CLOTHES TREATING APPARATUS

Abstract

A clothes treating apparatus including a cabinet having a laundry inlet; a door configured to open and close the laundry inlet; a drum inside the cabinet to accommodate clothes received in the drum through the laundry inlet while the laundry inlet is opened by the door; a sensing device including a sensor to measure a temperature or a humidity in the drum; and a holder on the door or the drum. The sensing device is separably mountable to the holder so that, when the sensing device is mounted to the holder, the sensing device is held by the holder and, when the sensing device is separated from the holder, the sensing device is allowed to move with respect to the drum, within the drum, so as to measure the temperature or the humidity in the drum while clothes accommodated in the drum are being treated.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of International Application PCT/KR2021/006870, filed Jun. 2, 2021, and claims foreign priority to Korean application 10-2020-0093844, filed Jul. 28, 2020, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure relates to a clothes treating apparatus, and more particularly, to a clothes treating apparatus to which a sensing device is mounted.

2. Description of Related Art

A clothes treating apparatus refers to all devices that manage or treat clothes, such as washing, drying, clothes or bedding or removing wrinkles in clothes or bedding in a home or a laundry. The clothes treating apparatus includes a washing machine, a clothes dryer, a washer dryer combo, and the like.

A washing machine is a device for washing clothes or bedding, and a clothes dryer is a device for removing moisture from clothes or bedding to dry the clothes or bedding. A washer dryer combo is a device that combines washing and drying functions.

The clothes treating apparatus may be provided with a sensing device assisting a washing or drying cycle. That is, a washing sensing device to assist washing may be provided in the washing machine, and a drying sensing device to assist drying may be provided in the clothes dryer.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a clothes treating apparatus including a cabinet having a laundry inlet; a door configured to open and close the laundry inlet; a drum inside the cabinet to accommodate clothes received in the drum through the laundry inlet while the laundry inlet is opened by the door; a sensing device including a sensor to measure a temperature or a humidity in the drum; and a holder on the door or the drum, wherein the sensing device is separably mountable to the holder so that, when the sensing device is mounted to the holder, the sensing device is held by the holder and, when the sensing device is separated from the holder, the sensing device is allowed to move with respect to the drum, within the drum, so as to measure the temperature or the humidity in the drum while clothes accommodated in the drum are being treated.

The sensing device and the holder may be configured so that the sensing device becomes separated from the holder according to an operation of the clothes treating apparatus.

The sensing device may include a mounting groove recessed inward from an outer circumferential surface of the sensing device for mounting the sensing device to the holder.

The holder may be on, and inside, the drum.

The holder may include a mounting protrusion protruding toward a center of the drum and coupleable to the mounting groove of the sensing device to mount the sensing device to the holder.

The mounting protrusion may extend along a rotation axis direction of the drum, and the mounting groove may be recessed to correspond to the mounting protrusion.

The holder may include a seating member recessed at sides of the mounting protrusion to allow the sensing device to be seated on the seating member when the sensing device is mounted to the holder.

The holder may include a mounting protrusion protruding from a side surface of the holder and coupleable to the mounting groove of the sensing device to mount the sensing device to the holder.

The holder may include a first seating groove in which a central portion of the sensing device is seatable, a second seating groove formed around the first seating groove to allow an outer portion of the sensing device to be seated on the second seating groove, and a partition wall defining the first seating groove and the second seating groove.

The holder may further include an extension protrusion protruding from the partition wall and coupleable to the mounting groove of the sensing device.

The clothes treating apparatus may further include a lifter protruding from an inner circumferential surface of the drum to allow clothes accommodated in the drum to move inside the drum. The lifter may include the holder and a plurality of lifting members provided on sides of the holder in a rotation axis direction of the drum.

The mounting groove may be provided in plurality. The holder may include a plurality of hooks respectively coupled to the plurality of mounting grooves to fix the sensing device, a coupling shaft provided to couple the plurality of hooks, and a button extending from the coupling shaft so as to protrude out of the drum. The clothes treating apparatus may further include a stopper positioned outside the drum to press the button in response to rotation of the drum.

The holder may be arranged on a region, which faces an inside of the cabinet, of the door.

The door may further include a pressing protrusion configured to press the sensing device while the sensing device is mounted to the holder to allow the sensing device to be put into the drum in response to the door being closed.

The sensing device may include a magnet inside the sensing device to allow the sensing device to be mounted to the holder through magnetic coupling.

Moreover, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a clothes treating apparatus configured to wash or dry clothes, the clothes treating apparatus including a cabinet, a door configured to open and close the cabinet, a drum arranged inside the cabinet and provided to accommodate clothes, and a holder provided on at least one of the door or the drum to allow a sensor ball, configured to measure a state of an inside of the drum by being put into the clothes treating apparatus, to be detachably mounted thereon.

