Patent Publication Number: US-9903608-B2

Title: Apparatus for opening and closing discharge port and air conditioner having the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0002547, filed on Jan. 8, 2014 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus for opening and closing a discharge port, and an air conditioner having the same. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     An air conditioner is an apparatus configured to maintain a temperature of indoor air in a comfortable manner by use of a freezing cycle for suitable activities of a human being. A conventional air conditioner is capable of cooling or heating the air at the surroundings of a heat exchanger according to phase changes of a refrigerant that flows at an inside of the heat exchanger, and accordingly, by discharging the cooled or heated air to an indoor space, is also capable of properly maintaining the temperature of the indoor space. 
     The air conditioner as such is provided with a freezing cycle during which a refrigerant is configured to flow in a forward or backward direction through a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. The compressor is configured to provide a refrigerant in a state of gas at a high temperature and a high pressure, while the condenser is configured to provide a refrigerant in a state of liquid at a room temperature and a high pressure. The expansion valve is configured to decompress the refrigerant in a state of liquid at a room temperature and a high pressure, and the evaporator is configured to evaporate the decompressed refrigerant into a state of gas at a low temperature. 
     The air conditioner may be divided into a separate type air conditioner provided with an outdoor unit separately provided from an indoor unit, and an integrated type air conditioner provided with an outdoor unit integrally provided with an indoor unit. In a case of the separate type air conditioner provided with an outdoor unit separately provided from an indoor unit, in general, the compressor and the condenser, that is, an outdoor heat exchanger, are provided at the outdoor unit, while the evaporator, that is, an indoor heat exchanger, is provided at the indoor unit. A refrigerant may be able to flow through the outdoor unit and the indoor unit in a circulated manner through pipes connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. 
     A discharge port is provided at a front surface of the indoor unit, and the air having been subjected to heat exchange by the phase change of refrigerant may be discharged to an indoor space though the discharge port. 
     SUMMARY 
     Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide an apparatus for opening and closing a discharge port having the width of an opening of the discharge port thereof varied as a plurality of covers configured to cover the discharge port are sequentially moved, and an air conditioner having the same. 
     Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for opening and closing a discharge port having a circular shape and discharging air, the apparatus includes a plurality of covers. The plurality of covers may be configured to move in a radial direction of the discharge port while covering at least a portion of the discharge port. A width of an opening of the discharge port may be varied as the plurality of covers are sequentially moved. 
     The apparatus may further include a first group of a plurality of covers configured to simultaneously move in a radial direction of the discharge port. 
     The plurality of covers belonging to the first group may be symmetrically positioned to each other with respect to a center of the discharge port. 
     The apparatus may further include a second group of a plurality of covers configured to simultaneously move in a radial direction of the discharge port. The width of the opening of the discharge port may be varied as the second group of covers is moved sequentially after the first group of covers is moved. 
     The cover may at least partially overlap other covers adjacent to the cover. 
     At the time when at least one of the plurality of covers is moved in the radial direction of the discharge port, the distance in between the discharge port and the at least one cover may become closer or farther. 
     The apparatus may further include a motor configured to provide a driving force such that the plurality of covers are moved. 
     The apparatus may further include a gear part configured to change the speed of the motor. 
     The apparatus may further include a guide plate configured to move the cover as the guide plate is rotated by receiving a rotational force of the motor. 
     A plurality of guide holes corresponding to the plurality of covers, respectively, may be formed at the guide plate, and a guide part passing through the guide hole may be formed at the cover. 
     At least one of the guide holes may include a first section extended along an arc concentric to the discharge port, and a second section extended from the first section toward a center of the arc. If the guide part is positioned within the first section when the guide plate is rotated, the cover is not moved, and if the guide part is positioned within the second section when the guide plate is rotated, the cover is moved. 
     The apparatus may further include a rail plate at which a plurality of rails corresponding to the plurality of covers, respectively, are formed to support the guide part of the cover. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, an air conditioner including a discharge port having a circular shape and discharging air and a plurality of covers to cover the discharge port is provided. Each of the plurality of covers may be configured to cover a certain region of the discharge port, at least two of the plurality of covers move from a first position capable of covering a region corresponding to the discharge port to a second position capable of opening the region corresponding to the discharge port, and at the time of when a first cover of the moving covers is moved from the first position to the second position, a second cover of the moving covers may be controlled not to be moved. 
     The first cover may be configured to move in a radial direction of the discharge port. 
     The first cover may start to move from the first position to the second position, and sequentially the second cover starts to move. 
     Each of the plurality of covers may be able to move from the first position to the second position. 
     The air conditioner may further include a first group of a plurality of covers that are simultaneously moved. 
     The plurality of covers belonging to the first group may be symmetrically positioned to each other with respect to a center of the discharge port. 
     Each of the plurality of covers may move in a radial direction of the discharge port. 
     When the first cover moves in a radial direction of the discharge port, a distance in between the discharge port and the first cover may be farther or closer. 
