Dryer

A dryer is disclosed. The dryer comprises: a main body including an exhaust port; a first drying chamber disposed inside the main body such that hot air is supplied thereto; a second drying chamber disposed inside the main body such that hot air is supplied thereto; and an exhaust unit for guiding, to the exhaust port, air inside the first and second drying chambers, wherein the exhaust unit includes: a first exhaust path for connecting the first drying chamber and the exhaust port; a second exhaust path for connecting the second drying chamber and the first exhaust path; and a filter assembly separably coupled to the main body, and filtering the air passing through the first and second exhaust paths.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Stage Application which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/KR2018/010656 filed on Sep. 12, 2018, which claims foreign priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0125242 filed on Sep. 27, 2017, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a dryer.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, a dual type dryer including a plurality of drying chambers has emerged. This dual type dryer can separately perform drying on a dry subject put into each drying chamber provided separately thereto.

Such a dryer including the plurality of drying chambers may have increased drying performance and efficiency by allowing the plurality of drying chambers to simultaneously dry each dry subject depending on quantity and type of the dry subject.

However, a conventional dryer including the plurality of drying chambers may have a separate plurality of exhaust devices for externally exhausting high-temperature and high-humidity air after the drying in the plurality of drying chambers, respectively. Alternatively, another conventional dryer may not have a separate exhaust device for a small drying chamber including a smaller capacity, and have only an exhaust device capable of externally exhausting hot air of a large drying chamber.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

A conventional dryer including exhaust devices respectively connected to a plurality of drying chambers may have an increased overall size of the dryer or a complicated internal structure due to the plurality of exhaust devices. In case of installing the dryer, additional work may be required for connecting a plurality of exhaust tubes to outsides of respective installation sites.

In addition, another conventional dryer including no separate exhaust device for a small drying chamber may have deteriorated drying performance because humid air after drying is accumulated in the drying chamber, or have a contaminated installation site because the installation site of the dryer is exposed to the humid air to cause mold and the like.

In addition, the conventional dryer including the plurality of drying chambers may include a plurality of filters for filtering contaminants such as dust or lint included in the air after the drying from the plurality of drying chambers, respectively. Alternatively, the another conventional dryer may not have a separate filter for the small drying chamber including a smaller capacity, and may have only a filter capable of filtering the air from a large drying chamber.

Therefore, the conventional dryer including the plurality of filters disposed at different positions may need separate management of replacing or cleaning each of the filters. In case of the another conventional dryer including no separate filter for the small drying chamber, a region around of the dryer may be contaminated with contaminants such as lint because air including the contaminants is exhausted from the small drying chamber to an outside of a main body as it is.

Technical Solution

The disclosure provides a dryer including improved exhaust performance and easy management.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a dryer may include: a main body including an exhaust port; a first drying chamber disposed inside the main body and supplied with hot air; a second drying chamber disposed inside the main body and supplied with hot air; and an exhaust unit configured to guide air inside the first and second drying chambers to the exhaust port, wherein the exhaust unit may include: a first exhaust path for connecting the first drying chamber with the exhaust port; a second exhaust path for connecting the second drying chamber with the first exhaust path; and a filter assembly detachably coupled to the main body and configured to filter air passing through the first and second exhaust paths.

The filter assembly may include fist and second filters detachably coupled to the first and second exhaust paths, respectively.

The first exhaust path may include a first filter receptacle including a first opening open to insert the first filter thereinto, the second exhaust path may include a second filter receptacle including a second opening open to insert the second filter thereinto, and the first filter receptacle and the second filter receptacle may be disposed close to each other.

The filter assembly may be detachably coupled to the main body and may further include a filter tray configured to support the first and second filters.

The main body may include a filter tray receptacle connected to the first and second openings and open to insert the filter tray thereinto.

The first and second openings may be open in the same direction and the filter tray may be coupled to the main body and close the first and second openings.

The filter tray may include a gripper detachably coupled to the filter tray receptacle and first and second frames coupled to the gripper and configured to support the first and second filters, respectively, and in case that the filter tray is coupled to the main body, the first and second frames may be inserted to the first and second filter receptacles through the first and second openings, respectively.

The first exhaust path may include a first upstream duct for connecting an outlet of the first drying chamber with the first filter receptacle and a first downstream duct for connecting the first filter receptacle with the exhaust port; the second exhaust path may include a second upstream duct for connecting an outlet of the second drying chamber with the second filter receptacle and a second downstream duct for connecting the second filter receptacle with the first downstream duct; and the first and second filters may be inserted into the first and second filter receptacles, respectively, to be connected to the first and second upstream ducts, respectively.