The sensor ball may be separated from the holder according to an operation of the clothes treating apparatus.

The sensor ball may include a mounting groove recessed inward from an outer circumferential surface of the sensor ball, and the holder may include a mounting protrusion formed to correspond to the mounting groove of the sensor ball.

The holder may include a lifter arranged on the drum, protruding from an inner circumferential surface of the drum to allow the clothes to move inside the drum, and including a plurality of lifting members provided on both sides of the holder.

The holder may be arranged on the door and the door may further include a pressing protrusion configured to press the sensor ball, which is mounted to the holder, to allow the sensor ball to be put into the drum.

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

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clothes treating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sensing device in the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line X-X′ of the sensing device shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line Y-Y′ of the sensing device shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view of some components of the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a clothes treating apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view of a clothes treating apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a clothes treating apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a clothes treating apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a door is opened in the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the door is closed in the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described in the disclosure and configurations shown in the drawings are merely examples of the embodiments of the disclosure, and may be modified in various different ways at the time of filing of the present application to replace the embodiments and drawings of the disclosure.

In addition, the same reference numerals or signs shown in the drawings of the disclosure indicate elements or components performing substantially the same function.

Also, the terms used herein are used to describe the embodiments and are not intended to limit and/or restrict the disclosure. The singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this disclosure, the terms “including”, “having”, and the like are used to specify features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more of the features, elements, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, but elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, without departing from the scope of the disclosure, a first element may be termed as a second element, and a second element may be termed as a first element. The term of “and/or” includes a plurality of combinations of relevant items or any one item among a plurality of relevant items.

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

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to providing a clothes treating apparatus including a holder of a sensing device.

Further, various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to providing a clothes treating apparatus capable of storing a sensing device.

Moreover, various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to providing a clothes treating apparatus capable of preventing loss of a sensing device.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a clothes treating apparatus may easily store a sensing device so as to prevent loss of the sensing device.

Further, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to increase an efficiency of a washing or drying cycle.

Hereinafter embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. A clothes treating apparatus may include various apparatuses for treating clothes, such as a washing machine or a clothes dryer, but for convenience of description, a description will be made based on a clothes dryer.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clothes treating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

A clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a cabinet 10 forming an exterior and a drum 20 installed to rotate in the cabinet 10.

The cabinet 10 may be provided in a substantially hexahedral shape. A laundry inlet 31 may be formed on a front surface of the cabinet 10 to insert or withdraw clothes (not shown), which are objects to be dried, into or from the drum 20. The laundry inlet 31 may be opened and closed by a door 40.

A control panel 11 configured to control an operation of the clothes treating apparatus 1 may be arranged on an upper front side of the cabinet 10. An inputter configured to receive an operation of the clothes treating apparatus 1 and provided as a rotatable jog dial, and a display provided to display various information about the clothes treating apparatus 1 may be arranged in the control panel 11. However, it is not limited thereto, and the control panel may include various types of inputters and displays.

The drum 20 in the form of a cylindrical shape may be arranged inside the cabinet 10. The drum 20 may be configured to be rotated by receiving power of a driving device. The driving device configured to rotate the drum 20 will be described later.

The cabinet 10 may include a front cover 30 forming a front surface, a top cover 13 forming a top surface, and a base (not shown) forming a bottom surface. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the front cover, top cover, and base forming the cabinet are separately prepared and assembled to each other as an example, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, some of the front cover, the top cover, and the base may be integrally formed with each other.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include the door 40 configured to open and close the laundry inlet 31 opened in the front cover 30. After opening the door 40, a user can insert or withdraw an object to be dried into or from the drum 20 through the laundry inlet 31.

A heat exchanger cover 32 allowing a user to access a heat exchanger 61 may be detachably mounted on the front cover 30 of the cabinet 10.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a filter device 12 and a sheet receiving device 90 detachably mounted on the front cover 30. The filter device 12 may be provided to filter out foreign substances contained in the air inside the drum. The sheet receiving device 90 may be provided to accommodate a dryer sheet provided to supply fragrance to the inside of the drum.

A basic operation of the clothes treating apparatus 1 and air flow inside the clothes treating apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

The drum 20 may be provided inside the cabinet 10 to be rotatable about a rotating axis provided substantially horizontally with the ground. A lifter 21 may be provided on an inner circumferential surface of the drum 20 to lift clothes when the drum 20 rotates. As the drum 20 rotates, the clothes may be raised and then dropped by the lifter 21 repeatedly. A roller 22 supporting the drum 20 to rotate smoothly may be provided on an outer circumferential surface of the drum.

