CLOTHES CARE APPARATUS

Abstract

A clothes care apparatus including a cabinet; a care room inside the cabinet and configured to accommodate clothes; a clothes supporting member detachably couplable to an upper side of the care room, and configured to support clothes; a door configured to open and close the care room; a fixing portion on a side wall of the care room and configured to fix a lower part of the clothes; and a spot cleaning device on a side wall of the care room, and configured to be movable relative to the side wall to, when the clothes supporting member is coupled to the upper side of the care room and clothes are supported by the clothes supporting member, spot clean the clothes supported by the clothes supporting member.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application, under 35 U.S.C. § 111(a), of International Application PCT/KR2024/007960, filed Jun. 11, 2024, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0112169, filed Aug. 25, 2023 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0142690, filed Oct. 24, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a clothes care apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

A clothes care apparatus is equipment for clothes care, such as drying wet clothes, removing dust gathered on clothes or smell permeated in clothes, and smoothing out the wrinkles of clothes.

The clothes care apparatus includes a hot air supplier for supplying hot air to the care room to dry clothes, and a steam generator for performing a refresh function, such as removing the wrinkles of clothes, deodorization, removal of static electricity, providing scent, etc.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

It is an aspect of the disclosure to provide a clothes care apparatus including a spot cleaning device for performing spot cleaning of clothes.

The technical object intended to be achieved by the present document is not limited to the above-mentioned technical objects, and other technical objects not mentioned will be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the technical art to which the disclosure belongs from the following description.

Technical Solution

Aspects of embodiments of the disclosure 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 the presented embodiments.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a clothes care apparatus includes a cabinet; a care room inside the cabinet and configured to accommodate clothes; a clothes supporting member detachably couplable to an upper side of the care room, and configured to support clothes; a door configured to open and close the care room; a fixing portion on a side wall of the care room and configured to fix a lower part of the clothes; and a spot cleaning device on a side wall of the care room, and configured to be movable relative to the side wall to, when the clothes supporting member is coupled to the upper side of the care room and clothes are supported by the clothes supporting member, spot clean the clothes supported by the clothes supporting member.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the clothes supporting member may be configured to spray air toward the clothes supported by the clothes supporting member.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the fixing portion may include a bar crossing the side wall of the care room in a horizontal direction, and a fixing member configured to be movable along the bar in the horizontal direction, and to hold a portion of the clothes supported by the clothes supporting member so as to fix the portion of the clothes held by the fixing member in place.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the fixing member may include a moving member configured to be movable along the bar in the horizontal direction, and a rotating member coupled to the moving member so as to be rotatable toward and away from the moving member. The rotating member may be configured to be elastically biased in a direction toward the moving member to fix the portion of the clothes between the rotating member and the moving member.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the clothes care apparatus may further include a moving guide extending longitudinally in a vertical direction on the side wall of the care room. The fixing portion may include a supporting portion supporting the bar. The supporting portion may be configured to be movable in the vertical direction along the moving guide.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the spot cleaning device may include a water spray configured to spray water, a cleaning liquid spray configured to spray a cleaning liquid, and a suction portion configured to intake water sprayed from the water spray, cleaning liquid sprayed from the cleaning liquid spray, and foreign material from the clothes supported by the clothes supporting member.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the spot cleaning device may include at least one of a vibrating portion configured to provide fine vibration to the clothes supported by the clothes supporting member, and a roller configured to contact the clothes supported by the clothes supporting member to remove contaminations of the clothes supported by the clothes supporting member.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the spot cleaning device may include a water supply container configured to store water that is to be supplied to at least one of the water spray and the cleaning liquid spray, and a drain container configured to store water, cleaning liquid, and foreign material taken in through the suction portion. The water supply container and the drain container may be detachably couplable to the spot cleaning device.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the clothes care apparatus may further include a moving device configured to move the spot cleaning device along at least one of a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction on the side wall of the care room.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the moving device may include a first motor configured to provide a driving force to move the spot cleaning device along the first direction, and a second motor configured to provide a driving force to move the spot cleaning device along the second direction.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the moving device may include a frame supporting the spot cleaning device, a first shaft provided in the frame, the first shaft coupled to the spot cleaning device and extending longitudinally in the first direction, and a second shaft coupled to the frame and extending longitudinally in the second direction. The spot cleaning device may be configured to be movable along the first direction within the frame.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the first motor may be coupled to the first shaft and configured to rotate the first shaft. The second motor may be coupled to the second shaft and configured to rotate the second shaft. While the first shaft rotates, the spot cleaning device may move along the first direction within the frame. While the second shaft rotates, the frame and the spot cleaning device may move along the second direction.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the spot cleaning device may be configured to mix water and detergent to be sprayed as the cleaning liquid.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clothes care apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which a first door opens in a clothes care apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a clothes care apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a spot cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a spot cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosure at another angle.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a spot cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows a spot cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosure from which some components are omitted to describe a water supply flow path and a drain flow path.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of a spot cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 shows a spot cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 shows a spot cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a moving device in a clothes care apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 shows FIG. 11 at another angle.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view showing a part of FIG. 2.

FIG. 14 is a control block diagram of a clothes care apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a control panel according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method of setting a target area in a clothes care apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 17 shows an example of an interface for setting a target area, provided by a control panel according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a button for setting a target area, provided in a control panel according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a method for setting a target area in a clothes care apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 20 shows a state in which a spot cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosure scans clothes accommodated in a care room.

FIG. 21 shows an example of a whole image of clothes, obtained by a spot cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 22 shows an example in which a whole image of clothes is displayed on a control panel according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 23 shows a whole image of clothes transmitted to a user device after being obtained by a clothes care apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart for describing a method of automatically setting a target area in a clothes care apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

MODES OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the present document and terms used therein are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutes of the corresponding embodiments.

In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components.

The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or a plurality of the items unless clearly indicated otherwise in a related context.

In this document, phrases, such as “A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, “at least one of A or B,” “A, B or C,” “at least one of A, B and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C”, may include any one or all possible combinations of items listed together in the corresponding phrase among the phrases.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of associated listed items.

For example, the expression “at least one of A and B” includes any of the following: A, B, A and B. The expression “at least one of A, B, and C” includes any of the following: A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, A and B and C.

Terms such as “first”, “second”, or “1^st” or “2^nd” may be used simply to distinguish a component from other components, without limiting the component in other aspects (for example, importance or order).

It is said that one (e.g., first) component is “coupled” or “connected” to another (for example, second) component, with or without the terms “functionally” or “communicatively”. When referenced, it means that one component can be connected to the other component directly (for example, by wire), wirelessly, or through a third component.

It will be understood that when the terms “includes,” “comprises,” “including,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof.

An expression that one component is “connected”, “coupled”, “supported”, or “in contact” with another component includes a case in which the components are directly “connected”, “coupled”, “supported”, or “in contact” with each other and a case in which the components are indirectly “connected”, “coupled”, “supported”, or “in contact” with each other through a third component.

It will also be understood that when one component is referred to as being “on” or “over” another component, it can be directly on the other component or intervening components may also be present.

In the following description, the terms “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “upper”, and “lower” are defined based on the drawings, and the shapes and positions of the corresponding components are not limited by the terms.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clothes care apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a state in which a first door opens in a clothes care apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a clothes care apparatus according to an embodiment.

As described in FIGS. 1 to 3, a clothes care apparatus 1 may include a cabinet 10 forming an appearance, and a door 20 coupled to the cabinet 10 in such a way as to be rotatable with respect to the cabinet 10.

The cabinet 10 may form a care room 11 that accommodates clothes. The cabinet 10 may be in a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped of which one side opens. In a front side of the cabinet 10, an opening 10a may be formed. Accordingly, the care room 11 may open at the front side.

The door 20 may open and close the opening 10a of the cabinet 10. The door 20 may be rotatably coupled to the cabinet 10. The door 20 may open and close the care room 11 by opening or closing the opening 10a of the cabinet 10. The door 20 may be rotatably coupled to the cabinet 10 through a connecting member such as a hinge 20a. According to another example, the door 20 may be coupled to the cabinet 10 in such a way as to be movable with respect to the cabinet 10. A control panel 70 may be provided on the door 20. On a front surface of the door 20, a display 35 may be provided.

A machine room 13 partitioned from the care room 11 may be formed inside the cabinet 10. The machine room 13 may accommodate a heat exchanger 45 for heating or dehumidifying inside air of the care room. The machine room 13 may accommodate a steam generator 40 for supplying steam into the care room 11.

The care room 11 may accommodate clothes. The care room 11 may form a space where clothes are accommodated. Inside the care room 11, a clothes supporting member 50 for supporting clothes may be provided.

The clothes supporting member 50 may be detachably coupled to an upper side of the care room 11. One or more clothes supporting members 50 may be provided inside the care room 11. For example, a plurality of clothes supporting members 50 may be provided inside the care room 11.

The clothes supporting members 50 may be in a shape of a hanger on which clothes is held. The clothes supporting member 50 may allow air to flow therein. By spraying air supplied to the inside of the clothes supporting member 50 toward clothes, dust or foreign materials gathered on the clothes may be removed.

The care room 11 may include a first airflow inlet 11a, a second airflow inlet 12a, a first airflow outlet 11b, and a second airflow outlet 12b.

The first airflow inlet 11a and the first airflow outlet 11b may be formed in a lower side of the care room 11. The first airflow inlet 11a may be positioned at a front portion of the lower side of the care room 11. The first airflow outlet 11b may be positioned at a rear portion of the lower side of the care room 11. The second airflow inlet 12a may be formed in a rear side of the care room 11. The second airflow outlet 12b may be formed in the upper side of the care room 11. The second airflow inlet 12a may be adjacent to the second airflow outlet 12b. To this end, the second airflow inlet 12a may be provided at an upper portion of the rear side of the care room 11. The second airflow outlet 12b may be provided adjacent to a center of the upper side of the care room 11.

The first airflow inlet 11a may be provided with a grille portion or a filter portion to prevent foreign materials except for water from passing through the first airflow inlet 11a. The first airflow outlet 11b may be provided with a grille portion or a filter portion to prevent foreign materials from passing through the first airflow outlet 11b and cause airflow to uniformly disperse into the care room 11.

The second airflow outlet 12b of the care room 11 may be connected to the clothes supporting member 50. Air discharged through the second air flow outlet 12b may be transferred to clothes hanging on the clothes supporting member 50 through an air hole 51 formed in the clothes supporting member 50. The clothes supporting member 50 may spray air having flowed into the clothes supporting member 50 through the second airflow outlet 12b to the clothes through the air hole 51. Because air sprayed through the air hole 51 of the clothing supporting member 50 has a high flow rate, the air may remove dust or foreign materials gathered on the clothes.

The clothes care apparatus 1 may include a spot cleaning device 100 provided inside the care room 11 to spot clean clothes accommodated in the care room 11.

The spot cleaning device 100 may be positioned inside the care room 11. The spot cleaning device 100 may be provided on a side wall of the care room 11.