The first and second filter receptacles and the first and second downstream ducts may be disposed between the first drying chamber and the second drying chamber.

The first and second filter receptacles may be disposed close to a front surface of the main body, and the filter tray receptacle may be open toward a front side of the main body.

The first drying chamber may be larger than the second drying chamber, and a diameter of the first exhaust path may be larger than that of the second exhaust path.

The first exhaust path may include a venturi tube, and the second exhaust path may be connected to the venturi tube.

The venturi tube may include a first portion including a gradually decreased diameter, a second portion connected to the first portion and a third portion including a diameter gradually increased from a diameter of the second portion, and the second exhaust path may be connected to the third portion.

The first exhaust path may include a damper disposed upstream of the first exhaust path than the venturi tube to selectively open and close the first exhaust path.

The damper may be a check damper opened in only a direction from the first drying chamber toward the exhaust port by being pressurized by the air moved from the first drying chamber toward the exhaust port to prevent the air moved along the first exhaust path from flowing back to the first drying chamber.

The first and second filter receptacles may be disposed upstream than a portion where the first exhaust path and the second exhaust path are connected to each other.

In addition, according to another embodiment of the disclosure, a dryer may include: a main body forming an appearance of the dryer and including an exhaust port; a drying drum including a first drying chamber rotatably disposed inside the main body and supplied with hot air; a drying chamber including a second drying chamber disposed above the drying drum and supplied with hot air; a hot air supplier configured to supply hot air to insides of the drying drum and the drying chamber, separately; and an exhaust unit configured to guide air inside the drying drum and the drying chamber to the exhaust port, wherein the exhaust port may include: a first exhaust path connecting the first drying chamber with the exhaust port and including a first filter receptacle; a second exhaust path connecting the second drying chamber with the first exhaust path and including a second filter receptacle disposed close to the first filter receptacle; and a filter assembly detachably coupled to the main body and including first and second filters coupled to the first and second filter receptacles to filter air passing through the first and second exhaust paths, respectively.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiments to be described below are described on a basis of embodiments most appropriate for understanding technical features of the disclosure, and these embodiments do not limit the technical features of the disclosure, but exemplify that the disclosure may be implemented like these embodiments.

Therefore, the disclosure may be variously modified without departing from the technical scope of the disclosure through embodiments to be described below, and these modifications are to fall within the technical scope of the disclosure. In addition, to assist in the understanding of embodiments to be described below, related components among components performing the same operations in the respective embodiments are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals throughout the accompanying drawings. In addition, the accompanying drawings are not illustrated to scale, but sizes of some of components may be exaggerated to assist in the understanding of the disclosure.

FIG.1is a perspective view showing a dryer1according to an embodiment of the disclosure; andFIG.2is a perspective view showing an opened state of first and second doors11and21of the dryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The dryer1described below is a device for drying a dry subject by supplying high-temperature dry hot air to a drying chamber accommodating the dry subject. Here, the dry subject may refer to any subject that can be dried by hot air. For example, the dry subject may refer to any subject implemented with various types of fibers and fabrics, such as clothing and a towel, and is not limited thereto.

As shown inFIG.1, the dryer1may include a main body101forming its appearance. The main body101may have a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped extending in a vertical direction.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the description describes the following directions based on the dryer1shown inFIG.1: a front side indicates a side (X-axis direction) in which a first door11is installed; a rear side indicates a direction opposite to the front side; and both sides (Y-axis direction) and top and bottom sides (Z-axis directions) are defined based on the front side.

The main body101may include the first door11coupled to a front surface of the main body101and a second door21coupled to a top surface of the main body101.

The first door11may be hinged to the front surface of the main body101to be pivotally opened toward the front side of the main body101, and the second door21may be hinged to the top surface of the main body101to be pivotally opened toward a top side of the main body101.

A drying drum10including a first drying chamber10S supplied with hot air may be rotatably disposed inside the main body101, and a drying chamber20including a second drying chamber20S supplied with hot air may be disposed above the drying drum10.

The drying drum10may have a shape of a cylinder open toward the front side, be opened and closed by the first door11, and through which the first drying chamber10S may be opened and closed.

In addition, the drying chamber20may have a shape of a hexahedral basket open toward the top side, and may be opened and closed by the second door21, and through which the second drying chamber20S may be opened and closed.

