Patent Description:
In general, the laundry treatment apparatus includes a washing machine, a laundry dryer, a laundry washing and drying apparatus, a clothing manager, etc. and is disposed in a home and a laundry shop, and performs a function for all of treatments such as washing, drying, or removing wrinkles for laundry or various bedding.

Among these laundry treatment apparatuses, the laundry dryer has a heat pump system and is configured to supply hot-air to a treatment target such as the laundry or bedding put into a tub or a drum via operation of this heat pump system to evaporate moisture contained in the treatment target to dry the treatment target.

Further, the laundry dryer may be classified into a discharge-type dryer and a condensation-type dryer according to a treatment scheme of hot and humid air that exits the drum after drying the treatment target.

In this connection, the discharge-type dryer is configured to directly discharge the high-temperature and humid air produced during the drying operation to an outside. The condensation-type dryer is configured to condense moisture contained in the air through heat exchange while circulating the hot and humid air produced during the drying operation without discharging the air to the outside.

In particular, the condensation-type dryer has the heat pump system including a compressor, a condenser, an expander and an evaporator. The moisture is removed from the air while the air is passing through the evaporator of the heat pump system and then the air is heated while the air is passing through the condenser.

The condensation-type dryer is disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>. <CIT> relates to a condensed water recovery device for clothes care equipment. The condensed water recovery device is arranged in a cabinet body for collecting condensed water in drying to recycle the condensed water. The condensed water recovery device includes a water collecting member to collect the condensed water, a sterilizing member using ultraviolet rays to sterilize the condensed water in the water collecting member, and a water pump to store the condensed water to a water storage device. However, it fails to teach that the sterilizing member operates independently of a specific process, such as a drying process. Besides, it fails to teach at which location the water pump should be in order to prevent the condensed water in the condensed water recovery device from being stagnant.

In one example, the condensation-type dryer as described above according to the prior art produces a large amount of condensed water via heat-exchanging while air passes through the evaporator.

This condensed water flows down to a bottom of a circulation channel and then collects in a condensed water collector where condensed water is collected and stored. The condensed water collected in this way is pumped by a water pump installed in the condensed water collector and thus is stored in a water discharge container.

However, although the condensed water existing in an area where the water pump is located must be completely discharged using the water pump, it is inevitable not to completely discharge the condensed water due to a structural limitation of the conventional water pump.

Accordingly, a certain amount of condensed water always remains in the condensed water collector. Thus, contaminations due to such residual water inevitably occurs.

In particular, the condensed water collector where condensed water remains is blocked from an external environment so that the condensed water may be pumped therein easily. Thus, when there is residual water in an inner space of the collector, there is a concern that the residual water does not evaporate rapidly and remains for a long time, so that propagation of bacteria due to contamination of the residual water may occur.

For this reason, high temperature heat of approximately <NUM> may be supplied thereto to kill the bacteria contained in the condensed water, or the germs may be killed using drugs.

However, the scheme of killing the bacteria with the high temperature heat is inevitable to cause user dissatisfaction because energy consumption is large. Further, the scheme of killing the bacteria with the drug may leave the drug which in turn remains on the laundry.

The present disclosure has been completed to solve various problems according to the prior art as described above. Thus, a purpose of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus having a sterilization function having a novel structure that enables sterilization of the condensed water stored in the condensed water collector to prevent contamination of the condensed water.

Further, another purpose of the present invention is a laundry treatment apparatus that has a sterilization function with a novel structure which allows condensed water to be sterilized in a process of introducing the condensed water into the condensed water collector to prevent condensed water contamination in the condensed water collector as much as possible.

Further, still another purpose of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus having a sterilization function having a novel structure capable of inhibiting bacterial growth in the condensed water remaining in the condensed water collector.

The laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention to achieve the above purpose has a sterilization module which is configured to sterilize condensed water in the condensed water collector where the condensed water is collected and stored, thereby preventing bacterial propagation in or contamination of the condensed water in the condensed water collector.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the sterilization module is installed on a pump cover of a discharge pump assembly, such that the sterilization module and the discharge pump assembly constitute a single module.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, a light-transmitting hole is defined in the pump cover, such that the sterilization module is configured to irradiate sterilization light into the light-transmitting hole, thereby accurately irradiating the sterilization light only to a target area.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the sterilization module is installed an outer face of a top of the pump cover. This allows maintenance including replacing only the sterilization module without removing the discharge pump assembly.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the sterilization light is irradiated to an area where the condensed water flows into the condensed water collector. This enables sterilization of an entirety of the condensed water stored in the condensed water collector.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the sterilization light is short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray. This enables sterilization of bacteria included in the flow condensed water.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the sterilization module includes a circuit board that irradiates short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray, a casing on which the circuit board is installed, and a sealing member that protects the circuit board from condensed water, such that the sterilization module is separated therefrom or assembled therewith independently.

