Patent Description:
Generally, a laundry treating apparatus includes various types such as a washing machine for laundry washing, a washing machine for drying, and a refresher for refresh.

In a laundry treating apparatus, washing means a process of removing contaminants on clothes by using mechanical action of water and detergent, and drying means a process of removing water contained in laundry.

In a washing process, if washing is performed using washing water of high temperature, more detergents may be dissolved, whereby contaminants on laundry may be removed more easily and at the same time, laundry may be sterilized. Therefore, it is preferable to wash laundry put in the laundry treating apparatus by increasing a temperature of washing water within the range that deformation (for example, shrinkage, distortion, waterproof failure) of the laundry is not generated.

In the related art, it is general that the laundry treating apparatus is externally supplied with hot water to increase a temperature of washing water which is in contact with laundry, or hot water is supplied to a tub by allowing washing water to be in contact with a hot wire provided in the laundry treating apparatus.

In the case that the laundry treating apparatus is externally supplied with hot water, an external boiler should be driven separately, whereby a problem occurs in that energy is consumed. In the case that the laundry treating apparatus is supplied with hot water by a hot wire provided therein, the hot wire should continuously be sunk in the washing water, whereby there is a structural limitation in that a separate path should be provided below the tub.

Meanwhile, it is general that a hot-air drying system for drying laundry by heating the air that circulates the tub and an external circulating path is used in the drying process, and the hot wire is arranged on the path, through which the air circulates, to heat the air.

A gas heater or an electric heater, which can heat a hot wire, is required to use the aforementioned hot-air drying system, however, the gas heater has a problem in stability and exhaust gas, and the electric heater has problems in that particles such as scales may be accumulated and too much energy is consumed.

In addition to the aforementioned hot-air drying system, there is a low temperature dehumidification drying system based on a heat pump. The heat pump is reversely uses a cooling cycle of an air conditioner, and therefore requires an evaporator, a condenser, an expansion valve and a compressor in the same manner as the air conditioner. The condenser is used in an indoor system of the air conditioner to cool the indoor air, whereas the heat pump based drying system dries laundry by heating the air in the evaporator. However, the heat pump has problems in that it has a volume greater than that of the other hot-air supply structure, and has a more complicated structure and a higher production cost than the other hot-air supply structure.

Moreover, since the hot-air drying system and the low temperature dehumidification drying system are indirect drying systems based on the air, if laundry is entangled or contains much water, a problem occurs in that a drying time may become longer.

In such various laundry treating apparatuses, the electric heater, the gas heater and the heat pump have their respective advantages and problems as heating means. In this respect, as new heating means that can emphasize the advantages and complement the problems, concepts (Japanese registered patent No. <CIT> and Korean registered patent No. <CIT>) for a laundry treating apparatus using induced heating are provided.

However, such prior arts disclose only basic concepts in which a washing machine performs induced heating, but do not suggest detailed induced heating modules and detailed methods or elements for connection and action relation with basic elements of the laundry treating apparatus, efficiency enhancement and stability.

In case of the laundry treating apparatus such as a washing machine and a drying machine, a drum is rotated inside the laundry treating apparatus to wash and dry laundry accommodated therein when the laundry treating apparatus is driven. At this time, elements constituting the induced heating module may be detached by vibration generated in accordance with rotation of the drum. That is, it is required to stably arrange the elements constituting the induced heating module.

Therefore, it is required to provide various and detailed technical information for efficiency enhancement, safety and stable arrangement in the laundry treating apparatus to the induced heating principle. <CIT> teaches a laundry treatment apparatus configured to directly heat a drum containing laundry therein. The laundry treatment apparatus comprising: a tub; a drum configured to rotate within the tub and to contain laundry therein, the drum being formed of a metallic material; and an induction module provided at an outer surface of the tub and configured to heat a surface of the drum within the tub via induction, the induction module comprising: a coil that comprises a wire through which an electric current is configured to pass so as to generate a magnetic field; a base housing configured to accommodate the coil therein, the base housing being mounted on the outer surface of the tub; and at least one magnet configured to be arranged above the base housing in which the coil is accommodated, and arranged to be lengthwise perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the wire of the coil.

Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to a laundry treating apparatus that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that can heat washing water or dry washing targets by directly heating a drum.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that can make sure of joint stability of an induction module.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that can prevent detachment of components for forming an induction module even in case of vibration of a drum through stable joint of the induction module and attenuate noise.

Further still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that can easily arrange a permanent magnet provided in an induction module on the induction module.

Further still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that can prevent a permanent magnet from being detached from an induction module even in case of vibration of a drum.

Further still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a stable joint structure of each element constituting an induction module.

Further still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that enhances drying efficiency by allowing a center and front and rear of a drum to be uniformly heated.

Further still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that can reduce a drying time of washing targets by directly heating a drum.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a laundry treating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a cabinet, a drum provided inside the cabinet and formed of a metal material for accommodating a treatment target, and an induction module spaced apart from an outer circumferential surface of the drum at a predetermined interval, inducing and heating the drum, wherein the induction module includes a base housing for accommodating a coil, a permanent magnet housing coupled with the base housing and provided with a holder in which a permanent magnet is accommodated, and a cover housing coupled with the permanent magnet housing, and the cover housing is coupled to the permanent magnet housing and therefore the permanent magnet is located between the permanent magnet housing and the cover housing.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the holder may include supports provided below the holder, supporting the permanent magnet. The holder may further include an opening portion into which the permanent magnet is inserted, and a barrier extended from a circumference of the opening portion to a lower portion of the opening portion, accommodating the permanent magnet. The permanent magnet may be inserted into the opening portion from an upper portion of the permanent magnet housing.

The supports may be formed to be inwardly protruded from a lower portion of the barrier to an inner side thereof, and may be provided to be spaced from each other at a predetermined interval, whereby a space spaced between the supports and the opening portion may be provided to be communicated with each other.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the permanent magnet housing may include a connector for connecting the holder. The connector may further include a through portion for passing through the connector up and down.

Preferably, the connector may connect the holder at an upper portion of the holder. The connector may connect the holder at a front end of an upper portion of the barrier.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the connector may be connected from a lower portion of the holder.

Meanwhile, according to the exemplary embodiment, any one of the base housing and the permanent magnet housing may be provided with a ring, and the other one of the base housing and the permanent magnet housing may be provided with a hook jointed to the ring.

Also, the ring may be provided at a rim of any one of the base housing and the permanent magnet housing, and the hook may be provided at a rim of the other one of the base housing and the permanent magnet housing and therefore the base housing and the permanent magnet housing may be provided to be detached from each other.

Meanwhile, according to the exemplary embodiment, any one of the permanent magnet housing and the cover housing is provided with a groove, and the other one of the permanent magnet housing and the cover housing may be provided with a hook jointed to the groove. Preferably, the hook may be provided in a plural number, and the plural hooks may be provided in the same direction.

Meanwhile, according to the exemplary embodiment, each of the base housing, the permanent magnet housing and the cover housing may have a joint to which a screw is jointed, and the joint may be provided with a long hole. It is preferable that the permanent magnet housing is fixed to the base housing at an upper portion of the base housing, and the cover housing is fixed to the permanent magnet housing at the upper portion of the permanent magnet housing.

Also, the laundry treating apparatus further comprises a tub provided inside the cabinet, accommodating the drum, wherein the tub may include a tub joint formed to be protruded on an outer circumferential surface, and a screw is jointed to the joint and therefore the induction module may be fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the tub.

