Patent Publication Number: US-8984691-B2

Title: Laundry machine

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0040318, filed on Apr. 25, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a laundry machine and a control method thereof, and more particularly to a laundry machine and a control method thereof, which are capable of removing creases from laundry during a drying operation for the laundry, and sensing whether or not water is supplied to a steam generator. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Typically, a laundry dryer, which is a kind of a laundry machine, is a home appliance used to dry laundry, mainly clothes, completely washed, using hot air. Generally, such a laundry dryer includes a drum for accommodating laundry to be dried therein, and a drive source for driving the drum, a heater for heating air introduced into the drum, and a blower unit for sucking air into the drum or outwardly discharging air from the drum. 
     Laundry dryers may be classified into an electric type and a gas type in accordance with the type of the system for heating air, namely, the type of the heater. The electric type laundry dryer heats air, using heat generated from an electrical resistance. On the other hand, the gas type laundry dryer heats air, using heat generated in accordance with the combustion of gas. 
     Laundry dryers may also be classified into a condensation type and an exhaustion type. In the condensation type laundry dryer, air, which has become humid after being heat-exchanged with laundry to be dried, is circulated without being outwardly discharged. The air is heat-exchanged with ambient air through a separate condenser. In accordance with this heat exchange, condensed water is generated, and is then outwardly discharged. In the exhaustion type laundry dryer, air, which has become humid after being heat-exchanged with laundry to be dried, is directly discharged to the outside of the laundry dryer. 
     Laundry dryers may also be classified into a top loading type and a front loading type in accordance with the laundry loading type. In the top loading type laundry dryer, laundry to be dried is loaded into the laundry dryer through the top of the laundry dryer. On the other hand, in the front loading type laundry dryer, laundry to be dried is loaded into the laundry dryer through the front side of the laundry dryer. 
     Meanwhile, conventional laundry dryers as mentioned above have the following problems. 
     Typically, in a laundry dryer, laundry spin-dried after being completely washed is loaded so that it can be dried. In this case, the laundry, which has been washed using water, has creases due to the principle of the water washing. In the drying procedure carried out in the laundry dryer, however, the creases cannot be completely removed. In order to remove the creases still present on objects, such as laundry, completely dried in conventional laundry dryers, it is necessary to perform ironing. 
     Where clothes other than laundry completely washed are stored or used in a typical manner, creases, rumples, or holds (hereinafter, generally referred to as “creases”) may be formed at the clothes. To this end, it has been required to develop an apparatus capable of conveniently removing creases generated during the storage or use of clothes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a laundry machine that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a laundry machine and a control method thereof, which are capable of avoiding the formation of creases on clothes, etc. and/or removing creases formed on clothes, etc. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry machine capable of sensing whether or not a water supply source to supply water to the laundry machine, namely, a cartridge, is in a correctly-mounted state, and selectively operating the laundry machine in accordance with the sensed result. 
     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 laundry machine comprises: a drum rotatably installed in a cabinet; a substance supply device for supplying moisture to the drum; a water supply device separably mounted to the cabinet, to supply water to the substance supply device; a sensor for sensing whether or not water is supplied to the water supply device; and a controller for controlling the substance supply device in accordance with a sensing signal from the sensor. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a laundry machine comprises: receiving a command input to operate the laundry machine; sensing whether or not water is supplied to a steam generator of the laundry machine; and executing a drying process of the laundry machine. 
     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 an exploded perspective view illustrating a laundry machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view illustrating a cartridge to supply water and a steam generator, which are included in the laundry machine of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view schematically illustrating a water supply device included in a laundry machine according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a drawer shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a drawer guide shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of  FIG. 5  correspond to a switch; and 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating a method for controlling a laundry machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     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. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a laundry machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the laundry machine according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     A cabinet  10  forms an outer structure of the laundry machine, namely, a laundry dryer, according to the present invention. Various constituent elements of the laundry machine, namely, the laundry dryer are arranged in the interior of the cabinet  10 . 
     That is, a rotatable drum  20 , and a motor  70  and a belt  68 , which are adapted to drive the drum  20 , may be installed in the cabinet  10 . An air heater  90  may be arranged in the cabinet  10  at a desired position, to heat air, and thus to generate hot air. A hot air supply duct  44  may also be arranged in the cabinet  10 , to supply the hot air generated by the air heater  90  to the drum  20 . In the cabinet  10 , an exhaust duct  80  for exhausting humid air heat-exchanged with objects to be dried in the drum  20 , and a blower unit  60  for sucking the humid air may also be arranged. Meanwhile, a substance supply device may be arranged in the cabinet  10  at a desired position, to supply water based substance to the drum  20 . 
