FLOW PATH SWITCHING UNIT FOR DRYER AND DRYER INCLUDING THE SAME

Provided is a flow path switching unit of a dryer configured to dry a drying material. The flow path switching unit includes a body portion, and a flow path guide dividing an internal space of the body portion to selectively form one of a first flow path of air for drying the drying material and a second flow path of air for dehumidifying outside air, according to an arrangement position of the body portion, and at a first position, the path switching unit provides the first flow path to guide air from a drum of the dryer toward a heat exchanger of the dryer, and at a second position, the path switching unit provides the second flow path to guide the outside air introduced from an outside of the dryer.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates to a flow path switching unit for a dryer to selectively provide two flow paths for a drying mode and a dehumidifying mode, and a dryer including the flow path switching unit.

2. Description of Related Art

A dryer is a device for drying wet clothes (hereinafter, referred to a drying material). The drying material is accommodated in a drum in the dryer, and hot air is supplied inside the drum through a heat exchanger while the drum is rotating to dry the drying material.

An existing dryer is installed and used in a laundry room or utility room provided separately in a house, but the laundry room or utility room may not have a window or and/or be small, resulting in poor ventilation. Humidity in the laundry room or utility room may increase due to the drying of the drying material, and high humidity may cause the dryer to corrode or cause discomfort to users.

A dehumidifier may be separately installed in a space where the dryer is installed, which may be inefficient in terms of cost and space. Thus, the dryer may operate in a drying mode or a dehumidifying mode, and a dehumidifying unit for changing a flow path of air may be considered for operation in the drying mode and the dehumidifying mode.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a flow path switching unit of a dryer configured to dry a drying material, may include: a body portion including a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface; and a flow path guide dividing an internal space of the body portion to selectively form one of a first flow path of air for drying the drying material and a second flow path of air for dehumidifying outside air, according to an arrangement position of the body portion, wherein, in a state where the body portion is arranged in the dryer at a first position, the flow path switching unit provides the first flow path to guide air from a drum of the dryer toward a heat exchanger of the dryer, wherein, in a state where the body portion is arranged in the dryer at a second position, the flow path switching unit provides the second flow path to guide the outside air introduced from an outside of the dryer toward the heat exchanger and discharge the outside air which has been dehumidified after passing through the heat exchanger and the drum to the outside of the dryer, and wherein, in the first position, the body portion is arranged so that the first surface is a top surface of the body portion and the second surface is a bottom surface of the body portion, and in the second position, the body portion is arranged so that the first surface is the bottom surface of the body portion and the second surface is the top surface of the body portion.

The flow path guide extends from the first side surface to the second side surface, the flow path guide may include: a first inlet at the first side surface and configured to, in the state where the body portion is arranged in the dryer at the first position, receive the air from the drum; and an outlet at a back surface of the body portion and configured to, in the state where the body portion is arranged in the dryer at the first position, output the air toward the heat exchanger, and the first flow path is configured to have the air to flow from the first inlet to the outlet.

The flow path guide extends from the first side surface to the second side surface, the flow path guide may include: a second inlet at the second side surface and configured to, in the state where the body portion is arranged in the dryer at the second position, receive the air from the drum; a separating wall protruding forward from the flow path guide and dividing the body portion into a first region through which the outside air is introduced in the state where the body portion is arranged in the dryer at the second position and a second region through which the outside air is discharged in the state where the body portion is arranged in the dryer at the second position; and an opening configured to be opened and closed in the flow path guide at the first region, and the second flow path is configured such that the outside air introduced through the opening is received through the second inlet after passing through the drum, and then is discharged through the second region.

The flow path switching unit may further include an opening and closing unit coupled to the body portion and configured to open and close a front of the body portion.

The flow path switching unit may further include: an opening and closing unit configured to open and close a front of the body portion; and an airtight member coupled to the opening and closing unit and configured to seal the opening, and the airtight member may be further configured to open the opening when the opening and closing unit opens the front.

The airtight member may have a size corresponding to the opening, and the flow path switching unit further includes a sealing member coupled to a perimeter of the airtight member.

The flow path switching unit may further include a guide grill provided in the second region and configured to guide the air to an outside of the body portion.

The flow path switching unit may further include a guide grill provided in the second region and configured to guide the air to an outside of the body portion, and the guide grill may be further configured to introduce the air in a direction away from the separating wall.

The flow path switching unit may further include an air dispersion rib protruding from a surface of the flow path guide toward the outlet.

The opening and closing unit may be configured to, in the state where the body portion is at the second position, be opened by pivoting of a hinge of the body portion.

A distance between the first side surface and the second side surface of the body portion is greater than a distance between the first surface and the second surface, and the separating wall may be provided a central position between the first side surface and the second side surface.