     A distance in between the discharge port and the first cover when the first cover is at the second position may be closer than a distance in between the discharge port and the first cover when the first cover is at the first position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, an air conditioner including a discharge port having a circular shape and discharging air and a plurality of covers to cover the discharge port is provided. Each of the plurality of covers may be provided with a first position capable of covering a region corresponding to the discharge port and a second position capable of entirely opening the region corresponding to the discharge port, and an overlapping area of adjacent covers of the plurality of covers when all the covers are placed at the second position is larger than an overlapping area of the adjacent covers of the plurality of covers when all the covers are placed at the first position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a drawing illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a drawing illustrating an indoor unit of the air conditioner in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a drawing illustrating a state when a front surface panel of the indoor unit is separated in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of the indoor unit in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a portion of the indoor unit in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a discharge port opening and closing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a drawing illustrating a bottom surface of a cover of the discharge port opening and closing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a drawing illustrating a moving path of a guide part of the discharge port opening and closing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9A  is a drawing illustrating a discharge port closed by the discharge port opening and closing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9B  is a drawing illustrating a discharge port open by the discharge port opening and closing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a drawing illustrating a discharge port partially open by the discharge port opening and closing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
       FIG. 1  is a drawing illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an air conditioner in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure includes an indoor unit  1  and an outdoor unit  2 . The indoor unit  1  and the outdoor unit  2  may be connected to each other by use of a refrigerant pipe  3 . 
     The refrigerant pipe  3  may include a first refrigerant pipe  31  and a second refrigerant pipe  32 . The refrigerant that is condensed at the outdoor unit  2  may be moved to the indoor unit  1  through the first refrigerant pipe  31 . The refrigerant that is heat-exchanged with respect to an indoor air at the indoor unit  1  may be moved to the outdoor unit  2  through the refrigerant pipe  32 . As the above, the refrigerant may circulate within a refrigerant pipe (not shown) provided at the indoor unit  1  and a refrigerant pipe (not shown) provided at the outdoor unit  2  through the refrigerant pipe  3 . 
     The indoor unit  1  may be able to maintain a temperature of an indoor space by discharging the air that is heat-exchanged with respect to the refrigerant while the refrigerant is compressed and condensed at the outdoor unit  2 . The indoor unit  1  may include an expansion valve and an evaporator. As the air, which is cooled by the refrigerant that is evaporated at the evaporator, is discharged into an indoor space, the air at the indoor space may be cooled. A fan assembly  4  (see  FIG. 5 ) may be provided at the indoor unit  1  so that the air cooled by the refrigerant may be easily discharged into the indoor space. An apparatus for opening and closing a discharge port  5  may be provided at a front of the fan assembly  4 . 
     The outdoor unit  2  may include a compressor, a condenser, and a blower fan  20 . An air inlet port through which an outside air may be introduced or discharged may be formed at one side of the outdoor unit  2 . The compressor is configured to compress a refrigerant, and the compressed refrigerant is introduced to the condenser and then condensed. At this time, the blower fan  20  is driven, and the outside air that is introduced through the air inlet port may be able to cool the heat that is generated from the condenser. 
       FIG. 2  is a drawing illustrating the indoor unit of the air conditioner in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 3  is a drawing illustrating a state when a front surface panel of the indoor unit is separated in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of the indoor unit in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a portion of the indoor unit in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the discharge port opening and closing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 7  is a drawing illustrating a lower surface of a cover of the discharge port opening and closing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 7 , the indoor unit  1  in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a housing  110  forming an exterior appearance of the indoor unit  1 , the discharge port opening and closing apparatus  5  disposed in the housing  110 , the fan assembly  4  provided at a rear of the discharge port opening and closing apparatus  5 , at least one heat exchanger  130  disposed at a rear of the fan assembly  4 , and an inlet port  140  provided at a rear of the housing  110 . 
     At least one heat exchanger  130  may be provided at an inside the indoor unit  1 . The heat exchanger  130  may be disposed in between the fan assembly  4  and a rear surface panel  114 . The heat exchanger  130  may be installed at an inside the indoor unit  1  by use of a fixing bracket  160 . The heat exchanger  130  may be able to absorb heat from air that is introduced through the inlet port  140  or deliver heat to the air that is introduced through the inlet port  140 . 
     The heat exchanger  130  may include a tube  132 , a header  134 , and a plurality of heat exchanging fins (not shown). The header  134  is connected to one side or to end portions of the both sides of the tube  132 . A refrigerant pipe that is connected to the refrigerant pipe of the outdoor unit  2  is connected to the header  134 , and may be able to introduce/discharge refrigerant to/from the tube  132 . The plurality of heat exchanging fins is mounted at the tube  132 , and may be able to enhance the heat exchanging efficiency of the heat exchanger  130 . 
     The housing  110  includes a front surface panel  112  and the rear surface panel  114 . A discharge port  112   a  is formed at the front surface panel  112 . The discharge port  112   a  may be formed in the shape of a circle. The air that is introduced through the fan assembly  4  may be discharged through the discharge port  112   a . The rear surface panel  114  is coupled to a rear of the front surface panel  112  to form a rear surface of the indoor unit. A plurality of inlet ports  140  may be provided at the rear surface panel  114 . 