Further, the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention has a transmissive window in the sealing member and the short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray irradiates through this transmissive window, thereby irradiating the short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray while blocking inflow of the condensed water.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, a bottom face of the sealing member covers the light-transmitting hole and is closely attached thereto, thereby preventing inflow of the condensed water as much as possible.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the transmissive window is fixedly inserted in a recess of the sealing member. This enables stable mounting of the transmissive window therein.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, a depth of the recess is larger than a thickness of the transmissive window. This enables stable mounting of the transmissive window therein.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the sealing member is formed in a disk shape. This increases a contact area thereof with the pump cover to improve airtightness.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, at least one circular concave-convex pattern is formed on a bottom face of the sealing member, thereby further improving the airtightness.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the sealing member is made of a silicon material. Thus, the sealing member is in tight contact with the pump cover to allow the airtightness to be maintained.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the casing constituting the sterilization module is constructed to open the inner space such that an operator may perform maintenance and management of the circuit board.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the sterilization module and the pump cover are fastened to each other with screws or bolts, such that they are easily separated or combined from or with each other.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, a light emitting diode (LED) continues to emit light during a sterilization operation, thereby improving the sterilization effect.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the discharge pump assembly is controlled to be activated and deactivated in a repeated manner during the sterilization operation, thereby improving the sterilization effect.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, operations of only the LED and the discharge pump assembly may be controlled to enable the sterilization operation.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the sterilization light is irradiated toward the condensed water being collected into a collection pipe, thereby improving the sterilization effect of the condensed water in the condensed water collector.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the sterilization light irradiated from the sterilization module is short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray, such that continuous irradiating may kill the bacteria.

As described above, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the sterilization of the condensed water stored in the condensed water collector may be realized via additional provision of the sterilization module to prevent the contamination of the condensed water.

Further, the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention is configured to sterilize the condensed water in the process of introducing the condensed water into the condensed water collector. Thus, the contamination of the condensed water in the condensed water collector may be suppressed, or delayed as much as possible.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the sterilization operation may be performed even when the drying operation is terminated, thereby achieving an effect of being able to suppress the bacterial growth of the condensed water remaining in the condensed water collector.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention, the sterilization module is installed interchangeably on the outer face of the pump cover, thereby allowing easy assembly and disassembly thereof for easy maintenance.

Further, the laundry treatment apparatus according to the invention is configured so that a portion where the circuit board constituting the sterilization module is installed may be constructed to maintain airtightness from the inner space in the condensed water collector, and so that the airtightness is stably and fully maintained, thereby preventing damage to the circuit board due to moisture penetration.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a laundry treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure and a method for operating the same (not forming part of the claimed invention) will be illustrated with reference to the accompanying <FIG>.

For the illustration of the embodiments, an example in which the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure is a laundry dryer that supplies dry hot-air to dry laundry will be described.

<FIG> show an installation structure of each of components of the laundry treatment apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. In this connection, <FIG> is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a block diagram schematically showing a structure for a drying operation and a washing operation by the laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a side view schematically showing a structure for a drying operation by the laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, <FIG> is a perspective view showing to illustrate a heat pump system of the laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing a heat pump system of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a plan view showing a base frame of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in these drawings, the laundry treatment apparatus according to the invention is configured to include a sterilization module <NUM> that sterilizes the condensed water in a condensed water collector <NUM>.

In other words, the condensed water flowing into the condensed water collector <NUM> is sterilized via additional provision of the sterilization module <NUM>, so that contamination of the condensed water may be prevented even when the condensed water remains in the condensed water collector <NUM>.

The laundry treatment apparatus having the above feature is largely composed of a cabinet <NUM>, a discharge pump assembly <NUM>, a heat pump system, a circulation fan assembly <NUM>, and the sterilization module <NUM>. A structure of each of the components of the laundry treatment apparatus will be illustrated in more detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the cabinet <NUM> is illustrated with referring to the attached <FIG>.

The cabinet <NUM> defines an appearance of the laundry treatment apparatus.

This cabinet <NUM> may be embodied as a hollow body. Inside the cabinet <NUM>, a drum <NUM> which receives a drying target, that is, laundry may be rotatably installed.

In this connection, a front face of the cabinet <NUM> has a drying target inlet <NUM> through which the drying target is input into the drum <NUM>. The drying target inlet <NUM> may be opened and closed by a door <NUM>.

Further, a water discharge container <NUM> is disposed in the cabinet <NUM>. The water discharge container <NUM> temporarily stores therein condensed water to be drained.

Further, the base frame <NUM> is disposed on a bottom of the cabinet <NUM>. This base frame <NUM> may form a floor within the cabinet <NUM>.

In another example, although not shown, a separate bottom plate may be disposed to close an open bottom face of the cabinet <NUM>. The base frame <NUM> may be mounted on the bottom plate and fixed thereto.

The discharge pump assembly <NUM>, the heat pump system, the circulation fan assembly <NUM>, and the circulation channel <NUM> which will be described later may be installed or formed on a top face of the base frame <NUM> (a bottom face of the cabinet) as shown in the attached <FIG>.