The clothes care apparatus 1 may include a moving device 200 for moving the spot cleaning device 100 in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction on the side wall of the care room 11.

The spot cleaning device 100 may be movable inside the care room 11. More specifically, the spot cleaning device 100 may be movable by the moving device 200 in the first and second directions on the side wall of the care room 11. Hereinafter, the first direction may be a vertical direction, and the second direction may be a horizontal direction. The vertical direction may include an up-down direction. The horizontal direction may include a left-right direction.

Because the spot cleaning device 100 is movable on the side wall of the care room 11 in the first and second directions, the spot cleaning device 100 may spot clean clothes accommodated inside the care room 11. Spot cleaning may be selectively cleaning an area of clothes. The area of clothes that is to be spot cleaned may be a target area. The target area may depend on a user's setting.

The spot cleaning device 100 may spray a cleaning liquid onto the clothes. The cleaning liquid may be a detergent or a mixture of water and a detergent. The spot cleaning device 100 may spray water onto clothes. The spot cleaning device 100 may provide fine vibration to clothes after or while spraying water and a cleaning liquid onto the clothes. The fine vibration may be generated by an ultrasonic vibrator provided in the spot cleaning device 100. Accordingly, the fine vibration may be ultrasonic vibration. The spot cleaning device 100 may provide fine vibration to the target area of the clothes onto which the water and cleaning liquid have been sprayed, thereby cleaning the target area. The spot cleaning device 100 may intake the water and cleaning liquid sprayed toward the clothes. The spot cleaning device 100 may reduce or remove the water and cleaning liquid remaining in the clothes by intaking the water and cleaning liquid. The spot cleaning device 100 may absorb contaminations or foreign materials of the clothes, while intaking the water and cleaning liquid. Details about a structure of the spot cleaning device 100 will be described below.

In a lower portion of the cabinet 10, a cabinet drain container 15a and a cabinet water supply container 15b may be installed in such a way as to be separable from the cabinet 10. The cabinet drain container 15a and the cabinet water supply container 15b may be positioned below the care room 11.

The cabinet drain container 15a may store condensed water generated while the heat exchanger 45 operates or water generated as a result of condensation of steam before the water is discharged. The cabinet drain container 15a may be separable from the cabinet 10 to easily discharge water.

The cabinet water supply container 15b may store water required to generate steam in the steam generator 40 which will be described below. The water stored in the cabinet water supply container 15b may be supplied to the steam generator 40 to be used to form steam. The cabinet water supply container 15b may be separable from the cabinet 10 to easily add water.

The cabinet drain container 15a and the cabinet water supply container 15b may be positioned in a front space of a machine room 13. The machine room 13 may be provided in the lower portion of the cabinet 10. The machine room 13 may be positioned below the care room 11 and form a separate space from the care room 11. The heat exchanger 45 for dehumidifying and heating inside air of the care room 11 may be accommodated inside the machine room 13.

A first fan 42, the heat exchanger 45 and the steam generator 40 may be positioned inside the machine room 13.

The heat exchanger 45 may supply hot air into the care room 11. The heat exchanger 45 may include an evaporator 46, a compressor 48, and a condenser 47 along which a refrigerant circulates. The heat exchanger 45 may dehumidify and heat air.

While a refrigerant is evaporated from the evaporator 46 of the heat exchanger 45, the refrigerant may absorb latent heat from surrounding air, and thereby, the heat exchanger 45 may condense and remove moisture in the air. While the refrigerant is condensed in the condenser 47 via the compressor 48, the refrigerant may emit latent heat toward surrounding air, and thereby, the heat exchanger 45 may heat the surrounding air. Air having flowed into the machine room 13 by the first fan 42 may be dehumidified and heated by sequentially passing through the evaporator 46 and the condenser 47.

The clothes care apparatus 1 may include a first duct 71 that accommodates the evaporator 46, the condenser 47, and the first fan 42. The first duct 71 may be positioned in the machine room 13. One end 71a of the first duct 71 may be connected to the first airflow inlet 11a. Another end 71b of the first duct 71 may be connected to the first airflow outlet 11b. The first duct 71 may be connected to the care room 11 through the first airflow inlet 11a and the first airflow outlet 11b.

Air of the care room 11 may flow into the first duct 71 through the first airflow inlet 11a, and then is discharged to the care room 11 through the first airflow outlet 11b. Air having flowed into the first duct 71 may be dehumidified and heated by passing through the evaporator 46 and the condenser 47. The first duct 71 may form a first circulation flow path 72 along which air circulates through the care room 11, the first fan 42, the evaporator 46, and the condenser 47. The first fan 42 may be positioned on the first circulation flow path 72 to intake air of the care room 11 into the first duct 71. Air intaken into the first duct 71 by the first fan 42 may be discharged to the care room 11 through the first airflow outlet 11b. The first circulation flow path 72 may be a circulation flow path through which air having flowed into the first duct 71 from the care room 11 through the first airflow inlet 11a is again discharged to the care room 11 from the first duct 71 through the first airflow outlet 11b.

The clothes care apparatus 1 may include the steam generator 40 positioned in the machine room 13. The steam generator 40 may generate steam by receiving water from the cabinet water supply container 15b of the machine room 13.

The steam generator 40 may include a steam generating portion 41 connected to the cabinet water supply container 15b to generate steam by receiving water, a steam spray 43 for spraying steam generated in the steam generating portion 41, and a steam connection tube 44 connecting the steam generating portion 41 to the steam spray 43.

The steam spray 43 may be fixed to a steam outlet 43a formed at the rear, lower portion of the care room 11. The steam outlet 43a may be formed to correspond to the steam spray 43. The steam spray 43 may spray steam generated inside the machine room 13 into the care room 11 through the steam outlet 43a. The steam spray 43 and the steam outlet 43a may be positioned at different locations.

The steam generating portion 41 may include a heater (not shown) therein. The heater of the steam generating portion 41 may heat water and thereby, the steam generating portion 41 may generate steam.

The first door 20 may include a door guide 21 that guides water moving downward by gravity to the first airflow inlet 11a. The door guide 21 may be provided in a lower portion of a rear surface of the first door 20. The door guide 21 may be inclined downward toward the first airflow inlet 11a from the rear surface of the first door 20. Water on the rear surface of the first door 20 may move to the door guide 21 by gravity and be guided in a rear direction by the door guide 21 to flow into the first airflow inlet 11a. The water having flowed into the first airflow inlet 11a may move to the cabinet drain container 15a through a connecting member (not shown).

The clothes care apparatus 1 may include a second fan 75 for moving inside air of the care room 11, and a second duct 73 in which the second fan 75 is installed. The second duct 73 may be connected to the care room 11. One end of the second duct 73 may be connected to the second airflow inlet 12a. Another end of the second duct 73 may be connected to the second airflow outlet 12b. Air having flowed into the second duct 73 through the second airflow inlet 12a may be discharged to the care room 11 through the second airflow outlet 12b. The second fan 75 may be installed inside the second duct 73 to intake air into the second duct 73 through the second airflow inlet 12a. Air having flowed into the second duct 73 by the second fan 75 may be discharged to the care room 11 through the second airflow outlet 12b.

The second duct 73 may form a second circulation flow path 74 by connecting the care room 11, the second airflow inlet 12a, and the second airflow outlet 12b to each other. The second circulation flow path 74 may be a circulation flow path through which air having flowed into the second duct 73 from the care room 11 through the second airflow outlet 12a is discharged to the care room 11 from the second duct 73 through the second airflow outlet 12b.

The second duct 73 may be positioned behind the care room 11. The second duct 73 may be positioned behind the second airflow inlet 12a formed in the rear side of the care room 11. The second duct 73 may be positioned at an upper portion of the rear side of the care room 11. A filter member 60 for filtering foreign materials from air flowing into the second airflow inlet 12a may be detachably installed in the second airflow inlet 12a. The filter member 60 may remove foreign materials such as dust and odors from the air flowing into the second duct 73. The filter member 60 may be provided with not only a filter but also a sheet (not shown) for providing scent to clothes.

The clothes supporting member 50 may be coupled to the upper side of the care room 11 to be connected to the second airflow outlet 12b. The clothes supporting member 50 may spray air discharged from the second airflow outlet 12b toward clothes. The air sprayed by the clothes supporting member 50 may remove foreign materials such as dust on the clothes. According to another example, the clothes supporting member 50 may be coupled to the upper side of the care room 11 and positioned below the second airflow outlet 12b in such a way as to be spaced from the second airflow outlet 12b.

After clothes are hung on the clothes supporting member 50 and the first door 20 is closed, the clothes care apparatus 1 may perform a clothes care mode. In the clothes care mode, inside air of the care room 11 may circulate the inside of the cabinet 10 along the first circulation flow path 72 and the second circulation flow path 74.

FIG. 4 shows a spot cleaning device according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a spot cleaning device according to an embodiment at another angle.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the clothes care apparatus 1 may include the spot cleaning device 100. The spot cleaning device 100 may be provided inside the care room 11 to spot clean clothes accommodated in the care room 11.

The spot cleaning apparatus 100 may include a water spray 101 for spraying water, a cleaning liquid spray 102 for spraying a cleaning liquid, a vibrating portion 103 for providing fine vibration to clothes by contacting the clothes, and a suction portion 104 for intaking water and a cleaning liquid.

The water spray 101 may spray water toward clothes. The cleaning liquid spray 102 may spray a cleaning liquid as a mixture of water and a detergent toward clothes. According to another example, the cleaning liquid may consist only of a detergent with adjusted concentration. The vibrating portion 103 may provide fine vibration to clothes by contacting the clothes, thereby cleaning the clothes. The suction portion 104 may intake water and a cleaning liquid sprayed to clothes and foreign materials.

In addition, the spot cleaning device 100 may further include a roller 105 that rotates to remove foreign materials gathered on clothes. The spot cleaning device 100 may include a motor (not shown) for rotating the roller 105. The roller 105 may clean a target area of clothes together with the vibrating portion 103. The roller 105 may clean clothes by contacting the clothes. The roller 105 may physically contact the clothes to which water and a cleaning liquid have been sprayed, thereby causing contaminations on the clothes to be well mixed with the cleaning liquid. Also, the roller 105 may contact the clothes to thus remove foreign materials such as dust on the clothes. Unlike the drawing, the spot cleaning device 100 may not include the roller 105. According to another example, the spot cleaning device 100 may include the roller 105, instead of the vibrating portion 103. According to another example, the roller 105 may have a brush shape. The other example will be described below.

According to an embodiment, the spot cleaning device 100 may include a water container 120 including a water supply container 121 (see FIG. 6) that supplies water that is to be sprayed from the water spray 101, and a drain container 122 (see FIG. 6) that stores water intaken by the suction portion 104. The water container 120 may be partitioned into the water supply container 121 and the drain container 122 by a partition 123 (see FIG. 6). However, the spot cleaning device 100 may include a water supply container, and a drain container separated from the water supply container.