An area of the outlet may be greater than an area of the first inlet, the area of the outlet may be greater than an area of the opening, and an area of the second region may be greater than an area of the second inlet.

The body portion may include a filter member configured to filter out a foreign substance.

The flow path switching unit may further include a handle configured to rotate the body portion from the first position to the second position, and the handle may be at a front lower side of the body portion in the state where the body portion is at the first position.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a dryer includes the flow path switching unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an example embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numeral or symbol presented in each drawing represents a part or component that performs substantially the same function.

The terms including “first”, “second”, etc., may be used to explain various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. These terms may be used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, a first component may be referred to as a second component without departing from the scope of the disclosure, and similarly, the second component may be referred to as the first component. The term “and/or” may include a combination of a plurality of related items or any one of the plurality of related items.

The term used herein is used to describe an embodiment of the disclosure, and is not intended to limit and/or restrict the disclosure. Singular forms include plural forms unless apparently indicated otherwise contextually. Moreover, it should be understood that the term “include”, “have”, or the like used herein is to indicate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or a combination thereof described in the specifications, and does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or a combination thereof. The same reference numeral presented in each drawing represents a member that substantially performs the same function.

FIG.1is a perspective view of a dryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG.2is a perspective view of a lower portion ofFIG.1, andFIG.3is a view showing a state where a cover is coupled inFIG.1.

Referring toFIG.1, a direction along an X axis may be defined as a front-back direction, a direction along a Y-axis may be defined as a left-right direction, and a direction along a Z-axis may be defined as an up-down direction. Meanwhile, among the terms used in the following description, the “front-back direction”, the “left-right direction”, the “up-down direction”, etc., are defined based on the drawings, and the shape and position of each component are not limited by these terms.

Referring toFIG.1, a dryer100is a device that operates to dry a drying material. The dryer100according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a main body110. The main body110may be formed in an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape including a front surface101, a back surface102, a top surface103, a bottom surface104, and a side surface105.

The dryer100may include a drum130accommodating a drying material. The drum130may have an opened side through which the drying material is input. In the main body110, an entrance106communicating with the drum130may be formed and a door120for opening and closing the entrance106may be provided.

The drum130may be accommodated and mounted in the main body110that forms an exterior of the dryer100. A manipulation unit111may be provided in an upper portion of the front surface101of the main body110to allow a user to perform a function of the dryer100. In the manipulation unit111, a rotation-type input unit11afor selecting the function of the dryer100, a display unit11bfor displaying a selection function and a mode state of the dryer100according to input of the rotation-type input unit11a, a touch input unit11cfor allowing the user to select a mode by being pressed, etc., may be provided. However, a configuration of the manipulation unit111is not limited thereto and may be implemented in various manners.

Referring toFIG.2, the dryer100may include a heat exchanger170that provides hot air to the drum130. The heat exchanger170may be disposed under the drum130, and may be installed on a base140provided on the bottom surface104of the main body110. As shown inFIG.3, a fan161installed on the base140may move the air of the drum130to a flow path switching unit200, and the heat exchanger170may be disposed at a back end of the flow path switching unit200. A cover141may be coupled to an upper portion of the base140to form a duct structure that allows air to pass through the flow path switching unit200and the heat exchanger170.

The heat exchanger170may supply hot air toward the drum130and may be a component constituting a refrigerant cycle. The refrigerant cycle may include the heat exchanger170, a compressor180, and an expansion device190. The heat exchanger170may be provided to exchange air with heat and may include an evaporator171and a condenser172. The refrigerant may circulate through a series of processes including compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation.

The compressor180may compress a refrigerant into a high-temperature and high-pressure state and discharge the refrigerant, such that the discharged refrigerant is introduced to the condenser172. The condenser172may condense the compressed refrigerant and discharge heat to surroundings during the condensation. In addition, the expansion device190may expand the refrigerant in the high-temperature and high-pressure state, condensed by the condenser172, into a low-pressure state. The evaporator171may evaporate the expanded refrigerant and take away heat from the surroundings during the evaporation. The refrigerant passing through the evaporator171may move back to the compressor180and circulate.

FIG.4is view conceptually showing a flow path in a drying mode, andFIG.5is a view conceptually showing a flow path in a dehumidifying mode.

Referring toFIG.4, when the dryer100operates in a drying mode for drying a drying material, the air may circulate inside the main body110to dry the drying material. More specifically, high-temperature and high-humidity air supplied from the drum130may be changed into low-temperature dry air while being cooled by passing through the evaporator171of the heat exchanger170. When the high-temperature and high-humidity air is cooled in the evaporator171, condensed water may be generated. The condensed water may move to a recovery container109provided in the dryer100or may be drained to the outside of the main body110.

