Patent ID: 7520145
Filing Date: 2009-04-21
Classification: D06F

Abstract:
1. A washing machine having a drying function, the washing machine comprising: a tub to receive water; a dryer duct installed outside of the tub to introduce ambient air into the tub; a heater installed in the dryer duct to apply heat to the ambient air; a temperature sensor installed in the dryer duct to measure temperature inside the tub or temperature inside the dryer duct during a washing operation to detect hot steam flowing reversely into the dryer duct; and a dryer fan installed in the dryer duct to introduce the ambient air into the dryer duct to prevent the hot steam from reversely flowing into the dryer duct when the hot steam is detected in the dryer duct by the temperature sensor, wherein the dryer fan is operated based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor during the washing operation.