Patent Description:
Laundry treatment apparatuses may wash and/or dry laundry, and may include, for example, washing machines, drying machines, and combination washing and drying machines. A laundry treatment apparatus capable of drying laundry may supply high temperature air (hot air), and may include exhaust type laundry treatment apparatuses and a circulation type (condensation type) laundry treatment apparatuses, based on an air flow method employed.

A circulation type laundry treatment apparatus, which re-circulates air from a laundry accommodation space in which laundry is received, may remove moisture (dehumidify) air discharged from the laundry accommodation space, and heat and resupply the air back into the laundry accommodation space. An exhaust type laundry treatment apparatus may supply heated air into a laundry accommodation space and exhaust air discharged from the laundry accommodation space to the outside of the laundry treatment apparatus, rather than resupplying the air back into the laundry accommodation space.

A hot air supply device employed in a laundry treatment apparatus as described above may include a blower that discharges air from the laundry accommodation space and a heat exchanger that heats air moved by the blower. The blower may be located in front of the heat exchanger, such that air discharged from the laundry accommodation space sequentially passes through the blower and the heat exchanger and is resupplied into the laundry accommodation space. If the air discharged from the laundry accommodation space passes through only a portion of the heat exchanger, heat exchange efficiency of the laundry treatment apparatus may be impacted.

<CIT> presents a drum type washing and drying machine that includes a cylindrical rotary drum provided with multiple drum perforations on the cylindrical surface thereof and having a rotating shaft in a horizontal or a slanted direction, a water tub, supported in a main body of the machine, for accommodating the rotary drum therein; an air circulation channel for recirculating air exhausted from the rotary drum back into the rotary drum via a dehumidification unit and a heating unit; and a lint trap device, installed in the air circulation channel, for filtering lint generated from laundry. The lint trap device at least includes a first and a second filter member capable of being detachably attached to each other, and the assembly of the first and the second filter member is freely attachably and detachably installed on a front upper portion of the main body in an approximately horizontal direction.

<CIT> presents a drying machine including housing, outer vessel supported in housing, rotating drum mounted in outer vessel to accommodate and dry clothing, heat pump device including heat exchanger for drying clothing in rotating drum, blower for blowing dry air, circulatory ventilation flue for connecting outer vessel to heat pump device to define circulation path through which dry air from blower circulates, and filter disposed in circulatory ventilation flue to prevent infiltration of dust components into heat exchanger, wherein filter and heat exchanger are disposed in upper space above outer vessel formed in housing, and filter, heat exchanger and blower are disposed in sequence along flow direction of dry air.

One object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus which may achieve high drying efficiency.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus which may achieve high heat exchange efficiency by allowing air moved by a blower to pass through the overall region of a heat exchanger.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus in which a hot air supply unit is located above a laundry accommodation unit in which laundry is accommodated, which may minimize increase in the volume of the laundry treatment apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus which may ensure automated cleaning of a filter unit that serves to filter air to be supplied into a heat exchanger.

One or more objects are achieved by the invention set out by the features of the independent claim.

A laundry treatment apparatus as embodied broadly described herein includes a cabinet having a laundry opening formed therein; a laundry receiving device provided in the cabinet and configured to receive laundry therein through the laundry opening formed in the cabinet; a hot air supply device, including: a circulation passage configured to guide air discharged from the laundry receiving device and to resupply the air back into the laundry receiving device; a heat exchanger provided in the circulation passage; and a blower configured to circulate air from an interior of the laundry receiving device through the circulation passage and back into the laundry receiving device; and a filter device positioned in the circulation passage to filter air flowing to the heat exchanger, wherein the filter device is removable from the circulation passage through a corresponding portion of the cabinet.

The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a filter separation/coupling passage that penetrates the cabinet; and a filter guide connecting the filter separation/coupling passage and the circulation passage, wherein the filter guide is configured to guide the filter device into and out of the circulation passage.

The filter separation/coupling passage may be positioned above the laundry opening formed in the cabinet.

The filter device may include a filter body provided in the filter guide; a filter frame extending from the filter body into the circulation passage; and a filter supported in the filter frame to catch impurities in air flowing through the circulation passage.

The filter frame may include a first frame fixed to the filter body, the first frame supporting a first filter configured to filter air; and a second frame rotatably and separably coupled to the first frame, the second frame supporting a second filter configured to filter air.

At least one of the body and the filter frame may be an elastic member.

The filter device may further include a handle received in the filter separation/coupling passage; and an elastic support portion connecting the handle and the filter body to elastically support the filter body.

The apparatus may further include an impurity removal device configured to remove impurities accumulated on the filter.

The impurity removal device may include a scraper coupled to the filter guide to separate impurities from the filter as the filter frame is withdrawn from or inserted into the circulation passage.

The circulation passage may guide air out of the laundry receiving device from a rear region of the laundry receiving device and back into the laundry receiving device at a front region of the laundry receiving device, the front region being oriented to face the laundry opening.

The circulation passage may include a suction duct fixed to a rear surface of the laundry receiving device, wherein the suction duct guides air form an interior of the laundry receiving device into the circulation passage; a discharge duct fixed to a front surface of the laundry receiving device, wherein the discharge duct discharges air from the circulation passage back into the laundry receiving device; and a connection duct connecting the suction duct and the discharge duct, wherein the heat exchanger is positioned in the connection duct, and the blower is positioned between the heat exchanger and the discharge duct.

The laundry receiving device may include a cylindrical tub provided in the cabinet, the tub having a tub opening facing the laundry opening formed in the cabinet; a drum rotatably provided in the tub and configured to receive laundry therein through the tub opening; and a gasket extending between the tub opening and the laundry opening so as to prevent leakage of wash water from the tub.

The suction duct may be fixed to an upper circumferential surface of the tub, and the discharge duct is fixed to the gasket.

The suction duct and the gasket may be vibration insulating members.

The circulation passage may be fixed to an upper outer circumferential surface of the laundry receiving device and provides for vibration insulation for the heat exchanger and the laundry receiving device.

The present invention has the effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus capable of achieving high drying efficiency.

Further, the present invention has the effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus capable of achieving high heat exchange efficiency by allowing air moved by a blower to pass through the overall region of a heat exchanger.

Furthermore, the present invention has the effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus in which a hot air supply unit is located above a laundry accommodation unit in which laundry is accommodated, whereby increase in the volume of the laundry treatment apparatus may be minimized.

