Abstract:
A slim-type air conditioner is provided. The slim-type air conditioner blows air by a plate reciprocating back and forth. Accordingly, the air can be discharged through a wide outlet hole, and the size and thickness of the air conditioner can be reduced. Therefore, the convenience of users and installers can be improved.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to a slim-type air conditioner having an improved structure by which its internal blower can be slimy installed therein and thus it can be installed on a narrow wall surface, thereby making it possible to provide a beautiful external environment.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     An air conditioner is a device for maintaining indoor air at a pleasant state by circulating air in association with a cooling cycle. In general, the air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, and is classified into a combination-type air conditioner in which the indoor and outdoor units are integrally formed and a separate-type air conditioner in which the indoor and outdoor units are separately formed.  
         [0005]     A typical example of the combination-type air conditioner is a window-type air conditioner, and typical examples of the separate-type air conditioner are a package-type air conditioner and a wall-mounted air conditioner.  
         [0006]     Hereinafter, a structure and operation of a general wall-mounted air conditioner will be described in detail.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side sectional view of a related art wall-mounted air conditioner.  
         [0008]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an indoor unit of the related art wall-mounted air conditioner includes a case  101  forming a receiving space therein, a front panel  110  in which an air inlet hole  112  and an air outlet hole  114  are formed, a cross-flow fan  130  rotatably installed in the case  101 , a heat exchanger  140  installed between the cross-flow fan  130  and the air inlet hole  112  to thereby exchanges heat with sucked air, a rear guide unit  150  formed in a rear region of the cross-flow fan  130  in such a way to guide an flow of air sucked by the cross-flow fan  130  through the air inlet hole  112 , and a stabilizer  160  for dividing inflow air and outflow air of the cross-flow fan  130  and determining the position and strength of a vortex.  
         [0009]     Also, the indoor unit includes a horizontal vane (or louver)  170  and a vertical vane  180  for adjusting a wind direction horizontally and vertically.  
         [0010]     The rear guide unit  150  includes a curved portion  151  curved in such a way to recede from the cross-flow fan  130  as it is directed from the center of the cross-flow fan  130  to the lower front, and a straight portion  152  extended from an end portion of the curved portion  151  to a lower portion of the air outlet hole  114  at a predetermined angle.  
         [0011]     Through this structure, when the cross-flow fan  130  is rotated, external air is sucked through the air inlet hole  112  into the case  101 . The sucked air is heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger  140  while passing therethrough. The heat-exchanged air is discharged to an outlet passage  102  by the cross-flow fan  130 .  
         [0012]     The discharged air is guided by the rear guide unit  150  and the stabilizer  160 , and is adjusted in its direction by the horizontal vane  170  and the vertical vane  180 .  
         [0013]     That is, external air is sucked into the indoor unit by a blowing fan (that is, the cross-flow fan  130 ) and is blown by the blowing fan. The sucked and blown air is heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger  140 , and then the heat-exchanged air is discharged outside of the indoor unit.  
         [0014]     The related art indoor unit essentially has the built-in blowing fan and thus has a drawback in that its size and thickness are increased.  
         [0015]     Also, the related art indoor unit discharges air only through the limited air outlet hole and thus does harm to a person near to a position to which the discharged air is directed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a slim-type air conditioner that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
         [0017]     An object of the present invention is to provide a slim-type air conditioner capable of cooling or warming indoor air without using a blowing fan that occupies a large space.  
         [0018]     Another object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner having a reduced thickness and thus occupying a small space.  
         [0019]     A further another object of the present invention is to provide a slim-type air conditioner having a heat exchanger installed on its entire surface and thus increasing an installation area of the heat exchanger.  
         [0020]     A still further another object of the present invention is to provide a slim-type air conditioner that discharges cooled or warmed air uniformly through the entire surface of its indoor unit into an indoor space, thereby providing a more-pleasant indoor environment.  
         [0021]     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.  
         [0022]     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a slim-type air conditioner includes: a case; a heat exchanger installed in the case; an inlet hole, external air being sucked through the inlet hole into the case; an outlet hole provided on a front surface of the case, heat-exchanged air being discharged through the outlet hole; and a blower for blowing air toward the outlet hole by using a plate reciprocating in a straight line.  