Meanwhile, a clamp for fixing the permanent magnet may be provided at a lower portion of the cover housing. The clamp may elastically be supported at the lower portion of the cover housing and therefore may be in contact with the permanent magnet. Preferably, the clamp may be formed to be protruded from the lower portion of the cover housing and may be in contact with the permanent magnet.

The respective features of the aforementioned embodiments may complexly be embodied in the other embodiments unless the features are conflict with or exclusive from the other embodiments.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to make sure of joint stability of an induction module provided in the laundry treating apparatus, prevent detachment of components for forming an induction module even in case of vibration of a drum through stable joint of the induction module and attenuate noise of the laundry treating apparatus.

Also, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to enhance drying efficiency by allowing a center and front and rear of a drum to be uniformly heated and reduce a drying time of washing targets by directly heating the drum.

Also, one embodiment of the present disclosure enhances heating efficiency by allowing an electromagnetic field to be stably formed.

One embodiment of the present disclosure improves durability by reinforcing a joint force of the induction module and prevents noise caused by vibration of a tub from occurring.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present disclosure are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

However, the scope of the present disclosure are not limited to embodiments which are suggested, and it should be understood that other embodiments that may be regarded by the person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains as embodiments within the same or equivalent range of the present disclosure belong to the scope of the present disclosure.

Also, since the elements described hereinafter are intended to describe one embodiment of the present disclosure, it should be understood that the corresponding elements are not intended to restrict the scope of the present disclosure.

Meanwhile, terms expressed in this specification are the same as general meaning understood by the person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains, but should be interpreted as meaning defined in this specification if the terms are different from meaning defined in this specification.

In the elements described hereinafter, the expression that an element is "connected" with another element or an element is "provided" in another element may mean that the element may directly be connected or coupled with or provided in another element, a third element may be interposed between the corresponding elements.

A preferred embodiment of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure will be described. First of all, a whole configuration of the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> will be described.

The laundry treating apparatus of this embodiment may include a cabinet <NUM> forming an external appearance, a tub <NUM> provided inside the cabinet, and a drum <NUM> rotatably provided inside the tub <NUM>, accommodating laundry, drying targets or refresh targets. The shown embodiment relates to a washing machine, in which washing water is stored in the tub <NUM> and therefore washing may be performed through the drum provided inside the tub <NUM>.

If the laundry treating apparatus of this embodiment is applied to a drying machine, drying targets may be accommodated in the drum, and in this case, the tub may be omitted.

<FIG> illustrates a whole configuration of a laundry treating apparatus. The laundry treating apparatus <NUM> may include a cabinet <NUM> forming an external appearance of the laundry treating apparatus <NUM>, provided with an inlet <NUM> through which laundry may be inserted, a tub <NUM> located inside the cabinet <NUM> and provided with an opening <NUM> communicated with the inlet <NUM>, a drum <NUM> provided inside the tub <NUM> and formed of a metal material, accommodating laundry therein, a door <NUM> hinge-coupled with the cabinet <NUM> to enable insertion and ejection of laundry, and an induction module <NUM> for heating the drum <NUM> by means of a magnetic field.

The tub <NUM> may be located inside the cabinet <NUM> by a spring provided on an upper surface inside the cabinet <NUM> and a damper <NUM> provided on a lower surface inside the cabinet <NUM>.

Also, the tub <NUM> may be fixed to the lower surface inside the cabinet <NUM> by a rear support (not shown) bent and extended from the rear of the tub <NUM> to the lower portion of the tub and a suspension (not shown) connected with the rear support and provided with a spring and a damper. In this case, the rear of the tub <NUM> may be provided to be inclined at a predetermined angle inside the cabinet <NUM>.

The drum <NUM> may rotatably be provided inside the tub <NUM>, and at this time, a driver <NUM> for rotating the drum <NUM> may be provided at the rear of the tub <NUM>. If the drum <NUM> moves inside the tub <NUM> while being rotated, vibration is delivered to the tub <NUM>. Therefore, structures provided in the tub <NUM> are also vibrated, and a detailed description for problems and solutions according to vibration will be described later.

Meanwhile, the tub <NUM> may be provided with a water supply pipe <NUM> if washing water is supplied thereto. The water supply pipe <NUM> may be provided to be communicated with the tub <NUM> by passing through a detergent box D provided in the cabinet <NUM>. This is to allow a detergent used for washing to be supplied to the tub <NUM> together with washing water when the washing water is supplied to the tub <NUM>.

Also, the tub <NUM> may further be provided with a drainage pipe <NUM> for discharging washing water stored therein to the outside. If drainage starts, the washing water is drained from the lower portion of the tub and then discharged to the outside of the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> through the drainage pipe <NUM> by a drainage pump (not shown).

In case of the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> having a washing function, since it is required to perform washing by enhancing a temperature of the washing water within the range that permanent damage (for example, shrinkage, distortion, loss of waterproof function, etc.) is not caused, depending on laundry, a heating structure for enhancing the temperature of the washing water is required.

Both the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> having a washing function and a drying function and the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> having only a drying function need a heating structure for drying of laundry.

Therefore, the laundry treating apparatus includes an induction module <NUM> that may be used to heat washing water or for drying.

The principle of heating the drum <NUM> using the induction module <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The induction module <NUM> is mounted onto an outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM>, and serves to heat a circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> through a magnetic field generated as a current is applied to a coil <NUM> in which a wire <NUM> is wound (refer to <FIG> for shapes of the wire and the coil).

However, as described above, since the tub may be omitted in case of a drying machine for which washing based on water is not performed, the induction module of the drying machine may substitute for the tub as a frame or bracket for holding the induction module is provided. The frame or the bracket may be an element for fixing the induction module to the drum at a predetermined interval like the tub.

The wire <NUM> may be formed of a core wire and a coating covering the core wire. The core wire may be a single core wire. A plurality of core wires may be entangled to form one core wire. Therefore, a thickness or core diameter of the wire <NUM> may be determined by the core wire and a coating thickness.

A method for heating the drum <NUM> through the coil <NUM> will be described. An alternating current of which phase is changed flows to the coil <NUM> arranged at an outside of the circumferential surface of the drum <NUM>, and the coil <NUM> forms a radial alternating current magnetic field in accordance with Ampere's circuit law.

This alternating current magnetic field is concentrated on the drum <NUM> made of a conductor having high magnetic permeability. In this case, magnetic permeability means a level of a medium magnetized for a given magnetic field. At this time, an eddy current is formed in the drum <NUM> in accordance with Faraday's law of induction. This eddy current flows along the drum <NUM> made of a conductor and then is switched to Joule's heat by resistance of the drum <NUM>, whereby an inner wall of the drum <NUM> is directly heated.

If the inner wall of the drum <NUM> is directly heated, an air temperature inside the drum <NUM> and a temperature of laundry which is in contact with the inner wall of the drum <NUM> increase together. Therefore, since laundry is capable of being directly heated, the corresponding drying machine enables faster drying than the drying machine, which is an indirect heating system based on the hot-air drying system or the low temperature dehumidification drying method.

The laundry treating apparatus <NUM> having a washing function may heat washing water even without a separate hot wire and a separate path, and the washing water continues to be in contact with the inner and outer walls of the drum <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible to heat the washing water more quickly than the heating method using a separate path and a separate hot wire, which are formed below the tub.

A preferred embodiment of a shape of the coil will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates an upper surface of a coil <NUM> in which the wire <NUM> is wound at an outside of a circumferential surface of the tub <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates various types of coil shapes.

