CLOTHES CARE APPARATUS

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2025/095098 designating the United States, filed on Mar. 26, 2025, in the Korean Intellectual Property Receiving Office and claiming priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0049657, filed on Apr. 12, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

Field

The present disclosure relates to a clothes care apparatus having an improved heating structure.

Description of Related Art

A clothes care apparatus is an apparatus that performs clothes care, such as drying wet clothes, removing dust attached to clothes or odors from clothes, and reducing wrinkles in clothes.

A clothes care apparatus may include a condenser to generate heat in a care room in which clothes are accommodated or supply hot air to the care room in order to dry clothes, and a steam generating device to perform refreshing functions such as removing wrinkles, deodorizing, and removing static electricity from clothes and the like.

The clothes wrinkle removal function of a clothes care apparatus is provided to remove wrinkles from clothes in a process of injecting steam on the clothes to dry any remaining moisture in the clothes, but this wrinkle removal function is capable of removing some wrinkles from clothes, but may not remove wrinkles at the level of ironing clothes.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a clothes care apparatus having improved efficiency in removing wrinkles from clothes through a steam injector.

The steam injector of the clothes care apparatus can efficiently remove wrinkles from clothes by injecting steam onto the clothes while moving in a location adjacent to the clothes accommodated in a care room.

A clothes care apparatus according to an example embodiment may include: a care room configured to accommodate clothes, and a steam injector configured to inject steam onto the clothes accommodated in the care room, wherein the steam injector includes an injection plate including an injection port through which steam is configured to be injected, a driver configured to move the injection plate so that the injection plate is moved in a first direction of directing to the clothes accommodated in the care room and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a distance sensor disposed on the injection plate and configured to detect a distance between the clothes accommodated in the care room and the injection port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a door opened in the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a steam injector of the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a first driver of the steam injector of the clothes care apparatus driving according to various embodiments;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a process of accommodating clothes in the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a process of driving the steam injector of the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a process of driving the steam injector of the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a process of driving the steam injector of the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a process of driving the steam injector of the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a process of driving the steam injector of the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a process of driving the steam injector of the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a process of driving the steam injector of the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments and terms used in this disclosure are not intended to limit the technical features described in this disclosure to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutes of the various example embodiments.

In connection with the description of the drawings, like reference numbers may be used for like or related components.

The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one item or a plurality of items, unless the relevant context clearly dictates otherwise.

In this disclosure, each of phrases such as “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B or C,” “at least one of A, B and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C” may include any one of the items listed together in the corresponding one of the phrases, or all possible combinations thereof.

The term “and/or” includes any combination of a plurality of related components or any one of a plurality of related components.

Terms such as “first,” “second,” “primary,” and “secondary” may simply be used to distinguish a given component from other corresponding components, and do not limit the corresponding components in any other aspect (e.g., importance or order).

When any (e.g., a first) component is referred to as being “coupled” or “connected” to another (e.g., a second) component with or without the terms “functionally” or “communicatively,” this may refer, for example, to any component being connected to the other component directly (e.g., by a wire), wirelessly, or through a third component.

The terms “comprises,” “has,” and the like are intended to indicate that there are features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in this disclosure, and do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

When any component is referred to as being “connected,” “coupled,” “supported” or “in contact” with another component, this includes a case in which the components are indirectly connected, coupled, supported, or in contact with each other through a third component as well as directly connected, coupled, supported, or in contact with each other.

When any component is referred to as being located “on” or “over” another component, this includes not only a case in which any component is in contact with another component but also a case in which another component is present between the two components.

The terms “front-rear direction,” “left-right direction,” “vertical direction,” “front,” “rear,” “upper,” “lower,” and the like used in the following description are defined with respect to the drawings, and the shape and position of each component are not limited by these terms.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a door opened in the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments. FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 (which may be referred to as FIGS. 1 to 3), a clothes care apparatus 1 may include a main body 10 forming an exterior and a door 20 rotatably coupled to the main body 10.

The main body 10 may be provided in a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open front. The door 20 may be provided to open and close the open front of the main body 10 by being rotatably coupled to the main body 10.

The main body 10 may include a care room 30 provided inside the main body 10 to accommodate and treat clothes. The door 20 may open and close the care room 30 by opening and closing the open front of the main body 10.

A front surface 22 of the door 20 may include a display 25 configured to display a state of the clothes care apparatus 1 to a user and allows the user to input information into the clothes care apparatus 1. The display 25 may be provided as a touch panel capable of displaying. The display 25 may be configured to display information such as a current state of the clothes care apparatus 1 and a state of clothes to the user and provide an interface for the user to input information.

An inner surface 21 of the door 20 forming a front surface of the care room 30 may include a camera 200 to obtain an image of clothes A accommodated in the care room 30.

As an example, the camera 200 may be disposed to face the outside of the care room 30 when the door 20 is opened and may be disposed to face the care room 30 when the door 20 is closed.

The camera 200 may capture images of the clothes A that is accommodated toward the care room 30 from the outside of the care room 30. The camera 200 may capture images of the clothes A in a state of being accommodated in the care room 30.

The main body 10 may include a machine room 40 partitioned from the care room 30 and located below the care room 30.

