Fabric treating apparatus

Abstract

A fabric treating apparatus includes a casing that includes a treating chamber and a machinery room that is located below the treating chamber. The fabric treating apparatus further includes a base that is located at a bottom of the machinery room. The fabric treating apparatus further includes a heat pump module that is configured to condition air supplied to the treating chamber. The fabric treating apparatus further includes at least one supporter that is configured to support the heat pump module and that defines a space between the base and the heat pump module. The fabric treating apparatus further includes a steam generating module that is located in the space and that is configured to generate steam and supply steam to the treating chamber. The fabric treating apparatus further includes a controller that is configured to control at least one of the heat pump module or the steam generating module.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fabric treating apparatus comprising:
 a casing that comprises:
 a treating chamber that is configured to receive clothes; and 
 a machinery room that is located below the treating chamber; 
   a base that is located at a bottom of the machinery room;   a heat pump module that is configured to condition air supplied to the treating chamber;   at least one supporter (a) that includes a shelf (i) that is supported by legs that are fixed to the base and (ii) that supports the heat pump module and that defines a space (i) between the base and the heat pump module and (ii) below the shelf and (b) that includes a first supporter fixing tab that includes a surface that faces the base and that is located at a lower part of at least one of the legs;   a steam generating module that is located in the space and that is configured to generate steam and supply steam to the treating chamber; and   a controller that is configured to control at least one of the heat pump module or the steam generating module, the controller being located in the space and below the steam generating module,   wherein the base includes a first supporter fixing part that includes a first supporter fastening hole that is configured to receive the first supporter fixing tab.   
     
     
       2. The fabric treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first supporter fixing tab is configured to slide into a pocket that is defined by the first supporter fastening hole. 
     
     
       3. The fabric treating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a size of the pocket is about equal to a size of the first supporter fixing tab. 
     
     
       4. The fabric treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one supporter comprises:
 a first supporter that includes a second supporter fixing tab; and 
 a second supporter that includes the first supporter fixing tab, 
   the base comprises:
 a second supporter fixing part that defines a second supporter fastening hole that is configured to receive the second supporter fixing tab, 
   the second supporter fixing tab is configured to slide into the second supporter fastening hole in a first direction, and   the first supporter fixing tab is configured to slide into the first supporter fastening hole in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.   
     
     
       5. The fabric treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base comprises a metal material, and   the first supporter fixing part comprises a plastic material.   
     
     
       6. The fabric treating apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first supporter fixing part is formed by cutting, about perpendicular to a direction in which the first supporter fixing tab is configured to insert, a portion of the base having a predetermined length and then upwardly pressing a predetermined peripheral area of the cut portion. 
     
     
       7. The fabric treating apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first supporter fastening hole is formed through plastic deformation of the cut portion. 
     
     
       8. The fabric treating apparatus of  claim 5 , comprising a fastening member that is configured to couple the base and the at least one supporter and that vertically penetrates the first supporter fixing part and the first supporter fixing tab. 
     
     
       9. The fabric treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the casing includes an opening that is located at a rear side of the casing and that is configured to receive the controller,   the heat pump module is located above the controller, and   the fabric treating apparatus further comprises a blower that is configured to blow air into an interior of the heat pump module.   
     
     
       10. The fabric treating apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a panel that is detachably coupled to the casing and that is configured to close the opening.   
     
     
       11. The fabric treating apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the blower is located in front of the at least one supporter. 
     
     
       12. The fabric treating apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the blower is coupled to the base. 
     
     
       13. The fabric treating apparatus of claim of  claim 10 , wherein the base comprises a blower installation tab that protrudes from the base and that is configured to couple to the blower. 
     
     
       14. The fabric treating apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an air intake duct that is configured to guide air into the blower and that is located in front of the blower.   
     
     
       15. The fabric treating apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the air intake duct is fixed to at least one of the blower or the base. 
     
     
       16. The fabric treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller includes at least one controller fixing tab that is configured to slide into a controller fixing hole that is located at the base. 
     
     
       17. A fabric treating apparatus comprising:
 a casing that comprises:
 a treating chamber that is configured to receive clothes; and 
 a machinery room that is located below the treating chamber; 
   a base that is located at a bottom of the machinery room;   a heat pump module that is configured to condition air supplied to the treating chamber;   at least one supporter that includes a shelf (i) that is supported by legs that are fixed to the base and (ii) that supports the heat pump module and that defines a space (i) between the base and the heat pump module and (ii) below the shelf;   a steam generating module that is located in the space and that is configured to generate steam and supply steam to the treating chamber; and   a controller that is configured to control at least one of the heat pump module or the steam generating module, the controller being located in the space and below the steam generating module,   wherein a steam generating module fixing tab is located at one of the steam generating module or the at least one supporter, and   wherein the fabric treating apparatus defines an installation hole that is configured to receive the steam generating module fixing tab and that is located at another of the steam generating module or the at least one supporter opposite the steam generating module fixing tab.   
     
     
       18. The fabric treating apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the at least one supporter comprises a pair of supporters that are spaced apart from each other and that are about perpendicular to a front and rear direction of the base,   the installation hole is located on one of the pair of the supporters, and   the steam generating module is coupled, by a fastening member, to another one of the pair of the supporters opposite the installation hole, and   the steam generating module fixing tab is inserted into the installation hole.   
     
