Patent Abstract:
A fabric refreshing apparatus is provided. The fabric refreshing apparatus includes a case, and a door that selectively opens and closes the case. A receiving compartment may be formed in the case receive fabric articles. A refreshing apparatus coupled to the receiving compartment may include a steam generator that supplies steam to the fabric articles in the receiving compartment, and a heater that heats the case to reduce condensation in the case.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0043405 filed in Korea on May 15, 2006, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    This relates to a fabric refreshing apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A refreshing apparatus is an electric appliance that has a refreshing function for removing smells or wrinkles from fabric articles stored therein by using steam and hot air. Since odor particles and wrinkles are removed by using the refreshing function, fabric articles in the refreshing apparatus may look as if they are freshly ironed. 
         [0004]    A refreshing apparatus may use a condensing method or a discharging method based on a selected refreshing function. Specifically, the condensing method circulates steam inside the refreshing apparatus. The discharging method refreshes the fabric articles by using steam and then discharges the steam. 
         [0005]    The refreshing apparatus includes an inner case for forming a receiving compartment, and a steam generator for generating steam. The steam generator includes a heater. An additional water supplying line or a water tank is connected to the steam generator for supplying water. The supplied water is heated by the heater and then is changed into steam. The steam is supplied into the receiving compartment to remove smell particles or wrinkles of the clothes therein. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Accordingly, a clothes refreshing apparatus and a method for controlling the same that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art are disclosed herein. 
         [0007]    An object is to provide a refreshing apparatus that prevents steam from being condensed during a refreshing process and a method for controlling the same. 
         [0008]    Another object is to provide a refreshing apparatus including a slim external appearance. 
         [0009]    Additional advantages, objects, and features 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. The objectives and other advantages may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
         [0010]    To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with embodiments as broadly described herein, there is provided a refreshing apparatus including: a case; a door selectively opening or closing the case; a receiving compartment formed in the case and receiving fabric articles; a steam generator supplying steam to the receiving compartment; and a heater heating an upper space of the case to prevent steam from being condensed, the steam being supplied into the case. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, there is provided a refreshing apparatus including: a main body formed of an external case and an inner case, and having a receiving compartment in the body; a door installed on a front of the main body to be rotatable; a heater installed on an inner side of the main body to prevent steam from being condensed; and a refreshing unit supplying steam or hot air into the receiving compartment. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, there is provided a method of controlling a refreshing apparatus, the method including: turning on a heater to prevent steam from being condensed in a receiving compartment, the steam being supplied during a refreshing process; detecting temperature around a heater installed portion by using a temperature sensor; and turning on or off the heater according to the detected temperature. 
         [0013]    In a refreshing apparatus and a method for controlling the same as embodied and broadly described herein, a condensed water can be prevented, which is formed on the inner circumference of a receiving space or the inner circumference of a door in the refreshing apparatus during a refreshing process. 
         [0014]    Additionally, since condensed water does not occur in a receiving space, dry efficiency for clothes improves and a major cause for bacterial propagation can be removed. 
         [0015]    Moreover, since a plate-type heater is provided in the refreshing apparatus, a receiving space expands and the external appearance of the refreshing apparatus becomes slim. 
         [0016]    Additionally, according to a refreshing apparatus and a method for controlling the same, since turning on or off of a plate-type heater is performed at an appropriate point, durability of the heater improves and power consumption reduces. 
         [0017]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the embodiments as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refreshing apparatus according to an embodiment as broadly described herein; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a cutaway perspective view of a rear structure of the refreshing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a partial sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a refreshing unit for a refreshing apparatus as embodied and broadly described herein; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the refreshing unit shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a schematic fluid flow diagram for the refreshing unit shown in  FIGS. 4-5 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of a plate-type heater installation according to an embodiment as broadly described herein; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of a plate-type heater installation according to another embodiment as broadly described herein; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart of a refreshing process for a refreshing apparatus as embodied and broadly described herein; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a graph of temperature T versus time t in a receiving compartment during a refreshing process; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart of a process for controlling a plate-type heater during a steam supplying process; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is a flowchart of a process for controlling a plate-type heater; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a flowchart of a process for controlling a plate-type heater. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, 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. 