The low-temperature dry air may pass through the condenser172of the heat exchanger170while passing through the evaporator171. The low-temperature dry air discharged from the evaporator171may be heated up and changed into high-temperature dry air while passing through the condenser172. The high-temperature dry air may be introduced to the back side of the drum130to dry the drying material. As the drying material is dried, the high-temperature and high-humidity air containing moisture may leak from the drum130and pass through the evaporator171again. In this way, the air circulating inside the main body110may dry the drying material accommodated in the drum130.

Referring toFIG.5, when the dryer100operates in the dehumidifying mode for dehumidifying outside air, air outside the dryer100may be introduced into the dryer100and dehumidified and then discharged to the outside of the dryer100. More specifically, the air outside the dryer100may be introduced into the dryer100and may be dehumidified while being discharged to the outside of the dryer100after passing through the heat exchanger170and the drum130.

The high-humidity air needing to be dehumidified may be changed into high-temperature dry air while passing through the heat exchanger170. The high-temperature dry air may pass through the drum130and then may be discharged again to the outside of the dryer100, such that the high-humidity air outside the dryer100may be dehumidified. The dehumidifying mode may operate in a state where any drying material is not accommodated inside the drum130.

As such, the air circulates inside the main body110in the drying mode, and the outside air is introduced and discharged to outside via the heat exchanger170and the drum130in the dehumidifying mode. The flow path switching unit200for the dryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be attachably and detachably coupled to the dryer100to selectively form a first flow path for the drying mode and a second flow path for the dehumidifying mode. The flow path switching unit200for the dryer100may be engaged by being inserted into a mounting hole108formed in the main body110. The mounting hole108may be opened and closed by a cover107. Hereinbelow, the flow path switching unit200for the dryer100will be described in detail.

FIG.6is a perspective view of the flow path switching unit200according to an embodiment of the disclosure at a first position.FIG.7is an exploded perspective view of the flow path switching unit200at the first position, andFIG.8is a cross-sectional view ofFIG.7.FIG.10is an exploded perspective view of the flow path switching unit200at a second position, andFIG.11is a cross-sectional view where an opening and closing unit is opened inFIG.10.

The first position may mean a position in a state where the flow path switching unit200for the dryer100is coupled to the dryer100to perform a drying operation, and the second position may mean a position in a state where the flow path switching unit200for the dryer100is coupled to the dryer100to perform a dehumidifying operation.

The flow path switching unit200for the dryer100according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a body portion10and a flow path guide20.

Referring toFIG.6, the body portion10may include a top surface11, a bottom surface12, a first side surface13, and a second side surface14. The first side surface13is opposite to the second side surface14across the body portion10. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the body portion10may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape with opened front surface and back surface. When viewed from the front surface, the body portion10may have a width in a horizontal direction greater than a height in a vertical direction. As the body portion10is formed to have the width in the horizontal direction greater than the height in the vertical direction, the space utilization of a lower portion of the dryer100may be improved. As shown inFIG.1, as the drum130is provided in a central portion of the main body110of the dryer100and the flow path switching unit200is provided in the space of the lower portion of the main body110, the height of the body portion10may be reduced to minimize interference with other structures.

Moreover, the body portion10may be formed such that a distance between the opposite first side surface13and second side surface14is greater than a distance in a front and a back thereof. By reducing the distance in the front-back direction in the body portion10, an arrangement space of a structure provided in the back side of the body portion10, e.g., the heat exchanger170may be effectively secured. A relatively long distance between the opposite first side surface13and second side surface14of the body portion10may be secured, thereby sufficiently securing a size of each region when dividing the body portion10into a first region A and a second region B at the second position. The shape of the body portion10is not limited to the above-described rectangular parallelepiped shape and may be changed variously as long as it is capable of forming a flow path in which air flows.

The flow path guide20may guide the air by partitioning an internal space of the body portion10. The flow path guide20may be coupled to an inside of the body portion10to divide the internal space of the body portion10, in which the divided space may be used as a flow path for the drying mode or the dehumidifying mode.

More specifically, the flow path guide20may form a first flow path for drying the drying material or a second flow path for dehumidifying the outside air. That is, the flow path guide20may form the first flow path in the drying mode and the second flow path in the dehumidifying mode.

Referring toFIG.7andFIG.8, the flow path guide20may provide the first flow path for guiding the air from the drum130toward the heat exchanger170in a state where the body portion10is at the first position. Referring toFIG.10andFIG.11, the flow path guide20may provide the second flow path in which in a state where the body portion10is at the second position, after outside air is introduced and dehumidified via the heat exchanger170and the drum130, the outside air is introduced back to the body portion10from the drum130and is discharged to outside.

