Patent Publication Number: US-2022213641-A1

Title: Clothes treatment apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/972,619, filed on Dec. 17, 2015, which claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0184452, filed on Dec. 19, 2014, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a clothes treatment apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Clothes treatment apparatuses are apparatuses that treat clothes, e.g., wash and dry clothes and smooth wrinkles in clothes, at home or at laundromats. 
     Clothes treatment apparatuses may be classified into a washer for washing clothes, a dryer for drying clothes, a washer/dryer having both a washing function and a drying function, a refresher for refreshing clothes, and a steamer for removing unnecessary wrinkles in clothes. 
     The refresher is an apparatus that keep clothes comfortable and fresh. The refresher functions to dry clothes, to supply fragrance to clothes, to prevent the occurrence of static electricity in clothes, or to remove wrinkles from clothes. 
     The steamer is an apparatus that supplies steam to clothes in order to remove wrinkles from the clothes. Unlike a general iron, the steamer removes wrinkles from the clothes without directly applying heat to the clothes. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this application, a clothes treatment apparatus including a cabinet that is partitioned into a treatment chamber that is configured to receive clothes, a cycle chamber that is configured to house machinery, and a tank installation space that is configured to house a removable tank; a door that is configured to open and close at least a portion of the cabinet; a steam unit that is located in the cycle chamber and that is configured to supply steam to the treatment chamber; a heat pump unit that is located in the cycle chamber and that is configured to circulate and condition air in the treatment chamber; a water supply tank that is installed in the tank installation space, that is connected to the steam unit, and that is configured to supply water to the steam unit; a drainage tank that is separably installed in the tank installation space, that is configured to store condensed water generated in at least one of the treatment chamber or the heat pump unit; a water supply level sensor that is located in the water supply tank and that is configured to sense a water level of the water supply tank; and a drainage level sensor that is located in the drainage tank and that is configured to sense a water level of the drainage tank. 
     The clothes treatment apparatus may include one or more of the following optional features. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a partition plate that is configured to partition the cabinet into an upper interior part that includes the treatment chamber and a lower interior part that includes the cycle chamber; and a tank module frame that is configured to partition the lower interior part into a front interior part and a rear interior part that includes the tank installation space. The tank installation space is configured to face the door. The water supply tank is adjacent to the drainage tank. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a tank support bar that is located between the tank installation space and the door, wherein at least one of the water supply tank or the drainage tank is located on the tank support bar. 
     The at least one of the water supply tank or the drainage tank includes a tank support end that is concave and that is configured to engage with the tank support bar. Based on the at least one of the water supply tank or the drainage tank being placed on the tank support bar, the tank support bar and a front of the at least one of the water supply tank or the drainage tank are configured to form a continuous surface with the tank support bar. An upper side of at least one of the water supply tank or the drainage tank is configured to reduce interference with the partition plate based on the upper side of the at least one of the water supply tank or the drainage tank being rounded. At least one of the water supply tank and the drainage tank includes a grip, the grip being concave and accessible from a front of the at least one of the water supply tank or the drainage tank. 
     The water supply level sensor includes a float cabinet that is fixed to the water supply tank; a float that is located in the float cabinet and that is configured to move up and down in the float cabinet based on the water level in the water supply tank; and a sensor that is located at the float cabinet and that is configured to magnetically sense the float. The sensor is installed in one of the cycle chamber or the tank installation space. A minimum amount of water that the water supply level sensor is configured to sense is sufficient to supply the steam unit for one cycle. The drainage level sensor includes a float cabinet that is fixed to the drainage tank; a float that is located in the float cabinet and that is configured to move up and down in the float cabinet based on the water level in the drainage tank; and a sensor that is located at the float cabinet and that is configured to magnetically sense the float. 
     The sensor is installed in one of the cycle chamber or the tank installation space. Based on the drainage level sensor sensing a maximum water level, sufficient water capacity remains in the drainage tank to store an amount of condensed water that is generated during one cycle of one of the treatment chamber or the heat pump unit. The water supply tank or the drainage tank includes a tank body that defines an opening at a front of the tank body, wherein an upper surface of the tank body that is configured to be inserted into the tank installation space is round; a tank cover that is coupled to the front of the tank body and that includes a concave grip; and a check valve that is located in the tank body and that is configured to open and close a flow channel that extends from the tank body to an outside of the clothes treatment apparatus. 