         [0032]    A specific embodiment will be described based on a condensing type of apparatus, but embodiments are not limited to a condensing type and may be applied to a discharging type. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a refreshing apparatus. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a refreshing apparatus  100  includes a main body  80  providing a receiving compartment  130  therein, a door  101  rotatably mounted on the front of the main body  80 , and a refreshing unit  200  disposed on one side of the main body  80  to provide steam and hot air to the receiving compartment  130 . Specifically, the main body  80  includes an external case  110  forming an external appearance and an internal case  120  disposed inside the external case  110 . The external case  110  and the internal case  120  are spaced a predetermined interval apart from each other. A heat insulator may be inserted in the space between the external case  110  and the internal case  120  to minimize heat exchange between the receiving compartment  130  and the outside. Hereinafter, a structure with an insulator will be described. A shelf for stacking fabric articles or a hanger for hanging fabric articles may be provided in the receiving compartment  130 . 
         [0035]    The refreshing unit  200  in the refreshing apparatus  100  is disposed on the side bottom of the main body  80 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , a portion of the side of the inner case  120  is recessed toward the receiving compartment  130 , and thus a mechanical room  300  is formed that is spaced apart from the external case  110 . The refreshing unit  200  is received in the mechanical room  300 . A water tank  210  is disposed on the side of the inner case  120  forming the mechanical room  300 . A discharge port  302  for discharging dry air, a steam discharge port  303  for discharging steam, and a drain hole  304  for draining a condensed water falling down to the bottom of the receiving compartment  130  are disposed on the side of the inner case  120  forming the mechanical room  300 . The water tank  210  is inserted into a support sleeve  301  that protrudes in a cylindrical shape from the inner case  120 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , a drain tank  230  is provided at the bottom of the mechanical room  300  to collect condensed water, with the front of the drain tank  230  exposed at the front bottom of the refreshing apparatus  100  so that a user can withdraw the drain tank  230  from the front of the refreshing apparatus  100 . 
         [0036]    Additionally, the door  101  is rotatably attached to one side edge of the main body  80  by a hinge  102 . 
         [0037]    Heaters such as plate-type heaters  400  and  410  are mounted on the side of the inner case  120  and the inner surface of the door  101 . Temperature sensors  420  and  421  are mounted near the plate-type heaters  400  and  410 . This upper portion of the inner case  120  is a place where a portion of supplied steam is easily condensed. The heaters  400  and  410  and sensors  420  and  421  are installed to remove the condensation phenomenon. More specifically, the temperature sensors  420  and  421  sense temperature near the heaters  400  and  410 , and turn the heaters  400  and  410  on or off. Description related to this will be made in more detail with reference to the drawings. 
         [0038]    Additionally, a condensing unit  122  as shown in  FIG. 2  is provided at the rear of the main body  80 . The condensing unit  122  receives and condenses steam from the receiving compartment  130 . Description for this will be described with reference to the drawings. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  is a cutaway perspective view of a rear structure of a refreshing apparatus, and  FIG. 3  is a partial sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a structure for condensing steam is provided at the rear of the main body  80  in the refreshing apparatus  100 . Specifically, a condensing unit  122 , where steam and air descend, is formed between the inner rear surface of the external case  110  and the outer rear surface of the internal case  120 . A steam discharge port  123  is formed at an upper rear portion of the inner case  120  to discharge steam from receiving compartment  130  into the condensing unit  122 . 
         [0041]    More specifically, the upper rear portion of the inner case  120  having the steam discharge port  123  is slanted toward the bottom of the refreshing apparatus  100  at a predetermined angle such that the discharged steam smoothly flows into the condensing unit  122 . 
