Method for controlling a fabric processing apparatus

Abstract

A method for controlling a fabric processing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a case that defines a processing space where fabric articles are processed. A steam supply device supplies steam to the processing space, and a dry air supply device supplies dry air to the processing space. The method includes supplying steam to the processing space by operating the steam supply device, and supplying dry air to the processing space by operating the dry air supply device before, after or during operating the steam supply device to increase a temperature of the processing space.

1 . A method for controlling a fabric processing apparatus having a case that defines a processing space, a steam supply device that supplies steam to the processing space, and a dry air supply device that supplies dry air to the processing space, the method comprising:
 activating the steam supply device and supplying steam to the processing space;   activating the dry air supply device and supplying dry air to the processing space at least one of before, during or after supplying steam to the processing space to increase a temperature of the processing space.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein supplying dry air to the processing space comprises supplying dry air to the processing space before activating the steam supply device, and preheating at least a portion of the case. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein preheating at least a portion of the case further comprises deactivating the dry air supply device when a temperature of the portion of the case is greater than or equal to a reference temperature. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein preheating a portion of the case comprises:
 introducing dry air from the dry air supply device into the processing space at a lower portion of the processing space; and   discharging the dry air from the processing space at an upper portion of the processing space.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 measuring a surface temperature of the case; and   deactivating the dry air supplying device when the measured surface temperature of the case is greater than or equal to a reference surface temperature.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein supplying dry air to the processing space comprises supplying dry air to the processing space after deactivating the steam supply device. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising deactivating the dry air supply device and reactivating the steam supply device to resupply steam to the processing space. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising repeatedly supplying dry air and steam to the processing space for a predetermined number of cycles. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein supplying dry air to the processing space comprises supplying dry air to the processing space while simultaneously supplying steam to the processing space. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising deactivating the dry air supply device when an operating time of the dry air supply device is greater than or equal to a reference operating time, or when a current measured temperature of the processing space is greater than or equal to a reference temperature, or when a current measured change in temperature of the processing space is greater than or equal to a reference change in temperature. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein supplying steam to the processing space comprises supplying steam to the processing space until a steam supplying time is greater than or equal to a first reference time. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein supplying dry air to the processing space comprises supplying dry air to the processing space until a dry air supplying time is greater than or equal to a second reference time. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein supplying dry air to the processing space comprises:
 measuring a temperature of the processing space;   comparing the measured temperature to a reference temperature; and   supplying dry air to the processing space until the measured temperature is greater than or equal to the reference temperature, and then deactivating the dry air supply device.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein supplying dry air to the processing space comprises:
 measuring an initial temperature of the processing space;   measuring a current temperature of the processing space and determining a temperature difference between the initial temperature and the current temperature;   comparing the determined temperature difference to a reference temperature difference; and   supplying dry air to the processing space until the determined temperature difference is greater than or equal to the reference temperature difference, and then deactivating the dry air supplying device.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 deactivating the dry air supply device after at least one of an operating time, a temperature of the processing space, or a change in temperature of the processing space is greater than or equal to a respective reference value; and   re-activating the steam supply device and re-supplying steam to the processing space for a predetermined amount of time.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein supplying dry air to the processing space comprises:
 supplying dry air to the processing space before activating the steam supply device to preheat the processing space; and   deactivating the dry air supply device when an operating time of the dry air supply device is greater than or equal to a reference operating time, or when a current measured temperature of the processing space is greater than or equal to a reference temperature, or when a current measured change in temperature of the processing space is greater than or equal to a reference change in temperature.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein supplying steam comprises operating a steam heater to generate steam and conveying the steam into the processing space, and supplying dry air comprises operating a dry heater and a fan to generate dry air and conveying the dry air into the processing space. 
   
   
       18 . A method for controlling a fabric processing apparatus, the method comprising:
 supplying steam to a receiving chamber for a predetermined amount of time;   supplying dry air to the receiving chamber; and   re-supplying steam to the receiving chamber.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein supplying dry air to the receiving chamber comprises terminating the supply of steam and thereafter supplying dry air to the receiving chamber for a predetermined amount of time. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein supplying dry air to the receiving chamber comprises terminating the supply of steam and thereafter supplying dry air to the receiving chamber until the receiving chamber is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein supplying dry air to the receiving chamber comprises terminating the supply of steam and thereafter supplying dry air to the receiving chamber until a temperature change measured in the receiving chamber is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature change. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein re-supplying steam to the receiving chamber comprises terminating the supply of dry air and thereafter re-supplying steam to the receiving chamber for a predetermined amount of time. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein supplying dry air comprises supplying dry air to the receiving chamber while also supplying steam to the receiving chamber. 
   
   
       24 . A method for controlling a fabric processing apparatus, the method comprising:
 preheating a receiving chamber;   supplying steam to the receiving chamber; and   supplying dry air to the receiving chamber.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein preheating the receiving chamber comprises supplying dry air to the receiving chamber for a predetermined amount of time, or until a temperature of the receiving chamber is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature, or until a measured temperature change in the receiving chamber is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature change. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein supplying steam to the receiving chamber comprises terminating the preheating of the chamber and thereafter supplying steam to the chamber for a predetermined amount of time. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein dry air to the receiving chamber comprises terminating the steam supply to the receiving chamber and thereafter supplying dry air to the receiving chamber for a predetermined amount of time.