Clothes dryer

Abstract

A clothes dryer includes a cabinet including an inlet and a base, a drum inside the cabinet, a support frame including a front support frame supporting a front end of the drum and having a laundry inlet and a rear support frame supporting a rear end of the drum, a blower under the front support frame, and a guide behind the blower and connected to the blower. The blower and the guide can be configured such that the blower is operable to move outside air to an inside of the cabinet, and the guide guides a first portion of the outside air moved to the inside of the cabinet by the blower to a gap between the drum and the front support frame to dry air leaked from between the drum and the front support frame.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The disclosure relates to a clothes dryer, and more particularly, to a clothes dryer having a structure for reducing condensation of humid air. BACKGROUND

[0002] A dryer evaporates water contained in objects to be treated, such as laundry or bedding, put into a drum (or a tub) by supplying hot air to the objects. The air evaporating water of the objects to be treated in the drum then discharged from the drum is in a humid hot state because the air contains moisture of the objects to be treated. Depending on the method of treating such humid hot air, dryers are classified into a condensing type and an exhaust type.

[0003] The condensing type dryer condenses water contained in the humid hot air by heat exchange without discharging the air to the outside. In contrast, the exhaust type dryer directly discharges the humid hot air to the outside. The difference in structure is that the condensing type dryer has a structure for treating condensed water, and the exhaust type dryer has a structure for discharging air.

[0004] In particular, in the condensing type dryer, since the air is not discharged to the outside, humid hot air can leak out from the drum. The humid hot air leaked out from the drum causes condensation inside the dryer. SUMMARY

[0005] Aspects of embodiments of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the following description, which will in part be apparent from the description, or can be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a clothes dryer can include a cabinet including an inlet and a base; a drum rotatably provided inside the cabinet, the drum including a front end portion and a rear end portion; a support frame including a front support frame and a rear support frame, the front support frame supporting the front end portion of the drum and having a laundry inlet, wherein the inlet of the cabinet, the laundry inlet, and the front end portion of the drum are positioned such that laundry is insertable through the inlet of the cabinet, and then passes through the laundry inlet to be accommodated in the drum, the rear support frame supporting the rear end portion of the drum; a blower under the front support frame; and a guide portion behind the blower and connected with the blower. The blower and the guide portion can be configured such that the blower is operable to move outside air to an inside of the cabinet, and the guide portion guides a first portion of the outside air moved to the inside of the cabinet by the blower to a gap between the drum and the front support frame to dry air leaked from between the drum and the front support frame.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the laundry dryer further includes a printed board assembly (PBA) configured to drive various loads for overall operation of the laundry dryer, wherein the guide portion guides the second portion of the outside air moved by the blower to the PBA to cool the PBA.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the guide portion includes a first guide portion configured to guide the first portion of the outside air moved by the blower to the gap between the drum and the front support frame, and a second guide portion connected with the first guide portion and configured to guide the second portion of the outside air moved by the blower to the PBA.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the first guide portion and the second guide portion are integrated as one.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the first guide portion extends toward the gap between the drum and the front support frame.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the first guide portion includes a first passage through which the first portion of the outside air moves, and a first outlet connected with the first passage and configured to discharge the first portion of the outside air, and the second guide portion includes a second passage through which the second portion of the outside air moves, and a second outlet connected with the second passage and configured to discharge the second portion of the outside air.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the laundry dryer further includes a blower housing under the front support frame and accommodating the blower, wherein the guide portion is coupled with the blower housing.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the coupling hole is at one side of the blower housing, and the guide portion includes a coupling member coupled with the coupling hole.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the laundry dryer further includes a forced convection device on the base of the cabinet and configured to circulate air between the drum and the cabinet.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the forced convection device moves at least a portion of the air leaked from between the drum and the front support frame toward the rear support frame.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the laundry dryer further includes a driver configured to transmit power to the drum, a compressor, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a condenser, wherein the base includes a first area and a second area, the driver, the compressor, and the expansion valve are located on the first area, the evaporator and the condenser are located on the second area, the second area forms a temperature lower than a temperature of the first area, and the forced convection device is provided on the second area.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the guide portion is adjacent to one of the left plate and the right plate of the cabinet, and the forced convection device is adjacent to the remaining one of the left plate and the right plate of the cabinet.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the forced convection device includes a convection fan configured to disperse air by rotation, and a convection fan case accommodating the convection fan.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the clothes dryer further includes a duct connected with the drum and configured to circulate air through the drum, the duct including a hot air discharge duct connected to discharge air from inside the drum, a connection duct connected with the hot air discharge duct and accommodating the evaporator and the condenser to process air passing through the connection duct, and a hot air guide duct connected with the connection duct and configured to supply air passing through the connection duct to the drum, wherein the forced convection device is provided on an outer surface of the connection duct.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the clothes dryer further includes a sealing member coupled with the front surface of the drum and configured to seal between the drum and the front support frame, wherein the forced convection device is located behind the sealing member and configured to circulate at least a portion of air leaked between the sealing member and the front support frame. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] These and / or other embodiments of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0023] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the clothes dryer of Figure 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0024] Figure 3 is an enlarged view of "A" of the clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Figure 2

