Apparatus for Treating Laundry

The present disclosure relates to a laundry treatment apparatus.

A laundry treatment apparatus is an apparatus designed to receive laundry such as clothes and bedclothes in a drum thereof and to perform a laundry treatment such as elimination of contaminants from the laundry or drying of the laundry.

When a laundry treatment apparatus is designed to eliminate contaminants from laundry, the laundry treatment apparatus is capable of performing washing, rinsing, dewatering, spin-drying and the like. The laundry treatment apparatus may include a cabinet defining the appearance, a tub received in the cabinet, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub and receiving laundry therein, and a detergent supply unit configured to supply detergent to the inside of the drum. When the drum is rotated by a motor in the state in which washing water is supplied to the laundry received in the drum, contaminants may be eliminated from the laundry by virtue of frictional action between the laundry and the drum and the washing water.

When a laundry treatment apparatus is designed to dry laundry, the laundry treatment apparatus is capable of removing moisture from laundry by supplying dry air to the laundry. The laundry treatment apparatus may include a cabinet, a drum rotatably provided in the cabinet, a heating unit configured to heat or dry air supplied to the laundry and the like. By supplying dry air to the laundry received in the drum, the moisture contained in the laundry may evaporate and be removed by the dry air, and water in the laundry may be removed.

Korea unexamined patent application publication No. 10-2008-0021921A1 (Related patent document 1) discloses a laundry treatment apparatus which is provided with a plurality of stacked treatment apparatuses. The laundry treatment apparatus is constructed such that a first treatment apparatus is provided at an upper level and a second treatment apparatus is provided at a lower level. Each of the first treatment apparatus and the second treatment apparatus includes a manipulation unit and a display unit. In other words, the related patent document 1 discloses the laundry treatment apparatus including a plurality of treatment apparatuses each of which includes the manipulation unit and the display unit. However, the laundry treatment apparatus is problematic in that a user must check the plurality of treatment apparatuses and respectively manipulate the plurality of treatment apparatuses and that it is disadvantageous to operate the plurality of treatment apparatuses in linkage with each other.

Korea unexamined patent application publication No. 10-2021-0112087 (Related patent document 2) discloses a laundry treatment apparatus including a plurality of stacked treatment apparatuses in which both a first treatment apparatus and a second treatment apparatus are manipulated via a single control panel. The related patent document 2 discloses a structure in which the control panel is coupled between the first treatment apparatus and the second treatment apparatus. However, the related patent document 2 does not disclose effective coupling relationships between components constituting the control panel.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a structure capable of improving workability in coupling between components constituting a control panel.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus capable of realizing a simple and clear design of a user interface (UI) by providing a control panel including a flat display and constructing the control panel using the flat display.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a structure capable of protecting a flat display, which is weak to humidity, from circumstances in which a laundry treatment apparatus is always exposed to humidity.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a coupling structure in which components constituting a control panel are stably coupled to each other so as to maintain sealing performance.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus capable of reducing quality deterioration of a screen which is transmitted to a user through a cover panel in construction of a control panel including a flat display.

Objects, which are intended to be solved by the present disclosure, are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects of the present disclosure, which are not mentioned above, will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following descriptions.

The present disclosure provides a laundry treatment apparatus. In an embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus includes a first treatment apparatus including a first front panel provided at a front side thereof and a first drum configured to receive laundry therein, a second treatment apparatus disposed on the first treatment apparatus, the second treatment apparatus including a second front panel provided at a front side thereof and a second drum configured to receive laundry therein, and a control panel provided between the first front panel and the second front panel, connected to the first treatment apparatus or the second treatment apparatus in a signal communication manner, and providing a user interface (UI) configured to control at least one of the first treatment apparatus or the second treatment apparatus, wherein the control panel includes a cover panel including a front surface portion defining an appearance of the cover panel, a first surface portion which extends backwards from one of upper and lower sides of the front surface portion, and a second surface portion which extends backwards from another of the upper and lower sides of the front surface portion, and an electrical component module coupled to a rear side of the cover panel, wherein the electrical component module includes a flat display, and a supporter including a display seating portion on which the flat display is seated, wherein at least one of the first surface portion or the second surface portion of the cover panel includes a plurality of protrusions which project toward the electrical component module, and wherein, among the plurality of protrusions, a protrusion that is positioned in a region which overlaps the flat display in an up-and-down direction, does not overlap the flat display in forward and backward directions.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain a structure capable of improving workability in coupling between components constituting a control panel.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to realize a simple and clear design of a user interface (UI) by providing a control panel including a flat display and constructing the control panel using the flat display.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to protect a flat display, which is weak to humidity, from circumstances in which a laundry treatment apparatus is always exposed to humidity.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain a coupling structure in which components constituting a control panel are stably coupled to each other so as to maintain sealing performance.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce quality deterioration of a screen which is transmitted to a user through a cover panel in construction of a control panel including a flat display.

Effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects of the present disclosure, which are not mentioned above, will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs, from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present disclosure.

