Patent Abstract:
A clothes-treating apparatus is disclosed. According to the clothes treating apparatus, it is easy and convenient for a worker to have access to a mechanism compartment for maintenance and repair of the components. In addition, if the user chooses an easier method of accessing the components of the clothes treating apparatus the maintenance repair costs may be lowered. Furthermore, it is easy for a worker to remove and replace the components of the mechanism compartment. In addition, according to the clothes treating apparatus, the assembly line of the mechanism compartment may be separate from an assembly line of the clothes treating apparatus, which may enhance work efficiency.

Full Description:
This application is a Continuation-In-Part based on International Application No. PCT/KR2008/004522, filed on Aug. 4, 2008, and claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §365(c) of the filing date of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2007-0078295 filed on Aug. 3, 2007 and 10-2008-0040898 filed on Apr. 30, 2008, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A clothes-treating apparatus refers to an apparatus which treats clothes placed in an accommodating space provided in a cabinet. Here, the term ‘treat’ means predetermined processes, for example, ventilating air to the clothes, supplying steam or hot air to the clothes to remove bad odors, wrinkles, and humidity that may remain on the clothes. As a result, a user can feel pleasant when putting on the clothes. 
     Specifically, when putting on a piece of clothes more than once, unpleasant odors, humidity, and the like may remain on the clothes and this may give an unpleasant feeling to a user who tries to wear the clothing again. In order to remove the odor or humidity, the clothing might be washed, however, repeated washing of clothing leads to shortened usage life, as well as high costs associated with the washing and dry cleaning of the clothing. 
     In addition to the above situation, even after washing and drying the clothes, wrinkles may remain. It is inconvenient for the user to perform additional chores like ironing and variations thereof before being able to immediately put on the clothes. 
     To solve these problems, a clothes-treating apparatus may be used to remove unpleasant odors, wrinkles and humidity which remain on clothes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a clothes-treating apparatus and a controlling method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a clothes-treating apparatus in which the mechanical components can be easily maintained and repaired. 
     According to the clothes-treating apparatus, moisture may be supplied to clothes placed in an accommodating space to remove the unpleasant odors, wrinkles and humidity and air, including dry and hot air, is supplied to the clothes having much moisture because of sprayed steam to dry the clothes. 
     It may be effective only to expose the clothes to air or hot air when removing the unpleasant odors, wrinkles and humidity. The moisture may be supplied to the clothes to noticeably enhance the removal effect. 
     If moisture is supplied to the clothes placed in the clothes-treating apparatus, fine water particles are united with unpleasant odor elements remaining in the fabric of the clothing. The water elements which have united with odor elements may then separate from the clothes during a drying process, and be discharged outside. Accordingly, the unpleasant odors remaining on the clothes may be removed. 
     According to the above process, unpleasant odors, wrinkles and humidity remaining on the clothes may be removed and the user may put on the clothes with a pleasant feeling. 
     Typically, conventional clothes-treating apparatuses have a space for accommodating clothing to be treated. The accommodating space is formed in an upper portion of the cabinet and a mechanism compartment is positioned separately from the accommodating space. The mechanism compartment generally may have a moisture supply device for supplying moisture to the accommodating space, and an air supply device for ventilating air into the accommodating space. 
     When a user wishes to access the components provided in the mechanism compartment to maintain or repair the apparatus, a lower surface or a rear surface of the cabinet must be opened to gain access. It is, however, inconvenient and inefficient to disassemble major parts of a clothes-treating apparatus every time a user wishes to maintain or repair the inner components of the mechanism compartment. 
     A more efficient method of the access to the mechanism compartment positioned under the accommodating space is required, since such large portion of the inner space of the cabinet is composed of the accommodating space. The convenience of maintenance may also result in convenience of assembly of a clothes-treating apparatus. 
     To solve the problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a clothes-treating apparatus allowing for easy access to the inner components of a mechanism compartment, thus improving work efficiency. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the advantages set forth below and other advantages may be achieved by a clothes treating apparatus that includes a cabinet having an accommodating space where clothes are placed; and a mechanism compartment separated and/or isolated from the accommodating space by a partition, the mechanism compartment comprising a moisture supply device supplying moisture to the accommodating space and an air supply device supplying dry or heated air to the accommodating space. An opening may be formed at a side surface of the mechanism compartment or the partition for an inside of the mechanism compartment to be exposed, and a module including at least one of the moisture supply device and the air supply device may be separable via the opening. 