In addition, a plurality of recesses may be defined in the top face of the base frame <NUM>. The recesses may include a recess <NUM> for receiving a compressor <NUM>, a recess <NUM> for receiving a drum driving motor <NUM>, and a recess for receiving the discharge pump assembly <NUM>. This is as shown in the attached <FIG> and <FIG>.

In particular, the recesses for receiving the discharge pump assembly <NUM> may act as the condensed water collector <NUM> for storage of condensed water.

In this connection, the condensed water stored in the condensed water collector <NUM> may include condensed water that is condensed via heat exchange between the water produced during the drying operation and an evaporator.

In one example, the circulation channel <NUM> may be formed on one side of the face top of the base frame <NUM>.

This circulation channel <NUM> is constructed so that the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> of the heat pump system are sequentially installed therein. In addition, the circulation channel <NUM> may be formed in a duct-like structure (see attached <FIG>) having left and right walls <NUM> that guide air flow so that the air passes through the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> in sequence. In this connection, a top face of the circulation channel <NUM> may be formed to be open, while a bottom face of the circulation channel <NUM> may define the top face of the base frame <NUM>.

In another example, a shape of the circulation channel <NUM> may be formed in various structures such as a cylindrical duct as well as a box-shaped duct having an open top face in consideration of a shape of a surrounding structure or air flow characteristics.

Moreover, an inlet duct <NUM> that guides supplying dry air into the drum <NUM> may be connected to an air outflow side as a rear side of the circulation channel <NUM>. An outlet duct <NUM> that guides discharge flow of air discharged from the drum <NUM> may be connected to an air inlet side as a front side of the circulation channel <NUM>. This is as shown in <FIG> as attached.

In addition, the open top face of the circulation channel <NUM> may be closed by a base cover <NUM> (see attached <FIG> and <FIG>). That is, the circulation channel <NUM> may have an inner space blocked from the external environment with the base cover <NUM> as described above.

Further, a cover seated groove <NUM> is defined in the bottom face in the circulation channel <NUM>. In this cover seated groove <NUM>, a water cover <NUM> on which the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> are fixedly mounted may be seated. In this connection, a side wall (a rear side wall) of the cover seated groove <NUM> may have a through-hole <NUM> (see attached <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>) defined therein that communicates with a front space of the condensed water collector <NUM>.

That is, the condensed water dropped to a floor in the circulation channel <NUM> flows down into the cover seated groove <NUM> and then flows backward along a bottom face of the cover seated groove <NUM>, and then passes through the through-hole <NUM> and then is stored in the condensed water collector <NUM>. In this connection, a bottom face of the cover seated groove <NUM> may be formed inclined toward a portion where the condensed water collector <NUM> is located, so that the condensed water flowing down to the floor in the cover seated groove <NUM> is smoothly transferred to the condensed water collector <NUM> along the inclined bottom face.

In addition, residual water stored in the condensed water collector <NUM> may be drained into the water discharge container <NUM> after all operations have been terminated.

In one example, a controller <NUM> may be installed inside the cabinet <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may be configured to control the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus.

The controller <NUM> may be configured to control the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus based on a user's manipulation applied through an input interface <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM>.

Further, the controller <NUM> may be programmed to control operations of the circulation fan assembly <NUM> and the compressor <NUM> to performs a drying operation on the treatment target, and to control an operation of the discharge pump <NUM> based on a water-level identified by a water-level sensor <NUM> to be described later to perform a water discharging operation in which the residual water stored in the condensed water collector <NUM> is pumped and drained out. In this connection, the water-level sensor <NUM> is installed in the discharge pump assembly <NUM> and configured to detect the condensed water-level in the condensed water collector <NUM>.

Next, the drum <NUM> is illustrated with referring to <FIG> and <FIG> as attached.

The drum <NUM> may be embodied as a cylindrical body with front and rear openings. The front opening of the drum <NUM> may communicate with the drying target inlet <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM>. In this connection, the drum may rotate while being supported on a roller <NUM> in the cabinet <NUM>.

Further, the drum <NUM> may be constructed so that hot dry hot-air may flow into the drum. In this connection, the drying hot-air may be introduced into an inner space of the drum through the rear opening of the drum <NUM> and then discharged to the outside of the drum <NUM> through the front opening of the drum <NUM>.

Further, the front opening and the rear opening of the drum <NUM> may be connected to the circulation channel <NUM> which extends through the condenser <NUM> and the evaporator <NUM> of the heat pump system to be described later.

That is, the drying target in the drum <NUM> may be dried with high-temperature dry air supplied from the heat pump system through the circulation channel <NUM>. The humid air that contains moisture as the drying target is dried is supplied to the heat pump system. This circulation is repeated. This is as shown in <FIG> as attached.

In one example, a dryness sensor <NUM> (refer to attached <FIG>) may be further disposed inside the drum <NUM>.

The dryness sensor <NUM> may be configured to identify dryness of the drying target, and may be composed of two electrodes. In this connection, the two electrodes may be exposed toward the inside of the drum <NUM> while being spaced apart from each other. The dryness sensor <NUM> may be installed on the door <NUM>, for example, or may be installed on the cabinet <NUM> adjacent to the door.