The machine room 40 may be formed below a lower surface 30a of the care room 30.

As an example, the clothes care apparatus 1 may include a steam generator 50 to generate steam. The steam generator 50 may be disposed inside the machine room 40.

As an example, the clothes care apparatus 1 may include a machine room duct 60 disposed inside the machine room 40 to blow air to the care room 30.

As an example, the clothes care apparatus 1 may include a machine room fan 61 connected to the machine room duct 60 and configured to blow air through the machine room duct 60 into the care room 30.

As an example, the care room 30 may include a machine room inlet 31 and a machine room outlet 32 that are connected to the machine room duct 60.

As an example, air inside the care room 30 may flow into the machine room duct 60 through the machine room inlet 31 and flow back into the care room 30 through the machine room outlet 32.

As an example, the inlet 31 and the outlet 32 may be disposed on the lower surface 30a of the care room 30. As an example, the inlet 31 may be disposed on a rear surface 30b or a side surface 30c of the care room 30. As an example, the outlet 32 may be disposed on the rear surface 30b or the side surface 30c of the care room 30.

As an example, a compressor or condenser may be disposed inside the machine room duct 60, and thus the machine room duct 60 may be configured to dehumidify or heat air flowing into the care room 30.

As an example, the clothes care apparatus 1 may include a water discharge tank 11 and a water supply tank 12 that are provided to be detachable from the main body 10.

As an example, the water discharge tank 11 and the water supply tank 12 may be disposed at a lower portion of the main body 10. As an example, the water discharge tank 11 and the water supply tank 12 may be disposed in the machine room.

As an example, the water discharge tank 11 may be configured to facilitate treatment of condensate generated in a process in which the clothes care apparatus 1 operates.

As an example, the water supply tank 12 may store water necessary to generate steam in the steam generator 50.

The water in the water supply tank 12 may be supplied to the steam generator 60 to be used for forming steam. The water supply tank 12 may be detachably installed in the main body 10 to facilitate water replenishment.

As an example, the water discharge tank 11 and the water supply tank 12 may be provided in front of the machine room 40. The machine room 40 may be provided at the lower portion of the main body 10. The machine room 40 may be provided below the care room 30.

As an example, the steam generator 50 configured to receive water from the water supply tank 12 to form steam may be disposed in the machine room 40.

The steam generator 50 may receive water to generate steam by being connected to the water supply tank 12.

Steam generated in the steam generator 50 may be moved to a steam injector 100 through a supply member 51 to be injected into the care room 30.

The clothes care apparatus 1 may include a clothes support 70 provided inside the care room 30 to support the clothes A. The clothes support 70 may be installed on an upper surface 30d of the care room 30. The clothes support 70 may be detachably installed in the care room 30. The user may support the clothes A on the clothes support 70 separated from the care room 30, and then couple the clothes support 70 on which the clothes A are supported to the upper surface 30d of the care room 30.

The clothes support 70 may be formed in the shape of a hanger so that the clothes A may be hung thereon.

The clothes support 70 may be configured to allow air to be introduced into the inside thereof. Dust or foreign substances on clothes may be removed by the air supplied to the inside of the clothes support 70.

An air hole 71 may be formed in the clothes support 70 to allow air to be introduced into the inside of the clothes support 70. The air hole 71 may be formed at an upper end of the clothes support 70, and air may be supplied to clothes through the air hole 71.

As an example, the clothes care apparatus 1 may include a blower 80 to flow air inside the care room 30. According to an embodiment, the blower 80 may be disposed above the care room 30.

As an example, the blower 80 may be configured to intake air inside the care room 30 to supply the air to the clothes support 70 through the air hole 71.

As an example, the blower 80 may be configured to intake air inside the care room 30 through an intake portion 81.

The clothes care apparatus 1 may include the steam injector 100 configured to inject steam generated by the steam generator 50.

The clothes care apparatus 1 may include the supply member 51 configured to connect the steam generator 50 and the steam injector 100 to supply steam generated by the steam generator 50 to the steam injector 100.

The supply member 51 may be provided in the shape of a hose. The supply member 51 may be made of a flexible material to facilitate shape change.

The steam injector 100 may be configured to inject steam toward the clothes A to remove wrinkles from the clothes.

The steam injector 100 may include an injection plate 110 including an injection port 111 through which steam is injected.

The injection plate 100 may be provided to extend in a direction corresponding to a length direction of the clothes support 70.

As an example, the clothes support 70 may be coupled to the care room 30 such that the length direction of the clothes support 70 is arranged in a front-rear direction X, which is a width direction of the side surface 30c of the care room 30. As an example, the injection plate 100 may be provided to extend in the front-rear direction X.

As an example, the clothes support 70 may be coupled to the care room 30 such that the length direction of the clothes support 70 is arranged in a left-right direction Y, which is a width direction of the rear surface 30b of the care room 30. As an example, the injection plate 100 may be provided to extend in the left-right direction Y.

A plurality of the injection ports 111 may be provided. The plurality of injection ports 111 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other on the injection plate 100 in a direction corresponding to the length direction of the clothes support 70. As an example, the plurality of injection ports 111 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction X.

