KR101694158B1 - Laundry treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The laundry processing apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the circulating flow path for circulating the air in the processing chamber is branched into a first branched flow path and a second branched flow path, and on the first branched flow path, a condenser and a heat generating section for heating the airflow passing through the condenser A heat absorbing portion is provided on the second branch flow path, and the heat generating portion and the heat absorbing portion constitute a thermoelectric heat pump mechanism.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus,

The present invention relates to a laundry processing apparatus.

Generally, a laundry processing apparatus is a general term for a device for treating laundry by applying physical and chemical action to the laundry. Examples of such laundry processing apparatuses include a washing machine for removing dirt adhered to laundry, a dehydrator for dehydrating laundry by rotating the washing tub at a high speed, a dryer for drying a wet laundry by applying a cold air or hot air to the washing tub, A washing machine combined with a drying and drying function also belongs to the laundry processing apparatus category.

Particularly, in a laundry processing apparatus having a drying function, usually, an air is heated using an electrothermal heater, and the heated air is blown into a chamber into which clothes are put. In the case of a laundry processing apparatus equipped with a condensing drying system, a condenser for removing moisture from the humidified air passing through the chamber is provided, and the air passing through the condenser is heated by the heater.

However, since the electric heater generally consumes a large amount of electric power and does not have high energy efficiency, there is a problem that the user is reluctant to use the function even when the laundry processing apparatus is equipped with a drying function.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a laundry processing apparatus to which a thermoelectric heat pump mechanism is applied.

Second, the use of a thermoelectric heat pump mechanism in combination with a heater can reduce the energy required during a drying cycle.

Third, it is an object of the present invention to provide a laundry processing apparatus capable of more effectively removing moisture contained in circulating air.

Fourthly, the present invention is to provide a laundry processing apparatus having improved clothes drying performance.

Fifth, the present invention provides a laundry processing apparatus that improves the heating efficiency of a thermoelectric heat pump mechanism.

The laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention comprises a processing chamber in which clothes are accommodated; A circulation flow path for guiding the airflow so as to circulate through the processing chamber; A blower provided on the circulating flow passage for feeding the airflow; A heater for heating the airflow before being supplied into the processing chamber; And a thermoelectric heat pump mechanism for heat-exchanging the airflow with the airflow before the airflow is heated by the heater, wherein the circulation flow paths are connected in parallel with each other to distribute the airflow to the first sub- A first branch flow channel for guiding the first sub-branch, and a second branch flow channel for guiding the second sub-branch, wherein the laundry processing apparatus is provided on the first branch flow path, Further comprising a condenser for condensing the moisture contained in the condenser, wherein the thermoelectric heat pump mechanism comprises: a heat generating unit provided on the first branch flow path and heating the first sub-tank through the condenser; A heat absorbing portion provided on the second branch flow path to cool the second sub-flow; And a thermoelectric pump unit for transferring heat from the heat absorbing unit to the heat generating unit, wherein the circulation flow path is formed by the first sub-tank having passed through the heat generating unit and the second sub-tank passing through the heat absorbing unit, The first branched flow path and the second branched flow path are formed by laminating the first branched flow path and the second branched flow path.

Alternatively, the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention comprises: a processing chamber in which clothes are accommodated; A circulation flow path for guiding the airflow so as to circulate through the processing chamber; A blower provided on the circulating flow passage for feeding the airflow; A condenser for condensing the moisture contained in the air stream discharged from the chamber; A heater for heating the airflow before being supplied into the processing chamber; And a thermoelectric heat device for transferring heat from the heat absorbing part to the heat generating part, wherein the circulating flow paths are connected in parallel to each other, and the first branching flow path is divided in the upstream of the condenser, And the second branched flow passage, the condenser is disposed on the first branched flow passage, the heat generating portion is heat-exchanged with the air flow guided through the first branched flow passage, and the heat absorbing portion is connected to the second branch flow passage And the first branched flow path and the second branched flow path are joined to each other at the upstream of the heater.

The laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention has the effect of reducing the energy required during the drying process, compared to the case where only the heater is used, by using the thermoelectric heat pump mechanism as well as the heater for heating the circulating air.

Second, the moisture contained in the circulating air can be removed more effectively than in the case of using only the condenser. Thus, the clothes drying performance is improved.

Third, the heat generation efficiency of the thermoelectric heat pump mechanism is improved.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 shows a thermoelectric heat pump mechanism.
FIG. 3 schematically shows a drying and washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages and features of the present invention and the manner of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. To fully disclose the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

The laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention is a device having a function of drying clothing, which includes a clothes drying dryer 1a (see FIG. 1) and a drying and washing machine 1b (see FIG. 2).