A user may open the first door11and put the dry subject into an inside of the first drying chamber10S and the dry subject put into the first drying chamber10S may be dried by rotating the drying drum10supplied with hot air.

In addition, the user may open the second door21to put the dry subject into the second drying chamber20S, and the dry subject put into the second drying chamber20S may be dried by hot air supplied to the drying chamber20.

As shown inFIG.2, a cover shelf201and a drying rack202may be disposed inside the drying chamber20.

The cover shelf201may have a shape of a plate disposed facing a bottom surface of the drying chamber20and may include a plurality of through holes.

The cover shelf201may guide (spray) hot air introduced between the bottom surface of the drying chamber20and the cover shelf201to a top side of the cover shelf201through the plurality of through holes, and may guide hot air to be uniformly circulated inside the second drying chamber20S.

In addition, the drying rack202on which the dry subject may be mounted may be detachably disposed on the top side of the cover shelf201.

The drying rack202may have a grill structure to be disposed facing the cover shelf201, and the dry subject may be mounted on the drying rack202to be spaced apart from the cover shelf201by a predetermined distance.

Therefore, the dry subject mounted on the drying rack202may be easily dried by hot air moved from the through holes of the cover shelf201toward the top side.

The drying drum10including the first drying chamber10S may be larger in size than the drying chamber20including the second drying chamber20S.

Therefore, the first drying chamber10S may be larger in size than the second drying chamber20S, and the first drying chamber10S may have larger capacity of the dry subject that can be dried for each time than the second drying chamber20S.

Therefore, the drying may be selectively performed either in the first drying chamber10S or in the second drying chamber20S depending on quantity and type of the dry subject.

The dryer1described above may perform drying of a large amount of the dry subject by rotating drying drum10, and may perform drying of delicate clothing made of a material easily damaged by external force and heat (for example, wool knit, baby clothing or the like) or a small amount of the dry subject by the drying chamber20. In this manner, the dryer1may perform effective drying depending on the quantity and type of the dry subject.

A control panel102may be disposed on the front surface of the main body101.

The control panel102may be disposed above the first door11to be easily operated by the user.

The control panel102may include an operator enabling the user to input an operation instruction for operating the dryer1and a display displaying operation information of the dryer1.

The operator may include a plurality of buttons or control dials, and the user may thus select an operation mode of the dryer1using the operator.

The display may display the operation information of the dryer1as a visual image. In addition, the display may further include a plurality of buttons for obtaining the user's operation instruction, and may be configured as a touch screen.

In addition, a processor (not shown) for controlling the dryer1may be disposed inside the control panel102.

FIG.3is a side view schematically showing an inside of the dryer1according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Hereinafter, referring toFIG.3, the description focuses on a structure in which hot air is supplied to the first and second drying chambers10S and20S for drying the dry subject.

For convenience of description,FIG.3uses arrows to indicate flows of hot air respectively introduced into the first and second drying chambers10S and20S.

The drying drum10may be disposed in a horizontal direction with respect to an installation surface of the main body101, and may have a shape of a cylinder rotating about a rotation center disposed in the horizontal direction.

In addition, the drying drum10may have the rotation center formed in a front and rear horizontal direction, and may include an inlet open toward the front side of the main body101to allow the dry subject to be put into the inside of the drying drum.

The drying drum10may be disposed inside the main body101and rotated by a rotational force of a driving roller (not shown) in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the drying drum10. In this manner, the drying drum10may uniformly apply hot air to the dry subject put into the first drying chamber10S.

As described above, the first door11may be coupled to the front surface of the main body101to open and close the inlet of the drying drum10.

The first door11may be pivotally coupled to the front surface of the main body101to open and close the first drying chamber10S.

Therefore, the dry subject may be put into the first drying chamber10S of the drying drum10by opening the first door11.

A hot air supplier40may be disposed inside the main body101to supply hot air into the drying drum10and the inside of the drying chamber20.

The hot air supplier40may supply hot air drying the dry subject to the first and second drying chambers10S and20S, respectively.

In detail, the hot air supplier40may include a first hot air unit41and a second hot air unit42.

The first hot air unit41may be connected to the drying drum10to supply hot air to the first drying chamber10S, and may include a first heater411, which is disposed below the drying drum10, and a first hot air duct412.

The first heater411may include a first heating member (not shown) and a first blowing fan (not shown) for blowing air heated by the first heating member to the first hot air duct412. Air heated by the first heating member may be moved to the first drying chamber10S past through the first hot air duct412by the first blowing fan.