[0025] Figure 4 illustrates a coupled state of a front support frame, a blower, a guide portion, a sealing member, a drum, and a rear support frame in a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0026] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a front support frame, a blower, a guide portion, a sealing member, a drum, and a rear support frame in a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0027] Figure 6 ​is a perspective view showing a guide portion, a duct, and a heat pump mounted on a base and a rear support bracket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of a guide portion, a duct, and a heat pump mounted on a base and a rear support bracket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing one side of a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 9 is an enlarged view of "B" of Figure 8

[0031] Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of a blower and a guide portion according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] Figure 11 is an internal perspective view showing the other side of a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] Figure 12 is a top view showing a connection of a duct and a forced convection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The embodiments described in the specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, and thus it will be understood that various modified examples, which can replace the embodiments described in the specification and the drawings, are possible at the time of filing the present application.

[0035] In addition, similar reference numerals or symbols denoted in the drawings of the present specification represent members or components performing substantially the same functions.

[0036] In addition, the terms used in the present specification are only used to describe the embodiments, and are not intended to limit and / or restrict the present disclosure. Expressions using the singular form include the plural form unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context. In the present specification, it will be understood that terms such as "include", "comprise" or "have" are intended to indicate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, but are not intended to exclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof can exist or can be added.

[0037] ​Also, it will be understood that, although the terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., can be used herein to describe various components, these components must not be limited by these terms. The terms are used only to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first component could be termed a second component, and, similarly, a second component could be termed a first component, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0038] Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide a clothes dryer capable of reducing the relative humidity of wet air leaked between the outside of a drum and a front support frame.

[0039] Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide a clothes dryer capable of reducing condensation of wet air on a front support frame by causing forced convection on the inside of the front support frame.

[0040] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, condensation of wet air leaked between a drum and a front support frame on the inside of a frame can be prevented. Also, the ambient temperature of the drum can be prevented from being reduced by outside air, and thus, the performance of the dryer can be prevented from being degraded. Also, since the internal wet air is not discharged to the outside, the condensation and mold growth inside the laundry room are not accelerated.

[0041] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a clothes dryer can include a cabinet including an inlet and a base, a drum rotatably provided inside the cabinet, a duct connected with the drum and configured to circulate air, the duct including a hot air discharge duct connected to discharge internal air of the drum, a connection duct connected with the hot air discharge duct and accommodating an evaporator and a condenser, and a hot air guide duct connected with the connection duct and configured to supply air passing through the connection duct to the drum again, and a forced convection device provided on an outer surface of the connection duct and configured to circulate air leaked between the drum and the cabinet. The clothes dryer can further include a support frame including a front support frame including a laundry inlet corresponding to the inlet and rotatably supporting a front end of the drum, and a rear support frame rotatably supporting a rear end of the drum, and the forced convection device can move air leaked between the drum and the front support frame toward the rear support frame. The base can include a first area on which a driver to transmit power to the drum, a compressor, and an expansion valve are located, and a second area on which the evaporator and the condenser are located, the second area forming a temperature lower than that of the first area, and the forced convection device can be provided on the second area. The forced convection device can be provided at an edge of the connection duct. The forced convection device can include a convection fan configured to disperse air by rotation, and a convection fan case accommodating the convection fan.

[0042] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing Figure 1 a cross-sectional view of the clothes dryer of Figure 3 is a perspective view showing Figure 2 is an enlarged view of "A" of Figure 4 shows a coupling state of a front support frame, a blower, a guide portion, a sealing member, a drum, and a rear support frame in a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a front support frame, a blower, a guide portion, a sealing member, a drum, and a rear support frame in a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] Referring to Figures 1 to 5 , the clothes dryer 1 can include a cabinet 10 forming an outer appearance and a drum 20 rotatably installed inside the cabinet 10.

[0045] The cabinet 10 can substantially have a shape of a hexahedron (a box). More specifically, the cabinet 10 can include a rear plate, an upper plate 12, a front plate 13, a left plate 14a, a right plate 14b, and a base 15. An embodiment of the present disclosure shows an example in which the front plate, the upper plate, the base, etc. forming the cabinet 10 are respectively prepared and then assembled together. However, the concept of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, at least a portion of the cabinet, the front plate, the upper plate, the base, etc. can be integrated as one.