The coil <NUM> may be provided in all shapes, which can form a coil on the outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM> by means of winding of the wire <NUM>, such as a concentric circle, an oval, and a track shape. However, a heating level of the drum <NUM> may be varied depending on the wound shape.

This is because that a magnetic field delivered toward a central direction of the drum <NUM> and a magnetic field delivered to the front and the rear of the drum <NUM> are remarkably different from each other in their amount if a curvature radius of a curved portion is formed differently in the inner coil and the outer coil like a shape of the coil disclosed in <FIG>.

In other words, since an area of the coil located near the front and the rear of the drum <NUM> is narrow, the amount of a magnetic field delivered to the front of the circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> may be relatively small. Since an area of the coil located at the center A of the drum is wide, the amount of a magnetic field delivered to the center of the circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> may be relatively large. Therefore, it is difficult to uniformly heat the drum <NUM>.

Therefore, the wire <NUM> may be wound in the coil <NUM> such that the coil <NUM> may include linear portions <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> and a curved portion <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, and it is preferable that a curvature radius of the wire <NUM> that forms the curved portion <NUM> is formed equally for the inner coil and the outer coil.

It is noted that a corner area in the coil of <FIG> and a corner area in the coil of <FIG> are remarkably different from each other.

The relation between the linear portions <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> and the curved portion <NUM> will be described in more detail. The linear portions <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may include horizontal linear portions <NUM> and <NUM> including a front linear portion <NUM> provided at the front of the outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM> and a rear linear portion <NUM> provided at the rear of the outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM>, and a vertical linear portion <NUM> formed vertically for the horizontal linear portions <NUM> and <NUM>. The curved portion <NUM> is formed at a point where the horizontal portions <NUM><NUM> meet the vertical linear portion <NUM>.

That is, the coil may be formed of the front linear portion <NUM>, the rear linear portion <NUM>, vertical linear portions <NUM> at both sides, and four curved portions <NUM> formed among the linear portions <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, having the same curvature radius.

In accordance with the aforementioned configuration, coil both end portions B1 and B2 including a coil front end portion adjacent to the front of the tub <NUM> and a coil rear end portion adjacent to the rear of the tub, and a horizontal width of the coil center portion A located between the coil both end portions B1 and B2 may be formed uniformly.

As a result, the amount of a magnetic field radiated toward the front and the rear of the circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> from the coil both end portions B1 and B2 becomes similar to the amount of a magnetic field radiated toward the center of the circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> from the coil center portion A.

Therefore, the center and the front and rear of the circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> may be heated uniformly.

A temperature distribution of the drum according to the shape of the coil will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The coil <NUM> having different vertical lengths and heating distribution of the circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> according to the vertical width of the coil <NUM> are shown in <FIG>.

In the graph, a vertical axis displays each position of the drum, wherein '<NUM>' indicates the rear of the outer circumferential surface of the drum, '<NUM>' indicates the front of the outer circumferential surface of the drum <NUM>, and '<NUM>' to '<NUM>' indicate an interval between the rear of the outer circumferential surface and the front of the outer circumferential surface. Also, a horizontal axis indicates a temperature increase rate of the drum <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the vertical width of the coil <NUM> and the temperature increase rate of the drum <NUM> are relatively compared with each other based on each coil <NUM> disclosed in <FIG> illustrates that the drum is heated using the coil having the widest vertical width, <FIG> illustrates that the drum is heated using the coil having a vertical width of a middle width, and <FIG> illustrates that the drum is heated using the coil having the narrowest vertical width.

The coil of <FIG> indicates a uniform temperature increase rate of the front and rear and the center of the drum <NUM> as compared with the other coil, the coil of <FIG> has a remarkable difference in a temperature increase rate between the front and rear and the center of the drum <NUM>, and the coil of <FIG> indicates a difference in a relatively more temperature increase rate.

That is, it is noted that the front and rear and the center of the drum <NUM> may be heated relatively uniformly as the vertical width of the coil <NUM> becomes longer under the assumption that the respectively coils <NUM> have the same horizontal width. That is, it is preferable that a long shaft of the coil of an oval or track shape is formed in a front and rear direction of the tub.

This case may be interpreted that the coil <NUM> is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM>. In this case, it is noted that the circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> provided in the tub <NUM> is heated more uniformly as both end portions B1 and B2 of the coil <NUM> are provided to be close to the front of the tub <NUM>.

Meanwhile, if the outmost wire of the horizontal linear portions <NUM> and <NUM> is provided to be extended to the front and rear of the tub <NUM>, the drum <NUM> may be heated more uniformly. However, in this case, the magnetic field is too extended to the front and rear, whereby the other elements of the laundry treating apparatus, such as the driver <NUM> and the door <NUM> may be heated and therefore a problem occurs in that the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> is damaged.

Also, in case of the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> in which the rear of the tub <NUM> is provided to be inclined inside the cabinet <NUM>, a problem may occur in that the induction module <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM> are damaged due to interference between the front upper corner of the induction module <NUM> and the upper surface of the cabinet <NUM> when the tub <NUM> is vibrated up and down. If the height of the cabinet <NUM> becomes higher in order to solve the problem, there is a limitation in that a compact laundry treating apparatus cannot be embodied.

Therefore, the outmost wire of the front linear portion <NUM> is spaced apart from the front of the tub <NUM> at a predetermined interval, and the outmost wire of the rear linear portion <NUM> is spaced from the rear of the tub <NUM> at a predetermined interval, wherein the predetermined interval ranges from <NUM> to <NUM>.

The aforementioned element may unnecessarily heat the other element in addition to the drum <NUM> or prevent interference between the induction module <NUM> and the upper surface inside the cabinet <NUM> from occurring and at the same time uniformly heat the outer circumferential surface of the drum <NUM>.

Moreover, it is preferable that the outmost wire of the vertical linear portion <NUM> of the coil <NUM> has a length longer than that of the outmost wire of the horizontal linear portion <NUM> and <NUM>.

This case prevents the magnetic field from being radiated in a surrounding direction of the drum <NUM> in a too wide range so as not to heat the other elements except the drum <NUM>, and may make sure of an arrangement space of a spring or the other element that may be provided on the outer circumferential surface of the tub.

At this time, a surface where the coil <NUM> is formed by winding of the wire <NUM> may be provided as a curved surface corresponding to the circumferential surface of the drum <NUM>. In this case, magnetic flux density of the magnetic field toward the drum <NUM> may further be enhanced.

Moreover, if the induction module <NUM> is operated, it is preferable that the drum <NUM> is rotated to uniformly heat the circumferential surface of the drum <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the magnetic field formed by the coil <NUM> is radiated toward the drum <NUM> made of a conductor having high magnetic permeability, whereas the magnetic field is partially radiated in an opposite direction or front and rear of the drum <NUM> and toward both sides of the coil <NUM>.

Therefore, it is required to concentrate the magnetic field generated by the coil <NUM> toward the drum <NUM>. To this end, the induction module <NUM> may further include a permanent magnet <NUM>.

The embodiment of the permanent magnet and arrangement of the permanent magnet will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The permanent magnet <NUM> serves as a shielding member to prevent the other element near the drum <NUM> from being heated, and serves to enhance heating efficiency by concentrating the magnetic field generated in the coil <NUM> toward the drum <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the permanent magnet <NUM> may be provided as a bar magnet, and is preferably arranged on the coil <NUM> vertically to a length direction of the coil <NUM>. This is to cover the inner coil and the outer coil at the same time.

