U.S. patent application number 11/896129 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-06 for auxiliary dryer and complex laundry machine including the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Min Kyu Lim.
Application Number | 20080053166 11/896129 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38752507 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080053166 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lim; Min Kyu |
March 6, 2008 |
Auxiliary dryer and complex laundry machine including the same
Abstract
An auxiliary dryer and a complex laundry machine are disclosed,
by which a laundry machine having a relatively large size can be
conveniently operated to save energy in a manner of handling a
small laundry and the like without out driving the laundry machine.
The present invention includes a body having a laundry
accommodating part for accommodating a laundry therein, a hot air
supplying means provided within the body to supply hot air to the
laundry accommodating part, and a safety means for preventing a
safety accident from being caused to a user by the hot air
supplying means.
Inventors: |
Lim; Min Kyu; (Jinhae-si,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCKENNA LONG & ALDRIDGE LLP
1900 K STREET, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
38752507 |
Appl. No.: |
11/896129 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/5C |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 58/50 20200201;
D06F 58/30 20200201; D06F 39/125 20130101; D06F 58/26 20130101;
D06F 39/008 20130101; D06F 29/005 20130101; D06F 58/10
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
68/5.C |
International
Class: |
D06F 29/02 20060101
D06F029/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 31, 2006 |
KR |
10-2006-0083384 |
Claims
1. An auxiliary dryer comprising: a body having a laundry
accommodating part for accommodating a laundry therein; a hot air
supplying means provided within the body to supply hot air to the
laundry accommodating part; and a safety means for preventing a
safety accident from being caused to a user by the hot air
supplying means.
2. The auxiliary dryer of claim 1, the hot air supplying means
comprising: a blower fan for blowing air; and a heater for heating
air.
3. The auxiliary dryer of claim 1, further comprising a steam
supplying means for injecting steam into the body.
4. The auxiliary dryer of claim 3, further comprising a door
provided to the body to enable the laundry accommodating part to
selectively communicate with an external environment, wherein the
safety means stops at least one of the hot air supplying means and
the stem supplying means if the door is open.
5. The auxiliary dryer of claim 4, the safety means comprising: a
door open detecting means for detecting that the door is opened;
and a control unit stopping an operation of at least one of the hot
air supplying means and the steam supplying means if the door open
detecting means detects the door is opened.
6. The auxiliary dryer of claim 5, the safety means further
comprising a water level detecting means for detecting that a water
level within the body is equal to or greater than a prescribed
water level, wherein the control unit stops the operation of the at
least one of the hot air supplying means and the steam supplying
means if the water level detecting means detects that the water
level within the body is equal to or greater than the prescribed
water level.
7. A complex laundry machine comprising: a laundry machine for
performing washing or drying on a laundry accommodated herein; and
an auxiliary dryer configured smaller than a body of the laundry
machine in volume and height, the auxiliary dryer comprising: a
body having a laundry accommodating part for accommodating a
laundry therein, the body assembled to the laundry machine; a door
provided to the body to enable the laundry accommodating part to
selectively communicate with an external environment; a hot air
supplying means provided for supplying hot air to the laundry
accommodating part; and a safety means for preventing a safety
accident from being caused to a user by the hot air supplying
means.
8. The complex laundry machine of claim 7, the auxiliary dryer
further comprising a steam supplying means provided within the body
to inject steam into the body.
9. The complex laundry machine of claim 8, the safety means
comprising: a door open detecting means for detecting that the door
is opened; and a control unit stopping an operation of at least one
of the hot air supplying means and the steam supplying means if the
door open detecting means detects the door is opened.
10. The complex laundry machine of claim 9, the safety means
further comprising a water level detecting means for detecting that
a water level within the body is equal to or greater than a
prescribed water level, wherein the control unit stops the
operation of the at least one of the hot air supplying means and
the steam supplying means if the water level detecting means
detects that the water level within the body is equal to or greater
than the prescribed water level.
11. The complex laundry machine of claim 7, wherein the hot air
supplying means is provided within either the laundry machine or
the body of the auxiliary dryer.
12. The complex laundry machine of claim 7, wherein the auxiliary
dryer comprises a support supporting the laundry machine against a
floor.
13. The complex laundry machine of claim 9, further comprising a
tank assembled to a lower part of the body to store water generated
from the laundry accommodated in the laundry accommodating
part.
14. The complex laundry machine of claim 13, wherein a multitude of
holes are provided to a bottom of the laundry accommodating part to
enable the water generated from the laundry accommodated in the
laundry accommodating part to be drained.