     Although an indirect drive type, in which the motor  70  and belt  68  are used to rotate the drum  20 , is illustrated and described in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, a direct drive type, in which a motor is directly connected to a rear wall of the drum  20 , to directly rotate the drum  20 , may be applied to the present invention. 
     Hereinafter, the above-described constituent elements will be described in more detail. 
     The cabinet  10 , which forms the outer structure of the laundry machine, namely, the laundry dryer, may include a base  12  forming a bottom wall, a pair of side covers  14  extending vertically from the base  12 , a front cover  16  mounted to the front ends of the side covers  14 , a rear cover  18  mounted to the rear ends of the side covers  14 , and a top cover  17  disposed on the upper ends of the side covers  14 . A control panel  19 , which includes various operating switches or the like, may be arranged on the top cover  17  or front cover  16 . A door  164  may be mounted to the front cover  16 . A louver  182  is provided at the rear cover  18 , to introduce ambient air into the cabinet  10 . An exhaust hole  184  is also provided at the rear cover  18 , as a passage for finally discharging air from the drum  20  to the outside of the drum  20 . 
     The interior of the drum  20  functions as a drying chamber, in which a drying operation is carried out. It is preferred that a lift  22  be installed in the drum  20 , to drop laundry after raising the laundry such that the laundry is turned over, and thus to achieve an enhancement in drying efficiency. 
     Meanwhile, a front supporter  30  and a rear supporter  40  may be installed between the drum  20  and the cabinet  10 , namely, between the drum  20  and the front cover  16  and between the drum  20  and the rear cover  18 , respectively. The drum  20  is rotatably installed between the front supporter  30  and the rear supporter  40 . Sealing members (not shown) are fitted between the front supporter  30  and the drum  20  and between the rear supporter  40  and the drum  20 , respectively, to prevent water leakage. That is, the front supporter  30  and rear supporter  40  close the front and rear ends of the drum  20 , to define the drying chamber in the drum  20 . The front supporter  30  and rear supporter  40  also function to support the front and rear ends of the drum  20 . 
     An opening is formed through the front supporter  30 , to communicate the drum  20  with the outside of the laundry machine. The opening is selectively opened or closed by the door  164 . A lint duct  50 , which is a passage for outwardly discharging air from the drum  20 , is connected to the front supporter  30 . A lint filter  52  is installed in the lint duct  50 . 
     One side of the blower unit  60  is connected to the lint duct  50 . The other side of the blower unit  60  is connected to the exhaust duct  80 . The exhaust duct  80  communicates with an exhaust hole  184  provided at the rear cover  18 . 
     Accordingly, when the blower unit  60  operates, air present in the drum  20  is exhausted from the drum  20  via the lint duct  50 , exhaust duct  80 , and exhaust hole  184 . During this operation, foreign matter such as lint is filtered out by the lint filter  52 . Typically, the blower unit  60  includes a blower  62 , and a blower housing  64 . Typically, the blower  62  is connected to the motor  70 , which drives the drum  20 . 
     An opening  42 , which is constituted by a plurality of through holes, is formed through the rear supporter  40 . A hot air supply duct  44  is connected to the opening  42 . The hot air supply duct  44  communicates with the drum  20 , to function as a passage for supplying hot air to the drum  20 . To this end, the air heater  90  is installed at a certain position in the hot air supply duct  44 . 
     A substance supply device is installed at a desired position in the cabinet  10 , to supply water based substance, e.g., moisture or steam to the drum  20 . Thus, the substance supply device functions to supply water based substance to the drum  20 . 
     For example, the substance supply device includes a pressure apply device, which applies a certain pressure to water supplied to the drum  20 , and thus to supply moisture to the drum  20  through a nozzle. In this case, the pressure apply device may comprise a separate pump. Alternatively, a water supply line included in the laundry machine may be directly connected to an external city water tap, to apply water supplied by the water supply line to a certain pressure in accordance with the water pressure from the city water tap. When water is supplied under pressure, it can be sprayed into the interior of the drum  20  through a nozzle or the like, in the form of mist. 