         [0023]     In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slim-type air conditioner including: a case; a heat exchanger installed in the case; an inlet hole, external air being sucked through the inlet hole into the case; an outlet hole provided on the case, heat-exchanged air being discharged through the outlet hole into an indoor space; at least one or more plates reciprocating in a straight line to thereby blow air toward the outlet hole; and a guide valve for guiding the plates.  
         [0024]     In a further another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slim-type air conditioner including: a case, a surface thereof being fixed on a wall; a heat exchanger installed in the case, a refrigerant being evaporated in the heat exchanger; an inlet hole, external air being sucked through the inlet hole into the case; an outlet hole, heat-exchanged air being discharged through the outlet hole into an outside of the case; at least one or more plates reciprocating in a straight line to thereby blow air sucked through the inlet hole toward the outlet hole; and a guide valve for guiding the plate and partitioning an inner space of the case by selectively coming into contact with the plate.  
         [0025]     Accordingly, the present invention can reduce an installation space for an air conditioner and provide a more-pleasant indoor environment.  
         [0026]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a side sectional view of a related art wall-mounted air conditioner;  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a cut-away perspective view of a slim-type air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a blower and a heat exchanger and a drain pan of the slim-type air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view illustrating an initial state of the slim-type air conditioner according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view illustrating a state where a plate is moved to the rear side according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view illustrating a state where a plate is moved to the front side according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is a side view illustrating a state where the slim-type air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention is installed on a wall surface;  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of a plate mounting a driving unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0036]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a plate mounting a driving unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0037]      FIG. 10  is a view illustrating a relationship between a plate and a piezoelectric device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0038]      FIG. 11  is a view illustrating a state where a plate is moved to the front side according to a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0039]      FIG. 12  is a view illustrating a state where a plate is moved to the rear side according to the third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0040]      FIG. 13  is a view illustrating a state where external air is sucked into a slim-type air conditioner according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention with the backward movement of the plate;  
         [0041]      FIG. 14  is a view illustrating a state where internal air is discharged from the slim-type air conditioner according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention with the forward movement of the plate;  
         [0042]      FIG. 15  is a view illustrating a state where the plate is positioned between the front side and the rear side in the slim-type air conditioner according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0043]      FIG. 16  is a sectional view of a slim-type air conditioner according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0044]      FIG. 17  is a sectional view of a slim-type air conditioner according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0045]     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0046]     The present invention is mainly focused on an indoor unit of an air conditioner. Also, the present invention can be applied to any type of air conditioner having a mechanism where air is forcibly blown toward a heat exchanger so as to provide cooled or warmed air into an indoor space. Particularly, the present invention can be applied to a wall-mounted air conditioner.  
       First Embodiment  
       [0047]      FIG. 2  is a cut-away perspective view of a slim-type air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0048]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a slim-type air conditioner  200  includes an indoor unit case  201 , a heat exchanger  211  disposed at the inner front of the case  201 , a blower  209  reciprocating in a straight line behind the heat exchanger  211  to thereby suck external air and discharge the sucked air through the heat exchanger  211 , and an outlet grill  213  disposed on a front surface of the case  201 .  
         [0049]     An inlet grill  203  is formed on a side surface of the case  201  so as to communicate with a space in which the blower  209  is installed.  
         [0050]     The blower  209  includes a plate  205  reciprocating in a straight line behind the heat exchanger  211 , and a guide value  207  forming a closed space in association with the plate  205  having moved to the front side.  
         [0051]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a blower and a heat exchanger and a drain pan of the slim-type air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0052]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a blower  209  includes a plate  205  and a guide valve  207 . A heat exchanger  211  is formed in front of the blower  209 . A drain pan  215  collects condensed waterdrops that form on and drop from the heat exchanger  211 .  
         [0053]     A structure of the inventive slim-type air conditioner will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  
         [0054]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in a slim-type air conditioner  200 , an inlet grill  203  is formed on an outer surface of a case  201 , and an outlet grill  213  is formed on a front surface of the case  201 . Preferably, the inlet grill  203  is formed on at least one or more side surfaces of the case  201 , and the outlet grill  213  is formed on the case  201 &#39;s front surface perpendicular to the inlet grill  203  so that air flowing in through the inlet grill  203  may not be mixed.  
