초록 ▼

A laundry treating apparatus is provided which can be manufactured easily. The laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet, a drum rotatably disposed in the cabinet configured to hold laundry therein, a front cover including a door opening to load the laundry in the drum, and at least one panel op

A laundry treating apparatus is provided which can be manufactured easily. The laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet, a drum rotatably disposed in the cabinet configured to hold laundry therein, a front cover including a door opening to load the laundry in the drum, and at least one panel opening configured to receive a control panel therein.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of manufacturing a laundry treating apparatus, the method comprising: providing a cabinet having an open front portion, and a modular control panel having a mounting plate coupled to a selection controller;forming a front panel for the cabinet to comprise a continuous front surface havin

1. A method of manufacturing a laundry treating apparatus, the method comprising: providing a cabinet having an open front portion, and a modular control panel having a mounting plate coupled to a selection controller;forming a front panel for the cabinet to comprise a continuous front surface having at least three openings, including a door opening for a door, a panel opening for the modular control panel, and a detergent box opening for a detergent box, a plurality of side surfaces which extend continuously from the front surface, at least one seamless corner where the front surface and two of the plurality of side surfaces meet, and a plurality of flanges extending from the plurality of side surfaces, a plurality of coupling holes being formed in the plurality of flanges;mounting the modular control panel to a rear of the front panel by securing the mounting plate to the plurality of flanges by a plurality of coupling members and the plurality of coupling holes; andmounting the front panel in combination with the modular control panel as a single module to the open front portion of the cabinet after mounting the modular panel to the rear of the front panel, wherein the mounting of the modular control panel to the front panel by securing the modular control panel to the plurality of flanges comprises inserting the selection controller of the modular control into the panel opening, and attaching the mounting plate of the modular control panel to the plurality of flanges, wherein the selection controller is exposed outside through the panel opening. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: installing the detergent box at the mounting plate through the detergent box opening, wherein the continuous front surface of the front panel corresponds to an outermost panel of the laundry treating apparatus, the outermost panel being located along an exterior surface of the laundry treating apparatus with no overlapping aesthetic cover. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the front panel is made of a material which includes STS 304J1-type stainless steel. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the panel opening is disposed above the opening for the door. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the door opening is recessed relative to surrounding portions of the front panel. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing at least one service opening. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the panel opening is configured to receive the modular control panel from a rear surface thereof with the modular control panel secured to at least one of the plurality of flanges. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of flanges is configured to allow the modular control panel to be secured thereto by at least one fastener. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flanges do not connect to one another. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of side surfaces comprise top, bottom, left, and right side surfaces. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one seamless corner is not formed by a joining process. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one seamless corner is not formed by welding. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one seamless corner comprises at least two seamless corners. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one seamless corner comprises a seamless corner formed at a corner where the front surface and two of the plurality of side surfaces meet. 15. A method of manufacturing laundry treating apparatus, the laundry treating apparatus comprising: providing a cabinet having an open front portion and a modular control panel having a mounting plate coupled to a selection controller;forming a front panel comprising a continuous front surface including a door opening for a door, a panel opening for the control panel, and a detergent box opening for a detergent box, wherein the modular front panel is made of stainless steel, a plurality of side surfaces that extend continuously from the front surface at an angle relative to the front surface, at least one corner of the front panel comprising three continuously formed surfaces that are oriented substantially perpendicular to one another, and a plurality of flanges extending from the plurality of side surfaces, a plurality of coupling holes being formed in the plurality of flanges;mounting the modular control panel to a rear of the front panel by securing the mounting plate to the plurality of flanges by a plurality of coupling members and the plurality of coupling holes; andmounting the front panel in combination with the modular control panel to the open front portion of the cabinet after mounting the modular control panel to the rear of the front panel. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein one of the plurality of side surfaces is a top side surface, and wherein a top surface of the cabinet is substantially coplanar with the top side surface. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: securing the front panel to the plurality of flanges extending from the side surfaces by one or more fasteners, the one or more fasteners oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the top side surface, such that the one or more fasteners are hidden from view along the exterior surface of the laundry treating apparatus by the front surface of the front panel. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the top surface of the cabinet is a continuous planar surface extending from the top side surface of the front panel to a back edge of the cabinet. 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of side surfaces includes a first side surface opposite a second side surface and a third side surface opposite a fourth side surface, wherein the first and second side surfaces are parallel with one another and angled relative to the third and fourth side surfaces, the third and fourth side surfaces being parallel, wherein the plurality of flanges includes a first flange extends from the first side surface, a second flange extends from the second side surface, a third flange extending from the third side surface, and a fourth flange extending from the fourth side surface, and wherein each of the first, second, and third flanges receives at least a respective number of fasteners to allow the modular control panel to be fastened to be coupled to the front panel. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein, the first and third flanges are spaced from one another at a location aligned with a seamless corner which continuously extends between the first and third side surfaces, and the second and third flanges are spaced from one another at a location aligned with a seamless corner which continuously extends between the second and third side surfaces. 21. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one of the first, second, or third flanges receives multiple fasteners to allow the modular control panel to be coupled to the front panel. 22. The method of claim 15, wherein the modular mounting plate of the control panel formed as a single module includes the opening for the detergent box, and wherein the detergent box is retractably installed in the opening of the mounting plate through the detergent box opening.