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 coupled to the casing to cover the opening; 
 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 located in front of the at least one supporter and is configured to blow air to the heat pump module to circulate air in the treating chamber, and 
 a controller that is configured to control at least one of the heat pump module, the blower, 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, and 
 wherein the fabric treating apparatus further comprises an installation hole that is configured to receive the steam generating module fixing tab and 
 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.  
   
     
     
       20. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller is exposed to an outside or accessible when the panel is detached.  
     
     
       21. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the heat pump module is mounted on the shelf.  
     
     
       22. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 21, wherein the heat pump module is positioned between the blower and the rear side of the casing.  
     
     
       23. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one supporter further includes a mount provided at a lower end of one of the legs, and the mount is configured to be fixed to the base.  
     
     
       24. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 23, wherein the legs, the shelf, and the mount are formed of a single piece of metal.  
     
     
       25. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 23, wherein the base includes a hole that is configured to fix the mount of the at least one supporter.  
     
     
       26. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 25, wherein the base comprises a metal material, and
 wherein the hole includes a portion of the base that is plastically deformed by being cut a prescribed length in a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to a second direction in which the mount is inserted and then upwardly pressed.    
     
     
       27. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a fastener that is configured to be inserted through the mount and the base to fix the at least one supporter to the base.  
     
     
       28. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the base includes a blower installation tab that protrudes from the base and is configured to be coupled to the blower.  
     
     
       29. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, 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 in the heat pump module to the treating chamber, and
 wherein the housing includes at a least one contact surface configured to be coupled to the at least one supporter.    
     
     
       30. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at a least one contact surface of the housing of the heat pump module is configured to be coupled to the shelf.  
     
     
       31. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 30, wherein the contact surface of the housing of the heat pump module extends horizontally to be coupled to a horizontal surface of the shelf or extends vertically to be coupled to a vertical surface of the shelf.  
     
     
       32. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller is positioned at a rear side of the machinery room.  
     
     
       33. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:
 a sump that is positioned in front of the at least one supporter and is configured to collect condensed water in a steam supply path carrying steam generated by the steam generating module toward the treating chamber.    
     
     
       34. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 33, wherein the sump is further connected to the treating chamber and collects condensed water from the treating chamber.  
     
     
       35. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:
 a water drain pump located in front of the at least one supporter and configured to discharge water from the sump.    
     
     
       36. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:
 an air intake duct located in front of the at least one supporter and configured to guide air from the treating chamber to the blower.    
     
     
       37. The fabric treating apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:
 a water supply pump located in front of the at least one supporter and configured to supply water to the steam generation module.    
     
     
       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.