         [0055]     A blower  209  is disposed at the inner rear of the case  201 , and a heat exchanger  211  is disposed at the inner front of the case  201 . The blower  209  and the heat exchanger  211  is installed to face each other and to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval.  
         [0056]     The blower  209  includes a plate  205  and a guide valve  207 . The plate  205  is disk-shaped, is installed at the inner rear of an indoor unit, and reciprocates in a straight line by a driving source such as a motor or a piezoelectric device. The guide valve  207  is donut-shaped and guides the plate  205  so that an air blowing operation is possible by the reciprocating straight-line motion of the plate  205 . The inner and outer peripheries of the guide valve  207  may be formed to have a square shape instead of a circular shape.  
         [0057]     For this purpose, the guide valve  207  is made of elastic material and its outer end is connected to a rear cover  202  (See  FIG. 4 ) for supporting the heat exchanger  211 , whereby it guides the back-and-forth motion of the plate  205  by its elasticity.  
         [0058]     The guide value  207  has a vent hole  208  formed therein, and the vent hole  208  has a diameter smaller than that of the plate  205 . An inlet space  221  communicates with an outlet space  223  through the vent hole  208 , whereby an airflow therebetween is possible.  
         [0059]     That is, when the plate  205  moves forward, air sucked through the inlet grill  203  is propelled forward by a thrust force of the plate  205  and thus flows toward the heat exchanger  211  through a space closed by the plate  205  and the guide valve  207 . Thereafter, the air is heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger and then flows outside the case  201 .  
         [0060]     Here, the heat exchanger  211  is preferably a fin-tube heat exchanger. The heat exchange  211  is installed on the whole front surface of the case  201  and faces the outlet grill  213 . The heat exchanger  211  is positioned in the outlet space  223  and the outlet space  223  is closed from the outside and the inlet space  221  with the exception that the outlet grill  213  communicates with a flow passage that the plate  205  moves along, whereby a heat exchange amount can be increased.  
         [0061]     A drain pan  215  is formed below the heat exchanger  211  and thus collects condensed waterdrops dropping from the heat exchanger  211 . The drain pan  215  may be connected to or integrally formed with the outlet grill  213  or the case  201 .  
         [0062]     An operation of the inventive slim-type air conditioner will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS.  4  to  6 .  
         [0063]      FIG. 4  illustrates an initial state of the slim-type air conditioner according to the second embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 5  illustrates a state where the plate is moved to the rear side in the slim-type air conditioner, and  FIG. 6  illustrates a state where the plate is moved to the front side.  
         [0064]     Referring to FIGS.  4  to  6 , when no power is supplied from the outside, the plate  205  and the guide valve  207  are maintained at their initial states. On the contrary, when power is supplied from the outside, the plate  205  is driven by a driving unit (not shown). As shown in  FIG. 4 , the plate  205  contacts with a rear surface of the guide valve  207  in its initial state.  
         [0065]     The plate  205  of the blower  209  is moved backward as shown in  FIG. 5  and is moved forward as shown in  FIG. 6  by the driving unit. Through this reciprocating straight-line motion of plate  205 , a blowing operation of the air conditioner is initiated.  
         [0066]     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when the plate  205  is moved to the rear side, a flow passage is formed between the plate  205  and the guide valve  207 . Upon the formation of the flow passage, external air is sucked through the inlet grill  203  into the flow passage. Thereafter, when the plate  205  is moved forward, the formed flow passage is closed. Accordingly, the sucked air is moved forward by the plate  205 , is heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger  211 , and is then discharged through the outlet grill to the outside.  
         [0067]     That is, the plate  205  reciprocates in a straight line between the inlet space  221  (that is, a space where the plated is positioned between the guide valve  207  and a rear surface of the case  201 ) and the outlet space  223  (that is, a space where the heat exchanger  211  is installed), whereby the inlet and outlet spaces  221  and  223  communicate with each other or are closed by the plate  205  and thus the sucked internal air is propelled forward.  