Furthermore, the present invention has the effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus capable of ensuring automated cleaning of a filter unit that serves to filter air to be supplied into a heat exchanger.

In addition, the present invention has the effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus having a filter unit that may be withdrawn through a control panel.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. A configuration and a control method of an apparatus that will be described hereinafter are provided for explanation of the exemplary embodiments and are not intended to limit the technical scope as broadly described herein. The same reference numerals will be used throughout to designate the same or similar constituent elements wherever possible.

As shown in <FIG>, a laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> as embodied and broadly described herein may include a cabinet <NUM> defining an external appearance of the apparatus <NUM>, a laundry accommodation module, or laundry receiving device, within the cabinet <NUM> and configured to receive store laundry therein, and a hot air supply device <NUM> (hot air supply module) configured to supply hot air into the laundry accommodation module.

The cabinet <NUM> has a laundry opening <NUM> through which laundry is introduced or removed, and may have a door <NUM> rotatably coupled to the cabinet <NUM> to open or close the laundry opening <NUM>.

A control panel <NUM> is coupled to the cabinet <NUM>, for example, above the laundry opening <NUM> or other location as appropriate. The control panel <NUM> may include, for example, an input device <NUM> for input of a control instruction to operate the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> and a display device <NUM> for display of control details of the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM>.

The input device <NUM> provided at the control panel <NUM> may include an array of buttons or a rotary knob, and may transmit a received control instruction to a controller. Such a control instruction may be related to washing or drying programs preset in the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> (e.g., a washing course or a drying course), washing time, the quantity of wash water, the supply time of hot air, and the like.

The display device <NUM> may display, for example, the control instruction (e.g., a course name) input via the input device <NUM>, and may provide information (e.g., residual time) as the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> is operated in response to the received control instruction.

If the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> is a drying machine having only a function of drying laundry, which is not part of the present invention, the laundry accommodation module may simply include a drum <NUM> rotatably received within the cabinet <NUM>.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> is an apparatus capable of implementing both drying and washing of laundry, and, as shown in <FIG>, the laundry accommodation module includes a tub <NUM> received within the cabinet <NUM> to store wash water therein and the drum <NUM> rotatably received within the tub <NUM> to store laundry therein.

For convenience of explanation, the following description will be based on a laundry accommodation device including both the tub <NUM> and the drum <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the tub <NUM> may have a hollow cylindrical shape and may be fixed within the cabinet <NUM>, with a tub opening <NUM> perforated in a front surface thereof to face the laundry opening <NUM> for introduction and removal of laundry.

A gasket <NUM> may be interposed between the tub opening <NUM> and the laundry opening <NUM> to prevent wash water stored in the tub <NUM> from leaking from the tub <NUM>, and also to prevent vibration of the tub <NUM> generated during rotation of the drum <NUM> from being transferred to the cabinet <NUM>. Accordingly, the gasket <NUM> may be formed of a vibration insulating material, such as rubber.

The tub <NUM> may be arranged parallel to the ground, on which the cabinet <NUM> is supported, as shown in the drawing, or may be tilted by a prescribed angle with respect to the ground. In the case in which the tub <NUM> is tilted by a prescribed angle with respect to the ground, an inclination angle of the tub <NUM> may be less than <NUM> degrees.

The tub <NUM> may also include an air discharge hole <NUM> perforated in an upper portion of a circumferential surface thereof for discharge of air from the tub <NUM>. The air discharge hole <NUM> may be formed in a longitudinal direction of the tub <NUM> at a position spaced apart from an imaginary center line A of the tub <NUM> by a predetermined distance L1 (see <FIG>). This may allow the interior air of the tub <NUM> to be easily discharged from the tub <NUM> through the air discharge hole <NUM> during rotation of the drum <NUM>. In addition, when impurities inside the hot air supply device <NUM> are introduced into the tub <NUM> via an impurity removal device <NUM> that will be described hereinafter, the impurities may be moved to a lower surface of the tub <NUM> along an inner circumferential surface of the tub <NUM>, which may prevent the impurities from being directed into the drum <NUM>.

The laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> may include a water supply and drain device to supply wash water into the tub <NUM> and to discharge wash water stored in the tub <NUM>. The water supply and drain device may include a water supply device <NUM> to supply wash water into the tub <NUM>, and a drain device <NUM> installed at the bottom of the tub <NUM> to discharge wash water stored in the tub <NUM>.

The water supply device <NUM> may supply water, supplied from an external water supply source into the tub <NUM>. The water supply device <NUM> may include a water supply pipe connected to the water supply source and a water supply valve to open or close the water supply pipe.

Similarly, the drain device <NUM> may include a drain pipe communicating the interior of the tub <NUM> with the exterior of the cabinet <NUM>, and an opening/closing device to open or close the drain pipe (e.g., a drain pump or a drain valve).

The drum <NUM> may have a hollow cylindrical shape and be received within the tub <NUM>. The drum <NUM> may be rotated within the tub <NUM> by a drive system <NUM>, or motor <NUM> installed at an outer rear surface of the tub <NUM>. The motor <NUM> may include a stator <NUM> fixed to the rear surface of the tub <NUM>, a rotor <NUM> configured to be rotated via electromagnetic interaction with the stator <NUM>, and a rotating shaft <NUM> penetrating the rear surface of the tub <NUM> to connect the rotor <NUM> and a rear surface of the drum <NUM> to each other.

The drum <NUM> may include a drum opening <NUM> communicating with the laundry opening <NUM> and the tub opening <NUM>. Thus, a user may introduce laundry into the drum <NUM> through the laundry opening <NUM>, and remove laundry stored in the drum <NUM> from the cabinet <NUM>.

If the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> is capable of implementing both drying and washing of laundry, a detergent supply device <NUM> is installed within the cabinet <NUM> to store detergent to be supplied into the tub <NUM>. The detergent supply device <NUM> may include a reservoir <NUM> (see <FIG>) in the form of a drawer that may be withdrawn from the cabinet <NUM>, a detergent supply pipe <NUM> to guide detergent stored in the reservoir <NUM> into the tub <NUM>, and a reservoir handle <NUM> located at one side of the control panel <NUM> to allow the user to withdraw the reservoir <NUM> from the cabinet <NUM>.

