly, whereby the dry-cleaning performance can be more enhanced. 
     Moreover, the supplementary fragrance and steam can be additionally provided even if the amount of fragrance and steam is in short, whereby the dry-cleaning performance can be more enhanced. 
     Secondly, in the fourth, fifth, and ninth embodiments of the present invention, the washing apparatus enables the dry cleaning of the laundry without the wet pad cloth. 
     Specifically, the dry cleaning works on the entire area within the drum, whereby a great quantity of laundries can be dry-cleaned. 
     Moreover, the dry-cleaning detergent is evenly distributed over the respective laundries within the drum, whereby the dry-cleaning performance can be more enhanced. 
     Specifically, the detergent includes the fragrance therein, whereby user&#39;s satisfaction can be enhanced. 
     Thirdly, in the sixth and seventh embodiments of the present invention, the washing apparatus previously prevents the water from coming contact with the laundries in the course of being supplied for steam generation, thereby enabling to enhance performance of refreshing the laundries. 
     Fourthly, in the eight embodiment of the present invention, the washing apparatus enables to accurately maintain the level of the water supplied for steam generation. 
     Specifically, the water supply deviation can be minimized by supplying the water via the water supply pipe for performing the water supply relatively fast on the early stage of the water supply and by supplying the water via the cooling water supply pipe only after a prescribed progress of the water supply. 
     Finally, in the tenth and eleventh embodiments of the present invention, the washing apparatus enables to settle the difficulty in evenly providing the steam, fragrance, and detergent to the raveled laundries during the dry cleaning. 
     Namely, the dry cleaning can be evenly carried out on the laundries overall. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.