         [0068]     At this time, the elasticity of the guide valve  207  causes the plate  205  to sufficiently push air in the outlet space  223 . Preferably, a guider for guiding the reciprocating straight-line motion of the plate  205  may be further formed between the plate  205  and the guide valve  207 . Here, the guider may be a protrusion protruded from a portion where the plate  205  contacts with the guide valve  207 .  
         [0069]     The blowing operation of the blower  209  causes the sucked air to be heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger  211  and then be discharged through the outlet grill  213  to the outside.  
         [0070]     Thereafter, when the power supply is cut off, the plate  205  and the guide valve  207  return to their initial states.  
         [0071]      FIG. 7  is a side view illustrating a state where the slim-type air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention is installed on a wall surface.  
         [0072]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , since there is no rotating fan in the case  201 , the inventive slim-type air conditioner can be manufactured to have a thickness of several tens mm. An inlet grill  203  for sucking external air is provided on a side surface of the case  201 , and an outlet grill  213  for discharging conditioned air is provided on a front surface of the case  201 . Accordingly, air sucked through the inlet grill is heat-exchanged with a heat exchanger and is then discharged through the outlet grill  213  to the outside.  
         [0073]     As described above, the inventive slim-type air conditioner does not need a fan occupying a large space and thus can have a thickness considerably smaller than that of the related art air conditioner. Accordingly, the inventive slim-type air conditioner can have a reduced occupation volume in an indoor space, a reduced weight, and a beautiful appearance, and can be simply installed in the indoor space.  
         [0074]     Hereinafter, a driving unit for causing the plate  205  to reciprocate in a straight line will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 .  
         [0075]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of a plate mounting a driving unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 9  is a side view of the plate mounting the driving unit.  
         [0076]     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a piezoelectric device  230  for use as the driving unit is mounted on one surface of the plate  205 . Electric wires are connected to the piezoelectric device  230 . When a voltage is applied to the electric wires, the piezoelectric device generates a mechanical vibration. The generated vibration causes the plate  205  to vibrate, and the vibration of the plate  205  results in the blowing operation of the blower  209 .  
         [0077]     The piezoelectric device  230  may be mounted on a rear surface of the plate  205 . At this time, the piezoelectric device  230  may be directly connected or indirectly connected through a separate vibration transmitting member to the plate  205  so that the mechanical vibration of the piezoelectric device  230  can be perpendicular to a surface of the plate  205 . Here, the piezoelectric device  230  may be a piezoelectric translator (PZT) made of ferroelectrics PbTiO3 and antiferroelectric PbZrO3. An operation of the piezoelectric device is well known in the art and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted for simplicity.  
         [0078]     Meanwhile, the piezoelectric device  230  is preferably configured to be longer than a specific length so that it can generate a vibration of the maximum possible width.  
       Second Embodiment  
       [0079]     A second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment with the exception of an installation structure of the piezoelectric device.  
         [0080]      FIG. 10  is a view illustrating a relationship between a plate and a piezoelectric device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0081]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the second embodiment is characterized in that two or more piezoelectric devices  231  reciprocate the plate  205  in a straight line.  
         [0082]     In detail, an electrode  232  is installed at an end portion of the piezoelectric device  231 . When power is supplied to the electrode  232 , the piezoelectric device  232  vibrates. Here, one end portion of the piezoelectric device  232  is fixed to a specific portion (for example, the rear cover  202 ) in the slim-type air conditioner, and the other end portion thereof is fixed to an outer end portion of the plate  205 . When power is applied to the piezoelectric device  231 , the piezoelectric device  231  vibrates back and forth, whereby the plate  205  reciprocates in a straight line.  
         [0083]     Preferably, a pair of the piezoelectric devices  231  are symmetrically fixed to the plate  20  in such a way to be spaced apart from each other by the maximum distance possible so that the plate  20  can be accurately reciprocated in a straight line by the piezoelectric devices  231 . Also, any type of device capable of amplifying and adjusting the vibration amount of the piezoelectric device  231  may be added between the plate  205  and the piezoelectric device  231 .  
         [0084]     The piezoelectric device  231  generates a mechanical vibration of a specific frequency, and the amplitude of the mechanical vibration is determined according to its frequency and the length of the piezoelectric device  231 . Accordingly, the piezoelectric device  231  may be suitably selected according to the shapes and sizes of the plate  205 . Also, the piezoelectric device  231  does not generate a harmful electromagnetic wave, whereby electromagnetic interference can be minimized.  
