METHOD FOR CONTROLLING LAUNDRY TREATING APPARATUS

Abstract

The present application relates to a clothing treatment apparatus control method comprising: a mode selection step for selecting a wash mode; a washing step for, when the wash mode is selected, discharging a liquid inside a supply part to a water supplier flow path through a transfer part, thereby washing the water supplier flow path and the transfer part; and a detection step for, while the washing step is being carried out, supplying a preset applied voltage to a circuit comprising two electrodes, so as to measure a current value between the two electrodes, thereby determining the type of the liquid discharged from the supply part.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus including a drum rotatably disposed inside a tub and constructed to store laundry therein, a water supply flow channel constructed to guide water to the tub, a supplier constructed to store liquid therein, a transferer constructed to move the liquid stored in the supplier to the water supply flow channel, and a sensor including two electrodes fixed at spaced locations inside the water supply flow channel, the method comprising: a mode selection step of selecting a washing mode; a washing step of discharging the liquid inside the supplier via the transferer into the water supply flow channel to wash the water supply flow channel and the transferer when the washing mode is selected; and a sensing step of supplying a preset voltage to a circuit including the two electrodes and measuring a current value between the two electrodes to determine a type of the liquid discharged from the supplier, wherein the sensing step is performed during execution of the washing step.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein when the current value between the two electrodes measured in the sensing step is smaller than a preset first reference value or greater than a preset second reference value, the washing step is stopped, wherein the first reference value is set to a current value when the two electrodes are connected to each other by a material having an electrical resistance higher than an electrical resistance of water, wherein the second reference value is set to a current value when the two electrodes are connected to each other by a material having an electrical resistance lower than the electrical resistance of water.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first reference value is set to a current value when at least one of the two electrodes is exposed to air.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the second reference value is set to a current value when the two electrodes are connected to each other by liquid detergent.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising a notification step of notifying that water stored in the supplier is insufficient when the current value measured in the sensing step is smaller than the first reference value.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising a request step of requesting replacement of the liquid filled in the supplier when the current value measured in the sensing step is greater than the preset second reference value.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein when the current value measured in the sensing step is greater than the first reference value and smaller than the second reference value, the washing step is executed for a preset reference duration.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: a water supply step of supplying water to the tub via a water supply pipe connecting a water source with the water supply flow channel after completion of the washing step; and a drain step of discharging water stored in the tub to the outside of the tub via a drainage.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising a water level sensing step of sensing an amount of water stored in the tub via a water level sensor, wherein the water level sensing step is executed before start of the washing step, wherein the washing step is started when a water level of the tub is below a preset reference water level.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising a water level adjustment step of discharging water inside the tub when the water level of the tub is equal to or above the reference water level.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example of a laundry treating apparatus.

[0038] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of an internal structure of a laundry treating apparatus.

[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a detergent supplier disposed in a laundry treating apparatus.

[0040] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an automatic detergent supplier (a second supplier).

[0041] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an example of a first detergent container disposed in a second supplier.

[0042] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate an example of a second detergent container disposed in a second supplier.

[0043] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a mounting portion.

[0044] FIG. 11 illustrates a coupled structure of a detergent container and a mounting portion.

[0045] FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a transferer.

[0046] FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 illustrate an example of a water supply flow channel and a manual detergent supplier (a first supplier).

[0047] FIG. 16 illustrates a simplified flow channel through which detergent is supplied to a tub.

[0048] FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a sensor.

[0049] FIG. 18 illustrates an example of a method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus.

BEST MODE

[0050] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a laundry treating apparatus and a method for controlling the same will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a laundry treating apparatus 100 includes a cabinet 1, and a treatment portion 2 and 3 that is disposed inside the cabinet and provides a space in which laundry is accommodated.

[0052] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cabinet 1 may include a housing 11 that provides a space in which the treatment portion is accommodated, and a cover 12 that closes an open top surface of the housing.

[0053] The cover 12 may include a cover body 121 fixed to the housing 11 and forming a top surface of the laundry treating apparatus, and an inlet 124 defined to extend through the cover body 121. The inlet 124 may be closed by a door 13 pivotably coupled to the cover body 121.

[0054] The cover body 12 may be equipped with a front space (a first space) 122 located in front of the inlet 124, and a rear space (a second space) 123 located at the rear of the inlet 124. A control panel 125 may be disposed in the front space 122, and the control panel 125 may include an input unit 126 that receives a control command from a user and a display 127 that displays information related to the laundry treating apparatus.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 3, the treatment portion may include a tub 2 in which water is stored, and a drum 3 that is disposed within the tub and stores an object-to-be-washed (the laundry or the like) supplied through the inlet 124 therein.

[0056] Because the tub 2 should be formed with a structure capable of storing water, the tub 2 may be formed as a hollow cylindrical tub body 21.

[0057] The tub body 21 is fixed to the cabinet 1 via a tub support 23. The tub support 23 may be formed as a bar having one end fixed to the cover 12 or the housing 11 and the other end fixed to a circumferential surface of the tub body 21. A tub inlet 22 located below the inlet 124 is defined in a top surface of the tub body 21.