Each of the plurality of injection ports 111 may be arranged to be open in a direction of directing to the clothes A supported on the clothes support 70. As an example, the plurality of injection ports 111 may be arranged to be open on a side facing the clothes A in the left-right direction Y.

The plurality of injection ports 111 may be arranged to inject steam into an entire area of the clothes A in the length direction of the clothes support 70. As an example, the plurality of injection ports 111 may be arranged to inject steam into the entire area of the clothes A in the front-rear direction X.

The plurality of injection ports 111 is all provided in the same shape, and therefore, one of the plurality of injection ports 111 will be described below as an example.

As an example, a width of the side surface 30c of the care room 30 may be provided to be longer than a width of the rear surface 30b of the care room 30. Accordingly, the clothes support 70 may be provided to be coupled to the care room 30 in a direction in which the length direction of the clothes support 70 corresponds to the width direction of the side surface 30c. The injection plate 110 may be provided such that a length direction of the clothes plate 110 extends in a direction corresponding to the width direction of the side surface 30c. As an example, the injection plate 110 may be arranged to extend in the front-rear direction X.

The steam injector 100 may include a blade 120 to which the injection plate 110 is coupled.

The blade 120 may be provided to be coupled to the supply member 51. One end 52 of the supply member 51 may be connected to the steam generator 50, and the other end 53 of the supply member 51 may be connected to the blade 120.

Steam supplied through the supply member 51 may be moved to the injection ports 111 through the other end 53 and the blade 120 of the supply member 51 to be injected to the outside.

The injection plate 110 may be disposed on a side of the blade 120 in a direction in which the blade 120 faces the clothes A accommodated inside the care room 30. As an example, the injection plate 110 may be disposed at an end of the blade 120 facing the clothes A in the left-right direction Y.

The injection plate 110 and the blade 120 may each be provided as a pair. The pair of plates 110 and the pair of blades 120 may be arranged to face each other with respect to the clothes A. As an example, the pair of plates 110 may be arranged to be symmetrical in the left-right direction Y with respect to the clothes A.

The pair of injection plates 110 may be disposed adjacent to a pair of the side surfaces 30c, respectively, and may be provided such that steam is injected through the injection ports 111 formed on the pair of injection plates 110.

The pair of injection plates 110 and the pair of blades 120 are each arranged symmetrically around the clothes A accommodated in the care room 30 and have the same shape, and therefore, one of the pair of injection plates 110 and one of the pair of blades 120 will be described below as an example.

The steam injector 100 may include a first driver 130 configured to move the injection plate 110 in the direction of the clothes A accommodated inside the care room 30 and in the opposite direction. The first driver 130 may be disposed on the blade 120.

The steam injector 100 may include a second driver 140 configured to move the injection plate 110 in an up-down direction. The second driver 140 may be configured to ascend and descend the blade 120 in the up-down direction so that the injection plate 110 moves upward and downward.

A detailed description of the steam injector 100 will be provided below.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a steam injector of the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating that a first driver of the steam injector of the clothes care apparatus is driving according to various embodiments.

In the case of a clothes care apparatus, as steam is injected into a care room, moisture is transferred to clothes accommodated in the care room and the moisture remaining on the clothes evaporates, thereby removing wrinkles on the clothes.

In this case, because steam is injected into the entire inside of the care room to transfer moisture to the clothes, wrinkles on the clothes are not be easily removed. For example, wrinkles may not be physically removed because no physical pressure is applied to the clothes, and because steam at a temperature higher than a certain temperature may not be directly transferred to the clothes, wrinkle removal efficiency of the clothes is not high.

As an example, the clothes care apparatus 1 is configured to directly inject high-temperature steam onto the clothes A accommodated inside the care room 30 so that the steam physically hits the clothes A, thereby easily removing wrinkles from the clothes A.

The clothes care apparatus 1 may move the injection ports 111 through which steam is injected in the up-down direction Z so that the steam is injected into the overall area of the clothes A.

The clothes care apparatus 1 may be configured to adjust a distance between the injection ports 111 and the clothes A so that steam is injected onto the clothes A at a pressure higher than a predetermined pressure to press the clothes, and to inject steam through the injection ports 111 at a predetermined distance from the clothes A.

The second driver 140 may be configured to move the injection plate 110 on which the injection ports 111 are provided in the up-down direction Z. The second driver 140 may be configured to move the blade 120 on which the injection plate 110 is located in the up-down direction Z.

The second driver 140 may include a holder 141 configured to support the blade 120 and a lifting part 142 configured to move the holder 141 in the up-down direction Z.

A rail 143 may be provided on a rear side of the rear surface 30b of the care room 30. The rail 143 may be disposed outside the care room 30 to guide the holder 141 in the up-down direction Z. The holder 141 may be moved in the up-down direction Z along the rail 143 when moved by the lifting part 142.

The holder 141 may be coupled to the blade 120. When the holder 141 is moved in the up-down direction Z by the lifting part 142, the blade 120 may be moved in the up-down direction Z in conjunction with the holder 141, and accordingly, the injection plate 110 coupled to the blade 120 and the injection port 111 provided on the injection plate 110 may be moved in the up-down direction Z.