     Meanwhile, in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a steam generator  200 , which generates steam, and supplies the generated steam into the interior of the drum  20 , functions as the substance supply device. Hereinafter, the steam generator will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view illustrating the steam generator included in the laundry machine in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the steam generator will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     The steam generator  200  includes a water tank  210  for containing water therein, a heater (not shown) mounted in the water tank  210 , a water level sensor  260  for measuring the water level of the steam generator  200 , and a temperature sensor (not shown) for measuring the temperature of the steam generator  200 . Although not shown, the water level sensor  260  typically includes a common electrode, a low-water-level electrode, and a high-water-level electrode. A low water level or a high water level is sensed in accordance with whether the common electrode is electrically connected with the low-water-level electrode or with the high-water-level electrode. 
     A water supply hose  220  is connected to one side of the steam generator  200 , to supply water to the steam generator  200 . A steam hose  230  is connected to the other side of the steam generator  200 , to discharge steam from the steam generator  200 . Preferably, a nozzle  250  having a certain shape is arranged at an end of the steam hose  230  opposite to the steam generator  200 , to spray steam. Typically, the water supply hose  220  is connected to an external water supply source such as a cartridge  300 , at an end of the water supply hose  220  opposite to the steam generator  200 . The end of the steam hose  230  opposite to the steam generator  200  or the nozzle  250 , namely, a steam outlet, is disposed at a desired position in the drum  20 , to spray steam into the interior of the drum  20 . 
     In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the water supply source comprises the cartridge  300 , which is separably installed, as described above. Of course, the water supply source may also comprise an external city water tap. Where the water supply source comprises a city water tap, however, there is a difficulty in connecting the steam generator  200  to the city water tap. This is because no water is used in a typical laundry dryer. That is, when the city water tap is used as a water supply source, it is necessary to additionally install various devices associated with the city water tap. Therefore, there is a convenience in the case in which a detachable water supply source  300  is used in such a manner that water is supplied to the water supply source  300  in a separated state of the water supply source  300 , and the water-filled water supply source  300  is then connected to the water supply line of the steam generator  200 , namely, the water supply hose  220 , as in the present embodiment. 
     Preferably, a pump  400  may be arranged between the water supply source  300  and the steam generator  200 . More preferably, the pump  400  is rotatable in normal and reverse directions, not only to supply water to the steam generator  200 , but also to recover residual water from the steam generator  200 , if necessary. The reason why residual water is recovered from the steam generator  200  is that, when the steam generator  200  is not used for a prolonged period of time, the residual water may cause damage to the heater of the steam generator  200 , or may be used in a decomposed state. Preferably, a safety valve  500  is also arranged in a steam line, namely, the steam hose  230 , which discharges steam from the steam generator  200 . 
     Hereinafter, a configuration, in which the cartridge functioning as the water supply source in the laundry machine of the present invention is installed in the cabinet, will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the laundry machine according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention may include a drawer  700 , which is detachably installed in the cabinet  10 . The cartridge  300  may be selectively mounted in the cartridge  300 . That is, the cartridge  300  is selectively mounted in the drawer  700  so that it functions as a water supply device to supply water to the steam generator  200 . 
     Where the cartridge  300  is mounted as described above, it is preferred that the drawer  700  be detachably installed in the cabinet  10 , and the cartridge  300  be mounted in the drawer  700 , as compared to a configuration in which the cartridge  300  is detachably installed in the cabinet  10  in a direct manner. 
     The drawer  700  may be detachably installed at one side of the cabinet  10 . Preferably, the drawer  700  is detachably installed at the front side of the cabinet  10 . In detail, the drawer  700  is installed at the front side of the cabinet  10  such that it can be slidably inserted into and ejected from the interior of the cabinet  10 . The sliding movement of the drawer  700  is guided by a drawer guide  710 , which is installed at one side of the cabinet  10 . The drawer guide  710  will be described in detail later. 
     The cartridge  300  may be detachably mounted in the drawer  700 . The cartridge  300  contains water to be supplied to the steam generator  200 . In the illustrated case, the cartridge  300  is detachably mounted in the drawer  700 . When it is desired to supply water to the laundry machine, the user ejects the drawer  700 , and then separates the cartridge  300  from the drawer  700 . After filling water in the separated cartridge  300 , the operator mounts the water-filled cartridge  300  in the drawer  700 , and then inserts the drawer  700  into the interior of the cabinet  10 . 