The first hot air duct412may be configured as a tube connecting the drying drum10with the first heater411, and may be connected to a rear portion of the drying drum10opposite to the inlet open toward the front side of the drying drum10.

Therefore, hot air provided from the first heater411may be introduced into the first drying chamber10S of the drying drum10past through the first hot air duct412.

The first heating member may be configured as an electric heater providing hot air using electric resistance heat of a coil, or may be configured as a gas heater providing hot air using combustion heat of gas.

The second hot air unit42connected to the drying chamber20and supplying hot air to the second drying chamber20S may be disposed behind the drying chamber20.

The second hot air unit42may be connected to the drying chamber20to supply hot air to the second drying chamber20S, and may include a second heater421and a second hot air duct422, which are disposed behind the drying chamber20.

The second heater421may include a second heating member (not shown) and a second blowing fan (not shown) for blowing air heated by the second heating member to the second hot air duct422. Therefore, air heated by the second heating member may be moved to the second drying chamber20S past through the second hot air duct422by the second blowing fan.

Accordingly, hot air provided from the second heater421may be introduced into the second drying chamber20S of the drying chamber20past through the second hot air duct422.

The second heating member may be configured as the electric heater providing hot air using the electric resistance heat of the coil, or may be configured as the gas heater providing hot air using the combustion heat of the gas.

As described above, the second drying chamber20S may be smaller in size and capacity than the first drying chamber10S, and thus the second hot air unit42may be smaller in size than the first hot air unit41.

In addition, the first and second hot air units41and42respectively connected to the drying drum10and the drying chamber20may be integrally configured as a single hot air unit, and may selectively supply hot air to at least one of the first drying chamber10S or the second drying chamber20S through a separate damper.

However, a more detailed description thereof is omitted because the first and second hot air units41and42are identical or similar to those of the related art.

The main body101may have an exhaust port101H formed at its one side. As shown inFIG.3, the exhaust port101H may be formed on a rear surface of the main body101.

In addition, an exhaust unit30(seeFIG.4) may be disposed inside the main body101for guiding air inside the drying drum10and the drying chamber20to the exhaust port101H.

Hot air (i.e. air, hereinafter, hot air and air are used together for convenience of description) including a large amount of humidity after drying the dry subject in the first and second drying chambers10S and20S may be exhausted to the exhaust port101H through the exhaust unit30.

A specific structure of the exhaust unit30is described below.

FIG.4is a perspective view showing an inside of the dryer1according to an embodiment of the disclosure centered on an exhaust unit30;FIG.5is a front view showing the inside of the dryer1according to an embodiment of the disclosure centered on the exhaust unit30; andFIG.6is a perspective view showing a state in which a filter assembly of the dryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure is detached from a main body.

Hereinafter, a specific structure of the exhaust unit30is described in detail with reference toFIGS.3through6.

For convenience of description,FIG.4uses arrows to indicate flows of air respectively exhausted from the first and second drying chambers10S and20S through the exhaust unit30to the exhaust port101H.

The exhaust unit30may include a first exhaust path31, a second exhaust path32, a filter assembly33and an exhaust fan34.

The first exhaust path31may connect the first drying chamber10S with the exhaust port101H, through which humid air after the drying in the first drying chamber10S may be guided to the exhaust port101H through the first exhaust path31.

The second exhaust path32may connect the second drying chamber20S with the first exhaust path31, through which humid air after the drying in the second drying chamber20S may be guided to first exhaust path31and air moved to the first exhaust path31through the second exhaust path32may be exhausted an outside of the main body101through the exhaust port101H.

To this end, a diameter of the first exhaust path31may be larger than that of the second exhaust path32.

As such, the second exhaust path32may be connected to the first exhaust path31to guide the air inside the second drying chamber20S to the first exhaust path31, and may guide the air inside the second drying chamber20S to the exhaust port101H through the first exhaust path31.

Accordingly, in the exhaust unit30of the disclosure, the first exhaust path31and the second exhaust path32may be connected to each other, enabling that the air inside the first and second drying chambers10S and20S is guided to the outside of the main body10through the single exhaust port101H. Therefore, the humid air after the drying in each of the first and second drying chambers10S and20S may be easily exhausted through the single exhaust port101H.

The description below more specifically focuses on a structure in which the first and second exhaust paths31and32are connected to each other.

The filter assembly33may be detachably coupled to the main body101, and may filter and purify air passing through the first and second exhaust paths31and32.

