CLOTHES TREATING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation application, claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 365(c), of an International application No. PCT/KR2025/022694, filed on Dec. 24, 2025, which is based on and claims the benefit of a Korean patent application number 10-2024-0202833, filed on Dec. 31, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a clothes treating apparatus including a drying device, and a method for controlling thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

A clothes treating apparatus is a device for treating and/or managing clothes. The clothes treating apparatus may include a washing machine and a dryer. The washing machine may include a washer-dryer combination.

The washer-dryer combination is a device that uses a driving force of a driving motor to agitate laundry, water, and detergent, which are put into a tub together, so as to wash the laundry through mutual friction.

Operations performed by the washer-dryer combination may include a washing operation in which detergent and water are supplied to the tub storing the laundry and the laundry is rotated while the drum is rotated, a rinsing operation in which water is supplied to the tub and the drum is rotated to rinse the laundry, and a spin-drying operation in which water is discharged from the tub and the drum is rotated to remove moisture from the laundry.

The operations performed by the washer-dryer combination may include a drying operation in which the laundry is dried by blowing heated air generated from a drying device into a space containing the laundry. The washer-dryer combination may include the drying device to perform the drying operation.

The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the disclosure.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

Aspects of the disclosure are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure is to provide a clothes treating apparatus including a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of humid air discharged from a drum and a method for controlling the clothes treating apparatus.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.

Technical Solution

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a clothes treating apparatus is provided. The clothes treating apparatus includes a housing, a tub disposed in the housing, a drum disposed in the tub and configured to accommodate laundry, a hot air supply device including a heater configured to heat air, a fan configured to blow the heated air into the tub, and a fan driving device configured to provide driving force to the fan, a temperature sensor disposed in the hot air supply device and configured to detect a temperature of the heated air, a discharge device including a discharge flow path configured to guide air discharged from the tub to an outside of the housing, memory, including one or more storage media, storing instructions, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the temperature sensor, the discharge device, and the memory, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the clothes treating apparatus to dry, by driving, the hot air supply device, and based on an average power consumption of the fan driving device and a temperature change amount of the heated air over time, determine whether the discharge flow path is blocked.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method for controlling a clothes treating apparatus including a housing, a tub disposed in the housing, a drum disposed in the tub and configured to accommodate laundry, a hot air supply device including a heater configured to heat air, a fan configured to blow the heated air into the tub, and a fan driving device configured to provide driving force to the fan, a temperature sensor disposed in the hot air supply device and configured to detect a temperature of the heated air, and a discharge device including a discharge flow path configured to guide air discharged from the tub to an outside of the housing, is provided. The method includes performing a drying operation by driving the hot air supply device, and based on an average power consumption of the fan driving device and a temperature change amount of the heated air over time, determining whether the discharge flow path is blocked.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing one or more computer programs including computer-executable instruction that, when executed by one or more processors of a clothes treating apparatus to perform operations, the clothes treating apparatus comprising a housing, a tub disposed in the housing, a drum disposed in the tub and configured to accommodate laundry, a hot air supply device including a heater configured to heat air, a fan configured to blow the heated air into the tub, and a fan driving device configured to provide a driving force to the fan, a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the heated air, and a discharge device including a discharge flow path configured to guide air discharged from the tub to an outside of the housing are provided. The operations include performing a drying operation by driving the hot air supply device, and based on an average power consumption of the fan driving device and a temperature change amount of the heated air over time, determining whether the discharge flow path is blocked.

Advantageous Effects

The disclosure provides a clothes treating apparatus with improved safety that can prevent occurrence of fire by detecting whether a discharge flow path is blocked.

The disclosure provides a clothes treating apparatus that can protect users by performing a blockage clearing operation depending on whether a discharge flow path is blocked.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses various embodiments of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 1 illustrates a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure when viewed from a direction different from the direction illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section of a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates some components arranged inside a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates some components arranged inside a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure when viewed from a direction different from the direction illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a state in which a drying device of a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure is disassembled from a tub;

FIG. 7 illustrates a state in which a drying device of a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure is disassembled from a tub when viewed from a direction different from a direction illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates a state in which a hot air supply device and a discharge device of a drying device of a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure are disassembled from a drying case;

FIG. 9 illustrates an interior of a hot air supply device and a discharge device by disassembling some components of a drying device of a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 10 illustrates an interior of a hot air supply device and a discharge device with some components of a drying device of a clothes treating apparatus disassembled, when viewed from a direction different from the direction illustrated in FIG. 9 according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a control block diagram of a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating discharge flow path blockage stages determined based on a degree of blockage in the discharge flow path of the clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing a blockage clearing operation after detecting blockage in a discharge flow path in a method for controlling a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

MODES OF THE INVENTION

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the various embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a and clear consistent understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the disclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.

In describing of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related elements.

In the disclosure, 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 or all possible combinations of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase among the phrases.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Terms, such as “1st”, “2nd”, “primary”, or “secondary” may be used simply to distinguish an element from other elements, without limiting the element in other aspects (e.g., importance or order).

When an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to as being “(functionally or communicatively) coupled” or “connected” to another element (e.g., a second element), the first element may be connected to the second element, directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or through a third element.

It will be understood that when the terms “includes”, “comprises”, “including”, and/or “comprising” are used in the disclosure, they specify the presence of the specified features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof.

When a given element is referred to as being “connected to”, “coupled to”, “supported by” or “in contact with” another element, it is to be understood that it may be directly or indirectly connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with the other element. When a given element is indirectly connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with another element, it is to be understood that it may be connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with the other element through a third element.

It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it may be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be.

A washing machine according to various embodiments may perform washing, rinsing, spin-drying, and drying processes. The washing machine is an example of a clothes treating apparatus, and the clothes treating apparatus is a concept including a device capable of washing clothes (objects to be washed, and objects to be dried), a device capable of drying clothes, and a device capable of washing and drying clothes.

The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a top-loading washing machine in which a laundry inlet for inserting or removing laundry is provided to face upward, or a front-loading washing machine in which a laundry inlet is provided to face forward. The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a washing machine of a loading type other than the top-loading washing machine and the front-loading washing machine.

For the top-loading washing machine, laundry may be washed using water current generated by a rotating body, such as a pulsator. For the front-loading washing machine, laundry may be washed by repeatedly lifting and lowering laundry by rotating a drum. The front-loading washing machine may include a dryer combined washing machine capable of drying laundry stored in a drum. The dryer combined washing machine may include a hot air supply device for supplying high-temperature air into the drum. For example, the dryer combined washing machine may include a heater. The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a washing machine using a washing method other than the above-described washing method.

The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a housing accommodating various components therein. The housing may be provided in the form of a box including a laundry inlet on one side thereof.

The washing machine may include a door for opening and closing the laundry inlet. The door may be rotatably mounted to the housing by a hinge. At least a portion of the door may be transparent or translucent to allow the inside of the housing to be visible.

The washing machine may include a tub disposed within the housing to store water. The tub may be formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a tub opening formed on one side thereof. The tub may be disposed inside the housing in such a way that the tub opening corresponds to the laundry inlet.

The tub may be connected to the housing by a damper. The damper may absorb vibration generated when the drum rotates, and the damper may reduce vibration transmitted to the housing.

The washing machine may include a drum provided to accommodate laundry.

The drum may be disposed inside the tub such that a drum opening provided on one side of the drum corresponds to the laundry inlet and the tub opening. Laundry may pass sequentially through the laundry inlet, the tub opening, and the drum opening and then be received in the drum or removed from the drum.

The drum may perform each operation according to washing, rinsing, and/or spin-drying while rotating in the tub. A plurality of through holes may be formed in a cylindrical wall of the drum to allow water stored in the tub to be introduced into or to be discharged from the drum.

The washing machine may include a driving device configured to rotate the drum. The driving device may include a drive motor and a rotating shaft for transmitting a driving force generated by the drive motor to the drum. The rotating shaft may penetrate the tub to be connected to the drum.

The driving device may perform respective operations according to washing, rinsing, and/or spin-drying, or drying processes by rotating the drum in a forward or reverse direction.

The washing machine may include a water supply device configured to supply water to the tub. The water supply device may include a water supply pipe and a water supply valve disposed in the water supply pipe. The water supply pipe may be connected to an external water supply source. The water supply pipe may extend from an external water supply source to a detergent supply device and/or the tub. Water may be supplied to the tub through the detergent supply device. Alternatively, water may be supplied to the tub without passing through the detergent supply device.

The water supply valve may open or close the water supply pipe in response to an electrical signal from a controller. The water supply valve may allow or block the supply of water to the tub from an external water supply source. The water supply valve may include a solenoid valve configured to open or close in response to an electrical signal.

The washing machine may include the detergent supply device configured to supply detergent to the tub. The detergent supply device may include a manual detergent supply device that requires a user to enter detergent to be used for each washing, and an automatic detergent supply device that stores a large amount of detergent and automatically adds a predetermined amount of detergent during washing. The detergent supply device may include a detergent container for storing detergent. The detergent supply device may be configured to supply detergent into the tub during a water supply process. Water supplied through the water supply pipe may be mixed with detergent via the detergent supply device. Water mixed with detergent may be supplied into the tub. Detergent is used as a term including detergent for pre-washing, detergent for main washing, fabric softener, bleach, or the like, and the detergent container may be partitioned into a storage region for the pre-washing detergent, a storage region for the main washing detergent, a storage region for the fabric softener, and a storage region for the bleach.