[0058] The tub body 21 may be supplied with water via a water supplier S, and water inside the tub body 21 may be discharged to the outside of the cabinet 1 via a drainage 25.

[0059] The water supplier S may include a water supply pipe 4 connected to a water source, a water supply valve 5 that controls opening and closing of the water supply pipe 4 in response to a control signal of a controller (a first controller), and a water supply flow channel 6 that guides water supplied from the water supply pipe 4 into the tub 2. FIG. 3 illustrates a case in which the water supply flow channel 6 guides water into the tub body 21 via the tub inlet 22 as an example.

[0060] The drainage 25 may include a drainage pipe 251 that guides water inside the tub body 21 to the outside of the cabinet 1, and a drainage valve 252 that controls opening and closing of the drainage pipe in response to a control signal of the first controller.

[0061] To sense an amount of water stored in the tub body 21, the laundry treating apparatus may further include a water level sensor 27. The water level sensor 27 may be formed in various structures as long as it is able to sense the amount of water stored in the tub body 21. FIG. 3 illustrates a case in which the water level sensor 27 is composed of a connection pipe connected to the tub body 21 and a pressure sensor that outputs a control signal corresponding to a pressure inside the connection pipe as an example.

[0062] The drum 3, as a means for providing a space for storing the laundry by being located inside the tub body 21, may be formed as a hollow cylindrical drum body 31.

[0063] A drum inlet 32 located below the tub inlet 22 may be defined in a top surface of the drum body 31. Accordingly, the user may input the laundry into the drum body 31 through the inlet 124, the tub inlet 22, and the drum inlet 32. A communication hole 33 that allows the tub body 21 and an internal space of the drum body 31 to be in communication with each other may be defined in a circumferential surface, a bottom surface, and the like of the drum body 31.

[0064] An agitator 34 that is rotatably disposed inside the drum body and is able to form a water flow inside the drum body 31 may be further disposed on the bottom surface of the drum body 31.

[0065] The drum body 31 and the agitator 34 are rotatable by a driver. The driver may include a motor 35 fixed to a bottom surface of the tub body 21 and positioned outside the tub body 21, a drum shaft 36 connecting the motor with the drum body 31, and an agitator shaft 37 connecting the motor with the agitator 34.

[0066] The agitator shaft 37 may extend through the drum shaft 36 and directly connect a rotor of the motor 35 with the agitator 34. In this case, a gear 38 that connects the agitator shaft 37 with the drum shaft 36, and a clutch 39 that controls connection of one end of the drum shaft 36 and the rotor may be disposed inside the drum shaft 36.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 4, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may be equipped with a detergent supplier 7 and 8 for supplying detergent to the tub 2.

[0068] The detergent supplier may include a first supplier (a manual detergent supplier) 7 that receives the detergent from the user and supplies the same to the tub 2, and a second supplier (an automatic detergent supplier) 8 that supplies an appropriate amount of detergent to the tub 2 at a set time point under control of the first controller.

[0069] The first supplier 7 may be formed as a drawer 71 that may be extended from the water supply flow channel 6 equipped in the cover 12. The drawer 71 may be designed to be extended along a direction (a +X-axis direction) in which a center of the inlet 124 is located from the water supply flow channel 6.

[0070] The drawer 71 may include a first detergent flow channel 72 and a second detergent flow channel 74 that guide the detergent provided by the user to the water supply flow channel 6.

[0071] The first detergent flow channel 72 and the second detergent flow channel 74 should be constructed to form flow channels separated from each other, and the first detergent flow channel 72 may be connected to the water supply flow channel 6 via a first outlet 73 and the second detergent flow channel 74 may be connected to the water supply flow channel 6 via a second outlet (not shown).

[0072] The first outlet 73 may be formed as a hole extending through a rear surface of the first detergent flow channel 72, and the second outlet (not shown) may be formed as a siphon flow channel (or a water trap) that, when a certain amount or more of liquid (water or liquid detergent) is supplied to the second detergent flow channel 74, discharges the liquid to the water supply flow channel 6. In this case, the first detergent flow channel 72 may be utilized as a supply flow channel for powder detergent or liquid detergent required for washing, and the second detergent flow channel 74 may be utilized as a supply flow channel for liquid detergent or powder detergent that is injected at a specific time (a rinsing cycle, a dehydration cycle, and the like).

[0073] As described above, the cover body 121 may include the front space 122 located in front of the inlet 124 and the rear space 123 located at the rear of the inlet 124, and the second supplier 8 may be disposed in the rear space 123. Unlike what is shown in the drawing, the control panel 125 may be disposed in the rear space 123 and the second supplier 8 may be disposed in the front space 122.

[0074] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the second supplier 8 may include a detergent container 81 that provides a space for storing the detergent, a mounting portion 82 that is fixed to the rear space 123 and to which the detergent container 81 is detachably fixed, and a transferer 83 that withdraws the detergent from the detergent container 81 coupled to the mounting portion 82 and moves the same to the water supply flow channel 6.

[0075] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the detergent container 81 may include a first detergent container 81a and a second detergent container 81b that are detachably fixed to the mounting portion 82.