Water may be supplied into the reservoir <NUM> from the external water supply source through the water supply device <NUM>. Thus, once water has been supplied into the reservoir <NUM> via the water supply source, detergent stored in the reservoir <NUM> may be supplied, along with the water, into the tub <NUM> through the detergent supply pipe <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the hot air supply device <NUM> may include a circulation path, or circulation passage, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> configured to guide air discharged from the tub <NUM> to the front surface of the tub <NUM> (i.e. one surface of the tub <NUM> that faces the laundry opening <NUM>), a heat exchanger <NUM> placed within the circulation passage, and a blower <NUM> installed to circulate the interior air of the tub <NUM>.

The circulation passage may be defined so as to allow air discharged from a rear region of the tub <NUM> to be again introduced into the tub <NUM> through the front surface of the tub <NUM>. <FIG> shows one example of the circulation passage, through which air is discharged from an upper rear portion of the circumferential surface of the tub <NUM> and is introduced into the tub <NUM> through an upper front portion of the circumferential surface of the tub <NUM>.

The circulation passage may include a suction duct <NUM> fitted into the air discharge hole <NUM> of the tub <NUM>, a connection duct <NUM> to connect the suction duct <NUM> and the blower <NUM>, the heat exchanger <NUM> secured to the connection duct <NUM>, and a discharge duct <NUM> to connect the blower <NUM> and the gasket <NUM>.

The suction duct <NUM> may be a path into which the interior air of the tub <NUM> is discharged through the air discharge hole <NUM> perforated in a rear portion of the circumferential surface of the tub <NUM>. The suction duct <NUM> may be formed of a vibration insulating material (e.g., rubber) to prevent vibration of the tub <NUM> generated during rotation of the drum <NUM> from being transferred to the connection duct <NUM> and the heat exchanger <NUM> through the suction duct <NUM>.

To more efficiently prevent vibration of the tub <NUM> from being transferred to the connection duct <NUM> and the heat exchanger <NUM>, the suction duct <NUM> may include bellows. The bellows may be formed along the entire suction duct <NUM>, or may be formed at a portion of the suction duct <NUM> (i.e. a coupling portion with the connection duct <NUM>).

The heat exchanger <NUM> may be a heat pump. In this case, the heat exchanger <NUM> may include an evaporator <NUM>, a condenser <NUM>, a compressor <NUM>, and an expander (i.e. expansion valve). The evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> may be fixed within the connection duct <NUM>, whereas the compressor <NUM> may be mounted at the outside of the connection duct <NUM>. The compressor <NUM>, the evaporator <NUM>, the condenser <NUM>, and the expander may be connected to each other via a refrigerant pipe <NUM>, and circulation of refrigerant may be realized by the compressor <NUM>.

If the heat exchanger <NUM> takes the form of a heat pump, the hot air supply device <NUM> may further include a compressor support member <NUM> installed at the exterior of the connection duct <NUM> to support the compressor <NUM>. For example, the compressor support member <NUM> may be installed at the connection duct <NUM> to support the bottom of the compressor <NUM>. With this configuration, the circulation path <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, the heat exchanger <NUM>, and the blower <NUM> of the hot air supply device <NUM> may constitute a single module (i.e. a hot air supply module).

More specifically, the suction duct <NUM>, the connection duct <NUM> in which the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> of the heat exchanger <NUM> are mounted, the discharge duct <NUM>, and the blower <NUM> may be integrally assembled, whereas the compressor <NUM> of the heat exchanger <NUM> may be secured to the connection duct <NUM> via the compressor support member <NUM> that is also secured to the connection duct <NUM>.

Provision of the hot air supply device <NUM> in the form of a module may ensure easy assembly of the hot air supply device <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM>. In addition, through use of the hot air supply device <NUM> in the form of a module, connection of the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> to the compressor <NUM> via the refrigerant pipe <NUM> may be more easily implemented than assembling respective constituent elements of the hot air supply device <NUM> within the cabinet <NUM>.

In the evaporator <NUM>, refrigerant is evaporated by absorbing heat from air introduced into the connection duct <NUM>. Thereby, the evaporator <NUM> may implement cooling of the air as well as removal of moisture contained in the air (i.e. dehumidification and condensation of the air). As the interior air of the connection duct <NUM> is condensed while passing through the evaporator <NUM> as described above, condensed water may remain in the connection duct <NUM>. This condensed water remaining in the connection duct <NUM> may be unintentionally directed to laundry during drying. Thus, the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> may further include a device to discharge the condensed water from the connection duct <NUM>.

Various shapes of structures may be adopted to discharge condensed water from the connection duct <NUM>. In one example, a path to connect the connection duct <NUM> and the drain device <NUM> to each other may be provided.

In the condenser <NUM>, the refrigerant may be condensed. As heat generated during condensation of the refrigerant is transferred to air passing through the condenser <NUM>, the condenser <NUM> may heat the air passed through the evaporator <NUM>.

The circulation path <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, is arranged in a diagonal direction of an upper portion of the tub <NUM>. In this case, the compressor <NUM> may be located in a space between the circulation path <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM> in the space above the tub <NUM>. This may contribute to efficient utilization of the space above the circumferential surface of the tub <NUM>, thereby preventing an increase in the height or volume of the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM>.

The discharge duct <NUM> may guide the air discharged from the connection duct <NUM> into the tub <NUM> through the blower <NUM>. One end of the discharge duct <NUM> may be fixed to the blower <NUM> and the other end of the discharge duct <NUM> may be connected to a duct connection hole <NUM> formed in the gasket <NUM>. To prevent vibration of the tub <NUM> generated during rotation of the drum <NUM> from being transferred to the blower <NUM> or the connection duct <NUM> through the discharge duct <NUM>, at least one of the gasket <NUM> or the discharge duct <NUM> may be formed of a vibration insulating material (or an elastic material).

The blower <NUM> may be located between the heat exchanger <NUM> and the discharge duct <NUM>. The blower <NUM> may cause air to pass through the heat exchanger <NUM> by generating negative pressure at the rear side of the heat exchanger <NUM> (toward the discharge duct <NUM>), rather than generating positive pressure at the front side of the heat exchanger <NUM> (toward the suction duct <NUM>).

