Disclosed herein is a chemical dosing system for an appliance, such as a laundry washing machine or a dishwashing machine, having a water inlet, the system comprising a meter determining the volume of water supplied to the appliance, a pump for dispensing a quantity of a chemical to the appliance and a control unit arranged to receive a signal from the meter and to cause to be dispensed to the appliance a volume of chemical that is proportional to the quantity of water supplied to the appliance. The disclosed system may enable a correct quantity of chemical to be automatically dispensed to many types of appliance, without the need to know anything about the appliance, or to derive an electrical signal from the appliance.

Disclosed herein is a chemical dosing system for an appliance, such as a laundry washing machine or a dishwashing machine, having a water inlet, the system comprising a meter determining the volume of water supplied to the appliance, a pump for dispensing a quantity of a chemical to the appliance and a control unit arranged to receive a signal from the meter and to cause to be dispensed to the appliance a volume of chemical that is proportional to the quantity of water supplied to the appliance. The disclosed system may enable a correct quantity of chemical to be automatically dispensed to many types of appliance, without the need to know anything about the appliance, or to derive an electrical signal from the appliance.

The present invention relates to a device for handling laundry and a control method thereof, wherein the device for handling laundry, equipped with a plurality of washing units that wash independently of one another, sets a washing course in order that, when washing is being carried out by a first washing unit and a second washing unit at the same time, a specific operation is not carried out by the first washing unit and the second washing unit at the same time, the washing course being set by combining the washing courses of the plurality of washing units, and thus, operational delays resulting from simultaneous operation are prevented, vibrations are reduced, momentary increases in power consumption are prevented, protecting the device for handling laundry and improving energy consumption efficiency.

The present invention relates to a device for handling laundry and a control method thereof, wherein the device for handling laundry, equipped with a plurality of washing units that wash independently of one another, sets a washing course in order that, when washing is being carried out by a first washing unit and a second washing unit at the same time, a specific operation is not carried out by the first washing unit and the second washing unit at the same time, the washing course being set by combining the washing courses of the plurality of washing units, and thus, operational delays resulting from simultaneous operation are prevented, vibrations are reduced, momentary increases in power consumption are prevented, protecting the device for handling laundry and improving energy consumption efficiency.

A control method for a laundry treating apparatus comprises a first communication step of notifying a dryer of a washing course by a washing machine if the washing course is input through a washing machine interface provided to receive a control command; a course selection step of selecting any one of a plurality of drying courses set to the dryer by the dryer; and a predicted time transmission step of transmitting a sum of a washing time set to the washing course and a drying time set to the drying course to a terminal provided to perform communication with at least any one of the washing machine and the dryer through wire or wireless communication.

A control method for a laundry treating apparatus comprises a first communication step of notifying a dryer of a washing course by a washing machine if the washing course is input through a washing machine interface provided to receive a control command; a course selection step of selecting any one of a plurality of drying courses set to the dryer by the dryer; and a predicted time transmission step of transmitting a sum of a washing time set to the washing course and a drying time set to the drying course to a terminal provided to perform communication with at least any one of the washing machine and the dryer through wire or wireless communication.

A washing machine in which a first main heater is not driven while wash water stored in a first tub and wash water stored in a second tub are simultaneously heated, and a method of controlling the same. A washing machine includes: a first tub configured to store wash water; a first main heater configured to heat wash water stored in the first tub; a first sub heater configured to heat wash water stored in the first tub; a second tub configured to store wash water; and a second heater configured to heat wash water stored in the second tub, wherein a power consumption required to drive the first main heater is greater than a power consumption required to drive the first sub heater, and the first main heater is not driven while wash water stored in the first tube and wash water stored in the second tub are simultaneously heated.

A washing machine in which a first main heater is not driven while wash water stored in a first tub and wash water stored in a second tub are simultaneously heated, and a method of controlling the same. A washing machine includes: a first tub configured to store wash water; a first main heater configured to heat wash water stored in the first tub; a first sub heater configured to heat wash water stored in the first tub; a second tub configured to store wash water; and a second heater configured to heat wash water stored in the second tub, wherein a power consumption required to drive the first main heater is greater than a power consumption required to drive the first sub heater, and the first main heater is not driven while wash water stored in the first tube and wash water stored in the second tub are simultaneously heated.

An energy efficient autonomous laundry system includes a plurality of combination washing and drying machines, at least one exhaust combining manifold in fluid communication with the plurality of combination washing and drying machines, at least one heat pump receiving combined exhaust from the manifold, one or more sensors disposed throughout the airflow of the system, and a controller in operative communication with all of these system components. The controller is configured to receive an output signal, analyze at least one air characteristic associated with the one or more sensors, determine, based on the analysis, whether the at least one air characteristics is within a preprogrammed range of values for at least one of air temperature, air flow, and air humidity, and adjust one or more controls, including controls for adjusting at least one of air temperature, air flow, and air humidity at the one or more locations within the system.

An energy efficient autonomous laundry system includes a plurality of combination washing and drying machines, at least one exhaust combining manifold in fluid communication with the plurality of combination washing and drying machines, at least one heat pump receiving combined exhaust from the manifold, one or more sensors disposed throughout the airflow of the system, and a controller in operative communication with all of these system components. The controller is configured to receive an output signal, analyze at least one air characteristic associated with the one or more sensors, determine, based on the analysis, whether the at least one air characteristics is within a preprogrammed range of values for at least one of air temperature, air flow, and air humidity, and adjust one or more controls, including controls for adjusting at least one of air temperature, air flow, and air humidity at the one or more locations within the system.