     Where the drawer  700  is movable as described above, it is preferred that a drawer guide  710  be provided at the cabinet  10 , to guide the movement of the drawer  700 . The drawer guide  710  is formed at an inner surface of the cabinet  10  such that it extends from an opening formed at the front side of the cabinet  10  into the interior of the cabinet  10 . Preferably, the drawer guide  710  has a shape corresponding to an outer structure of the drawer  700 . In detail, it is preferred that a supporter  820  be installed in the rear of the control panel  19  such that it extends to be substantially parallel to a top frame  830 , and the drawer guide  710  be arranged between the supporter  820  and the top frame  830 . Although not shown, it is also preferred that a top guide be provided to cover a top portion of the drawer guide  710 . 
     Accordingly, it is possible to selectively connect the cartridge  300  to the pump  400  by mounting the cartridge  300  in the drawer  700 , and then inserting the drawer  700  along the drawer guide  710 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , reference numeral “ 800 ” designates a sensor  800  for sensing whether or not the water supply device as described above, in detail, the drawer  700 , is in a mounted state. The sensor  800  will be described in detail later. 
     Hereinafter, the drawer  700 , in which the cartridge  300  is mounted, will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a structure of the drawer  700  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the drawer  700  may substantially have an upwardly-opened box shape corresponding to the shape of the cartridge  300  ( FIG. 3 ). In detail, the drawer  700  may include a base  720 , and side walls  722  extending vertically from the base  720 . The drawer  700  may also include a cover  724  arranged at a front side of the drawer  700 , to enable the user to easily insert or eject the drawer  700  (hereinafter, an end toward an ejection direction of the drawer  700  is referred as a “front end”, and an end opposite to the front end is referred to as a “rear end”). 
     Meanwhile, a guide member and a positioning member may be provided in the drawer  700 . The guide member functions to guide the cartridge  300  to a desired position in the drawer  700  when the cartridge  300  is mounted in the drawer  700 . The positioning member functions to position the cartridge  300  at a correct position. 
     The guide member may comprise a protrusion  731  inwardly protruded from a front end of the drawer  700  in the interior of the drawer  700 , at least one first guide  732  arranged at a rear end of the drawer  700 , and second guides  734  and  735  respectively inwardly protruded from opposite side walls of the drawer  700  in the interior of the drawer  700 . 
     In this case, the guide member may be formed such that the distance between the protrusion  731  and the first guide  732  corresponds to the length of the cartridge  300 , and the distance between the second guides  734  and  735  corresponds to the width of the cartridge  300 . Accordingly, when the cartridge  300  is mounted in the drawer  700 , it is positioned in a space defined by the protrusion  731 , first guide  732 , and second guides  734  and  735 . 
     Although not shown, the positioning member may comprise a positioning protrusion (not shown) formed at an outer bottom surface of the cartridge  300 , and a positioning groove (not shown) formed at an inner bottom surface of the drawer  700 . Accordingly, when the cartridge  300  is positioned in the space defined by the protrusion  731 , first guide  732 , and second guides  734  and  735 , the positioning protrusion of the cartridge  300  is inserted into the positioning groove  721  of the drawer  700 , so that the cartridge  300  can be positioned at a correct position. 
     Meanwhile, it is preferred that an opening  739  be formed through the rear end of the drawer  700 , to provide a space, through which a connector  360  ( FIG. 2 ) provided at the cartridge  300  can be connected to the cartridge  300 , when the cartridge  300  is to be connected to the pump  400 . 
     After mounting the cartridge  300  in the interior of the drawer  700 , as described above, the user moves the drawer  700  into the cabinet  10  along the drawer guide  710 , to connect the cartridge  300  to the pump  400 . Hereinafter, the structure of the drawer guide  710  functioning to guide the movement of the drawer  700  will be described. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the drawer guide  710  in the laundry machine according to the present invention.  FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a part of the drawer guide  710  shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the drawer guide  710  may include a base  712 , and a pair of side walls  714  extending vertically from opposite side ends of the base  712 , respectively. The drawer guide  710  is arranged at the front side of the laundry machine, in order to guide the drawer  700  to be inserted into or ejected from a space defined by the base  712  and side walls  714 . 