The water container 120 may include a first water container opening 121a through which water is supplied to or discharged from the water supply container 121. The water container 120 may include a second water container opening 122a through which water, a cleaning liquid, foreign materials, etc. flow into the drain container 122, or water, a cleaning liquid, foreign materials, etc. are discharged from the drain container 122.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the water container 120 may be detachably coupled to the spot cleaning device 100. A user may fill water in the water supply container 121 of the water container 120 and then couple the water container 100 to the spot cleaning device 100. The user may separate the water container 120 from the spot cleaning device 100, and then discharge water, a cleaning liquid, and foreign materials filled in the drain container 122. According to an embodiment, the water container 120 may be separated from the spot cleaning device 100 from below. Accordingly, the water container 120 may be separated from or coupled to the spot cleaning device 100 without separating the spot cleaning device 100 from a frame 250. In other words, the water container 120 may be separated from or coupled to the spot cleaning device 100 without having to access the spot cleaning device 100 from behind.

The spot cleaning device 100 may include a water container inserting portion 106 in which the water container 120 is inserted, and a water container fixing portion 106a and 106b that fixes the water container 120 inserted in the water container inserting portion 106 to prevent the water container 120 from being withdrawn from the water container inserting portion 106 by gravity.

The water container fixing portion 106a and 106b may be adjacent to the water container inserting portion 106. The water container fixing portion 106a and 106b may be rotatable. The water container fixing portion 106a and 106b may be rotatable between a fixing position to prevent the water container 120 inserted in the water container inserting portion 106 from being withdrawn from the water container inserting portion 106, and a releasing position to cause the water container 120 inserted in the water container inserting portion 106 to be withdrawn from the water container inserting portion 106. A pair of water container fixing portions 106a and 106b may be provided. However, the number and position of the water container fixing portions 106a and 106b may change. However, instead of the water container fixing portions 106a and 106b, the water container 120 may be provided with an elastic protrusion, and the water container 120 may be fitted into the water container inserting portion 106.

The spot cleaning device 100 may include a detergent inlet 107 through which a detergent is put into a detergent case. The user may put a detergent into the detergent case through the detergent inlet 107 without separating the spot cleaning device 100 from the frame 250. That is, the user may put a detergent in the detergent case without having to access the spot cleaning device 100 from behind.

The spot cleaning device 100 may further include an inlet cover 130 detachably coupled to the detergent inlet 107 to cover the detergent inlet 107. As shown in FIG. 4, in the case in which the detergent inlet 107 is provided in an upper side of the spot cleaning device 100, the inlet cover 130 may be omitted. The reason may be because a detergent does not flow out through the detergent inlet 107 although there is no inlet cover.

The spot cleaning device 100 may include a moving portion 111, 112, 113, and 114. The moving portion 111, 112, 113, and 114 may include a first moving portion 111 and a second moving portion 112, which are connected to a first shaft 211. The moving portions 111, 112, 113, and 114 may include a third moving portion 113 and a fourth moving portion 114, which are connected to a third shaft 231. The moving portions 111, 112, 113, and 114 may move in the first direction while the first shaft 211 and the third shaft 231 rotate.

The second moving portion 112 may be spaced from the first moving portion 111 in the first direction. The fourth moving portion 114 may be spaced from the third moving portion 113 in the first direction. The first direction may be an up-down direction or a vertical direction. Accordingly, the first moving portion 111 and the second moving portion 112 may be spaced from each other in the up-down direction, and the third moving portion 113 and the fourth moving portion 114 may be spaced from each other in the up-down direction.

Each of the moving portions 111, 112, 113, and 114 may include a hole through which a shaft passes. In the hole of each of the moving portions 111, 112, 113, and 114, a thread may be formed to correspond to a thread formed in the first shaft 211 or the third shaft 231. Accordingly, while the first shaft 211 rotates in one direction, the first moving portion 111 and the second moving portion 112 may move upward or downward, and while the first shaft 211 rotates in another direction, the first moving portion 111 and the second moving portion 112 may move downward or upward. Likewise, while the third shaft 231 rotates in one direction, the third moving portion 113 and the fourth moving portion 114 may move upward or downward, and while the third shaft 231 rotates in another direction, the third moving portion 113 and the fourth moving portion 114 may move downward or upward. The one direction and other direction in which the first and third shafts 211 and 231 rotate respectively may be a clockwise direction CW and a counterclockwise direction CCW, respectively.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a spot cleaning device according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a spot cleaning device according to an embodiment from which some components are omitted to describe a water supply flow path and a drain flow path. FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of a spot cleaning device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, the spot cleaning device 100 may include a housing 110, a water supply pump 140, a drain pump 150, and a driving motor 160, which are accommodated inside the housing 110, and a housing cover 110a. The spot cleaning device 100 may further include a detergent case 131, a substrate 118a, and a battery 118b.

The housing 110 may open at one side. The housing 110 may include the first moving portion 111, the second moving portion 112, the third moving portion 113, and the fourth moving portion 114. The first water supply pump 140, the first drain pump 150, and the driving motor 160 may be accommodated inside the housing 110. The detergent case 131 may be provided inside the housing 110, and the substrate 118a and the battery 118b may be accommodated inside the housing 110. The housing cover 110a may cover the open side of the housing 110.

According to an embodiment, the housing 110 may include the water container inserting portion 106 which the water container 120 is inserted into or withdrawn from, and a water container accommodating portion 117 provided to accommodate the water container 120 inserted into the housing 110 through the water container inserting portion 106. The water container accommodating portion 117 may be provided with a water supply connecting portion 117b connected to the first water container opening 121a of the water container 120, and a drain connecting portion 117a connected to the second water container opening 122a of the water container 120.

Referring to FIG. 6, the spot cleaning device 100 may include the driving motor 160 that provides a driving force to the roller 105 to rotate the roller 105, and a gear portion 161 that transfers a driving force of the driving motor 160 to the roller 105. According to an embodiment, the gear portion 161 may include a first gear 162 connected to a driving shaft of the driving motor 160, a second gear 164 connected to the roller 105, and a third gear 163 engaged with the first gear 162 and the second gear 164 between the first gear 162 and the second gear 164. The third gear 163 may be connected to a gear connecting portion 163a of the housing cover 110a.

The spot cleaning device 100 may include an ultrasonic vibrator 103a for providing fine vibration to the vibrating portion 103. A plurality of ultrasonic vibrators 103a may be provided, and for example, four ultrasonic vibrators 103a may be provided inside the vibrating portion 100. The ultrasonic vibrators 103a may be positioned inside the housing 110 according to coupling of the housing cover 110a with the housing 110.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the spot cleaning device 100 may include the water supply pump 140 for moving water stored in the water supply container 121 to the water spray 101 and the cleaning liquid spray 102. The water supply pump 140 may be connected to a first water supply duct 141 and a second water supply duct 142. Water may move into the first water supply duct 141 and the second water supply duct 142, and the first water supply duct 141 and the second water supply duct 142 may form a flow path through which water moves. The first water supply duct 141 may connect the water supply connecting portion 117b to the water supply pump 140. The second water supply duct 142 may connect the water supply pump 140 to the water supply 101. While the water supply pump 140 operates, water stored in the water supply container 121 may flow into the water supply pump 140 through the first water container opening 121a, the water supply connecting portion 117b, and the first water supply duct 141. Water having flowed into the water supply pump 140 may be discharged to the second water supply duct 142. Because the second water supply duct 142 is connected to the water supply 101, the water discharged to the second water supply duct 142 may be sprayed to the outside of the spot cleaning device 100 through the water supply 101.

According to an embodiment, the spot cleaning device 100 may further include a third water supply duct 143 diverging at a location of the second water supply duct 142. The third water supply duct 143 may be connected to a connecting duct 133 which will be described below. Water of the third water supply duct 143 may be mixed with a detergent of the detergent case 131 inside the connecting duct 133, and then sprayed to the outside of the spot cleaning device 100 through the cleaning liquid spray 102. This will be described in detail, below.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the spot cleaning device 100 may include the drain pump 150 for moving water, a cleaning liquid, and foreign materials from the suction portion 104 to the drain container 122. The drain pump 150 may be connected to a first drain duct 151 and a second drain duct 152. Water may move into the first drain duct 151 and the second drain duct 152, and the first drain duct 151 and the second drain duct 152 may form a flow path through which water moves. The first drain duct 151 may connect the suction portion 104 to the drain pump 150. The second drain duct 152 may connect the drain pump 150 to the drain connecting portion 117a. While the drain pump 150 operates, water, a cleaning liquid, and foreign materials may enter the first drain duct 151 through the suction portion 104 and flow into the drain pump 150 through the first drain duct 151. The water, cleaning liquid, and foreign materials having flowed into the drain pump 150 may be discharged to the second drain duct 152. Because the second drain duct 152 is connected to the drain container 122 through the drain connecting portion 117a and the second water container opening 122a, the water, cleaning liquid, and foreign materials discharged to the second drain duct 152 may be stored in the drain container 122.

The spot cleaning device 100 may include the detergent case 131 that accommodates a detergent. According to an embodiment, the detergent case 131 may be integrated into the housing 110, although not limited thereto. However, the detergent case 131 may be provided as a separate component installed in the housing 110 in such a way as to be detachable from the housing 110. The detergent case 131 may be connected to the detergent inlet 107. A detergent put through the detergent inlet 107 may be stored in the detergent case 131.

The detergent case 131 may include a detergent outlet 131a. The detergent stored in the detergent case 131 may be discharged to outside of the detergent case 131 through the detergent outlet 131a.

The detergent outlet 131a may be connected to the detergent duct 132. The detergent duct 132 may form a flow path through which the detergent moves. The detergent duct 132 may be connected to the connecting duct 133. The connecting duct 133 may be provided as a T-shaped valve. The connecting duct 133 may include two inlets and one outlet. One of the two inlets of the connecting duct 133 may be connected to the third water supply duct 143, and another one may be connected to the detergent duct 132. The outlet of the connecting duct 133 may be connected to the cleaning liquid spray 102.

Referring to FIG. 8, the connecting duct 133 may include a first inlet 133a connected to the third water supply duct 143, a second inlet 133c connected to the detergent duct 132, and an outlet 133d connected to the cleaning liquid spray 102. Water having flowed into the first inlet 133a may be mixed with a detergent having flowed into the second inlet 133c inside the connecting duct 133, and then a cleaning liquid as the mixture may be discharged through the outlet 133d.

The connecting duct 133 may include a nozzle portion 133b provided at one end of the first inlet 133a. One end of the nozzle portion 133b may have the same diameter as the first inlet 133a to be connected to the first inlet 133a. Another end of the nozzle portion 133b may have a diameter than is smaller than the first inlet 133a. That is, the diameter of the nozzle portion 133b may decrease from the one end toward the other end. By the structure of the nozzle portion 133b, a flow rate of water having flowed into the one end of the nozzle portion 133b may increase toward the other end from which the water is discharged. The reason may be because water passing through the nozzle portion 133b decreases in pressure and increases in flow rate due to a decrease in flow path area of the nozzle portion 133b. Because the pressure of the fluid decreases at the other end of the nozzle portion 133b, the detergent existing in the detergent duct 132 may move into the connecting duct 133 having relatively low pressure. The water having passed through the other end of the nozzle portion 133b may be mixed with the detergent having passed through the second inlet 133c inside the connecting duct 133. A cleaning liquid as the mixture of the water and detergent may be discharged through the outlet 133d of the connecting duct 133. Because the outlet 133d is connected to the cleaning liquid spray 102, the water and detergent mixed inside the connecting duct 133 may be sprayed to the outside of the spot cleaning device 100 through the cleaning liquid spray 102. Because the connecting duct 133 includes the nozzle portion 133b therein, as described above, the connecting duct 133 may automatically mix water with a detergent by using a pressure difference without a driver.