Air after the drying in the first and second drying chambers10S and20S may include contaminants such as dust, lint and the like, occurring during the drying of the dry subject.

Accordingly, by filtering the air passing through the first and second exhaust paths31and32using the filter assembly33, the air passing through the exhaust port101H can be exhausted in a clean state free of such contaminants as dust and lint.

In detail, the filter assembly33may include first and second filters331and332which are detachably coupled to the first and second exhaust paths31and32, respectively.

The first exhaust path31may include a first upstream duct311, a first filter receptacle312and a first downstream duct313.

The first upstream duct311may have one end connected with the first drying chamber10S and the other end connected with the first filter receptacle312, and the first downstream duct313may have one end connected with the first filter receptacle312and the other end connected to the exhaust port101H.

Accordingly, the first upstream duct311may connect the first drying chamber10S with the first filter receptacle312, and the first downstream duct313may connect the first filter receptacle312with the exhaust port101H.

The first filter receptacle312may be a point where the first upstream duct311and the first downstream duct313are connected to each other, and may include a first opening312H open to insert the first filter331thereinto.

In addition, the first upstream duct311may be directly connected to the first drying chamber10S, but may be connected to the first drying chamber10S through a connection duct3111by further including the connection duct3111disposed close to the inlet of the drying drum10.

The connection duct3111may be disposed close to a lower side of the inlet of the drying drum10.

The connection duct3111may include a first outlet10H configured of a plurality of through holes arranged close to the inlet of the drying drum10.

Therefore, the air inside the first drying chamber10S may be introduced into the connection duct3111through the first outlet10H, and the hot air moved to the connection duct3111may be exhausted to the exhaust port101H by sequentially passing through the first upstream duct311, the first filter receptacle312and the first downstream duct313.

In addition, the exhaust fan34may be coupled to the connection duct3111.

The exhaust fan34may include a suction blade (not shown) and a drive motor (not shown) for rotating the suction blade, and as the suction blade is rotated, hot air inside the first drying chamber10S may be sucked into the connection duct3111through the first outlet10H.

In addition, the hot air sucked into the connection duct3111may be easily moved along the first upstream duct311, the first filter receptacle312and the first downstream duct313by the exhaust fan34, and through which the hot air may be easily exhausted to the exhaust port101H.

However, in addition to the above-described structure, the first outlet10H may be directly formed on the first upstream duct311, or may be formed on the drying drum10and connected to the first upstream duct311.

The second exhaust path32may include a second upstream duct321, a second filter receptacle322and a second downstream duct323.

The second upstream duct321may have one end connected with the second drying chamber20S and the other end connected with the second filter receptacle322, and the second downstream duct323may have one end connected with the second filter receptacle322and the other end connected to the first downstream duct313.

Accordingly, the second upstream duct321may connect the second drying chamber20S with the second filter receptacle322, and the second downstream duct323may connect the second filter receptacle322with the first downstream duct313.

The second filter receptacle322may connect the second upstream duct321with the second downstream duct323, and may include a second opening322H open to insert the second filter332thereinto.

The drying chamber20may include a second outlet20H formed at its one side, and one end of the second upstream duct321may be connected to the second outlet20H.

As an example, the second outlet20H may be formed on a portion of the side of the drying chamber20, which is close to the front surface of the drying chamber20.

Therefore, the air inside the second drying chamber20S may be introduced into the second upstream duct321through the second outlet20H, and the hot air moved to the second upstream duct321may be moved to the first downstream duct313by sequentially passing through the second filter receptacle322and the second downstream duct323.

The air moved from the inside of the second drying chamber20S to the first downstream duct313may be exhausted to the outside through the exhaust port101H.

The second drying chamber20S may be smaller in size than the first drying chamber10S, and thus an amount of hot air introduced into the second drying chamber20S through the second hot air unit42may be smaller than that of hot air supplied to the first drying chamber10S.

Accordingly, the second exhaust path32may introduce the air inside the second drying chamber20S into the second upstream duct321through the second outlet20H without a separate exhaust fan connected thereto.

Alternatively, the second exhaust path32may be connected to the separate exhaust fan (not shown), and the air inside the second drying chamber20S may thus be easily sucked through the second outlet20H.

As shown inFIGS.4through6, the first filter receptacle312and the second filter receptacle322may be disposed close to each other, and disposed close to the front surface of the main body101.

