Laundry treatment apparatus

Abstract

A laundry treatment apparatus is disclosed. The laundry treatment apparatus includes a washing apparatus and a drying apparatus, wherein the washing apparatus includes a first cabinet, a first drawer drawably disposed in the first cabinet, a first receiver disposed in the first drawer to contain laundry therein, a second cabinet disposed under the first cabinet to support the first cabinet, a second drawer drawably disposed in the second cabinet, and a second receiver disposed in the second drawer to contain laundry, and wherein the drying apparatus includes a cabinet disposed on a lateral side of the washing apparatus, the cabinet having an introduction port formed in a front wall thereof for the introduction and discharge of laundry, a receiver disposed in the cabinet to define a space for receiving laundry introduced through the introduction port, and a drying unit for supplying air to the receiver to dry laundry.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A laundry treatment apparatus comprising:
 a washing apparatus configured to wash laundry, the washing apparatus comprising:
 a first washing cabinet; 
 a first drawer located in the first washing cabinet and configured to be drawn into and out of the first washing cabinet; 
 a first washing receiver located in the first drawer and configured to receive laundry therein; 
 a second washing cabinet located under the first washing cabinet and configured to support the first washing cabinet; 
 a second drawer located in the second washing cabinet and configured to be drawn into and out of the second washing cabinet; and 
 a second washing receiver located in the second drawer and configured to receive laundry therein, and 
   a drying apparatus configured to dry laundry, the drying apparatus comprising:
 a drying cabinet located on a lateral side of the washing apparatus, the drying cabinet defining an introduction port in a front wall thereof, the introduction port enabling introduction and discharge of laundry; 
 a drying receiver located in the drying cabinet and configured to receive laundry introduced through the introduction port; and 
 a drying unit configured to supply air to the drying receiver to dry laundry. 
   
     
     
         19 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the first washing receiver includes:
 a first tub that is located in the first drawer and that is configured to hold washing water,   a first drum that is located in the first tub, that is configured to receive laundry, and that is configured to rotate within the first tub,   a first introduction port that is provided in the first tub and that is parallel to a bottom surface of the first washing cabinet, and   a first drum-rotating shaft extending through the first tub, the first drum-rotating shaft being connected to the first drum and being oriented perpendicular to the bottom surface of the first washing cabinet; and   wherein the second washing receiver includes:
 a second tub that is located in the second drawer and that is configured to hold washing water, 
 a second drum that is located in the second tub, that is configured to receive laundry, and that is configured to rotate within the second tub, 
 a second introduction port that is provided in an upper wall of the second tub and that is parallel to a bottom surface of the second washing cabinet, and 
 a second drum-rotating shaft extending through the second tub, the second drum-rotating shaft being connected to the second drum and being oriented perpendicular to the bottom surface of the second washing cabinet. 
   
     
     
         20 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the washing apparatus is positioned at a level that is equal to or lower than a level of the drying apparatus. 
     
     
         21 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the first drum-rotating shaft is aligned with the second drum-rotating shaft. 
     
     
         22 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a first drum driving unit configured to rotate the first drum-rotating shaft;   a first controller configured to control the first drum driving unit;   a second drum driving unit configured to rotate the second drum-rotating shaft; and   a second controller configured to control the second drum driving unit,   wherein, based on the first drum-rotating shaft and the second drum-rotating shaft being rotated concurrently, at least one of the first and second controllers is configured to control at least one of the first drum driving unit and the second drum driving unit to prevent the first drum-rotating shaft and the second drum-rotating shaft from rotating in the same direction.   
     
     
         23 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a first drum driving unit configured to rotate the first drum-rotating shaft;   a first controller configured to control the first drum driving unit;   a second drum driving unit configured to rotate the second drum-rotating shaft; and   a second controller configured to control the second drum driving unit,   wherein the first and second controllers are configured to control the first drum driving unit and the second drum driving unit to rotate the first drum-rotating shaft and the second drum-rotating shaft in different directions.   
     