The permanent magnet <NUM> may be provided with a plurality of bar magnets having the same size, wherein the plurality of permanent magnets <NUM> may be arranged to be spaced apart from one another along a length direction of the coil <NUM>.

In the case that the permanent magnet <NUM> is arranged at only a specific position, the amount of the magnetic field radiated toward the drum <NUM> is varied depending on each portion of the circumferential surface of the drum <NUM>, whereby it is difficult to perform uniform heating. Therefore, in order to uniformly induce the magnetic field generated in the coil <NUM> toward the drum <NUM>, the plurality of coils <NUM> are preferably arranged to be spaced apart from one another along the circumference of the coils <NUM>.

Moreover, it is preferable that the permanent magnets <NUM> are concentrated on the portion of the coil <NUM>, which is adjacent to the front and rear of the tub <NUM>, if there are the same number of permanent magnets <NUM>.

In detail, as shown in <FIG>, the coil <NUM> may be categorized into the coil both end portions B1 and B2 including the coil front end portion B1 adjacent to the front of the tub <NUM> and the coil rear end portion B2 adjacent to the rear of the tub <NUM> and the coil center portion B1 located between the coil front end portion B1 and the coil rear end portion B2 and formed to be wider than the coil front end portion B1 and the coil rear end portion B2, and the permanent magnets <NUM> of the coil center portion A, which are equal to or more than those of the coil front end portion B1 or the coil rear end portion B2, may be arranged.

In the coil center portion A, the magnetic field is radiated to be extended to both sides of the coil <NUM>. In this case, since the drum <NUM> is formed to be wider than the width of the coil center portion A, uniform heating may be made in a width direction of the drum <NUM> even though more permanent magnets are not arranged.

On the other hand, in the coil front end portion B1 and the coil rear end portion B2, the magnet is radiated to both sides of the coil <NUM>. In the coil front end portion B1, the magnetic field is radiated to the front of the drum <NUM>. In the coil rear end portion B2, the magnetic field is radiated to the rear of the drum <NUM>.

Also, in the coil front end portion B1 and the coil rear end portion B2, density of the coil is relatively low. That is, density of the coil may be lowered at both end portions by a round shape of a corner portion. This is because that the coil cannot be formed in the corner portion theoretically vertically.

Therefore, if the same number of permanent magnets <NUM> are arranged at each of the coil front end portion B1, the coil rear end portion B2 and the coil center portion A, non-uniform heating may occur in a length direction of the drum <NUM>.

Therefore, if the same number of permanent magnets <NUM> are arranged, it is more preferable that the permanent magnets <NUM> are concentrated on both end portions B1 and B2 rather than the coil center portion A. That is, the front and rear portions of the drum may uniformly be heated. In the embodiment shown in <FIG> rather than the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the drum may be heated more uniformly, whereby efficiency may be enhanced.

In other words, magnetic flux density of the coil both end portions B1 and B2 may be enhanced through concentration of the permanent magnets, whereby the drum <NUM> is uniformly heated in a length direction.

In detail, under the same condition, efficiency in the embodiment shown in <FIG> may be more enhanced than that in the embodiment shown in <FIG>. Also, on the assumption of the same number of permanent magnets, it is preferable that a permanent magnet <NUM> located at the center portion A is located at both end portions B1 and B2, in view of efficiency. Therefore, if total magnetic flux density is determined through the permanent magnet, it is preferable that magnetic flux density at both end portions is greater than that at the center portion.

The embodiment directed to a winding shape of the aforementioned coil <NUM> and the embodiment directed to arrangement of the permanent magnet <NUM> may be embodied in one laundry treating apparatus <NUM> without being conflicted with each other. In this case, the drum <NUM> may be heated more uniformly than the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> in which each embodiment is embodied.

Meanwhile, if the drum <NUM> is rotated during washing or drying, vibration is delivered to the tub <NUM>, and structures provided in the tub <NUM> are also vibrated, whereby noise of the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> may become serious or durability may be weakened.

Also, if the tub <NUM> is vibrated, the coil <NUM> provided in the tub <NUM> is also vibrated, whereby the coil <NUM> may be detached or noise may be generated. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, it is preferable that the coil <NUM> is provided with robustness in the tub <NUM>. To this end, it is preferable that the coil <NUM> is provided in the tub <NUM> using the induction module <NUM>.

The induction module <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The induction module <NUM> serves as a clamp member for fixing the coil <NUM> to the outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM>, and may further include a base housing <NUM> provided on the outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM> so as not to detach the coil <NUM> even though the tub <NUM> is vibrated.

<FIG> illustrates that the base housing <NUM> is provided in the tub <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates an upper surface of the base housing <NUM>, and <FIG> illustrates a lower surface of the base housing <NUM>.

First of all, the base housing <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>", the base housing <NUM> may form a coil slot <NUM> narrower than a core diameter of the wire <NUM> such that the wire <NUM> of the coil <NUM> is forcibly fitted into the coil slot <NUM>, and the width of the coil slot <NUM> may be formed in the range of <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the core diameter of the wire <NUM>.

If the wire <NUM> is forcibly fitted into the coil slot <NUM>, the wire <NUM> is fixed into the coil slot <NUM> even though the tub <NUM> is vibrated, whereby the coil <NUM> does not move.

Therefore, the coil <NUM> is not detached from the coil slot <NUM>, and movement is restricted, whereby noise, which may occur due to a gap, may be avoided.

Moreover, the coil slot <NUM> may be formed by a plurality of fixed ribs <NUM> upwardly protruded from the base housing <NUM>, wherein each fixed rib may be provided with a height greater than the core diameter of the coil <NUM>.

The fixed rib <NUM> should be provided with a height greater than the core diameter of the coil <NUM> such that an inner wall of the fixed rib <NUM> and both sides of the coil <NUM> may be supported by being sufficiently in contact with each other. This feature is related to a melting process of the upper end of the fixed rib <NUM>, which will be described later.

Since the fixed rib <NUM> and the wire <NUM> adjacent to the fixed rib <NUM> are detachably fixed to each other by the aforementioned feature, shirt-circuit may be avoided. Since it is not required to coat a separate insulating film on the wire <NUM> or a thickness of the insulating film may be minimized, the production cost may be reduced.

Also, the upper end of the fixed rib <NUM> may be melted after the wire <NUM> is inserted into the fixed thereto and therefore provided to cover the upper portion of the coil <NUM>. That is, the upper end of the fixed rib <NUM> may be subjected to a melting process.

At this time, it is preferable that the fixed rib <NUM> is provided with a height of <NUM> to <NUM> times of the core diameter of the wire <NUM> to cover the upper portion of the coil <NUM>.

In detail, referring to <FIG>", if the wire is forcibly fitted into the fixed rib <NUM>, the upper surface of the fixed rib <NUM> may be pressurized and then melted. Then, as shown in <FIG>", the melted fixed rib <NUM> may partially be spread toward both sides to cover the upper portion of the wire <NUM>. At this time, it is preferable that the respective fixed ribs <NUM> adjacent to each other by interposing the wire <NUM> therebetween may be melted to fully shield the upper portion of the wire <NUM> in the coil slot <NUM> or may be melted to form an interval narrower than the core diameter of the wire at the upper portion of the wire <NUM>.

As another embodiment, the coil slot <NUM> may be melted to cover only the wire <NUM> at one side not the wire <NUM> at both sides. In this case, all the fixed ribs <NUM> should be melted to cover only the wire <NUM> inwardly provided among the wires <NUM> adjacent thereto, or should be melted to cover only the wire <NUM> outwardly provided.