FIG. 1 schematically shows a dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 shows a thermoelectric heat pump mechanism. 1 and 2, a dryer 1a according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a processing chamber 2 in which clothes are accommodated, a circulation flow passage 20 for guiding the airflow to circulate through the processing chamber 2, A heater 10 disposed on the circulation flow passage 20 for heating the airflow before the airflow is supplied into the processing chamber 2; And a heat transfer heat pump mechanism (30) for heat exchange with the air flow before being heated by the heat transfer mechanism.

Various constitutions such as the processing chamber 2, the circulation flow passage 20, the condenser 41, the heater 10 and the thermoelectric heat pump mechanism 30 are disposed in a casing (not shown) forming an outer appearance of the dryer 1a do. The processing chamber 2 may be configured as a drum having a front side and a rear side opened to accommodate articles to be dried, such as clothes, and may be rotatably disposed about a horizontal axis (O). According to an embodiment, the processing chamber 2 may be arranged in a tilted manner such that the open front where the boll is placed is above the rear, in which case the axis O may be inclined with respect to the horizontal .

Although not shown, the processing chamber 2 is provided with lifters that protrude on the inner circumferential surface and extend along the longitudinal direction of the processing chamber 2 so as to be spaced apart by the lifter during rotation of the processing chamber 2 It can be lifted up to a predetermined height and then fall down. The processing chamber 2 can receive the rotational force of the motor 8 through the belt 5 wound around the outer circumferential surface.

The front end and the rear end of the processing chamber 2 can be rotatably supported by the front supporter 3 and the rear supporter 4, respectively. The front supporter 3 and / or the rear supporter 4 may include rollers (not shown) that contact and rotate with the outer circumferential surface of the processing chamber 2.

 The front supporter 3 may be provided with an entrance through which the garment may enter and exit, and the entrance may be opened or closed by the door 9. One end of the circulation flow path 20 may be coupled to the front supporter 3 and an exhaust port communicating the processing chamber 2 and the circulation flow path 20 may be formed. A filter 6 for collecting foreign substances such as dust and lint contained in the air flow discharged from the processing chamber 2 through the exhaust port may be provided. The filter 6 may be detachably coupled to the front supporter 3 or the circulation flow passage 20 so that the user can easily collect the foreign matter collected in the filter 6. [

The other end of the circulation flow passage 20 can be connected to the rear supporter 4. [ The rear supporter 4 may be provided with an air supply mechanism for communicating the processing chamber 2 and the circulation flow path 20 so that the air can be supplied into the processing chamber 2 through the circulation flow path 20.

The circulation flow path 20 forms a flow path for guiding the air exhausted from the processing chamber 2 from the outside of the processing chamber 2 and specifically to the exhaust port of the rear supporter 4 from the exhaust port of the front supporter 3 The section leading to the mechanism corresponds to the circulating flow path 20.

The airflow conveyed along the circulation flow passage 20 can be formed by the rotation of the blower 7 and the blower 7 is rotated by the motor 8 which is used for the rotation of the belt 5 in the embodiment, The present invention is not limited thereto, and a separate motor may be further provided.

The circulation flow path 20 may include a first branched flow path 22 and a second branched flow path 23 connected in parallel to each other. The circulation flow passage 20 can be branched from the upstream side 21 to the first branch flow passage 22 and the second branch flow passage 23 with reference to the condenser 41 described later. The air flow conveyed along the circulating flow path 20 is branched into the first sub-flow F1 and the second sub-flow F2 and is conveyed along the first branch flow path 22 and the second branch flow path 23, respectively .

A condenser 41 for condensing the moisture contained in the first subcategory F1 may be provided on the first branch flow path 22. The condenser 41 may constitute a refrigerant heat pump 40. [ The refrigerant heat pump 40 constitutes a circulation cycle of the refrigerant for compressing, expanding, evaporating, and condensing the refrigerant injected into the closed flow path to heat the refrigerant and the surrounding medium (for example, the first subcategory F 1) A compressor 42 for compressing the refrigerant, an expander (not shown) for expanding the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 42, an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant by heat exchange with the surrounding medium at a high temperature, A heat exchanger, and a heat exchanger for condensing the refrigerant, which has passed through the evaporator and has been evaporated, through heat exchange with the surrounding low-temperature medium to condense the refrigerant, and such a structure is well known to those skilled in the art. The condenser 41 includes an evaporator constituting the heat pump 40 and serves to condense the moisture contained in the first subcategory F1 in contact with the airflow on the first branch flow path 22 do.

On the other hand, according to the embodiment, a water-cooled or air-cooled condenser may be provided. In the case of the water-cooled condenser, it can be configured to supply cold water into the first branch flow path 22, in which case the hot humid air is brought into contact with the cold water to effect condensation.