         [0042]    Here, the steam is in a vapor state and easily ascends toward the top of the receiving compartment  130 . Therefore, the steam discharge port  123  may be formed at the top of the refreshing apparatus  100 . 
         [0043]    A partition wall  125  is horizontally formed at the top of the inner case  120 , and prevents the steam discharged though the steam discharge port  123  from flowing toward the front of the main body  80 . 
         [0044]    Guide ribs  126  extend from opposite ends of the partition wall  125  towards the rear of the inner case  120 . Specifically, the guide ribs  126  guide steam discharged through the steam discharge port  123  to smoothly descend toward the bottom of the condensing unit  122 . The top of the partition wall  125  and the guide ribs  126  closely contact the external case  110 , thereby preventing the steam from leaking to the outside. 
         [0045]    The steam flowing into the condensing unit  122  through the steam discharge unit  123  falls from the top to the bottom of the condensing unit  122  and is condensed. Since the steam is in a high temperature vapor state, the steam exchanges heat with external air by conducting heat through the external case  110 . To improve heat conductivity efficiency, a plurality of condensation pins  111  are arranged on the inner surface of the external case  110 . The condensation pins  111  may be formed when a corresponding portion of the external case  110  is recessed toward the inside, or when the outer surface of the external case  110  is flat and its inner surface protrudes through a forming process. The size of a heat exchange area is increased due to the condensation pins  111  and a condensation path is lengthened. Condensation pins  121  similar to the condensation pins  111  formed on the external case  110  may be formed on the inner case  120 . 
         [0046]    The condensation pins  111  and  121  are formed slanted toward the bottom of the main body  80 , and arranged alternately on the left and right of the main body  80 . Since a path through which the steam descends has a zigzag shape due to the condensation pins  111  and  121 , a condensation path formed therebetveen is longer compared to a straight line shape. Since the condensation path is longer, a heat exchange area and time is longer. 
         [0047]    The condensing unit  122  has a shape in which the steam is concentrated to one point at the bottom due to the guide ribs  126 . 
         [0048]    Specifically, the bottom of the guide rib  126  is formed curved toward the edge of one side of the internal case  120 . Two guide ribs  126  extend from opposite ends of the partition wall  125  toward the bottom and meet each other at the edge of the inner case  120 . A condensed water discharge port  251  is formed at the point where the guide ribs  126  meet each other. The condensed water discharge port  251  is connected to the drain tank  230  through a hose. A guide duct  250  is provided near the point where the two guide ribs  126  meet to guide the descending steam toward a drying duct  240  that leads back into the refreshing unit  200 . A suction port  244  of the drying duct  240  is connected to the guide duct  250  such that a portion of the steam flows into the drying duct  240  during a steam supplying process. The suction port  244  is a path where dry air circulates during a drying process. Structures and functions of the drying duct  240  and the guide duct  250  will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. 
         [0049]      FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of a refreshing unit is mounted on a refreshing apparatus, and  FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the refreshing unit. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the refreshing unit  200  includes a water tank  210  supplying water for generating steam, a steam generator  220  generating steam with the water from the water tank  210 , a drain tank  230  collecting remaining water in the water tank  210  and the steam generator  220  and condensed water generated during a steam supplying process, and a drying duct  240  supplying high temperature air during a drying process. The refreshing unit  200  is received in the mechanical room  300 . 
         [0051]    Specifically, the water tank  210  stores a predetermined amount of water therein and supplies the water to the steam generator  220 . The water tank  210  is removably received in a support sleeve  301  of the case  240 . Accordingly, when the water stored in the water tank  210  is depleted, the water tank  210  can be easily separated for re-supplying. 