In addition to the case that the coil <NUM> is forcibly fitted into the coil slot <NUM>, the reason why that the upper end of the fixed rib <NUM> is melted may physically shield a path through which the wire <NUM> may be detached, may prevent noise caused by vibration of the tub <NUM> from occurring by preventing the wire <NUM> from moving, and may improve durability by allowing a gap between components to be removed.

The coil slot <NUM> may further include a slot base <NUM>, on which the coil <NUM> is arranged, below a portion between the fixed ribs <NUM>.

The slot base <NUM> has a lower surface shielded as shown in <FIG>", and serves to pressurize and fix the coil <NUM> together with the fixed rib <NUM> which is melted.

However, the slot base <NUM> may partially be opened. In this case, an open structure provided in the slot base <NUM> may be referred to as a through hole or through portion <NUM>.

In the aforementioned description, the coil <NUM> is provided on an upper surface of the base housing <NUM>, however, the fixed rib <NUM> may be protruded below the base housing <NUM> such that the coil <NUM> may be provided on a lower surface of the base housing <NUM>. In this case, a space formed by the fixed ribs <NUM> which are melted serves as the through portion even though a separate through portion is not provided in the slot base <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating the lower surface of the base housing <NUM>. As shown, a through portion <NUM> that passes through the upper surface may be provided on the lower surface of the base housing <NUM>. The through portion <NUM> has an open structure to allow the coil <NUM> to face the outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM>, and may be formed along a winding shape of the wire <NUM>.

If the through portion is formed along a winding shape of the wire <NUM>, the magnetic field may actively be radiated from the wire <NUM> to the drum <NUM> to enhance heating efficiency. Since the air may move along an open surface, it is advantageous that the coil <NUM> which is overheated may quickly be cooled.

Also, referring to <FIG>, a base support bar <NUM> formed on the lower surface of the base housing <NUM> to cross the through portion is disclosed, and the base housing <NUM> may further include the base support bar <NUM>.

The base support bar <NUM> may be provided in a radiation shape around fixed points <NUM> at both sides of the center portion A of the base housing <NUM> to enhance a joint force between the outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM> and the base housing <NUM>.

If base joints <NUM> provided at both sides of the base housing <NUM> are fixed to tub joints <NUM> provided on the outer circumferential surface of the tub, the outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM> is pressurized by the base support bar <NUM>. Therefore, the outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM> may be supported more strongly than the case that the lower surface of the base housing <NUM> is fully in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM> (see <FIG>). As a result, the base housing <NUM> may be neither easily moved nor detached from the outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM> even though the tub <NUM> is vibrated.

Moreover, in order to improve the joint force between the base housing <NUM> and the outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM>, the base housing <NUM> may form a curved surface corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM>.

On the upper surface of the base housing <NUM> in which the wire <NUM> is wound, the curved portions of the fixed ribs <NUM> may be formed with the same curvature radius to correspond to the feature of the aforementioned coil curved portions <NUM> which are formed with the same curvature radius (see <FIG>).

Meanwhile, as shown in <FIG>, the induction module <NUM> may further include a cover <NUM> coupled with the base housing <NUM> to cover the coil slot <NUM>.

The cover <NUM> is provided to be coupled with the upper surface of the base housing <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, and serves to prevent detachment of the coil <NUM> and the permanent magnet <NUM> from occurring.

In detail, a lower surface of the cover <NUM> may be formed to be adhered to the upper end of the coil slot <NUM> of the base housing <NUM>. Therefore, the cover <NUM> may be prevented from moving.

The cover <NUM> will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a plurality of reinforcing ribs <NUM> downwardly protruded may be provided on the lower surface of the cover <NUM>, and may be provided such that the reinforcing ribs <NUM> and the upper end of the coil slot <NUM> may be adhered to each other.

If the lower surface of the reinforcing rib <NUM> is adhered to the coil slot <NUM>, more pressure may be applied to a narrow area than the case that the lower surface of the cover <NUM> is fully adhered to the upper end of the coil slot <NUM>.

Therefore, since the cover <NUM> may be fixed to the outer side of the tub <NUM> more stably, noise caused by a gap or detachment of components does not occur.

The reinforcing rib <NUM> may be provided with a plural number along a length direction of the coil <NUM>. Also, the reinforcing rib <NUM> may be provided vertically to the length direction of the coil <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible to stably fix the coil even without fully pressuring the coil.

In this case, a gap space is required between the cover <NUM> and the coil <NUM>. This is because that the air should preferably move for radiation of heat. Therefore, the gap space is partially filled with the reinforcing rib <NUM>. Therefore, a moving space of the air is formed and at the same time the coil may be fixed.

Meanwhile, the reinforcing rib <NUM> is preferably formed in a single body with the cover <NUM>. Therefore, the cover <NUM> is coupled with the base housing <NUM> and at the same time the reinforcing rib <NUM> pressurizes the coil <NUM>. Therefore, a means or step for pressurizing the coil <NUM> separately is not required.

Also, the permanent magnet <NUM> may be interposed between the base housing <NUM> and the cover <NUM>, and the cover <NUM> may include a permanent magnet holder <NUM> into which the permanent magnet <NUM> may be inserted Therefore, if the permanent magnet <NUM> is fixed to the cover <NUM>, the cover <NUM> may be coupled to the base housing <NUM> and therefore the permanent magnet <NUM> may be fixed to the upper portion of the coil <NUM>.

The permanent magnet <NUM> is preferably arranged at a specific position of the upper surface of the coil <NUM> to efficiently concentrate the magnetic field toward the drum <NUM>. Therefore, if the permanent magnet <NUM> moves in accordance with vibration of the tub <NUM>, noise and deterioration of heating efficiency may occur.

Therefore, the permanent magnet <NUM> may be fixed to the initial position between the base housing <NUM> and the cover <NUM> by the permanent magnet holder <NUM>, whereby heating efficiency may be prevented from being deteriorated.

In more detail, the permanent magnet holder <NUM> may be formed of both sidewalls downwardly protruded from the lower surface of the cover <NUM> and provided to face each other, and may include a lower opening portion <NUM> where the lower surface of the permanent magnet <NUM> provided in the permanent magnet holder <NUM> may face one surface of the coil <NUM>.

In this case, horizontal movement of the permanent magnet <NUM> may be restricted by the both sidewalls, and the lower opening portion <NUM> may allow the permanent magnet <NUM> to be more adjacent to the upper surface of the coil <NUM>.

As the permanent magnet <NUM> is provided to be more adjacent to the coil <NUM>, the magnetic field is guided toward the drum <NUM> more intensively, whereby the drum <NUM> may be heated stably and uniformly.

Also, the permanent magnet holder <NUM> may further include an inner sidewall <NUM> downwardly protruded from the lower surface of the cover <NUM> at one end of the both sidewalls, and a latch <NUM> provided with an open surface formed on a surface facing the inner wall and formed such that the permanent magnet <NUM> is not detached from the cover <NUM>.

Since forward and backward movement of the permanent magnet <NUM> may be restricted by the inner sidewall <NUM> and the latch <NUM>, the drum <NUM> may be heated stably and uniformly as described above, whereas the permanent magnet <NUM> may radiate heat through the open surface if its temperature is increased by the overheated coil <NUM>.

At this time, the base housing may further include a permanent magnet pressurizer <NUM> upwardly protruded from the space where the lower opening portion <NUM> is formed, pressurizing the lower surface of the permanent magnet <NUM>. The permanent magnet pressurizer <NUM> may be provided as a protrusion made of a plat spring or rubber material.

