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KR-20260062614-A - Steamer and clothes care apparatus having the same

KR20260062614AKR 20260062614 AKR20260062614 AKR 20260062614AKR-20260062614-A

Abstract

The present invention provides a steam supply unit comprising: a water supply container; a water storage container for storing water supplied from the water supply container; a steam generator for converting water in the water storage container into steam; a steam discharger for discharging steam generated from the steam generator; and a condensate recovery unit for recovering condensate from the steam discharged from the steam discharger into the water storage container. The present invention also provides a clothing care device comprising: a cabinet; a clothing rack capable of protruding upward from the cabinet; a hot air supply unit housed inside the cabinet and supplying hot air toward the clothing rack; and the aforementioned steam supply unit housed inside the cabinet and supplying steam toward the clothing rack.

Inventors

  • 손영욱
  • 최주영
  • 최동준
  • 김용남

Assignees

  • 엘지전자 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20241029

Claims (20)

  1. Water supply container; A water storage container for storing water supplied from the above-mentioned water supply container; A steam generator that converts the water in the above-mentioned reservoir into steam; A steam discharger for discharging steam generated from the above steam generator; and A steam supply unit comprising a condensate recovery unit that recovers condensate in the steam discharged from the above steam discharger into the above water storage container.
  2. In paragraph 1, The above steam discharger is connected to a steam generator through a steam channel, and the steam supplyer further includes a heater that heats the steam supplied through the steam channel.
  3. In paragraph 1 or 2, The above steam discharger is positioned at a higher location than the above water reservoir, and The above condensate recovery unit is, A guide channel for guiding condensate in the steam discharged from the above steam discharger to the above water reservoir; and A steam supply device comprising at least one condensate recovery hole formed in a reservoir so that condensate guided to the reservoir through the above guide channel enters the interior of the reservoir.
  4. Cabinet; A clothing rack capable of protruding upward from the cabinet above; A hot air supply unit housed inside the cabinet and supplying hot air toward the clothing rack; and It includes a steam supply unit housed inside the cabinet and supplying steam toward the clothing rack, The above steam supply unit is, Water supply container; A water storage container for storing water supplied from the above-mentioned water supply container; A steam generator that converts the water in the above-mentioned reservoir into steam; A steam discharger for discharging steam generated from the above steam generator; and A clothing care device comprising a condensate recovery unit that recovers condensate generated from steam discharged from the above steam discharger into the above water storage container.
  5. In paragraph 4, The above hot air supply device includes a hot air discharge port positioned to discharge hot air upward from the lower side of the garment rack, and A clothing care device configured such that the above steam discharger discharges steam into the interior of the above hot air discharge port.
  6. In paragraph 5, The above steam discharge device is, A steam heater positioned below the hot air discharge port of the above-mentioned hot air supply; and A clothing care device comprising a steam discharge port provided on the upper surface of the steam heater and communicating the steam heater and the hot air discharge port.
  7. In paragraph 6, The above condensate recovery unit includes a condensate guide groove formed on the bottom surface of the hot air discharge port; A connecting hole that connects the above-mentioned condensate guide groove with the outside of the above-mentioned hot air discharge port; At least one condensate recovery hole formed on the upper surface of the above-mentioned water storage container; and It includes a condensate guide groove formed on the upper surface of the reservoir container to guide the condensate to the at least one condensate recovery hole, A clothing care device in which the above-mentioned water reservoir is positioned adjacent to the hot air discharge port so that condensate discharged through the connecting hole of the hot air discharge port falls onto the upper surface of the water reservoir.
  8. In Paragraph 7, The hot air discharge port of the above-mentioned hot air supply is, An upper hot air outlet configured to supply hot air from the rear of the above-mentioned clothing rack; and It includes a lower hot air outlet positioned below the upper hot air outlet and configured to supply hot air from the front of the clothing rack, and The steam discharge port of the above-mentioned steam discharger is, An upper steam discharge port communicating with the upper hot air discharge port; and It includes a lower steam discharge port communicating with the lower hot air discharge port mentioned above, The condensate guide groove and the connecting hole of the above hot air discharge port are provided in each of the above upper hot air discharge port and the above lower hot air discharge port in a clothing care device.
  9. In paragraph 8, A clothing care device having a pair of steam dischargers and hot air discharge ports positioned on both sides of the above-mentioned water reservoir.
  10. In Paragraph 9, The above steam supply device is a clothing care device further comprising a second steam discharger that discharges steam generated from the above steam generator into an indoor space.
  11. In Paragraph 10, The above clothing rack includes a hollow vertical member with a hollow interior, and The above second steam discharger is a garment care device configured to discharge steam into the hollow of the above hollow vertical member.
  12. In paragraph 11 The above water storage container comprises a water storage space for storing water supplied from the above water supply container and a steam space separated from the water storage space by a partition wall and into which steam generated from the above steam generator flows. The second steam discharger includes a second steam discharge port provided to communicate with the hollow of the hollow vertical member of the clothing rack on the upper surface of the water reservoir above the steam space and the steam space, and A clothing care device in which at least one condensate recovery hole of the above-mentioned condensate recovery unit is formed to communicate with the above-mentioned water storage space.
  13. In Paragraph 12, The above-mentioned water storage container includes a container body and a lid forming the upper surface of the container body, and The partition separating the water storage space and the steam space of the above-mentioned water storage container includes a lower partition protruding upward from the bottom surface of the container body and an upper partition extending downward from the lid and forming a drainage gap between it and the lower partition. A garment care device in which the above drainage gap is formed at a position lower than the height of the steam inlet into which steam from the steam generator flows.
  14. In Paragraph 13, The steam space extends from the rear of the water storage container toward the front of the water storage container, and The steam inlet of the steam space is formed on the rear of the water storage container, and A clothing care device having a water storage space formed on both sides of the steam space, communicating through the gap between the front of the steam space and the front of the water storage container.
  15. In Paragraph 14, The second steam discharge port is aligned on the same vertical line as the hollow vertical member of the clothing rack, and A clothing care device in which the diameter of the steam discharge port is smaller than the inner diameter of the hollow of the hollow longitudinal member.
  16. In paragraph 15, The cabinet comprises a housing and a drawer that can be pulled in and out of the housing, and The above water supply container and the above steam generator are disposed in the upper space of the housing, and the clothing rack, the above water storage container, the above steam discharger and the second steam discharger are disposed in the lower space of the housing together with the above drawer so as to be retractable and withdrawable from the housing, and The above clothing rack is a height-adjustable clothing care device that protrudes upward from the housing when the drawer is pulled out and is stored inside the cabinet when the drawer is retracted.
  17. In Paragraph 16, The water in the above-mentioned water supply container is supplied to the above-mentioned water storage space of the above-mentioned water storage container through the first water supply hose, and The water in the above-mentioned reservoir space is supplied to the steam generator through the second water supply hose, and A clothing care device in which steam generated from the above steam generator is supplied to the pair of steam dischargers and the second steam discharger through a first steam hose extending from the above steam generator, a switching valve connected to the end of the first steam hose, a branch valve connected to one side of the switching valve, a pair of second steam hoses branched from the branch valve and connected to the pair of steam dischargers, and a third steam hose connecting the other side of the switching valve to the second steam discharger.
  18. In Paragraph 17, The above steam supply device further comprises a water supply pump disposed in the second water supply hose to transfer water stored in the water storage space of the water storage container to the steam generator.
  19. In Paragraph 18, The inlet of the water storage container communicating with the above-mentioned water supply container and the outlet of the water storage container connected to the above-mentioned steam generator are formed on the side of the water storage container to communicate with the water storage space, and A clothing care device in which the height of the above-mentioned outlet is lower than or equal to the height of the above-mentioned inlet.
  20. In Paragraph 19, A clothing care device in which the height of the drainage gap of the partition separating the water storage space and the steam space of the above-mentioned water storage container is higher than the height of the water inlet.