     The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a tank support bar that is located between the tank installation space and the door, where at least one of the water supply tank or the drainage tank is configured to engage the tank support bar with a tank support end of the at least one of the water supply tank or the drainage tank being received on an upper side of the tank support bar, and wherein the tank support end is concave. Based on water supply tank including the check valve, the check valve is located at a lower side of the tank body, is connected to the steam unit, and is configured to supply water to the steam unit. The clothes treatment apparatus further includes a water hole that is located at an upper side of the tank body; and a water hole cover that is configured to open and close the water hole. The water supply tank or the drainage tank further includes a float installation part that is located in the tank body, where the tank body and the tank cover are manufactured by insert injection molding using die slide injection, and where the water supply level sensor or the drainage level sensor is coupled to the float installation part by insert injection molding using die slide injection. 
     It is an object of the subject matter disclosed in this application to provide a clothes treatment apparatus that is capable of directly sensing the level of water stored in a tank. 
     It is another object of the subject matter disclosed in this application to provide a clothes treatment apparatus that is capable of enabling a user to immediately check fir the deficiency of water during the operation of the clothes treatment apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example clothes treatment apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of an example cycle assembly. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an example cycle assembly. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of an example water supply tank. 
         FIG. 5  is a partially exploded perspective view of an example water supply tank. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional perspective view of an example check assembly. 
         FIG. 7  is a side sectional view of an example water supply tank. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an example drainage tank. 
         FIG. 9  is a partially exploded perspective view of an example drainage tank. 
         FIG. 10  is a side sectional view of an example drainage tank. 
         FIG. 11  is a block diagram of an example clothes treatment apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 11  illustrate example clothes treatment apparatuses.  FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate example cycle assemblies.  FIGS. 4, 5, and 7  illustrate example water supply tanks.  FIG. 6  illustrates an example check assembly.  FIGS. 8, 9, and 10  illustrate example drainage tanks. 
     In some implementations, the clothes treatment apparatus includes a cabinet  10  and a door  20  configured to open and close the front of the cabinet  10 . 
     The interior of the cabinet  10  is partitioned into upper and lower interior parts by a partition plate  11 . A treatment chamber  12 , in which clothes are hung, is defined in the interior of the cabinet  10  above the partition plate  11 . A cycle chamber  14 , in which machinery is installed, is defined in the interior of the cabinet  10  below the partition plate  11 . 
     Clothes are hung in the treatment chamber  12 . In the treatment chamber  12 , wrinkles in the clothes are smoothed, or the clothes are deodorized, by the circulation of steam or air. 
     A blowing unit  30  for circulating air in the treatment chamber  12 , a steam unit  40  for supplying steam into the treatment chamber  12 , a heat pump unit  50  for conditioning air, e.g., cooling, heating, or dehumidification, in the treatment chamber  12 , and a control unit  60  for controlling the respective units  30 ,  40 , and  50  are installed in the cycle chamber  14 . 
     In some implementations, an assembly of machinery, including the blowing unit  30 , the steam unit  40 , the heat pump unit  50 , and the control unit  60 , which are required to perform respective cycles of the clothes treatment apparatus, is defined as a cycle assembly. 
     The blowing unit  30  includes a blowing fan  32  and an inlet duct  34 . 
     The inlet duct  34  is installed at the suction side of the blowing fan  32  to guide air in the treatment chamber  12  to the blowing fan  32 . 
     The blowing fan  32  is rotated to blow air. The blowing fan  32  suctions air from the treatment chamber  12 , and discharges the suctioned air to the heat pump unit  50 . 
     When the steam unit  40  is powered on, heat is generated from the steam unit  40 . The steam unit  40  converts water supplied from a water supply tank  80 , which will be described hereinafter, into steam. The generated steam is discharged into the treatment chamber  12 . 
     In some implementations, a flow channel is defined such that the steam flows into the treatment chamber  12  via the heat pump unit  50 . 
     The heat pump unit  50  constitutes a heat pump cycle including a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and an expansion valve. Based on the operation mode of the heat pump unit  50 , cooled air or heated air may be discharged into the treatment chamber  12 . 