If vibration is delivered to the permanent magnet <NUM> in accordance with vibration of the tub <NUM>, noise may be generated in the permanent magnet <NUM> by a gap that may be formed between the coil slot <NUM> at the lower portion and the permanent magnet holder <NUM>.

Therefore, the permanent magnet pressurizer <NUM> may prevent noise from being generated by buffering vibration, and may prevent the permanent magnet <NUM> and the permanent magnet holder <NUM> from being damaged by vibration by allowing the gap not to be generated.

Moreover, the lower end of the permanent magnet holder <NUM> may be provided to be adhered to the upper end of the coil slot <NUM> to improve a joint force and stably heat the drum <NUM>.

In this case, since the lower surface of the permanent magnet <NUM> may be provided to be more adjacent to the coil <NUM> as described above, the drum <NUM> may be heated more uniformly, and the lower surface of the permanent magnet <NUM> may serve as the reinforcing rib <NUM> to enhance adhesion between the cover <NUM> and the base housing <NUM>.

Additionally, if the base housing <NUM> is formed in a curved surface corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM>, the cover <NUM> may be formed in a curved surface having the same curvature as that of the base housing <NUM>.

As another embodiment, the permanent magnet holder <NUM> may be provided in the base housing <NUM>.

The base housing <NUM> may be formed such that the permanent magnet <NUM> may be provided at the upper portion of the fixed rib <NUM>. At this time, the permanent magnet pressurizer <NUM> may be provided on the lower surface of the cover <NUM>.

A method for coupling the cover <NUM> and the base housing <NUM> to the tub <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

A joint type of the tub <NUM>, the base housing <NUM> and the cover <NUM> is disclosed in <FIG>. Referring to <FIG>, the tub <NUM> discloses the tub joints <NUM>, the base housing <NUM> discloses the base joints <NUM>, and the cover <NUM> discloses cover joints <NUM>.

The tub joint <NUM> includes a tub joint hole, the base joint <NUM> includes a base joint hole, and the cover joint <NUM> includes a cover joint hole, wherein the joint holes may be provided with diameters of the same length, and may be provided such that the tub <NUM>, the base housing <NUM> and the cover <NUM> may simultaneously be jointed by one screw.

Therefore, simple assembly may be performed during the manufacturing process, and the cost may be reduced.

In addition, the tub joint <NUM>, the base joint <NUM> and the cover joint <NUM> may be provided to avoid joint points at both sides of the coil <NUM> to make sure of a joint space if both end portions B1 and B2 of the coil are provided to be adjacent to the front and rear of the tub <NUM>.

Moreover, as shown in <FIG>, the cover <NUM> may further cover ribs <NUM> downwardly protruded at both corners. This is to allow the cover <NUM> to be easily provided in its position of the base housing <NUM> and prevent horizontal movement of the cover <NUM> from occurring.

Meanwhile, as shown in <FIG>, a fan holder <NUM> may be formed in the cover <NUM>. The fan holder <NUM> may be formed at the center of the cover <NUM>.

The air may enter the inside of the cover <NUM>, that is, the inside of the induction module through the fan holder. Since a space is formed between the cover <NUM> and the base housing <NUM> in the induction module, a moving space of the air is formed. A through portion is formed in the base housing. Therefore, the air may cool the coil <NUM> in the inner space, and may be discharged to the outside of the induction module through the through portion of the base housing.

In this specification, although the induction module <NUM> is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM>, the induction module <NUM> may be provided on the inner circumferential surface of the tub <NUM> or the same circumferential surface may be formed together with the outer wall of the tub <NUM>.

In this case, it is preferable that the induction module <NUM> is located to be close to the outer circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> if possible. That is, this is because that the magnetic field generated by the induction module <NUM> is remarkably reduced as the distance with the coil is increased.

As shown in <FIG>, in the aforementioned embodiment, since a plurality of permanent magnet holders <NUM> are provided in the cover <NUM>, the shape of the cover <NUM> is complicated. Therefore, a shape of injection molding for manufacturing the cover <NUM> is also complicated. Therefore, the cost of injection molding may be increased, and quality of injection molding may be deteriorated.

Also, in the aforementioned embodiment, the permanent magnetic holder <NUM> is provided on the bottom of the cover <NUM>, and therefore the permanent magnet <NUM> is inserted at the side of the permanent magnet holder <NUM>. Therefore, it is not easy to arrange the permanent magnet <NUM> in the permanent magnet holder <NUM>, and if the permanent magnet <NUM> is damaged, it is not easy to replace the damaged permanent magnet with a new one.

Meanwhile, the cover <NUM> may be manufactured by insert injection of the permanent magnet <NUM>. However, in this case, if the number of permanent magnets <NUM> is increased, manufacturing yield is deteriorated. For example, if the number of permanent magnets <NUM> is increased, proper heat transfer is not performed in a portion an interval between the permanent magnets is narrow, whereby sufficient injection may not be performed. In order to solve this problem, if insert injection is performed at high pressure, the permanent magnet <NUM> may be damaged in the middle of insert injection.

This embodiment suggests an improved induction module.

Another embodiment of the induction module according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

First of all, a whole structure of the induction module <NUM> will be described.

The induction module <NUM> includes a base housing <NUM> in which the coil <NUM> is accommodated, a permanent magnet housing <NUM> in which the permanent magnet <NUM> is accommodated, and a cover housing <NUM> for covering the permanent magnet housing <NUM>. That is, in this embodiment, the cover of the aforementioned embodiment is divided into the permanent magnet housing <NUM> and the cover housing <NUM>. Also, the permanent magnet <NUM> may be inserted into the permanent magnet housing <NUM> from up to down, and the cover housing <NUM> is jointed to allow the permanent magnet <NUM> not to be detached from the permanent magnet housing <NUM>.

Hereinafter, each element will be described in detail.

First of all, the base housing <NUM> will be described.

The base housing <NUM> has a square shape, preferably a rectangular shape, and the coil <NUM> is accommodated in the upper portion of the base housing <NUM>. It is preferable that a through portion 5170a is provided in the center of the base housing <NUM>.

The joint <NUM> is provided at the corner portion of the base housing <NUM>, and it is preferable that the joint <NUM> is outwardly protruded from the corner portion. Also, a ring <NUM> coupled with a hook <NUM> of the permanent magnet housing <NUM> is provided at the rim of the base housing <NUM>. Preferably, two rings <NUM> are provided at both sides of a long side portion of the base housing <NUM>. Therefore, a total of four rings <NUM> are provided. (A detailed coupling structure will be described later.

Since a structure of the other portion of the base housing <NUM> may substantially be similar to the base housing of the aforementioned embodiment, its description will be omitted.

Next, the permanent magnet housing <NUM> will be described.

It is preferable that the shape of the permanent magnet housing <NUM> has a shape corresponding to the base housing <NUM>. For example, it is preferable that the permanent magnet housing <NUM> has a rectangular shape.

A holder <NUM> in which the permanent magnet <NUM> is arranged is provided in the permanent magnet housing <NUM>. Also, since it is preferable that the permanent magnet housing <NUM> is provided by one component, a connector <NUM> for a plurality of holders <NUM> with one another is preferably provided. The connector <NUM> has a structure which is opened up and down, instead of a structure which is blocked up and down, whereby heat generated from the coil <NUM> may move. Therefore, the connector <NUM> is preferably provided with a through portion <NUM> opened up and down.