Description

Steamer and clothes care apparatus having the same The present invention relates to a steam supply device capable of recovering and recirculating condensate in steam, and a clothing care device equipped with such a steam supply device. Recently, various types of garment processing devices are being used alongside washing machines. For example, drum-type dryers that dry washed clothes, cabinet-type dryers that hang clothes to dry, and garment care devices that refresh clothes by supplying hot air are being used. Among such clothing processing devices, a clothing care device refers to a device that supplies steam and hot air to clothing stored in a storage chamber to remove residual odors, wrinkles, and moisture from the clothing. However, in such a garment care device, high-temperature steam generated by a steam generator may condense due to heat loss as it travels through the steam passages inside the garment care device. As a result, the amount of steam discharged toward the garment may be significantly reduced compared to the initial amount of steam generated by the steam generator. Furthermore, conventionally, since this condensate is discharged using a separate drainage container, significant water loss may occur. In addition, this requires users to endure the inconvenience of frequently replenishing and draining water. Furthermore, conventional garment care devices have the disadvantage of a narrow range of applications, as they are limited to using the steam generated from the steam generator solely to remove odors and wrinkles from clothing. For example, if the garment care device could use the steam generated from the generator to humidify the indoor space, it would be desirable to use a single device for multiple purposes without the need for a separate humidifier. Figure 1 is a diagram explaining the basic principles of the present invention. FIGS. 2a to 2c are perspective views illustrating the appearance of a clothing care device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2a shows the clothing care device in an unused state, FIG. 2b shows the clothing care device in a clothing care mode, and FIG. 2c shows the clothing care device in a humidifier mode. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of a clothing care device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating in detail the steam supply unit of the clothing care device of FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the arrangement structure of the blower duct of the hot air supply and the steam heater and water reservoir of the steam supply. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the blower duct and steam heater shown in Figure 5. Figure 7 is a plan view illustrating the configuration and flow path layout of the steam supply unit shown in Figure 4. Fig. 8 is a rear perspective view illustrating the water reservoir of Fig. 7. FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views illustrating the arrangement structure of a water reservoir and a steam heater, FIG. 9A is a perspective view showing the state in which the lid of the water reservoir is closed, and FIG. 9B is a perspective view showing the state in which the lid of the water reservoir is removed so that the inside of the water reservoir is visible. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the discharge port of a steam heater and a hot air supply unit. FIGS. 11 and 12 are a partially cutaway perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing a flow path for recovering condensate from the steam discharge port of a steam heater to a water reservoir. FIG. 13a is a plan view illustrating the condensate guide groove of the upper discharge section of a hot air supply. FIG. 13b is a cross-sectional view illustrating the condensate guide groove of the lower discharge section of a hot air supply. Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a water storage tank. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an opening for removing the water tank from the clothing care device. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the state in which the water tank is removed from the clothing care device. Hereinafter, the steam supply device and clothing care device related to the present invention will be described in more detail. In this specification, identical or similar reference numbers are assigned to identical or similar configurations even for different embodiments, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted. In addition, even if the embodiments are different, as long as there is no structural or functional contradiction, the structure applied to one embodiment can be applied identically to another embodiment. A singular expression includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a detailed description of related prior art could obscure the essence of the embodiments disclosed in this specificatio