As shown in <FIG>, if the blower <NUM> generates positive pressure at the front side of the heat exchanger <NUM> to allow air to pass through the heat exchanger <NUM>, some of the interior air of the connection duct <NUM> may be easily moved to the heat exchanger <NUM>, but some of the air may not be easily moved to the heat exchanger <NUM>. That is, although most of the air discharged from the blower <NUM> is easily moved to the heat exchanger <NUM> (as represented by the arrow B1), some of the air discharged from the blower <NUM> may have difficulty in being rapidly moved to the heat exchanger <NUM> according to the shape of the connection duct <NUM> or the configuration of the blower <NUM> (as represented by the arrow B2).

For this reason, in the case in which the blower <NUM> is located in front of the heat exchanger <NUM> to forcibly blow air toward the heat exchanger <NUM> (to generate positive pressure at the front side of the heat exchanger <NUM>), the flow rate of air per cross section of the connection duct <NUM> may be inconsistent according to a position of the connection duct <NUM>, which may result in deterioration of heat exchange efficiency.

However, in the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> as embodied and broadly described herein, the above-described problem may be solved as the blower <NUM> may be located between the heat exchanger <NUM> and the discharge duct <NUM> (to allow air to sequentially pass through the heat exchanger <NUM> and the blower <NUM>).

As shown in <FIG>, when the blower <NUM> is located between the heat exchanger <NUM> and the discharge duct <NUM>, negative pressure is generated at the rear side of the heat exchanger <NUM>. Such generation of negative pressure at the rear side of the heat exchanger <NUM> ensures that the air being moved to the heat exchanger <NUM> through the connection duct <NUM> has a constant flow rate throughout the cross section of the connection duct <NUM>. Accordingly, the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> may have higher heat exchange efficiency between the air and the heat exchanger <NUM> (i.e. achieve higher drying efficiency) than that achieved by the configuration of <FIG>.

As the connection duct <NUM> is disposed on an upper portion of the circumferential surface of the tub <NUM>, there may be a difference between the size of a space in which the evaporator <NUM> is located and the size of a space in which the condenser <NUM> is located. That is, as shown in <FIG>, a height H1 of the connection duct <NUM> with regard to an installation space of the evaporator <NUM> may be less than a height H2 of the connection duct <NUM> with regard to an installation space of the condenser <NUM>.

If the connection duct <NUM> arranged in a longitudinal direction of the tub <NUM> has a constant width L2, due to the above-described difference between the height H1 of the installation space of the evaporator <NUM> and the height H2 of the installation space of the condenser <NUM>, heat exchange capacity of any one component may limit heat exchange capacity of the other component. To prevent the above-described problem, an area ratio of the evaporator <NUM> to the condenser <NUM> may be within a range of <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>.

The laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> further includes a filter device <NUM> to filter the air discharged from the tub <NUM> to prevent impurities, such as lint, from being accumulated in the heat exchanger <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the filter device <NUM> may be separably coupled to the connection duct <NUM> by passing through the cabinet <NUM>. To this end, the connection duct <NUM> may include a filter guide <NUM> to guide movement of the filter device <NUM>, and the cabinet <NUM> includes a filter separation/coupling passage <NUM> through which the filter device <NUM> passes.

The filter guide <NUM> may communicate the interior of the connection duct <NUM> with the filter separation/coupling passage <NUM>. More specifically, the filter guide <NUM> may include a section that protrudes from an outer circumferential surface of the connection duct <NUM> and is connected to the filter separation/coupling passage <NUM>, and a section that is located inside the connection duct <NUM> and configured to receive only an edge of the filter device <NUM>.

If the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> does not include the detergent supply device <NUM>, the filter separation/coupling passage <NUM> may be formed to penetrate the cabinet <NUM> or to penetrate the control panel <NUM>.

On the other hand, in case of the present invention, the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> includes the detergent supply device <NUM>, and the filter separation/coupling passage <NUM> is formed to penetrate the cabinet <NUM> in a space between the control panel <NUM> and the detergent supply unit <NUM> arranged parallel to each other.

Moreover, the filter separation/coupling passage <NUM> may be located above the laundry opening <NUM>. This may allow the user to separate the filter device <NUM> from the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> by less bending at the waist than the case in which the filter device <NUM> is located below the laundry opening <NUM>, which may result in enhanced user convenience.

The filter guide <NUM> may connect the filter separation/coupling passage <NUM> and the connection duct <NUM> to each other. As such, the filter device <NUM> inserted into the filter separation/coupling passage <NUM> may be located between the suction duct <NUM> and the evaporator <NUM> under assistance of the filter guide <NUM>.

The above-described filter device <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, may include a body <NUM> and filter frames <NUM> and <NUM> fixed to the body <NUM> and respectively provided with filters <NUM> and <NUM>. A handle <NUM> may be installed on the body <NUM>. The handle <NUM> may be seated in the filter separation/coupling passage <NUM> to assist the user in easily withdrawing or inserting the filter device <NUM> from or into the cabinet <NUM>.

When the filter device <NUM> is inserted into the cabinet <NUM>, the body <NUM> is located in the filter guide <NUM> and the filter frames <NUM> and <NUM> are located inside the connection duct <NUM>.

The body <NUM> may be formed of an elastic material. This may allow the filter frames <NUM> and <NUM> to be coupled to or separated from the connection duct <NUM> if the filter separation/coupling passage <NUM> and the connection duct <NUM> are not arranged in a straight line perpendicular to the front surface of the cabinet <NUM>. That is, as shown in <FIG>, in the case in which the circulation path <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> is arranged in a diagonal direction of the upper portion of the tub <NUM> (i.e. the connection duct <NUM> being located near the center of the upper portion of the tub <NUM>) and the filter separation/coupling passage <NUM> is located in a lateral position of the front surface of the cabinet <NUM> (i.e. the filter separation/coupling passage <NUM> being spaced apart from the center of the upper portion of the tub <NUM>), forming the body <NUM> of an elastic material may be necessary to allow the filter frames <NUM> and <NUM> to be easily moved into the connection duct <NUM>.

The filter frames may include a first frame <NUM> integrated with the body <NUM>, and a second frame <NUM> rotatably coupled to the first frame <NUM>, the second frame <NUM> being separable from the body <NUM> or the first frame <NUM>. The first frame <NUM> may include a through-hole <NUM>, a first filter <NUM> installed in the through-hole <NUM> to filter air, and a support rib <NUM> installed in the through-hole <NUM> to support the first filter <NUM>. The second frame <NUM> may have the same configuration as that of the first frame <NUM>. Thus, the second frame <NUM> may include a through-hole <NUM>, a second filter <NUM> installed in the through-hole <NUM>, and a support rib <NUM> installed in the through-hole <NUM> to support the second filter <NUM>.