[0076] The first detergent container 81a may include a storage body (a first storage body) 811 that provides a space for storing the detergent, a detergent inlet (a first detergent inlet) 812 that extends through one surface of the first storage body, and a detergent container door (a first detergent container door) 813 that is able to open and close the first detergent inlet.

[0077] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first detergent inlet 812 may be defined to extend through a top surface of the first storage body 811, and the first detergent container door 813 may be pivotably fixed to the top surface of the first storage body 811.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 7, a detergent discharge port (a first detergent discharge port) 814 may be disposed on a bottom surface of the first storage body 811, and a check valve (a first check valve) 814a may be disposed on the first detergent discharge port 814.

[0079] A guide flow channel (a first guide flow channel) 814b that guides the detergent inside the first storage body 811 to the first detergent discharge port 814 may be disposed on a bottom surface 814c of the first storage body 811. In this case, the first detergent discharge port 814 may be disposed on a surface oriented in a direction in which the second storage body 815 is located (a surface oriented in a +Z direction, a surface facing a hub of the mounting portion) in a space provided by the first guide flow channel 814b.

[0080] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the second detergent container 81b may include the storage body (the second storage body) 815 that provides a space for storing the detergent, a detergent inlet (a second detergent inlet) 816 that extends through one surface of the second storage body, and a detergent container door (a second detergent container door) 817 that is able to open and close the second detergent inlet.

[0081] The second detergent inlet 816 may be defined to extend through a top surface of the second storage body 815, and the second detergent container door 817 may be pivotably fixed to the top surface of the second storage body 815.

[0082] As illustrated in FIG. 9, a detergent discharge port (a second detergent discharge port) 818 may be disposed on a bottom surface 818c of the second storage body 815, and a check valve (a second check valve) 818a may be disposed on the second detergent discharge port 818.

[0083] A guide flow channel (a second guide flow channel) 818b that guides the detergent inside the second storage body 815 to the second detergent discharge port 818 may be disposed on a bottom surface of the second storage body 815. In this case, the second detergent discharge port 818 may be disposed on a surface oriented in a direction in which the first storage body 811 is located (a surface oriented in a Z direction, a surface facing the hub of the mounting portion) in a space provided by the second guide flow channel 818b.

[0084] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the mounting portion 82 may include a mounting body 82a that is fixed to the cover body 121 and positioned in the rear space 123 of the cover, and a hub 82b disposed on the mounting body 82a and to which the first detergent container 81a and the second detergent container 81b are fixed. FIG. 10 illustrates a case in which the hub 82b is positioned between the first detergent discharge port 814 and the second detergent discharge port 818 and fixes the discharge ports 814 and 818 as an example.

[0085] The mounting body 82a is equipped with a first mounting space 821 and a second mounting space 822 that are defined to face each other with the hub 82b interposed therebetween. The first mounting space 821 is a space where the first detergent container 81a is mounted, and the second mounting space 822 is a space where the second detergent container 81b is mounted.

[0086] The first mounting space 821 may be defined from the hub 82b in a direction away from the second mounting space 822 along a width direction of the cover body 121) (a Y-axis direction), and the second mounting space 822 may be defined from the hub 82b in a direction away from the first mounting space 821 along the width direction of the cover body 121 (a +Y-axis direction).

[0087] The first mounting space 821 may be defined as a groove (a first mounting groove) that accommodates the bottom surface of the first storage body 811 therein, and the second mounting space 822 may be defined as a groove (a second mounting groove) that accommodates the bottom surface of the second storage body 815 therein.

[0088] For example, the first mounting space 821 may be defined as a groove that accommodates entire edges of the bottom surface of the first storage body 811 therein, and the second mounting space 822 may be defined as a groove that accommodates entire edges of the bottom surface of the second storage body 815 therein.

[0089] In addition, the bottom surface of the first mounting space 821 and the bottom surface of the second mounting space 822 may be formed in a shape that is inclined downward toward the hub 82b. In this case, it is preferable that the bottom surfaces 814c and 818c of the respective storage bodies 811 and 815 are inclined to correspond to the shapes of the mounting spaces corresponding thereto.

[0090] The mounting portion 82 may include a first fastening pipe 823 protruding from the hub 82b along the direction away from the hub 82b (the Y-axis direction) in the width direction of the cover body 121, and a second fastening pipe 824 protruding from the hub 82b along the direction away from the hub (the +Y-axis direction) in the width direction of the cover body 121.

[0091] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the first fastening pipe 823 may be inserted into the first detergent discharge port 814 of the first detergent container, and the second fastening pipe 824 may be inserted into the second detergent discharge port 818 of the second detergent container.

[0092] When the first detergent container 81a is inserted into the first mounting space 821, the first fastening pipe 823 is inserted into the first detergent discharge port 814, so that the first check valve 814a will open the first detergent discharge port 814. When the second detergent container 81b is inserted into the second mounting space 822, the second fastening pipe 824 is inserted into the second detergent discharge port 818, so that the second check valve 818a will open the second detergent discharge port 818.

[0093] As illustrated in FIG. 12, the transferer 83 may include a first transferer 83a that moves the detergent introduced into the first fastening pipe 823 to the tub body 21, and a second transferer 83b that moves the detergent introduced into the second fastening pipe 824 to the tub body 21.

