MULTIPLE LAUNDRY TREATING MACHINE

• US 20100011609A1
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Phal Jin, Park, Seong Ho, Jo, Seong Jin, Jeong, Seong Hae
• Granted Patent: US 8,312,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/88
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/00 User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/16 Washing liquid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/18 Washing liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/24 Spin speed; Drum movements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/32 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/34 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/40 Opening or locking status of doors
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/60 Audible signals
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 25/00 Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry and having further drying means, e.g. using hot air control of washing or of washing and drying D06F33/00, D06F34/00; domestic laundry dryers D06F58/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 29/00 Combinations of a washing machine with other separate apparatus in a common frame or the like, e.g. with rinsing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/72 Control of the energy or water consumption
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/04 Signal transfer or data transmission arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/10 Drying cabinets or drying chambers having heating or ventilating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A multiple laundry treating machine, in which an auxiliary laundry treating device (120) is coupled to a general laundry treating device (110), is disclosed. The multiple laundry treating machine includes a main laundry treating device (110) for washing or drying laundry contained in an interior of the main laundry treating device (110), an auxiliary laundry treating device (120) arranged at one side of the main laundry treating device (110), the auxiliary laundry treating device (120) having a volume and a height respectively smaller than a volume and a height of the main laundry treating device (110), and having a laundry container (121) formed in an interior of the auxiliary laundry treating device (120), and a connecting unit (300) for connecting the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices (110, 120), to enable communication or control operations between the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices (110, 120). In accordance with the multiple laundry treating machine, it is possible to achieve a convenience in use and to save energy because a small amount of clothes or shoes can be dried by the auxiliary laundry treating device (120), without driving a laundry treating device (120) having a relatively-large capacity.

Claims

1. A multiple laundry treating machine comprising:

a main laundry treating device for washing or drying laundry contained in an interior of the main laundry treating device;

an auxiliary laundry treating device arranged at one side of the main laundry treating device, the auxiliary laundry treating device having a volume and a height respectively smaller than a volume and a height of the main laundry treating device, and having a laundry container formed in an interior of the auxiliary laundry treating device; and

a connecting unit for connecting the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices, to enable communication or control operations between the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices,

wherein the connection by the connecting unit is achieved as the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices are coupled.

2. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 1, wherein the connecting unit comprises connectors respectively provided at the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices.

3. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 2, wherein the connecting unit further comprises insulators for insulating the connectors, respectively.

4. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 3, wherein the insulators are formed integrally with the connectors, respectively.

5. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a coupler for coupling the auxiliary laundry treating device to one side of the main laundry treating device.

6. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a controller provided at the main laundry treating device, to control an operation of the main laundry treating device; and

a driver provided at the auxiliary laundry treating device, and controlled by the controller.

7. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 6, wherein the driver comprises an air supplier for forcibly supplying air to the laundry container.

8. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 6, wherein the driver comprises at least one of a temperature sensor for sensing an internal temperature of the laundry container and a humidity sensor for sensing an internal humidity of the laundry container.

9. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 8, wherein the driver further comprises a steam supplier for supplying steam to the laundry container.

10. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 8, further comprising:

an operating unit provided at the main laundry treating device, to operate the auxiliary laundry treating device in accordance with a user'"'"'s selection.

11. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 10, further comprising:

a display unit provided at the main laundry treating device, to display an operation state of the auxiliary laundry treating device.

12. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 6, further comprising:

an operating unit provided at the auxiliary laundry treating device, to operate the auxiliary laundry treating device in accordance with a user'"'"'s selection.

13. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 12, further comprising:

a display unit provided at the auxiliary laundry treating device, to display an operation state of the auxiliary laundry treating device.

14. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary laundry treating device is a pedestal for supporting a bottom of the main laundry treating device on a floor.

15. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 14, wherein the laundry container has a form of a drawer drawable forwardly.

16. A multiple laundry treating machine comprising:

a main laundry treating device for performing a washing stroke or a drying stroke; and

an auxiliary laundry treating device arranged at one side of the main laundry treating device, the auxiliary laundry treating device including a tub for containing laundry, and performing a washing stroke in the tub under a control of the main laundry treating device.

17. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 16, further comprising:

a controller for controlling the overall operation of the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices, the controller being provided at the main laundry treating device.

18. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 16, further comprising;

a controller for controlling the overall operation of the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices; and

a key input unit for inputting a user command for the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices,

wherein the controller and the key input unit are provided at the main laundry treating device.

19. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 16, further comprising;

a controller for controlling the overall operation of the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices;

a key input unit for inputting a user command for the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices; and

a display unit for displaying the user command input from the key input unit or a stroke state under a control of the controller,

wherein the controller, the key input unit, and the display unit are provided at the main laundry treating device.

20. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 16, further comprising;

a controller for controlling the overall operation of the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices;

a key input unit for inputting a user command for the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices;

a display unit for displaying the user command input from the key input unit or a stroke state under a control of the controller; and

a sound output unit for generating an alarm or a sound in accordance with stroke states of the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices under a control of the controller, if necessary,

wherein the controller, the key input unit, the display unit, and the sound output unit are provided at the main laundry treating device.

21. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 16, wherein the auxiliary laundry treating device comprises a washing load concerning the washing stroke in the tub under a control of the controller.

22. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 21, wherein the washing load comprises at least one of a motor for supplying a rotating force to the tub, and a steam supplier for supplying high-temperature steam to an interior of the tub.

23. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 22, wherein the washing load further comprises a water supplier for supplying wash water to the interior of the tub, and a drainer for outwardly draining the wash water from the tub.

24. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 21, wherein the auxiliary laundry treating device further comprises a sensing unit for sensing washing conditions associated with the washing stroke and a state of the washing stroke.

25. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 24, wherein the sensing unit comprises at least one of a water level sensor for sensing a level of wash water in the tub, a water temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the wash water in the tub, a velocity sensor for sensing a rotating velocity of the washing load, and a door sensor for sensing opening/closing of a door covering the tub.

26. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 17, further comprising:

a key input unit for inputting a user command for the auxiliary laundry treating device;

a display unit for displaying the user command input from the key input unit or a stroke state under a control of the controller; and

a sound output unit for generating an alarm or a sound in accordance with a stroke state of the auxiliary laundry treating device under a control of the controller, if necessary,

wherein the key input unit, the display unit, and the sound output unit are provided at the auxiliary laundry treating device.

27. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 18, further comprising:

a display unit for displaying the user command input from the key input unit or a stroke state under a control of the controller; and

a sound output unit for generating an alarm or a sound in accordance with a stroke state of the auxiliary laundry treating device under a control of the controller, if necessary,

wherein the display unit and the sound output unit are provided at the auxiliary laundry treating device.

28. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 19, further comprising:

a sound output unit for generating an alarm or a sound in accordance with a stroke state of the auxiliary laundry treating device under a control of the controller, if necessary, the sound output unit being provided at the auxiliary laundry treating device.

29. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 18, wherein the key input unit comprises:

a main key panel including keys for controlling the main laundry treating device; and

an auxiliary key panel including keys for controlling the auxiliary laundry treating device.

30. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 19, wherein the display unit alternately displays stroke states of the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices at intervals of a predetermined time.

31. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 19, wherein the display unit selectively displays a stroke state of the main laundry treating device or a stroke state of the auxiliary laundry treating device, in accordance with a user'"'"'s desire.

32. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 19, wherein the display unit preferentially displays a stroke state of the main laundry treating device or a stroke state of the auxiliary laundry treating device, in accordance with a preference order of information to be displayed.

33. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 16, further comprising:

a connecting unit for connecting the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices, to enable communication or control operations between the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices.

34. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 33, wherein:

the connecting unit comprises a coupler for coupling the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices, and connectors for connecting various cables for enabling communication or control operations between the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices; and

the connectors are automatically connected when the main and auxiliary laundry treating device are coupled by the coupler.

35. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 16, further comprising:

a communication unit for enabling data communications between the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices.

36. The multiple laundry treating machine according to claim 35, wherein the communication unit comprises communication modules provided at the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices, respectively, the communication modules being capable of performing data communications in a wired or wireless communication manner.