In this case, the second position of the body portion10may be a position of the body portion10such that the body portion10is 180° rotated and thus positions of the top surface and the bottom surface are reversed from the first position. When the body portion10is viewed from the front surface thereof, the second position may be a position of the body portion10such that the body portion10is rotated in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction with respect to a center of the front surface of the body portion10and thus the top surface becomes the bottom surface and the bottom surface becomes the top surface.

Referring toFIG.7andFIG.10, to the front of the body portion10is coupled a front cover22having formed thereon an inlet port24through which the outside air is introduced and an outlet port25through which the outside air is discharged. The inlet port24and the outlet port25may be formed to have substantially the same size to facilitate flow of the air in introduction and discharge of the outside air. A guide rib26supported in contact with the flow path guide20while guiding the outside air to an opening19may be formed to protrude on the inlet port24. The guide rib26may be formed to have a curvature corresponding to a curvature of the flow path guide20.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the flow path guide20may extend from the front of any one of the opposite first side surface13and second side surface14to the back of the other of the opposite first side surface13and second side surface14.

As shown inFIG.7, the flow path guide20may extend from the front of the (left) first side surface13to the back of the (right) second side surface14. An end of the flow path guide20may be coupled to the front of the (left) first side surface13and the other end may be coupled to the back of the (right) second side surface14. The flow path guide20may be formed round to facilitate flow of the air. While the other end of the flow path guide20is coupled to the back of the right side surface14inFIG.7, the other end of the flow path guide20may be coupled to a corner in which the back surface of the body portion10meets the right side surface14or to the back surface adjacent the corner.

A first inlet15and an outlet16may be formed in the body portion10. More specifically, with respect to the state where the body portion10is at the first position, the first inlet15may be formed on the side surface to allow the air to be introduced from the drum130. The outlet16may be formed at the back of the body portion10.

The air introduced from the first inlet15may form the first flow path while flowing to the outlet16. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an area of the outlet16may be greater than that of the first inlet15. As the area of the outlet16is greater than that of the first inlet15, the air introduced through the first inlet15may be smoothly discharged through the outlet16.

Referring toFIG.8, the first inlet15may be formed on the (left) first side surface13of the body portion10coupled to the end of the flow path guide20. The outlet16may be formed on the back surface of the body portion10, such that the air from the drum130may be introduced to the (left) first side surface13in which the first inlet15is formed and is discharged to the back where the outlet16is provided.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, as shown inFIG.1andFIG.2, the flow path switching unit200may be coupled to a mounting portion150provided on a right lower portion of the main body110when viewed from the front surface101of the main body110. The drum130may be positioned in the central portion of the main body110, and the flow path switching unit200may be formed to the right of the drum130, such that the first inlet15may be formed on the (left) first side surface13of the body portion10, thus simplifying the flow path of the air discharged from the drum130.

As shown inFIG.9, when the flow path switching unit200is coupled to the left lower portion of the main body110, the flow path guide20formed in the body portion10may be formed round to the back of the (left) first side surface13from the front of the (right) second side surface14. That is, an end of the flow path guide20may be coupled to the front of the (right) second side surface14and the other end may be coupled to the back of the (left) first side surface13. The other end of the flow path guide20may be coupled to a corner at which the (left) first side surface13meets the back surface or to the back surface adjacent to the corner.

In this case, the first inlet15may be formed on the (right) side surface14and the outlet16may be formed on the back surface of the body portion10. That is, in an embodiment of the disclosure, the flow path guide20, the first inlet15, and the outlet16may be changed symmetrically to a structure ofFIG.7. When the main body110is viewed from the front surface101, for this structure being a structure in which the flow path switching unit200is engaged with the left lower portion of the front surface101of the main body110, a flow path introduced from the drum130may be simplified and applied.

In addition, an air dispersion rib21may be formed in the flow path guide20. The air dispersion rib21may protrude from a surface of the flow path guide20to the outlet16with respect to the state where the body portion10is at the first position. As the air introduced through the first inlet15is injected in collision with the air dispersion rib21, the air may flow to the outlet16. The air may be dispersed by the air dispersion rib21and smoothly escape to the heat exchanger170through the outlet16.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the body portion10may include a second inlet17, a separating wall18, and the opening19.

The flow path guide20may extend from the front of any one of the opposite first side surface13and second side surface14to the back of the other of the opposite first side surface13and second side surface14, and the second inlet17may be formed on the other side surface to introduce the air from the drum130with respect to the state where the body portion10is at the second position. When the body portion10is reversed upside down from the first position ofFIG.7, the body portion10may be changed to the second position ofFIG.10. As shown inFIG.10, when the body portion10is reversed to the second position, the second inlet17may be provided to the left like the first inlet15at the first position.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, when the main body110is viewed from the front surface thereof, the flow path switching unit200may be coupled to the right lower portion of the front surface of the main body110, such that the second inlet17may allow the air to be easily introduced therethrough from the drum130provided in the central portion of the main body110. This result may be because the top surface and the bottom surface of the flow path switching unit200are 180° reversed such that the second inlet17moves from the first position to the position of the first inlet15.