The drum 20 may be installed to be rotated by receiving power from the driving device. The driving device may be arranged on an inner lower portion of the cabinet 10. The driving device may be mounted on the base.

The driving device may include a motor 70, and a pulley 72 and a belt 73 for transmitting power of the motor 70 to the drum 20. The pulley 72 may be connected to a rotating shaft 71 connected to the motor 70. When the rotating shaft 71 is rotated by the motor 70, the pulley 72 may rotate together with the rotating shaft 71. The belt 73 may be installed to be wound around an outer surface of the pulley 72 and an outer surface of the drum 20. When the belt 73 is rotated by the driving force of the motor 70, the drum 20 may rotate together with the belt 73.

The drum 20 is provided to allow an object to be dried to be accommodated and dried. A flow path 80 circulating dry air to the drum 20 may be formed in the cabinet 10. A blower fan 63 may be provided at a lower rear portion of the cabinet 10 to move air along the flow path 80.

The flow path 80 may include a discharge flow path 81 discharging air from the inside of the drum 20 to the outside of the drum 20, a connection flow path 82 drying the air discharged from the drum 20, and a supply flow path 83 supplying the dry air into the drum 20.

The filter device 12 may be arranged in the discharge flow path 81 to filter out foreign substances contained in the air inside the drum 20. The heat exchangers 61 and 62 may be continuously arranged in the connection flow path 82. Air, which becomes hot and dry and foreign substances contained therein are filtered out while passing through the discharge flow path 81 and the connection flow path 82, may be supplied to the drum 20 again, through the supply flow path 83. Clothes in the drum 20 may be dried by the hot and dry air. The air, which is after drying the clothes, may become a high temperature and high humidity state and the high temperature and high humidity air in the drum 20 may be discharged to the outside of the drum 20 through the discharge flow path 81.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may dry the clothes inside the drum 20 while repeating the above process.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a discharge duct 50 forming the discharge flow path 81. The discharge duct 50 may include a filter duct 51 forming an outlet, through which the air inside the drum 20 is discharged, and in which the filter device 12 and the sheet receiving device 90 are arranged, and a guide duct 52 guiding air from the filter duct 51 to the heat exchangers 61 and 62.

The heat exchangers 61 and 62 may include an evaporator 61 and a condenser 62. Although not particularly shown in the drawing, a compressor and an expansion valve may be provided in the lower portion of the cabinet 10. Accordingly, the evaporator, condenser, compressor, and expansion valve may form a heat pump. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the clothes treating apparatus may include the heat pump, but is not limited thereto. The clothes treating apparatus may include a gas-type clothes treating apparatus and an electric heater-type clothes treating apparatus.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a sensing device 200. The sensing device 200 may be put into the drum 20 to assist at least one of washing or drying clothes when the clothes treating apparatus 1 operates. For example, the sensing device 200 used in a washing machine may collide with clothes to remove foreign substances from clothes. In addition, the sensing device 200 may check a degree of washing by sensing a turbidity of water during the washing. The sensing device 200 used in a clothes dryer may generate a space between the clothes so as to allow the clothes to be stretched without clumping during the drying. The sensing device 200 may check a degree of drying by sensing a temperature and a turbidity within the drum 20. However, the sensing device 200 is not necessarily provided in the clothes treating apparatus 1 and may be provided as a separate component.

The sensing device 200 may be referred to as a sensor ball 200. However, although the sensing device 200 is shown in a spherical shape in the drawing, it is not limited thereto. Accordingly, the sensing device 200 may include various shapes. For example, the sensing device 200 may include a shape such as a cylinder, a rectangular parallelepiped, or a regular hexahedron.

For convenience of description, a direction, in which first mounting grooves 211 are arranged, is defined as a vertical direction and a direction in which second surfaces 202 are arranged is defined as a front and rear direction. However, the arrangement direction of the components below is not limited thereto.

The sensing device 200 may include a first surface 201, the second surface 202, a third surface 205, an inner support member 203, and an internal space 204.

The first surface 201 may form one surface of the sensing device 200. The first surface 201 may be formed on both sides with respect to the second surface 202. That is, the first surface 201 may be provided in plurality.

The second surface 202 may be provided on a surface perpendicular to the first surface 201. The second surface 202 may also be provided in plurality on both sides with respect to the first surface 201. A second mounting groove 212 may be formed between the first surface 201 and the second surface 202.

The third surface 205 may be provided between the first surface 201 and the first mounting groove 211. The third surface 205 may be provided in plurality.