15. The complex laundry machine of claim 14, the safety means
further comprising a water level detecting means for detecting a
water level within the tank, wherein the control unit stops the
operation of the at least one of the hot air supplying means and
the steam supplying means if the water level detecting means
detects that the water level within the tank is equal to or greater
than a prescribed water level.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2006-0083384, filed on Aug. 31, 2006, which is
hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an auxiliary dryer, and
more particularly, to an auxiliary dryer and a complex laundry
machine including the same. Although the present invention is
suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly
suitable for combining the auxiliary dryer with a washer to provide
the complex laundry machine.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, a laundry machine means a device for carrying out
washing, drying or both on clothes or dresses. A single laundry
machine performs either a washing function or a drying function or
can perform both of the functions.
[0006] Recently, a laundry machine equipped with a steam supply
device has been developed and used to perform refresh functions for
creases removal, deodorization, static electricity removal,
etc.
[0007] Laundry machines according to a related art are categorized
into front loading type laundry machines and top loading type
laundry machines according to a direction of loading/unloading a
laundry. Alternatively, the laundry machines can be categorized
into a vertical type laundry machine of which pulsator or a washing
tub is rotated and a horizontal type laundry machine of which drum
is rotated according to a washing system. One representative
example for the horizontal type is a drum type washing machine or a
drum type dryer.
[0008] Those laundry machines gradually tend to grow in size to
meet the user's demand. In particular, laundry machines for home
appliances tend to grow in exterior size.
[0009] Meanwhile, a washing machine among the related art laundry
machines may not be equipped with a drying function. In case that a
user needs a drying function, a dryer has to be purchased in
addition or a washing machine equipped with a drying function has
to be purchased. So, a consumer has to pay more costs to use both
washing and drying functions.
[0010] As laundry machines having the drying function tend to grow
in size gradually, a large-size dryer is inevitably driven to dry a
small quantity of laundry. This is disadvantageous in aspect of
energy saving.
[0011] In case of a drum type dryer, it is difficult to dry shoes,
laundry and the like. Of course, a rack is provided within a drum,
shoes and the like are mounted on the rack, and a drying course is
then carried out on the shoes and the like by maintaining the rack
at a horizontal level regardless of revolutions of the drum. If so,
it is inconvenient for a user to attach/detach the rack.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of a laundry machine
according to a related art.
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, a laundry machine according to a
related art consists of a body configuring an exterior of the
laundry machine and a control panel provided to a topside or front
side of the body 10.
[0014] And, the control panel can include a control unit for
controlling operations of the laundry machine. So, a user
manipulates the control panel to perform laundry processing for
washing, drying and the like.
[0015] In this case, the laundry machine may include a washing
machine, a dryer or a washer & dryer.
[0016] The related art laundry machine can further consist of a
support 200 for supporting the body 10 over a floor. In particular,
the body 10 is mounted on the support 20.
[0017] A prescribed space is normally provided within the support
20. In particular, the prescribed space is configured to have a
shape of a drawer 21 that can be opened in a front direction.
[0018] However, the related art fails to assign a prescribed
function for laundry process to the support 20. So, it is necessary
to safely use the support 20 as an auxiliary laundry handling
device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an
auxiliary dryer and a complex laundry machine including the same
that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations
and disadvantages of the related art.
[0020] An object of the present invention is to provide an
auxiliary dryer, by which a laundry machine having a relatively
large size can be conveniently operated to save energy in a manner
of handling a small laundry and the like without out driving the
laundry machine.
[0021] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
complex laundry machine, by which a drying function can be easily
provided to a laundry machine having a washing function only.
[0022] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
complex laundry machine, by which shoes or such a laundry as a hat
and the like having difficulty in being dried by a related art drum
type dryer can be easily dried.
[0023] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
auxiliary dryer and a complex laundry machine including the same,
by which an auxiliary space of a support of a related art laundry
machine or the like is utilized as the auxiliary dryer.
[0024] A further object of the present invention is to provide an
auxiliary dryer and a complex laundry machine including the same,
by which safety can be secured in using the auxiliary dryer or the
complex laundry machine.
[0025] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other
advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the
structure particularly pointed out in the written description and
claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0026] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, an auxiliary dryer according to the
present invention includes a body having a laundry accommodating
part for accommodating a laundry therein, a hot air supplying means
provided within the body to supply hot air to the laundry
accommodating part, and a safety means for preventing a safety
accident from being caused to a user by the hot air supplying
means.
[0027] In this case, the auxiliary dryer can be independently
installed to use.