     In some implementations, the heat pump unit  50  may dehumidify air supplied from the blowing unit  30 . 
     A tank module  70  for storing water is installed in front of the cycle chamber  14 . The tank module  70  includes a water supply tank  80  for supplying water to the steam unit  40  and a drainage tank  90  for gathering and storing condensed water that is generated in the treatment chamber  12 . 
     Water from the water supply tank  80  flows to the steam unit  40  via a water supply pump  45 . 
     Water that is condensed in the treatment chamber  12 , flows to the lower side of the treatment chamber  12  due to gravity, and is then pumped to the drainage tank  90  by a drainage pump  46 . Water that is condensed in the heat pump unit  50  also flows to the drainage tank  90  via the drainage pump  46 . 
     The water supply pump  45  or the drainage pump  46  is controlled by the control unit  60 . 
     In some implementations, a tank module frame  71  is installed in front of the inlet duct  34 . 
     A tank installation space  73  is defined between the tank module frame  71  and the door  20 . The tank module frame  71  is coupled to the partition plate  11  to isolate the cycle chamber  14  from the outside. 
     A tank support bar  75 , which interferes with at least one selected from between the water supply tank  80  and the drainage tank  90 , is installed in front of the tank installation space  73 . 
     The tank support bar  75  prevents the water supply tank  80  or the drainage tank  90  from being unintentionally separated from the tank installation space  73 . The tank support bar  75  supports the front of the water supply tank  80  and the front of the drainage tank  90 . 
     When the door  20  is opened and closed, therefore, the water supply tank  80  and the drainage tank  90  are prevented from being separated from the tank installation space  73 . 
     In some implementations, the lower end of the water supply tank  80  is placed on the upper end of the tank support bar  75 , and the lower end of the drainage tank  90  is placed on the upper end of the tank support bar  75 . 
     A tank support end  79 , which interferes with the tank support bar  75 , is formed on at least one selected from between the water supply tank  80  and the drainage tank  90 . 
     The tank support end  79  is concavely recessed. 
     The front of the tank support bar  75  and the front of the water supply tank  80  may form a continuous surface due to the tank support end  79 . In addition, the front of the tank support bar  75  and the front of the drainage tank  90  may form a continuous surface due to the tank support end  79   
     The water supply tank  80  and the drainage tank  90  are disposed in the tank installation space  73  such that the water supply tank  80  and the drainage tank  90  are arranged parallel to each other in rightward and leftward directions. 
     When the door  20  is opened, the water supply tank  80  and the drainage tank  90  are exposed to a user. 
     The water supply tank  80  and the drainage tank  90  may be withdrawn by the user. 
     The water supply tank  80  and the drainage tank  90  may be separated from the tank module frame  71 . The water supply tank  80  and the drainage tank  90  may be separably mounted in the tank installation space  73 . 
     The water supply tank  80  is connected to the steam unit  40  to supply water to the steam unit  40 . The drainage tank  90  is connected to the treatment chamber  12  to store water discharged from the treatment chamber  12  or the heat pump unit  50 . 
     The water supply tank  80  includes a tank body  82 , which is open at the front thereof, a tank cover  84  coupled to the front of the tank body  82 , a decorative cover  86  coupled to the tank cover  84 , a water supply check valve  110  installed in the tank body  82  for opening and closing a flow channel connected with the steam unit  40 , and a water supply level sensor  100  for sensing the level of water stored in the tank body  82 . 
     The front of the tank body  82  is open. The water supply level sensor  100  is disposed in the tank body  82 . 
     The upper end of the tank body  82  is round at the rear side thereof. 
     When the tank body  82  is separated, interference between the tank body  82  and the partition plate  11  is minimized. 
     The user may easily pull and withdraw the water tank  80 , which is disposed at the lower side of the clothes treatment apparatus, due to the round shape of the tank body  82 . 
     In some implementations, the water supply level sensor  100  includes a float  102  installed in the tank body  82  such that the float  102  can move upward and downward based on the level of water stored in the tank body  82 , a float cabinet  105  installed in the tank body  82  in a state in which the float  102  is disposed in the float cabinet  105 , and a sensor  104  installed at the tank module frame  71  to sense the float  102 . 
     The float  102  has a magnet. The sensor  104  senses the magnetic force of the magnet. 