The second frame <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the first frame <NUM> via a hinge <NUM>. The first filter <NUM> and the second filter <NUM> may be arranged to face each other (to overlap each other) when the first frame <NUM> and the second frame <NUM> overlap each other.

The filter device <NUM> may further include frame coupling portions <NUM> and <NUM> to secure the second frame <NUM> to the first frame <NUM>. The frame coupling portions <NUM> and <NUM> may include a boss <NUM> formed at one of the body <NUM> or the second frame <NUM>, and a receiving recess <NUM> formed in the other of the body <NUM> or the second frame <NUM> such that the boss <NUM> is inserted into the receiving recess <NUM>. <FIG> shows one example in which the boss <NUM> is formed at the body <NUM> and the receiving recess <NUM> is formed in an outer periphery of the second frame <NUM>.

The first frame <NUM> and the second frame <NUM> as described above may be formed of an elastic material.

<FIG> shows another embodiment of the filter device <NUM>. The filter device <NUM> according to the present embodiment may further include an elastic support portion <NUM> constituting a portion of the body <NUM>.

<FIG> shows, by way of example, the case in which the elastic support portion <NUM> is a connection portion between the handle <NUM> and the body <NUM>. Of course, differently from illustration of <FIG>, the elastic support portion <NUM> may be provided at any position of the body <NUM>.

For example, the elastic support portion <NUM> may be the entire body <NUM>, may be a center portion of the body <NUM>, or may be a connection portion between the body <NUM> and the first frame <NUM>.

The elastic support portion <NUM> may have various configurations so long as it allows the filter frames <NUM> and <NUM> to be separable from the connection duct <NUM> when the filter separation/coupling passage <NUM> and the connection duct <NUM> are not arranged in a straight line perpendicular to the front surface of the cabinet <NUM>.

<FIG> shows, by way of example, the case in which the elastic support portion <NUM> includes a plurality of corrugations formed at a surface of the body <NUM>. In this case, the plurality of corrugations may be formed at opposite surfaces of the body <NUM>.

Impurities remaining on the first filter <NUM> and the second filter <NUM> of the filter frames <NUM> and <NUM> may be removed by the impurity removal device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the impurity removal device <NUM> may include a scraper <NUM> coupled to the filter guide <NUM> to separate impurities from the filters <NUM> and <NUM> when the filter frames <NUM> and <NUM> are withdrawn from or inserted into the connection duct <NUM>. The scraper <NUM> may be installed within the filter guide <NUM> to come into contact with at least one of the first filter <NUM> or the second filter <NUM> when the filter frames <NUM> and <NUM> are withdrawn from the connection duct <NUM>. More specifically, the scraper <NUM> may include a first scraper installed to come into contact with the first filter <NUM> and a second scraper installed to come into contact with the second filter <NUM> when the filter frames <NUM> and <NUM> are withdrawn from the connection duct <NUM>. In this case, the first scraper and the second scraper may be arranged within the filter guide <NUM> to face each other.

If the first filter <NUM> is disposed to face the suction duct <NUM> and the second filter <NUM> is disposed to face the evaporator <NUM>, the scraper <NUM> may come into contact with only the first filter <NUM>. This is because most of impurities contained in the air introduced into the connection duct <NUM> are removed by the first filter <NUM>.

The impurity removal device <NUM> may further include a water supplier <NUM>, which supplies water into the connection duct <NUM> to discharge impurities remaining in the connection duct <NUM> to the outside of the connection duct <NUM>.

If the user withdraws the filter device <NUM> from the cabinet <NUM> using the handle <NUM>, impurities remaining on the filters <NUM> and <NUM> are separated from the filters <NUM> and <NUM> by the scraper <NUM> as the filter frames <NUM> and <NUM> are withdrawn from the connection duct <NUM>. The impurities separated from the filters <NUM> and <NUM> remain in the connection duct <NUM>. Thus, the water supplier <NUM> may connect the connection duct <NUM> and the water supply source provided inside or outside of the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> to each other, thereby supplying water into the connection duct <NUM> to discharge the impurities remaining in the connection duct <NUM> to the outside of the tub <NUM>.

The impurities may remain in the heat exchanger <NUM> or the blower <NUM> when the impurities remaining in the connection duct <NUM> are moved to the tub <NUM> by passing through the heat exchanger <NUM>, the blower <NUM>, and the discharge duct <NUM>. Therefore, the water supplier <NUM> may eject water into the suction duct <NUM> to allow the impurities inside the connection duct <NUM> to be moved to the tub <NUM> through the suction duct <NUM>. In this case, the impurities moved into the tub <NUM> may be discharged from the tub <NUM> to the outside of the cabinet <NUM> during operation of the drain device <NUM>.

Of course, the impurities inside the connection duct <NUM> may be discharged from the connection duct <NUM> through a separate path that communicates the connection duct <NUM> with the outside of the cabinet <NUM> or a separate path that connects the connection duct <NUM> and the drain device <NUM> to each other.

Despite the presence of the filter device <NUM>, impurities may still accumulate in the heat exchanger <NUM>. For this reason, the water supplier <NUM> may supply water into the heat exchanger <NUM> to remove impurities remaining on a surface of the heat exchanger <NUM>.

The impurities accumulated on the heat exchanger <NUM> may have higher possibility of accumulation on a surface of the evaporator <NUM> than possibility of accumulation on a surface of the condenser <NUM>. Therefore, the water supplier <NUM> may include a nozzle configured to eject water to the evaporator <NUM> and a path that connects the nozzle and the water supply source to each other.

In this case, the nozzle may be oriented to obliquely eject water onto the surface of the evaporator <NUM> by a prescribed angle, and impurities separated from the surface of the evaporator <NUM> by the water ejected from the nozzle may be discharged outward from the cabinet <NUM> through the path that communicates the connection duct <NUM> with the outside of the cabinet <NUM> or the path that connects the connection duct <NUM> and the drain device <NUM> to each other.

The impurities separated from the surface of the evaporator <NUM> by the water ejected from the nozzle may be introduced into the tub <NUM> through the suction duct <NUM>, and thereafter be discharged outward from the cabinet <NUM> through the drain device <NUM>.