     
       19. A fabric treating apparatus comprising:
 a casing that comprises:
 an open front; 
 a treating chamber that is configured to receive clothes; 
 a machinery room that is located below the treating chamber; and 
   a door rotatably coupled to the casing and configured to open or close the open front of the casing;   a base that is located at a bottom of the machinery room;   a blower that is configured to suck air from the treating chamber and to circulate air;   an air intake duct located in front of the blower with respect to the open front and configured to guide air from the treating chamber to the blower;   a heat pump module that is located behind the blower with respect to the open front and is configured to condition air supplied to the treating chamber;   at least one supporter that is located behind the blower with respect to the open front and includes a shelf (i) that is supported by legs that are fixed to the base and (ii) that supports the heat pump module and that defines a space (i) between the base and the heat pump module and (ii) below the shelf;   a steam generating module that is located behind the blower with respect to the open front and in the space and that is configured to generate steam and supply steam to the treating chamber; and   a sump configured to collect condensed water generated in at least one of the heat pump module, the treating chamber, or a steam supply path transporting steam generated by the steam generating module,   wherein a steam generating module fixing tab is located at one of the steam generating module or the at least one supporter,   wherein the fabric treating apparatus further comprises an installation hole that is configured to receive the steam generating module fixing tab,   wherein the installation hole is located (i) at the steam generating module when the steam generating module fixing tab is located at the at least one supporter, or (ii) at the at least one supporter when the steam generating module fixing tab is located at the steam generating module, and   wherein the sump is located in the air intake duct.    
     
     
       20. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein:
 the at least one supporter comprises a pair of supporters that are spaced apart from each other and that are about perpendicular to the front-and-rear direction of the base,   the installation hole is located on one of the pair of the supporters,   the steam generating module is coupled, by a fastening member, to another one of the pair of the supporters opposite the installation hole, and   the steam generating module fixing tab is inserted into the installation hole.    
     
     
       21. The fabric treating device of claim 19, wherein the sump is located in an inner lower region of the air intake duct.  
     
     
       22. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the air intake duct further includes:
 an opening configured to receive air from the treating chamber;   an outlet of the air intake duct to discharge air into the blower; and   an air flow path configured to connect the opening of the air intake duct with the outlet of the air intake duct, and   wherein a height of the opening of the air intake duct is greater than a height of the outlet of the air intake duct.    
     
     
       23. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 22, wherein an upper section of the air flow path is inclined downwardly from the opening of the air flow path.  
     
     
       24. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 22, wherein the opening of the air flow path faces a bottom surface of the treating chamber, and the outlet of the air intake duct faces an opening of the blower.  
     
     
       25. The fabric treating device of claim 19, wherein the air intake duct is coupled to the blower.  
     
     
       26. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein one of the blower or the air intake duct includes a pin extended in the front-and-rear direction, and
 wherein the blower includes a pin hole to receive the pin when included in the air intake duct or the air intake duct includes the pin hole to receive the pin when included in the blower, such that the air intake duct and the blower are aligned by inserting the pin into the pin hole.    
     
     
       27. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:
 a water supply tank configured to supply water to the steam generating module;   a drain container configured to store water discharged from the sump; and   a tank installation space is located in front of the air intake duct and below the treating chamber,   wherein the water supply tank and the drain container are detachably coupled in the tank installation space.    
     
     
       28. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 27, wherein the water supply tank and the drain container are located in front of the machinery room and face an inner surface of the door, when the door is closed.  
     
     
       29. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:
 a nozzle coupling the sump and the drain container, and   a water drain pump to discharge the condensed water from the sump via the nozzle.    
     
     
       30. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 29, wherein the water drain pump is located at a same lateral side as the drain container between the open front and a rear surface of the casing.  
     
     
       31. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:
 a water supply pump to supply water stored in the water supply tank into the steam generating module.    
     
     
       32. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 31, wherein the water supply pump is located at a same lateral side as the water supply tank and the steam generating module between the open front and a rear surface of the casing.  
     
     
       33. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the steam generating module is located behind the blower with respect to the open front.  
     
     
       34. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:
 a water supply tank configured to supply water to the steam generating module; and   a drain container configured to store water discharged from the sump,   wherein the heat pump module includes:
 a housing configured to define an inner space to house a condenser and an evaporator; 
 an air inlet configured to introduce air into the inner space; 
 an air outlet configured to discharge air heat-exchanged with the evaporator to the treating chamber; and 
 a compressor is located outside the housing and at one lateral side of the at least one supporter with respect to the machine room, the compressor being connected with the condenser and the evaporator, and 
   wherein the drain container is located at a same lateral side of the machinery room as the compressor.    
     
     
       35. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the steam generating module is spaced apart from the base.  
     
     
       36. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:
 an opening of the casing located at a rear side of the casing;   a panel detachably coupled to the casing to cover at least a portion of the rear side when attached to cover the opening of the casing; and   a controller configured to control at least one of the heat pump module, the steam generating module, or the blower,   wherein the controller is exposed to an outside or accessible when the panel is detached from the casing.    
     
     
       37. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the legs include a mount configured to be fixed to the base.  
     
     
       38. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 37, wherein the base includes a hole configured to fix the mount.  
     
     
       39. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein a width of the air intake duct in a front-and-rear direction is less than a width of the air intake duct in a left-and-right direction.