       Third Embodiment  
       [0085]     A third embodiment is identical to the first embodiment with the exception of a vibration structure of the plate.  
         [0086]      FIGS. 11 and 12  schematically illustrate a driving unit for the plate according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In detail,  FIG. 11  illustrates a state where the plate is moved to the front side by the driving unit, and  FIG. 12  illustrates a state where the plate is moved to the rear side by the driving unit.  
         [0087]     Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the inventive driving unit for the plate  205  includes a short L-shaped link  331 , a long L-shaped link  332 , and a link axis  333 .  
         [0088]     The short link  331  is connected to a motor so as to be able to reciprocate in a circular line of a specific radius. Also, a crank axis may be further provided between the motor and the short link  331 . In this case, the motor need not rotate clockwise and counterclockwise. That is, the crank axis reciprocates in a straight line by the unidirectional (clockwise or counterclockwise) rotation of the motor, and the reciprocating straight-line motion of the crank axis causes the short link  331  to move back and forth.  
         [0089]     The long link  332  is installed to extend from an outer portion of the plate  205  to a rear surface thereof, and thus reciprocates in a circular line of a specific radius together with the short link  331 . Here, the short link  331  and the long link  332  may be integrally formed or may be connected by a separate link connecting unit.  
         [0090]     When the short link  331  reciprocates in a circular line clockwise, the long link  332  reciprocates in a circular line counterclockwise. Accordingly, the plate  205  reciprocates in a straight line. At this time, the long link  332  is preferably configured to be longer than the short link  331  so that the plate  205  can reciprocate in a longer straight line. Also, a guide member or a slide member for supporting the reciprocating straight-line motion of the plate  205  at an end portion of the long link  332  may be further connected to the plate  205 .  
         [0091]     By the above structure, the long link  332  connected on a rear surface of the plate  205  repeatedly pushes forward or pulls back the plate  205  according to the reciprocating motion of the short link  331 . This back-and-forth straight-line reciprocating motion of the plate  205  causes internal air to pass through the heat exchanger. Accordingly, the internal air is heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger and is then discharged into the indoor space.  
       Fourth Embodiment  
       [0092]     A fourth embodiment is identical to the abovementioned embodiments with the exception of a structure and operation of a plate.  
         [0093]     FIGS.  13  to  15  are sectional views of a slim-type air conditioner according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In detail,  FIG. 13  illustrates a state where external air is sucked into the slim-type air conditioner with the backward movement of a plate,  FIG. 14  illustrates a state where internal air is discharge from the slim-type air conditioner with the forward movement of the plate, and  FIG. 15  illustrates a state where the plate is positioned between the front side and the rear side in the slim-type air conditioner.  
         [0094]     Referring to FIGS.  13  to  15 , an inventive blower  259  includes a plate assembly  255  and a guide valve  257 . The plate assembly  255  includes a first (or rear) plate  261 , a second (or front) plate  262 , and a connecting member  263  for connecting the first plate  261  and the second plate  262 , and thus has a H-shaped section.  
         [0095]     The plate assembly  255  is arranged in such a way that the guide valve  257  is positioned between the first plate  261  and the second plate  262 . Accordingly, the plate assembly  255  can be moved between the rearmost position and the frontmost position without being detached outside.  
         [0096]     An operation of the fourth embodiment will now be described.  
         [0097]     When power is supplied, the plate assembly  255  is repeatedly moved between the rearmost position and the frontmost position as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . When moved to the frontmost position, the first plate  261  pushes against the guide valve  257 . At this time, external air sucked through the inlet grill  203  into the inlet space  221  is forcibly blown forward and is then discharged through the outlet grill  213  to the outside.  
         [0098]     At this point, the sucked external air flows into the outlet space  223  containing the heat exchanger  211  through a flow passage  264  formed between the first plate  261  and the second plate  262  as shown in  FIG. 15 . Thereafter, the sucked air is heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger  211  and is then discharged through the outlet grill  213  to the outside.  