The washing machine may include a drainage device configured to discharge water contained in the tub to the outside. The drainage device may include a drain pipe extending from a bottom of the tub to the outside of the housing, a drain valve disposed on the drain pipe to open or close the drain pipe, and a pump disposed on the drain pipe. The pump may pump water from the drain pipe to the outside of the housing.

The washing machine may include a control panel disposed on one side of the housing. The control panel may provide a user interface for interaction between a user and the washing machine. The user interface may include at least one input interface and at least one output interface.

The at least one input interface may convert sensory information received from a user into an electrical signal.

The at least one input interface may include a power button, an operation button, a course selection dial (or a course selection button), and a washing/rinsing/spin-drying setting button. The at least one input interface may include a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, a touch switch, a touch pad, a touch screen, a jog dial, and/or a microphone.

The at least one output interface may visually or audibly transmit information related to the operation of the washing machine to a user.

For example, the at least one output interface may transmit information related to a washing course, operation time of the washing machine, and washing/rinsing/spin-drying settings to the user. Information about the operation of the washing machine may be output via a screen, an indicator, or a voice. The at least one output interface may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a light emitting diode (LED) panel, or a speaker.

The washing machine may include a communication module for wired and/or wireless communication with an external device.

The communication module may include at least one of a short-range wireless communication module or a long-range wireless communication module.

The communication module may transmit data to an external device (e.g., a server, a user device, and/or a home appliance) or receive data from the external device. For example, the communication module may establish communication with a server and/or a user device and/or a home appliance, and transmit and receive various types of data.

For the communication, the communication module may establish a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the external devices, and support the performance of the communication through the established communication channel. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the communication module 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 wireless communication network, such as Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network, such as a legacy cellular network, a fifth generation (5G) network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or wide area network WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be integrated as a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as a plurality of separate components (e.g., multiple chips).

The short-range wireless communication module may include a Bluetooth communication module, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication module, a near field communication module, a WLAN (Wi-Fi) communication module, and a Zigbee communication module, an IrDA communication module, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication module, an ultrawideband (UWB) communication module, an Ant+communication module, a microwave (uWave) communication module, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

The long-range wireless communication module may include a communication module that performs various types of long-range wireless communication, and may include a mobile communication circuitry. The mobile communication circuitry transmits and receives radio signals with at least one of a base station, an external terminal, or a server in a mobile communication network.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the communication module may communicate with an external device, such as a server, a user device and other home appliances through an access point (AP). The AP may connect a LAN, to which a washing machine or a user device is connected, to a WAN to which a server is connected. The washing machine or the user device may be connected to the server via the WAN. The controller may control various components of the washing machine (e.g., the drive motor, and the water supply valve). The controller may control various components of the washing machine to perform at least one operation including water supply, washing, rinsing, and/or spin-drying according to a user input. For example, the controller may control the drive motor to adjust the rotational speed of the drum or control the water supply valve of the water supply device to supply water to the tub.

The controller may include hardware, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or memory, and software, such as a control program. For example, the controller may include at least one memory for storing an algorithm and program-type data for controlling the operation of components in the washing machine, and at least one processor configured to perform the above-mentioned operation by using the data stored in the at least one memory. The memory and the processor may each be implemented as separate chips. The processor may include one or more processor chips or may include one or more processing cores. The memory may include one or more memory chips or one or more memory blocks. Alternatively, the memory and the processor may be implemented as a single chip.

It should be appreciated that the blocks in each flowchart and combinations of the flowcharts may be performed by one or more computer programs which include computer-executable instructions. The entirety of the one or more computer programs may be stored in a single memory device or the one or more computer programs may be divided with different portions stored in different multiple memory devices.

Any of the functions or operations described herein can be processed by one processor or a combination of processors. The one processor or the combination of processors is circuitry performing processing and includes circuitry like an application processor (AP, e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)), a communication processor (CP, e.g., a modem), a graphical processing unit (GPU), a neural processing unit (NPU) (e.g., an artificial intelligence (AI) chip), a wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) chip, a Bluetooth^TM chip, a global positioning system (GPS) chip, a near field communication (NFC) chip, connectivity chips, a sensor controller, a touch controller, a finger-print sensor controller, a display drive integrated circuit (IC), an audio CODEC chip, a universal serial bus (USB) controller, a camera controller, an image processing IC, a microprocessor unit (MPU), a system on chip (SoC), an IC, or the like.

Hereinafter a clothes treating apparatus according to various embodiments will be specifically described with reference to the attached drawings. Hereinafter a washer-dryer combination will be described as an example of a clothes treating apparatus, but the disclosure is not limited to the washer-dryer combination, and may be applied to various devices for treating and/or managing clothes.

In the following detailed description, the terms of “front side”, “rear side”, “left side”, “right side” and the like may be defined by the drawings, but the shape and the location of the element is not limited by the term.

For example, the X-axis direction may be defined as the front and rear direction, the Y-axis direction may be defined as the left and right direction, and the Z-axis direction may be defined as the up and down direction.

FIG. 1 illustrates a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a clothes treating apparatus viewed from a direction different from the direction illustrated in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section of a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates some components arranged inside a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates some components arranged inside a clothes treating apparatus viewed from a direction different from the direction illustrated in FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a clothes treating apparatus 1 according to various embodiments may include a housing 10 provided to accommodate various components therein. The housing 10 may be formed in a box shape with a laundry inlet 11 formed on one side. The laundry inlet 11 may be provided so as to face substantially forward.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a laundry door 17 for opening and closing the laundry inlet 11. The laundry door 17 may be rotatably mounted to the housing 10 by a hinge. At least a portion of the laundry door 17 may be provided to be transparent or translucent to allow the inside of the housing 10 to be visible. For example, the laundry door 17 may include tempered glass.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a lower door 18 configured to provide access to a lower detergent supply device 60. The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include an upper door 19 configured to provide access to an upper detergent supply device 50 and a discharge filter 150.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a tub 20 disposed inside the housing 10 to store water. The tub 20 may be formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a tub opening 21 formed on one side, and may be arranged inside the housing 10 to allow the tub opening 21 to correspond to the laundry inlet 11. The tub opening 21 may be disposed to face substantially forward.

The tub 20 may be connected to the housing 10 by a damper 25. The damper 25 may absorb a vibration, which is generated when the drum 30 rotates, and attenuate the vibration transmitted to the housing 10.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a diaphragm 22 for connecting the tub 20 and the housing 10. For example, the diaphragm 22 may extend between the laundry inlet 11 of the housing 10 and the tub opening 21 of the tub 20. The diaphragm 22 may be detachably mounted to the tub opening 21 of the tub 20. The diaphragm 22 may reduce transmission of vibration of the tub 20 to the housing 10. For example, the diaphragm 22 may include a material more flexible than a material of the housing 10 and the tub 20.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a drum 30 provided to accommodate laundry. At least one lifter 33 may be provided inside the drum 30 to perform washing by raising and falling the laundry.

The drum 30 may be disposed inside the tub 20 to allow a drum opening 31, which is disposed on one side, to correspond to the laundry inlet 11 and the tub opening 21. Laundry may be accommodated inside the drum 30 or taken out from the drum 30 by passing through the laundry inlet 11, the diaphragm 22, the tub opening 21 and the drum opening 31 in sequence. The drum opening 31 may be disposed to face substantially forward.

The drum 30 may perform each operation according to washing, rinsing, and/or spin-drying processes while rotating inside the tub 20. A plurality of through-holes 32 may be formed in a cylindrical wall of the drum 30 to allow water stored in the tub 20 to flow into the inside of the drum 30 or flow out to the outside of the drum 30.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a driving device 36 configured to rotate the drum 30. The driving device 36 may include a driving motor and a rotating shaft for transmitting a driving force generated by the driving motor to the drum 30. The rotating shaft may pass through the tub 20 and be connected to the drum 30.

The driving device 36 may rotate the drum 30 forward or backward to perform each operation according to the washing, rinsing, and/or spin-drying, or drying process.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a water supply device 40 configured to supply water to the tub 20. The water supply device 40 may include water supply valves 41 and 42 provided to be connected to an external water source. For example, the water supply valves 41 and 42 may include a first water valve 41 and a second water valve 42. For example, the water supply valves 41 and 42 may include a hot water valve 41 for supplying hot water and a cold water valve 42 for supplying cold water.

The water supply device 40 may include water supply pipes 43 and 44. The water supply pipe 43 and 44 may be connected to the water supply valves 41 and 42. For example, the water supply pipe 43 and 44 may include a first water supply pipe 43 and a second water supply pipe 44. For example, the water supply pipes 43 and 44 may be provided as a hose or pipe formed of a flexible material.

For example, the water supply pipes 43 and 44 may include a hot water pipe 43 connected to the hot water valve 41 and a cold water pipe 44 connected to the cold water valve 42. At least one of the water supply pipes 43 or 44 may guide water from the water supply valves 41 and 42 to the tub 20. At least one of the water supply pipes 43 or 44 may extend from a water supply valve 62 to the tub 20. Water may be supplied to the lower detergent supply device 60 by passing through the tub 20. Water may also be supplied to the lower detergent supply device 60 without passing through the tub 20.