The air-cooled condenser may include a cooling fan (not shown) provided outside the circulation flow passage 20 for cooling the first branch flow passage 22. In this case, the first sub-division F1 ) Can be cooled to condense the moisture.

And a separator 12 for discharging the condensed water collected in the first branch flow path 22 to the outside. The separator 12 may be disposed at a suitable location where the collection of condensed water is made on the first branch flow passage 22 and preferably only at the time of discharge of the condensed water so as to allow discharge of the condensed water, And a check valve that opens the flow path and keeps the flow path in a closed state when the flow path is not yet released.

The thermoelectric heat pump mechanism 30 includes a heat generating portion 32 provided on the first branch flow path 22 for heating the first sub-flow F1 passing through the condenser 41, A heat absorbing unit 33 for cooling the second sub-tank F2 and a thermoelectric pump unit 31 for transferring heat from the heat absorbing unit 33 to the heat generating unit 32. [

The thermoelectric-pump unit 31 is a device for transferring heat from one side to the other of two temperature-difference surfaces using a thermoelectric effect, which is well known to those skilled in the art, will be.

Referring to FIG. 2, the thermoelectric pump unit 31 may include a peltier element, a heat generating surface 31b and a heat absorbing surface 31c disposed between the Peltier element and the Peltier element. When power is supplied to the thermoelectric-pump unit 31, heat is transferred from the heat-generating surface 31b to the heat-generating portion 32, and at the same time heat is transferred from the heat-absorbing portion 33 to the heat-absorbing surface 31c. 2, reference numeral 31a denotes a printed circuit board (PCB) on which Peltier elements are integrated.

At least one of the heat generating portion 32 and the heat absorbing portion 33 may include a thermally conductive rib 35. The thermally conductive ribs 35 are formed to widen the heat generation or endothermic area, and a plurality of the heat conductive ribs 35 may be formed.

More specifically, the heat generating portion 32 may include a first thermally conductive plate 32a whose inner surface faces the heat generating surface 31b. On the outer surface of the first thermally conductive plate 32a, A plurality of long ribs 35 may be spaced apart from each other.

The heat absorbing portion 33 may include a second thermally conductive plate 33a whose inner surface faces the heat absorbing surface 31c and is formed on the outer surface of the second thermally conductive plate 33a, A plurality of ribs 35 may be spaced apart from each other. The ribs 35 are arranged in the heat absorbing portion 33 and the heat generating portion 32 in substantially the same structure but are not necessarily limited thereto and the first branched flow path 22 and / The first and second thermally conductive plates 32a and 33a or the ribs 35 may be formed in an appropriate shape depending on the shape of the first and second thermally conductive plates 23. [

In the case of the ribs 35 constituting the heat absorbing portion 33, when the gap d between the ribs 35 is too narrow, the condensed water can not smoothly flow down along the surface of the ribs 35, 35, it is preferable that a proper distance be ensured between the ribs 35. [0051] As shown in Fig.

The circulation flow passage 20 is formed so that the first subcategory F 1 passing through the heat generating portion 32 and the second sub Fraction F 2 passing through the heat absorbing portion 33 are joined together and then guided to the heater 10 And a confluent flow path 24 formed by laminating the first branch flow path 22 and the second branch flow path 23.

One end of the confluent flow path 24 through which the airflow is discharged is communicated with the processing chamber 2 via the supply mechanism of the rear supporter 4. [ A heater 10 may be provided on the confluent flow path 24. The heater 10 generates heat by electric resistance, and may be a sheath heater, a coil heater, or the like.

 The first subcategory F 1 discharged from the first branch flow path 22 and the second sub Fraction F 2 discharged from the second branch flow path 23 are mixed in the confluent flow path 24 by the heater 10 After being heated, it is supplied again into the processing chamber 2.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a drying and washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as those of the above-described embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted and the description thereof will be omitted.

3, the washing and drying machine 1b according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a tub 13 in which washing water is contained in a casing (not shown) (2). A plurality of through holes 2a are formed in the inner peripheral surface of the processing chamber 2 so that wash water can be exchanged between the tub 13 and the processing chamber 2 through the through holes 2a.

The washing machine 1b further includes a water supply mechanism 14 for supplying wash water into the tub 13 through the water supply channel 15, a drainage flow passage 16 for draining wash water in the tub 13, And a drain pump 17 provided on the exhaust pipe 16. The water supply passage 15, the water supply mechanism 14, the drainage passage 16, the drainage pump 17 and the like are components that can be easily recognized by a person skilled in the art without any specific description.