In embodiments as broadly described herein, the filter device <NUM> may be installed so as to be withdrawn from the cabinet <NUM> simultaneously with withdrawal of the detergent supply device <NUM>.

Upon washing of laundry, the user may withdraw the detergent reservoir <NUM> from the cabinet <NUM> to put detergent into the detergent reservoir <NUM>, and thereafter may introduce the detergent reservoir <NUM> into the cabinet <NUM>. Thus, by allowing the filter device <NUM> to be withdrawn from the cabinet <NUM> along with the detergent reservoir <NUM>, impurities remaining on the filter device <NUM> may be removed from the filter device <NUM> by the scraper <NUM> when the user withdraws the detergent reservoir <NUM> from the cabinet <NUM> for washing of laundry. Accordingly, additional cleaning of the filter device <NUM>.

Various structures to move the filter device <NUM> along with the detergent reservoir <NUM> may be adopted. In one example, the body <NUM> of the filter device <NUM> may be connected to the detergent reservoir <NUM>. In this case, if the user withdraws the detergent reservoir <NUM> from the cabinet, the filter device <NUM> may be automatically withdrawn from the cabinet <NUM>.

The laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> may further include a sensor installed within the connection duct <NUM> at a position between the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> to measure the temperature of air. The sensor may measure the temperature of air dehumidified inside the connection duct <NUM>, and transmit the measured temperature to a controller. The controller may determine dryness of laundry by comparing measured temperature data with predetermined temperature data (experimentally set temperature data on a per dryness basis). The sensor may be located between the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> to prevent impurities from being accumulated on the sensor, thereby preventing the sensor from failing to acquire accurate temperature data.

That is, impurities may be introduced into the evaporator <NUM> despite the presence of the filter device <NUM> used to filter air to be introduced into the evaporator <NUM>. Thus, if the sensor is located in front of the evaporator <NUM>, impurities may be accumulated on the sensor, thereby preventing the sensor from sensitively measuring the temperature of air.

However, as described above, in the case in which the sensor is located between the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM>, the evaporator <NUM> may serve as a filter to catch the impurities even if the impurities are introduced into the evaporator <NUM>. Consequently, this arrangement may prevent problems caused when the sensor is located in front of the evaporator <NUM>.

The laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> may further include fasteners <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, which serve to prevent damage to the hot air supply device <NUM> due to external shock during transportation of the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> or operation of the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> and to reduce vibration to be applied to the hot air supply device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the fasteners <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may be fixed to the cabinet <NUM> to secure the hot air supply device <NUM> to an upper surface of the tub <NUM>.

The fasteners may include a pressure member <NUM> that applies pressure to the hot air supply device <NUM> toward the tub <NUM>, and support members <NUM> and <NUM> to support the bottom of the hot air supply device <NUM>.

The pressure member <NUM> may be located on the hot air supply unit <NUM>. One end of the pressure member <NUM> may be fixed to a front surface of the cabinet <NUM> and the other end of the pressure member <NUM> may be fixed to a rear surface of the cabinet <NUM>. As such, the pressure member <NUM> may prevent the hot air supply device <NUM> from being separated from the upper surface of the tub <NUM> by external force. The pressure member <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, may include a bar-shaped pressure body <NUM>, and fastening pieces <NUM> respectively located at opposite ends of the pressure body <NUM> and fastened to the cabinet <NUM>. The pressure body <NUM> may be fixed to the cabinet <NUM> via the fastening pieces <NUM>, thereby supporting an upper surface of the connection duct <NUM> or being fixed to the upper surface of the connection duct <NUM>.

The pressure body <NUM> may include a bent portion <NUM> to prevent the pressure body <NUM> from coming into contact with the compressor <NUM>. This is because, if the pressure body <NUM> comes into contact with the compressor <NUM>, vibration generated in the compressor <NUM> may be transmitted to the cabinet <NUM> through the pressure body <NUM>, thereby causing noise or vibration.

In certain embodiments, the bent portion <NUM> may not be provided at the pressure body <NUM>, depending on the arrangement of the hot air supply device <NUM> and other devices located above the tub <NUM>.

The pressure member <NUM> may further include flange portions <NUM> provided at opposite ends of the pressure body <NUM> to increase the strength of the pressure body <NUM>. A pair of flange portions <NUM> may be arranged in a longitudinal direction of the pressure body <NUM>.

The above-described pressure member <NUM> may be located above the connection duct <NUM>, and may prevent the hot air supply device <NUM> from being moved away from the tub <NUM>. However, the pressure member <NUM> cannot prevent transmission of vibration from the tub <NUM> to the hot air supply device <NUM>. Accordingly, the fasteners may include the support members <NUM> and <NUM> configured to maintain a constant gap between a lower surface of the hot air supply device <NUM> and the tub <NUM>. The support members may include first support members <NUM> secured to the cabinet <NUM> to support the connection duct <NUM> or the blower <NUM> and/or second support members <NUM> configured to secure the compressor support member <NUM> to the cabinet <NUM>. The first support members <NUM> may be located in a space between the upper surface of the tub <NUM> and a lower surface of the circulation path <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. The first support members <NUM> may include support bars <NUM> configured to secure the connection duct <NUM> or the blower <NUM> to the cabinet <NUM>.

One or more support bars <NUM> may be provided. Provision of two or more support bars <NUM> may provide more stable support to the connection duct <NUM> or the blower <NUM>. Each of the support bars <NUM> may penetrate the cabinet <NUM> at a position above the door <NUM>, and a first vibration insulator <NUM> may be provided at a circumferential surface of the support bar <NUM> coming into contact with the cabinet <NUM> to prevent vibration of the hot air supply device <NUM> from being transmitted to the cabinet <NUM> and to prevent vibration of the cabinet <NUM> generated during transportation of the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> from being transmitted to the hot air supply device <NUM>.

For efficient vibration absorption, the first vibration insulator <NUM> may be formed of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, but it is unnecessary to limit the material of the first vibration insulator <NUM> to the aforementioned EPDM rubber so long as the first vibration insulator <NUM> may provide the above-described function.

The second support members <NUM> may secure the compressor support member <NUM> to the cabinet <NUM>. The second support members <NUM> may include compressor support bars <NUM> and second vibration insulators <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, each of the compressor support bars <NUM> may penetrate the rear surface of the cabinet <NUM> and may be inserted into a hole <NUM> formed in the compressor support member <NUM>. One or more compressor support bars <NUM> may be provided, and two or more compressor support bars <NUM> may more stably support the compressor <NUM>.