The spot cleaning device 100 may include the battery 118b for supplying power to the water supply pump 140, the drain pump 150, the driving motor 160, and the ultrasonic vibrator 103a, and a charging terminal 115a and 115b for charging the battery 118b. The charging terminal 115a and 115b may include a positive pole 115a and a negative pole 115b.

The spot cleaning device 100 may include the substrate 118a on which a second controller 180 and a second communicator 190 which will be described below are mounted. The substrate 118a may be accommodated inside the housing 110. Various components (for example, a heat sink), in addition to the second controller 180 and the second communicator 190, may be mounted on the substrate 118a, as necessary.

FIG. 9 shows a spot cleaning device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, the spot cleaning device 100 according to an embodiment may include the water spray 101, the cleaning liquid spray 102, the vibrating portion 103, and the suction portion 104. In other words, the spot cleaning device 100 may include only the vibrating portion 103 between the vibrating portion 103 and the roller 105.

FIG. 10 shows a spot cleaning device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 10, the spot cleaning device 100 according to an embodiment may include the water spray 101, the cleaning liquid spray 102, the roller 105, and the suction portion 104. In other words, the spot cleaning device 100 may include only the roller 105 between the vibrating portion 103 and the roller 105.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a moving device in a clothes care apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 12 shows FIG. 11 at another angle.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the clothes care apparatus 1 may include the moving device 200 for moving the spot cleaning device 100. The moving device 200 may move the spot cleaning device 100 in the first direction and the second direction on a side wall of the care room 11.

The moving device 200 may include a first motor 210 for providing a driving force to move the spot cleaning device 100 in the first direction and a second motor 220 for providing a driving force to move the spot cleaning device 100 in the second direction. The moving device 200 may include the first shaft 211 extending in the first direction and connected to the first motor 210, and a second shaft 221 extending in the second direction and connected to the second motor 220. The first shaft 211 may rotate in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction by a driving force of the first motor 210. The second shaft 221 may rotate in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction by a driving force of the second motor 220.

According to an embodiment, the moving device 200 may further include a third motor 230 for providing a driving force to move the spot cleaning device 100 in the first direction, and a fourth motor 240 for providing a driving force to move the spot cleaning device 100 in the second direction. The moving device 200 may further include the third shaft 231 extending in the first direction and positioned in parallel to the first shaft 211, and a fourth shaft 241 extending in the second direction and positioned in parallel to the second shaft 221. The third shaft 231 may rotate by receiving a driving force from the third motor 230, and the fourth shaft 241 may rotate by receiving a driving force from the fourth motor 240. The third motor 230 may provide a driving force to move the spot cleaning device 100 in the first direction, together with the first motor 210. The fourth motor 240 may provide a driving force to move the spot cleaning device 100 in the second direction, together with the second motor 220.

Unlike the drawing, the moving device 200 may include only the first motor 210 and the second motor 220. In this case, the moving device 200 may include a first link member (not shown) connecting the first shaft 211 to the third shaft 231 to rotate the first shaft 211 and the third shaft 231 together, and a second link member (not shown) connecting the second shaft 221 to the fourth shaft 241 to rotate the second shaft 221 and the fourth shaft 241 together. While the first motor 210 rotates the first shaft 211 in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the third shaft 231 may rotate together with the first shaft 211 in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction by the first link member. While the second motor 220 rotates the second shaft 221 in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the fourth shaft 241 may rotate together with the second shaft 221 in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction by the second link member.

The moving device 200 may include the frame 250 supporting the spot cleaning device 100. The frame 250 may support the spot cleaning device 100 such that the spot cleaning device 100 is movable in the first direction inside the fame 250. The frame 250 may extend in the first direction. The frame 250 may accommodate the spot cleaning device 100, the first motor 210, the third motor 230, the first shaft 211, and the third shaft 231. The frame 250 may be connected to the second shaft 221 and the fourth shaft 241. The frame 250 may move along the second shaft 221 and the fourth shaft 241.

The frame 250 may accommodate the spot cleaning device 100 such that at least one portion of the spot cleaning device 100 is exposed to the care room 11. The frame 250 may support the spot cleaning device 100 such that the spot cleaning device 100 is movable inside the frame 250. The frame 250 may extend in the first direction, and the spot cleaning device 100 may move in the first direction inside the frame 250. The spot cleaning device 100 may move in the up-down direction inside the frame 250.

The frame 250 may include a frame body 260, and a frame cover 270 coupled to the frame body 260.

The frame body 260 may include a first frame hole 265 in which the spot cleaning device 100 is inserted. The spot cleaning device 100 may be inserted in the first frame hole 265. At least one portion of the spot cleaning device 100 may protrude outward from the frame body 260 by passing through the first frame hole 265. The first frame hole 265 may extend in the first direction to guide a movement in first direction of the spot cleaning device 100. The spot cleaning device 100 may move in the first direction in the first frame hole 265. Unlike the drawing, the frame body 260 may not include the first frame hole 265 and the spot cleaning device 100 may be accommodated inside the frame body 260.

The frame body 260 may include a first frame moving portion 261 and a second frame moving portion 262 connected to the second shaft 221 and moving in the second direction along the second shaft 221. The first frame moving portion 261 may be spaced from the second frame moving portion 262 in the left-right direction. The first frame moving portion 261 may be adjacent to an upper end of one side of the frame body 260, and the second frame moving portion 262 may be adjacent to an upper end of another side of the frame body 260.

The frame body 260 may include a third frame moving portion 263 and a fourth frame moving portion 264 connected to the fourth shaft 241 and moving in the second direction along the fourth shaft 241. The third frame moving portion 263 may be spaced from the fourth frame moving portion 264 in the left-right direction. The third frame moving portion 263 may be adjacent to a lower end of one side of the frame body 260, and the fourth frame moving portion 264 may be adjacent to a lower end of another side of the frame body 260.

The frame body 260 may include the first to fourth frame moving portions 261, 262, 263, and 264. Each of the first to fourth frame moving portions 261, 262, 263, and 264 may include a hole which the corresponding shaft penetrates. In the hole of each of the first to fourth frame moving portions 261, 262, 263, and 264, a thread corresponding to a thread formed in the second shaft 221 or the fourth shaft 241 may be formed. Accordingly, while the second shaft 221 rotates in one direction, the first frame moving portion 261 and the second frame moving portion 262 may move to the left or right, and, while the second shaft 221 rotates in another direction, the first frame moving portion 261 and the second frame moving portion 262 may move to the right or left. Likewise, while the fourth shaft 241 rotates in one direction, the third frame moving portion 263 and the fourth frame moving portion 264 may move to the left or right, and, while the fourth shaft 241 rotates in another direction, the third frame moving portion 263 and the fourth frame moving portion 264 may move to the right or left. The one direction and other direction in which the second and fourth shafts 221 and 241 rotate respectively may be the clockwise direction CW and the counterclockwise direction CCW, respectively.

The frame cover 270 may be coupled to the frame body 260 to cover an open side of the frame body 260. The frame cover 270 may be coupled to the frame body 260 to form an inside space of the frame 250 that accommodates the spot cleaning device 100, the first motor 210, the third motor 230, the first shaft 211, and the third shaft 231.

The frame cover 270 may include a first shaft supporting portion 271 and 272 supporting the first shaft 211, and a third shaft supporting portion 273 and 274 supporting the third shaft 231. The frame cover 270 may include a first motor installing portion 275 in which the first motor 210 is installed, and a third motor installing portion 276 in which the third motor 230 is installed. The frame cover 270 may include a second frame hole 277 penetrating the frame cover 270 to expose the spot cleaning device 100 to the care room 11.

The first shaft supporting portion 271 and 272 may be connected to the first shaft 211. The first shaft supporting portion 271 and 272 may include a first upper supporting portion 271 that is adjacent to an upper end of one side of the frame cover 270, and a first lower supporting portion 272 that is adjacent to a lower end of the one side of the frame cover 270.

Each of the first upper supporting portion 271 and the first lower supporting portion 272 may include a hole through which the first shaft 211 passes. The first shaft 211 may rotate within the first upper supporting portion 271 and the first lower supporting portion 272. The first shaft 211 may idle within the first upper supporting portion 271 and the first lower supporting portion 272. In other words, while the first shaft 211 rotates within the first upper supporting portion 271 and the first lower supporting portion 272, the first upper supporting portion 271 and the first lower supporting portion 272 may not move in the first direction.

The third shaft supporting portion 273 and 274 may be connected to the third shaft 231. The third shaft supporting portion 273 and 274 may include a second upper supporting portion 273 that is adjacent to an upper end of another side of the frame cover 270, and a second lower supporting portion 274 that is adjacent to a lower end of the other side of the frame cover 270. Each of the second upper supporting portion 273 and the second lower supporting portion 274 may include a hole through which the third shaft 231 passes. The third shaft 231 may rotate within the second upper supporting portion 273 and the second lower supporting portion 274. The third shaft 231 may idle within the second upper supporting portion 273 and the second lower supporting portion 274. In other words, while the third shaft 231 rotates within the second upper supporting portion 273 and the second lower supporting portion 274, the second upper supporting portion 273 and the second lower supporting portion 274 may not move in the first direction.

The first motor 210 may be installed in the first motor installing portion 275. Although a detailed structure of the first motor installing portion 275 is not shown in the drawings, the first motor installing portion 275 may support the first motor 210 with various structures. For example, the first motor installing portion 275 may include an elastic protrusion such that the first motor 210 is fitted into the first motor installing portion 275.

The third motor 230 may be installed in the third motor installing portion 276. Although a detailed structure of the third motor installing portion 276 is not shown in the drawings, the third motor installing portion 276 may support the third motor 230 with various structures. For example, the third motor installing portion 276 may include an elastic protrusion such that the third motor 230 is fitted into the third motor installing portion 276.

The frame cover 270 may include the second frame hole 277 in which the spot cleaning device 100 is inserted. The spot cleaning device 100 may be inserted in the second frame hole 277. At least one portion of the spot cleaning device 100 may protrude outward from the frame cover 270 by passing through the second frame hole 277. The spot cleaning device 100 may be exposed to the care room 11 through the second fame hole 277. The spot cleaning device 100 exposed to the care room 11 may spot clean clothes accommodated in the care room 11. The second frame hole 277 may extend in the first direction and guide a movement in first direction of the spot cleaning device 100. The spot cleaning device 100 may move in the first direction within the second frame hole 277.