The tub 13 may have an exhaust port for exhausting air to the circulation flow path 20 and a supply mechanism for introducing air from the circulation flow path 20. The tub 13 includes a drum-shaped side surface portion 13a and a rear surface portion 13b that seals the rear portion of the side surface portion 13a. The exhaust port is formed in a lower portion of the rear surface portion 13b, 13a.

In the embodiment, the blower 7 is provided on the confluent flow path 24, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

In the case of a conventional drying and washing machine, a drying duct for supplying air heated by the heater 10 into the tub 13 is disposed behind the tub 13, and in the embodiment, the structure of the conventional drying duct is changed The first branch flow path 22 and the second branch flow path 23 were formed.

In the above embodiments, the air exhausted from the processing chamber 2 contains a large amount of moisture absorbed from the clothes. Part of the humid air (i.e., the first subcategory F1) flows into the first branch passage 22 and the moisture contained in the air is condensed by the condenser 41, so that the second branch passage 23 (I.e., the second subcategory F2) is relatively higher in humidity than the first subcategory F1 and has a larger heat capacity than the first subcategory F1. Therefore, there is an effect that the heat energy transferred from the heat absorbing portion 33 to the heat generating portion 32 by the thermoelectric pump unit 31 can be increased. In addition, by reducing the temperature difference between the heat absorbing portion 33 and the heat generating portion 32, the heat generating efficiency of the heat generating portion 32 can be increased. Furthermore, this heat generation efficiency can be optimized by adjusting the area where the heat absorbing portion 33 and the heat generating portion 32 are in contact with air at an appropriate ratio.

The laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the heater 10 but also the heat generating portion 32 may serve as a means for heating the air supplied into the processing chamber 2 and therefore the heat applied by the heat generating portion 32 Since the efficiency of the thermoelectric heat pump mechanism 30 is better than that of the heater 10 that generates heat by the electrical resistance, the entire drying system Thereby improving the energy efficiency of the fuel cell.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. It is therefore to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing detailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and the equivalents thereof are included in the scope of the present invention Should be interpreted.

Claims (7)

A laundry processing apparatus comprising:
A processing chamber in which the garment is received;
A circulation flow path for guiding the airflow so as to circulate through the processing chamber;
A blower provided on the circulating flow passage for feeding the airflow;
A heater for heating the airflow before being supplied into the processing chamber; And
And a heat transfer heat pump mechanism for performing heat exchange with the air flow before the air flow is heated by the heater,
The circulation flow path,
A first branch flow channel connected to each other in parallel for distributing the air flow to a first sub-flow and a second sub-flow, for guiding the first sub-flow, and a second branch flow channel for guiding the second sub- ,
The laundry processing apparatus includes:
Further comprising a condenser provided on the first branched flow passage for condensing the moisture contained in the first sub-division,
The thermoelectric-heat-pump-
A heat generating unit provided on the first branched flow passage for heating the first sub-tank through the condenser;
A heat absorbing portion provided on the second branch flow path to cool the second sub-flow; And
And a thermoelectric pump unit for transferring heat from the heat absorbing portion to the heat generating portion,
The circulation flow path,
Wherein the first branch flow passage and the second branch flow passage are formed by joining together the first branch passage and the second branch passage having passed through the heat generating section and the second branch passage passing through the heat absorbing section, Comprising a laundry handling device. The method according to claim 1,
The thermoelectric-pump unit includes:
Peltier element; And
A heat generating surface and a heat absorbing surface disposed with the Peltier element therebetween,
Wherein the heat generating unit receives heat from the heat generating surface and the heat absorbing unit transfers heat to the heat absorbing surface. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein at least one of the heat generating portion and the heat absorbing portion forms thermally conductive ribs. The method according to claim 1,
And a refrigerant heat pump including the condenser. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the processing chamber is rotatably provided. The method according to claim 1,
The condenser includes:
And a cooling fan for cooling the first branched flow path outside the circulation flow path. A processing chamber in which the garment is received;
A circulation flow path for guiding the airflow so as to circulate through the processing chamber;
A blower provided on the circulating flow passage for feeding the airflow;
A condenser for condensing the moisture contained in the air stream discharged from the chamber;
A heater for heating the airflow before being supplied into the processing chamber; And
And a thermoelectric heat device for transferring heat from the heat absorbing portion to the heat generating portion,
The circulation flow path,
A first branch flow passage and a second branch flow passage which are connected in parallel to each other and are distributed at the upstream side of the condenser to guide the air flow,
The condenser includes:
A second branched flow path disposed on the first branched flow path,
The heat-
Exchanged with an air flow guided through the first branched flow path,
The heat-
Exchanges heat with the airflow guided through the second branch passage,
Wherein the first branched flow path and the second branched flow path are joined to each other at an upstream of the heater.

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