     Meanwhile, the pump  400  may be arranged at a rear side of the drawer guide  710  so that the pump  400  can be connected with the cartridge  300  ( FIG. 3 ). Accordingly, when the user inserts the drawer  700  into the laundry machine, the connector  360  of the cartridge  300  is connected to the pump  400 . Accordingly, water from the cartridge  300  can be supplied to the steam generator  200  via the pump  400 . 
     A shield plate  711  may be provided at the drawer guide  710 , to prevent the interior of the drawer  700 , in particular, a rear portion of the drawer  700 , from being open to the view in an ejected state of the drawer  700 . 
     The shield plate  711  may be mounted to the drawer guide  710  adjacent to the pump  400 . That is, the shield plate  711  may be arranged cross the interior of the drawer guide  710  when viewing from the front side of the drawer guide  710 . In accordance with this arrangement, the user cannot view the rear portion of the drawer guide  700  due to the shield plate  711 , even in the ejected state of the drawer  700 . 
     Meanwhile, a hole (not shown) may be formed through the shield plate  711 . A support bracket  713  may also be arranged around the hole, to support a connector  432 . Through the hole and support bracket  713 , the connector  432  can be connected to an inlet  430  of the pump  400 . Thus, when the drawer  700  is in an inserted state, the connector  360  of the cartridge  300  is connected to the connector  432 , so that water from the cartridge  300  can be supplied to the pump  400 . 
     A procedure for supplying water to the steam generator  200  in accordance with the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 3  again. When the drawer  700  is completely inserted along the drawer guide  710 , the cartridge  300  mounted in the drawer  700  is connected to the pump  400 . In this state, water from the cartridge  300  is supplied to the steam generator  20  in accordance with an operation of the pump  400 . As the supplied water is heated in the steam generator  200 , steam is generated. The generated steam is supplied to the drum  20  ( FIG. 1 ) via the steam hose  230 . 
     Meanwhile, in order to supply steam during operation of the laundry machine, water must be supplied to the steam generator  200 , as described above. This is possible only when the connector  360  of the cartridge  300  is in a state of being connected to the pump  400 . If no water is supplied from the cartridge  300  to the pump  400  due to an incorrect connection of the cartridge  300  to the pump  400 , the pump  400  and the heater (not shown) of the steam generator  200  may operate in a water shortage state, so that the pump  400  and steam generator  200  may be damaged. 
     Furthermore, when the user ejects the drawer  700  during operation of the laundry machine, in particular, during a steam spraying operation, water is no longer supplied to the steam generator  200  via the pump  400 , so that the pump  400  and steam generator  300  may be damaged. In addition, when the drawer  700  is ejected during operation of the laundry machine, as described above, steam generated from the steam generator  200  may flow backwardly. In this case, the steam may be introduced into the interior of the laundry machine outside the drum. As a result, various constituent elements of the laundry machine may be damaged by hot steam. 
     To this end, in accordance with the present invention, the sensor  800  is provided to sense whether or not the water supply device, namely, the cartridge  300  and drawer  700 , is in a state of being correctly mounted in the cabinet  10 , in an early operation stage of the laundry machine or during operation of the laundry machine. A detailed configuration of the sensor  800  is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the sensor  800  may be arranged in the interior of the cabinet  10 . Preferably, the sensor  800  is arranged at one side of the drawer guide  710 . 
     In detail, the sensor  800  may be mounted to a front surface of the shield plate  711  of the drawer guide  710 . In this case, the sensor  800  may be pressed by the rear end of the drawer  700  ( FIG. 4 ) when the drawer  700  is inserted along the drawer guide  710 . Alternatively, the sensor  800  may be pressed by a rear end surface  733  ( FIG. 4 ) of the first guide  732  ( FIG. 4 ) when the drawer  700  is inserted along the drawer guide  710 . When the sensor  800  is pressed in the above-described manner, it may generate an electrical signal. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the sensor  800  may comprise a switch. Of course, the sensor  800  is not limited to such a switch. For example, a first connecting terminal may be mounted to the rear end of the drawer  700 , and a second connecting terminal corresponding to the first connecting terminal may be mounted to the drawer guide  710 , in order to generate a signal when the first and second connecting terminals are connected to each other. Thus, various configurations may be used for the sensor  800 . 
     Meanwhile, the electrical signal generated from the sensor  800  is sent to a controller (not shown), which controls operations of various constituent elements of the laundry machine, for example, the steam generator  200 , pump  400 , and air heater  90 . 