The holder <NUM> may be provided in a plural number, and is preferably provided in a radial direction from the center of the base housing <NUM> to the rim of the base housing <NUM>. Since the holder <NUM> is a portion where the permanent magnet <NUM> is mounted, it is preferable that the holder <NUM> has a shape corresponding to the permanent magnet <NUM>, that is, a rectangular shape having a narrow width.

In detail, the holder <NUM> may include a long side holder 5510a, a short side holder 5510b, and a corner holder 5510c. The long side holder 5510a may be provided in such a manner that two long side holders are respectively provided at both sides near the center of the long side portion of the base housing <NUM>. The short side holder 5510b may be provided in such a manner that two short side holders are respectively provided at both sides near the center of the short side portion of the base housing <NUM>. The corner holder 5510c may be provided in such a manner that four corner holders are respectively provided in a corner direction at the center of the long side portion of the base housing <NUM>.

The through portion <NUM> may be provided to up and down open the portion where the holder <NUM> is not provided, for example, the space between the holder <NUM> and its adjacent holder <NUM>. That is, the through portion <NUM> is preferably provided in a shape corresponding to the shape of the space between the holder <NUM> and its adjacent holder <NUM>. Also, since the through portion <NUM> may serve to discharge heat generated from the coil <NUM>, it is preferable that the through portion <NUM> has a wide area if possible within the range that maintains strength of the permanent magnet housing <NUM>.

In detail, it is preferable that the holder <NUM> in which the permanent magnet <NUM> is provided has a thickness of <NUM>. 0t, and the connector <NUM> for connecting the plurality of holders <NUM> with one another has a thickness of <NUM>. Since the holder <NUM> is a portion in which the permanent magnet <NUM> is mounted, the holder <NUM> may be formed to be thicker than the connector <NUM> to maintain rigidity. The connector <NUM> may be formed to be thinner than the holder <NUM> to maintain a certain distance from the base housing <NUM> for supporting the permanent magnet <NUM> and at the same time accommodating the coil <NUM>.

If heat of high temperature is applied to the permanent magnet <NUM>, atoms moves chaotically, whereby the permanent magnet <NUM> loses magnetism. This could weaken durability of the induction module <NUM>.

Therefore, a difference in thickness between the holder <NUM> and the connector <NUM> may prevent the temperature of the permanent magnet <NUM> from being increased by heat formed on the lower surface of the permanent magnet housing <NUM> and generated from the coil <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the joint <NUM> is provided at the corner portion of the permanent magnet housing <NUM>. Preferably, the joint <NUM> is outwardly protruded from the corner portion.

The hook <NUM> downwardly extended is provided at the rim of the permanent magnet housing <NUM>, and the hook <NUM> is inserted into the ring <NUM> of the base housing <NUM>.

Also, a groove <NUM> is provided at a predetermined position inside the permanent magnet housing <NUM>, and is coupled with a hook <NUM> of the cover housing <NUM>. (A detailed coupling structure will be described later.

Next, the cover housing <NUM> will be described.

It is preferable that the cover housing <NUM> has a shape corresponding to the permanent magnet housing <NUM>. For example, it is preferable that the cover housing <NUM> has a rectangular shape. The through portion <NUM> may be provided at the center of the cover housing <NUM>, and a fan (not shown) may be mounted in the through portion <NUM>. The joint <NUM> is provided at the corner portion of the cover housing <NUM>, and is preferably has a long hole. The hook <NUM> coupled with the groove <NUM> of the permanent magnet housing <NUM> is provided at the lower portion of the cover housing <NUM>. (A detailed coupling structure will be described later.

The permanent magnet housing <NUM> will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

Preferably, the holder <NUM> for mounting the permanent magnet <NUM> has an opened upper portion so that the permanent magnet <NUM> may be inserted thereinto from up to down. In this case, it is easy to insert the permanent magnet <NUM> to the permanent magnet holder <NUM>. It is preferable that the permanent magnet <NUM> mounted in the permanent magnet holder <NUM> is prevented from being detached by the cover housing <NUM> coupled to the upper portion.

The holder <NUM> will be described in detail.

As described above, it is preferable that the permanent magnet <NUM> is inserted into the holder <NUM> from up to down. Therefore, it is preferable that the holder <NUM> is provided with an opening portion 5512a at the upper portion and therefore the permanent magnet <NUM> is inserted into the opening portion 5512a. Also, the holder <NUM> should have a space to which the permanent magnet <NUM> is fixed. Therefore, the holder <NUM> has a barrier 5512a extended to the lower portion of the opening portion 5512a, and the permanent magnet <NUM> is fixedly supported by the barrier 5512b. Preferably, a sectional shape of the barrier 5512b corresponds to the shape of the permanent magnet <NUM>. Also, a support portion 5512c for supporting the permanent magnet <NUM> so as not to be detached is provided at the front end below the barrier 5512b. Preferably, the support portion 5512c is inwardly protruded from the front end below the barrier 5512b.

Meanwhile, as described above, the permanent magnet housing <NUM> has a connector <NUM> for connecting the holders <NUM>. The connector <NUM> is located between the holders <NUM> to connect the holders <NUM>. The connector <NUM> may connect a predetermined position of the barrier 5510b of the holder <NUM>, for example, the upper portion or the lower portion.

However, it is preferable that the connector <NUM> connects the upper portion of the holder <NUM> to efficiently discharge heat generated from the coil <NUM>. This is because that the space S between the holder <NUM> and its adjacent holder <NUM> becomes a convention current space for discharging heat of the coil <NUM>. That is, heat generated from the coil <NUM> may be discharged to the upper side of the permanent magnet housing <NUM> through the through portion <NUM> and the convention current space S.

As shown in <FIG>, heat that has passed through each through portion <NUM> of the permanent magnet housing <NUM> is collected in the through portion 5520a at the center. Heat collected in the through portion 5520a at the center of the permanent magnet housing <NUM> is discharged to the outside through the through portion <NUM> at the center of the cover housing <NUM>. If a fan (not shown) is provided in the through portion <NUM> at the center of the cover housing <NUM>, heat radiation effect may be more improved.

Meanwhile, it is preferable that heat generated from the coil <NUM> is induced to a natural convection current using the shape of the induction module and then discharged to the outside of the induction module.

A structure for discharging heat generated from the coil <NUM> to the outside by a natural convention current will be described with reference to <FIG>.

It is preferable that the section C1 of the base housing <NUM> is a curved line. This is because that the drum is heated by the coil <NUM>. Therefore, in order to uniformly heat the drum, it is preferable that the base housing <NUM> in which the coil <NUM> is accommodated substantially has the same curved section as a curvature of the drum and/or the tub. On the other hand, it is preferable that the permanent magnet housing <NUM> and the cover housing <NUM> have sections C2 and C3 upwardly inclined toward the center portion, and it is more preferable that the long side portion is inclined (see <FIG>).

This is because that a space D2 of a center portion becomes greater than a space D1 of an outer portion if the permanent magnet housing <NUM> and the cover housing <NUM> are upwardly inclined. In accordance with characteristic of this shape, heat generated from the coil <NUM> is guided to easily move to the natural convection current.

Therefore, heat generated from the coil <NUM> easily and upwardly moves along the inclined section, and is finally discharged to the outside through the through portion <NUM> at the center of the cover housing <NUM>. If the fan is provided in the through portion <NUM> at the center of the cover housing <NUM>, heat may be discharged to the outside more effectively.

Next, a joint structure of the base housing <NUM>, the permanent magnet housing <NUM> and the cover housing <NUM> will be described.