The moving device 200 may include the second motor 220 and the fourth motor 240 that provide a driving force to move the spot cleaning device 100 in the second direction. The second shaft 221 may be connected to the second motor 220, and the fourth shaft 241 may be connected to the fourth motor 240.

The second motor 220 and the fourth motor 240 may be coupled to a side wall 11c of the care room 11. The moving device 100 may include a supporting frame 32 coupled to the side wall 11c of the care room 11.

The second motor 220 and the fourth motor 240 may be installed in the supporting frame 32. The second motor 220 may be installed in a second motor installing portion 32a of the supporting frame 32. The second motor installing portion 32a may be adjacent to an upper end of one side of the supporting frame 32. Although a detailed structure of the second motor installing portion 32a is not shown in the drawings, the second motor installing portion 32a may support the second motor 220 with various structures. For example, the second motor installing portion 32a may include an elastic protrusion such that the second motor 220 is fitted into the second motor installing portion 32a. The fourth motor 240 may be installed in a fourth motor installing portion 32b of the supporting frame 32. The fourth motor installing portion 32b may be adjacent to a lower end of the one side of the supporting frame 32. Although a detailed structure of the fourth motor installing portion 32b is not shown in the drawings, the fourth motor installing portion 32b may support the fourth motor 240 with various structures. For example, the fourth motor installing portion 32b may include an elastic protrusion such that the fourth motor 240 is fitted into the fourth motor installing portion 32b.

The second shaft 221 may be connected to a second shaft supporting portion 32c of the supporting frame 32. The second shaft supporting portion 32c may be adjacent to an upper end of another side of the supporting frame 32. The second shaft supporting portion 32c may include a hole through which the second shaft 221 passes. The second shaft 221 may idle within the second shaft supporting portion 32c. In other words, while the second shaft 221 rotates within the second shaft supporting portion 32c, the second shaft supporting portion 32c may not move in the second direction.

The fourth shaft 241 may be connected to a fourth shaft supporting portion 32d of the supporting frame 32. The fourth shaft supporting portion 32d may be adjacent to a lower end of the other side of the supporting frame 32. The fourth shaft supporting portion 32d may include a hole through which the fourth shaft 241 passes. The fourth shaft 241 may idle within the fourth shaft supporting portion 32d. In other words, while the fourth shaft 241 rotates within the fourth shaft supporting portion 32d, the fourth shaft supporting portion 32d may not move in the second direction.

The supporting frame 32 may include a supporting frame hole 32e penetrating the supporting frame 32 such that the frame 250 moves in the second direction within the supporting frame 32. The frame 250 may move in the second direction within the supporting frame hole 32e.

As described above, the spot cleaning device 100 may move in the first direction within the frame 250. The frame 250 accommodating the spot cleaning device 100 may move in the second direction within the supporting frame 32. Accordingly, the spot cleaning device 100 may move in the first direction and the second direction. In other words, the spot cleaning device 100 may move within the care room 11 in the upper, lower, left, and right directions.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view showing a part of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 13, a fixing portion 90 for fixing clothes accommodated in the care room 11 may be provided. The fixing portion 90 may be provided in the side wall 11c of the care room 11 on which the spot cleaning device 100 is provided. The fixing portion 90 may be provided below the spot cleaning device 100.

The fixing portion 90 may hold and fix at least a part of clothes. The fixing portion 90 may be adjacent to the side wall 11c of the care room 11, and include a bar 93 crossing the side wall 11c of the care room 11 in the horizontal direction, and a fixing member 91 and 92 that is movable along the bar 93 in the horizontal direction.

The fixing member 91 and 92 may hold and fix clothes. The fixing member 91 and 92 may include a first fixing member 91 and a second fixing member 92. However, the number of the fixing members 91 and 92 may be one or three or more.

The first fixing member 91 may include a first moving member 91a that is movable along the bar 93 in the horizontal direction, and a first rotating member 91b rotatably coupled to the first moving member 91a. The first rotating member 91b may be elastically biased in a direction of approaching the first moving member 91a. As the first rotating member 91b approaches the first moving member 91a, the first fixing member 91 may hold and fix clothes. To this end, the first fixing member 91 may include an elastic member (not shown).

The second fixing member 92 may include a second moving member 92a that is movable along the bar 93 in the horizontal direction, and a second rotating member 92b rotatably coupled to the second moving member 92a. The second rotating member 92b may be elastically biased in a direction of approaching the second moving member 92a. As the second rotating member 92b approaches the second moving member 92a, the second fixing member 92 may hold and fix clothes. To this end, the second fixing member 92 may include an elastic member (not shown).

On the side wall 11c of the care room 11, a moving guide 96 and 97 extending in the vertical direction may be provided. The moving guide 96 may include a first moving guide 96 provided in a side of the supporting frame 32, and a second moving guide 97 provided in another side of the supporting frame 32.

The fixing portion 90 may include a supporting portion 94 and 95 supporting the bar 93. The supporting portion 94 and 95 may include a first supporting portion 94 connected to a side of the bar 93 to support the side of the bar 93, and a second supporting portion 95 connected to another side of the bar 93 to support the other side of the bar 93.

The supporting portions 94 and 95 may be movable in the vertical direction along the moving guides 96 and 97. The first supporting portion 94 may be coupled to the first moving guide 96 in such a way as to be movable in the vertical direction along the first moving guide 96. The second supporting portion 95 may be coupled to the second moving guide 97 in such a way as to be movable in the vertical direction along the second moving guide 97. The first supporting portion 94 may be slidably coupled to the first moving guide 96. The second supporting portion 95 may be slidably coupled to the second moving guide 97. The first supporting portion 94 may be fixed at a location on the first moving guide 96. The second supporting portion 95 may be fixed at a location on the second moving guide 97.

Because the supporting portions 94 and 95 support the bar 93 and the supporting portions 94 and 95 are movable in the vertical direction along the moving guides 96 and 97, the fixing members 91 and 92 may move in the vertical direction. Because the fixing members 91 and 92 are movable in the vertical direction, the clothes supporting member 50 and the fixing members 91 and 92 may support clothes having various sizes. Because the fixing members 91 and 92 are movable in the vertical direction, the clothes supporting member 50 and the fixing members 91 and 92 may pull clothes tightly in the vertical direction regardless of a size of the clothes. As clothes are pulled tightly to have tension, a friction force between the spot cleaning device 100 and the clothes may increase, and cleaning efficiency of the spot cleaning device 100 may be improved.

Referring to FIG. 13, a home position portion 25 may be provided in a side wall of the care room 11. The home position portion 25 may be positioned below the frame 250. In the home position portion 25, charging terminals 25a and 25b for charging the battery 118b of the spot cleaning device 100 may be provided. The charging terminals 25a and 25b may include a positive pole 25a and a negative pole 25b. The positive pole 25a and negative pole 25b of the home position portion 25 may respectively correspond to the positive pole 115a and negative pole 115b of the spot cleaning device 100.

The spot cleaning device 100 may be docked to the home position portion 25 such that the charging terminals 115a and 115b of the spot cleaning device 100 are respectively in contact with the charging terminals 25a and 25b provided in the home position portion 25. The spot cleaning device 100 may be docked to the home position portion 25 to charge the battery 118, and then clean a target area of clothes accommodated in the care room 11 by receiving a user's input or a command from a controller.

FIG. 14 is a control block diagram of a clothes care apparatus according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 14, the clothes care apparatus 1 according to an embodiment may include the display 35, the control panel 70, the heat exchanger 45, the first fan 42, the steam generator 40, the second fan 75, an actuator 76, the spot cleaning device 100, the moving device 200, a first communicator 330, and/or a first controller 300.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a control panel according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 15, at least one input interface 70a may include a power button 70a-1, course selection buttons 70a-2, 70a-3, and 70a-4, direction selection buttons 70a-5 and 70a-6, a start/stop button 70a-7, a communication button 70a-10, and/or a selection button 70a-12.

Each button may include a visual indictor (for example, a text, an icon, etc.) capable of representing a function.

The at least one input interface 70a may include, for example, a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, a touch switch, a touch pad, a touch screen, a jog dial, and/or a microphone.

In the disclosure, a ‘button’ may be replaced with a User Interface (UI) Element, a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, a touch switch, a touch pad, a touch screen, a jog dial, and/or a microphone.

At least one output interface 70b may generate sensory information and transfer various information related to operations of the clothes care apparatus 1 to a user.

For example, the at least one output interface 70b may transfer information related to a clothes care course, an operation time of the clothes care apparatus 1, a target area setting of spot care, etc. to the user. Information related to operations of the clothes care apparatus 1 may be output through a display 70b-1, indicators 70b-2, 70b-3, 70b-4, and 70b-5, a voice, etc. The at least one output interface 70b may include, for example, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panel, an indicator, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) panel, a speaker, etc.

The display 70b-1 may output information related to the clothes care course, an operation time of the clothes care apparatus 1, a target area setting of spot care, etc. The display 70b-1 may include a touch panel for receiving a user's touch input.

The indicators 70b-2, 70b-3, 70b-4, and 70b-5 may visually inform the user of an operation state of the clothes care apparatus 1.

A clothes care indicator 70b-2 may light up while the clothes care course operates.

A delicate dry indicator 70b-3 may light up while a delicate dry course operates.

A spot care indicator 70b-4 may light up while a spot care course operates.

The power button 70a-1 may be a button for turning on/off power of the clothes care apparatus 1.

The course selection buttons 70a-2, 70a-3, and 70a-4 may be buttons for selecting courses of the clothes care apparatus 1.

The course selection buttons 70a-2, 70a-3, and 70a-4 may include buttons 70a-2 and 70a-3 for enabling the user to select a course for caring clothes accommodated in the care room 11.

The buttons 70a-2 and 70a-3 for enabling the user to select a course for caring clothes accommodated in the care room 11 may include a clothes care button 70a-2.

In response to a selection of the clothes care button 70a-2, at least one course corresponding to clothes care may be displayed on the output interface 70b (for example, the display 70b-1), and the user may select a desired course by using the direction selection buttons 70a-5 and 70a-6. The at least one course may include various courses, such as a standard course, a large-capacity care course, a sterilization course, a fine dust course, a rapid course, a school uniform course, a denim course, a coat course, a wool/knit course, and a suit course.

The buttons 70a-2 and 70a-3 for enabling the user to select a course for caring clothes accommodated in the care room 11 may include the delicate dry button 70a-3.

In response to a selection of the delicate dry button 70a-2, at least one course corresponding to delicate dry may be displayed on the output interface 70b (for example, the display 70b-1), and the user may select a desired course by using the direction selection buttons 70a-5 and 70a-6. The at least one course may include various courses, such as a customized drying course, a shirt course, a swimsuit course, an outdoor course, a fitness course, a blouse course, a denim course, a coat course, a wool/knit course, a suit course, and a space dehumidification course.

In response to a selection of the start/stop button 70a-7 after a course for caring clothes is selected, the first controller 300 may perform the selected course by controlling a component (for example, the heat exchanger 45, the steam generator 40, the first fan 42, and/or the second fan 75) of the clothes care apparatus 1 according to an algorithm of the selected course.