The water supply valves 41 and 42 may open or close the water supply pipes 43 and 44 in response to an electrical signal from a controller 80 (refer to FIG. 11). The water supply valves 41 and 42 may allow or block the supply of water from an external water source to the tub 20. The water supply valves 41 and 42 may be a solenoid valve configured to open and close in response to an electrical signal.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include the detergent supply devices 50 and 60 configured to supply detergent to the tub 20. The detergent supply devices 50 and 60 may include the upper detergent supply device 50 and the lower detergent supply device 60. The detergent may be used as a term encompassing pre-wash detergent, main wash detergent, fabric softener, bleach, and the like.

The upper detergent supply device 50 may be disposed in an upper portion of the tub 20. The upper detergent supply device 50 may be disposed above the tub 20 with respect to the up and down direction. The upper detergent supply device 50 may include a manual detergent supply device that requires a user to add detergent to be used for each wash, or an automatic detergent supply device that stores a large amount of detergent and automatically adds a predetermined amount of detergent during the wash. The upper detergent supply device 50 may be connected to the tub 20 through a detergent connection pipe 51. For example, the upper detergent supply device 50 may be configured to supply solid detergent and/or fabric softener to the tub 20. However, the type of detergent is not limited to the above-described example.

The lower detergent supply device 60 may be disposed in a lower portion of the tub 20. The lower detergent supply device 60 may be disposed under the tub 20 with respect to the up and down direction. The lower detergent supply device 60 may include a manual detergent supply device that requires a user to add detergent to be used for each wash, or an automatic detergent supply device that stores a large amount of detergent and automatically adds a predetermined amount of detergent during the wash. For example, the lower detergent supply device 60 may be configured to supply liquid detergent and/or fabric softener to the tub 20. However, the type of detergent is not limited to the above-described example.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a drainage device 70 configured to discharge water contained in the tub 20 to the outside. The drainage device 70 may include a drain pump 71 for discharging water in the tub 20 to the outside of the housing 10.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a circulation pump 76 for circulating water of the tub 20 to the tub 20 through the lower detergent supply device 60.

The drainage device 70 may be connected to the tub 20 through a tub connection pipe 72. The drainage device 70 may discharge water of the tub 20 to the outside of the housing 10 through a drain pipe 73.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a wash water heater 24. The wash water heater 24 may be provided below the tub 20 to heat wash water during a washing operation. In addition, the water supply device 40 may supply a predetermined amount of water to the lower side of the tub 20 through a connection flow path P during a drying operation, and the wash water heater 24 may generate steam by heating water supplied to the inside of the tub 20 through the water supply device 40, the connection flow path P, and a tub exhaust port 27. For example, steam generated by the water supply device 40 and the wash water heater 24 may contact clothes during the drying operation, thereby reducing generation of wrinkles on the clothes.

For example, the clothes treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure is a washer-dryer combination that, unlike dryers of the related art, may include the wash water heater 24 for heating wash water, and may prevent wrinkles from forming on clothes during the drying operation as much as possible by generating steam using the wash water heater 24 and the water supply device 40 for cleaning the connection flow path P.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a control panel 15 arranged on one side of the housing 10. The control panel 15 may provide a user interface for interaction between a user and the clothes treating apparatus 1. The user interface may include at least one input interface and at least one output interface.

The at least one input interface may convert sensory information received from a user into an electrical signal.

The at least one input interface may include a power button, an operation button, a course selection dial (or a course selection button), and a washing/rinsing/spin-drying setting button. The at least one input interface may include a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, a touch switch, a touch pad, a touch screen, a jog dial, and/or a microphone.

The at least one output interface may visually or audibly convey information related to the operation of the clothes treating apparatus 1 to a user.

For example, the at least one output interface may convey information related to a washing course and an operating time of the clothes treating apparatus 1, and washing settings/rinsing settings/spin-drying settings to a user. The information related to the operation of the clothes treating apparatus may be output by a screen, an indicator, a voice, or the like. The at least one output interface may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a light emitting diode (LED) panel, a speaker, or the like.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a control box 15c for the control panel 15. The control box 15c for the control panel 15 may be electrically connected to the control panel 15. The control box 15c for the control panel 15 may supply power to the control panel 15. The control box 15c for the control panel 15 may process information input through the control panel 15. The control box 15c for the control panel 15 may control the control panel 15 to output information through the control panel 15.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a drying device 100 for drying laundry accommodated inside the drum 30. The drying device 100 may be configured to heat air and supply the heated air into the tub 20. The drying device 100 may discharge air discharged from the tub 20 to the outside of the clothes treating apparatus 1. The clothes treating apparatus 1 may be configured to draw in outside air, heat the air, and supply the heated air to the tub 20 to dry clothes inside the drum 30, and discharge air discharged from the tub 20 after drying the clothes inside the drum 30 to the outside of the clothes treating apparatus 1. The drying device 100 according to various embodiments may be disposed in an upper portion of the tub 20.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a terminal module 90. The terminal module 90 may include a terminal block. For example, the clothes treating apparatus 1 including a drying function uses relatively high voltage, and may smoothly supply power through the terminal module 90.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a terminal cover 91 for covering the terminal module 90. The terminal cover 91 may be detachably coupled to the housing 10. For example, the terminal module 90 may be provided in the drying device 100, and the terminal cover 91 may be detachably mounted to the drying device 100.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a connector coupling portion 149 for coupling a connector for electrically connecting the terminal module 90 and the control panel 15. For example, a connector provided on a wire extending from the terminal module 90 may be connected to a connector provided on a wire extending from the control panel 15 at the connector coupling portion 149. The connector coupling portion 149 may include a space for coupling a connector provided on a wire extending from the terminal module 90 and a wire extending from the control panel 15. For example, the connector coupling portion 149 may be provided in the drying device 100. For example, the connector coupling portion 149 may be provided in a discharge cover 142 of a discharge device 140 of the drying device 100.

FIG. 6 illustrates a state in which a drying device of a clothes treating apparatus is disassembled from a tub according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates a state in which a drying device of a clothes treating apparatus is disassembled from a tub viewed from a direction different from the direction illustrated in FIG. 6 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a state in which a hot air supply device and a discharge device of a drying device of a clothes treating apparatus are disassembled from a drying case according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 9 illustrates an interior of a hot air supply device and a discharge device by disassembling some components of a drying device of a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 10 illustrates an interior of a hot air supply device and a discharge device by disassembling some components of a drying device of a clothes treating apparatus viewed from a direction different from the direction illustrated in FIG. 9 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 10, the drying device 100 may include a drying case 101. Various components of the drying device 100 may be installed in the drying case 101. For example, a hot air supply device 110 and/or a discharge device 140 of the drying device 100 may be installed in the drying case 101. The drying device 100 may be provided as a single module with the hot air supply device 110 and the discharge device 140 installed in the drying case 101.

Referring to FIG. 8, the drying case 101 may include a case opening 101a for air introduced into the housing 10 to flow into the drying device 100. For example, the case opening 101a may include at least one opening. For example, the case opening 101a may be provided on a side portion of the drying case 101 adjacent to the fan 130.

Referring to FIG. 8, the drying case 101 may include a guide mounting portion 102 for discharging air inside the drying device 100 to the outside of the drying device 100. As a portion of the discharge device 140 is mounted to the guide mounting portion 102, air inside the drying device 100 may be discharged to the outside of the drying device 100. For example, the guide mounting portion 102 may be provided on a rear side of the drying case 101.

The drying device 100 may include a reinforcing frame 109 for reinforcing the rigidity of the drying case 101. For example, the reinforcing frame 109 may be detachably mounted to a front end of the drying case 101. For example, the reinforcing frame 109 may be mounted to the drying case 101 in a state where the hot air supply device 110 and the discharge device 140 are mounted to the drying case 101. For example, the hot air supply device 110 and the discharge device 140 may be separated from the drying case 101 in a state where the reinforcing frame 109 is separated from the drying case 101.

The drying device 100 may include a hot air supply device 110 for supplying hot air, that is, heated air, to the tub 20. The hot air supply device 110 may be mounted to the drying case 101. A supply flow path 116 through which air to be supplied to the tub 20 flows may be formed inside the hot air supply device 110.

For example, the hot air supply device 110 may be connected to the diaphragm 22. An end of the hot air supply device 110 from which air is discharged may be connected to the diaphragm 22. The diaphragm 22 may include a diaphragm connection portion 22a connected to the end of the hot air supply device 110. An air inlet 26 may be provided in the diaphragm connection portion 22a. Air discharged from the hot air supply device 110 may be supplied to the inside of the drum 30 through the air inlet 26.

The hot air supply device 110 may be configured to guide air introduced into the housing 10 to the tub 20. The hot air supply device 110 may be configured to heat air introduced into the housing 10. The hot air supply device 110 may be configured to convert outside air introduced into the housing 10 into high-temperature dry air.

For example, referring to FIG. 2, an outside air hole 10a through which outside air is introduced may be formed on a rear surface of the housing 10, and as the hot air supply device 110 operates, outside air may be introduced into the housing 10 through the outside air hole 10a. Referring to FIG. 8, air introduced into the housing 10 may be introduced into the drying device 100 through at least one case opening 101a formed in the drying case 101. Air introduced into the drying device 100 may be introduced into the hot air supply device 110.