     The present invention has following advantageous effects. According to the clothes treating apparatus, it is easy and convenient for a worker to have access to components provided in a mechanism compartment for the maintenance of the components. In addition, the worker may choose a method of having access to the components provided in the mechanism compartment and as a result the maintenance cost of the clothes treating apparatus may be lower. Furthermore, it is easy for a worker to mount the mechanism compartment and it is possible to reduce the assembly time of the clothes treating apparatus. In addition, according to the clothes treating apparatus, an assembly line of the mechanism compartment may be separable from an assembly line of the clothes treating apparatus, which enhances work efficiency. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a clothes-treating apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a base plate having components of a mechanism compartment mounted thereon, being separated from the clothes-treating apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating that the base plate having the components mounted thereon is separated from a cabinet having a guide member secured thereto; 
         FIG. 4A  is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a clothes-treating apparatus; 
         FIG. 4B  is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a clothes-treating apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  is a still further embodiment of a clothes-treating apparatus; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating key parts of a base plate inserted in a guide member secured to a mechanism compartment shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     A clothes-treating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a cabinet and a mechanism compartment separated and isolated from the accommodating space by a partition. An accommodating space is formed in the cabinet to contain clothes. A moisture supply device supplying moisture to the accommodating space, and an air supply device supplying dry or heated air to the accommodating space may be provided in the mechanism compartment. 
     An opening  122  may be formed at a side surface of the mechanism compartment  120 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , to the interior of the mechanism compartment. However, one of skill will readily appreciate that the opening  122  could be provided at any of the side surfaces of the mechanism compartment or in the partition  115 . Additionally, two or more openings  122  in the cabinet  40  may be provided to allow for multiple access points. A module that includes equipment in the mechanism compartment, comprising at least one of the moisture supply device and the air supply device, may be accessible and removable via the opening. 
     The module may be a single unit or comprise multiple sub-modules. Where multiple sub-modules are employed, the sub-modules may be independently movable or slideable in various directions depending upon the position of the openings, such that one sub-module may be removed in one direction through a first opening and a second sub-module may be removed in a different direction through a second opening, as illustrated, for example, in  FIG. 4B . 
     The moisture supply device is a device supplying moisture to the accommodating space and the type of the moisture used has no limit. For example, the supplied moisture may be steam, sprayed water, a fine particle dispersion, or the like. The air supply device may be a device having a heating and/or dehumidifying function. 
     As a result, the module may include at least one of the moisture supply device and the air supply device. Here, the module may be unit structure of one or more parts capable of being separating from and wholly removed from the clothes-treating apparatus. In the module substantially every component inside the mechanism compartment may be modular or only particular components are made modular. It is preferable that the module includes at least one of the two components, i.e. the moisture supply device and the air supply device, because they occupy a large portion of the mechanism compartment. 
     Here, the moisture supply device should be interpreted to include general configuration to operate in a mode other than supplying the moisture to the accommodating space. For example, a water supply source supplying water to the moisture supply device may be modularized together with the moisture supply device. 
     Similarly, the air supply device may include a heating device adapted to heat or dehumidify air circulating air inside the accommodating space. The air supply device may include a heat pump-type heating device, having a heat exchanger and a compressor, circulation duct and a ventilation fan. The air supply device may also utilize a gas-type or electric-type heater. Accordingly, devices required to accomplish supplying air and moisture into the accommodating space may be modularized together with the air supply device and the moisture supply device. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a clothes-treating apparatus  100 . An accommodating space  110  is formed in an upper portion of a cabinet  40  and a mechanism compartment  120  is positioned under the accommodating space  110 . It is noted that the location of the mechanism compartment  120  is not limited to being under the accommodating space  110 , but may be disposed in various locations, e.g. at a side of or above the accommodating space  110 , in the clothes treating apparatus  100  to accommodate specific design needs. 