         [0052]    The steam generator  220  receives water from the water tank  210  to generate steam. Specifically, the steam generator  220  includes a heater  221  to change the water into the steam by using heat generated from the heater  221 . The water is supplied from the water tank  210  to the steam generator  220  through a predetermined supply path, i.e., a hose. Additionally, a water supply port  223  connected to the water tank  210  through the hose, a steam discharge port  222  for discharging the steam, and a drain port  224  for draining the remaining water are formed on one side of the steam generator  220 , respectively. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , the water supply port  223  and the steam discharge port  222  are provided on the top of the steam generator  220 . The drain port  224  is provided on the bottom of the steam generator  220 . 
         [0053]    The drain tank  230  is a place where the remaining water in the steam generator  220 , condensed water in the condensing unit  122 , and the condensed water falling to the bottom of the refreshing compartment  130  is collected. The condensed water is collected in the drain tank  230  along the drain path such as a hose. 
         [0054]    The drain tank  230  includes a first connection port  233  connected to the drain port  224  of the steam generator  220 , a second connection port  234  connected to a drain hole  304  in the bottom of the refreshing compartment  130 , and a third connection port  235  connected to a condensed water discharge port  251  provided at the lower portion of the condensing unit  122 . In other methods, a cluster is separately provided to collect the water drained through the steam generator  220  and the drain hole  304 , and the cluster is connected to the drain tank  230  through the hose. An additional connection port that directly connects the water tank  210  and the drain tank  230  may be further formed on one side of the drain tank  230  or the clusters. 
         [0055]    Bacterial proliferation occurs when water remains stagnant for a long period of time in a storage chamber  231  of the drain tank  230 . Furthermore, a portion of the polluted water in the drain tank  230  may be vaporized and then delivered into the receiving compartment  130  during a subsequent refreshing process. Accordingly, the drain tank  230  may be emptied after a predetermined time or periodically. 
         [0056]    To satisfy these needs, the drain tank  230  may be mounted on the main body  80  at the bottom of the refreshing apparatus  100  as a drawer type tank. Then, the drain tank  230  can be easily detached and emptied. A grip groove  232  is formed on the front of the drain tank  230  such that the drain tank  230  can be easily withdrawn. 
         [0057]    The drying duct  240  heats and circulates air inside the refreshing compartment  130 . Specifically, the drying duct  240  includes a fan installation unit  241  for providing a drying fan, a heater installation unit  242  having a drying heater  245 , and a discharge unit  243  discharging high temperature air. The discharge unit  243  is connected to the discharge port  302  formed on the side of the inner case  120  constituting the mechanical room  300 . A suction port  244  is formed on the front of the fan installation unit  241 , and the suction port  244  is connected to the guide duct  250 . 
         [0058]    According to the above structure, when the drying fan  241  and the drying heater  245  in the drying duct  240  operate, air in the refreshing apparatus  130  is discharged through the steam discharge port  123  formed at the top of the inner case  120 . The discharged air descends along the condensing unit  122  and flows into the guide duct  250 . The air is suctioned into the drying duct  240  thorough the suction port  244  of the drying duct  240 . The suctioned air is heated to a high temperature by using the drying heater  245 . Then, an air circulating process is repeated, so that the heated air is discharged into the receiving compartment  130  again through the discharge unit  243  and the discharge port  302 . 
         [0059]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , the water tank  210 , the steam generator  220 , and the drain tank  230  are sequentially stacked. Due to this stacked structure, space that the mechanical room  300  occupies is reduced and available space in the receiving compartment  130  is increased. 
         [0060]    Additionally, according to above-stacked structure, the flow of water in the refreshing unit  200  falls naturally by means of gravity. Accordingly, an additional device is not required for generating the flow of water in the refreshing unit  200 . Furthermore, the overall size of the refreshing unit  200  is reduced. 