[0094] The first transferer 83a may include a first detergent pump 831 mounted in the rear space 123 of the cover body, a first supply flow channel 832 connecting an inlet of the first detergent pump with the first fastening pipe 823, and a first discharge flow channel 833 connecting an outlet of the first detergent pump with the water supply flow channel 6.

[0095] The second transferer 83b may include a second detergent pump 834 mounted in the rear space 123, a second supply flow channel 835 connecting an inlet of the second detergent pump with the second fastening pipe 824, and a second discharge flow channel 836 connecting an outlet of the second detergent pump with the water supply flow channel 6.

[0096] Because an open top surface of the rear space 123 is closed by the mounting body 82a, the first transferer 83a and the second transferer 83b mounted in the rear space 123 are not exposed to the outside of the cover by the mounting body 82a.

[0097] In addition, the transferers 83a and 83b are disposed so as not to interfere with the spaces where the detergent containers 81a and 81b are mounted. That is, because the first transferer 83a and the second transferer 83b are disposed in the rear space 123 independent of the mounting spaces 821 and 822 and not at the rear of the two detergent containers 81a and 81b, the laundry treating apparatus 100 is advantageous in designing volumes of the storage bodies 811 and 815 equipped in the respective detergent containers to be great.

[0098] The first controller (not shown) mentioned above is a means for controlling at least one of the input unit 126, the display 127, the motor 35, the water supply valve 5, and the drainage valve 252. The first detergent pump 831 and the second detergent pump 834 equipped in the transferer 83 may operate in response to a control signal of the first controller (not shown). However, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the first detergent pump 831 and the second detergent pump 834 may also operate in response to a control signal of a second controller (a pump controller) 9 separated from the first controller.

[0099] When the second controller 9 is separated from the first controller, the first controller and the second controller 9 should be communicatively connected to each other, and it is preferable that the second controller 9 is equipped to control the two detergent pumps based on a control command (an operation time point and an operation duration of the pump) requested by the first controller. It is preferable that the second controller 9 is fixed inside the rear space 123.

[0100] When the first controller and the second controller 9 are equipped as described above, the second supplier 8 described above may be modularized (applicable to various laundry treating apparatuses having different structures) and a load of the first controller may be reduced, so that a possibility that an operation error of the laundry treating apparatus occurs will be able to be minimized.

[0101] As mentioned above, the water supplier S may include the water supply pipe 4, the water supply valve 5, and the water supply flow channel 6.

[0102] The water supply pipe 4 may include a first water supply pipe 41 connected to a water source that supplies water at a first temperature, and a second water supply pipe 42 connected to a water source that supplies water at a second temperature higher than the first temperature.

[0103] The first water supply pipe 41 may be branched into a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe via a branch unit 54. In this case, the water supply valve 5 may be composed of a first valve 51 that controls opening and closing of the first branch pipe, a second valve 52 that controls opening and closing of the second branch pipe, and a third valve 53 that controls opening and closing of the second water supply pipe 42.

[0104] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the water supply flow channel 6 may include a flow channel body 61 fixed to the cabinet 1 via the cover body 121, and a chamber 611 disposed inside the flow channel body 61 to guide water supplied from the water supply pipe 4 to the tub inlet 22. A chamber outlet 612 that discharges liquid introduced into the chamber 611 to the tub inlet 22 is defined in one surface of the flow channel body 61 (a surface facing the center of the inlet or the like).

[0105] The chamber 611 is connected to the water supply valve 5 via an inlet assembly 63. The inlet assembly 63 may include a first inlet 634, a second inlet 635, and a third inlet 636 that are disposed on the flow channel body 61 and connected to an upper space of the chamber 611.

[0106] As illustrated in FIG. 12, the first inlet 634 may be connected to the first valve 51 via a first valve connection pipe 631, the second inlet 635 may be connected to the second valve 52 via a second valve connection pipe 632, and the third inlet 636 may be connected to the third valve 53 via a third valve connection pipe 633.

[0107] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the drawer 71 of the first supplier may be constructed to be extended from the chamber 611 via the chamber outlet 612. In this case, the first outlet 73 and the second outlet of the drawer should be constructed to discharge the detergent into the chamber 611.

[0108] Furthermore, a passage through which the detergent or water may flow should be disposed between a bottom surface 613 of the chamber 611 and a bottom surface of the drawer 71 such that the detergent discharged from the drawer 7 to the chamber 611 may flow to the tub 2. FIG. 13 illustrates a case in which the chamber bottom surface 613 is formed as an inclined surface inclined downward toward the chamber outlet 612 to form the passage as an example.

[0109] The flow channel body 61 may further include a connecting portion 84 that guides the detergent supplied from the transferer 83 to the bottom surface 613 of the chamber.

[0110] The connecting portion 83 may include a connecting chamber 841 that protrudes from the flow channel body 61 and is in communication with the chamber 611, a first detergent supply pipe 842 that connects the first discharge flow channel 833 of the transferer to the connecting chamber 841, and a second detergent supply pipe 843 that connects the second discharge flow channel 836 of the transferer to the connecting chamber 841

[0111] The connecting chamber 841 may protrude in a direction in which the drawer 71 is inserted (a X-axis direction) or in a width direction of the drawer (a Y-axis direction, a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the drawer is inserted).