The hot air supply device 110 may include a supply base 111. The supply base 111 may be mounted to the drying case 101. The supply base 111 may form a portion of the supply flow path 116. Components of the hot air supply device 110 may be accommodated in the supply base 111. The supply base 111 may form at least a portion of the supply flow path 116. For example, the supply base 111 may have a shape with an open upper side.

The hot air supply device 110 may include a supply cover 112. The supply cover 112 may be coupled to the supply base 111. The supply cover 112 may cover an open portion of the supply base 111. The supply cover 112 may form at least a portion of the supply flow path 116 together with the supply base 111. For example, as the supply cover 112 is coupled to the supply base 111, at least a portion of the supply flow path 116 may be formed.

The hot air supply device 110 may include a heater 120 for heating air passing through the hot air supply device 110. The heater 120 may heat air flowing through the supply flow path 116. For example, the heater 120 may include a dual heater. When the heater 120 includes a dual heater, the heater 120 may include a plurality of sub-heaters capable of operating independently. The controller 80 may independently control the plurality of sub-heaters included in the dual heater.

The drying device 100 may include a heater control box 129 for controlling the heater 120. The heater control box 129 may be electrically connected to the heater 120. For example, the heater control box 129 may be mounted to the drying case 101.

The hot air supply device 110 may include a fan 130 for forming an air flow inside the hot air supply device 110. The fan 130 may be configured to draw in air from outside the housing 10 and blow the air to the tub 20. The fan 130 may be configured to supply air to an object inside the drum 30. For example, the fan 130 may include a sirocco fan. For example, the fan 130 may be configured to draw in air in an axial direction of the fan 130 and discharge the air outward in a circumferential direction of the fan 130.

The hot air supply device 110 may include a fan driving device 135 for providing power to the fan 130. For example, the hot air supply device 110 may include a fan cover 113 couplable to the supply base 111 and/or the supply cover 112. The fan driving device 135 may be mounted to the fan cover 113.

Referring to FIG. 10, the supply base 111 may include a supply inlet 117 through which air is introduced into the hot air supply device 110. The supply inlet 117 may be formed to penetrate the supply base 111 in an axial direction of the fan 130. As the fan 130 operates, air outside the hot air supply device 110 may be introduced into the hot air supply device 110 through the supply inlet 117.

The hot air supply device 110 may include a supply connection part 114 for connection to the tub 20. The supply connection part 114 may be connected to a front end of the tub 20. For example, the supply base 111 may extend in a front-rear direction, and the supply connection part 114 may extend in an up-down direction.

The supply connection part 114 may include a supply guide portion 114a for guiding air flowing from the supply base 111 to the supply connection part 114. The supply guide portion 114a may have a rib shape. The supply guide portion 114a may be configured to agitate dry air supplied to the tub 20 so as to reduce temperature deviation of the dry air supplied to the tub 20.

For example, the supply connection part 114 may be positioned at an end opposite to one end of the supply base 111 where the fan 130 is located. For example, the supply connection part 114 may be connected to an end opposite to one end of the supply base 111 where the supply inlet 117 is formed. As the supply connection part 114 and the supply inlet 117 are spaced apart from each other at both ends of the supply base 111, air introduced through the supply inlet 117 may have time to be heated by the heater 120 before being supplied to the tub 20 through the supply connection part 114.

The supply connection part 114 of the hot air supply device 110 may be connected to the air inlet 26. The air inlet 26 of the tub 20 may be provided in the diaphragm 22 provided at a front end of the tub 20. The supply connection part 114 may be connected to a diaphragm connection portion 22a provided in the diaphragm 22. For example, the supply connection part 114 and the diaphragm connection portion 22a may be configured to be fixed by mounting a clamp to a portion where the supply connection part 114 and the diaphragm connection portion 22a are coupled.

The drying device 100 may include a thermostat 170 configured to stop the operation of the drying device 100 based on a temperature of dry air supplied through the hot air supply device 110 exceeding a predetermined temperature. For example, the thermostat 170 may be mounted to the hot air supply device 110. For example, the thermostat 170 may include a sensor for detecting a temperature of the supply flow path 116.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 7, heated air in the drying device 100 may be supplied to the inside of the drum 30 through the tub 20. To secure time for the heated air supplied to the inside of the drum 30 to remove moisture from laundry, the tub exhaust port 27 may be provided at a position opposite to the air inlet 26 where the heated air from the drying device 100 is supplied to the tub 20. To increase a distance and/or time that the heated air flows inside the drum 30 so that it can contact the laundry more, the tub exhaust port 27 may be provided at a position opposite to the air inlet 26 where the heated air from the drying device 100 is supplied to the tub 20. By increasing the time that the heated air and the laundry are in contact, drying efficiency can be improved.

The air inlet 26 and the tub exhaust port 27 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be arranged to maximize utilization of heated air provided from the drying device 100. For example, the air inlet 26 may be positioned at a front end of the tub 20, and the tub exhaust port 27 may be positioned at a rear end of the tub 20.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 according to various embodiments may include a connection flow path P through which air discharged from the inside of the tub 20 flows to the drying device 100. The connection flow path P may be configured to allow air discharged from the tub exhaust port 27 to flow to a discharge flow path 146 of the drying device 100. The connection flow path P may be configured to discharge humid air that has passed through the tub 20. For example, the connection flow path P may be provided at a rear of the tub 20.

Air inside the tub 20 may be discharged to a tub duct 28 through the tub exhaust port 27 formed on a rear surface of the tub 20. Air discharged to the tub duct 28 may flow along the connection flow path P and be supplied to the drying device 100.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 according to various embodiments may include the tub duct 28 for forming at least a portion of the connection flow path P. For example, the tub duct 28 may be formed integrally with the tub 20. For example, the tub 20 may include the tub duct 28. The tub duct 28 may be configured to surround the tub exhaust port 27.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 according to various embodiments may include a duct cover 29 for forming at least a portion of the connection flow path P. The duct cover 29 may be configured to cover an open rear surface of the tub duct 28. For example, the tub 20 may include the duct cover 29. The duct cover 29 may form at least a portion of the connection flow path P through which air discharged through the tub exhaust port 27 flows to the drying device 100.

In the clothes treating apparatus 1 according to various embodiments of the disclosure, the connection flow path P may be formed as the duct cover 29 is coupled to the tub duct 28.

The tub duct 28 according to an embodiment may include a recess portion 28a forming a part of the connection flow path P through which air discharged from the inside of the tub 20 flows. A reinforcing rib 23 for reinforcing the rigidity of the tub 20 may be provided on a rear surface of the tub 20, and the recess portion 28a may be provided as a portion recessed from an end of the reinforcing rib 23 protruding from the rear surface of the tub 20. The recess portion 28a may be provided as a portion where the reinforcing rib 23 is not formed on the rear surface of the tub 20. The tub exhaust port 27 through which air is discharged from the inside of the tub 20 may be formed in the recess portion 28a. The tub duct 28 may include a partition rib 28d provided along a periphery of the recess portion 28a. The partition rib 28d may distinguish between a region where the reinforcing rib 23 is formed and a region where the recess portion 28a is formed on the rear surface of the tub 20.

The tub duct 28 according to an embodiment may include a duct connection portion 28b forming another part of the connection flow path P through which air that has passed through the recess portion 28a flows. The duct connection portion 28b may protrude outward from an outer circumferential surface of the tub 20. The duct connection portion 28b may protrude approximately upward from the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20.

The duct connection portion 28b may allow communication between the drying device 100 and the recess portion 28a. The duct connection portion 28b may be connected to a discharge connection part 143 of the drying device 100. The duct connection portion 28b may form a single passage constituting the connection flow path P together with the recess portion 28a and the duct cover 29.

The duct connection portion 28b may be covered by the duct cover 29. The duct connection portion 28b may have one side open. The duct cover 29 may cover the open one side of the duct connection portion 28b.

The duct cover 29 may cover both the recess portion 28a and the duct connection portion 28b. For example, the duct cover 29 may cover both the open one side of the recess portion 28a and the open one side of the duct connection portion 28b. The connection flow path P may be formed by the duct cover 29 that covers the recess portion 28a and the duct connection portion 28b. For example, the duct cover 29 may cover only the recess portion 28a.

The duct cover 29 may be configured to cover the open rear surface of the recess portion 28a and/or the open rear surface of the duct connection portion 28b. The connection flow path P may be a single passage formed by the tub duct 28 and the duct cover 29 together.

The tub duct 28 may include a stepped portion 28c for expanding a cross-sectional area of the connection flow path P. The connection flow path P may be configured to have a width of a portion formed by the duct connection portion 28b larger than a width of a portion formed in the recess portion 28a by the stepped portion 28c.

The drying device 100 may include the discharge device 140 for discharging air discharged from the tub 20 to the outside of the clothes treating apparatus 1. The discharge device 140 may be mounted to the drying case 101. The discharge device 140 may be configured to form a discharge flow path 146 for discharging air discharged from the tub 20 to the outside of the housing 10.

The discharge device 140 may include a discharge base 141. The discharge base 141 may be mounted to the drying case 101. The discharge base 141 may form at least a portion of the discharge flow path 146. The discharge base 141 may be configured to have the discharge flow path 146 formed in approximately a U-shape.

The discharge device 140 may include a discharge cover 142. The discharge cover 142 may be coupled to the discharge base 141. The discharge cover 142 may form at least a portion of the discharge flow path 146. The discharge cover 142 may cover an open portion of the discharge base 141. The discharge cover 142 may form at least a portion of the discharge flow path 146 together with the discharge base 141. For example, as the discharge cover 142 is coupled to the discharge base 141, at least a portion of the discharge flow path 146 may be formed.