More specifically, referring toFIG.8, with respect to the first position, the flow path guide20may extend from the front of the (left) first side surface13to the back of the (right) second side surface14, in which the second inlet17may be formed on the (right) second side surface14and the first inlet15may be formed on the (left) first side surface13. With this structure, the second inlet17may be formed on the opposite side of the first inlet15. When the first inlet15is formed on the (right) second side surface14, the second inlet17may be formed on the (left) first side surface13.

In the flow path in which the air introduced through the first inlet15flows through the outlet16, a surface of the flow path guide20may be used. On the other hand, the air introduced through the second inlet17may flow along the other surface of the flow path guide20.

The separating wall18may be provided to protrude from the back to the front from the flow path guide20. The separating wall18may divide the front surface of the body portion10into the first region A through which the outside air is introduced and the second region B through which the outside air is discharged.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the separating wall18may be formed at the center of the opposite first side surface13and second side surface14of the body portion10. The separating wall18may be formed at the center of the opposite first side surface13and second side surface14such that the first region A and the second region B may have substantially the same size and a flow rate of the outside air introduced and a flow rate of the outside air discharged may be made similar to each other, facilitating a flow of the air.

As shown inFIG.10, when the body portion10is at the second position, the right side of the separating wall18may form the first region A into which the outside air is introduced and the left side of the separating wall18may form the second region B from which the outside air is discharged.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an area of the second region B may be greater than that of the second inlet17. As the area of the second region B is greater than that of the second inlet17, the air introduced from the drum130through the second inlet17may be smoothly discharged to outside through the second region B.

The opening19may be provided to be opened and closed in the flow path guide20corresponding to the first region A. As shown inFIG.7,FIG.8,FIG.9, andFIG.10, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the opening19may be formed as a hole cut in an approximately comb teeth shape. The opening19formed obliquely in the comb teeth shape in this way may provide the effect of primarily filtering out a foreign substance included in the outside air. However, the shape of the opening19is not limited thereto, and the opening19may have a size and a shape that are sufficient for the introduction of the air into the body portion10. For example, the opening19may have a shape in which a plurality of circular through-holes are formed in the flow path guide20or bars arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions are arranged in a grid.

The second flow path may be formed such that the outside air is introduced to the body portion10through the opening19, is introduced back to the body portion10through the second inlet17via the heat exchanger170and the drum130, and then is discharged through the second region B.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an area of the opening19may be less than that of the outlet16. As the area of the outlet16is greater than that of the opening19, the outside air introduced through the opening19may be smoothly discharged to the heat exchanger170through the outlet16.

As shown inFIG.9, when the flow path guide20extends roundly from the front of the (right) second side surface14to the back of the (left) first side surface13at the first position, the first inlet15may be formed on the right side surface14of the body portion10, the outlet16may be formed on the back surface of the body portion10, and the second inlet17may be formed on the left side surface13of the body portion10. In an example where the first position is in the state shown inFIG.9, the flow path switching unit200may enter a state shown inFIG.12upon switching to the second position. Referring toFIG.12, when the body portion10is at the second position, the first region A may be a left region on the front surface of the body portion10divided by the separating wall18and the second region B may be a right region on the front surface of the body portion10. According toFIG.9, the end of the flow path guide20may be coupled to the front of the (right) second side surface14of the body portion10and the other end may be coupled to the back of the (left) first side surface13of the body portion10, but the other end of the flow path guide20may be coupled to the corner at which the (left) first side surface13of the body portion10meets the back surface or to the back surface of the body portion10adjacent to the corner.

FIG.13is a perspective view of a flow path switching unit at a second position, andFIG.14is a perspective view of a state where an opening and closing unit is opened at the second position inFIG.13.FIG.15is an exploded perspective view viewed from a back of a flow path switching unit toward a front thereof, andFIG.16is a plane view ofFIG.11.

As shown inFIG.13, an opening and closing unit30for opening and closing the front of the body portion10may be coupled to the flow path switching unit200for the dryer100according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The opening and closing unit30may open or close the first region A and the second region B divided by the separating wall18. When the body portion10is provided in the drying mode in a state of being at the first position, the opening and closing unit30may maintain a state of closing the front of the body portion10. When the body portion10is provided in the dehumidifying mode in a state of being at the second position, the opening and closing unit30may maintain a state of opening the front of the body portion10.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, as shown inFIG.14, the opening and closing unit30may be opened by pivoting with respect to a hinge81provided in opposite lower ends in a state where the body portion10is at the second position. That is, the opening and closing unit30may be structured to open the first region A and the second region B as a lower end pivots by pulling an upper side of the opening and closing unit30forward in the state of being at the second position. In the front cover22may be formed a receiving portion23into which the separating wall18is received by being inserted. When the front cover22is coupled to the body portion10, the separating wall18may be stably positioned by being inserted into the receiving portion23.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an airtight member40for sealing the opening19may be coupled to the opening and closing unit30. The airtight member40may be connected to the opening and closing unit30to open the opening19when the opening and closing unit30opens the front of the body portion10. The opening and closing unit30and the airtight member40may be fixed by a connection bar41formed integrally. In the airtight member40may be formed a protrusion42inserted into the opening19when the opening and closing unit30closes the opening19.