In addition, the first and second filter receptacles312and322and the first and second downstream ducts313and323may be disposed between the first drying chamber10S and the second drying chamber20S.

In addition, the first downstream duct313and the second downstream duct323may also be disposed close to each other, and may be connected to each other at a portion close to the exhaust port101H.

In detail, the first and second filter receptacles312and322may be disposed above the inlet of the drying drum10and below the front surface of the drying chamber20.

Accordingly, the first upstream duct311may have a shape extending up and down in such a manner that one end of the first upstream duct311is connected to the first outlet10H through the connection duct3111disposed below the inlet of the drying drum10, and the other end of the first upstream duct311is connected to the first filter receptacle312. The first upstream duct311may have at least one bent portion, and may have a minimized length by being disposed close to the front surface of the main body101.

In addition, the exhaust port101H of the main body101may be formed at the rear surface of the main body101, and the first downstream duct313may thus extend rearward from the first filter receptacle312disposed close to the front surface of the main body101toward the exhaust port101H of the main body101.

In addition, the second upstream duct321may have a shape extending up and down in such a manner that one end of the second upstream duct321is connected to the second outlet20H formed at the side of the drying chamber20and the other end of the second upstream duct321is connected to the second filter receptacle322. The second upstream duct321may have at least one bent portion, and may have a minimized length by being disposed close to the front surface of the main body101.

In addition, the second downstream duct323may be connected to the second filter receptacle322to extend toward the rear surface of the main body101, and may be connected to the first downstream duct313by including the other end bent toward the first downstream duct313.

The first and second filter receptacles312and322may be disposed upstream than a portion where the first exhaust path31and the second exhaust path32are connected to each other. In this manner, air exhausted from the first and second drying chambers10S and20S may pass through the first and second filter receptacles before passing through the first and second downstream ducts313and323.

The above-described dispositions and structures of the first and second upstream ducts311and321, the first and second filter receptacles312and322and the first and second downstream ducts313and323may be variously changed depending on those of the drying drum10, the drying chamber20and the exhaust port101H, and the first and second exhaust paths31and32need to have minimized overall lengths.

The filter assembly33may be detachably coupled to the main body101and include a filter tray333supporting the first and second filters331and332. Accordingly, the first and second filters331and332may be moved together by the filter tray333in case that the filter assembly33is inserted into and taken out of the main body101. Therefore, the user may manage the first and second filters331and332together with the filter tray without separately managing the first and second filters331and332.

In addition, the main body101may include a filter tray receptacle101S connected to the first and second openings312H and322H of the first and second filter receptacles312and322and open toward the front side of the main body to insert the filter tray333thereinto.

In detail, the filter tray333may include a gripper3330and first and second frames3331and3332, which are coupled to the gripper3330.

The first and second filters331and332may be disposed inside the first and second frames3331and3332, and the first and second frames3331and3332may be coupled to the gripper3330to support the first and second filters331and332, respectively.

The first and second frames3331and3332may include first openings H1respectively open toward the first and second upstream ducts311and321and second openings H2respectively open toward the first and second downstream ducts313and323. In this manner, the first and second filters331and332respectively disposed in the first and second frames3331and3332may connect the first and second upstream ducts311and321with the first and second downstream ducts313and323, respectively.

The first and second filters331and332may be connected to first openings H1of the first and second frames3331and3332, respectively, and the first openings H1of the first and second frames3331and3332, may be connected to the first and second upstream ducts311and321, respectively. Therefore, the first and second filters331and332may filter air introduced through the first openings H1of the first and second frames3331and3332, respectively.

In addition, the second openings H2of the first and second frames3331and3332may be connected to the first and second downstream ducts313and323, respectively. Therefore, air past through the first and second filters331and332may be introduced to the first and second downstream ducts313and323through the second openings H2of the first and second frames3331and3332, respectively.

The first and second filters331and332may be inserted into the first and second filter receptacles312and322through the first and second frames3331and3332, respectively, and may thus be connected to the first and second upstream ducts311and321, respectively.

In this manner, the first and second filters331and332may filter the air introduced from the first and second upstream ducts311and321to the first and second filter receptacles312and322.

For example, the first and second filters331and332may be pre-filters including fine through holes, through which air is allowed to pass but the contaminants such as dust or lint in the air are not allowed to pass.

However, the first and second filters331and332may be configured of various types of filters capable of filtering the contaminants in the air past through the first and second filter receptacles312and322and moved to the first and second downstream ducts313and323, and may have various structures depending on structures of the first and second filter receptacles312and322.

