Clothing processing apparatus and method for controlling clothing processing apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to a clothing processing apparatus comprising: a drum that provides a space in which an object to be dried is accommodated; a circulation flow passage through which air discharged from the drum is supplied to the drum again; a heat exchange unit that includes a circulation fan which moves air along the circulation flow passage, a first heat exchanger which dehumidifies air moving along the circulation flow passage, and a second heat exchanger which heats air having passed through the first heat exchanger; a water collection unit which is connected to the circulation flow passage and in which condensate water discharged from air passing through the first heat exchanger is stored; a heating unit that heats water in the water collection unit; and an exhaust unit that discharges air out of the water collection unit.

1 . A laundry treatment apparatus comprising:
 a drum configured to provide a space for accommodating an object to be dried therein;   a circulation flow passage configured to again supply, to the drum, air discharged from the drum;   a heat exchange unit comprising a circulation fan configured to move air along the circulation flow passage, a first heat exchanger configured to dehumidify air moving along the circulation flow passage, and a second heat exchanger configured to heat air emerging from the first heat exchanger;   a water collection unit connected to the circulation flow passage and to store condensate released from air passing around the first heat exchanger;   a heating unit configured to heat water present in the water collection unit; and   an exhaust unit configured to outwardly discharge, from the water collection unit, air present in the water collection unit.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the water collection unit comprises a storage body configured to store the condensate released from the air passing around the first heat exchanger, a cover configured to form an upper surface of the storage body, and a body through hole extending through a bottom surface of the storage body; and   the heating unit comprises a heating body constituted by a conductor to close the body through hole, and a heater configured to heat the heating body and disposed outside the water collection unit.   
     
     
         3 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the heating body is configured to form the bottom surface of the storage body. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the exhaust unit comprises an exhaust duct extending through the cover to communicate with an interior of the storage body, an exhaust fan provided at the exhaust duct to discharge air present in the storage body, and a valve configured to control opening and closing of the exhaust duct. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 an exhaust port configured to extend through the cover and configured for one end of the exhaust duct to be fixed thereto,   wherein the valve comprises a valve body rotatably mounted to the exhaust duct or the cover and configured to open and close the exhaust port, and a valve motor configured to control a rotation angle of the valve body.   
     
     
         6 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the heating unit comprises a film heater fixed to the bottom surface of the storage body and disposed outside the water collection unit. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the film heater comprises a fixed plate fixed to the bottom surface of the storage body and disposed outside the water collection unit, and a heater embedded in the fixed plate. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an actuator configured to form a flow of water in the water collection unit or to vibrate condensate stored in the water collection unit.   
     
     
         9 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a drain tank configured to be disposed at a higher level than the water collection unit and to provide a space for storing condensate therein; and   a drain unit comprising a drain pump configured to move the condensate present in the storage body to an outside of the storage body, and a drain tube configured to guide the condensate discharged from the drain pump to the drain tank.   
     
     
         10 . A control method for a laundry treatment apparatus comprising a drum configured to provide a space for accommodating an object to be dried therein, a circulation flow passage configured to again supply, to the drum, air discharged from the drum, a heat exchange unit comprising a circulation fan configured to move air along the circulation flow passage, a compressor configured to move refrigerant along a refrigerant tube, a first heat exchanger fixed to the refrigerant tube and configured to dehumidify air moving along the circulation flow passage, and a second heat exchanger fixed to the refrigerant tube and configured to heat air emerging from the first heat exchanger, a water collection unit configured to store condensate released from air passing around the first exchanger, a heating unit configured to heat water present in the water collection unit, and an exhaust unit configured to outwardly discharge, from the water collection unit, air present in the water collection unit, the control method comprising:
 exhaustion of exhausting the air present in the water collection unit through the exhaust unit;   heating of heating condensate present in the water collection unit; and   sterilization of supplying heated air to the drum through operation of the compressor and the circulation fan after ending of the exhaustion and the heating.   
     
     
         11 . The control method according to  claim 10 , wherein the heating starts simultaneously with start of the exhaustion, during execution of the exhaustion or before execution of the exhaustion. 
     
     
         12 . The control method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 residual water removal of operating the circulation fan and the heating unit after ending of the sterilization.   
     
     
         13 . The control method according to  claim 12  wherein:
 the heating unit operates continuously for a predetermined first reference time in the heating; and 
 the heating unit repeats operation and stop thereof for a predetermined second reference time in the residual water removal. 
 
     
     
         14 . A control method for a laundry treatment apparatus comprising a drum configured to provide a space for accommodating an object to be dried therein, a circulation flow passage configured to again supply, to the drum, air discharged from the drum, a heat exchange unit comprising a circulation fan configured to move air along the circulation flow passage, a compressor configured to move refrigerant along a refrigerant tube, a first heat exchanger fixed to the refrigerant tube and configured to dehumidify air moving along the circulation flow passage, and a second heat exchanger fixed to the refrigerant tube and configured to heat air emerging from the first heat exchanger, a water collection unit configured to store condensate released from air passing around the first exchanger, a heating unit configured to heat water present in the water collection unit, and an exhaust unit configured to outwardly discharge, from the water collection unit, air present in the water collection unit, the control method comprising:
 drying of supplying air to an interior of the drum through operation of the compressor and the circulation fan; and   residual water removal of evaporating condensate present in the water collection unit through operation of the exhaust unit and the heating unit after ending of the drying.   
     
     
         15 . The control method according to  claim 14 , wherein the residual water removal comprises a first period in which the heating unit operates continuously, and a second period in which the heating unit repeats operation and stop thereof after ending of the first period.