[0028] Preferably, the auxiliary dryer is assembled to a laundry
machine by an assembling means. Since the auxiliary dryer is a
device for auxiliary laundry handling, it is preferable that
devices for laundry handling are accumulated in one place to
smoothly perform a series of laundry handling procedures.
[0029] Preferably, the auxiliary dryer is assembled to the laundry
machine in aspect of space utilization.
[0030] Of course, the laundry machine is a main device such as a
washer for performing washing only, a dryer for performing drying
only, and a washer & dryer for performing both. Moreover, the
laundry machine includes a dewatering device for performing
dewatering only.
[0031] Preferably, the auxiliary dryer includes a support for
supporting the laundry machine against a floor.
[0032] In this case, the laundry accommodating part communicates
with an external environment via a door provided to the body of the
auxiliary dryer. And, the door can include a front part of a
drawer. So, the laundry accommodating part can have a configuration
of a drawer that can be opened in a front direction from the front
side of the auxiliary dryer body.
[0033] The safety means can be configured in various shapes to
prevent a safety accident from being caused to a user.
[0034] Since air is supplied into the laundry accommodating part,
if the door is open or if the auxiliary dryer body is filled with
water to a predetermined level, it is preferable that the auxiliary
dryer is not operated. If the auxiliary dryer is operated, a drying
effect is degraded and a safety accident may take place. Moreover,
if water is heated to overflow, a user may get burned.
[0035] In another aspect of the present invention, a complex
laundry machine includes a laundry machine for performing washing
or drying on a laundry accommodated herein and an auxiliary dryer
configured smaller than a body of the laundry machine in volume and
height, the auxiliary dryer including a body having a laundry
accommodating part for accommodating a laundry therein, the body
assembled to the laundry machine, a door provided to the body to
enable the laundry accommodating part to selectively communicate
with an external environment, a hot air supplying means provided
for supplying hot air to the laundry accommodating part, and a
safety means for preventing a safety accident from being caused to
a user by the hot air supplying means.
[0036] Therefore, according to the present invention, a user is
able to wash a laundry or dry a considerable amount of laundries
using the laundry machine. And, a small amount of laundries can be
dried using the auxiliary dryer. Hence, the user is facilitated to
operate the laundry machine or the auxiliary dryer and energy can
be saved.
[0037] Moreover, shoes, dresses, hats and the like having
difficulty in being dried by a related art drum type dryer can be
easily dried.
[0038] Besides, the present invention enables the auxiliary dryer
to be driven more safely through a safety device. In this case, the
safety device is able to directly stop driving the hot air supplier
of the auxiliary dryer, the driving unit of the steam generator,
and the like. And, the safety device can stop driving the driving
unit by sending a signal to the control unit.
[0039] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
[0041] FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of a laundry machine
according to a related art;
[0042] FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram of a complex laundry machine
including an auxiliary dryer according to the present
invention;
[0043] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective diagram of an auxiliary
dryer according to the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a complex
laundry machine including an auxiliary dryer according to one
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0045] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional diagram of a complex laundry
machine including an auxiliary dryer according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0046] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to
refer to the same or like parts.
[0047] First of all, since a laundry machine according to one
embodiment of the present invention may include a general washing
machine, a general dryer or a general washer & dryer, its
details will be omitted in the following description.
[0048] An auxiliary dryer according to one embodiment of the
present invention is explained with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3
as follows.
[0049] FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram of a complex laundry machine
including an auxiliary dryer according to the present invention,
and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective diagram of an auxiliary dryer
according to the present invention.
[0050] First of all, the present invention can be configured with
the same exterior of the laundry machine, which is provided with
the support 20, shown in FIG. 1. Yet, the present invention differs
from the related art in that a support, as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG.
3, performs an auxiliary drying function as well as a simple
support function. And, the present invention also differs from the
related art in that an assembling means 130 for assembling the
auxiliary dryer to the laundry machine stably is provided to the
auxiliary dryer.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 2, an auxiliary dryer body 121 is provided
to one side of a laundry machine body 110. In particular, the
auxiliary dryer body 121, as shown in FIG. 2, can be provided under
the laundry machine body 110. Alternatively, the auxiliary dryer
body 121 can be provided over the laundry machine body 110. In this
case, a control unit of the laundry machine, and more particularly,
a control panel 111 is preferably provided to a front side of the
laundry machine body 110.
[0052] Alternatively, the auxiliary dryer 120 can be provided to a
lateral side of the laundry machine. Yet, in aspect of space
utilization or design, the auxiliary dryer is preferably provided
over or under the laundry machine body 110.