     As mentioned above, an air supply device and a moisture supply device may be provided in the mechanism compartment  120 . A partition  115  separates an inner space of the cabinet  40  into the accommodating space  110  and the mechanism compartment  120 . The partition  115  may act to isolate (i.e., seal-off or substantially seal-off) the components located in the mechanism compartment  120  from the accommodating space  110 . 
     A portion of the partition  115  may be separable such that a user may remove the separable portion  115   a  (hereinafter, a first cover) of the partition  115  to access the mechanism compartment  120 . If the partition includes a separable portion, the first cover  115   a  may be provided in various types. The first cover  115   a  may also be entirely separable from the partition  115  or an end of the partition  115  may be attached by a hinge (not shown) so that it may be rotatable about the hinge. In this case, the accommodating space  110  may be formed above the mechanism compartment  120  and the first cover  115   a  may be positioned to be rotatable inward to the accommodating space  110 . 
     Rotating the first cover  115   a  toward the accommodating space  110  allows a user to have access, via the accommodating space, to the various components provided in the mechanism compartment  120 . While the first cover  115   a  shown in  FIG. 1  provides easy access, it may still be inconvenient for the user to install and replace components in the mechanism compartment  120 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates that the components inside the mechanism compartment  110  are mounted on a base plate  200 , the base plate  200  being removed completely from the clothes-treating apparatus. The components inside the mechanism compartment  120  may include an air supply device, and a moisture supply device 
     The air supply device, for supplying hot air to the accommodating space  110  to dry the clothes inside the accommodating space, may include a heat exchanger  23 , a compressor  22  and the ventilation duct  24 . The components constituting the air supply device may be mounted on a base plate  200  that may be removable from the mechanism compartment  120 . The base plate  200  defines a removable module and acts as means to support the components being removed from the mechanism compartment  120 . The base plate  200  makes it possible to discharge the module as a whole from the mechanism compartment  120 . 
     To easily access the inside of the mechanism compartment  120 , it is more preferable to install the components of the mechanism compartment  120  directly on the base plate  200 , than to install them on a lower surface of the cabinet  40 . Therefore, the base plate  200  having the components mounted thereon, may control the removal of a single module from the cabinet  40 . 
     A second cover  47  of the clothes-treating apparatus shown in  FIG. 2  may open a rear, front, or side panel of the mechanism compartment  120  in the cabinet  40 . If the second cover  47  is formed at a rear side of the cabinet  40 , a user may remove the second cover  47  in the rear of the mechanism compartment  120  and may pull out the base plate  200  having the components mounted thereon from the cabinet  40  or the mechanism compartment  120 , to allow maintenance of the components. If the base plate  200  is removed from the cabinet  40 , the worker can easily perform maintenance work and repair on the components. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it is not necessary that the first cover  115   a  and the second cover  47  be provided at the same time. An opening may be formed at the partition and/or at a side surface of the cabinet  40 . Furthermore, a cover that acts to selectively close the opening may also be provided. 
     In addition, the second cover  47  need not be entirely removable from the cabinet  40 , but may be fixed thereto. For example an end of the second cover  47  may be hingedly-fixed to the cabinet  40 . This is similar to the first cover  115  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     As discussed above, the covers  115   a  and  47  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  may also be separable from the partition  115  or the cabinet  40  completely, or they may be hinge-secured to be rotatable or they may be fixed coupled in a sliding engagement with the cabinet  40  in a predetermined single direction. For example, a guide member, such as a track, may be provided at a right and left portion of partition  115  so that the first cover  115   a  may slide forward. A guide member may also be provided at side portions of the rear surface of the cabinet  40  so that the second cover  47  may slide upward from the cabinet. 
     According to an embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the components may be mounted on the base plate  200  in the mechanism compartment  120 , as mentioned above. Since the various components are mounted on the base plate  200 , the base plate  200  is employed as a bottom of the mechanism compartment  120  and an auxiliary bottom surface may not necessarily be provided. 
     The base plate  200  may be taken out from the cabinet  40  via the opening created by second cover  47 . The second cover  47  may be entirely separated from the cabinet  40  or may be opened via a hinge connection, as discussed above. 