The lifting part 142 may include a driving motor 142a, a gear part 142b configured to convert a rotational force generated by the driving motor 142a, and a lifting member 142c configured to move the holder 141 in the up-down direction Z using the rotational force transmitted through the gear part 142b.

The lifting member 142c may be coupled to the holder 141 to move the holder 141 in the up-down direction Z through the rotational force generated by the driving motor 142a.

As an example, the lifting member 142c may be provided as a shaft formed in a screw shape. The lifting member 142c may be provided to penetrate the holder 141, and the lifting member 142c and the holder 141 may be provided to be screw-coupled.

As the lifting member 142c is rotated in one direction or the opposite direction by rotation of the gear part 142b, the holder 141 screw-coupled with the lifting member 142c may be provided to move upward or downward along a screw line of the lifting member 142c.

As an example, the lifting member 142c may be provided in the form of a belt connected to a pulley of the gear part 142b or the driving motor 142a. As the pulley is rotated according to the rotation of the gear part 142b, and thus the belt is moved, the holder 141 connected to the lifting member 142c may be moved upward or downward.

The rail 143 may be provided to extend in the up-down direction Z. The holder 141 includes a guide portion provided to come into contact with at least a portion of the rail 143, and the holder 141 may be moved along an extension direction of the rail 143.

The injection port 111 may be moved in the up-down direction Z by the second driver 140, and thus steam may be injected into the entire area of the clothes A in the up-down direction Z.

The first driver 130 may move the injection plate 110 in a first direction F, which is a direction in which the clothes A is located, and in a second direction B, which is the opposite direction to the first direction F, with respect to the blade 120.

The steam injector 100 may include a distance sensor 112 disposed on the injection plate 110 to detect a distance between the clothes A accommodated in the care room 30 and the injection port 111.

When it is required that the injection port 111 is disposed in a position closer to the clothes A and injects steam based on a distance value between the clothes A and the injection port 111 detected by the distance sensor 112, the first driver 130 may move the injection plate 110 in the first direction F.

When it is required that the injection port 111 is disposed in a position further away from the clothes A and injects steam based on the distance value between the clothes A and the injection port 111 detected by the distance sensor 112, the first driver 130 may move the injection plate 110 in the second direction B.

The distance sensor 112 may be disposed at the same height as the injection port 111 in the up-down direction Z. This is to accurately measure the distance between the injection port 111 and the clothes A.

The steam injector 100 may include a temperature sensor 113 disposed on the injection plate 110 to detect a surface temperature of the clothes A accommodated in the care room 30.

When a surface temperature value of the clothes A detected by the temperature sensor 113 is greater than a set temperature value, the first driver 130 may move the injection plate 110 in the second direction B to prevent and/or reduce the clothes A from being damaged.

The temperature sensor 113 may be disposed at the same height as the injection port 111 in the up-down direction Z. This is to accurately measure a surface temperature of the clothes A at a position facing the injection port 111 because the highest temperature steam is injected onto the surface of the clothes A at the position facing the injection port 111, so that the surface temperature of the clothes A may be formed to be the highest.

As an example, the first driver 130 may include a telescoping member 131 configured to extend and contract in the first direction F and the second direction B.

As an example, the first driver 130 may include a cam member or an elastic member configured to press the injection plate 110 in the first direction F and the second direction B. A support may be included to additionally support the injection plate 110 so that a state in which the injection plate 110 is moved in the first direction F and the second direction B is kept.

The telescoping member 131 may be provided such that one end is connected to the blade 120 and the other end is connected to the injection plate 110. The injection plate 110 may be disposed on a side of the blade 120 in the first direction F toward the clothes A.

The telescoping member 131 is configured such that as the one end of the telescoping member 131 is connected to the blade 120 when the telescoping member 131 extends, the other end of the telescoping member 131 is moved, and accordingly, the injection plate 110 disposed at the other end of the telescoping member 131 may be moved in the first direction F.

The injection plate 110 may be configured such that steam is injected while a position thereof is keeping adjacent to the clothes A in the first direction F when a state in which the telescoping member 131 extends is kept.

As the other end of the telescoping member 131 is moved back to the blade 120 side when the telescoping member 131 contracts, the injection plate 110 may be moved in the second direction B. Accordingly, when the telescoping member 131 contracts, the injection plate 110 may be moved in a direction away from the clothes A.

The injection plate 110 may be configured to be moved in the second direction B so that steam is injected while keeping the predetermined distance from the clothes A when a state in which the telescoping member 131 contracts is kept.

Operations of the clothes care apparatus 1 when and after the clothes A are accommodated into care room 30 will be described in greater detail below.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments, FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a process of accommodating clothes in the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments, and FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are diagrams illustrating various processes of driving the steam injector of the clothes care apparatus according to various embodiments.

The clothes care apparatus 1 may include a controller (e.g., including control/processing circuitry) 300 configured to control an operation of the clothes care apparatus 1.

