Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-10-15)

CLAIMS:
Listing of the Claims

This listing of claims will replace all prior versions and listings of claims in the application:

1\. (Currently Amended) A dryer appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the dryer appliance comprising:a cabinet;
a drum rotatably mounted within the cabinet, the drum defining a chamber for receipt of clothes for drying and a chamber inlet;
an inlet duct fluidly coupled to the chamber inlet;
an air handler in fluid communication with the inlet duct for urging a flow of air through the inlet duct and into the chamber; and
an induction heating assembly in thermal communication with the inlet duct, the induction heating assembly comprising:
an induction coil for generating an electromagnetic field;
a heating plate for generating heat when energized by the electromagnetic field;
and a heat exchanger comprising an impeller rotatably mounted within the inlet duct and in conductive thermal communication with the heating plate via direct contact between the heat exchanger and the heating plate.

2\. (Original) The dryer appliance of claim 1, wherein the heating plate comprises a first material and the heat exchanger comprises a second material different from the first material.

3\. (Original) The dryer appliance of claim 2, wherein the first material is a ferritic material.

4\. (Original) The dryer appliance of claim 2, wherein the second material comprises aluminum.

5\. (Cancelled)

6\. (Cancelled)

7\. (Currently Amended) The dryer appliance of claim 1, wherein herein the induction heating further comprises a stator fixedly mounted within the inlet duct.

8\. (Currently Amended) The dryer appliance of claim 7, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a flow conditioner plate comprising a ferritic material, the flow conditioner plate comprising a plurality of elongated radial apertures configured to provide a laminar flow of air from the impeller.

9\. (Original) The dryer appliance of claim 1, wherein the induction coil is wound around an outside of the inlet duct.

10\. (Currently Amended) An induction heating assembly for heating a flow of air in a dryer appliance, the dryer appliance comprising an inlet duct in fluid communication with a chamber;
the induction heating assembly comprising:an induction coil for generating an electromagnetic field;
a heating plate for generating heat when energized by the electromagnetic field; and
a heat exchanger comprising an impeller configured for rotatably mounted within the inlet duct and in conductive thermal communication with the heating plate via direct contact between the heat exchanger and the heating plate.

11\. (Original) The induction heating assembly of claim 10, wherein the heating plate comprises a first material and the heat exchanger comprises a second material different from the first material.

12\. (Original) The induction heating assembly of claim 11, wherein the first material is a ferritic material.

13\. (Original) The induction heating assembly of claim 11, wherein the second material comprises aluminum.

14\. (Cancelled)

15\. (Cancelled)

16\. (Currently Amended) The induction heating assembly of claim 10, further comprising a stator configured for fixedly mounting within the inlet duct of the dryer appliance.

17\. (Currently Amended) The induction heating assembly of claim 16, wherein the heating plate comprises a flow conditioner plate comprising a ferritic material, the flow conditioner plate comprising a plurality of elongated radial apertures configured to provide a laminar flow of air from the impeller.

18\. (Original) The induction heating assembly of claim 10, wherein the induction coil is configured to be wound around an outside of the inlet duct of the dryer appliance.

OFFICE ACTION:
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-4, 7-13, and 16-18 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Regarding Claim 1:  Claim 1 is allowed primarily because the prior art of record cannot anticipate Applicant’s claimed invention by a single reference nor render Applicant’s claimed invention obvious by the combination of more than one reference.
Furthermore, the prior art of record does not teach “a dryer appliance comprising an induction heating assembly comprising: an induction coil for generating an electromagnetic field;  a heating plate for generating heat when energized by the electromagnetic field; and a heat exchanger comprising an impeller rotatably mounted within the inlet duct and in conductive thermal communication with the heating plate via direct contact between the heat exchanger and the heating plate.    as within the context of the claimed invention as disclosed and within the context of the other limitations present in claim 1.
Regarding Claim 10:  Claim 10 is allowed primarily because the prior art of record cannot anticipate Applicant’s claimed invention by a single reference nor render Applicant’s claimed invention obvious by the combination of more than one reference.
Furthermore, the prior art of record does not teach “ An induction heating assembly for a dryer appliance the induction heating assembly comprising: an induction coil for generating an electromagnetic field; a heating plate for generating heat when energized by the electromagnetic field; and a heat exchanger comprising an impeller configured for rotatably mounted within the inlet duct and in conductive thermal communication with the heating plate via direct contact between the heat exchanger and the heating plate.    as within the context of the claimed invention as disclosed and within the context of the other limitations present in claim 10.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US Patent Publication 20190264375 and US Patent Publication 20190249355.