The discharge device 140 may include a discharge connection part 143 connected to the tub 20. The discharge connection part 143 may guide air discharged from the tub 20 and passed through the connection flow path P. A flow path through which air flows may be formed inside the discharge connection part 143. The discharge connection part 143 may be connected to the duct connection portion 28b of the tub 20.

For example, the discharge connection part 143 may include a flexible material. For example, the discharge connection part 143 may have a structure with a changeable length. For example, the discharge connection part 143 may include a material having elasticity. For example, the discharge connection part 143 may include a material having stretchability. The discharge connection part 143 may be configured to reduce transmission of vibration from the tub 20 to the drying device 100. The discharge connection part 143 may seal between the duct connection portion 28b of the tub 20 and a duct guide 144 of the discharge device 140.

The discharge device 140 may include the duct guide 144 connected to the discharge connection part 143. The duct guide 144 may be configured to guide air that has passed through the discharge connection part 143 to the discharge flow path 146. The duct guide 144 may connect the discharge connection part 143 to the discharge base 141 and/or the discharge cover 142. The duct guide 144 may be configured to change a flow direction of air that is discharged from the tub 20 and flows upward along the connection flow path P. The duct guide 144 may include a material having higher strength than the discharge connection part 143.

The discharge device 140 may include a discharge guide 145 for guiding air that has passed through the discharge base 141 to the outside of the housing 10. The discharge guide 145 may be connected to the discharge base 141. The discharge guide 145 may be mounted to a guide mounting portion 102 formed in the drying case 101. The guide mounting portion 102 may be positioned at a rear end of the drying case 101.

The discharge guide 145 may be positioned approximately at a center of the rear end of the drying device 100. For example, water supply valves 41 and 42 may be positioned on one side of the discharge guide 145, and a terminal module 90 may be positioned on an opposite side to the one side where the water supply valves 41 and 42 are positioned. The discharge guide 145 may be positioned between the water supply valves 41 and 42 and the terminal module 90 at the rear end of the drying device 100.

The drying device 100 may include a discharge filter 150 detachably couplable to the discharge device 140. The discharge filter 150 may filter foreign substances from air passing through the discharge device 140. The discharge filter 150 may filter foreign substances from air passing through the discharge flow path 146. The discharge filter 150 may be detachably mounted to the discharge base 141 and/or the discharge cover 142. The discharge filter 150 may be configured to be accessible by opening the upper door 19 shown in FIG. 1.

A filter mounting portion 141a for mounting the discharge filter 150 may be provided in the discharge base 141. The filter mounting portion 141a may extend from a front end of the discharge base 141 toward a rear. The filter mounting portion 141a may be configured to correspond to a size and/or shape of the discharge filter 150. The filter mounting portion 141a may include a rail on which the discharge filter 150 is slidably movable. The discharge filter 150 may be mounted to the filter mounting portion 141a with sliding movement.

In the clothes treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure, because the discharge filter 150 for filtering foreign substances from humid air discharged from the tub 20 is provided in the drying device 100 positioned above the tub 20, a user or an operator can easily access the filter for maintenance and/or repair.

The drying device 100 may include a humidity sensor 180 for detecting humidity discharged through the discharge device 140. The humidity sensor 180 may be configured to detect humidity of air passing through the discharge flow path 146. For example, the humidity sensor 180 may be mounted to the discharge device 140.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, to prevent damage to the humidity sensor 180, the humidity sensor 180 may be provided on a downstream side of the discharge filter 150 on the discharge flow path 146. Through this, air flowing from the tub 20 to the discharge device 140 may reach the humidity sensor 180 via the discharge filter 150.

According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the humidity sensor 180 may be accommodated in a sensor housing 180h. A sensor filter 180f may be formed in at least a portion of the sensor housing 180h. The sensor filter 180f may filter foreign substances from air passing through the humidity sensor 180. Air flowing from the tub 20 to the discharge device 140 may reach the humidity sensor 180 via the sensor filter 180f formed in the sensor housing 180h.

As such, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may include at least one filter (e.g., the discharge filter 150 and/or the sensor filter 180f) for filtering foreign substances in air flowing along the discharge flow path 146.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, because air flowing along the discharge flow path 146 is filtered at least once by at least one filter (e.g., the discharge filter 150 and/or the sensor filter 180f) before reaching the humidity sensor 180, damage to the humidity sensor 180 by foreign substances contained in the air may be prevented.

The humidity of air passing through the discharge flow path 146 may correspond to the humidity of laundry. For example, when the humidity of laundry is high, the humidity of air passing through the discharge flow path 146 also increases, and when the humidity of laundry is low, the humidity of air passing through the discharge flow path 146 also decreases.

According to the disclosure, instead of providing a humidity sensor in the form of an electrode sensor inside the drum as used in dryers of the related art, the humidity sensor 180 is provided in the discharge flow path 146, thereby allowing the clothes treating apparatus 1 to perform a washing course, in which water is introduced into the drum, along with a drying course.

The drying device 100 may include an electromagnetic interference filter (EMI) filter 108. The EMI filter 108 may be configured to reduce or block electromagnetic interference of the clothes treating apparatus 1. The EMI filter 108 may be mounted to the drying case 101. For example, the EMI filter 108 may be positioned at a rear of the hot air supply device 110. For example, the EMI filter 108 may be positioned at a corner portion of the drying case 101.

In the clothes treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure, because the drying heater 120 is provided in the hot air supply device 110 and the discharge filter 150 is provided in the discharge device 140, damage to the discharge filter 150 by the drying heater 120 may be reduced.

In the clothes treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure, because the heater 120 is provided in the hot air supply device 110 and the discharge filter 150 is provided in the discharge device 140, damage to the discharge filter 150 by the heater 120 may be reduced.

Referring to FIG. 8, the clothes treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be configured to allow the hot air supply device 110 and the discharge device 140 to be separated from the drying case 101 respectively. The hot air supply device 110 and the discharge device 140 may be provided as separate components.

FIG. 11 is a control block diagram of a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 11, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a controller 80. The controller 80 may be electrically connected to various components and/or devices of the clothes treating apparatus 1 and may control various components and/or devices.

For example, the controller 80 may control the control panel 15, the driving device 36, the water supply device 40, the drain pump 71, the circulation pump 76, the drying device 100, and a communication interface 89. The controller 80 may be electrically connected to a temperature sensor 86 (including 86a and 86b).

The controller 80 may include a processor 81 and memory 82. The memory 82 may include volatile memory (e.g., static random access memory (S-RAM) and dynamic random access memory (D-RAM)) and a non-volatile memory (e.g., read only memory (ROM), and erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM)). The processor 81 and the memory 82 may be implemented as separate chips or as a single chip. In addition, a plurality of processors and a plurality of memories may be provided. The processor 81 may process various data and various signals using instructions, data, programs, and/or software stored in the memory 82. The processor 81 may include one core or a plurality of cores. The processor 81 may generate a control signal for controlling elements of the clothes treating apparatus 1.

The control panel 15 may obtain various user inputs and output various information regarding the operation of the clothes treating apparatus 1. The control panel 15 may include an input interface 15a and an output interface 15b.

The input interface 15a may convert sensory information received from a user into an electrical signal. For example, the input interface 15a may include a power button, an operation button, a course selection dial (or a course selection button), and a washing/rinsing/spin-drying setting button. The input interface 15a may include a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, a touch switch, a touch pad, a touch screen, a jog dial, and/or a microphone.

The output interface 15b may visually or audibly convey information related to the operation of the clothes treating apparatus 1 to a user. For example, the output interface 15b may convey information related to a washing course and an operating time of the clothes treating apparatus 1, and washing settings/rinsing settings/spin-drying settings to a user. The information related to the operation of the clothes treating apparatus may be output by a screen, an indicator, a voice, or the like. The output interface 15b may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a light emitting diode (LED) panel, a speaker, or the like.

The controller 80 may control the operation of the clothes treating apparatus 1 based on the user input obtained through the control panel 15. For example, the controller 80 may turn on or off the clothes treating apparatus 1 based on the user input for turning on or off the clothes treating apparatus 1. The controller 80 may determine the operation course of the clothes treating apparatus 1 based on the user input for setting the operation course of the clothes treating apparatus 1.

The operation course of the clothes treating apparatus 1 may be provided in various ways. For example, the operation courses of the clothes treating apparatus 1 may be broadly classified into a washing course, a drying course, and a heat exchanger cleaning course. In the disclosure, the washing course may be referred to as a washing operation, and the drying course may be referred to as a drying operation.

The washing course may be provided in various ways according to the type of laundry (e.g., clothes, blanket, underwear, or the like) and material (e.g., cotton, wool, nylon, or the like). For example, the washing course may include at least one of a normal course, a strong course, a delicate course, a blanket course, a baby clothes course, a towel course, a boil course, or an outdoor clothes course. Each of the plurality of washing courses may include different washing settings (e.g., washing temperature, number of rinses, spin-drying intensity, or the like). When one of the plurality of washing courses is selected through the control panel 15 or an external user device, the controller 80 may control the clothes treating apparatus 1 to perform the washing process, the rinsing process, and the spin-drying process corresponding to the selected washing course. In addition, the washing course may include the rinsing and the spin-drying course excluding the washing process, the rinsing course, and the spin-drying course. The washing course is not limited thereto.