The induction module <NUM> uses the induced heating principle. Therefore, a magnetism such as a screw is used, and the joint is located to be adjacent to the coil <NUM>. Therefore, abnormal heating may occur in the joint using the screw, etc. If abnormal heating occurs, strength near the screw may partially be weakened, whereby the screw may get loose. Therefore, it is preferable to perform another joint in addition to the joint using the magnetism such as the screw.

First of all, the joint structure of the base housing <NUM> and the permanent magnet housing <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As described above, the hook <NUM> is provided in the permanent magnet housing <NUM>, and the ring <NUM> is provided in the base housing <NUM>. It is preferable that two hooks <NUM> are provided at both sides of the long side portion of the base housing <NUM>, and the rings <NUM> are preferably provided to correspond to the hooks <NUM>. The hook <NUM> and the ring <NUM> are preferably made of a non-magnetic material.

Preferably, the hook <NUM> includes a vertical portion 5502a extended vertically, and a horizontal portion 5502b outwardly extended from a front end of the vertical portion 5502a.

The hook <NUM> and the ring <NUM> are jointed to each other by pushing the hook <NUM> of the permanent magnet housing <NUM> toward the ring <NUM> of the base housing <NUM> from up to down.

As described above, the base housing <NUM> and the permanent magnet housing <NUM> are jointed to each other using the hook <NUM> and the ring <NUM>. Therefore, even though the joint force of the joints <NUM> and <NUM> jointed by the screw is weakened, the joint of the base housing <NUM> and the permanent magnet housing <NUM> may be maintained by the hook <NUM> and the ring <NUM>.

The joint structure of the cover housing <NUM> and the permanent magnet housing <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The cover housing <NUM> is provided with the hook <NUM>, and the permanent magnet housing <NUM> is provided with the groove <NUM>. It is preferable that the hook <NUM> is provided to be extended to a bottom direction of the cover housing <NUM>. It is also preferable that two hooks <NUM> are respectively provided at both sides near the long side portion of the cover housing <NUM> and two hooks <NUM> are provided at the center portion. The permanent magnet housing <NUM> is preferably provided with the groove <NUM> corresponding to the hook <NUM>.

Preferably, the hook <NUM> includes a vertical portion 5604a extended vertically, and a horizontal portion 5604b horizontally extended from a front end of the vertical portion 5604a. It is preferable that the horizontal portion 5604b is extended toward a long side portion of the cover housing <NUM>. It is preferable that a plurality of hooks <NUM> are provided in the same direction.

The hook <NUM> of the cover housing <NUM> is inserted into the groove <NUM> of the permanent magnet housing <NUM> and then jointed to the groove <NUM>. At this time, the hook <NUM> and the groove <NUM> are jointed to each other using inclination by pushing the cover housing <NUM> from the upper side of the permanent magnet housing <NUM> toward a horizontal direction. It is preferable that tolerance generated in an inclined surface after maximum assembly is absorbed by a long hole of the joint <NUM>. This is because that a damage is likely to occur if there is no tolerance during joint using a great screw.

As described above, the cover housing <NUM> and the permanent magnet housing <NUM> are jointed to each other using the hook <NUM> and the groove <NUM>. Therefore, even though the joint force of the joint <NUM> is weakened, the joint of the cover housing <NUM> and the permanent magnet housing <NUM> may be maintained by the hook <NUM> and the groove <NUM>.

It is preferable that the base housing <NUM>, the permanent magnet housing <NUM> and the cover housing <NUM> are jointed using the screw by the joints <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. Also, it is preferable that the holes of the joints <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are long holes.

Meanwhile, the tub is vibrated during operation of the laundry treating apparatus, particularly washing or dehydrating, whereby the induction module is also vibrated. At this time, if the permanent magnet provided in the induction module is vibrated, noise may be generated or the permanent magnet may be damaged if vibration is serious. Therefore, it is preferable that the permanent magnet <NUM> is stably fixed to the permanent magnet holder <NUM> of the permanent magnet housing <NUM>.

The structure of stably fixing the permanent magnet <NUM> to the permanent magnet holder <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

A clamp <NUM> for fixing the permanent magnet <NUM> is provided at a predetermined position of the cover housing <NUM>, particularly at a portion where the permanent magnet <NUM> is located.

As shown in <FIG>, it is preferable that the clamp <NUM> is formed by partially cutting the cover housing <NUM> and allowing the cut portion to be downwardly located. The cover housing <NUM> is capable of being generally made of a plastic material. If the clamp <NUM> is made of a thin plate shape, the clamp <NUM> may serve as a plate spring. In this case, since the clamp <NUM> has elasticity, the clamp <NUM> may absorb impact such as vibration. Also, even though there is assembly tolerance of each portion, the clamp <NUM> may absorb such tolerance in accordance with its elasticity.

As shown in <FIG>, the clamp <NUM> may be formed by vertically protruding the cover housing <NUM> from the bottom to the lower portion. In this case, the clamp <NUM> has less elasticity. Therefore, in this case, it is preferable that the clamp <NUM> fixes the permanent magnet by using assembly tolerance.

Advantages of the induction module according to the aforementioned embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>.

According to this embodiment, the permanent magnet housing <NUM> for accommodating the permanent magnet <NUM> and the cover housing <NUM> jointed to the upper portion of the permanent magnet housing <NUM> are provided separately. Therefore, the structure of the permanent magnet housing <NUM> and the cover housing <NUM> may be simplified.

Also, since the permanent magnet housing <NUM> has not portion covering the upper portion, its structure and shape are relatively simple. Since the cover housing <NUM> has no permanent magnet holder, its structure and shape are relatively simple. Therefore, the permanent magnet housing <NUM> and the cover housing <NUM> may make a simple structure of injection molding, and may minimize a defect during injection molding.

Also, the permanent magnet holder <NUM> provided in the permanent magnet housing <NUM> has a structure in which an upper portion is opened. Therefore, since the permanent magnet <NUM> may be inserted into the permanent magnet holder <NUM> from up to down, it is easy to mount the permanent magnet in the permanent magnet holder. Therefore, when the permanent magnet <NUM> is damaged, the damaged permanent magnet may easily be replaced with a new one.

Also, since each of the permanent magnet housing <NUM> and the cover housing <NUM> may have a structure that may induce a natural convex current, it is easy to discharge heat generated from the coil <NUM> to the outside.

Also, since the base housing <NUM>, the permanent magnet housing <NUM> and the cover housing <NUM> are jointed by the structure of the hook <NUM>, the joint force is increased.

Claim 1:
A laundry treating apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a cabinet (<NUM>);
a drum (<NUM>) provided inside the cabinet (<NUM>) and formed of a metal material for accommodating a treatment target; and
an induction module (<NUM>) spaced apart from an outer circumferential surface of the drum (<NUM>) at a predetermined interval, inducing and heating the drum (<NUM>),
wherein the induction module (<NUM>) includes:
a base housing <NUM> for accommodating a coil (<NUM>); and characterised in that the induction module (<NUM>) additionally includes:
a permanent magnet housing (<NUM>) separably coupled with the base housing (<NUM>) and provided with a holder (<NUM>) in which a permanent magnet (<NUM>) is accommodated; and
a cover housing (<NUM>) separably coupled with the permanent magnet housing (<NUM>), and
the cover housing (<NUM>) is separably coupled to the permanent magnet housing (<NUM>) and
therefore the permanent magnet (<NUM>) is located between the permanent magnet housing (<NUM>) and the cover housing (<NUM>).