[0046] In the front plate 13 of the cabinet 10, an inlet 13a through which laundry (not shown) to be dried is put into or taken out of the drum 20 can be formed. The inlet 13a can be opened or closed by a door 16. In an upper portion of the cabinet 10, a control panel 17 for controlling the operation of the clothes dryer 1 can be provided.

[0047] A laundry inlet 51 to be described below can be formed in the front support frame 50 to correspond to the inlet 13a. That is, the laundry inlet 51 to be described below can be formed in the front support frame 50 to communicate with the inlet 13a.

[0048] In a lower portion of one side of the front plate 13 of the cabinet 10, a plurality of holes 13b can be formed. The plurality of holes 13b can allow external air to enter an inside of the cabinet 10. In at least a portion of the rear support frame 60 of the cabinet 10, a plurality of holes 61b can be formed.

[0049] Inside the cabinet 10, a blower 52 to be described below can be placed. External air that enters the inside of the cabinet 10 through the blower 52 can flow through the blower 52 and be discharged to the outside of the cabinet 10 through a plurality of holes 61b formed in the rear support frame 60 of the cabinet 10.

[0050] External air can enter the inside of the cabinet 10 through a plurality of holes 13b formed in the front plate 13 of the cabinet 10 and flow through the blower 52.

[0051] The blower 52 can be located in the front lower space of the cabinet 10. The blower 52 can be placed to correspond to the plurality of holes 13b formed in the front plate 13 of the cabinet 10.

[0052] Inside the cabinet 10, a drum 20 in a cylindrical shape can be provided. In the front end 22a of the drum 20, an opening 20a corresponding to the inlet 13 formed in the front plate 13 can be formed. An object to be dried can be put into or taken out of the drum 20 through the opening 20a.

[0053] The drum 20 can be provided inside the cabinet 10 in a rotatable manner with respect to a rotation axis. On the inner circumferential surface of the drum 20, a lifter 21 for lifting an object to be dried when the drum 20 rotates can be provided. While the drum 20 rotates, an operation of lifting the object to be dried by the lifter 21 and dropping the object to be dried can be repeatedly performed. On the outer circumferential surface of the drum 20, a roller 22 supporting the drum 20 so that the drum 20 can rotate smoothly can be provided.

[0054] The drum 20 can rotate by receiving power from a driver 100. The driver 100 can be located in the inner lower space of the cabinet 10. The driver 100 can be mounted on the base 15. The driver 100 can include a motor 110 and a belt pulley 112 and a belt 113 for transmitting power of the motor 110 to the drum 20. The belt pulley 112 can be connected with a rotation shaft 111 connected with the motor 110. According to rotation of the rotation shaft 111 by the motor 10, the belt pulley 112 can also rotate together with the rotation shaft 111. The belt 113 can be wound around the outer surface of the belt pulley 112 and the outer surface of the drum 20. According to rotation of the belt 113 by driving power of the motor 110, the drum 20 can rotate together with the belt 113.

[0055] The clothes dryer 1 can further include support frames 50 and 60 that support the drum 20. The support frames 50 and 60 can be located between the cabinet 10 and the drum 20. The support frames 50 and 60 can include a front support frame 50 that rotatably supports a front end 22a of the drum 20 and a rear support frame 60 that rotatably supports a rear end 22b of the drum 20. The front support frame 50 can be fixed to the front panel 13 of the cabinet 10 and located between the front panel 13 of the cabinet 10 and the front end 22a of the drum 20.

[0056] In the front support frame 50, a laundry inlet 51 can be formed. The laundry inlet 51 can be used to put the laundry into the drum 20. The rear support frame 60 can be connected with a hot air guide duct 330 that will be described below, and dry hot air that can dry the laundry can enter the inside of the drum 20 through a second guide hole 330b of the hot air guide duct 330.

[0057] The clothes dryer 1 can further include a sealing member 70 that is located between the drum 20 and the front support frame 50 to maintain air tightness between the drum 20 and the front support frame 50.

[0058] The front support frame 50 can include a sealing member mounting portion 50a in which the sealing member 70 is mounted. The sealing member 70 can be mounted in the sealing member mounting portion 50a. The front end 22a of the drum 20 can be in contact with the sealing member 70 and supported by the sealing member 70.

[0059] The sealing member 70 can seal between the front end 22a of the drum 20 and the sealing member mounting portion 50a of the front support frame 50.

[0060] Inadequate sealing between the drum 20 and the front support frame 50 can cause lint or steam that can be generated during drying of the laundry to leak through a gap between the drum 20 and the front support frame 50. The lint or steam can deteriorate the drying performance of the clothes dryer 1 and can also cause a safety accident such as a fire. Therefore, it can be very important to ensure air tightness between the drum 20 and the front support frame 50 by using the sealing member 70.

[0061] The sealing member 70 can be used to reduce frictional resistance between the drum 20 and the front support frame 50 and to maintain air tightness between the drum 20 and the front support frame 50.