The inner support member 203 and the inner space 204 may be provided inside the sensing device 200. The inner support member 203 may support the inner space 204 of the sensing device 200 to prevent a plurality of components provided inside the sensing device 200 from being damaged. An empty space may be formed in the inner space 204 of the sensing device 200 to perform a buffering effect when the sensing device 200 receives impact.

In the sensing device 200, a pipe member 220, a magnet 230 moving in a space of the pipe member 220, and at least one sensor 240 may be provided. That is, the sensing device 200 may include the at least one sensor 240 configured to measure a temperature or a humidity in the drum 20.

The pipe member 220 may include a guide member 221, a reinforcing member 222, and a cover member 223.

The guide member 221 may form a passage extending in the vertical direction to allow the magnet 230 to move therein. Because the magnet 230 moves in the vertical direction in the guide member 221, electromagnetic energy may be generated. The generated electromagnetic energy may supply energy used in at least one sensor 240 and a communicator 250. Therefore, it is possible to save energy. That is, energy harvesting may be possible.

The guide member 221 may be provided in the shape of a hollow cylinder. However, the shape of the guide member 221 is not limited thereto and may include various shapes.

In addition, the sensing device 200 including the magnet 230 may be easily mounted on the holder 100 to be described later. That is, when the sensing device 200 is mounted on the holder 100, the magnet 230 may be arranged adjacent to the holder. However, the moving direction of the magnet 230 is not limited to the vertical direction, and as the sensing device 200 moves within the drum 20, the magnet 230 may move in a corresponding direction.

The reinforcing member 222 may be arranged outside the guide member 221. That is, the reinforcing member 222 may be provided in a circular shape on an outer circumference of the guide member 221. The reinforcing member 222 may increase a strength thereof on the outside of the guide member 221.

The reinforcing member 222 may be provided at a center of the pipe member 220. Therefore, it is possible to allow a center of gravity of the sensing device 200 to be positioned at a center of the ball. Accordingly, the sensing device 200 may move freely in the drum 20 without being biased to either side. In addition, the sensing device 200 may maintain the center of gravity even when the first mounting groove 211 is coupled to a mounting protrusion 110.

The cover member 223 may be provided at an upper end and a lower end of the pipe member 220, respectively. The cover member 223 may be coupled to the upper and lower ends of the guide member 221, respectively. That is, the cover member 223 may be provided in plurality. The cover member 223 may be arranged adjacent to the first mounting groove 211 or the second mounting groove 212. Accordingly, the sensor 240 may be arranged adjacent to the first mounting groove 211 or the second mounting groove 212 to sense the temperature or humidity in the drum 20. The cover member 223 may prevent the magnet 230 from being separated from the guide member 221.

The sensing device 200 may include at least one sensor 240. At this time, if the clothes treating apparatus 1 is a washing machine, the sensor may be a turbidity sensor. The turbidity sensor may measure a turbidity of washing water. If the clothes treating apparatus 1 is a clothes dryer, the sensor 240 may include at least one of a temperature sensor 241 or a humidity sensor 242. That is, the sensor 240 may sense at least one of a temperature or a humidity in the clothes dryer. The at least one sensor 240 may include a non-contact sensor.

The sensing device 200 may include the internal communicator 250. Accordingly, information obtained by the sensor 240 may be transmitted to the clothes treating apparatus 1 through communication with the clothes treating apparatus 1. In addition, the sensor 240 may include the communicator 250 configured to communicate with the clothes treating apparatus 1 by detecting attachment or detachment to the holder 100 described later. The communicator 250 may include a printed circuit board (PCB).

The sensor 240 and the communicator 250 described above are only examples, and the types of the sensor 240 and the communicator 250 are not limited thereto.

The sensor 240 and the communicator 250 may be formed at the upper end or the lower end of the pipe member 220. That is, the sensor 240 and the communicator 250 may be arranged on the cover member 223. The sensor 240 may be arranged adjacent to the first mounting groove 211 or the second mounting groove 212 so as to sense the temperature or humidity in the drum 20. However, positions of the at least one sensor 240 and the communicator 250 are not limited thereto and may be placed in various positions such as inside or outside the sensing device 200. In addition, although two sensors 240 are shown, various numbers such as one complex sensor or three or more sensors may be provided. The number of communicators 250 is not limited to one and may be provided in various numbers.

The sensing device 200 may include the mounting groove allowing the sensing device 200 to be mounted on the clothes treating apparatus 1. The mounting groove may include the first mounting groove 211 and the second mounting groove 212.

The first mounting groove 211 may be recessed inward from an outer circumferential surface of the sensing device 200 so as to be coupled to the mounting protrusion 110 of the holder 100. The first mounting groove 211 may be provided in plurality along the vertical direction. The first mounting groove 211 may be provided between the plurality of third surfaces 205. The first mounting groove 211 may be provided in plurality. Because the first mounting groove 211 is coupled to the mounting protrusion 110, the sensing device 200 may be stably coupled to the holder 100.