The controller 300 may include various circuitry including hardware such as a CPU, Micom, memory, and software such as a control program. As an example, the controller 300 may include an algorithm for controlling operations of components within the clothes care apparatus 1, at least one memory 320 storing data in the form of a program, and at least one processor 310 performing an operation using the data stored in the at least one memory 320. The processor 310 may include various processing circuitry and/or multiple processors. For example, as used herein, including the claims, the term “processor” may include various processing circuitry, including at least one processor, wherein one or more of at least one processor, individually and/or collectively in a distributed manner, may be configured to perform various functions described herein. As used herein, when “a processor”, “at least one processor”, and “one or more processors” are described as being configured to perform numerous functions, these terms cover situations, for example and without limitation, in which one processor performs some of recited functions and another processor(s) performs other of recited functions, and also situations in which a single processor may perform all recited functions. Additionally, the at least one processor may include a combination of processors performing various of the recited/disclosed functions, e.g., in a distributed manner. At least one processor may execute program instructions to achieve or perform various functions.

The memory 320 and the processor 310 may be implemented as separate chips. The processor 310 may include one or more processor chips or may include one or more processing cores. The memory 320 may include one or more memory chips or may include one or more memory blocks. The memory 320 and the processor 310 may also be implemented as a single chip.

The at least one memory 320 may store an algorithm for setting a clothes care course in which the blower 80 is driven, a wrinkle removal course in which the steam generator 50 and the steam injector 100 are driven, etc.

The controller 300 may be electrically connected to the display 25, the blower 80, the steam generator 50, the steam injector 100, the camera 200, and a communicator (e.g., including communication circuitry) 330.

Components illustrated in FIG. 6 are examples of components of the clothes care apparatus 1 according to an embodiment, and the clothes care apparatus 1 according to an embodiment may further include some components in addition to the components illustrated in FIG. 6, and may not include some components among the components illustrated in FIG. 6.

For example, the controller 300 according to an embodiment may be electrically connected to an actuator for automatically opening the door 20 of the clothes care apparatus 1, a door open/close sensor for detecting the opening/closing of the door 20, a lighting device, etc.

The clothes care apparatus 1 may include the communicator 330 including various communication circuitry for communicating with external devices (e.g., a server, a user device, and/or a home appliance) via wired and/or wireless means.

The communicator 330 may include at least one of a short-range communication module and a long-range communication module.

The communicator 330 may transmit data to or receive data from an external device. As an example, the communicator 330 may establish communication with a server, a user device and/or another home appliance, and transmit and receive various data.

The communicator 330 may support establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or wireless communication channel between external devices and performance of communication through the established communication channel. According to an embodiment, the communicator 330 may include a wireless communication module (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module), or a wired communication module (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module, or a power line communication module). Among these communication modules, the corresponding communication module may communicate with an external device through a first network (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (e.g., a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communications network, the Internet, or a long-range communication network such as a computer network (e.g., LAN or WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be integrated into one component (e.g., a single chip) or may be implemented as a plurality of separate components (e.g., multiple chips).

The short-range wireless communication module may include, but is not limited thereto, a Bluetooth communication module, a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication module, a near field communication module, a WLAN (Wi-Fi) communication module, a ZigBee communication module, an infrared data association (IrDA) communication module, a Wi-Fi direct (WFD) communication module, an ultra-wideband (UWB) communication module, an Ant+ communication module, microwave (U-wave) communication module, and the like.

The long-distance communication module may include a communication module performing various types of long-distance communication, and transmits and receives wireless signals with at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network.

In an embodiment, the communicator 330 may communicate with external devices such as a server, a user device, and another home appliance through a nearby access point (AP). The access point (AP) may connect a local area network (LAN) to which the clothes care apparatus 1, another home appliance, and/or a user device is connected to a wide area network (WAN) to which a server is connected. The clothes care apparatus 1, another home appliance, and/or a user device may be connected to the server via the wide area network (WAN).

The communicator 330 may be electrically connected to the controller 300 to drive the clothes care apparatus 1 based on data received from the communicator 330, and may transmit data such as the state of the clothes care apparatus 1 transmitted from the controller 300 to another home appliance and/or a user device.

As an example, the clothes care apparatus 1 may include at least one sensor, and sensor data collected from the at least one sensor may be transmitted to the controller 300. As an example, image data collected from the camera 200 may be transmitted to the controller 300. As an example, distance data between the clothes A and the injection port 111 collected by the distance sensor 112 may be transmitted to the controller 300. As an example, surface temperature data of the clothes A collected by the temperature sensor 113 may be transmitted to the controller 300.

The controller 300 may control various components (e.g., the display 25, steam generator 50, blower 80, steam injector 100, camera 200, communicator 330) of the clothes care apparatus 1. The controller 300 may control various components of the clothes care apparatus 1 to perform various courses according to user input through the display 25 or the communicator 330.

The controller 300 may process user input input through the display 25 and communicator 330 of the clothes care apparatus 1 and perform an operation in response to the user input.

For example, the controller 300 may change an operation mode of the blower 90, the steam generator 50, and/or the steam injector 100 based on any course of the clothes care apparatus 1 selected through the display 25.

The controller 300 may control the blower 80, the steam generator 50, and the steam injector 100 so that only the blower 80 is driven, only the blower 80 and the steam generator 50 are driven, only the steam generator 50 and the steam injector 100 are driven, or all of the blower 80, the steam generator 50, and the steam injector 100 are driven, based on course information inputted by the user.