[0053] The auxiliary dryer 120 according to the present invention,
as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, includes the body 121 having a space
for accommodating a laundry therein and the assembling means 130
provided to an upper part of the body 121. The assembling means 130
assembles the body 121 and the laundry machine body 110 together.
In this case, the auxiliary dryer 120 supports the laundry machine
body 110 over a floor.
[0054] The auxiliary dryer 120 can further include leg supporters
125 provided to a topside of the auxiliary dryer 120 to support
lateral sides of lower legs 116 and 117 of the laundry machine.
[0055] Each of the leg supporters 125 includes a panel provided
with a first holding hole 126 enabling a washer leg 116 to be held
and a second holding hole 127 enabling a dryer leg 117 to be held.
And, each of the leg supporters 125 is fixed to the topside of the
auxiliary dryer body 121 by screws or the like. In this case, a
washer or a dryer configures an example for a laundry machine. In
particular, the washer is larger than the dryer for example.
[0056] The leg supporters 125 are fixed to corners of the topside
of the auxiliary dryer body 121, respectively. The first and second
holding holes 126 and 127 provided to each of the two leg
supporters 125 at the front corners of the auxiliary dryer body 121
are connected to each other, while the first and second holding
holes 126 and 127 provided to each of the two leg supporters 125 at
the rear corners of the auxiliary dryer body 121 are separated from
to each other. This facilitates the washer legs 116 to be held.
[0057] The first holding hole 126 is formed at a position outer
than that of the second holding hole 126 with reference to a
diagonal line of a bottom of the laundry machine body 110. This is
because a body of the washer is normally configured larger than
that of the dryer.
[0058] The assembling means 130 includes an assembling member 138
provided to a lower lateral side of the washer or dryer and a
lateral side of the auxiliary dryer body 121 and a fixing member
135 fixing the assembling member 138 to the lateral side of the
washer or dryer and the lateral side of the auxiliary dryer body
121.
[0059] The assembling member 138, as shown in FIG. 3, can include
at least tow assembling members 138 mutually fixing both lateral
sides on a boundary between the hexahedral auxiliary dryer body 121
and the hexahedral laundry machine body 110.
[0060] In addition to the above configuration, the assembling
member can further include a third assembling member (not shown in
the drawings) mutually fixing backsides of the auxiliary dryer body
121 and the laundry machine body 110.
[0061] In this case, the assembling means 130 can be configured to
cope with a level variation of the washer leg 116 or the dryer leg
117.
[0062] The fixing member 135 includes a first fixing member 136
fixing an upper part of the assembling member to a lower lateral
side of the washer or dryer and a second fixing member 137 fixing a
lower part of the assembling member to an upper later side of the
support.
[0063] In this case, at least one of the first and second fixing
members 136 and 137 includes a member having both sides coated with
an adhesive substance, i.e., a double-stick foam tape.
[0064] Alternatively, at least one of the first and second fixing
members 136 and 137 can include a locking means such as a
screw.
[0065] If the fixing member includes the screw, locking holes are
provided to the assembling member to be spaced apart from each
other.
[0066] Alternatively, the means for assembling the laundry machine
body 110 and the auxiliary dryer body 121 together can be variously
modified.
[0067] Preferably, a volume of the auxiliary dryer body 121 is
smaller than that of the laundry machine body 110 to which the
auxiliary dryer is assembled.
[0068] Preferably, a height of the auxiliary dryer body 121 is
smaller than that of the laundry machine. This is because the
object of the auxiliary dryer of the present invention is to
perform an auxiliary function of the laundry machine.
[0069] In aspect of the safety or exterior design of the complex
laundry machine 100, in case that the auxiliary dryer performs a
support function of the laundry machine, at least one of
right-to-left width or front-to-rear width of the auxiliary dryer
body 121 is preferably configured equal to or greater than at least
one of right-to-left width or front-to-rear width of the laundry
machine body 110. In case that the auxiliary dryer is assembled to
an upper part of the laundry machine, at least one of right-to-left
width or front-to-rear width of the auxiliary dryer body 121 is
preferably configured equal to or smaller than at least one of
right-to-left width or front-to-rear width of the laundry machine
body 110.
[0070] Detailed configuration of an auxiliary dryer according to
the present invention is explained with reference to FIG. 4 as
follows.
[0071] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a complex
laundry machine including an auxiliary dryer according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0072] Referring to FIG. 4, an auxiliary dryer 120 according to the
present invention is assembled to a laundry machine body 110 to
construct a complex laundry machine 100. In this case, a laundry is
accommodated in the body 110 configuring an exterior to be washed
or dried. In particular, the laundry machine can be a washer, a
dryer or a washer & dryer.