The dryness sensor (the two electrodes) <NUM> may determine the dryness of the drying target based on an electrode value. In this connection, a current value varies according to the drying target's condition, for example, a wetness of the drying target when the drying target comes into contact with the electrodes. Then, the current value is converted into the electrode value. In other words, when considering that the drying target acts as a resistance to the two electrodes of the dryness sensor <NUM>, the current flowing through a circuit varies because the resistance value varies according to a moisture content of the drying target. A fluctuation value of this variable current is converted into a predetermined electrode value. Thus, the dryness may be determined based on this electrode value.

In this connection, the predefined electrode value may be an arbitrary value converted into a numerical range in which the laundry treatment apparatus is easily controlled.

Next, the discharge pump assembly <NUM> is illustrated with reference to <FIG>.

The discharge pump assembly <NUM> is configured to pump the condensed water stored in the condensed water collector <NUM>. As shown in the attached <FIG>, the discharge pump assembly <NUM> may be accommodated and mounted in the condensed water collector <NUM>.

The discharge pump assembly <NUM> may include a discharge pump <NUM> and a pump cover <NUM>.

In this connection, the discharge pump <NUM> is configured to pump the condensed water stored in the condensed water collector <NUM>.

This discharge pump <NUM> is not shown in detail. The discharge pump <NUM> may be configured to pump the condensed water stored in the condensed water collector <NUM> via rotation of an impeller thereof when a discharge motor thereof is activated.

Moreover, the pump cover <NUM> is constructed so that the inside of the condensed water collector <NUM> in which the discharge pump <NUM> is installed acts as a pumping space blocked from an external environment.

This pump cover <NUM> may be embodied as a casing with an open bottom that covers and closes an open top face of the condensed water collector <NUM>.

That is, the pump cover <NUM> may allow the inside of the condensed water collector <NUM> to act as a closed space from the outside. Accordingly, a pumping operation of the discharge pump <NUM> may be stably performed.

In this connection, the pump cover <NUM> may have an installation hole <NUM> extending therethrough. The discharge pump <NUM> may include an impeller <NUM> located inside the condensed water collector <NUM> relative to the installation hole <NUM> of the pump cover <NUM>, and a discharge motor <NUM> installed outside the condensed water collector <NUM> relative to the installation hole <NUM> of the pump cover <NUM>. This is as shown in the attached <FIG>.

Further, an ejection port <NUM> that guides ejection flow of the condensed water pumped by the operation of the discharge pump <NUM> is formed to protrude upward from the pump cover <NUM>. A pumping guide hose (not shown) is connected to the ejection port <NUM>, such that the condensed water pumped by the discharge pump <NUM> is guided by the pumping guide hose and then passes through a flow guide valve <NUM> (see attached <FIG>) and is stored in the container <NUM>.

Further, the water-level sensor <NUM> may be installed on the pump cover <NUM>. In this connection, the water-level sensor <NUM> senses the water-level in the condensed water collector <NUM> and provides the same to the controller <NUM>. The discharge pump <NUM> may be controlled to operate based on the water-level in the condensed water collector <NUM> sensed by the water-level sensor <NUM>.

In addition, a collection port <NUM> for collection flow of the condensed water overflowing from the water discharge container <NUM> may be further formed on the pump cover <NUM>.

This collection port <NUM> is configured to communicate with the through-hole (the condensed water inlet side) of the condensed water collector <NUM>. Thus, the condensed water collected from the water discharge container <NUM> through the corresponding collection port <NUM> and the condensed water flowing down the cover seated groove <NUM> of the base frame <NUM> and flowing into the condensed water collector <NUM> may meet each other at the same location, and then may inflow toward the discharge pump <NUM>. In this connection, the collection port <NUM> may be constructed to be connected to the water discharge container <NUM> via a collection channel (not shown).

Next, the heat pump system is illustrated with reference to the attached <FIG>.

The heat pump system is configured to produce high temperature dry air via heat exchange of the humid air discharged from the drum <NUM>.

That is, the air to be supplied into the drum <NUM> may always have a high temperature and dry state due to the heat pump system.

This heat pump system may include the compressor <NUM>, the condenser <NUM>, an expander <NUM>, and an evaporator <NUM>.

In this connection, the compressor <NUM> is a device that receives high-temperature, and low-pressure refrigerant for heat exchange and compresses the refrigerant into high-temperature, and high-pressure refrigerant. The condenser <NUM> is a device that receives the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant and condenses the refrigerant into low temperature and high pressure refrigerant. The expander <NUM> is a device that receives the condensed low temperature and high pressure refrigerant and expands the refrigerant into low temperature low pressure refrigerant. The evaporator <NUM> is a device that receives the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant and heat-exchanges between the refrigerants and surrounding air. In this connection, the refrigerant passing through the evaporator <NUM> is in a high temperature and low pressure state. The high temperature and low pressure refrigerant may be fed to the compressor <NUM>. This process may be repeated.