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: Remarks
Applicant respectfully requests consideration and allowance of the present application in view of the following remarks.
Claims 1-4, 7-13, and 16-18 are currently pending in the present application, including independent claims 1 and 10. Claims 5, 6, 14, and 15 are cancelled without prejudice.
A replacement sheet of drawings is submitted herewith. FIG. 7 has been amended to correctly identify the heated air 44, e.g., as described in   38 of the present application.
In the Office Action, claims 1, 5, 6, 8, and 10 were rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being allegedly obvious over "US Patent 10,626,523 to Lim" (Office Action,   5), which is believed to be in error for U.S. Patent No. 10,626,543 ("Lim") (clarification is requested) in view of U.S. Patent No. 9,544,945 ("Hadoulias").
Claims 2-4, 7, and 11-17 were rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being allegedly obvious over Lim in view of Hadoulias and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0247831 ("Hayes"). Applicant respectfully notes that claim 8 depends from claim 7 and, as such, the Office Action is best understood as including claim 8 in the rejections based on Lim in view of Hadoulias and Hayes rather than only Lim and Hadoulias.
Claims 9 and 18 were rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being allegedly obvious over Lim in view of Hadoulias and DE 102021106783 ("Espin").
Without acquiescing to or otherwise commenting on the merits of the rejection, Applicant has amended the claims in the interest of advancing prosecution.
For at least the following reasons, Applicant submits that the pending claims patentably define over the materials cited in the Office Action and requests that the rejections under § 103 be withdrawn.
As amended, claims 1 and 10 currently recite that the heat exchanger, which is in
conductive thermal communication with the heating plate via direct contact between the heat exchanger and the heating plate, includes an impeller rotatably mounted within the inlet duct. Support for these amendments may be found throughout the application, e.g., in    32, 37, and 38, and in FIG. 8.
Amended claims 1 and 10 are patentable over Lim, Hadoulias, Hayes, and/or Espin at least because none of the cited references discloses a heat exchanger that includes an impeller which is in conductive thermal communication with a heating plate as claimed.
For example, the Office Action acknowledges that Lim and Hadoulias do not disclose a heat exchanger that includes an impeller. Office Action, e.g., pp. 5 and 7. The Office Action then asserts incorrectly that Hayes discloses a heat exchanger that defines or comprises an impeller. The centrifugal fan 25 of Hayes (e.g., as cited in the Office Action in the rejections of original claims 7 and 16) is a conventional air handler and is part of a manifold 21 which is separate from the heat exchanger 20. See, e.g., Hayes, FIGS. 2-4. Applicant also notes that the Office Action cites to Hayes, FIG. 1, 25 and FIG. 1, 104 as allegedly disclosing the impeller and stator, respectively. Office Action, e.g., pp. 6 and 7. Hayes, FIG. 1 (reproduced below in its entirety for reference), however, includes neither reference number 25 nor reference number 104. It is therefore unclear which FIG(s) and which elements therein of Hayes the Office Action is referring to in the rejections of original claims 7 and 16.
Regardless, it is clear throughout the entire disclosure of Hayes, including any and all FIGS, that the heat exchanger manifold 21 (including the cited fan 25 therein) is not part of the heat exchanger 20 or 120. Therefore, contrary to the allegations in the rejections of original claims 7 and 16, Hayes does not disclose "the heat exchanger
de
fi
nes
an impeller" [emphasis added], where the heat exchanger is in conductive thermal communication with the heating plate as originally claimed. Moreover, Hayes clearly does not disclose direct conductive thermal communication as set forth in the present amendment to claims 1 and 10. Thus, where the other references have been acknowledged by the Office Action as not disclosing the heat exchanger including an impeller, the absence of a heat exchanger that includes an impeller and is in conductive thermal communication with a heating plate from Hayes establishes that none of the cited references discloses a heat exchanger that includes an impeller and that is in conductive thermal communication with a heating plate as claimed.
Moreover, the fan 25 of Hayes is a conventional air handler and, as such, there is no
reason to combine this feature from Hayes with Lim, e.g., because such combination would be redundant. Lim teaches, for example, an air handler 32, e.g., in FIGS. 3-6. Accordingly, there is no reason one of ordinary skill in the art would add the fan from Hayes to Lim because Lim already has an air handler.
Applicant respectfully submits that for at least the reasons indicated above relating to independent claims 1 and 10, the pending dependent claims patentably define over the cited references. However, Applicant also notes that the patentability of the dependent claims certainly does not hinge on the patentability of the independent claims. In particular, it is believed that some or all of these claims may possess features that are independently patentable, regardless of the patentability of the respective independent claim.
For example, dependent claims 8 and 16 are amended herewith to clarify the structure of the flow conditioner plate. Support for these amendments may be found throughout the application, e.g., in   37. The Office Action merely cites to some vague "various configurations" in Hadoulias as allegedly disclosing a flow conditioner plate. The Office Action fails to point to any specific teaching in Hadoulias of such variations, let alone that a flow conditioner plate is included in such variations. Put simply, a flow conditioner plate does not exist in any of the cited references and the Office Action barely makes an attempt to even allege the existence of a flow conditioner plate. As such, claims 8 and 16 were patentable over the cited prior art even in
the original form, and the present amendments provide even further reasons why claims 8 and 16 should be allowed.
In summary, it is believed that the present application is in complete condition for
allowance and favorable action, therefore, is respectfully requested. Examiner Wan is invited and encouraged to telephone the undersigned, however, should any issues remain after consideration of this Response.
Please charge any additional fees required by this Response to Deposit Account No. 04- 1403.
Respectfully submitted, DORITY & MANNING, P.A.


CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20190264375A1: Claims:
A washing machine comprising: a tub configured to receive water; a drum that is made of a metal material, that is disposed in the tub, and that is configured to rotate in the tub; an induction heater that is coupled to the tub, that is spaced apart from the drum, and that is configured to heat the drum; a first temperature sensor comprising: a sensor tube made of a metal material and configured to be heated by the induction heater, at least a part of the sensor tube being exposed between the tub and the drum, and a thermistor disposed in the sensor tube; a second temperature sensor that is disposed at a position farther from the induction heater than the first temperature sensor in a circumferential direction of the tub and that is configured to detect a temperature of air between the tub and the drum; and a controller configured to control the induction heater based on a first detection value of the first temperature sensor and a second detection value of the second temperature sensor.
a tub configured to receive water;
a drum that is made of a metal material, that is disposed in the tub, and that is configured to rotate in the tub;
an induction heater that is coupled to the tub, that is spaced apart from the drum, and that is configured to heat the drum;
a first temperature sensor comprising: a sensor tube made of a metal material and configured to be heated by the induction heater, at least a part of the sensor tube being exposed between the tub and the drum, and a thermistor disposed in the sensor tube;
a sensor tube made of a metal material and configured to be heated by the induction heater, at least a part of the sensor tube being exposed between the tub and the drum, and
a thermistor disposed in the sensor tube;
a second temperature sensor that is disposed at a position farther from the induction heater than the first temperature sensor in a circumferential direction of the tub and that is configured to detect a temperature of air between the tub and the drum; and a controller configured to control the induction heater based on a first detection value of the first temperature sensor and a second detection value of the second temperature sensor.
a controller configured to control the induction heater based on a first detection value of the first temperature sensor and a second detection value of the second temperature sensor.
The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to: determine a temperature of the drum based on a linear combination of the first detection value and the second detection value; and control the induction heater to control the temperature of the drum within a preset range.
determine a temperature of the drum based on a linear combination of the first detection value and the second detection value; and
control the induction heater to control the temperature of the drum within a preset range.
The washing machine of claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to: adjust the second detection value based on a difference between the first detection value and the second detection value; and determine the temperature of the drum based on an adjusted value of the second detection value according to the difference between the first detection value and the second detection value.
adjust the second detection value based on a difference between the first detection value and the second detection value; and
determine the temperature of the drum based on an adjusted value of the second detection value according to the difference between the first detection value and the second detection value.
The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the second temperature sensor is spaced apart from the first temperature sensor in the circumferential direction about a center of the drum, and disposed at a position in an angular range between 55 and 65 degrees from the first temperature sensor with respect to the center of the drum.
The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the first detection value comprises a first phase value related to a variation of the first detection value, and wherein the second detection value comprises a second phase value related to a variation of the second detection value, the second phase value being less than the first phase value.
wherein the second detection value comprises a second phase value related to a variation of the second detection value, the second phase value being less than the first phase value.
The washing machine of claim 4 , wherein the tub comprises a cooling water port disposed at a side surface of the tub and configured to receive cooling water for condensing moisture in air in the tub, and wherein the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor are disposed vertically above the cooling water port.
wherein the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor are disposed vertically above the cooling water port.