     
         24 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 23 , further comprising a cabinet supporting unit configured to connect the first washing cabinet to the second washing cabinet to restrict the first washing cabinet from falling down from the second washing cabinet. 
     
     
         25 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the cabinet supporting unit includes a first connector provided on a bottom surface of the first washing cabinet, and a second connector provided on an upper surface of the second washing cabinet, the first and second connectors enabling the first washing cabinet and the second washing cabinet from being detachable from one another, further comprising:
 a coupling unit that includes a presser that extends through the upper surface of the second washing cabinet and that is configured to be pressed by the first connector, and a circuit connector configured to open or close a circuit adapted to supply power to the second drum driving unit depending on a position of the presser.   
     
     
         26 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the cabinet supporting unit includes a first connector provided on a bottom surface of the first washing cabinet, and a second connector provided on an upper surface of the second washing cabinet, the first and second connectors enabling the first washing cabinet and the second washing cabinet from being detachable from one another, further comprising:
 a coupling unit that includes a presser that extends through the upper surface of the second washing cabinet and that is configured to be pressed by the first connector, and a circuit connector configured to open or close a circuit adapted to connect the second controller to the second drum driving unit.   
     
     
         27 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the cabinet supporting unit comprises:
 a first connector provided on a bottom surface of the first washing cabinet;   a second connector provided on an upper surface of the second washing cabinet, the first and second connectors enabling the first washing cabinet and the second washing cabinet from being detachable from one another; and   a cabinet connector configured to connect at least one of the first and second washing cabinets to the drying cabinet of the drying apparatus.   
     
     
         28 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a door configured to open and close the introduction port;   a first rotating shaft configured to couple the door to the drying cabinet and configured to allow the door to be rotated in a first direction; and   a second rotating shaft configured to couple the door to the drying cabinet and configured to allow the door to be rotated in a second direction, which is different from the first direction.   
     
     
         29 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein the first rotating shaft is oriented perpendicular to a bottom surface of the drying cabinet, and the second rotating shaft is located at a lower portion of the introduction port and oriented parallel to the bottom surface of the drying cabinet. 
     
     
         30 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 29 , further comprising an angle controller configured to control an angle of the door based on the door being rotated about the second rotating shaft. 
     
     
         31 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the angle controller is configured to maintain the door in a state in which the door is rotated to a predetermined reference angle with respect to the introduction port. 
     
     
         32 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the reference angle is set to allow laundry placed on the door to move to the introduction port due to force of gravity. 
     
     
         33 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the washing apparatus further comprises:
 a third washing cabinet located under the second washing cabinet and configured to support the second washing cabinet;   a third drawer located in the third washing cabinet and configured to be drawn into and out of the third washing cabinet; and   a third washing receiver located in the third drawer and configured to receive laundry, and   wherein the first washing receiver includes:
 a first tub that is located in the first drawer and that is configured to hold washing water, 
 a first drum that is located in the first tub, that is configured to receive laundry, and that is configured to rotate within the first tub, and 
 a first introduction port that is provided in the first tub and that is parallel to a bottom surface of the first washing cabinet, 
   wherein the second washing receiver includes:
 a second tub that is located in the second drawer and that is configured to hold washing water, 
 a second drum that is located in the second tub, that is configured to receive laundry, and that is configured to rotate within the second tub, and 
 a second introduction port that is provided in an upper wall of the second tub and that is parallel to a bottom surface of the second washing cabinet, and 
   wherein the third washing receiver includes:
 a third tub that is located in the third drawer and that is configured to hold washing water, 
 a third drum that is located in the third tub, that is configured to receive laundry, and that is configured to rotate within the third tub, and 
 a third introduction port that is provided in an upper wall of the third tub and that is parallel to a bottom surface of the third washing cabinet. 
   
     
     
         34 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 33 , wherein the introduction port of the drying apparatus is positioned at a level, which is lower than the first introduction port but higher than the third introduction port.