In the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure, the compressor <NUM> and the expander <NUM> are located on one side of the top face of the base frame <NUM> (see attached <FIG>). The condenser <NUM> and evaporator <NUM> may be positioned within the circulation channel <NUM> (see attached <FIG> and <FIG>).

In this connection, the evaporator <NUM> is disposed on a humid air inflow side of the circulation channel <NUM>, and performs a function of removing moisture therefrom by heat-exchanging the air with the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant. The condenser <NUM> is disposed on an air outflow side of the evaporator <NUM> and increase a temperature of dry air whose temperature is lowered while passing through the evaporator <NUM>.

In another example, when considering that the compressor <NUM> generates a large amount of heat during its operation, the compressor <NUM> may be disposed adjacent to a heat-dissipation fan <NUM> for heat dissipation from the compressor <NUM>. That is, the heat-dissipation fan <NUM> may perform the heat dissipation from the compressor <NUM>.

The compressor <NUM> and the expander <NUM> may be spaced from the circulation channel <NUM> so as not to affect the circulating air (air flow and temperature thereof).

Next, with reference to <FIG> and <FIG> as attached, the circulation fan assembly <NUM> will be described.

The circulation fan assembly <NUM> is configured to forcibly circulate air.

That is, air that has sequentially passed through the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> in the circulation channel <NUM> under activation of the circulation fan assembly <NUM> may be supplied into the drum <NUM> through the inlet duct <NUM>. Then, the air passing through the drum <NUM> may sequentially pass through the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> in the circulation channel <NUM> through the outlet duct <NUM>. This air circulation may be repeated.

The circulation fan assembly <NUM> may be located on the air outflow side of the condenser <NUM> of the circulation channel <NUM>.

In particular, the circulation fan assembly <NUM> may include a circulation fan <NUM> installed to be accommodated in a fan housing <NUM> and a fan motor <NUM> that drives the circulation fan <NUM>. In this connection, an air inlet of the fan housing <NUM> may be connected to the circulation channel <NUM>, and an air outlet of the fan housing <NUM> may be connected to the inlet duct <NUM>.

Next, the sterilization module <NUM> is illustrated with reference to <FIG> as attached.

In this connection, <FIG> is an enlarged view showing an installation state of the discharge pump assembly and the sterilization module. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a sterilization module of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a bottom perspective view to illustrate a structure of the sterilization module of the laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a perspective view of a state in which main components are partially cut away to illustrate an installation state of the sterilization module of the laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of the sterilization module of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The sterilization module <NUM> is configured to sterilize the condensed water in the condensed water collector <NUM>.

This sterilization module <NUM> may be installed on the pump cover <NUM> constituting the discharge pump assembly <NUM>.

The pump cover <NUM> may have a light-transmitting hole <NUM> passing through the pump cover <NUM>. The sterilization module <NUM> may be configured to irradiate the sterilization light into the condensed water collector <NUM> through the light-transmitting hole <NUM>.

In this connection, the light-transmitting hole <NUM> may pass through the top face of the pump cover <NUM>. The sterilization module <NUM> may be installed on an outer face of the top of the pump cover <NUM> and at a location where the light-transmitting hole <NUM> is located. The position of the light-transmitting hole <NUM> and the installation position of the sterilization module <NUM> may be selected such that the pump cover <NUM> may be easily combined with or separated from the sterilization module <NUM>, thereby to facilitate maintenance thereof.

In particular, the light-transmitting hole <NUM> may be preferably formed to be located at a portion of a top of the pump cover <NUM> where condensed water flows into the condensed water collector <NUM>. In other words, the sterilization light irradiated from the sterilization module <NUM> may be irritated to the condensed water while the condensed water is flowing into the condensed water collector <NUM>.

In another example, the light-transmitting hole <NUM> may be formed in a portion of the condensed water collector <NUM> where the condensed water remains. However, while an area where the condensed water remains as described above is substantially wide, the sterilization light irradiated from the sterilization module <NUM> has an irradiating angle sized such that the light may be irradiated only toward a portion of the condensed water. When the light-transmitting hole <NUM> may be formed in a portion of the condensed water collector <NUM> where the condensed water remains, the sterilization effect may be degraded.

Thus, it would be most desirable such that the sterilization light is irradiated toward a portion where the condensed water is flowing into the condensed water collector <NUM> as in the above-described embodiment.

In one example, the sterilization light irradiated from the sterilization module <NUM> is short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray with excellent sterilization ability. In other words, providing the short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray (UV-C) having a wavelength of <NUM> to <NUM> as a sterilization light may achieve excellent sterilization power.

To this end, the sterilization module <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the circuit board <NUM> on which a short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray irradiation LED (Light Emitting Diode) (hereinafter referred to as "irradiation LED") <NUM> is mounted. In addition, the sterilization module <NUM> may include a casing <NUM> for stable installation of the circuit board <NUM> and protection from the external environment, a transmissive window <NUM> and a sealing member <NUM>.