The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the sensor tube of the first temperature sensor is overlapped by the induction heater in a vertical view toward a center of the drum.
The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the tub defines a sensor mounting hole configured to receive the sensor tube of the first temperature sensor, and wherein the first temperature sensor further comprises a sealer configured to provide sealing between the sensor tube and the sensor mounting hole.
wherein the first temperature sensor further comprises a sealer configured to provide sealing between the sensor tube and the sensor mounting hole.
The washing machine of claim 8 , wherein the sealer has a cylindrical shape and extends in a longitudinal direction of the sensor tube, the sealer defining a hollow portion configured to receive the sensor tube inside thereof, and wherein the first temperature sensor further comprises a heat insulating cover that covers an outer portion of the sensor tube that protrudes to an outside of the tub through an upper end of the sealer.
wherein the first temperature sensor further comprises a heat insulating cover that covers an outer portion of the sensor tube that protrudes to an outside of the tub through an upper end of the sealer.
The washing machine of claim 8 , wherein the sealer defines a fixing groove configured to receive a circumference of the sensor mounting hole, and wherein the sealer is configured to be fixed inside the sensor mounting hole based on the circumference of the sensor mounting hole being inserted into the fixing groove.
wherein the sealer is configured to be fixed inside the sensor mounting hole based on the circumference of the sensor mounting hole being inserted into the fixing groove.
The washing machine of claim 10 , wherein the sealer penetrates the sensor mounting hole, and comprises: an outer portion disposed outside of the tub; an inner portion disposed inside of the tub; and a connection portion disposed in the sensor mounting hole between the outer portion and the inner portion of the sealer, and wherein the connection portion of the sealer defines the fixing groove.
an outer portion disposed outside of the tub;
an inner portion disposed inside of the tub; and
a connection portion disposed in the sensor mounting hole between the outer portion and the inner portion of the sealer, and
wherein the connection portion of the sealer defines the fixing groove.
The washing machine of claim 11 , wherein a width of each of the outer portion and the inner portion of the sealer is greater than a width of the connection portion in the circumferential direction.
The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor are disposed at the tub and arranged about a center of the drum.
The washing machine of claim 5 , wherein the tub comprises a cooling water port disposed at a side surface of the tub and configured to receive cooling water for condensing moisture in air in the tub, and wherein the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor are disposed vertically above the cooling water port.
A washing machine comprising: a tub configured to receive water; a drum that is made of a metal material, that is disposed in the tub, and that is configured to rotate in the tub; an induction heater that is coupled to the tub, that is spaced apart from the drum, and that is configured to heat the drum; a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor, each of the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor comprising a sensor tube made of a metal material and a thermistor disposed in the sensor tube; and a controller configured to control the induction heater based on a first detection value of the first temperature sensor and a second detection value of the second temperature sensor, wherein at least a part of the sensor tube of the first temperature sensor is exposed between the tub and the drum, wherein the first temperature sensor is disposed at a first position in a heating range in which the induction heater is configured to cause an increase of a temperature of the sensor tube of the first temperature sensor based on radiating a magnetic flux, and wherein the second temperature sensor is disposed at a second position farther from the induction heater than the first temperature sensor in a circumferential direction of the tub, the second position being disposed outside of the heating range.
a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor, each of the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor comprising a sensor tube made of a metal material and a thermistor disposed in the sensor tube; and
a controller configured to control the induction heater based on a first detection value of the first temperature sensor and a second detection value of the second temperature sensor,
wherein at least a part of the sensor tube of the first temperature sensor is exposed between the tub and the drum,