[0062] The sealing member 70 can have a shape of a closed ring. For example, the sealing member 70 can have a ring shape.

[0063] The drum 20 can accommodate the laundry therein to dry the laundry. In the cabinet 10, a duct 300 for forming a flow path 400 that circulates dry air to the drum 20 can be provided.

[0064] The duct 300 can include a hot air discharge duct 310 forming a discharge flow path 401 for discharging hot air passing through the inside of the drum 20, a hot air guide duct 330 forming a guide flow path 403 for guiding hot air to the drum 20, and a connection duct 320 forming a connection flow path 402 and connecting the hot air discharge duct 310 with the hot air guide duct 330.

[0065] The flow path 400 can include the discharge flow path 401, the connection flow path 402, and the guide flow path 403.

[0066] The connection flow path 402 can accommodate the evaporator 32 and the condenser 33 of the heat pump 30.

[0067] The hot air discharge duct 310 can be located under the front surface of the drum 20. The hot air guide duct 330 can be located behind the drum 20. The connection duct 320 can be located under the drum 20. The connection duct 320 can be installed on the base 15.

[0068] Dry hot air can be supplied to the inside of the drum 20 through the hot air guide duct 330, and the objects to be dried in the inside of the drum 20 can be dried by the dry hot air. After the objects to be dried are dried, the air can be in a humid hot state, and the humid hot air in the drum 20 can be discharged to the outside of the drum 20 through the hot air discharge duct 310.

[0069] Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a guide portion, a duct, and a heat pump installed on a base and a rear support frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 7 FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the guide portion, the duct, and the heat pump installed on the base and the rear support frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0070] Referring to Figure 6 and Figure 7 The hot air discharge duct 310 can include a first hole 310a through which hot air of the drum 20 is introduced and a second hole 310b for discharging the air introduced through the first hole 310a to the connection duct 320.

[0071] In the hot air discharge duct 310, a filter can be installed to filter foreign substances such as lint contained in the hot air passing through the drum 20. The air that has dried the objects to be dried in the inside of the drum 20 can be discharged through the hot air discharge duct 310. The air discharged from the hot air discharge duct 310 can enter the connection duct 320.

[0072] The humid hot air that has entered the connection duct 320 through the hot air discharge duct 310 can be guided to the evaporator 32 to be described below, and thus water contained in the humid hot air can be removed.

[0073] The evaporator 32 can constitute a heat pump 30 together with the condenser 33, the compressor 31, and the expansion valve 34 (see Figure 11 ) to be described below. The heat pump 30 can cool the hot refrigerant by circulating the refrigerant to remove moisture from the air and then reheat the air.

[0074] The heat pump 30 can be installed on the base 15. The evaporator 32 and the condenser 33 of the heat pump 30 can be located at one side of the base 15. The evaporator 32 and the condenser 33 of the heat pump 30 can be located inside the duct 300. The evaporator 32 and the condenser 33 of the heat pump 30 can be located inside the connection duct 320. The evaporator 32 and the condenser 33 of the heat pump 30 can be positioned in order in the front-rear direction of the base 15 inside the connection duct 320.

[0075] The hot air discharge duct 310 located below the front of the drum 20, the connection duct 320 located below the drum 20, and the hot air guide duct 330 located behind the drum 20 can be positioned in order in the front-rear direction of the base 15.

[0076] The hot air discharge duct 310, the connection duct 320, and the hot air guide duct 330 can be positioned in a straight structure in the front-rear direction with respect to the drum 20 to reduce flow resistance. The flow path 400 formed by the hot air discharge duct 310, the connection duct 320, and the hot air guide duct 330 can be aligned from the front to the rear of the base 15 to reduce flow resistance of air. More specifically, the connection flow path 402 can be aligned from the front to the rear of the base 15 to reduce flow resistance.

[0077] A blower 200 for flowing air can be provided inside the duct 300. The blower 200 can include a fan 220. The blower 200 can be located inside the connection duct 320. The blower 200 can be located behind the connection duct 320. The blower 200 can be located behind the evaporator 32 and the condenser 33. The blower 200 can circulate air inside the flow path 400.

[0078] The compressor 31 and the expansion valve 34 of the heat pump 30 can be located at the other side of the base 15. The compressor 31 and the expansion valve 34 of the heat pump 30 can be located outside the duct 300. The compressor 31 and the expansion valve 34 of the heat pump 30 can be located outside the connection duct 320. The compressor 31 and the expansion valve 34 of the heat pump 30 can be located on the same line as the motor 110 at one side of the base 15.