As an example, when the user inputs the clothes care course, the controller 300 may control the blower 80 and the steam generator 50 so that the blower 80 and the steam generator 50 are driven. As an example, when the user inputs a wrinkle removal course, the controller 300 may control the steam generator 50 and the steam injector 100 so that the steam generator 50 and the steam injector 100 are driven.

The controller 300 may process an image of the clothes A obtained by the camera 200. The controller 300 may determine a material of the clothes A based on the image of the clothes A obtained by the camera 200.

When the material of the clothes A is determined, the steam injector 100 may be controlled according to variously stored algorithms depending on a type of the material of the clothes.

The at least one memory 320 may store data in the form of an algorithm or program for moving the injection port 111 to an appropriate distance between clothes and the injection port 111 depending on the material of the clothes.

The at least one memory 320 may store data in the form of an algorithm or program for moving the injection port 111 to prevent and/or reduce a surface temperature of clothes from rising above a thermal deformation limit temperature of the surface of the clothes depending on the material of the clothes.

The controller 300 may control the first driver 130 to move the injection plate 110 in the first direction For the second direction B based on the distance value between the clothes A and the injection port 111, which is detected by the distance sensor 112, in the wrinkle removal course of the clothes care apparatus 1 in which steam is injected.

The controller 300 may control the first driver 130 to move the injection plate 110 in the first direction F by the first driver 130 when the distance value between the clothes A and the injection port 111 which is detected by the distance sensor 112 is greater than an appropriate distance value between the injection port 111 and the clothes A for the determined material of the clothes A.

The controller 300 may control the first driver 130 to move the injection plate 110 in the first direction F by the first driver 130 until the distance value between the clothes A and the injection port 111 which is detected by distance sensor 112 corresponds to the appropriate distance value between the injection port 111 and the clothes A for the determined material of the clothes A.

The controller 300 may control the first driver 130 to increase the distance between the clothes A and the injection port 111 to reduce the surface temperature of the clothes A when the surface temperature value of the clothes A detected by the temperature sensor 113 is greater than a limit temperature value of the surface of the determined material of the clothes A. The controller 300 may control the first driver 130 to move the injection plate 110 in the second direction B by the first driver 130 when the surface temperature value of the clothes A detected by the temperature sensor 113 is greater than the limit temperature value of the surface of the determined material of the clothes A.

The controller 300 may control the second driver 140 to inject steam into the entire clothes in the up-down direction Z in a state in which the injection port 111 is located at the appropriate distance between the injection port 111 and the clothes A for the determined material of the clothes A.

The second driver 140 may move the injection port 111 in the up-down direction Z by moving the blade 120 in the up-down direction Z.

An example non-limiting operating sequence of the clothes care apparatus 1 will be described in greater detail below.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, clothes A1 are supported on the separated clothes support 70, and the user may accommodate the clothes support 70 on which the first clothes A1 are supported in the care room 30.

The clothes A are arbitrarily divided into first clothes A1 and second clothes A2 based on the material of the clothes, and as an example, it is assumed that the first clothes A1 are clothes made of a cotton material.

As an example, in order for the clothes A1 to be accommodated in the care room 30, the door 20 may be in an opened state. In this case, because the camera 200 is provided to be disposed on the inner surface 21 of the door 20, when the first clothes A1 are accommodated in the state in which the door 20 is opened, the camera 200 may obtain an image of the first clothes A1 in front of the care room 30.

Because the clothes support 70 is coupled to the inside of the care room 30 so that the length direction of the clothes support 70 directs to the front-rear direction, when the first clothes A1 are supported on the clothes support 70, a length direction of the first clothes A1 may also correspond to the front-rear direction X. The first clothes A1 are prepared to be accommodated in the care room 30 in the front-rear direction X, and accordingly, the first clothes A1 in a state of being supported on the clothes support 70 may be moved in the length direction of the first clothes A1 and accommodated inside the care room 30.

The opened door 20 is disposed in front of the care room 30, and accordingly, the camera 200 disposed on the inner surface 21 of the door 20 may obtain the image of the first clothes A1 located in the front of the care room 30. At this time, the overall shape of the first clothes A1 may be collected in an angle of view of the camera 200.

As an example, a detection sensor may be disposed on the inner surface 21 of the door 20 to sense the moment when the first clothes A1 are located on the inner surface 21 of the door 20 in the front-rear direction X. When the detection sensor senses the first clothes A1, the controller 300 may control the camera 200 such that the camera 200 is operated based on information about this.

As an example, the camera 200 may be configured to obtain an image of the inside of the care room 30 when the door 20 is closed. As the inner surface 21 of the door 20 forms the front surface of the care room 30, the camera 200 may be disposed toward the inside of the care room 30.

As an example, the user may close the door 20 after accommodating the clothes support 70 on which the first clothes A1 are supported in the care room 30. The camera 200 may be configured to obtain the image of the first clothes A1 accommodated inside the care room 30 in a state in which the door 20 is closed.

The controller 300 may determine a material of the first clothes A1 based on the image obtained from the camera 200 and control the steam generator 50 and the steam injector 100 according to the determined value.