         [0099]     Preferably, the second plate  262  is configured to have a plurality of vent holes formed thereon, and flowing air pushed by the first plate  261  is directly transferred through the-vent holes to the heat exchanger  211  without experiencing a flow resistance by the second plate  262 .  
       Fifth Embodiment  
       [0100]     A fifth embodiment is similar to the abovementioned embodiments with the exception that a slim-type air conditioner is mounted on a ceiling  340  of a room.  
         [0101]      FIG. 16  is a sectional view of a ceiling-mounted slim-type air conditioner according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0102]     Referring to  FIG. 16 , in the ceiling-mounted slim-type air conditioner, a gently-sloped-V shaped heat exchanger  311  is installed at the inner front of a case  301 , and a blower  309  including a plate  305  and a guide valve  307  is provided at the inner rear of the case  301 . Condensed water dropping from the heat exchanger  311  is collected into a drain pan  350  that is installed below a center portion of the heat exchanger  311 .  
         [0103]     Here, the drain pan  350  is arranged along a center line of the heat exchanger  311  and a center line of an outlet grill  313  formed in a front surface of the case  301 . A rear surface  304  of the case  301  is connected to the ceiling  304 .  
         [0104]     An operation of the ceiling-mounted slim-type air conditioner will now be described with reference to  FIG. 16 .  
         [0105]     Referring to  FIG. 16 , when power is supplied from the outside, the plate  305  on a rear surface of the guide valve  307  is moved back and forth. During the back-and-forth movement of the plate  305 , external air is sucked through an inlet grill  303  formed on a side rear portion of the case  301  and the sucked air is transferred to the heat exchanger  311 . Thereafter, the sucked air is heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger  311  and is then discharged through the outlet grill  313  to the outside.  
         [0106]     Here, an operation of the blower  309  may be any one of the aforementioned embodiments.  
       Sixth Embodiment  
       [0107]     A sixth embodiment is identical to the first embodiment with the exception of a position of a heat exchanger.  
         [0108]      FIG. 17  is a sectional view of a slim-type air conditioner according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0109]     Referring to  FIG. 17 , a case  401  is installed on a wall surface  440 . A heat exchanger  411  is installed at the inner rear of the case  401 . A blower  409  is disposed in front of the heat exchanger  411 . The blower  409  includes a plate  405  moving back and forth, and a guide valve  407  for guiding the plate  405 .  
         [0110]     As stated above, the sixth embodiment is characterized in that the heat exchanger  411  is installed behind the blower  409 , that is, in an inlet space into which external air is sucked by the blower  409 . Accordingly, a larger installation space for the heat exchanger can be obtained.  
         [0111]     An operation of the slim-type air conditioner according to the sixth embodiment will now be described with reference to  FIG. 17 .  
         [0112]     Referring to  FIG. 17 , when power is supplied to the blower  409 , an airflow is generated in the air conditioner. That is, external air is sucked into the inlet space through an inlet grill  403  formed on a side surface of the case  401 . The sucked air is heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger  411 . Thereafter, through the reciprocating straight-line motion of the plate  405  and the guiding operation of the guide valve  407 , the heat-exchanged air is discharged through an outlet grill  413  formed on a front surface or the case  401  to the outside.  
         [0113]     This embodiment is characterized in that the sucked external air is first heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger and then discharged through the outlet grill  413 .  
         [0114]     Here, at least one or more blowers may be provided in the case  401 , and the heat exchanger may be formed in various shapes at a facing position with respect to the blowers.  
         [0115]     As described above, the inventive slim-type air conditioner uses a small-sized blower reciprocating in a straight line, instead of the related art rotation-type blower having a relatively large thickness and volume. Accordingly, the inventive slim-type air conditioner can be reduced in thickness and size.  
         [0116]     Also, the inventive heat exchanger is disposed over the whole body surface of the air conditioner and cooled or walled air is discharged through the whole outlet surface into an indoor space, whereby a more-pleasant indoor environment can be provided.  
         [0117]     Further, the inventive air conditioner has a reduced thickness and size and thus can enhance indoor space efficiency and its installation convenience.  
         [0118]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.  
         [0119]     The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Korean Application No. 10-2004-0033262, filed on May 12, 2004, the contents of which are herein expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.