Clothes treating machine and method for controlling the same

Abstract

A clothes treating machine is disclosed. The clothes treating machine includes a cabinet forming the external appearance of the clothes treating machine, the cabinet for keeping clothes, an air conditioning unit for supplying cool air into the cabinet, and a control unit for controlling the air conditioning unit based on the state of clothes kept in the cabinet.

1 . A clothes treating machine comprising:
 a cabinet forming the external appearance of the clothes treating machine, the cabinet for keeping clothes;   an air conditioning unit for supplying cool air into the cabinet; and   a control unit for controlling the air conditioning unit based on the state of clothes kept in the cabinet.   
   
   
       2 . The clothes treating machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the air conditioning unit supplies warm air to control the interior temperature of the cabinet. 
   
   
       3 . The clothes treating machine according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a humidity control unit for controlling the interior humidity of the cabinet, wherein   the humidity control unit is controlled by the control unit.   
   
   
       4 . The clothes treating machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the humidity control unit includes desiccant for dehumidification. 
   
   
       5 . The clothes treating machine according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a filter mounted in the cabinet for deodorizing or purifying air.   
   
   
       6 . The clothes treating machine according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an air freshening unit mounted in the cabinet.   
   
   
       7 . The clothes treating machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the air freshening unit contains vegetable resin having an aromatic effect and an insect proofing effect. 
   
   
       8 . The clothes treating machine according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a flow rate control unit mounted in the cabinet for controlling the flow rate of cool air and warm air supplied from the air conditioning unit.   
   
   
       9 . The clothes treating machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the cabinet is divided into a plurality of independent compartments. 
   
   
       10 . The clothes treating machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the control unit individually controls the interior temperature and humidity of each compartment. 
   
   
       11 . The clothes treating machine according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 ducts connected between the respective compartments and the air conditioning unit for defining flow channels along which cool air or warm air circulates; and   a flow channel control unit for selectively opening and closing the respective ducts, wherein   the flow channel control unit is controlled by the control unit.   
   
   
       12 . The clothes treating machine according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor for measuring the interior temperature and humidity of each compartment, respectively.   
   
   
       13 . The clothes treating machine according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a display unit for displaying the temperature and humidity measured by the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor.   
   
   
       14 . The clothes treating machine according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an input unit for allowing a user to directly establish an operation mode of the clothes treating machine.   
   
   
       15 . The clothes treating machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the control unit includes a storage part for storing proper operation modes based on the state of clothes kept in the cabinet, and the control unit automatically establishes a proper operation mode from the storage part. 
   
   
       16 . The clothes treating machine according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 an identification tag configured to be detachably attached to clothes for allowing information of the attached clothes to be inputted thereinto; and   an identification sensor for determining whether the clothes are received and confirming the clothes information from the identification tag, wherein   the control unit automatically establishes the proper operation mode from the storage part depending upon the determination as to whether the clothes are received and the confirmation of the clothes information by the identification sensor.   
   
   
       17 . The clothes treating machine according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a communication module for receiving weather information and clothes caring information from the outside, wherein   the control unit automatically establishes the proper operation mode from the storage part depending upon the weather information and the clothes caring information received through the communication module.   
   
   
       18 . A method for controlling a clothes treating machine, comprising:
 inputting information necessary to establish an operation mode of the clothes treating machine;   establishing a proper operation mode based on the inputted information; and   performing a keeping operation according to the established proper operation mode.   
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the step of inputting the information includes
 determining whether clothes are received in a cabinet of the clothes treating machine, and   confirming information of the received clothes.   
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the step of inputting the information further includes inputting weather information and clothes caring information through communication in real time. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the step of establishing the proper operation mode includes confirming a proper operation mode based on the state of clothes kept in the clothes treating machine and automatically establishing the proper operation mode by the clothes treating machine. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the step of establishing the proper operation mode includes
 displaying the state of clothes kept in the clothes treating machine, and   manually establishing the proper operation mode based on the state of the clothes by a user.