US 12,247,345 B2
Laundry treatment apparatus and method for operating the same
Kwangjo Lee, Seoul (KR); Gayeong Jeong, Seoul (KR); Hyojin Joo, Seoul (KR); and Jangan Choi, Seoul (KR)
Assigned to LG Electronics Inc., Seoul (KR)
Filed by LG Electronics Inc., Seoul (KR)
Filed on Mar. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/217,614.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2020-0037968 (KR), filed on Mar. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0301456 A1, Sep. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. D06F 58/24 (2006.01); D06F 25/00 (2006.01); D06F 33/69 (2020.01); D06F 39/06 (2006.01); D06F 39/20 (2024.01); D06F 58/04 (2006.01); D06F 58/20 (2006.01); D06F 58/30 (2020.01); D06F 58/38 (2020.01); D06F 103/08 (2020.01)
CPC D06F 58/24 (2013.01) [D06F 25/00 (2013.01); D06F 33/69 (2020.02); D06F 39/06 (2013.01); D06F 39/20 (2024.01); D06F 58/04 (2013.01); D06F 58/203 (2013.01); D06F 58/30 (2020.02); D06F 58/38 (2020.02); D06F 58/206 (2013.01); D06F 2103/08 (2020.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A laundry treatment apparatus comprising:
a cabinet;
a heat pump configured to heat air for drying laundry and to condense moisture from the air that is used for drying the laundry;
a circulation fan configured to circulate the air;
a condensed water collector that is disposed in the cabinet and defines a collection space configured to receive condensed water therein;
a discharge pump assembly comprising a discharge pump that is disposed at the condensed water collector and configured to pump the condensed water from the condensed water collector;
a water discharge container configured to receive the condensed water pumped from the condensed water collector;
a sterilization module configured to sterilize the condensed water in the condensed water collector by irradiating ultraviolet light; and
a controller configured to control the heat pump, the circulation fan, the discharge pump assembly, and the sterilization module,
wherein the controller is configured to:
operate the discharge pump to circulate the condensed water in the condensed water collector, and
control the sterilization module to irradiate the ultraviolet light to the condensed water circulated by operating the discharge pump.