The drying course may also be provided in various ways according to the type of a drying target (e.g., clothes, blanket, underwear, or the like) and material (e.g., cotton, wool, nylon, or the like). For example, the drying course may include at least one of normal drying, strong drying, delicate clothes drying, blanket drying, baby clothes drying, towel drying, or outdoor clothes drying. Each of the plurality of drying courses may include different drying settings (e.g., drying temperature, drying time, or the like). When one of the plurality of drying courses is selected through the control panel 15 or an external user device, the controller 80 may control the clothes treating apparatus 1 to perform a drying process corresponding to the selected drying course. The drying course is not limited thereto.

The controller 80 may control the control panel 15 to output various information regarding the operation of the clothes treating apparatus 1. For example, the control panel 15 may visually and/or audibly output information regarding the operation course, operating time, washing setting, rinsing setting, spin-drying setting, and/or drying setting of the clothes treating apparatus 1. The control panel 15 may output information regarding an abnormal condition of the clothes treating apparatus 1.

The driving device 36 may rotate the drum 30 under the control of the controller 80. The driving device 36 may include a driving motor. The controlling of the driving device 36 by the controller 80 may include controlling the driving motor by the controller 80. The controller 80 may control the driving motor to adjust a rotation speed of the drum 30. For example, the controller 80 may control the driving device 36 to adjust the rotation speed of the drum 30.

The water supply device 40 may selectively supply water to the tub 20. The water supply device 40 may include the water supply pipes 43 and 44 connected to an external water source and the water supply valves 41 and 42 for opening or closing the water supply pipes. The water supply device 40 may include the first water supply valve 41 and the second water supply valve 42. As described above, the first water supply valve 41 may correspond to the hot water valve. The second water supply valve 42 may correspond to the cold water valve. The water supply pipes 43 and 44 may include a first water supply pipe corresponding to the hot water pipe 43 and a second water supply pipe corresponding to the cold water pipe 44.

The controller 80 may control the opening and closing of each of the first water supply valve 41 and the second water supply valve 42. The controller 80 may adjust an opening degree of each of the first water supply valve 41 and the second water supply valve 42. The first water supply valve 41 may open or close the first water supply pipe based on an electrical signal transmitted from the controller 80. The second water supply valve 42 may open or close the second water supply pipe based on an electrical signal transmitted from the controller 80.

The drain pump 71 may discharge water inside the tub 20 to the outside of the housing 10. The controller 80 may control the drain pump 71 to allow the water of the tub 20 to be discharged to the outside through the drain pipe 73.

The circulation pump 76 may send water of the tub 20 to the lower detergent supply device 60. Water passing through the circulation pump 76 and the lower detergent supply device 60 may return to the tub 20. The controller 80 may control the circulation pump 76 to allow the water of the tub 20 to circulate through the lower detergent supply device 60.

The drying device 100 may heat air and supply the heated air to the tub 20. The controller 80 may operate the drying device 100 to dry laundry positioned inside the drum 30. To generate dry and heated air, the drying device 100 may include a hot air supply device 110 including a fan 130, a fan driving device 135 for driving the fan, and/or a heater 120.

The controller 80 may control the fan 130 and/or the heater 120 included in the hot air supply device 110. The heater 120 may heat air, and the fan 130 may blow air heated by the heater 120 to the tub 20.

The controller 80 may control the fan driving device 135 to operate the fan 130. Accordingly, the fan 130 may supply dry and heated air into the drum 30. The controller 80 may control the fan driving device 135 to adjust a rotation speed of the fan 130. A flow rate of air supplied into the drum 30 may vary according to the rotation speed of the fan 130. The controller 80 may calculate the power consumption of the fan driving device 135. For example, the controller 80 may calculate the average power consumption of the fan driving device 135 during a unit time.

The controller 80 may change an output of the heater 120. Accordingly, the controller 80 may adjust a temperature of air supplied into the drum 30. For example, the controller 80 may reduce an output of the heater 120 by 70% compared to a previous level.

The temperature sensor 86 may detect a temperature of heated air. For example, the temperature sensor 86 may detect a temperature of air supplied to the tub 20 and transmit an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature of the air supplied to the tub 20 to the controller 80. For example, the temperature sensor 86 may transmit information regarding the temperature of air supplied to the tub 20 to the controller 80. The controller 80 may determine the temperature of air supplied to the tub 20 based on the electrical signal transmitted from the temperature sensor 86. The temperature sensor 86 may be positioned in the hot air supply device 110. For example, the temperature sensor 86 may be positioned in the supply connection part 114 of the hot air supply device 110. For example, the temperature sensor 86 may be positioned at a point where the supply flow path 116 ends.

The controller 80 may control the control panel 15 to visually and/or audibly output temperature information of air supplied to the tub 20 and/or temperature of air discharged from the tub 20. The control panel 15 may display the temperature information of air supplied to the tub 20 and/or the temperature of air discharged from the tub 20 in Celsius or Fahrenheit.

The communication interface 89 may include various communication circuitry for performing wired communication and/or wireless communication with external devices (e.g., servers, user devices, and/or other home appliances). The user devices may include various electronic devices, such as a smartphone, a notebook, a laptop, a smart watch, a stationary tablet, and a speaker. A user input may be obtained through the user device as well as the control panel 15.

The communication interface 89 may include at least one of a short-range communication circuit and a long-range communication circuit. The communication interface 89 may transmit data to an external device or receive data from an external device. For example, the communication interface 89 may support cellular communication, a wireless local area network(WLAN), a home radio frequency (Home RF), infrared communication, ultra-wide band (UWB) communication, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi direct, Bluetooth, AD-HOC, and/or Zigbee. The communication technologies supported by the communication interface 89 are not limited thereto.

The communication interface 89 may also communicate with an external device through an access point (AP). The access point may connect a local area network (LAN) to which the clothes treating apparatus 1 is connected to a wide area network (WAN) to which the server is connected. The clothes treating apparatus 1 may be connected to the server through the wide area network (WAN).

The controller 80 according to an embodiment may perform a drying operation by driving the hot air supply device 110.

The controller 80 may determine whether the discharge flow path is blocked based on an average power consumption of the fan driving device 135 and a temperature change amount of heated air over time.

The controller 80 may calculate a discharge flow path blockage coefficient according to Equation 1 below based on the average power consumption of the fan driving device 135 and the temperature change amount of heated air over time.

Y = Y 2 / Y 1 × 1 ⁢ 0 ⁢ 0 Equation ⁢ 1

(Here, Y is a discharge flow path blockage coefficient, Y₁ is an average power consumption of the fan driving device 135, and Y₂ is a temperature change amount of heated air over time)

The controller 80 may calculate the average power consumption of the fan driving device 135 during a defined first unit time from a first time point. The first time point may correspond to a time point when the drying operation is started.

The controller 80 may calculate the temperature change amount of heated air over time between a second time point when a temperature obtained from the temperature sensor 86 reaches a defined reference temperature and a third time point when the temperature obtained from the temperature sensor 86 reaches a defined threshold temperature.

The controller 80 may determine that the discharge flow path 146 is blocked based on the magnitude of the discharge flow path blockage coefficient being equal to or greater than a defined threshold value.

The controller 80 may determine a discharge flow path blockage stage based on the magnitude of the discharge flow path blockage coefficient.

The controller 80 may determine an output value of the heater 120 based on the discharge flow path blockage stage and control the heater 120 to reduce an output of the heater 120 to the determined output value of the heater 120.

The heater 120 may include a dual heater including a plurality of sub-heaters capable of operating independently. In this case, the controller 80 may independently control the plurality of sub-heaters to reduce a total output of the dual heater 120 to the determined output value.

The controller 80 may determine a control temperature based on the discharge flow path blockage stage and control the thermostat 170 based on the determined control temperature.

The controller 80 may determine a rotation speed of the fan 130 based on the discharge flow path blockage stage and control the fan driving device 135 to increase rotation of the fan 130 based on the determined rotation speed.

The controller 80 may control the hot air supply device 110 to terminate the drying operation based on the discharge flow path blockage stage being consecutively determined to correspond to a critical stage for a defined number of times or more.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 12, the clothes treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment may start a drying operation based on a start condition of the drying operation being satisfied in operation 1100.

The controller 80 may drive the fan driving device 135 and/or the heater 120 based on the drying operation being started in operation 1200. In this case, the fan driving device 135 and the heater 120 may be driven simultaneously. In addition, the heater 120 may be driven after the fan driving device 135 is driven first. When the fan driving device 135 and the heater 120 are driven, heated air is supplied into the tub 20, and the air supplied into the tub 20 may be discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the discharge flow path 146 after drying the laundry. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 80 may control the driving device 36 to rotate the drum 30 during the drying operation.

When a washing course and a drying course are selected together and started according to user input, the controller 80 may perform the drying operation based on the washing course being terminated.