The first and second openings312H and322H of the first and second filter receptacles312and322may be open in the same direction, and thus the first and second filters331and332may be inserted in the same direction.

The first and second openings312H and322H may have shapes corresponding to shapes of the first and second frames3331and3332.

As shown inFIG.6, the first and second openings312H and322H may be open toward the front side of the main body101, and the filter tray receptacle101S connected to the first and second openings312H and322H may also be open toward the front side of the main body101.

Accordingly, the filter tray333may be coupled to the main body101by being inserted from the front side of the main body101into the filter tray receptacle101S, and also partially form the appearance of the main body101by being inserted into the filter tray receptacle101S.

In addition, the filter tray333may be coupled to the main body101and close the first and second openings312H and322H.

In detail, the gripper3330is coupled to the filter tray receptacle101S by inserting the filter tray333into the filter tray receptacle101S, and the first and second frames3331and3332may be inserted and coupled to the first and second filter receptacles312and322through the first and second openings312H and322H, respectively.

In this manner, the first and second filters331and332may be inserted into the first and second filter receptacles312and322to be connected to the first and second upstream ducts311and321, respectively.

Accordingly, the hot air of the first and second drying chambers10S and20S may be filtered by passing through the first and second filters331and332disposed in the first and second filter receptacles312and322, respectively, without leaking to the outside.

The air past through the first and second filters331and332may be moved along the first and second downstream ducts313and323connected to the first and second filter receptacles312and322, respectively, and may be exhausted the outside of the main body101through the exhaust port101H.

The gripper3330may be formed to be easily gripped by the user, and formed in a shape to have its outer surface smoothly connected to the front surface of the main body101to partially form the appearance of the main body in a state of being inserted into the filter tray receptacle101S.

Therefore, the user may couple the filter tray333to the filter tray receptacle101S, or to easily detach the filter tray333coupled to the filter tray receptacle101S, by gripping the gripper3330.

As described above, the first and second filter receptacles312and322may be disposed close to each other, and open equally toward the front side of the main body101to be connected to the filter tray receptacle101S formed on front surface of the main body101.

Therefore, the filter tray333may be coupled to the filter tray receptacle101S, and accordingly the first and second filters331and332may be easily coupled to the first and second filter receptacles312and322simultaneously.

In addition, the first and second filters331and332may be disposed together in the filter tray333. Therefore, the first and second filters331and332may be detached from the first and second filter receptacles312and322simultaneously by detaching the filter tray333from the filter tray receptacle101S.

Therefore, by detaching the filter tray333from the main body101, the first and second filters331and332may be cleaned or replaced simultaneously.

As such, in the dryer1according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the first and second filter receptacles312and322disposed on the first and second exhaust paths31and32, respectively, may be disposed close to each other, and the first and second filters331and332may be disposed in the single filter tray333. Due to this configuration, the first and second filters331and332may be coupled to or detached from the first and second exhaust paths31and32simultaneously.

In this manner, the user may simultaneously replace or clean the first and second filters331and332which filter the air passing through the first and second exhaust paths31and32, thereby improving convenience of management of the first and second filters331and332.

In addition, the first and second filter receptacles312and322may be disposed close to the front surface of the main body101, and the filter tray333may be coupled to the main body101through the filter tray receptacle101S formed on the front surface of the main body101. Therefore, the user may easily couple/detach the filter tray333to/from the filter tray receptacle101S by gripping the gripper3330.

FIG.7is a plan view showing the inside of the dryer1according to an embodiment of the disclosure centered on the exhaust unit30.

Hereinafter, the description focuses on a structure in which the first exhaust path31and the second exhaust path32are connected to each other.

As shown inFIG.7, the first exhaust path31may include a venturi tube314.

In detail, the venturi tube314may be disposed in the first downstream duct313to partially form the first downstream duct313.

In addition, the second downstream duct323may be connected to the venturi tube314, and thus the air of the second drying chamber20S may be moved from the second downstream duct323to the venturi tube314.

The first drying chamber10S may be larger in size than the second drying chamber20S, and therefore the diameter of the first exhaust path31may be larger than that of the second exhaust path32.

For example, as shown inFIG.7, a diameter d1of the first downstream duct313may be larger than a diameter d2of the second downstream duct323.

In addition, the venturi tube314may include: a first portion3141connected with an upstream portion of the first downstream duct313, which is close to the first filter receptacle312, and including a diameter gradually decreased from the diameter d1of the first downstream duct313; a second portion3142connected to the first portion3141; and a third portion3143connected to the second portion3142and including a diameter gradually increased from a diameter of the second portion3142to the diameter d1of the first downstream duct313.