A spot care button 70a-4 may be a button for enabling a user to select a course for spot caring clothes accommodated in the care room 11 by using the spot cleaning device 100.

In response to a selection of the spot care button 70a-4, an interface for controlling the spot cleaning device 100 may be provided on the output interface 70b (for example, the display 70b-1).

For example, in response to a selection of the spot care button 70a-4, an interface for enabling a user to set a target area may be provided on the output interface 70b (for example, the display 70b-1).

The direction selection buttons 70a-5 and 70a-6 may include a left button 70a-5 and a right button 70a-6. According to various embodiments, the direction selection buttons 70a-5 and 70a-6 may include an up button and a down button, and a button for any one direction may be omitted.

The direction selection buttons 70a-5 and 70a-6 may be buttons for enabling a user to control an interface provided by the display 70b-1. For example, the direction selection buttons 70a-5 and 70a-6 may be used to change a selection of a UI element provided by the display 70b-1.

According to an embodiment, the direction selection buttons 70a-5 and 70a-6 may be used to set a target area in the spot care course.

The start/stop button 70a-7 may be used to operate a selected course or temporarily stop a course operating.

The communication button 70a-10 may be a button for setting communication of the clothes care apparatus 1. Through the communication button 70a-10, the clothes care apparatus 1 may access a surrounding Access Point (AP). The clothes care apparatus 1 may communicate with an external device, such as a server, a user device, and another home appliance, through the surrounding AP.

The selection button 70a-12 may be a button for controlling an interface provided by the display 70b-1. For example, the selection button 70a-12 may be used to select a UI element provided by the display 70b-1.

Examples of various buttons included in the control panel 70 according to an embodiment of the disclosure are not limited to the above-described examples. Some buttons may be omitted or some buttons may be added.

For example, the control panel 70 may display, on the display 35, a user interface related to the spot cleaning device 100 which will be described below, or the control panel 70 may remove a user interface from the display 35.

The heat exchanger 45 may be used to heat air supplied into the care room 11, and include a compressor 48 for compressing a refrigerant. The compressor 48 may operate based on a control signal from the controller 300.

The first fan 42 may cause inside air of the care room 11 to pass through the machine room 13, the evaporator 46, and the condenser 47 and then be again discharged to the care room 11. The first fan 42 may operate based on a control signal from the controller 300.

The steam generator 40 may spray steam into the care room 11. The steam generator 40 may operate based on a control signal from the first controller 300.

The second fan 75 may cause inside air of the care room 11 to pass through the second airflow outlet 12b or the clothes supporting member 50 and then again circulate into the care room 11. The second fan 75 may operate based on a control signal from the controller 300.

The actuator 76 may operate based on a control signal from the first controller 300. For example, the actuator 76 may be configured with a member, such as an electromagnet or a link member, or may be any component capable of pushing the door 20.

The clothes care apparatus 1 may include the first communicator 330 for communicating with an external device (for example, a server, a user device, the spot cleaning device 100, and/or a home appliance) in a wired and/or wireless manner.

The first communicator 330 may include at least one of a short-range communication module or a long-distance communication module.

The first communicator 330 may transmit/receive data to/from the external device. For example, the first communicator 330 may establish communication with a server, a user device, and/or another home appliance and transmit/receive various data to/from the server, the user device, and/or the other home appliance.

To this end, the first communicator 330 may establish a direct (for example, wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel with the external device, and support communication through the established communication channel. According to an embodiment, the first communicator 330 may include a wireless communication module (for example, a cellular communication module, a short-range communication module, or a global navigation satellite sister (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (for example., a local area network (LAN) communication module or a power line communication module). A corresponding communication module among the communication modules may communicate with an external device through a first network (for example, a short-range communication network, such as Bluetooth, WiFi Direct, or Infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (for example, a long-distance communication network, such as a legacy cellular network, a 5-Generation (5G) network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (for example, a LAN or a wide area network (WAN)). The various kinds of communication modules may be integrated into a single component (for example, a single chip) or implemented with a plurality of components (for example, a plurality of chips).

The short-range wireless communication module may include a Bluetooth communication module, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication module, a Near Field Communication (NFC) communication module, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN; WiFi) communication module, a Zigbee communication module, an IrDA communication module, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication module, a Ultrawideband (UWB) communication module, an Ant+ communication module, a microwave (uWave) communication module, etc., although not limited thereto.

The long-distance wireless communication module may include a communication module that performs various kinds of long-distance communications, and may include a first mobile communicator 330. The first mobile communicator 330 may transmit/receive a wireless signal to/from at least one of a base station, an external terminal, or a server on a mobile communication network.

According to an embodiment, the first communicator 330 may communicate with an external device, such as a server, a user device, another home appliance, etc., through a surrounding AR The AP may connect a LAN to which the clothes care apparatus 1, another home appliance, and/or a user device is connected to a WAN to which a server is connected. The clothes care apparatus 1, the other home appliance, and/or the user device may be connected to the server through the WAN.

The spot cleaning device 100 may be provided on the side wall 11c of care room 11 to spot clean clothes accommodated in the care room 11.

The spot cleaning device 100 may include the second controller 180 for controlling components (for example, the water spray 101, the cleaning liquid spray 102, the vibrating portion 103, the suction portion 104, and/or the at least one sensor 108) of the spot cleaning device 100, and the second communicator 190 for communicating with an external device (for example, a server, a user device, the first communicator 330, and/or a home appliance).

The second communicator 190 included in the spot cleaning device 100 may communicate with the first communicator 330 of the clothes care apparatus 1 in a wired or wireless manner.

According to an embodiment, the second communicator 190 included in the spot cleaning device 100 may perform wireless communication with the first communicator 330 of the clothes care apparatus 1, and in this case, the internal aesthetics of the care room 11 may be prevented from being impaired by a wire for connecting the cabinet 10 of the clothes care apparatus 1 to the spot cleaning device 100.

Controlling the spot cleaning device 100 by the first controller 300 may include transmitting a control command to the second controller 180 by the first controller 300.

The second communicator 190 may transmit a control command transferred from the first controller 300 to the second controller 180 by communicating with the first communicator 330 of the clothes care apparatus 1.

The second controller 180 may control components of the spot cleaning device 100 based on the control command transferred from the first controller 300.

The moving device 200 may move the spot cleaning device 100.

According to various embodiments, the moving device 200 may include a third controller (not shown) for controlling the first to fourth motors, and a third wired/wireless communicator (not shown). The third controller of the moving device 200 may receive a control command from the second controller 180 through the third communicator. That is, the second controller 180 may control the moving device 200. According to another example, a motor of the moving device 200 may be wiredly connected to the controller of the spot cleaning device 100 to be controlled directly by the controller of the spot cleaning device 100.

For example, according to transferring of a movement control signal to the spot cleaning device 100 by the first controller 300, the second controller 180 of the spot cleaning device 100 may control the moving device 200 to move the spot cleaning device 100.

According to various embodiments, the moving device 200 may receive a control command from the first controller 300. That is, the first controller 300 may control the moving device 200. For example, the first controller 300 may control the spot cleaning device 100 to move the spot cleaning device 100.

According to the disclosure, controlling the spot cleaning device 100 may include controlling the components (for example, the water spray 101, the cleaning liquid spray 102, the vibrating portion 103, the suction portion 104, and/or the at least one sensor 108) of the spot cleaning device 100, and controlling a movement of the spot cleaning device 100 by controlling the moving device 200.

According to an embodiment, the spot cleaning device 100 may include the at least one sensor 108. Sensor data collected from the at least one sensor 108 may be transferred to the first controller 300. For example, the sensor 108 of the spot cleaning device 100 may include a camera, and image data collected by the camera may be transferred to the first controller 300.

The first controller 300 may control various components (for example, the display 35, the control panel 70, the heat exchanger 45, the first fan 42, the steam generator 40, the second fan 75, the actuator 76, the spot cleaning device 100, the moving device 200, and the first communicator 330) of the clothes care apparatus 1. The first controller 300 may control various components of the clothes care apparatus 1 to perform a clothes care course or a spot care course according to a user's input. For example, the first controller 300 may control the heat exchanger 45 and the first fan 42 to supply hot air into the care room 11, control the steam generator 40 to supply steam into the care room 11, control the second fan 75 to circulate air of the care room 11, or control the spot cleaning device 100 to spot clean clothes accommodated in the care room 11.

The first controller 300 may process data collected from various components (for example, the control panel 70, the display 35, the first communicator 330, and the spot cleaning device 100) of the clothes care apparatus 1. The first controller 300 may process a user input input through the control panel 70 and/or the display 35, and perform an operation corresponding to the user input.

The first controller 300 may process image data collected by the at least one sensor 108 of the spot cleaning device 100.

The first controller 300 may include hardware, such as a central processing unit (CPU), Micom, a memory, etc., and software such as a control program. For example, the first controller 300 may include at least one memory 320 that stores data in the form of an algorithm or program for controlling operations of components in the clothes care apparatus 1, and at least one processor 310 that performs the above-described operations and operations which will be described below by using the data stored in the at least one memory 320. The memory 320 and the processor 310 may be implemented with separate chips. The processor 310 may include one, two, or more processor chips or one, two, or more processing cores. The memory 320 may include one, two, or more memory chips or one, two, or more memory blocks. Also, the memory 320 and the processor 310 may be implemented with a single chip.

The at least one memory 320 may store algorithms for a clothes care course, a spot care course, and a target area setting.

The first controller 300 may be mounted on a printed circuit board provided on a rear surface of the control panel 70, although a location of the first controller 300 is not limited thereto.

The first controller 300 may be electrically connected to the display 35, the control panel 70, the heat exchanger 45, the first fan 42, the steam generator 40, the second fan 75, the actuator 76, the spot cleaning device 100, the moving device 200, and/or the first communicator 330.

The components shown in FIG. 14 may be examples of the components of the clothes care apparatus 1 according to an embodiment. The clothes care apparatus 1 according to an embodiment may further include another component in addition to the components shown in FIG. 14 or may omit some of the components shown in FIG. 14.

For example, the clothes care apparatus 1 according to an embodiment may include an actuator for automatically opening the door 20, a first door opening/closing sensor for sensing opening/closing of the door 20, and a proximity sensor for detecting an approach of an object within a preset range around the clothes care apparatus 1.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the first controller 300 is referred to as a controller 300, and the first communicator 330 is referred to as a communicator 330.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for setting a target area in a clothes care apparatus according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 16, the clothes care apparatus 1 according to an embodiment may receive a user input for setting a target area (1210). The clothes care apparatus 1 may receive a user input for setting a target area through various methods.

The clothes care apparatus 1 according to an embodiment may set a target area based on a user input received through the input interface 70a of the control panel 70.

According to an embodiment, the controller 300 may receive an input of selecting at least one area from among a plurality of areas through the control panel 70 (1220).

The controller 300 may set at least one area selected from among a plurality of areas through the control panel 70 to a target area (1230).