[0079] The blower 52 can be mounted on the base 15. The blower 52 can be located at the front of one side of the base 15. The blower 52 can be located at the lower rear side of the front plate 13. The blower 52 can receive power from a motor (not shown). The motor can rotate the blower 52 to circulate air inside the cabinet 10. The blower 52 can be located at positions corresponding to the plurality of holes 13b formed in the front plate 13. The blower 52 and the motor can be aligned at positions where the compressor 31, the expansion valve 34, and the motor 110 are located. Air that enters the inside of the cabinet 10 through the blower 52 can cool the inside of the base 15, that is, the compressor 31, the expansion valve 34, and the motor 110, and then be discharged through the plurality of holes 61b formed in the rear support frame 60.

[0080] In addition, a guide portion 500 can be provided on the base 15, which communicates with the blower 52 to dry air leaked from the drum 20 by using external air that enters the inside of the cabinet 10. The guide portion 500 will be described below.

[0081] Meanwhile, the base 15 can include a first area 61 on which the motor 110 is located, and a second area 62 other than the first area 61. The first area 61 and the second area 62 can be formed at left and right sides with respect to the center of the base 15, respectively. An embodiment of the present disclosure shows an example in which the first area is provided at the right side of the base and the second area is provided at the left side of the base. However, the concept of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0082] The first area 61 can be formed at one side of the base 15, and the second area 62 can be formed at the other side of the base 15. On the first area 61 of the base 15, the motor 110 for driving the drum 20 can be placed. On the first area 61 of the base 15, the blower 62, the compressor 31 and the expansion valve 34 of the heat pump 30, and the motor 110 can be placed.

[0083] On the second area 62 of the base 15, the hot air guide duct 330 and the evaporator 32 and the condenser 33 of the heat pump 30 can be placed.

[0084] The connection duct 320 can be located on the second area 62 of the base 15. The hot air discharge duct 310 for discharging hot air that passes through the inside of the drum 20 can be located at the front of the base 15 and extend over the first area 61 and the second area 62 of the base 15. At least a portion of the hot air discharge duct 310 can be located on the second area 62.

[0085] The hot air discharge duct 310 can be inclined toward the second area 62. The hot air discharge duct 310 can be connected with the connection duct 320 to communicate with the connection duct 320.

[0086] The connection duct 320 can include an air inlet (hereinafter referred to as a first connection hole) 320a to be described below for supplying air passing through the drum 20. The first connection hole 320a of the connection duct 320 can be located in the second region 62 of the base 15. The first connection hole 320a of the connection duct 320 can be offset from the center C of the base 15.

[0087] The connection duct 320 can include an air outlet (hereinafter referred to as a second connection hole) 320b to be described below for discharging internal air. The second connection hole 320b can be connected with the first guide hole 330a of the hot air guide duct 330 to guide the air of the connection duct 320 to the drum 20 through the hot air guide duct 330. The second connection hole 320b for discharging the internal air of the connection duct 320 can be located in at least a portion of the second region 62. The second connection hole 320b of the connection duct 320 can be offset from the center C of the base 15. The air entering through the first guide hole 330a of the hot air guide duct 330 corresponding to the second connection hole 320b of the connection duct 320 can be discharged to the drum 20 through the second guide hole 330b of the hot air guide duct 330.

[0088] Accordingly, in the second region 62 of the base 15, the hot air discharge duct 310 for guiding the air discharged from the inside of the drum 20 to the connection duct 320, the connection duct 320 for allowing the air supplied from the hot air discharge duct 310 to pass through the evaporator 32 and the condenser 33, and the hot air guide duct 330 for supplying the air discharged from the connection duct 320 to the drum 20 again can be positioned in sequence. The flow path 400 can be simplified by aligning the hot air discharge duct 310, the connection duct 320, and the hot air guide duct 330 in the second region 62 of the base 15 to reduce flow resistance.

[0089] The duct 300 installed in the base 15 can form a flow path 400 for circulating dry air to the drum 20.

[0090] The duct 300 can include a hot air discharge duct 310, a connection duct 320, and a hot air guide duct 330. The hot air discharge duct 310, the connection duct 320, and the hot air guide duct 330 can form a flow path 400. The flow path 400 can include a discharge flow path 401 formed by the hot air discharge duct 310 for discharging hot air passing through the inside of the drum 20, a connection flow path 402 connected with the discharge flow path 401 and formed by the connection duct 320 connecting the hot air discharge duct 310 and the hot air guide duct 330, and a guide flow path 403 connecting the connection flow path 402 with the drum 20 and formed by the hot air guide duct 330 for guiding hot air to the drum 20.

[0091] The exhaust flow path 401 can be formed under the front of the drum 20. The wet hot air entering the exhaust flow path 401 formed by the hot air exhaust duct 310 can pass through the hot air connection duct 320 into the connection flow path 402. The air of the connection flow path 402 can be heat-exchanged through the evaporator 32 and the condenser 33 to become dry hot air, and the dry hot air can be supplied to the drum 20 through the guide flow path 403 formed by the hot air guide duct 330. The hot air exhaust duct 310 can include a first hole 310a through which hot air of the drum 20 is introduced, and a second hole 310b for exhausting the air introduced through the first hole 310a to the connection duct 320. The second hole 310b can be connected with the first connection hole 320a of the connection duct 320.