The compressor support bar <NUM> may include a support bar body <NUM> inserted into the hole <NUM>, and a body flange <NUM> protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the support bar body <NUM> to come into contact with the hole <NUM>.

The second vibration insulator <NUM> may be provided on a circumferential surface of the compressor support bar <NUM> coming into contact with the cabinet <NUM>. The second vibration insulator <NUM> may include a cabinet coupling portion <NUM> coupled to the cabinet <NUM> and a bar through-hole <NUM> perforated in the cabinet coupling portion <NUM> such that the compressor support bar <NUM> is inserted into the bar through-hole <NUM>.

For efficient vibration absorption, the second vibration insulator <NUM> may be formed of EPDM rubber, but it is unnecessary to limit the material of the second vibration insulating portion to the EPDM rubber.

In certain embodiments, the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> may include a first controller <NUM> to control at least one of rotation of the drum <NUM>, supply and drainage of wash water, and/or the control panel <NUM>, and a second controller <NUM> to control operation of the hot air supply device <NUM>, the first controller <NUM> and the second controller <NUM> being separate from each other.

<FIG> shows one example of the first controller <NUM> for control of rotation of the drum <NUM> and control of supply and drainage of wash water (control of the water supply valve and the drain valve) and the second controller <NUM> for control of operation of the hot air supply device <NUM>.

The use of two controllers <NUM> and <NUM> may prevent deterioration in the performance of the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> caused when a main controller suffers from overload of data to be processed when the single main controller has to control all of a drive system (e.g., the motor <NUM> provided for rotation of the drum <NUM>), the water supply and drain devices <NUM> and <NUM> of the tub <NUM>, and the hot air supply device <NUM>.

That is, the first controller <NUM> mainly controls a washing cycle for washing of laundry via control of the drive system <NUM> and the water supply and drain devices <NUM> and <NUM> (i.e. a cycle during which contaminants of laundry are separated via rotation of the drum <NUM> and supply and drainage of wash water), and the second controller <NUM> mainly controls a drying cycle for drying of laundry via control of the hot air supply device <NUM> (i.e. a cycle during which hot air is supplied to laundry via the heat exchanger <NUM> and the blower <NUM>).

The first controller <NUM> may be set to function as a main controller that controls a power supply device of the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM>, and the input device <NUM> and the display device <NUM> provided at the control panel <NUM> (for control of power supply and power down).

However, in the case of the laundry treatment apparatus capable of washing and drying laundry, operation of the laundry treatment apparatus may terminate when the drying cycle terminates, and therefore control of the power supply device may be conducted by the second controller <NUM>.

In the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM>, the first controller <NUM> and the second controller <NUM> may be physically separated from each other by a first printed circuit board (PCB) <NUM> and a second PCB <NUM>.

The first PCB <NUM> may be integrally mounted to the control panel <NUM>, and the second PCB <NUM> may be disposed on the control panel <NUM> and be separably coupled to the first PCB <NUM>. The controllers <NUM> and <NUM> mounted on the respective PCBs <NUM> and <NUM> may be electrically connected to each other via a connector <NUM>. That is, the first PCB <NUM> and the second PCB <NUM> included in the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> may be separable from each other, and may be connected to each other via the connector <NUM> to enable data exchange (data communication) between the first controller <NUM> and the second controller <NUM> as needed. In this way, as the hot air supply device <NUM> and the second PCB <NUM> are added to a laundry treatment apparatus including only the drive device <NUM>, the water supply and drain devices <NUM> and <NUM>, and the first PCB <NUM>, the laundry treatment apparatus designed to implement only a washing function may be modified into a laundry treatment apparatus capable of implementing a drying function as well as the washing function.

In addition, as the second PCB <NUM> is added to a laundry treatment apparatus including only the drive system <NUM>, the water supply and drain devices <NUM> and <NUM>, the first PCB <NUM> provided with the first controller <NUM> and the hot air supply device <NUM>, the laundry treatment apparatus in which the hot air supply device <NUM> is controlled by the first controller <NUM> may be modified in such a manner that the hot air supply device <NUM> is controlled by the second controller <NUM>.

Examples of data transmitted from the first controller <NUM> to the second controller <NUM> may include data regarding whether or not a washing cycle has terminated and data regarding the quantity of laundry stored in the drum <NUM> (laundry quantity data). Examples of data transmitted from the second controller <NUM> to the first controller <NUM> may include a signal indicating termination of operation of the hot air supply device <NUM>, the temperature of air to be supplied into the tub <NUM>, and dryness of laundry stored in the drum <NUM>.

The first controller <NUM> may display the data transmitted from the second controller <NUM> on the display device <NUM> provided at the control panel <NUM> as needed.

In addition, examples of data exchanged between the first controller <NUM> and the second controller <NUM> may include an operation request signal of the first controller <NUM> and an operation request signal of the second controller <NUM>.

More specifically, during implementation of a washing cycle, the first controller <NUM> may transmit a signal to request the second controller <NUM> for temporary operation of the hot air supply device <NUM>. During implementation of a drying cycle, the second controller <NUM> may transmit a signal to request the first controller <NUM> for temporary operation of the drive system <NUM> or the water supply and drain devices <NUM> and <NUM>.

Any one of the first PCB <NUM> or the second PCB <NUM> may include a data storage medium <NUM> in which control data for implementation of a washing cycle (control data for the drive system <NUM> and the water supply and drain devices <NUM> and <NUM>) and control data for implementation of a drying cycle (control data for the hot air supply device <NUM>).

If the first controller <NUM> that functions as a main controller of the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> is provided at the first PCB <NUM>, the data storage medium <NUM> may be provided at the first PCB <NUM>. As described above, if the first controller <NUM> functions as a main controller and the first PCB <NUM> includes the data storage medium <NUM>, the second controller <NUM> may share the data storage medium <NUM> provided at the first PCB <NUM> because the second PCB <NUM> may be selectively coupled to the first PCB <NUM> as needed.

Hereinafter, a control method of the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> according to the present invention will be described.

As shown in <FIG>, when the user selects a washing cycle (or a drying cycle) or inputs a power supply instruction to the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> via the input device <NUM> provided at the control panel <NUM>, the first controller <NUM> supplies power to the respective components of the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> (S10).