     The sensor  104  may be installed at the front or rear of the tank module frame  71 . 
     The sensor  104  may be installed through the tank module frame  71 . 
     Consequently, the sensor  104  may be located in any one selected from among the cycle chamber  14 , the tank installation space  73 , and the tank module frame  71 . 
     The float  102 , which is installed in the water supply tank  80 , is flush with the sensor  104 . When the level of water stored in the water supply tank  80  is lowered, the float  102  moves lower than the sensor  104 . When the sensor  104  fails to sense the float  102 , therefore, the control unit  60  outputs a water deficiency signal. Even when the water deficiency signal is output, it is possible to supply a sufficient amount of steam during a cycle that is currently being performed. 
     Since the sensor  104  constantly senses the float  102 , the control unit  60  may determine whether the water supply tank  80  is mounted. 
     For example, when the water supply tank  80  is not mounted, or when water is deficient, the control unit  60  outputs a water deficiency signal. 
     When the user manipulates the clothes treatment apparatus in a state in which the water deficiency signal is output, therefore, the control unit  60  performs control such that the clothes treatment apparatus is not operated and outputs a water deficiency signal. At this time, the user may check the water supply tank  80 . 
     A float installation part  83 , at which the float  102  is installed, is formed at the inside of the tank body  82 . The float cabinet  105  is installed at the float installation part  83 . The float  102  may move upward and downward along the float cabinet  105  by buoyancy. 
     In some implementations, the float  102  is installed at the minimum level of water stored in the water supply tank  80 , at which it is possible to supply an amount of steam corresponding to one cycle. Even when the sensor  104  fails to sense the float  102 , and therefore the control unit  60  outputs a water deficiency signal, it is possible to supply an amount of steam corresponding to at least one cycle. 
     That is, even when a water deficiency signal is sensed during the supply of steam, it is possible to supply a sufficient amount of steam until a cycle that is currently being performed is completed. 
     The float cabinet  105 , in which the float  102  is mounted, is manufactured by insert injection molding at the time of die slide injection (DSI) of the tank cover  84  and the tank body  82 . 
     Die slide injection (DSI) is for blow molding or molding of thin products. DSI conveys various advantages in that no post-processing, such as adhesion or assembly, is necessary after injection molding, it is possible to adjust the thickness of a wall more easily than when blow molding or gas molding, it is possible to provide an excellent surface shape or high dimensional accuracy, and it is possible to perform DSI instead of double injection or blow molding. 
     The tank body  82  and the tank cover  84  are manufactured by insert injection molding using DSI. During the manufacture of the tank body  82  and the tank cover  84 , the float cabinet  105  is installed in the tank body  82  and the tank cover  84  by insert injection molding. During the manufacture of the tank body  82  and the tank cover  84 , the edge of the tank cover  84  is integrally coupled to the edge of the tank body  82 . 
     The tank cover  84  has a window  85 , through which the user may check the level of water in the tank body  82 . In addition, a grip  87 , into which the user may insert his/her hand in order to hold the tank cover  84 , is concavely formed at the tank cover  84 . 
     The grip  87  is formed at the tank cover  84  such that the grip  87  is concave from the front to the rear thereof. 
     A sensor fixing part  88  is formed at the inside of the tank cover  84 . The sensor fixing part  88  protrudes from the inside of the tank cover  84 . When the tank cover  84  and the tank body  82  are coupled to each other, the sensor fixing part  88  comes into tight contact with the float cabinet  105 . 
     Since the sensor fixing part  88  tightly contacts the float cabinet  105 , the float cabinet  105  is prevented from being separated from the float installation part  83 . 
     The sensor fixing part  88  may be integrally formed with the tank cover  84 . 
     The decorative cover  86  is formed to have a shape that is capable of covering the front of the tank cover  84 . In addition, the decorative cover  86  is formed to have a shape corresponding to the shape of the tank cover  84 . 
     A water hole  82  is formed at the upper side of the tank body  92 . In addition, a water hole cover  89  for opening and closing the water hole  82  is disposed at the upper side of the tank body  92 . 
     The water hole cover  89  is made of a flexible material exhibiting high elasticity. One end of the water hole cover  89  is fixed to the tank body  82 , and the other end of the water hole cover  89  may be bent in order to open and close the water hole  82 . 