[0092] In the hot air guide duct 330, a first guide hole 330a for introducing dry hot air of the connection flow path 402 and a second guide hole 330b through which air entering the hot air guide duct 330 through the first guide hole 330a is exhausted to the drum 20 can be formed. The second guide hole 330b can be connected with the drum 20.

[0093] The connection duct 320 provided between the hot air guide duct 330 and the hot air exhaust duct 310 can move the wet hot air passing through the inside of the drum 20 to the evaporator 32.

[0094] The evaporator 32 and the condenser 33 can be located within the connection duct 320. The evaporator 32 can constitute the heat pump 30 together with the condenser 33, the compressor 31, and the expansion valve 34.

[0095] The heat pump 30 can cool the hot air by circulating a refrigerant to remove moisture from the air, and heat the air again. The evaporator 32 can remove moisture from the wet hot air by cooling the air. Condensed water generated from the air dehumidified by the evaporator 32 can be collected in the lower portion of the evaporator 32 and discharged to the outside.

[0096] The refrigerant of the heat pump 30 can absorb heat from the hot air in the evaporator 32, then be compressed by the compressor 31, and be supplied to the condenser 33. The air dehumidified by the evaporator 32 can enter the condenser 33, be heated by the refrigerant, and then enter the drum 20.

[0097] Since heat exchange between air and a refrigerant occurs through the evaporator 32 and the condenser 33 of the heat pump 30 to form dry hot air, the evaporator 32 and the condenser 33 are referred to as heat exchangers.

[0098] The dry, hot air generated by the evaporator 32 and condenser 33 can be re-entered into the interior of the drum 20 through a blower 200 located inside the connecting pipe 320. The blower 200 can be located between the connecting pipe 320 and the hot air guiding pipe 330.

[0099] The connecting pipe 320 may include a first connecting pipe 321 mounted on the base 15 and a second connecting pipe 322 connected to the first connecting pipe 321. The evaporator 32 and condenser 33 of the heat pump 30 may be located between the first connecting pipe 321 and the second connecting pipe 322.

[0100] One end of the connecting pipe 320 can be connected to the hot air exhaust pipe 310, and the other end can be connected to the hot air guiding pipe 330. The connecting pipe 320 may include a first connecting hole 320a formed for connection to the hot air exhaust pipe 310 and a second connecting hole 320b formed for connection to the hot air guiding pipe 330. The first connecting hole 320a and the second connecting hole 320b may be formed to correspond to the first connecting pipe 321 and the second connecting pipe 322, respectively, and the first connecting hole 320a can be connected to the second connecting hole 320b through the connection of the first connecting pipe 321 and the second connecting pipe 322.

[0101] The first connecting pipe 321 can be configured to house an evaporator 32 and a condenser 33. The first connecting pipe 321 can also be configured to house a blower 200. One embodiment of this disclosure shows an example in which the first connecting pipe 321 is formed separately from the base 15. However, the concept of this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0102] The second connecting pipe 322 can be connected to the first connecting pipe 321 to cover the evaporator 32 and the condenser 33. The second connecting pipe 322 can accommodate the hair dryer 200. The second connecting pipe 322 can cover the hair dryer 200.

[0103] Figure 8 This is a perspective view showing one side of a dryer according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 9 It is shown Figure 8 An enlarged image of the letter "B". Figure 10 This is an exploded perspective view of a blower and guide pipe according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 11 This is an internal perspective view showing the other side of a dryer according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 12 This is a top view showing a connecting pipe and a forced convection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0104] Reference Figures 8 to 10The laundry dryer 1 can further include a guide portion 500 connected with the blower 52 to dry the air leaked from the drum by using the external air entering the inside of the drum.

[0105] The guide portion 500 can be provided at the rear lower side of the front plate of the cabinet 10. The guide portion 500 can be provided under the front support frame 50.

[0106] The laundry dryer 1 can further include a printed board assembly (PBA) 80 for driving various loads required for overall operations. The PBA 80 can be adjacent to the right plate 14b of the cabinet.

[0107] The guide portion 500 can provide the external air to the PBA 80 to cool the PBA 80. To this end, the guide portion 500 can be provided under the PBA 80 while being adjacent to the right plate 14b of the cabinet, but is not limited thereto. However, the PBA 80 and the guide portion can be adjacent to the left plate 14a of the cabinet.

[0108] The guide portion 500 can reduce the temperature and humidity of the humid air by mixing the air leaked from the drum with the external air of the cabinet 10. The guide portion 500 can dissipate the air leaked from the drum 20 with the external air.

