Laundry treating apparatus and method for controlling the same

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus that generates steam to be supplied to hung laundry and steam to be supplied to an iron in a single heating part.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry treating apparatus comprising:
 a cabinet;   an inner casing providing an accommodating space where laundry is hung;   a door configured to open and close the accommodating space;   a circulation duct forming a flow channel where air inside the inner casing circulates;   a heat supply part configured to heat air and supply heated air into the inner casing;   a steam iron disposed inside the cabinet and withdrawable toward the inner casing or the door; and   a steam supply part configured to selectively supply steam to the inside of the inner casing and the steam iron,   wherein the steam supply part is set to supply steam at a higher pressure to the steam iron than to the inside of the inner casing.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the steam supply part includes:
 a heating part connected to both the inside of the inner casing and the steam iron and provide to heat water; and   a valve assembly configured to allow the heating part to be selectively in communication with one of the inner casing and the steam iron.   
     
     
         3 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the heating part includes:
 a guide pipe transmitting steam into the inner casing; and   a cable transmitting steam to the steam iron,   wherein the valve assembly is configured to selectively open and close the guide pipe and the cable.   
     
     
         4 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 3 , where the valve assembly is provided to open the guide tube at a first temperature or a first pressure, and is provided to open the cable at a second temperature or a second pressure,
 wherein the second temperature is set higher than the first temperature, and the second pressure is set higher than the first pressure.   
     
     
         5 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the valve assembly is controlled to:
 discharge steam generated in the heating part as it is to the guide pipe; and   discharge steam to the cable in case that steam generated in the heating part is further pressurized or further heated.   
     
     
         6 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the heating part further includes:
 an accommodating body accommodating therein water and in communication with the guide pipe and the cable;   a heater coupled to the accommodating body and configured to heat water; and   a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure inside the accommodating body,   wherein the valve assembly is controlled to open and close the guide pipe and the cable based on the pressure inside the accommodating body.   
     
     
         7 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the heating part further includes:
 an accommodating body accommodating therein water and in communication with the guide pipe and the cable;   a heater coupled to the accommodating body and configured to heat water; and   a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature inside the accommodating body,   wherein the valve assembly is controlled to open and close the guide pipe and the cable based on the temperature inside the accommodating body.   
     
     
         8 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the valve assembly includes:
 a first valve configured to open and close the guide pipe; and   a second valve configured to open and close the cable,   wherein and the first valve part is controlled to be opened at a first temperature a first temperature,   wherein the second valve part is controlled to be opened at a second temperature or a second pressure,   wherein the second temperature is set higher than the first temperature, and the second pressure is set higher than the first pressure.   
     
     
         9 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a branch pipe coupled to the heating part, wherein the guide pipe and the cable are coupled to the branch pipe,
 wherein the valve assembly is disposed on the branch pipe to open and close the guide pipe and the cable.   
     
     
         10 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the valve assembly is controlled to:
 close the guide pipe when the door is opened; and   close the cable when the door is closed.   
     
     
         11 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the heating part is operated regardless of the opening and the closing of the door. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a water supply tank seated in front of the circulation duct,
 wherein the steam generator is configured to receive water from the water supply tank and generate steam to be supplied to the inner casing and the steam iron.   
     
     
         13 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a water supply pump configured to supply water stored in the water supply tank to the heating part,
 wherein the water supply pump is configured to supply water at a higher pressure when steam is supplied to the steam iron than when steam is supplied to the inner casing.   
     
     
         14 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the steam supply part is configured to supply steam at a pressure corresponding to an atmospheric pressure into the inner casing, but supply steam at a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure to the steam iron. 
     
     
         15 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the steam iron is configured to supply steam at a pressure of at least two or three times the atmospheric pressure.