When only the drying course is selected and started independently according to user input, the controller 80 may perform the drying operation immediately.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 80 may calculate the average power consumption of the fan driving device 135 during a defined first unit time from a first time point in operation 1300. In this case, the first time point may be defined as an appropriate time point during the drying operation process. For example, the first time point may be defined as a time point when the drying operation is started.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 80 may calculate a heated air temperature change amount between a second time point and a third time point in operation 1400. The controller 80 may calculate the heated air temperature change amount based on temperatures obtained from the temperature sensor 86 at the second time point and the third time point. The second time point may correspond to a time point when the temperature obtained from the temperature sensor 86 reaches a defined reference temperature. In this case, the reference temperature may be defined as a specific temperature value (for example, 45° C.). According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the reference temperature may be defined as a temperature at a time point when the drying operation is started. Accordingly, the second time point may be the same time point as the first time point. The third time point may correspond to a time point when the temperature obtained from the temperature sensor 86 reaches a defined threshold temperature. In this case, the threshold temperature may be defined as a specific temperature value (for example, 90° C.). According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the threshold temperature may be defined as a temperature increased due to discharge flow path blockage compared to a state without discharge flow path blockage (i.e., a normal state).

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 80 may determine whether the discharge flow path 146 is blocked based on the average power consumption of the fan driving device 135 and the calculated temperature change amount of the heated air over time in operation 1500. Specifically, the controller 80 may calculate a discharge flow path blockage coefficient Y based on the average power consumption of the fan driving device 135 and the calculated temperature change amount of the heated air over time according to Equation 1. Equation 1 is as follows.

Y = Y 2 / Y 1 × 1 ⁢ 0 ⁢ 0 Equation ⁢ 1

(Here, Y is a discharge flow path blockage coefficient, Y₁ is an average power consumption of the fan driving device, and Y₂ is a temperature change amount of heated air over time)

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 80 may determine that the discharge flow path is blocked based on the magnitude of the discharge flow path blockage coefficient being equal to or greater than a defined threshold value. Accordingly, the controller 80 may control various components of the clothes treating apparatus 1 (for example, the heater 120, the fan driving device 135, and/or the thermostat 170) to perform an operation for clearing blockage of the discharge flow path 146.

In addition, the controller 80 may determine a discharge flow path blockage stage based on the magnitude of the discharge flow path blockage coefficient Y. Accordingly, the controller 80 may adjust an operation for clearing blockage of the discharge flow path 146 according to the discharge flow path blockage stage.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating discharge flow path blockage stages determined based on a degree of blockage in the discharge flow path of the clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 13, a table for determining whether a discharge flow path is blocked and a degree of discharge flow path blockage based on the magnitude of a discharge flow path blockage coefficient Y according to an embodiment is illustrated.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 80 may determine that the discharge flow path 146 is blocked based on the magnitude of the discharge flow path blockage coefficient Y being equal to or greater than a defined threshold value. Here, the defined threshold value may be defined as an appropriate value for calculating based on blockage of the discharge flow path 146. For example, the defined threshold value may be 14.

In addition, the controller 80 may determine a discharge flow path blockage stage based on the magnitude of the discharge flow path blockage coefficient Y. The discharge flow path blockage stage may be determined in stages according to a degree of blockage of the discharge flow path 146.

As an example, the discharge flow path blockage stage may include a first stage, a second stage, and a third stage. The smaller the degree of blockage of the discharge flow path 146, the smaller the number of stages (for example, the first stage), and the larger the degree of blockage of the discharge flow path 146, the larger the number of stages (for example, the third stage).

Hereinafter, the discharge flow path blockage stage having three stages is described as an example, but it should not be interpreted as being limited to the disclosure, and the discharge flow path blockage stage may have more or fewer than four stages.

For example, the controller 80 may determine the discharge flow path blockage stage as the first stage based on the magnitude of the discharge flow path blockage coefficient Y being equal to or greater than M₁ and less than M₂. For example, M₁ and M₂ may correspond to boundary values of the first stage.

For example, the controller 80 may determine the discharge flow path blockage stage as the second stage based on the magnitude of the discharge flow path blockage coefficient Y being equal to or greater than M₂ and less than M₃. For example, M₂ and M₃ may correspond to boundary values of the second stage.

For example, the controller 80 may determine the discharge flow path blockage stage as the third stage based on the magnitude of the discharge flow path blockage coefficient Y being equal to or greater than M₃. For example, M₃ may correspond to a boundary value of the third stage.

In this case, the controller 80 may determine a stage that is determined when the magnitude of the discharge flow path blockage coefficient Y is equal to or greater than a maximum value among a plurality of boundary values as a critical stage. For example, the controller 80 may determine a stage with the largest degree of blockage among the plurality of stages as the critical stage. In an example, the maximum value among the plurality of boundary values M₁, M₂, and M₃ is M₃, and the stage determined when the magnitude of the discharge flow path blockage coefficient Y is equal to or greater than M₃ is the third stage, so the third stage may be determined as the critical stage.

The threshold value M₁ for determining whether the discharge flow path is blocked and/or the boundary values M₁, M₂, and M₃ for each discharge flow path blockage stage of the disclosure are merely examples and are not limited to the disclosure. According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the threshold value M₁ for determining whether the discharge flow path is blocked and/or the boundary values M₁, M₂, and M₃ for each degree of discharge flow path blockage may vary according to specifications of the clothes treating apparatus 1 or an installation environment of the clothes treating apparatus 1.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for illustrating a process of performing a blockage clearing operation after detecting blockage in a discharge flow path in a method for controlling a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 14, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 80 may determine a discharge flow path blockage stage in operation 2100. The controller 80 may determine the discharge flow path blockage stage according to the method described with reference to FIG. 13. In this case, the determined stage may be stored in the memory 82.

The controller 80 may determine whether the determined discharge flow path blockage stage corresponds to a critical stage in operation 2200. As described above, the critical stage may determine a stage with the largest degree of blockage among the plurality of stages as the critical stage.

The controller 80 may, based on the determined discharge flow path blockage stage not corresponding to the critical stage in No of operation 2200, adjust an output of the heater 120 according to the determined discharge flow path blockage stage in operation 2300. The output of the heater 120 corresponding to each stage may be defined and stored in the memory 82. For example, the output of the heater 120 for the first stage may be defined as 70% of the current output of the heater 120, the output of the heater 120 for the second stage may be defined as 50% of the current output of the heater 120, and the output of the heater 120 for the third stage may be defined as 30% of the current output of the heater 120. Accordingly, the controller 80 may determine an output value of the heater 120 based on the discharge flow path blockage stage. Thereafter, the controller 80 may control the heater 120 to reduce the output of the heater 120 to the determined output value of the heater 120. In this case, the controller 80 may change the output value at once for the heater 120 to have the determined output value. For example, when the determined output value of the heater 120 is 50% of the current output of the heater 120, the controller 80 may control the heater 120 to reduce the output of the heater 120 by 50% at once. In addition, the controller 80 may change the output value stepwise for the heater 120 to have the determined output value. For example, when the determined output value of the heater 120 is 50% of the current output of the heater 120, the controller 80 may control the heater 120 to reduce the output of the heater 120 stepwise from 100% to 70% to 50%. According to various embodiments of the disclosure, when the heater 120 is provided as a dual heater including a plurality of sub-heaters capable of operating independently, the controller 80 may independently control the plurality of sub-heaters to reduce a total output of the dual heater to the determined output of the heater 120.

Thereafter, the controller 80 may control at least one of a control temperature of the thermostat 170 or a rotation speed of the fan 130 in operation 2400.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment may include a thermostat 170 configured to stop driving of the hot air supply device 110 based on a temperature of heated air supplied through the hot air supply device 110 exceeding a defined control temperature. In this case, the thermostat 170 may include a temperature sensor for detecting temperature. Accordingly, when the temperature detected by the thermostat 170 exceeds the control temperature, the controller 80 may terminate the drying operation.

The controller 80 may determine the control temperature according to the determined discharge flow path blockage stage. The control temperature corresponding to each stage may be defined and stored in the memory 82. For example, the control temperature may be defined as 90° C. for the first stage, 70° C. for the second stage, and 50° C. for the third stage. Accordingly, the controller 80 may determine the control temperature based on the discharge flow path blockage stage. Thereafter, the controller 80 may control the thermostat 170 according to the determined control temperature. In this case, the controller 80 may change the control temperature at once for the control temperature of the thermostat 170 to have the determined control temperature. For example, when the current temperature is 100° C. and the determined control temperature is 70° C., the controller 80 may control the thermostat 170 to change the control temperature of the thermostat 170 from 100° C. to 70° C. at once. In addition, the control temperature may be changed stepwise for the control temperature of the thermostat 170 to have the determined control temperature. For example, when the current temperature is 100° C. and the determined control temperature is 70° C., the controller 80 may control the thermostat 170 to reduce the control temperature of the thermostat 170 stepwise from 100° C. to 90° C. to 70° C.

The controller 80 may determine the rotation speed of the fan 130 according to the determined discharge flow path blockage stage. The rotation speed of the fan 130 corresponding to each stage may be defined and stored in the memory 82. For example, the rotation speed of the fan 130 may be defined as 3000 rpm for the first stage, 3200 rpm for the second stage, and 3400 rpm for the third stage. Accordingly, the controller 80 may determine the rotation speed of the fan 130 based on the discharge flow path blockage stage. Thereafter, the controller 80 may control the fan driving device 135 to increase rotation of the fan 130 based on the determined rotation speed. In this case, the controller 80 may change the rotation speed of the fan 130 at once for the fan 130 to rotate at the determined rotation speed. For example, when the current rotation speed is 2800 rpm and the determined rotation speed is 3200 rpm, the controller 80 may control the fan driving device 135 to change the rotation speed of the fan 130 from 2800 rpm to 3200 rpm at once. In addition, the controller 80 may change the rotation speed of the fan 130 stepwise to have the fan 130 rotate at the determined rotation speed. For example, when the current rotation speed is 2800 rpm and the determined rotation speed is 3200 rpm, the controller 80 may control the fan driving device 135 to increase the rotation speed of the fan 130 stepwise from 2800 rpm to 3000 rpm to 3200 rpm.