The second mounting groove 212 may be recessed on the second surface 202 to be mounted on a partition wall 133 of the holder 100. The second mounting groove 212 may be recessed inward from the second surface 202 of the sensing device 200. The second mounting groove 212 may be provided in plurality along the front and rear direction. The second mounting groove 212 may be provided in plurality. The second mounting groove 212 may be provided between the second surface 202 and the third surface 205. Because the second mounting groove 212 is coupled to the partition wall 133, the sensing device 200 may be stably coupled to the holder 100.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating some components of the clothes treating apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the clothes treating apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a front view of the clothes treating apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8, the lifter 21 may include a plurality of lifting members 21a and 21b and the holder 100. The lifter 21 may be provided in plurality in the clothes treating apparatus 1.

The plurality of lifting members 21a and 21b may protrude from an inner circumferential surface of the drum 20 to allow the clothes to move inside the drum 20. The plurality of lifting members 21a and 21b may include a first lifting member 21a and a second lifting member 21b. The first lifting member 21a and the second lifting member 21b may be spaced apart from each other along a rotation axis direction A of the drum 20.

The holder 100 may be provided inside the drum 20. Therefore, because the sensing device 200, which is stored inside the drum in the non-operation state, is put into the drum 20 in the operation state, the sensing device 200 may assist the washing or drying without a user's additional motion.

The holder 100 may be arranged between the plurality of lifting members 21a and 21b along the rotation axis direction A of the drum 20. That is, the holder 100 may be arranged between the first lifting member 21a and the second lifting member 21b. Because the holder 100 is arranged between the plurality of lifting members 21a and 21b, an area of a space except a space in which the clothes are lifted may be increased, and because the holder 100 also serves as a lifter, the drying effect may be improved. If the clothes treating apparatus 1 is a washing machine, the washing effect may be increased due to the arrangement of the holder 100.

The holder 100 may include a base 101, the mounting protrusion 110, and a seating member 120.

The base 101 may be provided at the bottom of the holder 100. The mounting protrusion 110 may be provided above the base 101. A portion of the base 101 may form the seating member 120. The base 101 may include a material having a magnetic force. Accordingly, the sensing device 200 including the magnet 230 may be mounted on the holder 100. In addition, the base 101 may include an electromagnet (not shown), and accordingly, the sensing device 200 may be attached to or detached from the holder 100 by controlling the electromagnet. For example, in response to turning on the electromagnet, the sensing device 200 may be mounted to the holder 100 and in response to turning off the electromagnet, the sensing device 200 may be separated from the holder 100. Therefore, the sensing device 200 may be easily separated from the holder 100 without an additional action such as physically removing the sensing device 200 by a user.

The mounting protrusion 110 may protrude from the base 101 toward the center of the drum 20. The mounting protrusion 110 may be coupled to the mounting groove of the sensing device 200. Accordingly, the sensing device 200 may be mounted and stored in the drum 20 when the clothes treating apparatus 1 is not in operation. The mounting protrusion 110 may be coupled to the first mounting groove 211 of the sensing device 200. One first mounting groove 211 among the plurality of first mounting grooves 211 may be coupled to the mounting protrusion 110.

The mounting protrusion 110 may extend along the rotation axis direction A of the drum 20. Therefore, the user can mount the sensing device 200 not in the middle of the holder 100 but in a region adjacent to the first lifting member 21a or the second lifting member 21b. In addition, because the mounting protrusion 110 extends in the rotation axis direction A of the drum 20, the mounting protrusion 110 may serve as the lifter. The first mounting groove 211 of the sensing device 200 may correspond to an extending direction of the mounting protrusion 110. That is, the first mounting groove 211 may be formed to be mounted along the rotation axis direction A of the drum 20.

The seating member 120 may be formed on the base 101. Particularly, the sensing device 200 may be seated on the seating member 120 in response to mounting the sensing device 200 to the holder 100. The seating member 120 may be provided on both sides of the mounting protrusion 110. That is, the seating member 120 may be provided in plurality. Because the seating member 120 is provided, the sensing device 200 may be more stably mounted on the holder 100. The sensing device 200 may not be mounted only in the region where the seating member 120 is formed, and the sensing device 200 may also be mounted in a region where the seating member 120 is not formed.

Because the clothes treating apparatus 1 includes the holder 100, it is possible to easily store the sensing device 200 and to prevent the sensing device 200 from being lost. Accordingly, it is possible to continuously use the sensing device 200 so as to increase the efficiency in the washing cycle and the drying cycle.