[0073] The complex laundry machine 100 includes an assembling means
130 (not shown in the drawing) for assembling the auxiliary dryer
body 121 to one side of the laundry machine body 110.
[0074] A laundry accommodating part is provided within the
auxiliary dryer 120 to perform an auxiliary function for laundry
handling. The laundry accommodating part can be configured to have
a drawer shape 122 that can be opened in a front direction from a
front side of the body 121.
[0075] And, a hot air supplying device 140 is provided within the
auxiliary dryer body 121 to force air to be supplied into the
space.
[0076] Preferably, the body 121 of the auxiliary dryer 120 is
configured smaller than the laundry machine body 110 assembled to
the auxiliary dryer 120 in volume and height.
[0077] The auxiliary dryer 120 includes a steam supplying device
150 provided within the body 121 to supply steam to the space for
accommodating the laundry.
[0078] And, the steam supplying device 150 includes an injection
hole (not shown in the drawing) to inject the steam into the
internal space via an upper or rear portion of the body.
[0079] Each of the hot air supplying device 140 and the stem
supplying device 150 is controlled to be driven by a control unit
123. Preferably, the control unit 123 is provided to the front side
of the body 121. More preferably, the control unit 123 includes a
control panel for user's manipulations.
[0080] Independent from the control unit 111 of the laundry
machine, the control unit 123 is capable of controlling the drive
of the auxiliary dryer 120.
[0081] Of course, the drive of the auxiliary dryer 120 can be
controlled by the control unit 111 of the laundry machine. In this
case, the control unit 123 of the auxiliary dryer 120 can be
omitted.
[0082] The hot air supplying device 140 includes a blower fan 141
for blowing air and a heater 142 for heating air. In particular, if
the blower fan 141 is driven, external air is introduced into the
drawer 123 and then discharged externally. The external air is
heated by the heater 142 and then introduced into the drawer
123.
[0083] The heater 142 can include one of various type heaters such
as an electric heater, a gas type heater, and the like. Preferably,
the electric heater is used as the heater 142 for an installation
space within the auxiliary dryer 120.
[0084] The hot air supplying device 140 enables the auxiliary dryer
120 according to the present invention to perform a drying
function.
[0085] Preferably, the heater 142 is capable of adjusting a
capacity to vary a temperature of the air heated by the heater.
This is because specific dresses are vulnerable to heat. In
particular, rubber substance of shoes and the like is vulnerable to
heat.
[0086] The steam supplying device 150 supplies steam into the
drawer. The steam comes into contact with the laundry accommodated
in the drawer to perform sterilization, creases removal, and the
like. Hence, the auxiliary dryer 120 according to the present
invention can perform a refresh function due to the steam supplying
device 150. Of course, both of the refresh function and the drying
function can be simultaneously performed.
[0087] Preferably, an intake port 171 for introducing air is
provided to an upper part of a rear wall of the auxiliary dryer
body 121.
[0088] Preferably, a discharging hole 172 for discharging air is
provided to a lower part of the rear wall of the body 121.
[0089] An upper part of a rear wall of the drawer 122 is configured
to communicate with the intake port 171 and a lower part of the
rear wall of the drawer 122 is configured to communicate with the
discharging hole 172. Hence, external air is introduced into the
drawer via the upper part of the rear wall of the body 121 and the
upper part of the drawer. The air is then discharged via the lower
part of the drawer and the lower part of the rear wall of the
auxiliary dryer body 121.
[0090] In this case, the bower fan 141 for forcing the air to flow
and the heater 142 for heating the air can be provided between the
rear wall of the drawer and the rear wall of the body.
[0091] Alternatively, the hot air supplying device 140 including
the blower fan 141 and the heater 142 can be provided to any place
on passages for introducing and discharging air.
[0092] FIG. 4 shows a configuration for introducing air via an
upper part of a drawer and discharging the air via a lower part of
the drawer. Alternatively, another configuration for introducing
air via a lower part of a drawer and discharging the air via an
upper part of the drawer is available.
[0093] A rack 160, as shown in FIG. 4, can be provided within the
drawer 123 to partition an inner space of the drawer into an upper
space and a lower space configured to communicate with each other.
And, a laundry 162 is loaded on the rack 160. The object of the
rack 160 is to discharge the air supplied to the laundry 162
smoothly.
[0094] Preferably, a multitude of perforated holes 160a are
provided to the rack 160. So, air can be introduced into the lower
space of the drawer from the upper space of the drawer via the
perforated holes 160a.