     The water supply check valve  110  includes a check valve hole  111  formed at the lower side of the tank body  82  and a check assembly  112  coupled to the check valve hole  111  for regulating the water in the tank body  82 . 
     The check assembly  112  includes a check housing  113  coupled into the check valve hole  111 , the check housing  113  having a check flow channel  114 , through which water flows into the check housing  113 , a valve  115  disposed in the check housing  113  for opening and closing the check flow channel  114 , and a check elastic member  116  disposed between the valve  115  and the tank body  82  for applying elastic force to the valve  115 . 
     The small-diameter side of the valve  115  protrudes downward. When the valve  115  is placed on the tank module frame  71 , the valve  115  may be pushed by the tank module frame  71 , and may thus move upward. At this time, the check flow channel  114  is opened as the result of the movement of the valve  115 . When the water supply tank  80  is separated from the tank module frame  71 , the check flow channel  114  is closed by the elastic force of the check elastic member  116 . 
     The drainage tank  90  is identical in function to the water supply tank  80 . The drainage tank  90  is disposed alongside the water supply tank  80 . 
     In the drainage tank  90 , a drainage check valve  120  is installed at the rear side thereof, not at the lower side thereof, unlike the water supply tank  80 . 
     The water supply tank  80  receives water through the water hole  81 , and discharges water through the water supply check valve  110 . The drainage tank  90  may receive condensed water through the drainage check valve  120 , and may discharge condensed water through the water hole  81 . 
     That is, the drainage check valve  120  of the drainage tank  90  may be disposed in a channel for receiving condensed water, not for discharging condensed water. 
     In some implementations, condensed water may fall into the drainage tank  90  through the water hole  81 . In addition, condensed water may be automatically discharged through the drainage check valve  120 . 
     Water that is condensed in the treatment chamber  12  and water that is condensed in the heat pump unit  50  are stored in the drainage tank  90 . 
     A float installation part  93 , at which the float cabinet  105  is installed, is formed in the drainage tank  90 . 
     The float installation part  93  may be located at a height in the drainage tank  90  at which overflow does not occur even when an amount of condensed water that is generated during one cycle is stored therein. 
     That is, the float installation part  93  is located at a height in the drainage tank  90  at which overflow does not occur even when an amount of condensed water that is generated during one cycle is stored in the drainage tank  90 . 
     When a drainage level sensor  101  of the drainage tank  90  senses a signal during the operation of the clothes treatment apparatus, therefore, the water in the drainage tank  90  does not overflow due to the condensed water that is additionally stored in the drainage tank  90 . 
     The drainage level sensor  101  of the drainage tank  90  is located higher than the water supply level sensor  100  in the water supply tank  80 . 
     The drainage level sensor  101  of the drainage tank  90  is identical in construction to the water supply level sensor  100  of the water supply tank  80 . However, the drainage level sensor  101  of the drainage tank  90  is operated differently from the water supply level sensor  100  of the water supply tank  80 . 
     For example, the sensor  104  of the drainage tank  90  does not sense the float  102  in a normal state. When the level of condensed water rises, the sensor  104  of the drainage tank  90  senses the float  102 , which has been raised by buoyancy. 
     When the sensor  104  of the drainage tank  90  senses the float  102 , the control unit  60  outputs a water drainage signal. When the water drainage signal is output, however, the overflow of condensed water does not occur during a cycle that is currently being performed. 
     As is apparent from the above description, the clothes treatment apparatus has the following effects. 
     It is possible to directly sense the amount of water stored in the water supply tank instead of estimating the amount of water stored in the water supply tank. 
     It is possible to sense the level of water stored in the water supply tank without delay. 
     It is possible to directly sense the level of water stored in the drainage tank without delay, thereby preventing water from overflowing the drainage tank. 
     In the clothes treatment apparatus, the water supply level sensor is installed at the level of water that is required to generate enough steam for at least one cycle. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the supply of water from being interrupted while steam is being generated. 
     In the clothes treatment apparatus, the drainage level sensor is installed at the level of water at which it is possible to store all of the water that is condensed during at least one cycle. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the condensed water from overflowing the drainage tank, or it is not necessary to drain the condensed water from the drainage tank, during the operation of the clothes treatment apparatus.