         [0061]      FIG. 6  is a schematic fluid flow diagram in which the remaining water in the water tank  210  is collected into the drain tank  230  through the steam generator  220 . This will be described in more detail. 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , water is supplied from a water supplying source to the water tank  210 , and the supplied water is supplied to the steam generator  220 . A control valve  215  is mounted between the water tank  210  and the steam generator  220 . A water level sensor  225  is installed inside the steam generator  220  such an appropriate amount of water can be supplied to the steam generator  220 . Although not illustrated, the control valve  215  may instead be installed on a path connecting the water supplying source and the water tank  210 , and the water level sensor  225  may be mounted inside the water tank  210 . Additionally, a temperature sensor  226  is mounted inside the steam generator  220  thereby preventing the steam generator  220  from being overheated if the heater  245  continuously operates without sufficient water. The drain port  224  of the steam generator  220  and the first connection port  223  of the drain tank  230  are connected to each other through a hose. 
         [0063]    According to the above structure, the water stored in the water tank  210  is supplied to the steam generator  220  through the water supply port  223 . The supplied water is heated and the steam is generated by operation of the heater  221  inserted in the steam generator  220 . The generated steam is discharged into the receiving compartment  130  through the steam discharge ports  222  and  303 . 
         [0064]    Once the steam supplying process is completed, the remaining water in the steam generator  220  is discharged through the drain port  224 . The drained water is stored in the storage chamber  231  through the first connection port  233  of the drain tank  230 . 
         [0065]    Condensed water is discharged through the condensed water discharge port  251  during a steam supplying process. The condensed water is formed when a portion of the steam falls along the condensing unit  122 . The discharged condensed water is collected in the storage chamber  231  through the third connection port  235  of the drain tank  230 . Then, a user can withdraw the drain tank  230  for disposal of the collected water. 
         [0066]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of a plate-type heater installation according to a first embodiment. 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the main body  80  of the clothes refreshing apparatus  100  includes an external case  110 , an inner case  120  in the external case  110 , and a heat insulator  140  disposed between the inner case  120  and the external case  110 . The heat insulator  140  can be applied according to products. The plate-type heater  400  can be mounted so that it is exposed to the inner surface of the inner case  120 , i.e., the receiving compartment  130 . 
         [0068]    Specifically, the plate-type heater  400  may be mounted on the side top of the inner case  120  or on the ceiling of the inner case  120 . 
         [0069]    More specifically, the plate-type heater  400  is disposed on the inner surface of the inner case  120  and is mounted to be level with the inner surface of the inner case  120 . When the plate-type heater  400  is installed, the thickness of the inner case  120  is minimized. Therefore, the slimness of the main body  80  can be achieved. 
         [0070]    Moreover, since the plate-type heater  400  is installed on the inner surface of the inner case  120  in the receiving compartment  130 , moisture condensation can be directly prevented. Accordingly, the preventing of the moisture condensation can be more easily achieved. 
         [0071]    A temperature sensor  420  is mounted on the side of the plate-type heater  400 . That is, a predetermined temperature is maintained without overheating the inner case  120  by detecting the temperature of the inner case  120  through the temperature sensor  420 . Then, the temperature sensor  420  may be installed in the inner case  120 , which is similar to the plate-type heater  400 . 
         [0072]    According to this embodiment, although only the plate-type heater  400  and the temperature sensor  420  in the inner case  120  are described, this can be identically applied to the plate-type heater  410  and the temperature sensor  421  in the rear of the door  101 . 
         [0073]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of a plate-type heater installation according to a second embodiment. 
         [0074]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the plate-type heater  410  is recessed and mounted on the rear of the inner case  120 . 
         [0075]    Specifically, since the plate-type heater  400  is installed on the rear of the inner case  120 , the front of the inner case  120  may have a neat appearance. Moreover, moisture cannot penetrate through an interface between the plate-type heater  400  and the inner case  120  such that malfunction of the plate-type heater  400  can be prevented. Since the heat insulator  140  is inserted between the external case  110  and the inner case  120 , the heat from the plate-type heater  400  does not leak toward the outside. 