FIG. 8 is view illustrating a state in which the sensing device 200 mounted to the holder 100 is separated from the holder 100 in the clothes treating apparatus 1.

When the clothes treating apparatus 1 operates, the drum 20 may rotate. When the drum 20 rotates, the holder 100 on which the sensing device 200 is mounted may reach the highest position. At this time, because gravity acts on the sensing device 200, the sensing device 200 may fall down due to its own weight. That is, the sensing device 200 may be directed toward a center direction B of the drum 20. The separated sensing device 200 may assist at least one of washing or drying while moving in the drum 20. Therefore, the self-weight of the sensing device 200 may be greater than or equal to the magnetic force between the sensing device 200 and the holder 100 so as to allow the sensing device 200 to fall due to the self-weight of the sensing device 200. Therefore, the sensing device 200 may be easily separated from the holder 100 without an additional action such as physically removing the sensing device 200 by a user.

When the sensing device 200 is mounted, the sensor provided therein may detect that the sensing device 200 is mounted, through at least one of the change in the magnetic field or a detection sensor, and communicate information related thereto with the clothes treating apparatus 1. In addition, when the sensing device 200 is separated, the sensor provided therein may detect the separation of the sensing device 200 and communicate information related thereto with the clothes treating apparatus 1.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a clothes treating apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 9.

The same reference numerals are assigned to the same configurations as those of the above-described embodiment, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the mounting protrusion 110 may protrude from a side surface of the holder 100. Particularly, the mounting protrusion 110 may be arranged from the side surface of the base 101. The sensing device 200 may be mounted on the side surface of the holder 100. Accordingly, the holder 100 may be manufactured and used without significant change in the structure of the conventional lifter 21.

The sensing device 200 mounted on the holder 100 may be separated in response to the rotation of the drum 20. When the drum 20 rotates, the sensing device 200 may be separated from the holder 100 in a direction opposite to a rotation direction C of the drum 20. That is, the sensing device 200 may be separated from the holder 100 by a rotational force of the drum 20. At this time, the rotational force of the drum 20 may be greater than or equal to the magnetic force between the sensing device 200 and the holder 100 so as to allow the sensing device 200 to be separated by the rotational force of the drum 20. Therefore, the sensing device 200 may be easily separated from the holder 100 without an additional action such as physically removing the sensing device 200 by a user.

In the drawing, the sensing device 200 is arranged in the lateral direction of the holder 100 opposite to the rotational direction C of the drum 20, but is not limited thereto. That is, the mounting protrusion 110 may be formed on the right side of the holder 100 and thus the sensing device 200 may be arranged on the right side of the holder 100. In this case, the sensing device 200 may be separated by the self-weight of the sensing device 200 rather than the rotational force of the drum 20. Therefore, the sensing device 200 may be separated in response to the mounting protrusion 110 facing downward.

FIG. 11 is a view of a clothes treating apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 11.

The same reference numerals are assigned to the same configurations as those of the above-described embodiment, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the sensing device 200 may be mounted or detached along the vertical direction. In addition, the holder 100 may further include a seating groove, a partition wall 133, and an extension protrusion 134.

The base 101 may be formed in a circular shape, and the seating groove, the partition wall 133, and the extension protrusion 134 may be formed thereon. However, the shape of the base 101 is not limited to a circular shape.

The seating groove may increase an area, to which the sensing device 200 is mounted, so as to allow the sensing device 200 to be stably mounted. The seating groove may be provided in plurality. The seating groove may include a first seating groove 131 and a second seating groove 132.

A central portion of the sensing device 200 may be seated on the first seating groove 131. The second surface 202 may be seated on the first seating groove 131. The first seating groove 131 may have a round shape.

An outer portion of the sensing device 200 may be seated on the second seating groove 132. A region adjacent to the third surface 205 may be seated on the second seating groove 132.

The partition wall 133 may be provided between the first seating groove 131 and the second seating groove 132. The partition wall 133 may define the first seating groove 131 and the second seating groove 132. The partition wall 133 may protrude toward the center of the drum 20 to define the first seating groove 131 and the second seating groove 132. The partition wall 133 may be inserted into the second mounting groove 212 of the sensing device 200. Accordingly, the sensing device 200 may be more stably coupled to the holder 100. The partition wall 133 may be formed in a circular shape.

The extension protrusion 134 may extend from an outer circumference of the partition wall 133 toward the plurality of lifting members 21a and 21b. The extension protrusion 134 may be inserted into the first mounting groove 211. Therefore, the sensing device 200 may be more stably mounted on the holder 100. However, an extension direction of the extension protrusion 134 is not limited to the direction shown in the drawing. Alternatively, the extension protrusion 134 may extend in a different direction and the sensing device 200 may be mounted accordingly.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a clothes treating apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 13.