However, the present disclosure may be implemented in several different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In order to clearly illustrate the present disclosure, components not related to the description are omitted, and similar components are denoted by like reference numerals throughout the specification.

In this specification, redundant descriptions of the same components are omitted.

It will be understood that, when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, the element can be directly connected or coupled to the other element and an intervening element may also be present therebetween. In contrast, in this specification, it will be understood that, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present therebetween.

The terminology used herein is merely for the purpose of describing particular embodiments, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

In addition, as used herein, a singular form may encompass the plural form unless context dictates otherwise.

In this specification, it will be further understood that the terms “comprise”, “have”, etc., specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

Furthermore, in this specification, the term “and/or” includes a combination of a plurality of related listed items or any of the plurality of related listed items. In this specification, “A or B” may include “A”, “B”, or “both A and B.”.

illustrates a laundry treatment apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the laundry treatment apparatusincludes a first treatment apparatus, a second treatment apparatus, and a control panel.

In the description of the present disclosure, forward direction (+X), a backward direction (−X), a first lateral direction (+Y), a second lateral direction (−Y), an upward direction (+Z), and a downward direction (−Z) of the components may be defined on the same basis. For example, the forward and backward directions (+X and −X) of the first treatment apparatusmay be identically defined to the forward and backward directions of each of the second treatment apparatusand the control panel, and the lateral direction (+Y, −Y) and the upward and downward direction (+Z, −Z) may also be defined in the same manner.

The first treatment apparatusand the second treatment apparatusmay be embodied as various kinds of apparatuses configured to treat laundry, such as a washing machine configured to wash laundry and/or a dryer configured to dry laundry. The first treatment apparatusmay be a washing machine, and the second treatment apparatusmay be a dryer. Both the first treatment apparatusand the second treatment apparatusmay be a washing machine or a dryer, or the first treatment apparatusmay be a dryer, and the second treatment apparatusmay be a washing machine. Each of the first treatment apparatusand the second treatment apparatusmay be any of various kinds of apparatuses configured to treat laundry.

In an embodiment, the first treatment apparatus, which is positioned at a lower level, may be embodied as a washing machine configured to wash laundry. The first treatment apparatusmay be provided therein with a first drumand a tub, which receive laundry therein. The first drumprovided in the first treatment apparatusmay be rotatably provided in the tub. The second treatment apparatusmay be positioned on the first treatment apparatus. The first treatment apparatusmay support the second treatment apparatus. The second treatment apparatusmay be embodied as a dryer configured to dry laundry. The second treatment apparatusmay be provided with a first drumand a tub.

The first treatment apparatusmay include a first cabinetdefining the appearance thereof. The first cabinetmay be provided at the front side thereof with a first front panel. The first front panelmay include a laundry port communicating with the first drum. The laundry port may be opened and closed by a first cabinet door. The first drumof the first treatment apparatusaccording to an embodiment may have a rotational axis parallel to the forward and backward directions (+X and −Y).

The first treatment apparatusmay be provided with a first left panelin one lateral direction (+Y). The first treatment apparatusmay be provided with a first right panel(see) in the opposite direction (−Y). The first treatment apparatusmay be provided at the rear side thereof with a first rear panel (not shown). The first treatment apparatusmay be provided at an upper side thereof with a first upper panel (not shown). The first treatment apparatusmay be provided at the lower side thereof with a first lower panel (not shown).

The first front panel, the first lateral panel, the first rear panel (not shown), the first upper panel, and the first lower panel (not shown) may be combined with one another to form the first cabinet, and may be coupled to one another. The first cabinetmay define therein a space in which inner components constituting the first treatment apparatusare received.

The first treatment apparatusmay be constructed such that laundry and the like to be treated is introduced into the first cabinetthrough the laundry port so as to be received in the first drum, and may perform a treatment process.

The first front panelmay be provided with a detergent opening into which a detergent storage unitis inserted. In the laundry treatment apparatusaccording to an embodiment, the first treatment apparatusmay be installed on a floor, and the detergent storage unitmay be positioned higher than the laundry port in the first treatment apparatus. The detergent storage unitmay be positioned between the laundry port in the first treatment apparatusand the control panel. In other words, the detergent storage unitmay be positioned higher than the laundry port in the first treatment apparatusbut lower than the control panel. The detergent storage unitmay be pushed into and pulled out of the first cabinetby a user. For example, a user may separate the detergent storage unitfrom the first cabinet, may put detergent into the detergent storage unit, and may push the detergent storage unitinto the first cabinet.

In an embodiment, the first front panelmay have a filter opening into which a filter unitconfigured to collect foreign substances from washing water is inserted, and the filter unitis inserted into the filter opening. The filter unitmay be provided at one lateral side of a lower portion of the first front panel. The filter unitmay be introduced into the first cabinetthrough the filter opening, and may be connected to a washing water path through which washing water is discharged from the tub. The filter unitis capable of filtering foreign substances from the washing water discharged from the tubafter completion of a washing operation. The function of the filter unitis not necessarily limited to the filtering function for washing water. The filter unitmay be configured to filter foreign substances from various objects. For example, the filter unitmay be configured to filter foreign substances from washing water required to perform a washing operation before initiation of the washing operation.