         [0076]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating a refreshing process in a refreshing apparatus as embodied and broadly described herein. 
         [0077]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , once a clothes refreshing process begins, a preheating process is performed to heat the inside of the receiving compartment to a predetermined temperature in operation S 110 . This is illustrated in a section A of  FIG. 10 . Specifically, the preheating process is a preliminary process that heats the receiving compartment  130  to an appropriate temperature before supplying steam, thereby minimizing steam condensation. 
         [0078]    When the preheating process is completed and the receiving compartment  130  reaches the predetermined temperature, a steam supplying process is performed in operation S 120 . This is illustrated in a section B of  FIG. 10 . 
         [0079]    In the steam supplying process, a heating process for heating water that is supplied into the steam generator  220  and a steam injecting process for injecting the generated steam into the receiving compartment  130  are performed continuously. Specifically, the temperature of the receiving compartment  130  rises again during time for heating water to generate steam. When a steam supplying time reaches a predetermined time, the steam supplying process is terminated and then the next process is performed. During the steam supplying process, a portion of the water in the steam generator  220  is converted into steam and then supplied. 
         [0080]    After the steam supplying process is complete, a first drying process is performed in operation S 130 , and this is illustrated in a section C of  FIG. 10 . 
         [0081]    Specifically, the first drying process removes moisture from the fabric articles and humidity from the receiving compartment  130  generated during the steam supplying process, thereby removing smells and wrinkles from the fabric articles. 
         [0082]    Once the first drying process begins, the drying duct  240  operates, and then air heated by the drying heater  245  circulates in the receiving compartment  130  and the condensing unit  122 . An inner temperature of the receiving compartment  130  rises due to a high temperature air that is supplied into the receiving compartment  130 . 
         [0083]    When the first drying process is completed, a steam re-supplying process is performed in operation S 140 , and this is illustrated in a section D of  FIG. 10 . 
         [0084]    Specifically, the remaining water in the steam generator  220  is re-heated and is supplied into the inside of the receiving compartment  130  during the steam re-supplying process in operation S 140 . During the steam re-supplying process, since the receiving compartment  130  is already heated to a high temperature, an amount of condensation generated is less than that of the steam supplying process S 120 . During the steam re-supplying process, an inner temperature of the receiving compartment  130  falls temporarily and rises again when the water is heated. 
         [0085]    During the steam re-supplying process, all the remaining water in the steam generator  220  is converted into steam and then supplied into the receiving compartment  130 . 
         [0086]    Once the steam re-supplying process is completed, a re-drying process is performed in operation S 150 , and this is illustrated in section E of  FIG. 10 . 
         [0087]    In the re-drying process, since an inner temperature of the receiving compartment  130  is heated close to that of hot air from the drying duct  240 , a temperature rise in the receiving compartment  130  is relatively weak. 
         [0088]    When the re-drying process is terminated, all the processes for refreshing the fabric articles are completed, and then a draining process is performed. According to a user selection, a user can dump the water in the storage chamber  231  after withdrawing the drain tank  230 . 
         [0089]    Power is applied to the drying duct  240  during the first drying process S 130  and the re-drying process S 150 , such that air in the condensing unit  122  flows into the drying duct  240 . The air is heated by the drying heater  245  of the drying duct  240 , is converted into hot air, and then is discharged through the discharge ports  243  and  302 . The discharged hot air dries the fabric articles in the receiving compartment  130 . 
         [0090]    Additionally, the water supplied to the supply tank  210  is supplied into the steam generator  220  during the steam supplying process S 120  and the steam re-supplying process S 140 . The supplied water is heated by the heater  221  of the steam generator  220  to generate high temperature steam. The generated steam is supplied into the receiving compartment  130  through the team discharge ports  222  and  303 . 