The components of the sterilization module <NUM> are described in more detail as follows.

The casing <NUM> is configured to provide an installation space for the circuit board <NUM>.

The casing <NUM> may include a casing body <NUM> with a closed bottom face and an open top face, and a top face cover <NUM> covering the open top face of the casing body <NUM>. In this connection, the circuit board <NUM> may be installed inside the casing body <NUM>. In other words, the casing body <NUM> is constructed such that an inner space thereof is open so that the circuit board <NUM> located therein may be subject to maintenance.

In particular, the casing <NUM> is constructed to be fastened to the top face of the pump cover <NUM> with screws or bolts. This makes it easy to separate or combine the sterilization module <NUM> from the pump cover <NUM>.

In addition, an irradiation hole 921a communicating with the light-transmitting hole <NUM> of the pump cover <NUM> may be defined in a bottom face of the casing body <NUM> that constitutes the casing <NUM>. The irradiation LED <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM> may be installed to irradiate the short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray through the irradiation hole 921a.

In addition, the short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray irradiated from the irradiation LED <NUM> may transmit through the transmissive window <NUM>. To this end, the transmissive window <NUM> may be made of quartz.

In addition, the sealing member <NUM> may prevent the condensed water in the condensed water collector <NUM> from invading the circuit board <NUM> and may allow the transmissive window <NUM> to be coupled to the casing <NUM>.

This sealing member <NUM> may be made of a silicon material, so that the sealing member may maintain airtightness while being in close contact with the pump cover <NUM>. This is to prevent the condensed water from inflowing through the light-transmitting hole <NUM>.

Further, the sealing member <NUM> may have a circular ring structure in which a communication-hole <NUM> is formed in an inner central portion. In another example, although not shown, the sealing member <NUM> may be formed in a square frame structure having the communication-hole <NUM> in a center region thereof. However, in order to increase a contact area to increase the airtightness, it would be more desirable to form the sealing member <NUM> in the circular ring structure.

In this connection, the communication-hole <NUM> is formed in the central portion of the sealing member <NUM> and communicate the irradiation hole 921a of the casing <NUM> and the light-transmitting hole <NUM> of the pump cover <NUM> with each other. The transmissive window <NUM> may be installed to cover the communication-hole <NUM>.

In particular, a recess <NUM> is formed in a bottom face of the sealing member <NUM> and around the communication-hole <NUM>. The transmissive window <NUM> may be fixedly inserted in the recess <NUM>.

In this connection, a recess depth of the recess <NUM> may be larger than a thickness of the transmissive window <NUM>. As a result, when the sealing member <NUM> comes into contact with a surface of the pump cover <NUM>, the sealing member may be compressed and deformed so that the sealing member may be adhered thereto as closely as possible.

Further, at least one circular concave-convex pattern <NUM> may be further formed in the bottom face of the sealing member <NUM> and between a circumference of the sealing member <NUM> and a portion thereof where the recess <NUM> is formed. In this connection, the circular concave-convex pattern <NUM> may be embodied as a groove recessed from the surface of the sealing member <NUM>. This circular concave-convex pattern <NUM> may prevent the moisture existing outside the sealing member <NUM> from invading the transmissive window <NUM> in the recess <NUM> as much as possible. In another example, the circular concave-convex pattern <NUM> may be embodied as a protrusion protruding from the surface of the sealing member <NUM>.

In one example, a reference numeral <NUM> in the attached <FIG> as not described refers to a cleaner for cleaning of a surface of the evaporator <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the drying operation and the sterilization operation of the laundry treatment apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure described above will be described in more detail.

In this connection, control of each of the components or the sensor and the valve related to each operation is performed by the controller <NUM> based on information as preprogrammed or in a set sequence. Hereinafter, although the description that the control of each of the components or the sensor and the valve related to each operation is performed by the controller <NUM> is absent, the control of each of the components or the sensor and the valve related to each operation is performed by the controller <NUM>.

First, the drying operation is configured for drying the drying target.

This drying operation may be performed via user manipulation. That is, when the drying operation is selected via the user's manipulation, the controller <NUM> may control the operations of the heat pump system and the circulation fan assembly <NUM> to perform the drying operation.

That is, the flow of the refrigerant circulating through the heat pump system under the operation of the compressor <NUM> and the circulating flow of air passing through the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> sequentially under the operation of the circulation fan assembly <NUM> may allow the moisture contained in the air to be removed, and then allow the dry air in a high temperature state to be supplied into the drum <NUM> to dry the drying target.

In this connection, the humid air discharged from the drum <NUM> flows into the circulation channel <NUM> through the outlet duct <NUM>, and then passes through the evaporator <NUM> located in the circulation channel <NUM> such that the moisture is removed therefrom and then passes through the condenser <NUM> such that the dry air is heated. Then, the air passes through the fan housing <NUM> of the circulation fan assembly <NUM> and flows to the inlet duct <NUM>, and then is supplied into the drum <NUM>. This circulation process may be repeated.