     The controller drives the steam generator  200  and pump  400  only when the electrical signal from the sensor  800  is sent to the controller. That is, the controller  800  checks whether or not there is an electrical signal sent from the sensor  800 , before steam is supplied to the interior of the laundry machine in accordance with the operation of the laundry machine. When the controller receives the electrical signal from the sensor  800 , it determines that water from the cartridge  300  is supplied to the pump  400  as the drawer  700  is correctly mounted. In this case, the controller drives the pump  400  and steam generator  200 , for the generation of steam. 
     Meanwhile, when the controller cannot sense any electrical signal generated from the sensor  800  within a predetermined time, for example, about 1 minute, prior to the supply of steam to the interior of the laundry machine, the controller determines that the drawer  700  is in an incorrectly-mounted state. In this case, the controller may generate a warning message, in order to enable the user to recognize the incorrectly-mounted state of the drawer  700 . For this function, although not shown, the laundry machine may include a display or a speaker. In accordance with the provision of the display or speaker, the controller can generate a visual or audible warning message. 
     The controller may also check whether or not the electrical signal is continuously generated as the drawer  700  is maintained in a correctly-mounted state, during operation of the laundry machine, namely, during an operation of the steam generator  200  to supply steam to the interior of the drum  20 . When the user ejects the drawer  700  during operation of the laundry machine, no electrical signal is generated from the sensor  800 . In this case, the controller determines that the drawer  700  is in a separated state. In accordance with this determination, the controller stops the operations of the pump  400  and steam generator  200 , and generates a warning message, to inform the user of the separation of the drawer  700 . 
     Hereinafter, a method for controlling the laundry machine having the above-described configuration will be described.  FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating a method for controlling the laundry machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the laundry machine control method according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a procedure S 710  for receiving a driving command input for the laundry machine, a procedure S 720  for sensing whether or not water is supplied to the steam generator of the laundry machine, and a procedure S 730  for executing a drying process of the laundry machine. 
     First, the controller senses whether or not there is a driving command input from the user for the laundry machine (S 710 ). 
     When the user inputs the driving command, the controller then senses whether or not water is supplied to the steam generator  200  (S 720 ). In detail, the controller senses whether or not there is an electrical signal sent from the sensor  800 . When an electrical signal is sent from the sensor  800 , the controller determines that water is supplied to the steam generator  200  as the drawer  700  is in a correctly-mounted state. Thus, the controller drives the steam generator  200  and pump  400  only when the electrical signal is sent from the sensor  800 , in order to execute a drying process. 
     On the other hand, when the controller cannot sense any electrical signal generated from the sensor  800  within a predetermined time, for example, about 1 minute, after the inputting of the driving command from the user, the controller determines that the drawer  700  is in an incorrectly-mounted state. In accordance with this determination, the controller generates a warning message (S 725 ). The controller then continuously checks whether or not there is an electrical signal sent from the sensor  800 , in order to drive the steam generator  200  and pump  400  only when the electrical signal is sent from the sensor  800 , for the execution of the drying process. 
     When the electrical signal is sent from the sensor  800 , the drying process is executed (S 730 ). Meanwhile, during the execution of the drying operation, the controller periodically senses whether or not the electrical signal is continuously generated, in order to periodically sense whether or not water is continuously supplied (S 740 ). 
     When the electrical signal is continuously generated, the controller determines that water is continuously supplied. In this case, the controller then determines whether or not a predetermined drying time has elapsed (S 750 ). When the controller determines that the predetermined drying time has elapsed, it stops the operations of the steam generator  200 , pump  400 , and air heater  90  (S 760 ). 
     On the other hand, when no electrical signal is sent from the sensor  800  during the operation of the laundry machine, the controller determines that no water is supplied due to an abnormal separation of the drawer  700 . In this case, the controller generates a warning message (S 745 ), and stops the operation of the laundry machine (S 760 ). 
     As apparent from the above description, the laundry machine according to the present invention provides the following effects. 
     The laundry machine can effectively remove creases or rumples possibly formed on clothes without performing ironing because steam is sprayed onto the clothes in a completely-dried state of the clothes. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the laundry machine operates only when water is supplied to the steam generator, so that it is possible to prevent the laundry machine from being damaged or broken. 
     In accordance with the present invention, an abnormal ejection of the water supply source during operation of the laundry machine is sensed, to stop the operation of the laundry machine, and thus to prevent the laundry machine from being damaged or broken. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. 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.