[0109] The guide portion 500 can include a first guide portion 510 connected with the blower 52 to provide a portion of the external air to the PBA 80 and a second guide portion 520 connected with the first guide portion 510 to provide another portion of the external air to the drum 20 and dry the air leaked from the drum 20. The first guide portion 510 and the second guide portion 520 can be integrated as one.

[0110] The guide portion 500 can include the first guide portion 510 and the second guide portion 520 to flow the external air in two directions such that the external air is provided between the PBA 80 and the drum and the front support frame 50.

[0111] The first guide portion 510 can include a first outlet 511 and the second guide portion 520 can include a second outlet 521 such that the external air passing through the first outlet 511 cools the PBA 80 and the external air passing through the second outlet 521 dries the air leaked from the drum 20. The guide portion 500 can cool the PBA 80 while reducing the relative humidity of the air leaked from the drum 20.

[0112] When the external air enters through the blower 52, the first guide portion 510 can move a portion of the air toward the PBA 80 to cool the PBA 80, and the second guide portion 520 in communication with the first guide portion 510 can move another portion of the air toward the drum to dry the air leaked from the drum.

[0113] In this case, the second guide portion 520 can dry the air leaked between the drum 20 and the front support frame 50. The end of the second guide portion 520 can extend toward between the drum 20 and the front support frame 50.

[0114] The air leaked between the front end portion 22a of the drum 20 and the sealing member mounting portion 50a of the front support frame 50 can be effectively dried by the second guide portion 500 to reduce the temperature and humidity, and thus, condensation of the air inside the cabinet can be prevented.

[0115] Specifically, the guide portion 500 adjacent to the right plate 14b of the cabinet 10 can effectively dry the air leaked to the right side of the drum 20. That is, because the guide portion 500 is adjacent to the first region 61 of the base plate 15, the guide portion 500 can effectively dry the air leaked from the drum 20 to the first region 61.

[0116] More specifically, as Figure 10 shown, the blower 52 can be accommodated inside a blower housing 53 provided under the front support frame 50, and the guide portion 500 can be coupled with the blower housing 53 to perform a drying operation by using external air that enters through the blower 52.

[0117] In this case, a coupling hole 54 can be provided at one side of the blower housing 53, and the guide portion 500 can include a coupling member 540 coupled with the coupling hole 54.

[0118] The first guide portion 510 can include a first passage 512 connected with a first outlet 511, and the second guide portion 520 can include a second passage 522 connected with a second outlet 521. A portion of the external air that enters through the blower 52 can be discharged to the first outlet 511 and supplied to the PBA 80, and another portion of the external air can pass through the second outlet 521 and supplied toward the drum 20.

[0119] Meanwhile, referring to Figure 11 and Figure 12 , the clothes dryer 1 can further include a forced convection device 600 on an outer surface of the connection duct 320 to forcibly convection the air leaked from the drum 20.

[0120] The forced convection device 600 can be adjacent to the left plate 14a of the cabinet 10 to forcibly convection the air leaked to the left side of the drum 20, thereby preventing condensation inside the cabinet 10 at the left side of the drum 20. That is, the forced convection device 600 can be provided at an edge of the connection duct 320 to circulate the air leaked to the left side of the drum 20.

[0121] The condensation of the right portion of the drum 20 can be effectively prevented by the guide portion 500 provided at the right plate 14b of the cabinet 10, and the condensation of the left portion of the drum 20 can be effectively prevented by the forced convection device 600, but is not limited thereto. However, the guide portion 500 and the forced convection device 600 can be provided at the same side with respect to the drum 20. Further, the guide portion 500 can be provided at the right side of the drum 20, and the forced convection device 600 can be provided at the left side of the drum 20.

[0122] As shown in FIG. 6, the forced convection device 600 can be provided in a second region 62 forming a lower temperature than a first region 61 of the connection duct 320. Since the air leaked from the drum is more condensed at a relatively lower temperature, the forced convection device 600 can be provided in the second region 62 to effectively prevent the condensation of the air on the second region 62. Figure 12

[0123] The forced convection device 600 can include a convection fan 610 for moving the air by rotation and a convection fan case 620 in which the convection fan 610 is accommodated. The forced convection device 600 can be provided at an edge of the second region 62. The forced convection device 600 can be placed in a direction from the front of the cabinet 10 toward the rear of the cabinet 10 to move the air to the rear of the cabinet 10, that is, toward the rear support frame 60.