The airtight member40may be formed to have a size corresponding to the opening19. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, as the opening19is formed in an approximately rectangular shape, the airtight member40may be formed in a rectangular shape to block the opening19. When the shape of the opening19is changed, the shape of the airtight member40may also be changed.

The airtight member40may have a curved surface corresponding to a curved surface of the flow path guide20. When the airtight member40closes the opening19, the airtight member40may form a first flow path together with the flow path guide20. Thus, an outer surface of the airtight member40may be formed to form one curved surface by extending a curved surface of the flow path guide20.

Referring toFIG.15, a sealing member50may be coupled in a circumferential direction of the airtight member40. As the sealing member50is coupled in the circumferential direction of the airtight member40, the sealing member50may effectively preventing leakage of air by integrally sealing a circumferential surface of the opening19. That is, when the body portion10is provided in the drying mode at the first position, the airtight member40may maintain a state of sealing the opening19. When the air flows to the heat exchanger170from the drum130along the flow path guide20, surface sealing may be performed in the circumferential direction of the airtight member40to effectively prevent leakage of the air through the opening19. The sealing member50may include a rubber or silicon material, etc. A material of the sealing member50may not be limited thereto, and various materials may be selected.

Referring toFIG.10,FIG.11,FIG.12,FIG.13,FIG.14, andFIG.15, the flow path switching unit200for the dryer100according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a guide grill60.

The guide grill60may be provided in the second region B to guide air discharged to outside through the second region B. The guide grill60may guide the air discharged through the second region B in a direction away from the separating wall18. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the guide grill60may be provided in an oblique shape in the outlet port25of the front cover22.

As shown inFIG.16, the guide grill60may be provided in a way that band-shaped members with a certain width are separated from each other, and the air may flow between the band-shaped members. A front end of the guide grill60may be formed inclinedly in a direction away from the separating wall18toward the front of the body portion10. That is, a front end61may be more spaced apart from the separating wall18than a back end62with respect to a width of the guide grill60. As the air discharged along the guide grill60is discharged in a direction away from the separating wall18, it is possible to prevent the air discharged through the second region B from being re-introduced to the first region A and minimize interference with the outside air introduced through the first region A.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the guide grill60may be disposed inclinedly in a direction away from the separating wall18toward a lower end of the guide grill60from an upper end thereof in a vertical longitudinal direction. As the guide grill60is formed inclinedly such that the lower end thereof is away from the separating wall18, the air passing through the guide grill60may be discharged effectively away from the separating wall18.

The flow path switching unit200for the dryer100according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a filter member70.

The filter member70may be coupled to the back of the body portion10to filter out a foreign substance included in the flowing air. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the filter member70may be attachably and detachably coupled to the outlet16. The filter member70may be formed to have a shape and a size corresponding to the outlet16.

The filter member70may filter out a foreign substance included in the air circulating inside the main body110when the dryer100operates in the drying mode as the body portion10is at the first position. In the drying mode, as the air introduced through the first inlet15exits through the outlet16, the foreign substance included in the air circulating inside the main body110may be filtered out by the filter member70. In the dehumidifying mode, as the outside air introduced through the opening19exits through the outlet16, the foreign substance included in the outside air may be filtered out by the filter member70.

The flow path switching unit200for the dryer100according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a handle80.

The handle80may be provided to separate the body portion10from the main body110and rotate the body portion10from the first position to the second position. The handle80may be formed in a front lower side of the body portion10in the state where the body portion10is at the first position. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the front of the body portion10may include a fixing unit90for engaging the flow path switching unit200to the mounting portion150, and the handle80may be provided in the fixing unit90.

As such, when the body portion10is at the first position, a user may separate the body portion10from the main body110by using the handle80. Then, the body portion10may be 180° rotated such that a top surface and a bottom surface thereof are reversed. In a state where the position of the body portion10is changed to the second position, the body portion10may be engaged to the main body110.