Further, while the humid air passes through the evaporator <NUM> during the above-described air circulation process, the moisture contained in the air may condense on the surface (a surface of each heat exchange fin) of the evaporator <NUM> and may flow down along the surface and may drop onto the water cover <NUM> and then may be collected in the cover seated groove <NUM>.

Then, the condensed water collected in the cover seated groove <NUM> may flow to a rear portion of the cover seated groove <NUM> along a slope of the bottom face of the cover seated groove <NUM> and may be stored in the condensed water collector <NUM> through the through-hole <NUM>.

In particular, when the above drying operation is performed, the sterilization module <NUM> is powered on such that the irradiation LED <NUM> emits light. Thus, the short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray therefrom may be irradiated toward the condensed water flowing into the condensed water collector <NUM> through the through-hole <NUM>.

In this connection, the short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray may sequentially pass through the irradiation hole 921a of the casing <NUM> constituting the sterilization module <NUM>, the transmissive window <NUM>, and the light-transmitting hole <NUM> of the pump cover <NUM>, and may be irradiated toward the condensed water flowing into the condensed water collector <NUM> through the through-hole <NUM>.

Thus, the condensed water flowing into the condensed water collector <NUM> may be sterilized by the short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray and then may be stored in the condensed water collector <NUM>.

In one example, when the condensed water flows into the condensed water collector <NUM>, the water-level sensor <NUM> disposed in the condensed water collector <NUM> detects the water-level of the condensed water stored in the condensed water collector <NUM>. Then, based on the detected water-level, the controller <NUM> may determine whether to drain the residual water in the condensed water collector <NUM> to the water discharge container <NUM>.

When the controller <NUM> determines to drain the residual water in the condensed water collector <NUM> to the water discharge container <NUM>, the condensed water in the condensed water collector <NUM> may be pumped and stored to the water discharge container <NUM> under the operations of the discharge pump <NUM> and the flow guide valve <NUM>.

Further, when an amount of the condensed water pumped and stored into the water discharge container <NUM> exceeds an allowable storage amount of the water discharge container <NUM>, the condensed water may overflow from the water discharge container <NUM>, and then the condensed water overflowing from the water discharge container <NUM> may pass through the collection port <NUM> of the pump cover <NUM> along a collection channel (not shown) and then be collected into the condensed water collector <NUM>.

The condensed water collected in this process may join the condensed water that flows into the condensed water collector <NUM> through the through-hole <NUM>, or the condensed water collected in this process alone may flow into a condensed water inflow side of the condensed water collector <NUM>. Subsequently, the condensed water may be sterilized under the influence of the short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray irradiated from the sterilization module <NUM> to the condensed water inlet side of the condensed water collector <NUM> and may be stored in the condensed water collector <NUM>.

Eventually, as the irradiation LED <NUM> of the above-described sterilization module <NUM> continuously irradiates the short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray to the condensed water flowing into the condensed water collector <NUM>, the contamination of the condensed water stored in the condensed water collector <NUM> may be prevented or delayed as much as possible.

In one example, the sterilization module <NUM> is not limited to irradiating the short-wavelength ultraviolet-rays only during the drying operation.

In other words, when considering that as the short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray is irradiated from the sterilization module <NUM> for a longer time, better sterilization power may be acquired, the sterilization module <NUM> may be controlled to continuously irradiate the short-wavelength ultraviolet-rays before or after the drying operation is performed.

In particular, at the end of the drying operation when the heat pump system and the circulation fan assembly <NUM> are deactivated, the discharge pump assembly <NUM> and the sterilization module <NUM> may be activated to further perform the sterilization operation for sterilizing the condensed water for a certain period of time.

In other words, when considering the irradiating angle of the short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray irradiated from the sterilization module <NUM>, the sterilization module <NUM> may not evenly irradiate the short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray to an entire region of the condensed water collector <NUM>. Thus, there is a concern that bacteria present in the condensed water in an area to which the short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray is not irradiated may breed. Thus, it would be desirable to further increase the sterilization power for the condensed water by allowing the condensed water in the condensed water collector <NUM> to be continuously mixed with each other during the operation of the sterilization module <NUM>.

In another example, when the condensed water stored in the condensed water collector <NUM> has a water-level at which the condensed water may be completely pumped under the operation of the discharge pump <NUM>, the condensed water may be pumped and discharged under the operation of the discharge pump <NUM>, and may flow into the condensed water collector <NUM>. Thus, the condensed water may be sterilized during this circulation. Further, when the condensed water stored in the condensed water collector <NUM> has a water-level at which the condensed water may not be completely pumped under the operation of the discharge pump <NUM>, the condensed water may flow in the condensed water collector due to a wind resulting from a rotational motion of the impeller of the discharge pump <NUM>. Thus, the condensed water present in a blind spot of the condensed water collector <NUM> to which the short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray is not irradiated may flow to a region to which the short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray is irradiated and thus may be sufficiently subject to the short-wavelength ultraviolet-ray.