[0124] Meanwhile, as described above, the sealing member 70 can be provided between the front end portion 22a of the drum 20 and the sealing member mounting portion 50a of the front support frame 50. The internal air of the drum 20 can be leaked to a gap (g1 and g2) between the drum 20 and the front support frame 50. That is, the internal air of the drum 20 can be leaked between the sealing member 70 and the drum 20 (g1) or between the sealing member 70 and the front support frame 50 (g2). The forced convection device 600 can dissipate the air leaked between the sealing member 70 and the front support frame 50 by forced convection, thereby preventing condensation inside the cabinet 20 by the air leaked from the drum 20. In this case, since the forced convection device 600 is located behind the sealing member 70, the forced convection device 600 can effectively prevent the air leaked between the sealing member 70 and the front support frame from being condensed. Figure 3

[0125] The air dissipated by the forced convection device 600 can be discharged to the outside of the cabinet 10 through a plurality of holes 61b formed in the rear support frame 60.

[0126] ​​The scope of the right of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described specific embodiments, and it is obvious that various other embodiments modified or changed by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the technical idea set forth in the disclosure as claims belong to the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1.A clothes dryer, comprising: a cabinet including an inlet and a base; a drum rotatably provided inside the cabinet, the drum including a front end and a rear end; a support frame including: a front support frame supporting the front end of the drum and having a laundry inlet, wherein the inlet of the cabinet, the laundry inlet, and the front end of the drum are positioned such that laundry is put through the inlet of the cabinet, then passes through the laundry inlet to be accommodated in the drum, and a rear support frame supporting the rear end of the drum; a blower below the front support frame; and a guide portion behind the blower and connected with the blower, wherein the blower and the guide portion are configured such that: the blower is operable to move outside air into the cabinet, and the guide portion guides a first portion of the outside air moved into the cabinet by the blower to a gap between the drum and the front support frame to dry air leaked from between the drum and the front support frame. 2.The clothes dryer of claim 1, further comprising: a printed board assembly (PBA) configured to drive various loads for overall operations of the clothes dryer, wherein the guide portion guides a second portion of the outside air moved into the cabinet by the blower to the PBA to cool the PBA. 3.The clothes dryer of claim 2, wherein the guide portion includes: a first guide portion configured to guide the first portion of the outside air moved into the cabinet by the blower toward the gap between the drum and the front support frame; and a second guide portion connected with the first guide portion and configured to guide the second portion of the outside air moved into the cabinet by the blower to the PBA. 4.The clothes dryer of claim 3, wherein the first guide portion is integrated with the second guide portion. 5.The clothes dryer of claim 3, wherein the first guide portion extends toward the gap between the drum and the front support frame. 6.The clothes dryer of claim 3, wherein the first guide portion includes: a first passage through which the first portion of the outside air moves, and a first outlet connected with the first passage and configured to discharge the first portion of the outside air, and the second guide portion includes: a second passage through which the second portion of the outside air moves, a second outlet connected with the second passage and configured to discharge the second portion of the outside air. 7.The clothes dryer of claim 1, further comprising: a blower housing below the front support frame and accommodating the blower, wherein the guide portion is coupled with the blower housing. 8.The clothes dryer of claim 7, wherein a coupling hole is at a side of the blower housing, and the guide portion includes a coupling member coupled with the coupling hole. 9.The clothes dryer of claim 1, further comprising: ​ a forced convection device provided on the base of the cabinet and configured to circulate air between the drum and the cabinet. 10.The clothes dryer of claim 9, wherein the forced convection device moves at least a portion of the air leaked between the drum and the front support frame to the rear support frame. 11.The clothes dryer of claim 9, further comprising: a driver configured to transmit power to the drum; a compressor; an expansion valve; an evaporator; and a condenser, wherein the base includes: a first area on which the driver, the compressor, and the expansion valve are located, a second area on which the evaporator and the condenser are located, the second area forming a temperature lower than a temperature of the first area, and the forced convection device is provided on the second area. 12.The clothes dryer of claim 9, wherein the guide portion is adjacent to one of a left panel and a right panel of the cabinet, and the forced convection device is adjacent to the remaining one of the left panel and the right panel of the cabinet. 13.The clothes dryer of claim 9, wherein the forced convection device includes: a convection fan configured to disperse the air by rotation; and a convection fan case accommodating the convection fan. 14.The clothes dryer of claim 9, further comprising: a duct connected to the drum and configured to circulate air through the drum, the duct including: a hot air discharge duct connected to discharge air from inside the drum, a connection duct connected to the hot air discharge duct and accommodating an evaporator and a condenser to process air passing through the connection duct, and a hot air guide duct connected to the connection duct and configured to supply air passing through the connection duct to the drum, wherein the forced convection device is provided on an outer surface of the connection duct. 15.The clothes dryer of claim 9, further comprising: a sealing member coupled to a front surface of the drum and configured to form a seal between the drum and the front support frame, wherein the forced convection device is located behind the sealing member and configured to circulate at least a portion of the air leaked from between the sealing member and the front support frame. ​ ​

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