     To move the base plate  200  outside the cabinet  40  smoothly, with the opening of the second cover  47 , auxiliary guide means may be further provided. An example of the guide means of the base plate  200  may be a guide member in which both ends of the base plate  200  are inserted to fix the base plate  200  vertically. 
     As mentioned above, the opening may be formed at the side portion of the mechanism compartment  120  and guide members  190  may be provided at both inner side surfaces of the cabinet, facing the inside of the mechanism compartment to guide the base plate along toward the opening. 
       FIG. 4A  shows that the base plate may be removed from the cabinet  40  having the guide members  190 , the base plate  200  providing a modular unit and an installation place for the components of the mechanism compartment  120 . The guide member  190  may be a track or an insertion groove of a “⊂” shape (a kind of a concave shape), adapted to received opposite ends of the base plate  200 . 
     The guide members  190  reduces friction between a lower surface of the base plate  200  and a surface below the base plate  200 , such as a bottom of the mechanism compartment. Guide members  190  act to maintain a horizontal position of the base plate  200  as well as to help the base plate  200  to be taken out smoothly. 
     The base plate  200  may include at least one roller  210  provided underneath the base plate  200 . The roller  210  may be provided to reduce the friction between the base plate  200  and a surface below the base plate  200  such as a floor where the clothes-treating apparatus is installed. The roller  210  also acts to reduce the stress on the guide members  190  and the friction between the sides of the base plate  200  and the guide members  190 . 
       FIG. 4A  refers to an embodiment of a roller which rolls in contact with the floor where the clothes-treating apparatus is installed.  FIG. 4B  refers to an embodiment wherein the two sub-modules, discussed above, are on rollers and removable through different openings.  FIGS. 5 and 6  refer to embodiments having a roller  210 , which contacts the guide member  190 . 
     The base plate  200  including the roller  210  will now be described in detail.  FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of the clothes-treating apparatus. According to the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , there may be friction between the guide member  190  and the base plate  200 . Thus, it is desirable to reduce the friction. 
     If a roller  210  is installed underneath the base plate  200 , i.e. on a lower surface of the base plate  200 , the base plate  200  may be smoothly removed from the mechanism compartment  40 , leaving the position of the clothes-treating apparatus undisturbed. That is because the roller  210  minimizes the friction between the clothes-treating apparatus and the floor where the clothes-treating apparatus is installed. 
     To reduce the friction between an inner surface of the guide member  190  and the base plate  200  more, chemicals may be applied on an inner surface of the guide member  190 . An auxiliary wheel (not shown) may also be installed at a guide member  190  or a portion where the base plate  200  is in contact with the guide member  190  to reduce friction. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a still further embodiment of the clothes-treating apparatus.  FIG. 5  refers to a specific embodiment of the above embodiment in that the roller is provided at the base plate  200 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the base plate  200  as it is installed in the mechanism compartment  120 , omitting the illustration of the installed components, such as the air supply device. The base plate  200  may include the roller  210  to aid in moving or sliding the base plate  200  smoothly. It is preferable that multiple rollers  210  are installed at corners of the base plate  200 , so that the tray may be moved with support mostly from the roller  210 . 
     Here, the roller  210  may include a rotatable wheel  212  and a shaft  214  coupled to a center of the wheel  212 . That is, the wheel  212  is coupled to the shaft  214  to be secured to the base plate  200 . The wheel  212  may rotate about the shaft in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. 
     The base plate  200  may include a projection (not shown) extended in a longitudinal direction of the both opposite sides of the base plate  200 . It is preferable that the projection is formed at the portion where the roller  210  is installed. For example, the projection may be positioned in a line connecting the wheels provided at the predetermined portion of the base plate  200 . In addition, the projection may be extended downward from the base plate  200 . 
     A guide groove  191  may be formed at an upper surface of the guide member in a longitudinal direction and the roller  210  may move on the guide member  190 , while being seated in the guide groove  191 . The guide groove  191  may be formed in the mechanism compartment  120  to guide the motion of the roller  210 . More specifically, the guide groove  191  may be formed along a longitudinal direction of the frame  180  to guide the sliding motion of the base plate  200 . 