To execute the dehumidifying mode at the second position, the opening19may be opened to guide introduction of the outside air. When lower ends of opposite sides of the opening and closing unit30pivot by the hinge81at the second position and the upper side of the opening and closing unit30is pulled down to open the opening19, the handle80is position-changed in a state of being in an upper side, such that the opening and closing unit30, when opened, may not interfere with the handle80.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, opposite ends of the handle80may be formed to protrude on opposite side surfaces of the body portion10. The shape of the handle80is not limited thereto, and the position and shape of the handle80may be changed variously so as not to interfere with the opening and closing unit30when the opening and closing unit30is opened.

As such, the flow path switching unit200for the dryer100according to an embodiment of the disclosure may provide the drying mode and the dehumidifying mode by using one unit, thereby improving user convenience. When a separating unit is used for each mode, a unit not in use has to be kept separately and is likely to be lost. Moreover, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, as functions in the drying mode and in the dehumidifying mode are achieved by one unit, cost may be reduced when compared to manufacturing of a separate unit for each mode.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dryer100including the flow path switching unit200therefor may be provided.

The dryer100is a device for drying a drying material and may provide the drying mode and the dehumidifying mode. The drying mode may be a mode for drying a drying material, and the dehumidifying mode may be a mode for dehumidifying the air outside the dryer.

The dryer100according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include the main body110. The main body110may be formed in an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape including the front surface101, the back surface102, the top surface103, the bottom surface104, and the side surface105.

The dryer100may include the drum130accommodating a drying material. The drum130may have an opened side into which the drying material is put. In the main body110, an entrance106communicating with the drum130may be formed and a door120for opening and closing the entrance106may be provided.

The drum130may be accommodated and mounted in the main body110that forms an exterior of the dryer100. A manipulation unit111may be provided in an upper portion of the front surface101of the main body110to allow a user to perform a function of the dryer100. In the manipulation unit111, a rotation-type input unit11afor selecting the function of the dryer100, a display unit11bfor displaying a selection function and a mode state of the dryer100according to input of the rotation-type input unit11a, a touch input unit11cfor allowing the user to select a mode by being pressed, etc., may be provided. However, a configuration of the manipulation unit111is not limited thereto and may be implemented in various manners.

Referring toFIG.2, the dryer100may include a heat exchanger170that provides hot air to the drum130. The heat exchanger170may be disposed under the drum130, and may be installed on a base140provided on the bottom surface104of the main body110. As shown inFIG.3, a fan161installed on the base140may move the air of the drum130to a flow path switching unit200, and the heat exchanger170may be provided at a back end of the flow path switching unit200. The cover141may be coupled to an upper portion of the base140to form a duct structure that allows air to pass through the flow path switching unit200and the heat exchanger170.

The heat exchanger170may be disposed under the drum130, and may be installed on a base140provided on the bottom surface104of the main body110. The heat exchanger170may be provided to supply hot air toward the drum130and may be a component constituting a refrigerant cycle.

The refrigerant cycle may include the heat exchanger170, a compressor180, and an expansion device190. The heat exchanger170may be provided to exchange air with heat and may include an evaporator171and a condenser172. The refrigerant may circulate through a series of processes including compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation. A detailed description of the heat exchanger170, the compressor180, and the expansion device190has been provided in the description of the flow path switching unit200for the dryer100and thus will be omitted at this time.

In the dryer100according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the flow path switching unit200may be attachably and detachably coupled to the main body110to provide the first flow path for the drying mode at the first position and the second flow path for the dehumidifying mode at the second position. Referring toFIG.1, the flow path switching unit200according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be attachably and detachably mounted in a right lower portion of the front surface when the main body110is viewed from the front surface. The installation position of the flow path switching unit200for the dryer100may not be limited thereto and may be changed to the left side of the front surface as described above.

The first flow path may be a flow path for providing air from the drum130to the heat exchanger170when the air inside the main body110circulates by sequentially flowing to the drum130, the flow path switching unit200, and the heat exchanger170. The second flow path may be a flow path for introducing the outside air to the heat exchanger170and discharging the air from the drum130outside when the outside air is introduced through the flow path switching unit200, passes through the heat exchanger170and the drum130, and then is introduced back to the flow path switching unit200and discharged to outside. The flow path switching unit200may provide the first flow path at the first position and provide the second flow path at the second position where the top surface and the bottom surface are reversed from the first position.

The dryer100according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include the flow path switching unit200for the dryer100described above, thereby providing a structure, operations, and effects of the flow path switching unit200for the dryer100, such that a redundant description of the flow path switching unit200for the dryer100will be omitted.

To understand the disclosure, reference numerals have been given in embodiments of the disclosure shown in the drawings, and specific terms are used to describe the embodiments of the disclosure, but the disclosure is not limited by the specific terms, and the disclosure may include all the components that are normally thought by those of ordinary skill in the art.