When pumping the condensed water in the condensed water collector <NUM> under the operation of the discharge pump assembly <NUM>, the flow guide valve <NUM> may be controlled.

That is, under the control of the flow guide valve <NUM>, the condensed water is not pumped to the water discharge container <NUM> but flows through the cleaner <NUM> to the cover seated groove <NUM> and then flows along the cover seated groove <NUM> and is collected again into the condensed water collector <NUM>. Alternatively, under the control of the flow guide valve <NUM>, the condensed water is pumped to the water discharge container <NUM> and is collected into the condensed water collector <NUM> through the collection channel and the collection port <NUM>.

Further, during the operation of the sterilization operation as described above, the discharge pump assembly <NUM> may be controlled such that the discharge pump assembly <NUM> may be activated and deactivated in a repeated manner.

In other words, the repetitive activation and deactivation of the discharge pump <NUM> may allow the condensed water present in various portions of the condensed water collector <NUM> not to be kept in a stagnant state, but to flow and to be mixed with each other and be sterilized to improve the sterilization effect.

In this connection, the discharge pump assembly <NUM> is preferably controlled so that the operation time duration thereof is shorter than the operation stop time duration. That is, the pumping operation is performed only for a short period of time so that power consumption may be reduced, while the condensed water in the condensed water collector <NUM> may be smoothly mixed with each other.

Therefore, even when the condensed water remains in the condensed water collector <NUM>, the remaining condensed water is brought into a sterilized state by the above-described series of processes using the sterilization module <NUM>, so that contamination may be prevented.

The sterilization operation may be performed only under the operation of the sterilization module <NUM>. In other words, after all operations are completed, only the sterilization module <NUM> is continuously or periodically (for example, for a certain period of time every day or once every few days) activated so that the contamination of the condensed water in the condensed water collector <NUM> may be continuously prevented.

Thus, the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure and the method for operating the apparatus may sterilize the condensed water stored in the condensed water collector <NUM> via the additional provision of the sterilization module <NUM>, thereby preventing the contamination of the condensed water.

Further, the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure and the method for operating the apparatus are configured to sterilize the condensed water in the process of introducing the condensed water into the condensed water collector <NUM>, so that condensed water contamination in the condensed water collector <NUM> may be prevented or delayed as much as possible.

Further, the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure and the method for operating the apparatus may execute the sterilization operation for irradiating the light continuously into the condensed water collector <NUM> even when the drying operation is terminated, thereby suppressing the bacterial proliferation of the condensed water remaining in the condensed water collector <NUM>.

Further, in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure and the method for operating the apparatus, the sterilization module <NUM> is interchangeably installed on the outer face of the pump cover <NUM> for easy assembly and disassembly and thus maintenance thereof.

Further, the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure and the method for operating the apparatus are configured so that a portion where the circuit board <NUM> of the sterilization module <NUM> is installed may maintain the airtightness from the inner space of the condensed water collector <NUM>, and the airtightness is stably and perfectly maintained, such that the damage to the circuit board <NUM> due to moisture penetration may be prevented.

Further, the laundry treatment apparatus and the operation control method thereof to which the sterilization module <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is applied are not limited to being implemented only with the structure of the illustrated embodiment.

For example, in a structure in which the discharge pump assembly <NUM> is disposed on the rear side of the base frame <NUM> as in <CIT> and <CIT>, the sterilization module <NUM> may be installed at a location of the discharge pump assembly <NUM> to which the condensed water is collected. In another example, the sterilization operation using the sterilization module <NUM> may also be performed in the same manner as the operation of the above-described embodiment.

Claim 1:
A laundry treatment apparatus comprising:
a water discharge container (<NUM>);
a condensed water collector (<NUM>) disposed in a cabinet (<NUM>), wherein the condensed water collector (<NUM>) has a collection space for storing therein condensed water;
a discharge pump assembly (<NUM>) installed in the condensed water collector (<NUM>) to pump the condensed water stored in the condensed water collector (<NUM>) toward the water discharge container (<NUM>);
a sterilization module (<NUM>) configured to sterilize the condensed water in the condensed water collector (<NUM>);
a heat pump system for heating air and condensing moisture from air used to dry laundry;
a circulation fan assembly (<NUM>) for circulating air; and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to control the heat pump system, the circulation fan assembly (<NUM>), the discharge pump assembly (<NUM>) and the sterilization module (<NUM>),
wherein the condensed water collector (<NUM>) is configured for storing therein condensed water flowing down from the heat pump system,
wherein the sterilization module (<NUM>) is configured for irradiating short-wavelength ultraviolet-rays to the condensed water;
characterized in that
the controller (<NUM>) is configured to:
activate the heat pump system and the circulation fan assembly (<NUM>) to dry the laundry, and deactivate the heat pump system and the circulation fan assembly (<NUM>);
activate the discharge pump assembly (<NUM>) and the sterilization module (<NUM>) to irradiate the short-wavelength ultraviolet-rays to the condensed water circulated under an operation of the discharge pump assembly (<NUM>).