[0095] Optionally, the rack 160 can be installed to incline. In
this case, it is preferable that the rack 160 is installed to
incline downward toward a portion from which the air is introduced.
So, air can be evenly supplied to the laundry loaded on the rack
160.
[0096] Preferably, an air guide 161 is provided to the upper part
of the drawer. The air guide 161 performs a function of supplying
air to a front of the drawer smoothly and a partitioning function
for a passage of introduced air and a passage of discharged air.
So, collision between the introduced air and the discharged air is
minimized to raise efficiency in drying or the like.
[0097] The auxiliary dryer 120 according to the present invention
can include a tank (not shown in the drawing) provided to a lower
part of the auxiliary dryer 120 to store water. Alternatively, the
tank can be replaced by a separate drain pump (not shown in the
drawing) of the related art. If the drain pump, a drain hose and
the like are installed, cost is raised. And, installation of the
drain pump and the like is not easy. So, the tank, which can be
easily emptied, is preferred to reduce cost.
[0098] The tank may include the laundry accommodating part 122
itself or a space between a lower part of the laundry accommodating
part and a lower part of the auxiliary dryer body.
[0099] FIG. 4 just shows a configuration in a lower part of the
laundry accommodating part 122 to store water therein.
[0100] In storing the water generated from the laundry in the tank
or the laundry accommodating par, if the water reaches a
predetermined level, it is preferable that the tank or the laundry
accommodating part is emptied for safety. This is to secure safety
as well as enhance the drying or refreshing effect.
[0101] For instance, the inside of the auxiliary dryer is
frequently maintained at a high temperature. So, overflowing water
is heated and leaks externally to bring about a safety accident.
Moreover, the overflowing water may cause an accident such as an
electric leakage.
[0102] For safer operations of the auxiliary dryer, the present
invention includes a water level detecting device 191 for detecting
a water level within the auxiliary dryer. So, the water level
detecting device is included as a safety device.
[0103] If the water level detecting device 191 detects that a water
level within the auxiliary dryer, e.g., a water level of the tank
is equal to or greater than a predetermined water level, the hot
air supplying device 140 and the steam generating device 150 stop
being driven. So, it is able to prevent a safety accident from
being caused by the overflowing water or an excessive pool of water
in advance.
[0104] The water level detecting device 191 can be implemented in
one of various forms. For instance, the water level detecting
device 191 can include one of a float switch, a pressure switch,
and the like. In particular, the pressure switch is connected to an
air chamber built in one body of the tank to detect the water level
within the tank according to a frequency variation. Since the
configuration of the water level detecting device is apparent to
those skilled in the art, its details will be omitted in the
following description.
[0105] If the water level is equal to or greater than the
predetermined water level, the water level detecting device is
capable of stopping the driving units directly or the driving units
can be stopped by the control unit.
[0106] The auxiliary dryer according to the present invention can
include a door open detecting device 190 as a safety device. The
door open detecting device 190 plays a role in preventing a safety
accident from being caused to a user while the auxiliary dryer 120
is operating.
[0107] In particular, the front side of the drawer 122 enables an
inner space of the drawer to communicate with an external
environment selectively. In case of attempting to dry a laundry, a
user opens the drawer, puts a laundry in the drawer, and then
closes the drawer.
[0108] Yet, dry air or steam is supplied to an inside of the
laundry accommodating part. If the dry air or steam is supplied
while the drawer is open, drying or refreshing performance is
considerably reduced. Moreover, hot air or steam leaks externally
to cause a safety accident.
[0109] So, the door open detecting device 190 detects a door open
and then stops driving the hot air supplying device 140 or the
steam generating device 150. Namely, if the door is open, the door
open detecting device 190 directly cuts off a power connected to
the driving unit of the hot air supplying device 140 or the steam
generating device 150 to stop driving the driving unit.
Alternatively, the door open detecting device 190 delivers a door
open signal to the control unit 123 for controlling the drive of
the driving unit. So, the control unit 123 can stop driving the
driving unit.
[0110] Of course, another driving means except the hot air
supplying device 140 or the steam generating device 150 can be
stopped by the door open detecting device 190. For instance,
various sensors or a UV-ray sterilizing means for sterilizing the
inside of the laundry accommodating part 122 can stop being driven
by the door open detecting device 190.
[0111] The door open detecting device 190 can be implemented with a
lead switch or a tact switch normally used for a washer or the
like. And, the door open detecting device 190 can be used together
with a door lock system (not shown in the drawing) used for a
normal washer or the like. Details of the door open detecting
device 190, which are apparent to those killed in the art, shall be
omitted in the following description.