[0112] When the detergent stored in the detergent container 81 is supplied via a top surface of the chamber 611 instead of via the connecting chamber 841, the detergent discharged from the transferer 83 will be supplied to the tub 2 via the first detergent flow channel 72 or the second detergent flow channel 74 disposed in the drawer, and the chamber bottom surface 613. Because the above-described movement path of the detergent is longer than the path in which the detergent moves to the tub 2 via the connecting chamber 841 and the chamber bottom surface 613, there is a high possibility that the detergent may not be entirely supplied to the tub and may remain on the movement path. The connecting chamber 841 is a means for solving such a problem.

[0113] A distributor 62 that is located on the drawer 71 and guides water introduced into the chamber 611 to the first detergent flow channel 72 and the second detergent flow channel 74 of the drawer may be further disposed inside the chamber 11. The distributor 62 may guide a portion of water introduced into the chamber 611 to the detergent flow channels 72 and 74 and guide the remainder to the connecting chamber 841.

[0114] The distributor 62 may include a distributor body 621 fixed inside the chamber 611 and positioned on the drawer 71, and a partition wall 622 that divides the distributor body 621 into a first distribution space 623 positioned on the first detergent flow channel 72 of the drawer and a second distribution space 625 positioned on the second detergent flow channel 74.

[0115] As illustrated in FIG. 14, the first distribution space 623 may include a first supply hole 624 extending through the first distribution space 623, and the second distribution space 625 may include a second supply hole 626 extending through the second distribution space 625.

[0116] Water discharged from the first water supply pipe 41 via the first valve 51 will be supplied to the first detergent flow channel 72 of the drawer via the first inlet 634 and the first supply hole 624, and water discharged from the first water supply pipe 41 via the second valve 52 will be supplied to the second detergent flow channel 74 of the drawer via the second inlet 635 and the second supply hole 626.

[0117] The distributor 62 may further include a guide 627 that facilitates the movement toward the connecting chamber 841 of the portion of water supplied to the distributor body 621.

[0118] The guide 627 may be formed as a board extending from a rear end of the distributor body 621 toward the connecting chamber 841. In this case, the guide 627 may include a first guide through hole 628 and a second guide through hole 629.

[0119] The first guide through hole 628 is a means for allowing the detergent discharged from the first detergent supply pipe 842 to move to a bottom surface of the connecting chamber 841 without interfering with the guide, and the second guide through hole 629 is a means for allowing the detergent discharged from the second detergent supply pipe 843 to move to the bottom surface of the connecting chamber 841 without interfering with the guide. As illustrated in the drawing, the second guide through hole 625 may be defined as a groove in which a free end of the guide 627 is concavely bent.

[0120] As illustrated in FIG. 15, the laundry treating apparatus equipped with the guide 627 is able to guide the portion of water introduced into the chamber 611 during water supply to the connecting chamber 841, thereby minimizing a possibility that the detergent remains on the bottom surface of the connecting chamber 841 (supplying a set amount of detergent entirely to the tub).

[0121] As illustrated in FIG. 16, the laundry treating apparatus having the above-described structure supplies water to the drawer 71 via the water supply pipe 4 when the water supply valve 5 is operated, and the detergent inside the drawer 71 is discharged together with water to the chamber 611 and then supplied to the tub body 21 via the chamber outlet 612.

[0122] In one example, the detergent stored in the detergent container 81 moves to the connecting chamber 841 when the transferer 83 operates, and the detergent inside the connecting chamber 841 is supplied to the tub body 21 via the chamber outlet 612.

[0123] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the above-described laundry treating apparatus 100 has a structure in which the first detergent container 81a and the second detergent container 81b protrude from the top surface of the cover 12.

[0124] Considering that a top surface of the top-loading laundry treating apparatus 100 is typically located higher than a top surface of a front-loading laundry treating apparatus, a vibration amplitude of the first detergent container 81a and the second detergent container 81b described above when the laundry treating apparatus 100 operates may be greater than that of a detergent container (a detergent storage space) located at an upper portion of the front-loading washing machine.

[0125] That is, because the great vibration may occur in the first detergent container 81a and the second detergent container 81b when the drum 3 rotates, when the two detergent containers are not firmly fixed to the cabinet 1 via the mounting portion 82, there is a possibility that the detergent containers may be separated from the mounting portion 82 during the operation of the laundry treating apparatus 100.

[0126] To minimize the above-described risk, the first detergent container 81a is constructed such that when the first storage body 811 is inserted into the first mounting space 821 along the width direction of the cover 12 (the +Y-axis direction), the first fastening pipe 823 is coupled to the first detergent discharge port 811.

[0127] When the first fastening pipe 823 is inserted into the first detergent discharge port 814, the first storage body 811 is restricted from moving in a height direction of the cover 12 (a Z-axis direction) and in a depth direction of the cover 12 (an X-axis direction, a front and rear direction of the cover), so that the laundry treating apparatus 100 may suppress vibration in the two directions of the first detergent container 81a only with the locations of the first fastening pipe 823 and the first detergent discharge port 814.