The spot cleaning device 100 may clean the target area (1240).

FIG. 17 shows an example of an interface for setting a target area, provided by the control panel 70 according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 17, the controller 300 may control, in response to reception of a user input for setting a target area, the output interface 70b to provide an interface for receiving a selection of at least one area from among a plurality of areas partitioned from each other.

For example, the controller 300 may control, in response to a selection of the spot care button 70a-4, the display 70-b to provide an interface for receiving a selection of at least one area from among a plurality of areas a2 partitioned from each other.

According to an embodiment, the interface for receiving a selection of at least one area from among the plurality of areas a2 partitioned from each other may include a pre-stored clothes image and a visual indicator g2 that partitions the pre-stored clothes images into the plurality of areas a2.

According to an embodiment, the controller 300 may control, in response to a selection of the spot care button 70a-4, the display 70b-1 to provide an interface for setting a kind (for example, short sleeves, long sleeves, pants, etc.) of clothes, and in response to a selection of a kind of clothes, the controller 300 may control the display 70b-1 to output a pre-stored clothes image corresponding to the kind of clothes and the visual indicator g2 that partitions the pre-stored clothes image into the plurality of areas g2.

The visual indicator g2 may include a grid. However, a form of the visual indicator g2 that partitions the pre-stored clothes image displayed on the display 70b-1 into the plurality of areas a2 is not limited thereto.

A user may select at least one area from among the plurality of areas a2 through the control panel 70. For example, the user may select at least one area from among the plurality of areas a2 through the direction selection buttons 70a-5 and 70a-6 and the selection button 70a-12, or may select at least one area from among the plurality of areas g2 through an input of touching the display 70b-1.

The controller 300 may control the display 70b-1 to output a visual mark for distinguishing at least one area selected from among the plurality of areas a2 through the control panel 70 from unselected areas.

The controller 300 may set the at least one area selected from among the plurality of areas a2 through the control panel 70 to a target area.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, even though the user may not see clothes accommodated in the care room 11 because the spot cleaning device 100 is positioned on the side wall of the clothes care apparatus 1, the user may easily set a target area by identifying a contaminated part of the clothes in advance and selecting at least one area corresponding to the contaminated part.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a button for setting a target area, provided in the control panel 70 according to an embodiment.

The control panel 70 according to an embodiment may include a plurality of buttons bb to receive a selection of at least one area among a plurality of areas partitioned from each other.

According to an embodiment, the plurality of buttons bb may form a shape of clothes. For example, the plurality of buttons bb may form a short-sleeved shape, a long-sleeved shape, a pants shape, and/or a dress shirt shape.

The plurality of buttons bb may correspond to the plurality of areas a2. That is, the plurality of buttons bb may correspond to the plurality of areas a2, respectively.

The user may select at least one area from among the plurality of areas a2 partitioned from each other by selecting a button bb corresponding to an area desired to be cleaned among the plurality of buttons bb.

Each of the plurality of buttons bb may be a physical button. Each of the plurality of buttons bb may light up in response to being selected and may light out in response to being deselected. According to another example, the plurality of buttons bb may be provided on a touch panel such that button areas light up or out.

The controller 300 may set at least one area selected from among the plurality of areas a2 through the control panel 70 to a target area. That is, the controller 300 may set an area corresponding to a selected button among the plurality of buttons bb to a target area.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, even though the user may not see clothes accommodated in the care room 11 because the spot cleaning device 100 is positioned on the side wall of the clothes care apparatus 1, the user may easily set a target area by identifying a contaminated part of the clothes in advance and selecting at least one button bb corresponding to the contaminated part.

According to the disclosure, the user may set a target area through the control panel 70 of the clothes care apparatus 1.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a method for setting a target area in the clothes care apparatus 1 according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 19, the controller 300 may transmit a clothes scan command to the spot cleaning device 100 in response to satisfaction of a preset condition (1310). The spot cleaning device 100 may obtain a whole image of clothes accommodated in the care room 11 while moving along the side wall 11c of the care room 11, in response to reception of a clothes scan command from the controller 300.

That is, the controller 300 may control the spot cleaning device 100 to obtain a whole image of clothes accommodated in the care room 11 while moving along the side wall 11c of the care room 11, in response to satisfaction of a preset condition.

The preset condition may include at least one among detecting new clothes based on an image obtained by the camera of the spot cleaning device 100, detecting replacement of clothes based on an image obtained by the camera of the spot cleaning device 100, or receiving a clothes scan command.

For example, the controller 300 may control the spot cleaning device 100 to obtain a whole image of clothes accommodated in the care room 11, in response to reception of a clothes scan command through a user interface provided by the control panel 70 and/or the display 35.

According to another example, the controller 300 may control the spot cleaning device 100 to obtain a whole image of clothes accommodated in the care room 11, in response to reception of a clothes scan command through the communicator 330.

According to another example, the controller 300 may control the spot cleaning device 100 to obtain a whole image of clothes accommodated in the care room 11, in response to reception of a user input for setting a target area.

According to another example, the controller 300 may control the spot cleaning device 100 to obtain a whole image of clothes accommodated in the care room 11, in response to detection of new clothes or detection of clothes replacement based on an image obtained by the camera of the spot cleaning device 100.

FIG. 20 shows a state in which the spot cleaning device 100 according to an embodiment scans clothes accommodated in the care room 11. FIG. 21 shows an example of a whole image of clothes, obtained by the spot cleaning device 100 according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, the spot cleaning device 100 may obtain a partial image ma of clothes accommodated in the care room 11 at each of a plurality of locations while moving along the side wall 11c of the care room 11, in response to reception of a clothes scan command from the controller 300.

For example, the spot cleaning device 100 may obtain a partial image ma of clothes accommodated in the care room 11 at each of a plurality of preset locations dp while moving along the side wall 11c of the care room 11 along a preset path da, in response to reception of a clothes scan command from the controller 300. For example, the partial image ma may be obtained by the camera (image sensor) which is the sensor 108 provided in the spot cleaning device 100.

The spot cleaning device 100 may transfer a plurality of partial images ma obtained at the plurality of preset locations dp to the controller 300.

The clothes care apparatus 1 may generate a whole image M of the clothes by synthesizing the plurality of partial images ma obtained at the plurality of locations (1320).

According to an embodiment, the controller 300 may generate the whole image M of the clothes by synthesizing the plurality of partial images ma.

According to an embodiment, the controller 300 may identify a contaminated part from the whole image M of the clothes. To this end, the memory 320 may store an algorithm for identifying a contaminated part from a whole image of clothes. For example, the controller 300 may identify a contaminated part by inputting a whole image M of clothes to a machine-learning model.

According to various embodiments, the second controller 180 of the spot cleaning device 100 may generate the whole image M of the clothes by synthesizing the plurality of partial images ma.

The clothes care apparatus 1 may receive a command of selecting an area in the whole image M of the clothes (1330).

The command of selecting the area in the whole image M of the clothes may be received from the control panel 70, a user interface provided by the display 35, and/or an external device through the communicator 330.

To receive the command of selecting the area in the whole image M of the clothes, the clothes care apparatus 1 may need to show the whole image M of the clothes for the user.

In response to reception of the command of selecting the area in the whole image M of the clothes, the clothes care apparatus 1 may set the selected area to a target area, and the spot cleaning device 100 may clean the target area (1340).

FIG. 22 shows an example in which a whole image of clothes is displayed on the control panel 70 according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 22, according to an embodiment, the controller 300 may control, in response to reception of a user input for setting a target area, the display 70b-1 of the control panel 70 to display a whole image of clothes.

The whole image of clothes may be displayed on the display 70b-1 of the control panel 70.

The controller 300 may control, while displaying the whole image M of clothes, the display 70b-1 to display a visual indicator pp for highlighting a contaminated part identified from the whole image M of clothes.

According to the disclosure, the user may easily set a target area with reference to the contaminated part identified from the whole image M of clothes by the clothes care apparatus 1.

The whole image M of clothes displayed on the display 70b-1 may be enlarged or reduced based on a user input for enlarging or reducing the whole image M of clothes.

The user input for enlarging or reducing the whole image M of clothes may include, for example, a pinch-zoom touch input with respect to the display 70b-1.

The controller 300 may control, in response to reception of the user input for enlarging or reducing the whole image M of clothes, the display 70b-1 to enlarge or reduce the whole image M of clothes.

According to the disclosure, the user may easily find a contaminated part of clothes by enlarging or reducing the clothes.

The controller 300 may set a target area based on a selection of an area in the whole image M of clothes displayed on the display 70b-1.

The controller 300 may control the spot cleaning device 100 to clean the target area based on the setting of the target area.

A method of receiving a selection of an area in the whole image M of clothes displayed on the display 70b-1 may include receiving a touch input with respect to the display 70b-1 and/or using the direction selection buttons 70a-5 and 70a-6 and the selection button 70a-12 of the control panel 70.

According to various embodiments, the whole image M of clothes displayed on the display 70b-1 may be partitioned into a plurality of areas by a visual indicator, as in the embodiment of FIG. 22.

FIG. 23 shows a whole image of clothes transmitted to a user device after being obtained by the clothes care apparatus 1 according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 23, according to an embodiment, the controller 300 may transmit a whole image M of clothes to an external device (for example, a user device 3) through the communicator 330.

For example, the controller 300 may transmit the whole image M of clothes to the external device in response to reception of a command for setting a target from the external device through the communicator 330.

According to another example, the controller 300 may transmit the whole image M of clothes to an external device (for example, a user device) based on generation of the whole image M of clothes.

The user device may store an application for managing a home appliance.

After a user executes the application for managing the home appliance through the user device 3, the user may log on to the user's account to transmit various control commands to the home appliance linked to the user's account or receive various information from the home appliance linked to the user's account.

In the case in which the clothes care apparatus 1 has been linked to the user's account, the user may transmit a command for controlling the clothes care apparatus 1 to the clothes care apparatus 1 through the user device 3.

In the case in which the clothes care apparatus 1 has been linked to the user's account, the clothes care apparatus 1 may transmit a whole image M of clothes to the user device 3.

The user device 3 may display the whole image M of clothes received from the clothes care apparatus 1, according to the user's control.

The user device 3 may display, while displaying the whole image M of clothes, a visual indicator pp for highlighting a contaminated part identified from the whole image M of clothes.

The whole image M of clothes displayed on the user device 3 may be partitioned into a plurality of areas by the visual indicator pp.

A method of receiving a selection of an area in the whole image M of clothes displayed on the user device 3 may include receiving a touch input with respect to the user device 3.

The user may control the user device 3 to complete a selection of an area in the whole image M of clothes and then select a confirm button ml.

The user device 3 may transmit a spot cleaning command to the clothes care apparatus 1 in response to reception of the selection of the area in the whole image M of clothes and the selection of the confirm button ml.

The spot cleaning command may include a command of selecting the area in the whole image M of clothes.

The controller 300 may set an area corresponding to the area selected by the user device 3 in the whole image M of clothes, to a target area.

The controller 300 may control the spot cleaning device 100 to clean the target area in response to the setting of the target area.

