Drying machine

• US 7,506,458 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Soon Jo, Myung, Hwan Joo
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/393,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20060218976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 345/95, 346/01, 346/06
• US Class Current: 34/601
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/08 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/34 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/18 Condition of the laundry, e.g. nature or weight
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/04 Details controlling or regulating devices D06F34/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/38 of drying, e.g. to achieve the target humidity

Abstract

A drying machine having a drum mounted within a cabinet on a base unit is provided. The base unit includes a base lower unit, and a base upper unit positioned atop the base lower unit to define passages therebetween. The base unit includes a moisture sensor mounting portion that receives a moisture sensor on a top of the base upper unit. The moisture sensor senses a moisture level of air flowing through the passages.

Claims

1. A drying machine, comprising:

a cabinet; and

a drum provided in the cabinet, wherein the drum is in air flow communication with a base, wherein the base comprises;

a base lower unit;

a base upper unit having a bottom surface thereof coupled to a top surface of the base lower unit, wherein the base upper unit and the base lower unit form a passage therebetween;

a moisture sensor mounting portion provided at a top portion of the base upper unit; and

a moisture sensor mounted on the moisture sensor mounting portion, wherein the moisture sensor senses a moisture level of air flowing through the passage.

2. The drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the moisture sensor mounting portion is a hole with a predetermined diameter.

3. The drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the moisture sensor is mounted on the moisture sensor mounting portion through press-fitting.

4. The drying machine according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined portion of the moisture sensor mounting portion on which the moisture sensor is mounted is a material with a predetermined elasticity.

5. The drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the moisture sensor mounting portion includes at least one fastening protrusion that extends from an outer perimeter of the mounting portion, wherein the at least one protrusion engages a corresponding portion of the moisture sensor so as to guide a mounting of the moisture sensor on the mounting portion.

6. The drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the base upper unit includes at least one fastening recess provided a predetermined distance from an inner perimeter of the moisture sensor mounting portion, wherein the moisture sensor is coupled to the top portion of the base upper unit through the at least one fastening recess.

7. The drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the moisture sensor includes at least one fastening tab that extends outward from an outer perimeter of the moisture sensor, wherein a fastening hole is formed in the at least one fastening tab.

8. The drying machine according to claim 7, wherein the base upper unit includes at least one fastening recess corresponding to the at least one fastening tab, wherein a fastening member passes through the fastening hole and into the fastening recess to couple the moisture sensor to the base upper unit.

9. The drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the base upper unit further comprises a supporting brace provided on an upper surface thereof, wherein the supporting brace receives a connector that connects at least one cable to the moisture sensor.

10. The drying machine according to claim 9, wherein the connector connects at least one cable that extends from a microcomputer of the drying machine to the at least one cable connected to the moisture sensor.

11. The drying machine according to claim 1, further comprising a supporting brace that guides a cable extending thereto from the moisture sensor.

20. The drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the moisture sensor mounting portion includes a plurality of tabs each extending outward from an outer circumferential surface of the mounting portion, wherein the plurality of tabs engage with corresponding portions of the moisture sensor so as to couple the moisture sensor to the base upper portion.

21. The drying machine according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of tabs comprises a first pair of tabs each having a recess formed therein, and a second pair of tabs each having a protrusion extending upward therefrom.

22. The drying machine according to claim 21, wherein the sensor comprises a third pair of tabs and a fourth pair of tabs respectively corresponding to the first and second pairs of tabs of the mounting portion, wherein the third and fourth pairs of tabs each have holes formed therethrough corresponding to the recesses and protrusions of the first and second pairs of tabs, respectively.

23. The drying machine according to claim 22, wherein the protrusions of the second pair of tabs extend through the holes in the third pair of tabs so as to align the moisture sensor with the mounting portion.

24. The drying machine according to claim 23, further comprising a pair of fasteners that extend through the holes in the fourth pair of tabs and into the recesses formed in the first pair of tabs so as to fasten the moisture sensor to the mounting portion of the base upper portion.

25. The drying machine according to claim 20, wherein the tabs of the first pair of tabs face each other on opposite sides of the mounting portion, and the tabs of the second pair of tabs face each other on opposite sides of the mounting portion.

27. The drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the base is coupled to a bottom of the cabinet such that the passage formed between the base upper and lower units is formed external to the drum.

28. The drying machine according to claim 2, wherein the moisture sensor extends through the moisture sensor mounting portion, through a top surface of the base upper unit, and into the passage.

12. A drying machine for drying laundry, the drying machine having a drum for receiving laundry, the drying machine comprising:

a base coupled to and in air flow communication with the drum, wherein the base is provided external to the drum so as to form an external passage for water vapor exiting the drum;

a moisture sensor provided on a side of the external passage formed outside of the drum, wherein the moisture sensor senses a moisture level of the water vapor passing through the external passage; and

a microcomputer that receives the sensed moisture level from the moisture sensor and controls a drying cycle of the drying machine based on the sensed moisture level.

13. The drying machine according to claim 12, wherein the base includes a base lower unit and a base upper unit coupled to an upper portion of the base lower unit, wherein the moisture sensor is coupled to an upper surface of the base upper unit.

14. The drying machine according to claim 13, wherein the moisture sensor includes at least one fastening tab extending outward from an outer perimeter thereof, wherein a fastening hole is formed in the at least one fastening tab, and wherein the moisture sensor is coupled to the base upper unit by a fastening member that extends through the fastening hole formed in the at least one fastening tab.

15. The drying machine according to claim 12, further comprising a connector provided at an upper surface of the base, wherein the connector connects a cable connected to the moisture sensor to a cable connected to the microcomputer.

26. The drying machine according to claim 14, wherein the fastening member extends through the fastening hole and into a corresponding recess formed in the base upper unit to couple the moisture sensor to the base.

16. A drying machine, comprising:

a drum rotatably installed in a cabinet;

a base coupled to a bottom of the cabinet, wherein the base forms an external passage that receives air from the drum, the external passage including a main passage and a sub passage; and

a moisture sensor that extends through an upper surface of the main passage or the sub passage, wherein the moisture sensor senses a moisture level of air passing through the external passage.

17. The drying machine according to claim 16, further comprising a moisture sensor mounting portion formed as a hole in an upper portion of the main or sub passage, wherein the moisture sensor is inserted into and coupled to the moisture sensor mounting portion.

18. The drying machine according to claim 16, further comprising at least one fastening hole formed at an outer perimeter of the moisture sensor and at least one corresponding fastening recess formed in a surface of the base above the main or sub passage, wherein a fastening member is inserted through the fastening hole and into the fastening recess to mount the moisture sensor above the main or sub passage.

19. The drying machine according to claim 17, wherein a portion of the moisture sensor mounting portion that contacts the moisture sensor is made of a material having a predetermined elasticity.