[0128] In addition, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may maximize a volume of the first storage body 811 because the first transferer 83a, which moves the detergent stored in the first detergent container 81a to the tub, is positioned in an external space of the mounting portion 82 (the rear space 123 of the cover).

[0129] The second detergent container 81b is constructed such that when the second storage body 815 is inserted into the second mounting space 822 along the width direction of the cover 12 (the Y-axis direction), the second fastening pipe 824 is inserted into the second detergent discharge port 818.

[0130] When the second fastening pipe 824 is inserted into the second detergent discharge port 818, the second storage body 815 will be restricted from moving in the height direction of the cover 12 (the Z-axis direction) and in the depth direction of the cover 12 (the front and rear direction of the cover, the X-axis direction), so that the laundry treating apparatus may suppress vibration in the two directions of the second detergent container 81b only with the locations of the second fastening pipe 824 and the second detergent discharge port 818.

[0131] In addition, because the second transferer 83b, which moves the detergent stored in the second detergent container 81b to the tub, is located in the external space of the mounting portion 82 (the rear space 123 of the cover), the laundry treating apparatus 100 may maximize a volume of the second storage body 815.

[0132] In one example, an edge of the first storage body 811 may be inserted into the first mounting space 821, and an edge of the second storage body 815 may be inserted into the second mounting space 822. Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus 100 will also be able to suppress the vibration of each detergent container along the width direction (the Y-axis direction) and the depth direction (the X-axis direction) of the cover.

[0133] As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 9, to more effectively suppress the vibration of the detergent containers 81a and 81b, the second supplier 8 may further include a fixing member 85. The fixing member 85 may include a first withdrawal prevention member 851 disposed on the first storage body 811, and a second withdrawal prevention member 854 disposed on the second storage body 815.

[0134] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the first withdrawal prevention member 851 may be constructed to restrict the first detergent container 81a from moving along the width direction of the cover (the Y-axis direction) when the first fastening pipe 823 is inserted into the first detergent discharge port 814.

[0135] The first withdrawal prevention member 851 may be formed as a bar that may reciprocate along a height direction of the first detergent container 81a (the Z-axis direction). When the first detergent container 81a is seated in the first mounting space 821, a free end of the first withdrawal prevention member 851 may be withdrawn from the first detergent container 81a so as to be in contact with an edge of the first mounting space 821. The first withdrawal prevention member 851 may be constructed to move into the first detergent container 81a by a first lever 853 disposed on the first storage body 811.

[0136] As illustrated in FIG. 9, the second withdrawal prevention member 854 may be constructed to restrict the second detergent container 81b from moving along the width direction of the cover (the +Y-axis direction) when the second fastening pipe 824 is inserted into the second detergent discharge port 818.

[0137] The second withdrawal prevention member 854 may be formed as a bar that may reciprocate along a height direction of the second detergent container 81b (the Z-axis direction). When the second detergent container 81b is seated in the second mounting space 822, a free end of the second withdrawal prevention member 854 may be withdrawn from the second detergent container 81b so as to be in contact with an edge of the second mounting space 822. The second withdrawal prevention member 854 may be constructed to move into the second detergent container 81b by a second lever 856 disposed on the second detergent container 81b.

[0138] The fixing member 85 may further include a first body fixing member 852 disposed on the first detergent container 81a, and a second body fixing member 855 disposed on the second detergent container 81b.

[0139] The first body fixing member 852 may be formed as a protrusion protruding from an edge of the first detergent container 81a toward the first detergent discharge port 814, and the second body fixing member 855 may be formed as a protrusion protruding from an edge of the second detergent container 81b toward the second detergent discharge port 818.

[0140] In this case, it is preferable that the mounting body 82a includes a first fixing groove 825 into which the first body fixing member 852 is inserted, and a second fixing groove 826 into which the second body fixing member 855 is inserted. When the first detergent container 81a is coupled to the first mounting space 821, the first body fixing member 852 will be inserted into the first fixing groove 825 and the second body fixing member 855 will be inserted into the second fixing groove 826.

[0141] The first body fixing member 852 and the first fixing groove 825 restrict the first detergent container 81a from moving in the depth direction (the X-axis direction) and the height direction (the Z-axis direction) of the cover 12 and the direction in which the hub 82b is positioned (the +Y-axis direction). The second body fixing member 855 and the second fixing groove 826 may restrict the second detergent container 81b from moving in the depth direction (the X-axis direction) and the height direction (the Z-axis direction) of the cover 12 and the direction in which the hub 82b is positioned (the Y-axis direction).

[0142] The first detergent container 81a may be fixed to the mounting portion 82 such that at least two of multiple surfaces constituting the first storage body 811 are exposed to the outside of the first mounting space 821, and the second detergent container 81b may be fixed to the mounting portion 82 such that at least two of multiple surfaces constituting the second storage body 815 are exposed to the outside of the second mounting space 822, but may be stably fixed to the cabinet 1 via the above-described fastening pipes 823 and 824, detergent discharge ports 814 and 818, and fixing member 85.