A user may push or pull the filter unitinto or out of the first cabinet. The filter unit, which has been taken out of the first cabinet, may be washed and reused or may be replaced. The filter unitmay be put into and taken out of the filter opening with a higher frequency, compared to the detergent storage unit. Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the detergent opening, into which the detergent storage unitwhich is put into and taken out of the detergent opening with a lower frequency is inserted, may be disposed at an upper side of the first front panel. In addition, the filter opening, into which the filter unitwhich is put into and taken out of the filter opening with a higher frequency is inserted, may be disposed at a lower side of the first front panel. Consequently, it is possible to realize the first front panelwhich has excellent convenience in use and availability of a space.

Furthermore, the washing water discharge path, which is connected to the tubin the first cabinet, may be positioned at a lower side in the first cabinetso as to allow easy discharge of washing water. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the filter unitmay be provided at the lower side of the first cabinetso as to be efficiently connected to the washing water discharge path.

The first treatment apparatusmay be provided with a first apparatus controller. The first apparatus controlleris a component configured to control various components constituting the first treatment apparatus. The first apparatus controllermay be disposed in the first cabinet. The first apparatus controllermay include a circuit board and electrical components mounted on the circuit board. In an embodiment, the first apparatus controllermay check information in a memory, corresponding to a manipulation signal received from the control panel, and may perform control corresponding to the manipulation signal. The first apparatus controllermay transmit the state of the first treatment apparatusto the control panel.

The second treatment apparatusmay include a second cabinetdefining the appearance thereof. The second cabinetmay include a second front panelprovided at a front side thereof. The second front panelmay be provided with a laundry port communicating with the second drum. The laundry port may be opened and closed by a second cabinet door.

The second treatment apparatusmay be provided with a second left panelin one lateral direction (+Y). The second treatment apparatusmay be provided with a second right panel(see) in the opposite lateral direction (−Y). The second treatment apparatusmay be provided at a rear side thereof with a second rear panel (not shown). The second treatment apparatusmay be provided at an upper side thereof with a second upper panel. The second treatment apparatusmay be provided at a lower side thereof with a base (not shown).

The second front panel, the second lateral panel, the second rear panel (not shown), the second upper panel, and the basemay be combined with one another to form the second cabinet, and may be coupled to one another. The second cabinetmay define a space in which electrical components constituting the second treatment apparatusare received together with the second drum.

Laundry and the like to be treated may be introduced into the second cabinetthrough the laundry port of the second treatment apparatus, and may then be received in the second drum. The laundry received in the second drummay be subjected to treatment operations, such as washing, drying and the like, by the second treatment apparatus.

The second treatment apparatusaccording to an embodiment may be constructed such that the laundry port is provided at the second front paneltogether with the second cabinet door. The second drumreceived in the second treatment apparatusmay have a rotational axis parallel to the forward and backward direction X.

The second treatment apparatusmay be disposed on the first treatment apparatus. In an embodiment, the lower portion of the first treatment apparatusmay be coupled to the upper portion of the second treatment apparatus. The upper portion of the first treatment apparatusmay be constructed so as to support the second treatment apparatus. For example, the first upper panel (not shown) of the first treatment apparatusmay be constructed so as to directly and indirectly support the baseof the second treatment apparatus.

The second treatment apparatusmay be provided with a second apparatus controller. The second apparatus controlleris a component configured to control various components constituting the second treatment apparatus. The second apparatus controllermay be disposed in the second cabinet. The second apparatus controllermay include a circuit board and electrical components mounted on the circuit board. In an embodiment, the second apparatus controllermay check information in a memory, corresponding to a manipulation signal received from the control panel, and may perform control corresponding to the manipulation signal. The second apparatus controllermay transmit the state of the second treatment apparatusto the control panel.

The control panelmay be disposed between the first front paneland the second front panel. Since the control panelis provided between the first front paneland the second front panelat a level almost corresponding to a user's waist, it is possible to assure a height convenient to manipulate the control panel. The control panelmay be connected to at least one of the first treatment apparatusor the second treatment apparatusin a signal communication manner. In an embodiment, the control panelmay be connected to the first treatment apparatusand the second treatment apparatusin a signal communication manner. In an embodiment, the control panelmay be connected to the first apparatus controllerand/or the second treatment apparatusin a signal communication manner. A user interface (UI) may be displayed on the front surface of the control panel. A user may control the first treatment apparatusand/or the second treatment apparatusthrough the control panel.

The laundry treatment apparatusmay be provided at the rear side thereof with a rear bracket. The rear bracketmay be coupled both to the first treatment apparatusand to the second treatment apparatus. The rear bracketmay be disposed at an upper portion of a rear side of the first treatment apparatusand at a lower portion of a rear side of the second treatment apparatus. The rear bracketmay be provided with a handle for a transporting person. A transporting person may easily move the laundry treatment apparatususing the handle formed at the rear bracket.

is a front perspective view of the control panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The control panel will now be described with reference to.