wherein the first temperature sensor is disposed at a first position in a heating range in which the induction heater is configured to cause an increase of a temperature of the sensor tube of the first temperature sensor based on radiating a magnetic flux, and
wherein the second temperature sensor is disposed at a second position farther from the induction heater than the first temperature sensor in a circumferential direction of the tub, the second position being disposed outside of the heating range.
The washing machine of claim 15 , wherein the sensor tube of each of the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor extends toward a center of the drum.
A method of controlling a washing machine that includes a tub, a drum made of metal material and rotatably disposed in the tub, an induction heater that is coupled to the tub, spaced apart from the drum, and configured to heat the drum, a first temperature sensor including a sensor tube made of a metal material and a thermistor disposed in the sensor tube, at least a portion of sensor tube being exposed between the tub and the drum, and a second temperature sensor that is disposed at a position farther from the induction heater than the first temperature sensor in a circumferential direction of the tub and that is configured to detect a temperature of air between the tub and the drum, the method comprising: operating the induction heater; and controlling the induction heater based on a first detection value of the first temperature sensor and a second detection value of the second temperature sensor.
operating the induction heater; and
controlling the induction heater based on a first detection value of the first temperature sensor and a second detection value of the second temperature sensor.
The method of claim 17 , wherein controlling the induction heater comprises: determining a temperature of the drum based on a linear combination of the first detection value and the second detection value; and controlling the induction heater to control the temperature of the drum within a preset range.
determining a temperature of the drum based on a linear combination of the first detection value and the second detection value; and
controlling the induction heater to control the temperature of the drum within a preset range.
The method of claim 18 , wherein determining the temperature of the drum comprises adjusting the second detection value based on a difference between the first detection value and the second detection value.
The method of claim 17 , wherein the first detection value comprises a first phase value related to a variation of the first detection value, and wherein the second detection value comprises a second phase value related to a variation of the second detection value, the second phase value being less than the first phase value.
Ref US20190249355A1: Claims:
A laundry treating apparatus comprising: a cabinet that defines an external appearance of the laundry treating apparatus; a tub disposed in the cabinet; a drum disposed in the tub and configured to rotate relative to the tub, the drum comprising: a cylindrical portion that is made of a ferromagnetic material, that defines a front opening at a front surface of the drum configured to receive laundry, and that defines a plurality of through-holes that are in communication with an inside of the drum, and a rear wall portion that covers a rear opening of the cylindrical portion; an induction heater disposed at the tub and configured to heat the drum based on inducing an eddy current in the cylindrical portion; a duct disposed at an outer side of the tub, the duct having an inlet that is in communication with the front opening of the cylindrical portion of the drum, and an outlet that is in communication with the tub through a side surface of the tub surrounding the cylindrical portion of the drum; and an air blower configured to cause air discharged from the drum to be introduced into the inlet of the duct.
a cabinet that defines an external appearance of the laundry treating apparatus;
a tub disposed in the cabinet;
a drum disposed in the tub and configured to rotate relative to the tub, the drum comprising: a cylindrical portion that is made of a ferromagnetic material, that defines a front opening at a front surface of the drum configured to receive laundry, and that defines a plurality of through-holes that are in communication with an inside of the drum, and a rear wall portion that covers a rear opening of the cylindrical portion;
a cylindrical portion that is made of a ferromagnetic material, that defines a front opening at a front surface of the drum configured to receive laundry, and that defines a plurality of through-holes that are in communication with an inside of the drum, and
a rear wall portion that covers a rear opening of the cylindrical portion;
an induction heater disposed at the tub and configured to heat the drum based on inducing an eddy current in the cylindrical portion;