[0143] One surface of the first storage body 811 exposed to the outside of the first mounting space 821 (a surface oriented in the direction in which the inlet is positioned or the like) may be made entirely or partially of a transparent material. This is to enable the user to check a remaining amount of the detergent without separating the first detergent container from the mounting portion 82. For the same reason, one surface of the second storage body 815 exposed to the outside of the second mounting space 822 (a surface oriented in the direction in which the inlet is positioned) may be made entirely or partially of a transparent material.

[0144] The first detergent inlet 812 may be defined in a surface of the first storage body 811 located outside the first mounting space 821, and the second detergent inlet 816 may be defined in a surface of the second storage body 815 located outside the second mounting space 822. This is to enable the detergent to be injected into each detergent container without separating the first detergent container and the second detergent container from the mounting portion 82. FIG. 4 illustrates a case in which the first detergent inlet 812 is defined in the top surface of the first storage body 811 and the second detergent inlet 816 is defined in the top surface of the second storage body 815 as an example.

[0145] The laundry treating apparatus 100 described above may further include a sensor 91 that may determine whether the detergent is supplied to the tub body 21. FIG. 17 illustrates a case in which the sensor 91 is composed of two electrodes 911 and 912 fixed to the water supply flow channel 6 as an example.

[0146] As illustrated in FIG. 17, the sensor 91 may include a first electrode 911 fixed to the chamber 611 of the flow channel body and a second electrode 912 fixed to the chamber 611 of the flow channel body so as to be spaced apart from the first electrode. That is, the two electrodes 911 and 912 may be fixed to a connecting surface connecting the bottom surface of the connecting chamber 841 with a bottom surface of the chamber 911.

[0147] As described above, when water is supplied to the tub body 21 through the inlet assembly 63 of the water supplier, the portion of water may move to the connecting chamber 841 by the guide 927. Therefore, when the two electrodes 911 and 912 are fixed to the connecting surface, the laundry treating apparatus 100 will be able to wash the two electrodes 911 and 912 every time water is supplied to the tub body 21.

[0148] In one example, unlike as illustrated in FIG. 17, the first electrode 911 and the second electrode 912 may be disposed on the bottom surface of the connecting chamber 841.

[0149] The sensor 91 may be constructed to form a circuit in which a material connecting the two electrodes 911 and 912 to each other serves as a resistor. Therefore, when a voltage (an applied voltage) of a preset magnitude is supplied to the circuit, a current value between the two electrodes 911 and 912 will vary depending on a resistance of the material connecting the two electrodes to each other.

[0150] Considering that an electrical resistance of air is generally higher than that of liquid, a current value between the two electrodes 911 and 912 when they are not connected to each other by liquid (when there is no fluid other than air between the two electrodes) will be lower than a current value when the two electrodes 911 and 912 are connected to each other by liquid.

[0151] Further, considering that an electrical resistance of the liquid detergent used in the laundry treating apparatus is generally lower than an electrical resistance of water, a current value between the two electrodes 911 and 912 when they are connected to each other by water will be lower than a current value when the two electrodes 911 and 912 are connected to each other by the liquid detergent.

[0152] In conclusion, when a constant voltage is supplied to the circuit, the current value between the two electrodes 911 and 912 will be the greatest when the two electrodes are connected to each other by the liquid detergent, and the lowest when the two electrodes 911 and 912 are not connected to each other. When the two electrodes 911 and 912 are connected to each other with water, the current value flowing between the two electrodes will be greater than when the two electrodes are not connected to each other, and smaller than when the two electrodes are connected to each other by the liquid detergent.

[0153] Therefore, by measuring the current value flowing between the two electrodes 911 and 912, whether the liquid detergent or water is supplied between the two electrodes and whether the liquid detergent or water remains between the two electrodes may be determined.

[0154] When the liquid detergent remains between the first electrode 911 and the second electrode 912, the sensor 91 may not be able to exhibit an intended function. To minimize the liquid detergent remaining between the two electrodes 911 and 912, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include a protrusion 913 fixed to the flow channel body 61 and positioned between the two electrodes 911 and 912.

[0155] As illustrated in FIG. 17, the protrusion 913 may be formed in a shape of a board protruding from the connecting surface connecting the bottom surface of the connecting chamber 841 with the bottom surface of the chamber 611. When the protrusion 913 protrudes from the connecting surface by a length set greater than a thickness of the first electrode 911 or a thickness of the second electrode 912, a possibility of the liquid detergent remaining between the two electrodes 911 and 912 may be reduced.

[0156] FIG. 18 illustrates an example of a method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus having the above-described structure. The control method in FIG. 18 is characterized in that a space where the detergent is stored (the detergent container), a flow channel that guides the detergent to the tub (the water supply flow channel and the connecting portion), and a means that moves the stored detergent to the flow path (the transferer) are able to be washed.

[0157] As illustrated in the drawing, the control method may include a mode selection step (S10) and a washing step (S40).

[0158] The mode selection step (S10) is a step of determining whether a control command requesting execution of the washing step (S40) has been input via the input unit 126, and the washing step (S40) is a step of operating the transferer 83 to move the liquid stored in the detergent container to the water supply flow channel 6 to wash the water supply flow channel 6 and the transferer 83.