     The guide groove  191  may be recessed deep enough for the roller  210  to be movable where a predetermined portion of the roller  210  is inserted in the guide groove  191 . That is, the base plate  200  may move while the wheel  212  is rotating along the guide groove  191 . 
     It is preferable that the guide groove  191  is formed in longitudinal direction of a lower frame  180 , being substantially linear-shaped. If the projection is provided at the base plate  200  instead of the roller  210 , the projection may be inserted in the guide groove  191 . The projection may guide the motion of the base plate  200  in a state of being inserted in the guide groove  191 . If the projection is provided in this manner, the length of the guide groove  191  may be similar to the length of the projection. Thus by securely maintaining the projection in the guide groove  191 , the base plate  200  may be prevented from being completely separated from the cabinet  40  due to vibration or other eternal forces. 
     A protrusion  196  may be projected from the guide groove  191  and it is preferable that the protrusion  196  is provided adjacent to where the base plate  200  is inserted in the mechanism compartment  120 . That is, the wheel  212  may pass the protrusion  196  before being inserted in the guide groove  191 . When assembling the base plate  200  to the mechanism compartment  120 , the user can determine whether the base plate  200  is inserted in the right position because of the protrusion  196 . 
     Specifically, when sliding the base plate  200  into the mechanism compartment  120 , the base plate  200  passes the protrusion  196  and it is lifted a predetermined height. After the base plate  200  passes the protrusion  196 , the base plate  200  then descends a length substantially equivalent to the lifted height. The wheel  212  is also guided by the guide groove  191  in a state of being inserted in the guide groove  191 . 
     Even if the projection (not shown) is provided instead of the roller  210 , the base plate  200  may still be lifted a predetermined height when passing the protrusion  196 . Here, the projection extends vertically and in a longitudinal direction. As a result, only after the projection having passed the protrusion  196  completely, the base plate  200  may be descended as much as the lifted height. 
     The protrusion  196  may have a longitudinal cross-section that is triangle or hemisphere shaped. Preferably; the angle of a side portion of the protrusion  196  directly in contact with the wheel  212  when the base plate  200  is inserted, is substantially less than the angle of a side portion in contact with the wheel  212  when the base plate  200  is removed. Accordingly, more power is required to remove the base plate  200  from the mechanism compartment  200  than to insert the base plate  200  is inserted in the mechanism compartment  120 . This structure acts to prevent the base plate  200  from separating from the cabinet  40  by itself. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating key parts when the base plate is inserted in the guide member  190  secured to the mechanism compartment  120 . A limiting member  192  may be formed at the guide member  190  or the cabinet  40  having an opening formed therein to limit and determine the insertion depth of the base plate. 
     According to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the limiting member  192  may be secured to the guide member  190 . However, the limiting member  192  may be positioned at various positions to limit the insertion depth of the base plate  200 . 
     The limiting member  192  is formed in the mechanism compartment  120  to prevent the base plate  200  from being inserted into the mechanism compartment  200  more than a predetermined depth. That is, the limiting member  192  is formed at a predetermined portion of the guide groove  191  and it limits the insertion depth of the base plate  200 . 
     Multiple limiting members  192  may be provided at both side portions of the mechanism compartment  120 . The limiting member  192  may include a bent portion  193  and an extended portion  194 . The bent portion  193  is perpendicularly bent from the lower frame  180  and the extended portion  194  is extended from the bent portion  193 . The limiting member  192  may have an appearance of an approximately perpendicular bend from the lower frame  180 . Accordingly, the height and the insertion limit of the base plate  200  in the mechanism compartment  120  may be determined by the limiting member  192 . 
     After the base plate  200  is inserted in the mechanism compartment  120 , a horizontal vibration of the base plate  200  may be prevented by the bent portion  193  and a vertical vibration of the base plate  200  may be prevented by the extended portion  194 . 
     The limiting member  192  is not limited to the appearance shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . If the insertion limit of the base plate  200  in the mechanism compartment  120  is determined or the height of the base plate  200  is fixed, the shape of the limiting member  192  may be changeable accordingly. 
