Clothing treatment apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a clothing treatment apparatus comprising: a heat pump having an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve, and applying heat to air circulating in a drum; an air flow path forming a movement path such that the air is circulated through the drum; a lint filter provided on the air flow path and collecting lint contained in the air; and a condensate water collecting part collecting condensate water generated in the evaporator and supplying the condensate water to the lint filter, wherein the condensate water supplied from the condensate water collecting part is supplied to the upper portion of the lint filter, and the lint collected in the lint filter is moved to the lower portion of the lint filter, thereby securing the air flow path of the lint filter.

1 . A laundry treating apparatus comprising:
 a heat pump equipped with an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve, and applying heat to air circulating in a drum;   an air flow path for defining a flow path such that the air is circulated therein after passing through the drum;   a lint filter disposed on the air flow path for collecting lint contained in the air; and   a condensed water collector for collecting condensed water generated in the evaporator and supplying the collected condensed water to the lint filter,   wherein the condensed water supplied from the condensed water collector is supplied to an upper portion of the lint filter to move lint collected in the lint filter to a lower portion of the lint filter.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the condensed water collector includes:
 a condensed water drainage flow path having a condensed water pump for flowing the condensed water;   a first branch flow path branching from the condensed water drainage flow path to guide the condensed water to a condensed water tank;   a second branch flow path branching from the condensed water drainage flow path to guide the condensed water to the lint filter; and   a branch valve disposed on the condensed water drainage flow path to selectively supply the condensed water to the first branch flow path or the second branch flow path.   
     
     
         3 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the air flow path includes:
 a suction flow path in communication with a front surface of the drum, wherein the air of the drum is introduced into the suction flow path;   a filter mounting portion disposed in the suction flow path, wherein the lint filter is installed in the filter mounting portion; and   an exhaust flow path in communication with a rear surface of the drum to exhaust air that has passed through the heat pump to the drum.   
     
     
         4 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the lint filter includes:
 a first housing for forming one surface of the lint filter;   a second housing for forming the other surface of the lint filter; and   a hinge for connecting one edge of the first housing and one edge of the second housing to each other.   
     
     
         5 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first housing and the second housing are formed in a shape symmetric to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein a handle for withdrawing the lint filter is formed on at least one of the first housing and the second housing. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first housing includes:
 an inlet defined at a top of the first housing such that the air of the drum flows into the first housing; and   a filter located below the inlet, wherein the lint contained in the air flowed into the inlet is collected in the filter and then is discharged from the filter.   
     
     
         8 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a condensed water connection portion formed on one side of the inlet, wherein the second branch flow path is connected to the condensed water connection portion; and   a condensed water flowing step for guiding the condensed water supplied through the condensed water connection portion and flowing inside the inlet to flow down to the filter.   
     
     
         9 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the condensed water connection portion is formed on each of both sides of the inlet, wherein the condensed water flowing step is formed in a curved shape with a concave central portion. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein multiple condensed water distribution protrusions spaced apart from each other at a predetermined spacing are formed at a longitudinal end of the condensed water flowing step such that the condensed water flowing along the condensed water flowing step flows evenly to the filter.