According to the disclosure, the user may remotely set the target area.

According to the disclosure, the target area may be set through various methods and tools.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart for describing a method of automatically setting a target area in the clothes care apparatus 1 according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 24, the clothes care apparatus 1 according to an embodiment may automatically set a target area.

The controller 300 may receive a user input for starting an automatic cleaning operation (1410). The user input for starting the automatic cleaning operation may be transferred to the controller 300 by various methods.

For example, in response to a selection of the spot care button 70a-4, an interface for selecting an automatic cleaning mode may be provided on the display 70b-1, and in response to a selection of the start/stop button 70a-7 after the automatic cleaning mode is selected, the controller 300 may perform an automatic cleaning operation.

According to another example, in response to a selection of the automatic cleaning button of the user interface provided by the display 35, the controller 300 may perform an automatic cleaning operation.

The automatic cleaning operation may be an operation in which the controller 300 automatically identifies a contaminated part of clothes accommodated in the care room 11 based on sensor data collected from the at least one sensor 108 of the spot cleaning device 100, and causes the spot cleaning device 100 to clean the contaminated part.

According to various embodiments, upon a start of the automatic cleaning operation, the controller 300 may control the spot cleaning device 100 to move along a preset path in the care room 11.

According to an embodiment, the controller 300 may identify a contaminated part of clothes accommodated in the care room 11 based on sensor data collected from the sensor 108 while the spot cleaning device 100 moves (1420).

The controller 300 may identify a contaminated part of clothes based on sensor data collected from the sensor 108. To this end, the memory 320 may store an algorithm for identifying a contaminated part based on sensor data. For example, the controller 300 may identify a contaminated part by inputting sensor data to a machine-learning model.

According to the sensor 108 being a camera, the controller 300 may identify a contaminated part of clothes based on image data. According to the sensor 108 being an optical sensor, the controller 300 may identify a contaminated part of clothes based on light quantity data.

According to various embodiments, in the case in which the second controller 180 of the spot cleaning device 100 identifies a contaminated part of clothes based on sensor data collected from the sensor 108, the above-described operations and operations which will be described below may be performed by the second controller 180.

According to an embodiment, the controller 300 may control the spot cleaning device 100 to clean the contaminated part (1430).

According to various embodiments, the controller 300 may control the spot cleaning device 100 to clean a contaminated part, in response to identification of the contaminated part while the spot cleaning device 100 moves along the preset path on a side wall of the care room 11.

According to an embodiment, the spot cleaning device 100 may clean a contaminated part in real time while moving on a side wall of the care room 11.

According to various embodiments, the controller 300 may store coordinate data of a contaminated part while the spot cleaning device 100 moves along the preset path on a side wall of the care room 11, and control, in response to termination of scanning on the clothes by the spot cleaning device 100, the spot cleaning device 100 to clean the contaminated part.

According to an embodiment, by cleaning a contaminated part of clothes accommodated in the care room 11 after accurately identifying the contaminated part, a time required to complete an automatic cleaning operation may be relatively accurately calculated.

Meanwhile, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in the form of a recording medium that stores instructions executable by a computer. The instructions may be stored in the form of program codes, and when executed by a processor, the instructions may create a program module to perform operations of the disclosed embodiments. The recording medium may be implemented as a computer-readable recording medium.

The computer-readable recording medium may include all kinds of recording media storing instructions that can be interpreted by a computer. For example, the computer-readable recording medium may be read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a magnetic tape, a magnetic disc, a flash memory, an optical data storage device, etc.

Also, the computer-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium, wherein the term ‘non-transitory’ simply means that the storage medium is a tangible device, and does not include a signal (for example, an electromagnetic wave), but this term does not differentiate between where data is semi-permanently stored in the storage medium and where the data is temporarily stored in the storage medium. For example, a ‘non-transitory storage medium’ may include a buffer in which data is temporarily stored.

According to an embodiment, the method according to various embodiments of the disclosure may be included and provided in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded as a product between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or be distributed (e.g., downloadable or uploadable) online via an application store (e.g., Play Store™) or between two user devices (e.g., smart phones) directly. When distributed online, at least part of the computer program product (e.g., a downloadable app) may be temporarily generated or at least temporarily stored in the machine-readable storage medium, such as a memory of the manufacturer's server, a server of the application store, or a relay server.

According to an embodiment, a clothes care apparatus 1 may include: a cabinet 10; a care room 11 formed inside the cabinet and configured to accommodate clothes; a clothes supporting member 50 detachably coupled to an upper side of the care room and configured to support an upper part of the clothes; a door 20 configured to open and close the care room; a spot cleaning device 100 provided on a side wall of the care room and configured to spot clean the clothes accommodated in the care room; and a fixing portion 90 provided on the side wall of the care room and configured to fix a lower part of the clothes.

The clothes supporting member may be configured to spray air toward the clothes supported by the clothes supporting member.

The fixing portion may include a bar 93 crossing the side wall of the care room in a horizontal direction, and a fixing member 91 and 92 configured to be movable along the bar in the horizontal direction and hold and fix the clothes.

The fixing member may include a moving member 91a and 92a configured to be movable along the bar in the horizontal direction, and a rotating member 91b and 92b rotatably coupled to the moving member.

The rotating member may be configured to be elastically biased in a direction of approaching the moving member to fix the clothes together with the moving member.

A moving guide 96 and 97 may extend in a vertical direction on the side wall of the care room.

The fixing portion may include a supporting portion 94 and 95 supporting the bar.

The supporting portion may be configured to be movable in a vertical direction along the moving guide.

The spot cleaning device may include a water spray 101 configured to spray water, a cleaning liquid spray 102 configured to spray a cleaning liquid which is a mixture of water and a detergent, and a suction portion 104 configured to intake water, a cleaning liquid, and a foreign material.

The spot cleaning device may include at least one of a vibrating portion 103 configured to provide fine vibration to the clothes, or a roller 105 configured to remove contaminations of the clothes by contacting the clothes.

The spot cleaning device may further include a water supply container configured to store water that is to be supplied to at least one of the water spray or the cleaning liquid spray, and a drain container configured to store water, a cleaning liquid, and a foreign material intaken by the suction portion.

The water supply container and the drain container 120 may be detachably coupled to the spot cleaning device.

The clothes care apparatus 1 may further include a moving device 200 configured to move the spot cleaning device in at least one direction of a first direction (vertical direction) or a second direction (horizontal direction) intersecting the first direction on the side wall of the care room.

The moving device may include a first motor 210 configured to provide a driving force to move the spot cleaning device in the first direction, and a second motor 220 configured to provide a driving force to move the spot cleaning device in the second direction.

The moving device may further include a frame 250 supporting the spot cleaning device, a first shaft 211 provided in the frame, connected to the spot cleaning device, extending in the first direction, and a second shaft 221 connected to the frame and extending in the second direction.

The spot cleaning device may be configured to be movable in the first direction within the frame.

The first motor may be connected to the first shaft and configured to rotate the first shaft.

The second motor may be connected to the second shaft and configured to rotate the second shaft.

While the first shaft rotates, the spot cleaning device may move in the first direction within the frame.

While the second shaft rotates, the frame and the spot cleaning device may move in the second direction.

According to the disclosure, the clothes care apparatus including the spot cleaning device for spot cleaning clothes may be provided.

So far, specific embodiments have been shown and described. However, the disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made by one of ordinary skill in the technical art to which the disclosure belongs without departing from the gist of the technical idea of the disclosure defined by the claims below.

Claims

1. A clothes care apparatus comprising:

a cabinet;

a care room inside the cabinet and configured to accommodate clothes;

a clothes supporting member detachably couplable to an upper side of the care room, and configured to support clothes;

a door configured to open and close the care room;

a fixing portion on a side wall of the care room and configured to fix a lower part of the clothes; and

a spot cleaning device on a side wall of the care room, and configured to be movable relative to the side wall to, when the clothes supporting member is coupled to the upper side of the care room and clothes are supported by the clothes supporting member, spot clean the clothes supported by the clothes supporting member.

2. The clothes care apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the clothes supporting member is configured to spray air toward the clothes supported by the clothes supporting member.

3. The clothes care apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the fixing portion includes: a bar crossing the side wall of the care room in a horizontal direction, and a fixing member configured to be movable along the bar in the horizontal direction, and to hold a portion of the clothes supported by the clothes supporting member so as to fix the portion of the clothes held by the fixing member in place.

4. The clothes care apparatus of claim 3, wherein

the fixing member includes: a moving member configured to be movable along the bar in the horizontal direction, and a rotating member coupled to the moving member so as to be rotatable toward and away from the moving member, and

the rotating member is configured to be elastically biased in a direction toward the moving member to fix the portion of the clothes between the rotating member and the moving member.

5. The clothes care apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a moving guide extending longitudinally in a vertical direction on the side wall of the care room,

wherein the fixing portion includes a supporting portion supporting the bar, and

the supporting portion is configured to be movable in the vertical direction along the moving guide.

6. The clothes care apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the spot cleaning device includes: a water spray configured to spray water, a cleaning liquid spray configured to spray a cleaning liquid, and a suction portion configured to intake water sprayed from the water spray, cleaning liquid sprayed from the cleaning liquid spray, and foreign material from the clothes supported by the clothes supporting member.

7. The clothes care apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the spot cleaning device includes at least one of a vibrating portion configured to provide fine vibration to the clothes supported by the clothes supporting member, and a roller configured to contact the clothes supported by the clothes supporting member to remove contaminations of the clothes supported by the clothes supporting member.

8. The clothes care apparatus of claim 6, wherein

the spot cleaning device includes: a water supply container configured to store water that is to be supplied to at least one of the water spray and the cleaning liquid spray, and a drain container configured to store water, cleaning liquid, and foreign material taken in through the suction portion, and

the water supply container and the drain container are detachably couplable to the spot cleaning device.

9. The clothes care apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a moving device configured to move the spot cleaning device along at least one of a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction on the side wall of the care room.

10. The clothes care apparatus of claim 9, wherein

the moving device includes: a first motor configured to provide a driving force to move the spot cleaning device along the first direction, and a second motor configured to provide a driving force to move the spot cleaning device along the second direction.

11. The clothes care apparatus of claim 10, wherein

the moving device includes: a frame supporting the spot cleaning device, a first shaft provided in the frame, the first shaft coupled to the spot cleaning device and extending longitudinally in the first direction, and a second shaft coupled to the frame and extending longitudinally in the second direction, and

the spot cleaning device is configured to be movable along the first direction within the frame.

12. The clothes care apparatus of claim 11, wherein

the first motor is coupled to the first shaft and configured to rotate the first shaft,

the second motor is coupled to the second shaft and configured to rotate the second shaft,

while the first shaft rotates, the spot cleaning device moves along the first direction within the frame, and

while the second shaft rotates, the frame and the spot cleaning device move along the second direction.

13. The clothes care apparatus of claim 6, wherein

the spot cleaning device is configured to mix water and detergent to be sprayed as the cleaning liquid.