A washing cycle may then be conducted (S20)a washing step (S21), a rinsing step (S23), a dehydration step (S25), and a drainage step (S27).

The washing step S21 may include a water supply process, a washing process, a drainage process, and a dehydration process. The water supply process may be conducted as the first controller <NUM> supplies wash water into the tub <NUM> via the water supply device <NUM>. In the water supply process, the first controller <NUM> may control the water supply device <NUM> to supply a predetermined quantity of wash water for the washing cycle selected by the user into the tub <NUM>. The washing process may be conducted when the supply of wash water into the tub <NUM> terminates. During the washing process, the first controller <NUM> may rotate the drum <NUM> via the drive system <NUM>. Then, the drainage process may be conducted as the first controller <NUM> controls the drain device <NUM> to discharge wash water from the tub <NUM>, and the dehydration process may be conducted as the first controller <NUM> rotates the drum <NUM> via the drive system <NUM>.

After termination of the washing step S21, the rinsing step S23 may be conducted. The rinsing step S23 may include a water supply process, a rinsing process, a drainage process, and a dehydration process. The water supply, drainage, and dehydration processes of the rinsing step S23 may be essentially the same as the water supply, drainage, and dehydration processes of the washing step S21, and the rinsing process of the rinsing step S23 may be essentially the same as the washing process of the washing step S21. Thus, further detailed description of the rinsing step S23 will be omitted.

After termination of the rinsing step S23, a final dehydration step S25 and a final drainage step S27 may be conducted.

The final dehydration step S25 may be conducted as the first controller <NUM> rotates the drum <NUM> via the drive system <NUM> to discharge water contained in laundry. The final drainage step S27 may be conducted as the first controller <NUM> controls the drain device <NUM> to discharge wash water from the tub <NUM>.

The final dehydration step S25 and the final drainage step S27 may be conducted in sequence as shown in <FIG>, or, in alternative embodiments may be simultaneously conducted.

After termination of the washing cycle S20, a laundry quantity sensing cycle S30 may be performed to determine the quantity/amount of laundry stored in the drum <NUM> as the first controller <NUM> rotates the drum <NUM> via the drive system <NUM>.

When the amount of laundry is determined in the laundry quantity sensing cycle S30, the first controller <NUM> transmits data regarding the sensed amount of laundry (laundry quantity data) to the second controller <NUM> (S40). Then, a drying cycle S50 may be conducted as the second controller <NUM> controls the hot air supply device <NUM> based on the laundry quantity data transmitted from the first controller <NUM>.

That is, during the drying cycle (S50), the second controller <NUM> controls, e.g., operation time of the heat exchanger <NUM> and the blower <NUM>, and the temperature of hot air to be supplied into the tub <NUM> based on the laundry quantity data transmitted from the first controller <NUM>.

During of the drying cycle (S50), the second controller <NUM> determines whether or not laundry reaches target dryness (S60). Determination of dryness (S60) may be conducted as a sensor measures data regarding the temperature and humidity of air discharged from the tub <NUM> and the second controller <NUM> compares the data transmitted from the sensor with predetermined reference data on a per laundry quantity basis.

Note that the second controller <NUM> may set operation time of the hot air supply device <NUM> based on the laundry quantity data transmitted from the first controller <NUM>. Therefore, determination of dryness (S60) may be conducted by determining whether or not predetermined operation duration of the heat exchanger <NUM> and the blower <NUM> has elapsed.

In this case, when the predetermined operation time of the heat exchanger <NUM> and the blower <NUM> has elapsed, the second controller <NUM> transmits a signal indicating termination of operation of the hot air supply device <NUM> to the first controller <NUM> (S70).

If the first controller <NUM> receives the signal indicating termination of operation of the hot air supply device <NUM> from the second controller <NUM>, the first controller <NUM> shuts off power to the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> (S80). Shut-off of power to the laundry treatment apparatus (S80) may include shutting off power to the drive system <NUM> and the water supply and drain devices <NUM> and <NUM> by the first controller <NUM>. In addition, before implementing shut-off of power to the laundry treatment apparatus S80, the first controller <NUM> may indicate to the user that operation of the laundry treatment apparatus <NUM> is to be terminated via the display device <NUM> provided at the control panel <NUM> or a speaker. Shut-off of power to the laundry treatment apparatus (S80) may be conducted by the second controller <NUM>.

Any reference in this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "example embodiment," etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Claim 1:
A laundry treatment apparatus (<NUM>) for drying and washing of laundry, comprising:
- a cabinet (<NUM>) having a laundry opening (<NUM>) formed therein;
- a laundry receiving device provided in the cabinet (<NUM>) and configured to receive laundry therein through the laundry opening (<NUM>) formed in the cabinet (<NUM>), wherein the laundry receiving device includes a tub (<NUM>) received within the cabinet (<NUM>) to store wash water therein and a drum (<NUM>) rotatably received within the tub (<NUM>) to store laundry therein;
- a control panel (<NUM>) coupled to the cabinet (<NUM>) above the laundry opening (<NUM>);
- a detergent supply device (<NUM>) installed within the cabinet (<NUM>) to store detergent to be supplied to the tub (<NUM>);
- a hot air supply device (<NUM>) including: a circulation passage (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) configured to guide air discharged from the laundry receiving device and to resupply the air back into the laundry receiving device, a heat exchanger (<NUM>) provided in the circulation passage (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), and a blower (<NUM>) configured to circulate air from an interior of the laundry receiving device through the circulation passage (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and back into the laundry receiving device;
- a filter device (<NUM>) positioned in the circulation passage (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to filter air flowing to the heat exchanger (<NUM>), wherein the filter device (<NUM>) is removable from the circulation passage (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) through a corresponding portion of the cabinet (<NUM>);
- a filter separation/coupling passage (<NUM>) that penetrates the cabinet (<NUM>) and through which the filter device (<NUM>) passes;
- a filter guide (<NUM>) connecting the filter separation/coupling passage (<NUM>) and the circulation passage (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the filter guide (<NUM>) is configured to guide the filter device (<NUM>) into and out of the circulation passage (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
characterized in that the circulation passage (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) extends in a diagonal direction across the upper portion of the laundry receiving device, and that
the filter separation/coupling passage (<NUM>) is formed to penetrate the cabinet (<NUM>) in a space between the control panel (<NUM>) and the detergent supply device (<NUM>) arranged parallel to each other.