The controller 80 may determine whether a termination condition of the drying operation is satisfied in operation 2500. For example, when termination of the drying course is selected according to user input, the controller 80 may determine that the termination condition of the drying operation is satisfied. As another example, when a defined drying operation is completed or a defined drying operation time has elapsed, the controller 80 may determine that the termination condition of the drying operation is satisfied.

The controller 80 may, based on the termination condition of the drying operation being satisfied in Yes of operation 2500, terminate the drying operation. On the other hand, the controller 80 may, based on the termination condition of the drying operation not being satisfied in No of operation 2500, continue to perform the drying operation. The controller 80 may determine whether the discharge flow path is blocked and/or the discharge flow path blockage stage while performing the drying operation, and may perform an operation for clearing the discharge flow path blockage.

The controller 80 may, based on the determined discharge flow path blockage stage corresponding to the critical stage in Yes of operation 2200, determine whether the critical stage has been consecutively determined for a defined number of times based on information stored in the memory 82. Here, the defined number of times may be defined as an appropriate number of times in operation 2600. For example, the defined number of times may be defined as 4 times.

The controller 80 may, based on the controller 80 not having consecutively determined the critical stage for the defined number of times in No of operation 2600 adjust the output of the heater according to the determination as the critical stage in operation 2300. Simultaneously or sequentially, the controller 80 may adjust at least one of the control temperature of the thermostat 170 or the rotation speed of the fan 130.

The controller 80 may, based on the controller 80 having consecutively determined the critical stage for the defined number of times in Yes of operation 2600, control the hot air supply device 110 to terminate the drying operation in operation 2700. Here, the case where the critical stage has not been consecutively determined for the defined number of times may include a case where the critical stage is determined for fewer times than the defined number of times consecutively, or a case where the critical stage is determined non-consecutively even when determined for the defined number of times. The controlling of the hot air supply device 110 to terminate the drying operation may include stopping the driving of the heater 120 and/or the fan 130. Accordingly, fire occurrence due to heating inside the drum 30 resulting from discharge flow path blockage may be prevented.

The clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a housing 10, a tub 20 disposed in the housing 10, a drum 30 disposed in the tub 20 and configured to accommodate laundry, a hot air supply device 110 including a heater 120 configured to heat air, a fan 130 configured to blow air heated by the heater 120 into the tub 20, and a fan driving device 135 configured to provide a driving force to the fan, a temperature sensor 86 configured to detect a temperature of the heated air, a discharge device 140 including a discharge flow path 146 configured to guide air discharged from the tub 20 to an outside of the housing 10, and a controller 80 configured to perform a drying operation by driving the hot air supply device 110, wherein the controller 80 is further configured to determine whether the discharge flow path is blocked based on an average power consumption of the fan driving device 135 and a temperature change amount of the heated air over time.

The controller 80 may determine a discharge flow path blockage stage based on the average power consumption of the fan driving device 135 and the temperature change amount of the heated air over time.

The controller 80 may calculate the average power consumption of the fan driving device 135 during a defined first unit time from a first time point.

The first time point may correspond to a time point when the drying operation is started.

The controller 80 may calculate the temperature change amount of the heated air over time between a second time point when a temperature obtained from the temperature sensor 86 reaches a defined reference temperature and a third time point when the temperature obtained from the temperature sensor 86 reaches a defined threshold temperature.

The controller 80 may calculate a discharge flow path blockage coefficient based on the average power consumption of the fan driving device 135 and the temperature change amount of the heated air over time, and determine that the discharge flow path 146 is blocked based on a magnitude of the discharge flow path blockage coefficient being equal to or greater than a defined threshold value.

The controller 80 may determine a discharge flow path blockage stage based on the magnitude of the discharge flow path blockage coefficient.

The controller 80 may determine a heater 120 output value based on the discharge flow path blockage stage and control the heater 120 to reduce a power of the heater 120 to the determined heater power value.

The heater 120 includes a dual heater including a plurality of sub-heaters capable of operating independently, and the controller 80 may independently control the plurality of sub-heaters to reduce a total output of the dual heater 120 to the determined heater power value.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 further includes a thermostat 170 configured to stop driving of the hot air supply device 110 based on a temperature of heated air supplied through the hot air supply device 110 exceeding a defined control temperature, and the controller 80 may determine the control temperature based on the discharge flow path blockage stage and control the thermostat 170 according to the determined control temperature.

The controller 80 may determine a rotation speed of the fan 130 based on the discharge flow path blockage stage and control the fan driving device 135 to increase rotation of the fan 130 based on the determined rotation speed.

The controller 80 may control the hot air supply device 110 to terminate the drying operation based on the discharge flow path blockage stage being consecutively determined to correspond to a critical stage for a defined number of times or more.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method for controlling a clothes treating apparatus 1 including a housing 10, a tub 20 disposed in the housing 10, a drum 30 disposed in the tub 20 and configured to accommodate laundry, a hot air supply device 110 including a heater 120 configured to heat air, a fan 130 configured to blow air heated by the heater 120 into the tub 20, a fan driving device 135 configured to provide driving force to the fan 130, and a supply connection part 114 configured to guide the heated air to flow into the tub 20 through an air inlet; a temperature sensor 86 configured to detect a temperature of the heated air, and a discharge device 140 including a discharge flow path 146 configured to guide air discharged from the tub 20 to an outside of the housing 10 includes performing a drying operation by driving the hot air supply device 110, and determining whether the discharge flow path is blocked based on an average power consumption of the fan driving device 135 and a temperature change amount of the heated air over time.

The method for controlling the clothes treating apparatus 1 may further include calculating the average power consumption of the fan driving device 135 during a defined first unit time from a first time point. The first time point may correspond to a time point when the drying operation is started.

The method for controlling the clothes treating apparatus 1 may further include calculating the temperature change amount of the heated air over time between a second time point when a temperature obtained from the temperature sensor 86 reaches a defined reference temperature and a third time point when the temperature obtained from the temperature sensor 86 reaches a defined threshold temperature.

The determining of whether the discharge flow path is blocked may include calculating a discharge flow path blockage coefficient based on the average power consumption of the fan driving device 135 and the temperature change amount of the heated air over time, and determining that the discharge flow path 146 is blocked based on a magnitude of the discharge flow path blockage coefficient being equal to or greater than a defined threshold value.

The method for controlling the clothes treating apparatus 1 may further include determining a discharge flow path blockage stage based on the magnitude of the discharge flow path blockage coefficient.

The method for controlling the clothes treating apparatus 1 may further include determining a heater power value based on the discharge flow path blockage stage and controlling the heater 120 to reduce a power of the heater 120 to the determined heater power value.

The heater 120 may include a dual heater including a plurality of sub-heaters capable of operating independently, and controlling the heater 120 to reduce the output of the heater 120 to the determined heater 120 output value may include independently controlling the plurality of sub-heaters to reduce a total power of the dual heater to the determined heater power value.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may further include a thermostat 170 configured to stop driving of the hot air supply device 110 based on a temperature of heated air supplied through the hot air supply device 110 exceeding a defined control temperature, and the method for controlling the clothes treating apparatus 1 may further include determining the control temperature based on the discharge flow path blockage stage and controlling the thermostat 170 according to the determined control temperature.

The method for controlling the clothes treating apparatus 1 may further include determining a rotation speed of the fan 130 based on the discharge flow path blockage stage and controlling the fan driving device 135 to increase rotation of the fan 130 based on the determined rotation speed.

An aspect of the disclosure provides the clothes treating apparatus with improved safety that can prevent occurrence of fire by detecting whether a discharge flow path is blocked.

An aspect of the disclosure provides the clothes treating apparatus that can protect users by performing a blockage clearing operation based on whether a discharge flow path is blocked.

The technical objectives of the disclosure are not limited to the above, and other objectives that are not described above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the above detailed description.

The effects of the disclosure are not limited to those described above, and other effects that are not described above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the above detailed description.

It will be appreciated that various embodiments of the disclosure according to the claims and description in the specification can be realized in the form of hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software.

Any such software may be stored in non-transitory computer readable storage media. The non-transitory computer readable storage media store one or more computer programs (software modules), the one or more computer programs include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform a method of the disclosure.

Any such software may be stored in the form of volatile or non-volatile storage, such as, for example, a storage device like read only memory (ROM), whether erasable or rewritable or not, or in the form of memory, such as, for example, random access memory (RAM), memory chips, device or integrated circuits or on an optically or magnetically readable medium, such as, for example, a compact disk (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), magnetic disk or magnetic tape or the like. It will be appreciated that the storage devices and storage media are various embodiments of non-transitory machine-readable storage that are suitable for storing a computer program or computer programs comprising instructions that, when executed, implement various embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, various embodiments provide a program comprising code for implementing apparatus or a method as claimed in any one of the claims of this specification and a non-transitory machine-readable storage storing such a program.

While the disclosure has been shown and described with reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.