[0112] Various kinds of drying modes can be performed through the
auxiliary dryer according to the present invention.
[0113] First of all, a user opens the drawer 122 and then loads the
laundry 162 such as a small amount of cloth, shoes, a hat and the
like on the rack 160. Preferably, the cloth is unfolded on the rack
160.
[0114] Subsequently, the user selects a specific operational mode
according to a type of the laundry via the control unit 123
including the control panel. In this case, the operational mode
includes various kinds of drying modes and a refresh mode.
[0115] The various kinds of drying modes can be categorized into a
drying time, a drying temperature, and the like, which vary
according to the type of the corresponding laundry. For instance,
in order to dry a small amount of cloth of cotton, a drying time is
set short and a drying temperature is set high. In order to dry
shoes, a drying time is set long and a drying temperature is set
low.
[0116] Thus, although air is forced to be supplied to a space for
accommodating the laundry according to the operational mode
selected by the user, the air temperature or the air supplying time
vary.
[0117] If the operational mode is set to the refresh mode, steam at
a high temperature is supplied to the laundry. So, the steam
refreshes the laundry such as dresses to perform deodorization,
creases removal, sterilization or the like on the laundry.
Thereafter, air supply for drying can be carried out if
necessary.
[0118] A complex laundry machine according to the present invention
is explained in detail with reference to FIG. 5 as follows. The
device 140 for supplying air to the laundry accommodating part 122
of the auxiliary dryer in the aforesaid complex laundry machine is
provided with the auxiliary dryer body 121. Yet, in the present
embodiment, the hot air supply device is provided within the
laundry machine body 110.
[0119] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional diagram of a complex laundry
machine including an auxiliary dryer according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
[0120] Referring to FIG. 5, a hot air supplying device for
supplying air into a drum is provided with the laundry machine body
110.
[0121] The hot air supplying device includes a heater 90 for
heating air and a blower fan 60 for blowing air. And, the hot air
supply device includes a drying passage 44 guiding the air to be
introduced into the drum 40 and an exhaust passage 80 guiding the
air to be discharged from the drum 40.
[0122] The hot air supplying device supplies air to an inner space
of an auxiliary body 120, i.e., into the laundry accommodating part
122 as well as to the drum. For this, the hot air supplying device
includes an auxiliary drying passage 45 and an auxiliary exhaust
passage 81.
[0123] In this case, the auxiliary drying passage 45 can be
configured to diverge from the drying passage 44. One end of the
auxiliary drying passage 45 is connected to a passing hole 271
formed at one side of a base 212. The passing hole 271 communicates
with an intake port 128 formed at an upper part of the auxiliary
dryer body 121 to enable dry air to be introduced into the
drawer.
[0124] And, the auxiliary exhaust passage 81 can be configured to
diverge from the exhaust passage 80. One end of the auxiliary
exhaust passage 81 is connected to a passing hole 272 formed at one
side of the base 212. The passing hole 272 is configured to
communicate with an exhaust port 129 formed at an upper part of the
auxiliary body 120 to enable the air within the drawer, i.e., the
air within the laundry accommodating part 122 to be exhausted.
[0125] Alternatively, the exhaust port 129 may not be connected to
the passing hole 272. In particular, the air within the laundry
accommodating part 122 can be directly discharged via the exhaust
port 126. In this case, the auxiliary exhaust passage 81 can be
omitted.
[0126] Preferably, the heater 90 is provided to the drying passage
44 ahead of the divergence of the auxiliary drying passage 45. So,
a single heater is able to supply hot air to both of the drum 40
and the drawer 122. If the heater is not activated, air at room
temperature will be supplied.
[0127] Preferably, the blower fan 60 is provided to the exhaust
passage 80 behind the divergence of the auxiliary exhaust passage
81. So, a single blower fan is able to supply air to both of the
drum 40 and the laundry accommodating part 122.
[0128] The complex laundry machine 100 according to the present
invention enables air to be supplied to an inside of the laundry
accommodating part 122 as well as to the drum. If necessary, the
complex laundry machine 100 is able to supply air to either the
drum or the drawer. Of course, the complex laundry machine 100 is
able to supply air to both. For this, a means for switching the
drying passage 44 or the auxiliary passage 45 selectively can be
provided thereto. For instance, the means includes a damper
280.
[0129] The complex laundry machine 100 according to the present
invention can include a steam supplying device 300 provided within
the laundry machine body 110 to supply steam to the drum 40 and the
inner space of the laundry accommodating part 122.