As an example, the controller 300 may determine a degree of wrinkling of the first clothes A1 based on the image obtained from the camera 200 and control the steam generator 50 and the steam injector 100 according to the determined value. As an example, the controller 300 may control the steam injector 100 by determining an amount of steam injection and a duration time of steam injection according to the determined degree of wrinkling of the first clothes A1.

As an example, a plurality of the cameras 200 may be provided. The plurality of cameras 200 may be arranged at different heights in the up-down direction Z to obtain images of the first clothes Al taken at various angles.

The controller 300 may accurately determine a length of the first clothes A1 in the up-down direction Z, the material of the first clothes A1, and the degree of wrinkling of the first clothes A1 in the state in which the first clothes A1 are supported on the support 70, based on the images of the first clothes A1 taken from various angles.

As an example, the controller 300 may control the steam injector 100 such that the steam injector 100 injects more steam or an adjustment distance df1 between the injection port 111 and the first clothes Al is further reduced, at a position where the first clothes A1 are severely wrinkled in the up-down direction Z in the state of being supported on the support 70.

As an example, the clothes care apparatus 1 may include a door open/close sensor, and when the user closes the door 20, the controller 300 may control the display 25 to display a type of the determined material of the first clothes Al on the display 25 based on a value detected by the door open/close sensor.

When the user inputs consent information about the type of the determined material of the first clothes A1, the controller 300 may control the clothes care apparatus 1 such that the clothes care apparatus 1 is driven according to the clothes care course and/or a wrinkle control course of the clothes care apparatus 1 based on the determined value.

When the user does not input the consent information about the type of the determined material of the first clothes A1 and inputs other information about the material of the first clothes A1, the controller 300 may control the clothes care apparatus 1 such that the clothes care apparatus 1 is driven according to the clothes care course and/or the wrinkle control course of the clothes care apparatus 1 based on a value selected by the user.

The controller 300 may control the display 25 to display information on the first clothes A1 accommodated inside the care room 30 and information on the clothes care apparatus 1 on the display 25 when the door 20 is closed.

When the user inputs a selection of operating courses of the clothes care apparatus 1 or data about the information of the clothes A1 on display 25, the controller 300 may control the clothes care apparatus 1 based on the data inputted by the user.

When the material of the first cloth A1 is finally determined, the controller 300 may determine an appropriate distance between the first clothes A1 and the injection port 111 according to the determined material of the first clothes A1, and move the injection port 111 so that the injection port 111 is located at the determined appropriate distance from the first clothes A1.

The appropriate distance may be referred to as the minimum distance at which the material of the first clothes A1 is not damaged by a temperature and pressure of steam when high-temperature and high-pressure steam is injected, depending on the material of the first clothes A1.

The appropriate distances are different depending on materials of the first clothes A1, and the appropriate distances according to various materials are stored in the at least one memory 320, so that the steam injector 100 may be controlled through an algorithm according to the determined material of the first clothes A1.

When the clothes care apparatus 1 is driven in the wrinkle removal course, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the distance sensor 112 may detect a first initial distance ds1 between the injection port 111 and the first clothes A1.

As an example, the distance sensor 112 may be provided as an ultrasonic sensor. As an example, the distance sensor 112 may be provided as an infrared sensor, a lidar sensor, a radar sensor, etc.

When the first initial distance ds1 between the injection port 111 and the first clothes A1 obtained from the distance sensor 112 is measured to be longer than the determined appropriate distance, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the controller 300 may control the first driver 130 to drive the first driver 130 so that the injection port 111 moves in the first direction F.

The telescoping member 131 may be configured to extend as the first driver 130 is driven such that the injection port 111 moves in the first direction F, and the adjustment distance df1 between the injection port 111 and the first clothes A1 may be gradually reduced.

The controller 300 may drive the first driver 130 until the adjustment distance df1 between the injection port 111 and the first clothes A1 becomes the same value as the determined appropriate distance. When the adjustment distance df1 of the injection port 111 and the first clothes A1 is equal to the determined appropriate distance, the controller 300 may control the first driver 130 to stop driving the first driver 130 and keep the adjustment distance df1 between the injection port 111 and the first clothes A1.

When the first clothes A1 are made of the cotton material, the cotton material is less likely to be damaged by high-temperature and high-pressure steam and may be placed adjacent to a degree where the injection port 111 comes into contact with the first clothes A1.

When the determined material of the first clothes A1 is the cotton material, the controller 300 may control the first driver 130 so that the injection port 111 is disposed at a position very adjacent to the first clothes A1.

Accordingly, high temperature and high pressure steam is directly injected onto the first clothes A1, so that wrinkles on the first clothes A1 may be easily removed.

The injection plate 110 may be made of a material having high thermal conductivity to keep a temperature substantially corresponding to the temperature of the steam injected from the injection port 111. As an example, the injection plate 110 may be made of a metal material such as steel or aluminum.

This is to prevent and/or reduce steam from condensing around injection port 111 when the injection plate 110 has a temperature lower than a predetermined temperature compared to the steam injected from the injection port 111. Accordingly, the injection plate 110 may be provided to keep a temperature substantially corresponding to the temperature of steam when steam is injected from the injection port 111.

