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 
 an opening located at a rear side of the casing; 
   a door rotatably coupled to the casing and configured to open or close the open front of the casing;   a panel that is detachably coupled to the casing and configured to cover at least a portion of the rear side of the casing when attached to cover the opening of the casing;   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;   a blower that is configured to blow air into the heat pump module to circulate air into the treating chamber; and   a controller that is configured to control at least one of the blower, the heat pump module, or 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,   wherein the blower is located in front of the at least one supporter, the steam generating module, and the heat pump module and the controller, and   wherein the controller is exposed to an outside or accessible when the panel is detached from the casing.   
     
     
       20. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller is located before the blower from the rear side of the casing. 
     
     
       21. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to be removable when the panel is detached from the casing. 
     
     
       22. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:
 an air intake duct located in front of the blower and configured to guide air from the treating chamber to the blower, wherein the air intake duct is fixed to the blower.   
     
     
       23. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 22, wherein the air intake duct includes an air flow path through which air passes, and a width of the air flow path in a front-and-rear direction is less than a width of the air flow path in a left-and-right direction. 
     
     
       24. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 23, wherein the air intake duct further includes an opening configured to receive air from the treating chamber, and a section of the air flow path within a particular distance of the opening of the air intake duct has a curved shape. 
     
     
       25. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 22, wherein the blower includes
 a fan rotated by a motor;   an opening of the blower that is connected to the air intake duct and configured to introduce air from the air intake duct to the fan; and   a vent configured to discharge air blown by the fan toward the heat pump module.   
     
     
       26. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 25, 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; and   an air outlet configured to discharge air heat-exchanged with the evaporator to the treating chamber, and   wherein air discharged from the vent of the blower flows into the housing of the heat pump module through the air inlet.   
     
     
       27. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:
 a sump positioned in the machinery room and configured to collect condensed water in a steam supply path carrying steam generated by the steam generating module toward the treating chamber.   
     
     
       28. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 27, wherein the sump is further connected to the treating chamber and collects condensed water from the treating chamber. 
     
     
       29. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the base includes a handle that is configured to be held by a user to move the base. 
     
     
       30. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:
 a noise filter configured to filter noise components from a signal input to the controller, the noise filter being positioned closer to the rear side of the casing than the blower.   
     
     
       31. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein an air outlet is provided in the treating chamber to discharge air blown by the blower into the treating chamber, and a steam outlet is provided in the treating chamber to discharge steam generated by the steam generating module into the treating chamber, and
 wherein the air outlet and steam outlet are located on a lower surface of the treating chamber.   
     
     
       32. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the legs and the shelf are formed as one body. 
     
     
       33. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one supporter further includes a mount located at least one of the legs, the mount being fixed to the base to fix the at least one supporter to the base. 
     
     
       34. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 33, wherein the base includes a hole configured to fix the mount. 
     
     
       35. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the panel covers the controller when the panel is coupled to the casing to cover the opening. 
     
     
       36. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the heat pump module is mounted on the shelf. 
     
     
       37. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the heat pump module is positioned between the blower and the rear surface of the casing. 
     
     
       38. 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 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.