The same reference numerals are assigned to the same configurations as those of the above-described embodiment, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the holder 100 may include a fixing device 140. The clothes treating apparatus 1 may further include a stopper 145 provided outside the drum 20.

The fixing device 140 may include a plurality of hook 141 and 142, a coupling shaft 143, a button 144, a fixed spring 146, an auxiliary float 147, and a protruding member 148 and a seating wall 149.

The plurality of hooks 141 and 142 may fix the sensing device 200 to the inside of the drum 20. The plurality of hooks 141 and 142 may be coupled to the plurality of first mounting grooves 211 to fix the sensing device 200. The plurality of hooks 141 and 142 may include a first hook 141 and a second hook 142. That is, each of the first hook 141 and the second hook 142 may be coupled to the first mounting groove 211.

The coupling shaft 143 may allow the plurality of hooks 141 and 142 to be coupled at each end. The coupling shaft 143 may be coupled to a hole provided in each of the plurality of hooks 141 and 142. The coupling shaft 143 may be formed on the button 144.

The button 144 may extend from the coupling shaft 143 so as to protrude out of the drum 20. The button 144 may be pushed in a direction D to be inserted into the drum 20 by the stopper 145 provided outside the drum 20. Accordingly, each of the plurality of hooks 141 and 142 may be separated from the first mounting groove 211, and the sensing device 200 may be separated.

The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include the stopper 145 positioned outside the drum 20 to press the button 144 when the drum 20 rotates. Because the stopper 145 is provided, the sensing device 200 may be separated from the holder 100 without a user's additional action when the clothes treating apparatus 1 operates.

The fixed spring 146 is arranged between the drum 20 and the auxiliary float 147 and thus the sensing device 200 may not be easily separated from the holder 100 even when the drum 20 is shaken. That is, the fixed spring 146 may absorb impact caused by rotation of the drum 20.

The auxiliary float 147 may be coupled to the plurality of hooks 141 and 142 to allow the spring to be seated thereon. One end of the auxiliary float 147 may be attached to the plurality of hooks 141 and 142, and the other end of the auxiliary float 147 may be in contact with the drum 20. However, the auxiliary float 147 is not limited thereto and the auxiliary float 147 may be integrally formed with each of the plurality of hooks 141 and 142.

The protruding member 148 may protrude from the auxiliary float 147. The fixed spring 146 may be provided outside the protruding member 148. Due to the presence of the protruding member 148, the fixed spring 146 may not be separated between the auxiliary float 147 and the seating wall 149.

The seating wall 149 may protrude from the inner surface of the drum 20 to the inside of the drum 20. The seating wall 149 may be provided outside a position, in which the fixed spring 146 is arranged, so as to prevent the fixed spring 146 from being separated while the clothes treating apparatus 1 operates or stops.

The fixed spring 146, the auxiliary float 147, the protruding member 148 and the seating wall 149 may be provided in plurality.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a clothes treating apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a door is opened in the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the door is closed in the clothes treating apparatus shown in FIG. 15.

The same reference numerals are assigned to the same configurations as those of the above-described embodiment, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 15 to 17, the holder 100 may be formed on a door. The door may include an outer door 41 facing the outside of the clothes treating apparatus 1, an inner door 42 facing the inside of the cabinet, and a rim member 43 forming an edge of the door.

The second surface 202 of the sensing device 200 may be seated on the first seating groove 131 of the holder 100.

The holder 100 may be formed in a region, facing the inside of the cabinet, in the inner door 42. Accordingly, the sensing device 200, which is mounted on the door in the non-operation state, may be put into the inside of the drum 20 in a method described later, in the operation state. Accordingly, the sensing device 200 may assist the washing or the drying without a user's additional action.

A seating member 44 on which the sensing device 200 is seated may be provided in the holder 100.

The inner door 42 may be formed of glass or plastic material. However, the material of the inner door 42 is not limited thereto and may include various materials. The inner door 42 may include a curved member 42a, a flat member 42b, and a rim member 42c.

The holder 100 may include a pressing device 150. The press device 150 may include a first pressing protrusion 151, an extension member 152, a second pressing protrusion 153, a support member 154, a fixing member 155, and a pressure spring 156.

The first pressing protrusion 151 may be inserted into and separated from the inner door 42. The first pressing protrusion 151 may move to a space between the outer door 41 and the inner door 42 to allow the sensing device 200 to be mounted on the holder 100 when the door is opened.

The extension member 152 may be provided in the space between the outer door 41 and the inner door 42. In a region adjacent to the holder 100, the extension member 152 may be coupled to the first pressing protrusion 151. The extension member 152 may extend to an outer portion of the door. That is, the extension member 152 may extend up to the rim member 42c of the door.