The diameter d3of the second portion3142may be smaller than the diameter d1of the first downstream duct313.

In addition, the second exhaust path32may be connected to the third portion3143of the venturi tube314, and in detail, the second downstream duct323may be connected to the third portion3143of the venturi tube314.

The air past through the first filter receptacle312and moved along the first downstream duct313may have an increased speed as passing through the venturi tube314.

Accordingly, air inside the second downstream duct323connected to the venturi tube314may be sucked into the venturi tube314.

In detail, the air past through the upstream portion of the first downstream duct313and moved to the first portion3141of the venturi tube314may have the increased speed as pressure is decreased as the air passes through the second portion3142.

Therefore, the air inside the second downstream duct323connected to the third portion3143of the venturi tube314may be sucked into the third portion3143by a flow of the air inside the first downstream duct313which has the increased speed as passing through the second portion3142.

In this manner, the air past through the first exhaust path31may not flow back into the second exhaust path32, and the air of the second drying chamber20S moved along the second exhaust path32may not flow back into the second drying chamber20S and easily enter the first exhaust path31and be exhausted through the exhaust port101H.

In addition, the first exhaust path31may include a damper315disposed upstream of the first exhaust path31than the venturi tube314to selectively open and close the first exhaust path31.

In detail, the damper315may be disposed between the venturi tube314and the first filter receptacle312in the first downstream duct313.

In addition, the damper315may be a check damper315opened in only one direction from the first drying chamber10S toward the exhaust port101H by being pressurized by the air moved from the first drying chamber10S toward the exhaust port101H to prevent the air moved along the first exhaust path31from flowing back to the first drying chamber10S.

In detail, the damper315may be configured as a check damper315opened and closed only in one direction from the first filter receptacle312toward the exhaust port101H to prevent the air moved along the first downstream duct313toward the exhaust port101H from flowing back to the first drying chamber10S.

In addition, the damper315may be pressurized by the air moved from the first filter receptacle312toward the exhaust port101H even without obtaining any separate driving force for its opening and closing, and thus be opened and closed in one direction from the first filter receptacle312toward the exhaust port101H.

Therefore, in case that the drying is performed only in the first drying chamber10S, the air after the drying in the first drying chamber10S may be guided to the exhaust port101H through the first exhaust path31, and the damper315may be opened as the air of the first drying chamber10S is moved along the first exhaust path31.

In addition, the diameter d2of the second exhaust path32may be smaller than the diameter d1of the first exhaust path31, and the second exhaust path32may be connected to the third portion3143of the venturi tube314. Therefore, in case that the drying is performed only in the first drying chamber10S, the air passing through the first exhaust path31may be prevented from flowing back to the second exhaust path32.

In addition, in case that the drying is performed only in the second drying chamber20S, the air after the drying in the second drying chamber20S may be introduced to the third portion3143of the venturi tube314through the second exhaust path32and be exhausted along the first downstream duct313to the exhaust port101H.

Here, even in case that the air of the second drying chamber20S introduced to the third portion3143of the venturi tube314is moved toward the first filter receptacle312, the damper315opened only in one direction may be closed to prevent the air of the second drying chamber20S from flowing back to the first filter receptacle312.

In addition, in case that the drying is performed simultaneously in the first and second drying chambers10S and20S, the damper315may be opened as the air of the first drying chamber10S is exhausted along the first exhaust path31to the exhaust port101H, and the air after the drying in the second drying chamber20S may be introduced to the third portion3143of the venturi tube314through the second exhaust path32to be exhausted along the first downstream duct313to the exhaust port101H.

As such, the first exhaust path31described above may include the venturi tube314and the damper315, and the second exhaust path32may be connected to the venturi tube314. Even by such simple configuration and structure, the humid air of the first and second drying chambers10S and20S may easily be exhausted through the single exhaust port101H without flowing back into the first and second drying chambers10S and20S.

Although the diverse embodiments of the disclosure are individually described hereinabove, the respective embodiments are not necessarily implemented singly, and may also be implemented to combine configurations and operations thereof with those of one or more other embodiments.

In addition, although the embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated and described hereinabove, the disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned specific embodiments, but may be variously modified by those skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure as disclosed in the accompanying claims. These modifications also need to be understood to fall within the scope of the disclosure.