     An insertion groove  220  may be formed at a predetermined portion of the base plate  200  and the limiting member  192  may be inserted in the insertion groove  220 . The positioning of the base plate  200  may be secured more efficiently because of the interaction between the insertion groove  220  and the limiting member  192 . 
     That is, the bent portion  193  is directly in contact with a vertical surface of the insertion groove  220  and the extended portion  194  is directly in contact with a horizontal surface extended from the insertion groove  220 . As a result, the connection between the limiting member  192  and the base plate  200  may be reinforced and the vibration of the base plate  200  may be efficiently prevented. The protrusion may also be further provided at the guide member  190  in order to prevent the separation of the base plate in a state of being stopped by the limiting member. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , when the base plate  200  is inserted in the mechanism compartment  120 , the roller  210  installed underneath the base plate  200  may move over the protrusion. That is, the wheel  212  may pass the protrusion  196  to be seated securely. Then the position of the base plate  200  may be secured by the protrusion  196  to prevent the base plate  200  from moving in a horizontal direction. In other words, a side surface of the protrusion  196  is in direct contact with the wheel  212  to prevent minute motion of the base plate  200 . 
     The insertion direction of the base plate  200  is limited by the limiting member  192  and the discharge direction of the base plate  200  is limited by the protrusion  196 . As a result, the horizontal movement of the base plate  200 , especially, the minute side-to-side movement of the base plate  200  may be prevented such that the various components may be kept securely in the mechanism compartment  120 . 
     If the projection is provided instead of the roller  210 , the projection may be fixedly secured with an end thereof being in contact with the protrusion  196 . That is, when the base plate  200  is secured, any sliding motion may be prevented. 
     A process of the base plate described above being sliding installed in the mechanism compartment will be explained. When assembling the clothes-treating apparatus, the worker may assemble the accommodating space  110 , the mechanism compartment  120  and the partition  115 . Then, the worker may mount the components contained in the mechanism compartment  120  on the base plate  200 . At this time, it is preferable that the air supply device and the moisture supply device are mounted on the base plate  200 . 
     Hence, the base plate  200  is sliding into the mechanism compartment  120 . 
     Some of the wheels  212  installed at the predetermined portions of the base plate  200  may pass the protrusion  196  and the base plate  200  may be lifted to the predetermined height and descended as much as the lifted height. The predetermined portion of the wheel  212  is inserted in the guide groove  191 . 
     While the base plate  200  is inserted in the mechanism compartment  120 , the wheel  212  may be guided by the guide groove  191 . Here, the wheel  212  rotates about the shaft  214  included in the wheel  212  within the guide groove  191 . A sliding motion of the base plate  200  may be guided by the guide groove  191 , which prevents the conventional problem of the base plate  200  being positioned at a wrong portion. 
     In the meantime, a wheel  212  installed at the lower surface of the base plate  200  may be directly in contact with the protrusion  196  such that the rotation of the wheel  212  is stopped. Thus, the base plate  200  may not be inserted in the mechanism compartment  120  any farther to maintain its right position. 
     If a projection (not shown) is formed at the base plate  200  instead of the wheel  212 , the projection may be fixedly secured with an end of the base plate  200  that is in contact with the protrusion  196 . If the base plate  200  is inserted completely, the projection is in contact with a side surface, not the upper surface, of the protrusion  196  and the base plate  200  may be secured, preventing sliding movement in a direction perpendicular to the length of the guide groove  191 . 
     When the base plate  200  is taken out of the mechanism compartment  120 , the above process is performed vice versa. If the user needs to access the components provided in the mechanism compartment  120 , the above process may be performed. The base plate  200  may be removed to repair or replace the components, including the air supply device, and the base plate  200  may be slid into and out of the mechanism compartment  120 . 
     According to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a handle  230  may be further provided for the convenience of the user when the base plate  200  is taken out of the mechanism compartment  120 . The handle  230  assists in smooth removal of the base plate  200  from the mechanism compartment  120 . 
     Furthermore, the steam spray part of the clothes-treating apparatus may be installed in the mechanism compartment and as a result it is possible for a worker to access, maintain and replace the steam spray part efficiently. Thus work performance may be improved. 
     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 invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3