a duct disposed at an outer side of the tub, the duct having an inlet that is in communication with the front opening of the cylindrical portion of the drum, and an outlet that is in communication with the tub through a side surface of the tub surrounding the cylindrical portion of the drum; and
an air blower configured to cause air discharged from the drum to be introduced into the inlet of the duct.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a lint filter configured to filter lint from air introduced into the duct; and a heat exchanger configured to condense moisture from air in the duct.
a lint filter configured to filter lint from air introduced into the duct; and
a heat exchanger configured to condense moisture from air in the duct.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the air blower is disposed downstream of the lint filter and configured to receive air having passed the lint filter, and wherein the heat exchanger is disposed downstream of the air blower and configured to receive air having passed the air blower.
wherein the heat exchanger is disposed downstream of the air blower and configured to receive air having passed the air blower.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a guide surface that is configured to guide water condensed from moisture in air in the duct, that is inclined downward toward the tub, and that defines a condensed water discharge port that is in communication with the tub.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a drain pipe that connects the condensed water discharge port to the tub.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a separator that protrudes from the guide surface and is disposed upstream of the condensed water discharge port, and wherein the heat exchanger defines an air discharge port disposed downstream of the separator and configured to discharge, into the tub, air guided through the guide surface along the duct.
wherein the heat exchanger defines an air discharge port disposed downstream of the separator and configured to discharge, into the tub, air guided through the guide surface along the duct.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the separator comprises a surface that is convex toward an upstream side of an air flow guided along the duct.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the guide surface is configured to discharge condensed water through the condensed water discharge port and to allow the condensed water to flow downward along an inner circumferential surface of the tub.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger configured to condense moisture from air in the duct, wherein the heat exchanger comprises: a refrigerant pipe configured to flow refrigerant; a heat absorption portion disposed in the duct and configured to absorb heat from ambient air outside the duct and evaporate the refrigerant flowing along the refrigerant pipe; and a heat dissipation portion disposed at an outer side of the duct and configured to transfer heat from the refrigerant to the ambient air, and wherein the laundry treating apparatus further comprises a cooling fan configured to blow air toward the heat exchanger and cool the heat dissipation portion and the induction heater.
wherein the heat exchanger comprises: a refrigerant pipe configured to flow refrigerant; a heat absorption portion disposed in the duct and configured to absorb heat from ambient air outside the duct and evaporate the refrigerant flowing along the refrigerant pipe; and a heat dissipation portion disposed at an outer side of the duct and configured to transfer heat from the refrigerant to the ambient air, and
a refrigerant pipe configured to flow refrigerant;
a heat absorption portion disposed in the duct and configured to absorb heat from ambient air outside the duct and evaporate the refrigerant flowing along the refrigerant pipe; and
a heat dissipation portion disposed at an outer side of the duct and configured to transfer heat from the refrigerant to the ambient air, and
wherein the laundry treating apparatus further comprises a cooling fan configured to blow air toward the heat exchanger and cool the heat dissipation portion and the induction heater.
The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cabinet defines a laundry loading hole at a front surface of the cabinet, wherein the tub defines a tub opening at a front surface of the tub, the tub opening that is in communication with the laundry loading hole, wherein the tub comprises: a gasket that is made of a soft material and that defines a passage having a tubular shape that extends from the laundry loading hole to the tub opening, the gasket having a front end coupled to the front surface of the cabinet and a rear end coupled to the front surface of the tub; and a duct mount having a tubular shape that protrudes from an outer circumferential surface of t
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