As an example, as the injection plate 110 is kept at a high temperature, when the first clothes A1 and the injection port 111 are placed very close to each other, the injection plate 110 may be provided to physically remove wrinkles from the first clothes A1 by partially coming into contact with the first clothes A1. That is, the injection plate 110 may be provided to directly iron the first clothes A1.

The temperature sensor 113 may be configured to detect a temperature of a surface A1S of the first clothes A1 while steam is injected.

When the temperature of the surface A1S of the first cloth A1 detected by the temperature sensor 113 is higher than a limit temperature of the determined material of the first cloth A1, the controller 300 may control the first driver 130 to move the injection plate 110 in the second direction B.

The limit temperature of the material of the first clothes A1 may refer to a temperature at which the material may be damaged when heat is transferred at the temperature higher than the maximum temperature within a temperature range in which the material is not deformed or damaged.

For example, when high-temperature steam is continuously injected at a location adjacent to the first clothes A1, the surface temperature of the first clothes A1 may rise above the limit temperature. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 10, in order to lower the surface temperature of the first clothes A1, the controller 300 may move the injection port 111 in the second direction B by controlling the first driver 130 to move the injection port 111 away from the first clothes A1.

When the temperature of the surface A1S of the first clothes A1 detected by the temperature sensor 113 is lower than the limit temperature of the determined material of the first clothes A1, the controller 300 may control the first driver 130 to move the injection plate 110 in the first direction F again.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, when the second clothes A2 are placed in the care room 30, the controller 300 may determine a material of the second clothes A2 through an image obtained from the camera 200.

The second clothes A2 are clothes made of a different material from the first clothes A1 described above, and as an example, it is assumed that the second clothes A2 are clothes made of a wool material.

When the second clothes A2 is made of the wool material, thermal deformation of the material easily occurs compared to the cotton material of the first clothes A1, and thus the appropriate distance may be determined to be longer.

When the clothes care apparatus 1 is driven in the wrinkle removal course, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the distance sensor 112 may detect a second initial distance ds2 between the injection port 111 and the second clothes A2.

When the second initial distance ds2 between the injection port 111 and the second clothes A2 obtained from the distance sensor 112 is measured to be further than the determined appropriate distance, the controller 300 may control the first driver 130 to drive the first driver 130 to move the injection port 111 in the first direction F.

The telescoping member 131 may be configured to extend as the first driver 130 is driven such that the injection port 111 moves in the first direction F, and an adjustment distance df2 between the injection port 111 and the first clothes A1 may be gradually reduced.

As the second clothes A2 are made of a material that is easily thermally deformed compared to the first clothes A1, a determined appropriate distance of the second clothes A2 may be determined to be longer than the determined appropriate distance of the first clothes A1.

The controller 300 may drive the first driver 130 until the adjustment distance df2 between the injection port 111 and the second clothes A2 becomes the same value as the determined appropriate distance and stop driving the first driver 130 when the adjustment distance df2 of the injection port 111 and the second clothes A2 is equal to the determined appropriate distance, and the adjustment distance df2 between the injection port 111 and the second clothes A2, which is finally kept, may be set to be longer than the adjustment distance df1 between the injection port 111 and the first clothes A1, which is finally kept.

For example, the controller 300 may control the steam injector 100 such that the distance between the injection port 111, through which steam is finally injected, and the clothes varies depending on the material of the clothes supported on the clothes support 70.

As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, when the adjustment distance df1 between the injection port 111 and the first clothes A1 corresponds to the determined adjustment distance, the controller 300 may control the second driver 140 to move the blade 120 in the up-down direction through the second driver 140.

As an example, the controller 300 may control the second driver 140 to move the blade 120 down from an upper side to a lower side once. As an example, the controller 300 may control the second driver 140 to move the blade 120 from the upper side to the lower side and then move the blade 120 back to the upper side. As an example, the controller 300 may control the second driver 140 to move the blade back and forth in the up-down direction multiple times.

The controller 300 may drive the first driver 130 based on data continuously received from the distance sensor 112 to keep the adjustment distance df1 between the injection port 111 and the first clothes A1 while the second driver 140 is driven.

A cross-section of the first clothes A1 may be reduced or expanded in the up-down direction by an area or shape of the clothes or attachments such as buttons, etc., and in this case, when the blade 120 moves in the up-down direction Z along the same line in the left-right direction Y, the adjustment distance df1 between the injection port 111 and the first clothes A1 may be changed.

In particular, when the adjustment distance df1 between the injection port 111 and the first clothes A1 is formed to be shorter than the determined appropriate distance, the first clothes A1 may be damaged, and when the adjustment distance df1 between the injection port 111 and the first clothes A1 is formed to be longer than the determined appropriate distance, the performance of removing wrinkles of the first clothes A1 may be reduced.

In order to avoid this, while the second driver 140 is driven to move the blade 120 in the up-down direction Z, the controller 300 may control the first driver 130 to keep the adjustment distance df1 between the injection port 111 and the first clothes A1 based on the value detected by the distance sensor 112.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described with reference to various example embodiments, it will be understood that the various example embodiments are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the various example embodiments, and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the technical idea of the present disclosure including the following claims. It will also be understood that any of the embodiment(s) described herein may be used in conjunction with any other embodiment(s) described herein.