[0130] The steam supplying device 300 can further include a steam
injecting port (not shown in the drawing) for injecting steam into
the drawer as well as a steam injecting port 350 for injecting
steam into the drum. So, steam can be supplied to the drum or the
drawer via the corresponding stem injecting port.
[0131] Alternatively, a single steam injecting port 355 can be
provided to supply steam into the drum and the laundry
accommodating part 122. In particular, the steam supplying device
300 can include a single steam injecting port 355 for injecting
steam into the drying passage 44 behind the divergence of the
auxiliary drying passage 45.
[0132] If steam is injected into the drying passage, the injected
steam can be supplied into the drum and the laundry accommodating
part via the drying passage 44 and the auxiliary drying passage 45,
respectively.
[0133] In this case, it is preferable that the fan 60 is driven
together. In this case, it is unnecessary to provide an inlet port
for supplying steam separately to the auxiliary dryer body 121.
This is because steam is provided via the auxiliary drying passage
45.
[0134] In the present invention, the steam is supplied into the
drum or the drawer to refresh dresses and the like. Namely, the
steam at high temperature is supplied into the drum or the laundry
accommodating part to perform creases removal, static electricity
prevention, deodorization, sterilization, and the like on the
dresses or the like. So, after the steam has been supplied, it is
preferable that heated dry air is supplied into the drum and the
drawer. This is to remove the remaining dampness from the dresses
in part. So, a user is able to wear the dried dresses
immediately.
[0135] In the present invention, the heater 90, the blower fan 60,
the damper 280 and the steam supplying device 300 are driven by
being controlled by the control unit (not shown in the drawing).
Preferably, the control unit is provided to the front side of the
body 110. In this case, the control unit can include the control
panel 111 for user's manipulations.
[0136] Under the control of the control unit, air can be forced to
be supplied into the drum or the laundry accommodating part
selectively and a temperature adjustment of the air and a supplying
time adjustment of the air are enabled. Under the control of the
control unit, steam can be selectively supplied into the drum or
the laundry accommodating part.
[0137] In the present invention, the heater 90 is capable of
adjusting a capacity to enable a temperature of the air heated by
the heater to be variable. A specific laundry or dress is
vulnerable to heat. Specifically, rubber substance of shoes and the
like is considerably vulnerable to heat. The capacity adjustment of
the heater 90 can be controlled by the control unit.
[0138] Like the former embodiment of the present invention, the
safety device of the present embodiment can include a door open
detecting device and/or a water level detecting device.
[0139] FIG. 5 shows a tank 192 built in one body of the laundry
accommodating part 122. The tank 192 is configured to communicate
with the laundry accommodating part 122 via a multitude of holes
193 provided to a bottom of the laundry accommodating part 122. So,
water flows via the holes 193 and is then stored in the tank
192.
[0140] And, the water level detecting device 191 is provided within
the tank 192. If so, even if water is reserved within the tank 102
to a prescribed extent, it is able to prevent the degradation of
the drying and refreshing effects to some extent. This is because
the tank 192 and the laundry accommodating part 122 do not
completely communicate with each other.
[0141] If a water level is equal to or greater than a predetermined
level, the water level detecting device works as a safety device to
stop driving the driving unit. And, the water level detecting
device may indicate a user to empty the tank.
[0142] In the present embodiment, the laundry machine is an exhaust
type dryer. Yet, the present embodiment is applicable to a
condensing type dryer as well. Moreover, in the present disclosure,
the safety device of the auxiliary dryer includes the door open
detecting device, the water level detecting device, and the control
device for example. And, every safety device matching the technical
idea of the present invention belongs to the scope of the appended
claims and their equivalents of the present invention. Namely, the
safety device including at least one of the door open detecting
device and the water level detecting device can be included in the
present invention.
[0143] Accordingly, the present invention provides the following
effects or advantages.
[0144] First of all, the present invention provides an auxiliary
dryer capable of handling a small amount of laundry and the like
without driving a relatively large laundry machine, thereby
facilitating a user to use a laundry machine. And, the present
invention saves energy.
[0145] Secondly, the present invention enables a drying function to
be applied to a laundry machine having a washing function only.
[0146] Thirdly, the present invention facilitates hats, shoes,
dresses and the like, which have difficulty in being dried by the
related art drum type dryer, to be dried. And, the present
invention utilizes an auxiliary space such as a support of a
related art laundry machine as an auxiliary dryer.
[0147] Therefore, the present invention maximizes space utilization
with a low cost, thereby providing a convenient complex laundry
machine.
[0148] And, the present invention secures safety in using an
auxiliary dryer and a complex laundry machine including the
same.
[0149] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *