CONTROL METHOD FOR A LAUNDRY TREATING APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a method to control a washing treatment device provided with a filter assembly.

The linen treatment is a general term referring to a domestic appliance such as a washing machine, a laundry dryer, and a washer-dryer.

A laundry processing apparatus capable of drying laundry (a drying object) may be a laundry treating apparatus type discharge and a linen treatment circulation type.

A laundry processing apparatus capable of drying laundry may be a laundry treating apparatus type outlet that discharges the moist air at high temperature from a drum to an outside of the laundry treating apparatus, or a linen treatment circulation type wherein a heat exchanger condenses and heats the air discharged from the drum and the damp air exiting the drum at high temperature in the drum is inverted (while the air exiting the drum is circulated).

The air exiting from the drum during drying may contain foreign matter (as lint) from the object of drying, such as clothing. The accumulation of foreign material on the elements of the laundry treating apparatus may compromise the proper operation of the laundry treatment apparatus. When foreign substances out of the laundry treating apparatus, they are at risk from polluting the air of a room in which the linen treatment device.

In the laundry treatment apparatus having a drying function, *

foreign bodies must be removed from the air exiting from the drum.

In related art, a laundry treatment apparatus having a drying function is provided with a connecting line in the height direction of the drum and an outflow conduit in the direction of the length of the drum, the connecting line having a filter for filtering air exiting from the drum.

In general, the size of the laundry treating apparatus depends on standards of each country. Therefore, extending a length of the connecting line (in the height direction of the drum) is not easy. The DP of laundry processing apparatus related art suffers from the disadvantage that the increase of a filtration efficiency of the filter provided in the connecting line is not easy.

In addition, the linen treatment related art is impractical. Indeed, the efficiency of drying the laundry treatment apparatus can be maintained only if a user cleans the filter after determining the accumulation of an amount of foreign matter on the filter, each time the user uses the linen treatment device.

The linen treatment related art suffers from the problem that the user cannot determine whether the filter is actually mounted or not in the linen treatment device. The user thus to operate the laundry treatment apparatus in the absence of filter.

Since the amount of foreign material in the filter cannot be determined, the linen treatment related art cannot warn the user that it is time to clean the filter.

The linen treatment related art also suffers the problem that it cannot be determined whether the lowering of the efficiency of drying is caused by blockage of the filter by foreign matter or by the conduit blockage by foreign bodies.

To solve the above problems, an object of the present invention consists in providing a laundry treatment apparatus for increasing the filtration efficiency of a filter, and a control method of the linen treatment device.

Another object of the present invention includes providing a mounting apparatus

laundry treatment with structure for an increasing flow of air "

providing in a heated drum containing the laundry, and also possible to increase the filtering capacity, which makes the linen treatment device adapted to function as a coextruded clothes dryermillimeters[...]; and a control method of the linen treatment device.

Another object of the present invention consists in providing a laundry treating apparatus for the periodic cleaning of foreign matter accumulated on a filter; and a control method of the linen treatment device.

Another object of the present invention consists in providing a laundry treating apparatus for preventing lowering of the throughput for drying in a drying step by periodical cleaning of a filter by supplying air during the drying step; and a method of cothe mrequest for the laundry treating apparatus.

Another object of the present invention consists in providing a laundry treating apparatus for determining whether a filter is mounted in the laundry treatment apparatus; and a control method of the linen treatment device.

Another object of the present invention consists in providing a laundry treating apparatus for notifying a user that it is time to clean the filter based on an amount of foreign matters remaining in a filter; and a control method of the linen treatment device.

Another object of the present invention consists in providing a laundry treating apparatus for determining whether the performance degradation is caused by drying filter blocked by foreign matter or conduit blocked by foreign matter; and a control method of the linen treatment device.

Other advantages, objects and features of the disclosure will be described in part in the description hereinafter and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the examination of the following or to the practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure set forth in particular in the description hereinafter, in the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as described herein, there is provided a process for operating a laundry treatment machine comprising a drum for holding laundry, a connecting line for discharging air from the interior of the drum, a discharge conduit parallel to the direction of the length of the drum connecting duct connected to, a filter assembly comprising a filter unit disposed in the exhaust duct for filtering air and a brush to remove foreign matter from the filter unit, a drive unit for causing the brush brush to move back and forth in a section of the filter unit, and a position detecting unit for detecting a position of the brush. The method includes a step of a power supply of the laundry treating apparatus, a step of detecting jig, after the temporary operation of the drive unit of brush, determine whether the position detection unit detects a position of the pitch or brush to tingmidbTS if the filter assembly is mounted or not on the exhaust duct, and a step of cutting off the power supply of the laundry treating apparatus if the position detection unit fails to detect the position of the brush.

The position detection unit may comprise means for forming magnetic force provided on the brush, and two magnetic force detecting means for detecting whether the means for forming magnetic force having reached a limiting movement back and forth of the brush. The step of turning off the power supply of the linen treatment may be performed if at least one of the two magnetic force detecting means fails to detect the means for forming magnetic force to the mounting detecting step.

The method may further include a step of requesting control filter to display a warning message or transmitting a warning signal with a display unit or a speaker disposed in the linen treatment device before turning off the power supply of the linen treatment device, if at least one of the two magnetic force detecting means fails to detect the means for forming magnetic force to the mounting detecting step.

The warning message may be a message for requesting a user to remove foreign matter from the filter assembly or to check if the filter assembly is mounted or not. The warning signal can be an audio for prompting the user to remove foreign matter from the assembly

filter or to check if the filter assembly is mounted or not.

♦

If only one of the two magnetic force detecting means fails to detect the means for forming magnetic force to the mounting detecting step, the step of requesting filter testing may include a step for requesting the removal of foreign matter from the interior of the filter assembly with the display unit or the speaker.

If the two magnetic force detecting means failing to detect the means for forming magnetic force to the mounting detecting step, the step of requesting filter testing may include a step for requesting to monitor whether or not the filter assembly is mounted or not in contact with the display unit or the speaker.

The method may further include a step of supplying air for a air supply unit in operation for supplying air heated or not heated in the drum, if the two magnetic force detecting means detects the means for forming magnetic force to the mounting detecting step.

The method may further include a step of cleaning filter to control the drive unit to brush to cause the brush removes foreign matters periodically the filter unit during stage air supply.

The air supply step can include the step of providing heated air into the drum with a fan that supplies air into the drum, and a heating means which operates below a predetermined temperature and will cease to function if a predetermined temperature is exceeded.

A step filter cleaning may be performed to control the brush drive unit causing the brush removes the foreign matter from the filter unit if a period of time of operation of the heater is greater than a reference period of time in step air supply, and blocking a classification step can be performed to determine if the filter unit is blocked by foreign matter or the connecting line is blocked by the foreign bodies if the time period of operation of the heater is less than a reference period of time in step air supply.

Blocking the classifying step may comprise the step of preventing the user locking the connecting pipe or the drain pipe with the display unit or the speaker provided in the laundry treating apparatus, after the command to the drive unit for moving the brush brush back and forth during a predetermined period of time, if the two magnetic force detecting means detects the forming means of magnetic force.

Blocking the classifying step may comprise the step of asking the user to remove foreign material from the filter assembly, with the display unit or the speaker, if at least one of the two magnetic force detecting means fails to detect the forming means of magnetic force.

The method may further include a step of final driven brush to control the drive unit to brush, after step air supply is finite, cause the brush removes the foreign matter from the filter unit during a predetermined time period. It may further include a final notification step for prompting the user to remove foreign matter from the filter assembly with a display unit or a speaker provided in the linen treatment device, if at least one of the two magnetic force detecting means fails to detect the means for forming magnetic force during step final driven brush. It may also include a step of terminating the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus at the end of the final notification step.

The method may further include a cooling step for placing the fan in operation in a state in which the operation of the heater is stopped if the level of dryness of a drying object in the drum reaches a predetermined dry or if a period of time of step to air supply reaches a predetermined period of time in step air supply.

The method may further include a step of final driven brush commanding to the brush drive causing the brush removes the foreign matter from the filter unit for a period of

predetermined time during the cooling step or after the step of♦

cooling. The method may include the step of final notification requesting the user to monitor the filter assembly with a display unit or a speaker provided in the linen treatment device, if at least one of the two magnetic force detecting means fails to detect the means for forming magnetic force during step final driven brush. The method may further comprise the step of terminating the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus at the end of the final notification step.

In other aspects, the invention provides an apparatus for driving a washing treatment device using the method defined above, and a laundry treating apparatus including such an apparatus.

It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and purely they are intended only for facilitating the understanding of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings are intended to illustrate embodiments of the invention to better the include. The description hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings explains the principle of the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a section of a laundry treatment apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a flow passage venting and a filter assembly in a linen treatment device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a filter assembly in a linen treatment device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates a schematic view of a drive unit of brush in a linen treatment device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 5 has, 5b and 5c illustrate sections showing steps of operating a filter assembly provided in a processing apparatus

laundry according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

*

Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart representing the steps of a method to control a washing treatment device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate flow charts each representing the steps of a method to control a washing treatment device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 illustrates a flowchart representing the steps of a method to control a washing treatment device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Identical or similar parts bear similar reference numbers on the annexed drawings.

A configuration of an apparatus or method of comillimetersinistration apparatus, as will be described below, is only intended to describe a preferred embodiment of the present invention, without limiting the perimeter of Patent rights of the present invention.

With reference to Figure 1, a laundry treatment apparatus 100 according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 1 which forms an external appearance of the laundry treating apparatus 100, a drum 2 rotatably in the compartment 1 for holding laundry, a air supply unit 3 for supplying air heated or not heated air into the drum, a discharge flow passage 4 for discharging air from the drum to an outside of the drum, and a filter assembly 5 for removing a foreign object by the venting of the drum.

The compartment 1 comprises a front panel 11 having an introduction opening 111, and a back panel 15 having an air introducing opening 151 to be in MOCthe mmunication with an interior of the drum 2.

A user may enter the laundry in the drum 2 by the introduction opening 111 or may exit the laundry drum 2 through the input opening 111. The introduction opening 111 is opened/closed by a door 13 rotatably attached to the front panel 11.

The front panel 11 may be a panel of COmillimetersmodif 113 having a

input unit (not shown) for inputting a control command in the *

laundry treatment machine, and a display unit (not shown) for displaying a control content of the laundry treating apparatus.

The rear panel 15 is disposed opposite to the front panel and face, and the air introducing opening 151 is provided to pass through the back panel 15 to introduce air from the air supply unit 3 in the drum 2.

The back panel 15 may comprise an air venting hole 153 that air exiting the drum 2 to an exterior of the chamber 1 through the passage of exhaust flow 4 (see Figure 2).

Further, the back panel 15 may include a rear flange 155 for rotatably supporting a rear side of the drum 2, as will be described in detail below.

The compartment 1 can include a support portion 17 for supporting drum rotatably a front side of the drum 2. the drum supporting portion 17 includes a through hole for passage of support portion 171 that maps the introduction opening 111 in communication with the interior of the drum 2.

The laundry introduced within the chamber 1 through the insertion opening 111 can pass into the drum 2 through the through hole passing support portion 171.

Further, the support portion may include a flange 17 drum front 173 for supporting rotatably a front side of the drum 2, in which the front flange 173 is disposed along an outer circumference of the through hole passing support portion 171.

In this case, the front flange 173 can have a diameter greater than a diameter of the through hole of passage 171 support portion depending on a diameter of the drum 2.

The drum 2 can have a cylindrical shape with front and rear sides open. The front side of the drum 2 is supported rotatably by the front flange 173. The rear side of the drum 2 is supported rotatably by the rear flange 155.

The drum 2 is rotated by the drive unit 21 which drum

211 includes a motor, and a belt 213 which connects a rotation shaft of the *

engine to an outer circumference of the drum 2.

The air supply unit 3 is a means for providing heated air or air not heated in the drum 2 to cause heat exchange between air and the laundry. It may include a heater housing 31 disposed on the back panel 15, a heater (heating means) 33 provided on an inside of the housing of the heater, and a fan 35 disposed in the flow passage to discharge 4 (provided in the connecting conduit 41 or in the discharge conduit 43).

The housing heater 31 is disposed to surround the air introducing opening 151 in the backplane. It may further include a housing insertion opening 311 for introducing air into an interior of the housing of heater 31.

The housing heater 31 is arranged, not inside, but outside the compartment 1 to dry a large amount of laundry.

The increase of the amount of laundry requires increasing the flow rate of air supply within the drum 2 to dry the laundry during a predetermined time period. The laundry treatment apparatus for drying a large amount of laundry requires essentially a heater (heating means) of large capacity for increasing the flow rate of the air to be supplied into the drum and for heating air at high volume.

However, if the heater of large capacity is disposed within the compartment 1, this is accompanied by an increase in the outer shape of the compartment 1 and a temperature within the chamber 1, with a risk of damage to components in the linen treatment device.

For solving such a problem, in the linen treatment device 100 of the present invention, the air supply unit 3 is attached to an exterior of the compartment 1, thereby enabling the use of the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention as a linen treatment business requiring drying laundry quick and large capacity.

As has been previously described, the passage of exhaust flow 4, as a means of evacuating air from the interior of the drum 2 outside the compartment 1, may include a connecting pipe 41 provided in the height direction of the drum 2, and a discharge duct 43 provided in the longitudinal direction of the drum 2 to evacuate air from the connecting conduit 41 outside the compartment 1.

The connecting conduit 41 is means positioned below (in front of the through hole passing support portion 171) the introduction opening 111 so that the air passes from inside the drum 2 into the outlet duct 43. The connecting conduit 41 connects an outer circumferential surface of the insertion opening 111 to a via conduit 431 (see Figure 2) of discharge conduit 43.

By connecting the connecting conduit 41 at the air outlet hole 153, the discharge duct 43 can cause the evacuation of air from the drum 2 outside the compartment 1 through the connecting conduit 41.

In this case, the fan 35 disposed in the air supply unit 3 may be fixed to an exterior of the compartment 1 for drawing air from an inside of the discharge duct 43.

A large amount of air is required for drying of a large amount of laundry, but it is not easy to mount a fan of large capacity in the compartment 1 whose size is limited.

As shown in Figure 1, if the ventilator 35 is mounted on the back panel 15 to allow discharge of air from the interior of the drum 2 through the air discharge hole 153, it is possible to mount a fan of high capacity without changing the size of the compartment 1.

The filter assembly 5 disposed in the laundry treatment apparatus 100 of the present invention is characterized in that the filter assembly 5 is disposed, not in the connecting conduit 41, but in the discharge duct 43 for filtering air exiting from the drum 2.

The linen treatment related art encounters difficulty in increasing the capacity of the filter disposed in the connecting conduit 41 because the length of the connecting line 41 cannot be changed without changing the size of the laundry treating apparatus.

However, in the linen treatment device 100 of the present invention, the filter assembly 5 is disposed in the exhaust duct 43 in

the longitudinal direction of the drum 2 (direction parallel to a rotation shaft♦'s c

drum). This allows the linen treatment device 100 of the present invention to significantly increase the filtering capacity of the filter assembly.

The linen treatment device 100 of the present invention can be used as a commercial laundry treating apparatus for quickly drying a large amount of laundry.

It is preferred that the filter assembly 5 is removably disposed within the discharge duct 43. For this, a support panel filter 19 can be disposed on the front panel 11.

The panel filter support 19 may be positioned on a lower side (below the door 13) of the front panel 11 and it may have a filter insertion hole 191 (see Figure 2) for inserting the assembly of filter 5 therein.

A structure of the filter assembly 5 will be described below with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

The filter assembly includes a housing 51 5 comprising a retention space 511 to contain foreign objects. The housing 51 may be provided with a handle 513 for easy pull the housing 51 of the discharge duct 43 or introduce the housing 51 into the outlet duct 43 through a filter insertion hole 191 in the panel filter support 19.

The housing 51 may have a shape of rectangular cube with an open side facing the conduit connection 4l in this case, a filter unit 53 (see Figure 3) is disposed on the open side of the housing.

In the housing, it is also disposed a brush 57 for removing a foreign object of the filter unit 53 55 and a compression unit for compressing the foreign matter removed with the brush 57 511 in the containing space.

The filter unit comprises a frame 53 531 positioned on the open side of the housing 51, and a filter secured to the frame 533.

The frame includes a hole 531 air introducing 5317 in communication with the hole connecting conduit 431. The air discharged from the drum through the connecting conduit 41 is introduced into an interior of the housing 51 through the via duct 431 and the air introducing hole 5317, and it is discharged to the outside (inside the discharge conduit 43) of the housing 51 through the filter 533.

The frame 531 5311 may include a first frame provided with the air introduction hole 5317 5313 and a second frame coupled to the first frame hinge 5311. This allows easily take foreign substances contained in the containing space 511 for the exit the housing 51, as will be described in detail below.

The frame 531 may be provided with a receiving portion for receiving a pinion sprocket 5315 65, 67, as will be described below. The receiving portion may be disposed at 5315 pinion a joined portion (boundary) of the first frame and the second frame 5311 5313.

The brush 57 is means provided so as to be moved back and forth in an inside of the housing 51 (an interior of the containing space 511) for separating foreign matters from the filter 533. The compression unit 55 is means provided so as to be moved back and forth within the housing 51 to compress the foreign substances contained in the containing space 511.

With reference to Figure 3, if the brush 57 is in contact with the filter 533 by arranging the brush 57 on an upper side of the compressing unit 55, the effect of the use of the brush and the compression unit can be obtained by using only a drive unit 6 (a brush driving unit) for moving the brush 57 in reciprocating in the containing space 511.

At opposite ends of the compression unit 55 facing to each other, there is arranged a first rack and a second rack 551 553 each having gears formed at a rod shaped body at fixed intervals. In this case, a rack guide 59 may be disposed on the open side of the housing 51 for guiding movement 551 and 552 racks.

The rack guide 59 is disposed between the frame of the filter unit 531 and the housing 51 for guiding movement of the first rack and the second rack 551 553.

The rack guide 59 may comprise a guide body 591 supported over the open top side of the housing 51, and a receiving rack projecting 593 of the upper side of the guide body for receiving the first 591 rack and the second rack.

The receiving portion may include a first rack 593 *

5913 guide flange disposed on a circumference in the length direction to

outside the guide body 591, and a second guide flange spaced from the first flange 5933 for guiding a spacing for receiving the first rack and the second rack.

It is preferable that the second guide flange is disposed 5933, not on the entire length of the guide body 591, but only on a portion of the guide body 593. This allows attachment of a compression amount of foreign matter from the filter assembly 5 by restricting the movement of the compression unit 55 with the second guide flange 5933.

The foreign matters separated from the filter 533 by the brush 57 are moved by the compression unit 55 in a direction in which the air introduction hole 5317 est positioned on top to a position at which the second guide flange 5933 est disposed thereon.

If the amount of foreign substances contained in the containing space of the housing 511 51 becomes large, the compression unit compresses the 55 foreign bodies into the containing space 511, the movement of the compression unit which is restricted by the second guide flange 5933.

To easily separate foreign bodies from the filter with the brush 57 533, 535 a scraper may be provided on the frame of the filter unit 531 53.

The brush 57 may be in the form of a plurality of protrusions of the upper side of the compressing unit 55 spaced by predetermined distances. In this case, the scraper 535 may be a plurality of frame projections 531 spaced by predetermined distances.

It is preferable that the scraper 535 is disposed to pass through a space formed between adjacent ridges of the brush when the brush 57 moves back and forth in an interior of the containing space 511.

It is preferable that the plurality of projections disposed in the brush 57 are spaced apart from each other to prevent interference with the scraper 535.

This can not only prevent the pin 57 contacts the scraper 535, by interfering in the movement of the compression unit 55 when the compression unit 55 moves back and forth inside the containing space, but also the scraping easily separating foreign matter located between the projections of the brush.

The compression unit and the brush 57 55 are moved back and forth within the space retention by the drive unit 511 brush 6.

The unit D ' brush drive 6 may comprise a brush motor 61 attached to an exterior of the exhaust conduit 43, a motor gear 63 positioned in the discharge duct 43, and a pinion 65, 67 disposed in the receiving portion 5315 pinion engaged with the rack 551, 553.

Although the brush motor 61 can be disposed in an inside of the discharge duct 43, it is preferable that the brush motor 61 is mounted on the exterior of the exhaust conduit 43, as shown in Figure 2, to assist in the repair and maintenance of the filter assembly 5.

If the brush motor 61 is attached to the exterior of the exhaust conduit 43, the motor gear 63 is coupled to the rotation shaft of the motor brush that passes through the exhaust duct 43.

The pinion may include a first pinion and a second pinion 65 67 disposed in the receiving portion of pinion as part 531. It is preferable that the first sprocket and the second sprocket are coupled to a connecting shaft 69.

Indeed, if there is a large amount of foreign matter into the containing space 511 or in the filter 533, giving rise to a large resistance of the compression unit 55 or 57 of the brush when moving in a reciprocating, it may be difficult to compress the foreign matter removed from the filter in an interior of the containing space with a single gear.

Since, in the brush driving unit of the present invention, the first sprocket and the second sprocket 65 67 are coupled to the connecting shaft 69, 65 the first pinion gear is engaged with the first rack and the second pinion 67 551 is engaged with the second rack 553, whether the first pinion or the second pinion 65 67 is connected to the motor gear 63, the brush driving unit can provide a stable transfer power to the brush and to the compression unit.

With reference to Figures 2 and 4, it is preferable that a distance from the filter insertion hole 191 to the pinion 65, 67 is less than a distance from the filter insertion hole 191 to the motor gear 63.

This permits separation of one of the pinions 65 and 67 of the motor gear 63♦

if the filter assembly 5 is taken out from the discharge pipe 43, and couple any of

pinions 65 and 67 to the motor gear 63 if the filter assembly 5 is inserted into the discharge duct 43.

Further, the connecting shaft 69 may also serve as a hinge rotatably connecting the first frame and the second frame 5313 5311 of the filter unit 53. In this case, the user can remove foreign matter from within the housing 51 by opening the second frame 5313, thereby allowing removal of foreign bodies from the housing 51 more easily than if the first frame and the second frame 5313 5311 of the filter unit 53 were provided integrally.

The linen treatment device 100 of the present invention may further include a detection unit retention amount that determines an amount of foreign bodies into the containing space 511.

The amount detecting unit retention may have any mode on condition can be detected amount of foreign bodies into the containing space 511.

Figure 5 shows an example of the amount detecting unit retention which determines the quantity of foreign bodies into the containing space 511 in detecting a position of the compression unit 55 or 57 of the brush when the drive unit is operating brush 6. Therefore the amount detecting unit retention is referred to hereinafter as position detection unit 7.

The position detection unit 7 of the present invention may comprise means for forming magnetic force 71 disposed in the compression unit or the brush 55 57, and at least two magnetic force detecting means 73 and 75 each for detecting a position of the means for producing magnetic force.

With reference to Figure 5, if the means for forming magnetic force 71 is disposed in the compression unit 55, the detection means 73 and 75 of magnetic force can be secured inside the exhaust duct 43 so that the magnetic force detecting means 73 and 75 forming means detects the magnetic force 71 through holes 515 and 517 formed in a bottom of the containing space 511.

The means for forming magnetic force 71 may be provided in the form of a permanent magnet or an electromagnet and the magnetic force detecting means 73 and 75 can be a reed switch generating a signal in response to the purpose of a magnetic force provided by the means for forming magnetic force and transmitting the signal to a controller (not shown).

The means for detecting magnetic force may be supplied in the form of a first magnetic force detecting means for detecting whether the 73 compression unit 55 is positioned or not at an initial position (a first restriction point l1 of travel around the reciprocation of the compression unit) and a second magnetic force detecting means 75 for determining whether an amount of retention of foreign bodies exceeds a predetermined retention amount.

The initial position may be set at any position of the housing 51 provided that the position does not interfere with a flow of air introduced into the interior of the filter assembly 5 through the air introduction hole 5317. Figure 5 illustrates a case wherein a front side of the housing 51 (one side of the housing to which the handle 513 is positioned, or a gap between the air introduction hole and the grip 5317 513) is set as an initial position.

Once the filter assembly 5 is inserted into the discharge duct 43, the first detection means 73 and the magnetic force of magnetic force forming means 71 to face each other through the first hole 51 515 at the housing bottom.

The second magnetic force detecting means 75 is arranged at a position for determining whether the amount of foreign substances contained in the housing 51a reached an amount that the filter assembly 5 may contain.

The maximum amount of foreign matter that the housing 51 may contain may be set as the amount of foreign matter which the drying efficiency decreases considerably.

If the movement of the compression unit 55 and 57 of the brush is limited by the second guide flange 5933, the maximum amount of foreign objects that may contain the housing 51 and the amount of foreign matter that may be contained in a space of the housing 51 positioned below the second guide flange 5933.

In this case, it is preferable that the second force detecting means *

magnetic 75 is positioned at a second point of the displacement limiting l2

in reciprocation of the compression unit 55. The second magnetic force detecting means 75 can thus be positioned at the same position as the leading edge of the second guide flange 5933 facing the air introduction hole 5317.

By determining whether the first magnetic force detecting means detects or 73 not the means for forming magnetic force 71 prior to contacting the laundry treatment apparatus 100 in operation, the controller (not shown) may determine if the brush 57 and the compression unit 55 are located or not to the initial position, and if the filter assembly 5 is mounted or not on the exhaust duct 43.

By determining whether the second magnetic force detecting means detects or 75 not forming means 71 of magnetic force, the controller can determine a point in time for removing a foreign object of the filter assembly 5.

If the amount of foreign substances contained in the housing 51 is small, the second magnetic force detecting means 75 can detect the magnetic force forming means 71, coextrudedmillimetersi shown in Figure 5b. If the amount of foreign substances contained in the housing 51 is large, the second magnetic force detecting means 75 can detect the magnetic force forming means 71 with difficulty, as shown in Figure 5c.

In the present invention, if the second magnetic force detecting means 75 fails to detect the magnetic force forming means 71, the controller (not shown) may ask the user to remove foreign material from the filter assembly 5 with a notification means {a display unit (not shown) or a speaker (not shown)}.

Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart representing the steps of a method to control a washing treatment device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Control method for a laundry treating apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figure 6.

The method for driving a washing treatment device of the present

invention begins with providing electrical power to the apparatus "

laundry treatment machine 100. It may comprise a step of detecting mounting s100 to determine whether a filter assembly 4 is mounted or not on the linen treatment device. It may also include a drying step e 300 for supplying air into a drum for drying laundry, and a final drive step (a step for cleaning filter after drying) s500 to clean a filter unit 53 during a predetermined time period before the ending operation of the laundry treatment apparatus (at the end of the air supply into the drum).

The detecting step is a step of mounting s100 to determine if the filter assembly 5 is mounted or not and whether the removal of foreign matter from the filter assembly 5 is necessary or not by determining whether a magnetic force detection means 73, 75 positioned at points l1 l2 and limiting movement to a reciprocating brush 71 detects or not forming means 71 of magnetic force.

Since the drying step s300 begins with a step air supply s310 to which heated air or not is provided in the drum 2, it is preferable that the step of detecting s100 mounting is performed before the step of air supply s310.

For this purpose, the detecting step comprises a step of mounting s100 brush driving at S110, s130 for driving the drive unit brush 6 during a predetermined period of time, and a step of detecting s120 brush for detecting a position of a magnetic force forming means 71 with magnetic force detecting means 73, 75 during the course of the step of driving the brush.

The step of driving the brush if 10 is a step in which a controller (not shown) to control the drive unit brush 6 move in reciprocating the compression unit and the brush 55 57 between the points limiting l1 l2 and traveling back and forth during a predetermined time period s130.

The step of detecting brush s120 is a step of determining whether the two magnetic force detecting means 73 and 75 respectively positioned at the points limiting l1 l2 and moving in a reciprocating detect or not the means for forming magnetic force 71.

If the two magnetic force detecting means 73 and 75 detects the magnetic force forming means 71 attached to the compression unit 55 (if both force detecting means magnetic 73 and 75 detects a position of the brush 57), by determining that the filter assembly 5 is mounted on the exhaust duct 43, and a small amount of foreign matter is present in the recess 51 of the filter assembly, the controller (not shown) starts the drying step s310.

However, if the two magnetic force detecting means 73 and 75 fail to detect the magnetic force forming means 71, the control method of the present invention performs a notification step of drying prior s123 s124 and for preventing a user of a state of the filter assembly 5.

The notifying step of drying prior s123 s124 and may be carried out in a case where only one of the two magnetic force detecting means 73 and 75 detects the magnetic force forming means 71.

The notifying step of drying prior s123 s124 and may be carried out in a case where at least one of the two magnetic force detecting means 73 and 75 fails to detect the magnetic force forming means 71.

The notifying step of pre-drying may be accompanied by a step of requesting filter testing s123 to warn the user of a state in which the filter assembly 5 is not mounted in the conduit, or the filter assembly 5 has a full load of foreign bodies, with a display unit (not shown, displaying a warning message) or a speaker (not shown, which transmits a warning signal), and a step s124 of interruption of the electrical supply of the linen treatment after the requesting step filter testing.

As has been previously described, the linen treatment device of the present invention can be used for marketing purposes. In a method for driving a washing treatment device of the present invention, the power supply of the laundry treating apparatus is cut after the requesting step filter testing [...], in consideration of the fact that the laundry treatment apparatus does starts its operation unless a user pays a sum

silver in the case of linen treatment business.

*

If the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention is used to

commercial purposes, the linen treatment device 100 may have an operating time period determined based on the amount of money paid by the user. Therefore, if the filter assembly 5 is not mounted in the laundry treatment apparatus 100, or if the cleaning foreign matter within the filter assembly 5 is required, this may cause a problem that the drying laundry own cannot be performed, a problem in that a stable operation of the laundry treatment apparatus cannot be

obtained, and a problem that the efficiency of drying goes low.

"

The absence of drying laundry or poor performance of own drying can cause additional costs for the user. The instability of operation of the laundry treatment apparatus may cause additional costs of maintenance and repair of the linen treatment business for its operator. The power supply of the [...] laundry treating apparatus is cut off if the magnetic force detecting means 73, 75 fail to detect the magnetic force forming means 71 to the step of detecting brush and S120, the codeposition methodmillimetershACCP the present invention can prevent the above problems from occurring.

If the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention is used for marketing purposes, it may be stipulated performing step power supply and the step of detecting mounting s100 before payment of a predetermined amount of money by the user, and to carry out the drying step s300 after payment of the amount of money determined by the user.

In this case, since the controller determines if the filter assembly 5 is mounted or not and whether the amount of foreign material within the filter assembly 5 is large or not in step mounting detecting step S100, and cuts off the power supply of the linen treatment device 100 if the filter assembly 5 is not mounted, or the amount of foreign material within the filter assembly 5 is large, the control method of the present invention can prevent the above problems from occurring.. these problems are likely to exist in the event that the filter assembly 5 is not mounted or in the case where the amount of foreign material within the filter assembly 5 is large.

By causing the user to perform the step of requesting filter testing s123 s124 before interruption of the power supply for the user cleans the filter assembly 5 or 5 the filter assembly mounted in the discharge conduit 43, the control method of the present invention avoids the cost increase of the user's usage and maintenance cost of the operator.

To this end, the control method of the present invention may further include a step (not shown) to determine whether a predetermined amount of money is paid or not in the case where the force detecting means

the I

magnetic forming means detects the magnetic force to the step of detecting s120 brush.

The step (not shown) to determine whether a predetermined amount of money is paid or not is performed after the stop of the toothbrush drive s130 and, if the predetermined monetary amount is paid, the drying step s300 begins.

If the filter assembly 5 in operating status is detected in the detecting step mounting step S100, the control method of the present invention goes to step drying s300.

The drying step s300 coextrudedmillimetersinthat by a step air supply s310 to which air heated or not heated is provided inside the drum 2.

If heated air is supplied to the interior of the drum 2, step air supply s310 proceeds by operating a heater (heating means) 33 and a fan 35.

The drying step comprises a step s300 brush driving s340 to repeat the drive and stop of the brush 57 and the compression unit 55 is operating at fixed intervals during step s310 air supply. This can prevent drying of the throughput due to foreign matter remaining in the filter unit 53 during the course of the drying step s300.

At step drive [...] brush, the brush 57 separates the foreign matter from the filter unit and the compression unit 53 55 compresses and holds the foreign matters separated from the filter unit by the brush 53 57 in the housing 51.

The step of driving the brush s340 is repeated periodically until the end of the air supply step, for which the control method of the present invention comprises a step for determining whether step s360 air supply is to be terminated or not.

Determining whether the step s360 air supply OD ' it-be terminated or not may be made by determining if the level of laundry drying measured is greater than or not to a predetermined dry level, or if a time period of the air supply into the drum has reached a predetermined reference time period.

At step s360 to determine if step air supply is to be terminated or not, if it is determined that the laundry is dried to the desired level or that the time period for feeding air into the drum has reached the predetermined reference time period, the control method of the present invention stops s380 air supply step, and then passes to a cooling step s390. However, if it is determined that the object of drying is not dried to the desired level, the control method of the present invention repeats step s310 air supply step and the brush driving s340.

The cooling step is a step wherein s390 only 35 operates the fan and the heater (heating means) 33 is not operating. This step is intended to prevent any risk of accident when the user exits the laundry dried the drum 2 in advance.

The cooling step 390 is tertmidoffspring by stopping the operation of the fan after a predetermined time period of operation of the fan 35. At the end of the cooling step, the drying step s300 is terminated.

At the end of the drying step S300s, the codeposition methodthe mendplate of the present invention goes to step s500 final drive.

The step final drive s500 has the effect of not requiring additional cleaning of the filter unit 53 subsequently, when the laundry treating apparatus is used, by causing the user to clean the filter assembly in accordance with the amount of foreign material within the filter assembly, before the end of the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus.

The step of driving includes a step end s500♦■final drive

brush s510 for operating the drive unit brush 6 during a predetermined period of time, and a step s520 to determine the amount of foreign material within the filter assembly 5 in step final driven brush.

It is preferred to begin the step final driven brush s510 at the end of the cooling step s390. If step final driven brush s510 is cothe m[...] while the cooling step 390 is in progress, this has the effect of reducing the operating time period of the linen treatment device.

The step final driven brush s510 command to the drive unit for moving the brush 6 brush 57 and the compression unit 51 in reciprocating within the containing space of the housing 511 51 during a predetermined period of time.

The control method of the present invention can thus removing a foreign object the filter unit 53 before ending the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus.

The step s520 to determine the amount of foreign material within the filter assembly progresses as the magnetic force detecting means 73, 75 detects a position of the means for producing magnetic force 71 during stage final driven brush s510.

The step s520 to determine the amount of foreign material within the filter assembly proceeds by determining whether the two magnetic force detecting means positioned at the points respectively limiting l1 l2 and moving in a reciprocating of the brush 57 and the compression unit 55 detects or not the means for forming magnetic force 71.

If the two magnetic force detecting means detects the 73 and 75 forming means 71 of magnetic force, the control method of the present invention determines that the amount of foreign material into the housing 51 is small and terminates the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus without notifying step distinct.

If one of the two magnetic force detecting means 73 and 75 fails to detect the magnetic force forming means 71, the method of

control of the present invention terminates the operation of the apparatus of *

laundry treatment after the performance of a final s530 notifying step for requesting the user to monitor the filter assembly with a display or a speaker.

Figure 7 illustrates another embodiment of the control method of the present invention to determine if the filter unit 53 is blocked by foreign matter or if the exhaust flow passage 4 is blocked by the foreign bodies.

In general, the efficiency of drying the laundry treatment apparatus capable of drying laundry drop due to the accumulation of foreign material in the filter unit 53. Drying efficiency may also decrease due to the accumulation of foreign material in the connecting conduit 41 or 43 into the outlet duct of the exhaust flow passage 4.

Since the passage of exhaust flow 4 by foreign matters can not be notified to the user by the control method shown in fig. 6, an object of the embodiment consists in providing a method of comillimetersmodif capable of detecting a blockage of filter 53 (when there is a large amount of foreign matter within the filter assembly) and a blocking of the exhaust flow passage.

The method of COMthe mmodif according to the embodiment also includes a step of detecting mounting step S100, a drying step and a step s300 s500 final drive. Since the detecting step and the step of mounting further final s500 are identical with the steps shown in Figure 6, the description of the embodiment will be concentrated on the drying step s300.

The drying step of the embodiment s300 also starts with the beginning of an air supply step 310. The step s310 air supply of the embodiment proceeds with the operation of a heater (heating means) 33 and a fan 35.

The control method of the embodiment measuring s320 a period of operation of the heater 33 in step s310 air supply.

If the power supply to the heater 33 is controlled by a bimetal, s320 measurement of the period of operation of the heating means

can be carried out by measuring a time period of the power supply of the T-

heating means from a (the n) th time to an (n + l) th time, or by measuring a time period required for renewing the power supply after the interruption of the electrical supply of the heating means with the controller (not shown).

The measurement s320 of the time period of operation of the heater may be carried out in one represented in Figure above 8.

The controller (not shown) compares a temperature of the heating means 33 to a reference temperature for determining whether the means

heating is overheated or not and to measure the time period of T-

operation of the heater during althe IMof an acceptable electrical or cuts off the power supply of the heating means 33 according to a overheating of the heating means.

If it is determined that the heating means is overheated s322 s321 after the power supply of the heating means 33, the controller s323 cutting the power supply to the heating means. If it is determined that the superheat is resolved s324 after switching off the power supply of the heating means 33, the controller renews the power supply s321 33 of the heating means.

In this case, the step of measuring operation period of heating means s320 may occur by measuring a time period required for renewing the s321 power supply of the heating means after the cut-off of power (power off) s323 by the controller. It can also be conducted by measuring a period of time between the (n-) th time of supplying power to the heating means and the (n + l) s321 th time of supplying power to the heating means s323.

With reference to Figure 7, after the measurement of the time period of operation of the heater, the control method of the present invention compares the operating time period thus measured to a predetermined reference time period (s330).

If the time period of operation of the heater so measured is greater than the reference period of time, the control method of the present invention proceeds to a step drive s340 brush to clean the filter unit 53 by moving the brush 57 and the compression unit 55 in reciprocating within the housing 51.

The step of driving the brush s340 executes until the linen is dried to a desired level to a step s3 60 to determine periodically whether the air supply step is to be terminated or not.

However, if the time period of operation of the heater so measured is less than the reference time, the control method of the present invention performs a classification step blocking [...], [...], [...], s370 to determine if the filter unit 53 is blocked by foreign matter or if the exhaust flow passage 4 is blocked by the foreign bodies.

The classifying step comprises a step of blocking s331 for driving the brush 57 and the compression unit 55 during a predetermined period of time by driving the drive unit 6 brush, and a step to determine if both s332 force detecting means 73 and 75 respectively positioned magnetic points limiting l1 l2 and moving in a reciprocating of the brush detect the means for forming magnetic force 71 while the brush 57 is driven.

If the two magnetic force detecting means 73 75 and detect the position of the means for producing magnetic force 71, the control method of the present invention prevents s333 (a notification step blocking exhaust flow passage) the user of the blocking of the exhaust flow passage 4 of the conduit with a display unit or a speaker, and then performs a step 360 for tingmidbTS if step air supply is to be terminated or not.

However, if the two magnetic force detecting means 73 and 75 fail to detect the magnetic force forming means 71, or if the second magnetic force detecting means 75 fails to detect the magnetic force forming means 71, the control method of the present invention proceeds to a step [...], to warn the user that the interior of the filter assembly 5 is completely filled with foreign bodies (a request step of removing foreign matter from the interior of the filter assembly) with the display unit or the speaker provided in

the linen treatment device. It then performs the step s360 to determine if I

the step air supply is to be terminated or not.

To prevent troubles (linen treatment device off or degradation of laundry) caused by overheating of the heating means 33, if the heating means 33 is at a temperature higher than a reference temperature, in the laundry treating apparatus, the controller terminates the operation of the heater so that the temperature of the heating means 33 drops below the reference temperature.

If a large amount of foreign matter is in the assembly of

filter 5 or if the filter unit 53 is blocked by the foreign bodies, a flow rate of air exiting the drum is reduced. In the case where the exhaust flow passage 4 is blocked by foreign matter, the flow rate of air exiting the drum is also reduced.

If the flow rate of air exiting the drum is reduced for any reason, since the heating means 33 between easily overheated, the time period of operation of the heater 33 tends to decrease.

By measuring the period of time of operation of the heater 33 and the amount of foreign material within the filter assembly, it is possible to determine whether the exhaust flow passage 4 is blocked by foreign matter or if the filter unit is blocked by the foreign bodies.

If the time period of operation of the heater 33 is less than the reference time period and the filter assembly 5 is not filled with foreign bodies (both means magnetic force detection detects the means for forming magnetic force means or the second magnetic force detection 75 detects the means for forming magnetic force 71), it can be assumed that the exhaust flow passage 4 is blocked. Overheating of the heating means 33 is most probably caused by the blocking of the exhaust flow passage 4, even if the filter assembly 5 is not completely filled with foreign matter.

If the filter assembly 5 is completely filled with foreign bodies (the second detecting means magnetic force 75 cannot detect the means for forming magnetic force 71, and at least one of the two detecting means magnetic force cannot detect the means for forming magnetic force) and the time period of operation of the heater 33 is less than the reference time period, the large amount of foreign matter within the filter assembly 5 causes very probably the short time period of operation of the heater 33.

The classifying step blocking [...], [...], [...], aforementioned s370 uses such a characteristic of the linen treatment device.

If the connecting line 41 or the drain pipe 43 is blocked, and if it is determined that the filter assembly 5 is completely filled with foreign bodies, the embodiment does not turn off the power supply of the linen treatment device. This is intended to ensure that the user does not lose money already paid in the case where the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention is used for marketing purposes.

However, the control method of the present invention may further include a step [...], [...], s373 for requesting the user to confirm whether the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus must be temporarily stopped or not after the notification of the blocking of the exhaust flow passage 4 or blocking the filter unit [...], s370.

The step of determining whether the step s360 air supply is to be terminated or not is performed without passing the driving step s340 brush to clean the filter unit 53 after the classification step blocking [...], [...], [...], s370 because, if the exhaust flow passage 4 is blocked, the problem of the drop of efficiency drying cannot be solved even if the filter unit 53 is periodically cleaned. Since the filter assembly 5 is already completely filled with foreign matters, the problem of the drop of efficiency drying cannot be solved even if the filter unit 53 is cleaned with the brush 57.

As has been previously described, the step for determining whether step s360 air supply is to be terminated or not may be made by determining if the level of laundry drying has reached a drying level reference, or by determining whether a time period for feeding air into the drum has reached a reference period of time.

If it is determined that the object of drying has dried to a desired level in step s360 to determine if step air supply should be terminated

or not, the control method of the present invention passes to a step *

cooling s390 after the end of step s380 air supply. If it is determined that the object of drying has not dried to the desired level, the control method of the present invention repeats the above-described steps.

As has been mentioned, the cooling step s300 is terminated by terminating operation of the fan 35, which ends the s300 drying step of the present invention.

When the drying step s300 is terminated, the control method of the present invention moves to a step s500 final drive (a step filter cleaning after drying) details of which are identical to those of the embodiment described with reference to Figure 6. its description is therefore omitted.

Figure 9 illustrates a flowchart representing the steps of a method to control a washing treatment device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, further comprising a step of mounting detecting step S100, a drying step and a step s300 s500 final drive.

The control method of this embodiment is identical to that of the embodiment described with reference to Figure 7, except that a step s350 is further included to determine an amount of foreign matter within the filter assembly 5 in step s310 air supply.

The control method of the embodiment comprises a step of driving s340 brush to clean the filter unit 53 and a step (step of detecting charged amount) s350 determine whether the two magnetic force detecting means detects 73 and 75 or not the means for forming magnetic force 71 in step althe IMof an acceptable air s310.

If the two magnetic force detecting means detects the 73 and 75 forming means 71 to the magnetic force detecting step [...] charged amount, the control method of the present invention performs a step for determining whether step s360 air supply is to be terminated or not.

However, if the two magnetic force detecting means 73 and 75 fail to detect the magnetic force forming means 71 or if the second magnetic force detecting means 75 fails to detect the magnetic force forming means 71, the control method of the embodiment performs step (step notification filter testing) s370 for prompting the user to remove foreign matters from an inside of the filter assembly 5 with a display unit (not shown) or a speaker (not shown).

The power supply of the laundry treating apparatus is not cut off even if the filter assembly 5 is filled with a large amount of foreign elements charged amount detecting step s350 so that the user does not lose the money paid if the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention is used to

commercial (since the drying step s300 is already started).

1

However, the control method of the embodiment can further include a step [...], [...], s373 for requesting the user to confirm whether the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus must be or not temporarily stopped after the notification [...], s370 sticking of the exhaust flow passage 4 or blocking of the filter unit.

If it is requested s370 user to remove foreign matter from the filter assembly 5 or if the user is alerted s333 sticking of the exhaust flow passage 4, the user can select temporarily off the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus and solve a cause of the decline in efficiency of drying.

Although the control method has been described above with reference to a case where the first magnetic force detecting means 73 is provided for detecting a position of the brush 57 and the second magnetic force detecting means 75 is provided for detecting the largest amount charged foreign bodies in the housing 51, the present invention is not limited in this regard.

The control method described above is applicable to the extent that the brush 57 and the compression unit 55 are provided to move back and forth in a predetermined section of the housing 51, and the first magnetic force detecting means and the second means 73 magnetic force detection 75 are provided for sensing if the brush 57 and the compression unit 55 reach or not jetproof predetermined limiting two points (the two ends of the section) of the displacement back and forth.

As has been described, the method for driving a display apparatus

laundry treatment of the present invention has the following advantages.

*

The present invention provides a laundry treatment apparatus for increasing a filtering capability of a filter, and a method for driving such a laundry treating apparatus.

The present invention provides a laundry treatment apparatus having a structure for an increasing flow of heated air into a drum containing laundry and increase a filtering capability, which makes the laundry treatment apparatus useful as a commercial laundry dryer; and a method for driving such a laundry treating apparatus.

The present invention provides a laundry treatment apparatus for periodic cleaning foreign matter accumulated in a filter; and a method for driving such a laundry treating apparatus.

The present invention provides a laundry treatment apparatus for preventing lowering of drying during a drying step by periodic cleaning a filter by delivering air during the drying step; and a method for driving such a laundry treating apparatus.

The present invention provides a laundry treatment apparatus for determining whether a filter is mounted or not in the laundry treatment apparatus; and a method for driving such a laundry treating apparatus.

The present invention provides a laundry treatment device which warns a user that it is time to clean a filter based on an amount of foreign matters remaining in a filter; and a method for operating such an apparatus processing pipeline.

The present invention provides a laundry treatment device to determine if the decrease in yield of drying is caused by a filter blocked by foreign matter or by a conduit blocked by foreign matter; and a method for driving such a laundry treating apparatus.

The skilled person may be aware that various modifications and variations can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit or the perimeter of the invention. It is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided that they come within the perimeter of the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

T-