The extension member 152 may include a plate member 152a. The plate member 152a may be formed in a plate shape.

The second pressing protrusion 153 may be inserted into the front cover of the cabinet. The second pressing protrusion 153 may press the plate member 152a when the door is closed. When the plate member 152a is pressed, the extension member 152 may move to allow the first pressing protrusion 151 to press the sensing device 200.

The support member 154 may support a spring pressed by the plate member 152a.

The fixing member 155 may fix the extension member 152 to prevent the extension member 152 from being separated.

The pressure spring 156 may be arranged between the support member 154 and the plate member 152a to be elastically biased when the door is closed. The pressure spring 156 may absorb impact when the door is strongly closed. That is, the pressure spring 156 may act as a buffer.

As shown in FIG. 17, when the door is closed, the second pressing protrusion 153 may press the plate member 152a, and thus the extension member 152 may also move. As the extension member 152 moves, the first pressing protrusion 151 may press the sensing device 200. The pressed sensing device 200 may be separated from the door and put into the drum 20. Therefore, it is possible to put the sensing device 200 into the drum 20 without a user's additional action.

In addition, as described above, the base 101 or the door may include an electromagnet (not shown), and accordingly, the sensing device 200 may be attached to or detached from the holder 100 by controlling the electromagnet. For example, in response to turning on the electromagnet, the sensing device 200 may be mounted to the holder 100 and in response to turning off the electromagnet, the sensing device 200 may be separated from the holder 100. Therefore, the sensing device 200 may be easily separated from the holder 100 without an additional action such as physically removing the sensing device 200 by a user.

While the present disclosure has been particularly described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it should be understood by those of skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A clothes treating apparatus, comprising:

a cabinet having a laundry inlet;

a door configured to open and close the laundry inlet;

a drum inside the cabinet to accommodate clothes received in the drum through the laundry inlet while the laundry inlet is opened by the door;

a sensing device including a sensor to measure a temperature or a humidity in the drum; and

a holder on the door or the drum,

wherein the sensing device is separably mountable to the holder so that, when the sensing device is mounted to the holder, the sensing device is held by the holder and, when the sensing device is separated from the holder, the sensing device is allowed to move with respect to the drum, within the drum, so as to measure the temperature or the humidity in the drum while clothes accommodated in the drum are being treated.

2. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device and the holder are configured so that the sensing device becomes separated from the holder according to an operation of the clothes treating apparatus.

3. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sensing device includes a mounting groove recessed inward from an outer circumferential surface of the sensing device for mounting the sensing device to the holder.

4. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the holder is on, and inside, the drum.

5. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the holder includes a mounting protrusion protruding toward a center of the drum and coupleable to the mounting groove of the sensing device to mount the sensing device to the holder.

6. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 5, wherein

the mounting protrusion extends along a rotation axis direction of the drum, and

the mounting groove is recessed to correspond to the mounting protrusion.

7. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 5, wherein the holder includes a seating member recessed at sides of the mounting protrusion to allow the sensing device to be seated on the seating member when the sensing device is mounted to the holder.

8. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the holder includes a mounting protrusion protruding from a side surface of the holder and coupleable to the mounting groove of the sensing device to mount the sensing device to the holder.

9. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the holder includes:

a first seating groove in which a central portion of the sensing device is seatable,

a second seating groove formed around the first seating groove to allow an outer portion of the sensing device to be seated on the second seating groove, and

a partition wall defining the first seating groove and the second seating groove.

10. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the holder further includes an extension protrusion protruding from the partition wall and coupleable to the mounting groove of the sensing device.

11. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a lifter protruding from an inner circumferential surface of the drum to allow clothes accommodated in the drum to move inside the drum,

wherein the lifter comprises the holder and a plurality of lifting members provided on sides of the holder in a rotation axis direction of the drum.

12. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 4, wherein

the mounting groove is provided in plurality, and

the holder includes: a plurality of hooks respectively coupled to the plurality of mounting grooves to fix the sensing device, a coupling shaft provided to couple the plurality of hooks, and a button extending from the coupling shaft so as to protrude out of the drum, and

the clothes treating apparatus further includes a stopper positioned outside the drum to press the button in response to rotation of the drum.

13. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the holder is arranged on a region, which faces an inside of the cabinet, of the door.

14. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 13, wherein the door further includes a pressing protrusion configured to press the sensing device while the sensing device is mounted to the holder to allow the sensing device to be put into the drum in response to the door being closed.

15. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device includes a magnet inside the sensing device to allow the sensing device to be mounted to the holder through magnetic coupling.