Certain executions described here are embodiments of the disclosure, not limiting the scope of the disclosure in any way. For the brevity of the specification, the description of conventional electronic configurations, control systems, software, and other functional aspects of the systems may be omitted. Connections of lines or connection members between components shown in the drawings are illustrative of functional connections and/or physical or circuit connections, and in practice, may be represented as alternative or additional various functional connections, physical connections, or circuit connections. In addition, when there is no specific mentioning, such as “essential” or “important”, it may not be a necessary component for the application of the disclosure. An expression such as “comprising”, “including”, etc., used herein has been used to be understood as terms of an open end of the description.

In the specification (especially, claims) of the disclosure, the use of the term “the” and similar indicators thereof may correspond to both the singular and the plural. In addition, when the range is described in the disclosure, the range includes the disclosure to which an individual value falling within the range is applied (unless stated otherwise), and is the same as the description of an individual value constituting the range in the detailed description of the disclosure. Finally, when there is no apparent description of the order of operations constituting the method according to the disclosure or a contrary description thereof, the operations may be performed in an appropriate order. However, the disclosure is not necessarily limited according to the describing order of the operations. The use of all examples or exemplary terms (for example, etc.) in the disclosure are to simply describe the disclosure in detail, and unless the range of the disclosure is not limited by the examples or the exemplary terms unless limited by the claims. In addition, it would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and changes may be easily made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

A flow path switching unit for a dryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure may use a flow path switching unit that provides a bidirectional flow path for a drying mode and a dehumidifying mode to allow a user to use the drying mode or the dehumidifying mode depending on a use purpose with a single flow path switching unit, thereby improving user convenience, eliminating concerns about storage and loss, and reducing a cost such as a material cost, etc.

The flow path switching unit for a dryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be coupled to the dryer, which receives a drying material in a drum and dries the drying material by heat of a heat exchange, to dehumidify outside air.

The flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a body portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, and opposite side surfaces.

The flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a flow path guide guiding air by dividing an internal space of the body portion and forming a first flow path for drying the drying material or a second flow path for dehumidifying outside air.

The body portion may provide the first flow path for guiding the air from the drum toward the heat exchanger at a first position.

The body portion may provide the second flow path for introducing outside air which is then dehumidified through the drum, and introducing the dehumidified air from the drum to discharge the air outside, at a second position where the top surface and the bottom surface are 180° rotated such that positions of the top surface and the bottom surface are reversed from the first position.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the flow path guide may extend from the front of any one of the opposite side surfaces to the back of the other of the opposite side surfaces.

The flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include, in a state where the body portion is at the first position, a first inlet formed on the side surface through which air is introduced from the drum and an outlet formed on a back of the body portion.

The first flow path of the flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be formed to allow the air to flow from the first inlet to the outlet.

The flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include, in a state where the body portion is at the second position, a second inlet formed on the other side surface through which the air is introduced from the drum, a separating wall protruding forward from the flow path guide for division into a first region through which the outside air is introduced and a second region through which the outside air is discharged, and an opening provided to be opened and closed in the flow path guide corresponding to the first region.

The second flow path of the flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be formed such that the outside air introduced through the opening is introduced through the second inlet after passing through the drum and then is discharged through the second region.

An opening and closing unit for opening and closing a front of the body portion may be coupled to the body portion according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

An airtight member for sealing the opening may be coupled to the opening and closing unit of the flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

In the flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the airtight member may open the opening when the opening and closing unit opens the front.

The airtight member of the flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be formed to have a size corresponding to the opening, and a sealing member may be coupled in a circumferential direction of the airtight member.

In the flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure, a guide grill guiding air discharged to outside may be formed in the second region.

In the flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the guide grill guiding air discharged to outside may be formed in the second region.

The guide grill may introduce the discharged air in a direction away from the separating wall.

In the flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure, in the state where the body portion is at the first position, an air dispersion rib may be formed to protrude toward the outlet in the flow path guide.

In the flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure, in the state where the body portion is at the second position, the opening and closing unit may be opened by pivoting with respect to a hinge in opposite lower ends thereof.

A distance between opposite side surfaces of the body portion of the flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be greater than a distance between the front and the back of the body portion.

The separating wall of the flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be formed in a center of the opposite side surfaces.

An area of the outlet of the flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be greater than an area of the first inlet and an area of the outlet.

An area of the second region of the flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be greater than an area of the second outlet.

In the flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure, a filter member for filtering out a foreign substance may be coupled to the back of the body portion.

In the flow path switching unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure, a handle for rotating the body portion from the first position to the second position may be provided.

The handle may be formed in a front lower side of the body portion in the state where the body portion is at the first position.

A dryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include the flow path switching unit for the dryer.

While example embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described, the scope of the disclosure is not limited to the description and also includes various modifications and improvements made by those of ordinary skill in the art using the concept of the disclosure defined in the appended claims.