[0159] Because the washing step (S40) is able to be executed while water is stored in the detergent container 81, in the control method, the detergent container 81 is also able to be washed via the washing step (S40). In addition, because the sensor 91 is disposed in the flow channel body 61 of the water supply flow channel 6, in the control method, the two electrodes 911 and 912 constituting the sensor are also able to be washed when the washing step (S40) is performed.

[0160] Because the water supply flow channel 6, the transferer 83, and the detergent container 81 are able to be washed in the washing step (S40) when the user has filled the detergent container 81 with water instead of the liquid detergent, it is preferable that the control method further includes a sensing step (S41) of determining a type of liquid discharged from the detergent container 81.

[0161] Although not illustrated in the drawing, when the user requests the execution of the washing step (S40) via the mode selection step (S10), the control method may include a step of requesting to fill the detergent container 81 with water via the display 127.

[0162] The sensing step (S41) may be provided as a step of supplying the preset voltage to the circuit including the two electrodes 911 and 912 during the execution of the washing step and then measuring the current value between the two electrodes 911 and 912.

[0163] The sensing step (S41) may stop (S50 and S60) when the current value between the two electrodes 911 and 912 is smaller than a preset first reference value or greater than a preset second reference value.

[0164] The first reference value may be set to a current value when the two electrodes 911 and 912 are connected to each other by a material having a higher electrical resistance than water, and the second reference value may be set to a current value when the two electrodes 911 and 912 are connected to each other by a material having a lower electrical resistance than water. For example, the first reference value may be set to a current value when the two electrodes 911 and 912 are not connected to each other by a conductor (when at least one of the two electrodes is exposed to air), and the second reference value may be set to a current value when the two electrodes 911 and 912 are connected to each other by the liquid detergent.

[0165] The fact that the current value measured in the sensing step (S41) is smaller than the first reference value means that the two electrodes 911 and 912 are not connected to each other by water or the liquid detergent. Therefore, when the current value measured in the sensing step (S41) is smaller than the first reference value, the control method may proceed with a notification step (S50) of notifying that the water stored in the detergent container 81 is insufficient.

[0166] In one example, the fact that the current value measured in the sensing step (S41) is greater than the second reference value means that the two electrodes 911 and 912 are connected to each other by the liquid detergent. Therefore, when the current value measured in the sensing step (S41) is greater than the second reference value, the control method may proceed with a request step (S60) of requesting replacement of the liquid detergent filled in the detergent container 81 with water.

[0167] The notification step (S50) and the request step (S60) may be provided as a step of displaying a message on the display 127, or may be provided as a step of outputting a warning sound or a voice message to the user via a speaker.

[0168] When the current value measured in the sensing step (S41) is greater than the first reference value and smaller than the second reference value, the control method executes the washing step (S40) for a preset reference duration (S42).

[0169] As mentioned above, the first reference value may be set to the current value when the two electrodes 911 and 912 are connected to each other with the material having the higher electrical resistance than water, and the second reference value may be set to the current value when the two electrodes are connected to each other with the material having the lower electrical resistance than water. Therefore, the current value measured in the sensing step (S41) being greater than the first reference value and smaller than the second reference value may be regarded as the state in which the two electrodes 911 and 912 are connected to each other by water.

[0170] Because the above-described control method induces the washing step (S40) to be executed in the state in which water is stored in the detergent container 81, in the control method, not only the washing of the flow channel that guides the detergent to the tub (the water supply flow channel and the connecting portion) and the means that moves the stored detergent to the flow path (the transferer), but also the washing of the space in which the detergent is stored (the detergent container) are available.

[0171] When the washing step is completed (S42), the control method may further include a process of draining washing liquid supplied to the tub body 21. The process of draining the washing liquid may be provided as a water supply step (S70) and a drain step (S80).

[0172] The water supply step (S70) may be provided as a step of supplying water to the tub body 31 by controlling the water supply valve 5 such that the water supply pipe 4 is opened, and the drain step (S80) may be provided as a step of moving water stored in the tub body 21 to the outside of the cabinet 1 via the drainage 25.

[0173] To prevent the washing liquid from remaining in the drum body 31, the control method may further include a dehydration step (S90). The dehydration step (S90), as a step of rotating the drum body 31, may be initiated after the drain step (S80) is completed.

[0174] In one example, it is not desirable for the above-described control method to be performed in the washing step (supplying the liquid detergent to the tub body and then rotating the drum body) for removing the foreign substances from the laundry. Whether the laundry has been put into the drum body 31 may be determined in various ways, and an example of this may be determining whether water for executing the washing step is stored in the tub body 21. Accordingly, the control method may further include a water level sensing step (S20) of determining the amount of water inside the tub body 21 before executing the washing step (S40).

[0175] The water level sensing step (S20) may be provided to determine a water level inside the tub body 21 via the water level sensor 27, and the washing step (S40) may be provided to be executed when the water level inside the tub body 21 is below a preset reference water level (S21).

[0176] When the water level measured in the water level sensing step (S20) is above the reference water level, the control method may execute a water level adjustment step (S30) of draining water in the tub body 21 via the drainage 25.

[0177] Because the structure and the control method of the laundry treating apparatus described above are examples of the present disclosure, the scope of the rights of the present disclosure cannot be limited to the structure and the control method described above.