         [0091]    A portion of the steam supplied to the receiving compartment  130  penetrates into the fabric articles, and the other portion flows into the condensing unit  122  through the steam discharge port  123 . The flowing steam passes through the condensing unit  122  and exchanges heat with external air using the rear of the external case  122  as a heat exchanging layer. During this process, the temperature of the steam rises and then condensation is generated. The generated condensed water falls along the condensation pins  111  and  121 , through the condensed water discharge port  251  and into the drain tank  230 . 
         [0092]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating a process for controlling a plate-type heater during a steam supplying process. 
         [0093]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , the plate-type heater operates during the steam supplying process, thereby preventing water from being condensed on the top of the inner case  120 . 
         [0094]    Specifically, once steam is supplied in operation S 121 , a controller detects a steam supplying time. In operation S 122 , it is determined whether or not the detected steam supplying time has reached a predetermined time Tref 1 . When the detected steam supplying time reaches the predetermined time Tref 1 , the plate-type heater is turned on in operation S 123 . Then, it is determined whether or not the steam supplying process is completed in operation S 124 . When the steam supplying process is finished, the plate-type heater is turned off in operation S 125 . According to the above controlling method, condensed water in the receiving compartment  130  can be prevented before supplying the steam into the condensing unit  122 . 
         [0095]    In certain instances, after one or two minutes have passed since the initiation of steam being supplied to the receiving compartment  130 , steam may be condensed on the inner surface of the inner case  120 . Accordingly, the predetermined time Tref 1  may be set to one or two minutes. 
         [0096]      FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating a process for controlling a plate-type heater. 
         [0097]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , once the first drying and re-drying processes begin, the drying fan  241  and the drying heater  245  are turned on in operation S 131 , and the plate-type heater is simultaneously turned on in operation S 132 . In operation S 133 , it is determined whether or not the drying is completed. When the drying is completed, the drying fan  241 , the drying heater  245 , and the plate-type heater are all turned off in operation S 134 . 
         [0098]    Since the plate-type heater is simultaneously turned on during the drying process, an inner temperature of the receiving compartment  130  reaches the predetermined temperature promptly, thereby reducing a drying time for the fabric articles and the receiving compartment  130 . 
         [0099]      FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating another process for controlling a plate-type heater. 
         [0100]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , the plate-type heater is appropriately turned on or off according to a surface temperature of the inner case  120 , in order to prevent overheating and heat damage. 
         [0101]    Specifically, when the plate-type heaters  400  and  410  are turned on during the drying process or the steam supplying process in operation S 200 , the temperature near the heater installation region is detected by the temperature sensors  420  and  421  mounted on one side of the inner case  120  in operation S 210 . Here, the temperature around the heater installation region is the temperature of the surface of the inner case around an area where the plate-type heater is mounted. 
         [0102]    More specifically, it is determined whether or not the temperature detected by the temperature sensors  420  and  421  is greater than the predetermined temperature Tref 1  in operation S 220 . When the detected temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature Tref 1 , the plate-type heater  400 / 410  is turned off in operation S 230 . The temperature sensor  420 / 421  continuously detects the temperature around the heater installation region in operation S 240 , and then it is determined whether or not the detected temperature is below the predetermined temperature Tref 1  in operation S 250 . When the detected temperature is below the predetermined temperature Tref 1 , it is determined whether or not a corresponding course is completed in operation S 260 . When the corresponding course is completed, a process of controlling the plate-type heater is completed. Contrarily, when the corresponding course is still in progress, the above process is repeated. 
         [0103]    According to the above controlling method, the temperature of the inner case with the plate-type heater is maintained at the predetermined temperature Tref 1 , thereby preventing condensed water from being generated and simultaneously preventing the heater from being overheated. 
         [0104]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the embodiments as broadly described herein. 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. 
         [0105]    In a refreshing apparatus and a method for controlling the same as embodied and broadly described herein, condensed water can be prevented from forming on the inner circumference of a receiving space or the inner circumference of a door in the refreshing apparatus during a refreshing process.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3