     The fan assembly  4  may be positioned at a rear of the front surface panel  112 . The fan assembly  4  is disposed at a front of the heat exchanger  130 , and is configured to discharge the air that is heat-exchanged at the heat exchanger  130  through the discharge port  112   a.    
     The fan assembly  4  includes a fan  40 , a motor cover  41 , and a motor  42 . The fan  40  may be a mixed flow fan that is rotatable by the motor  42 . 
     The fan  40  may be provided with an accommodating space  400  allowing the motor cover  41  to be inserted thereinto. The motor cover  41  may be provided with a motor accommodating part  410  allowing the motor  4  to be inserted thereinto. The motor accommodating part  410  may be provided in a way to have a space that is protruded toward a rear. The motor  42  is accommodated at the motor accommodating part  410 . The motor cover  41  may be interposed in between the motor  42  and the fan  40 . A space surrounding the motor accommodating part  410  may be provided at one side of the fan  40 . 
     A shaft  420  configured to rotate by being delivered with a driving force from the motor  42  is provided at one side of the motor  42 , and the fan  40  may be mounted at the shaft  420  as the shaft  420  is penetrated through the motor cover  41 . Accordingly, the fan  40  may rotate by receiving a driving force from the motor  42 . The shaft  420  provided at the motor  42  may be disposed in a way to face the rear surface panel  114 . 
     A gear part  422  configured to tooth-couple with respect to a guide plate  51  included in the discharge port opening and closing apparatus  5  may be formed at the other side of the motor  42 . As the motor  42  is rotated, the guide plate  51  may be able to be rotated by the driving force of the motor  42 . 
     The air that is introduced into an inside the indoor unit  1  through the inlet port  140  by use of the fan assembly  4  may be discharged through the discharge port  112   a  formed at the front surface panel  112 . The discharge port  112   a  may be open/closed by the discharge port opening and closing apparatus  5 . 
     The discharge port opening and closing apparatus  5  may include a diffuser assembly  50 , the guide plate  51 , and a motor  42 ′ configured to provide a driving force to a plurality of covers  52  and the guide plate  51 . A rail plate  503  may be provided at one side of the diffuser assembly  50 . The guide plate  51  is provided at a front of the diffuser assembly  50 . The plurality of covers  52  may be provided at a front of the guide plate  51  in a way to be moved in a radial direction of the guide plate  51 . A discharge port cover  53  may be provided at a front of the guide plate  51 . By use of the discharge port cover  53 , the ring-shape of the discharge port  112   a  corresponding to a discharge port  500 , which is to be described later, provided at the diffuser assembly  50  may be selectively exposed, while the discharge port  112   a  is formed at the front surface panel  112  of the indoor unit  1 . Hereinafter, the discharge port is referred to as the discharge port  500  provided at the diffuser assembly  50 . 
     The diffuser assembly  50  may be disposed at a front of the fan assembly  4 . The diffuser assembly  50  includes the discharge port  500  having the shape of a ring and a discharge guide part  501  having the shape of a circle while formed along the circumference of the discharge port  500 . A plurality of guide vanes  502  configured to guide the flow of the air that is being discharged through the discharge port  500  may be provided at the discharge port  500 . The guide vanes  502  may be formed in a way to radially intersect an inner side of the discharge guide part  501 . 
     The diffuser assembly  50  may be provided in a way to be exposed through the discharge port  112   a  that is provided at the front surface panel  112 . The diffuser assembly  50  is configured in a way to have the air discharged to a front of the front surface panel  112  through the discharge port  112   a  that is formed at the front surface panel  112 , as the air is passed through the fan assembly  4 . 
     The discharge port  500  formed at the diffuser assembly  50  may be open/closed by the discharge port opening and closing apparatus  5 . The discharge port opening and closing apparatus  5  includes the rail plate  503 , the guide plate  51 , and the cover  52 . 
     The cover  52  may be able to open/close the discharge port  500  by moving in a radial direction of the rail plate  503 . The cover  52  may include a plurality of covers. In the present disclosure, while an example of having the total of four covers  521 ,  522 ,  523 , and  524  is illustrated, the number of the covers may be sufficient with two units of the covers or with greater than two units of the covers, and the total number of units of the covers is not needed to be an even number. In addition, in the present disclosure, while a description of an example is provided that the left, right, upper, and lower areas of the discharge port is divided into four areas by the each of the four covers, the size of the each cover may be different to each other, and also the each of the covers may be provided in a way to cover a random area of the discharge port instead of the left, right, upper, and lower areas of the discharge port. 
     A first cover  521  and a third cover  523  each is provided with an approximately identical shape with respect to each other, and are symmetrically positioned with one another with respect to a center of the discharge port  500 . Step portions  521   a ,  521   b ,  523   a , and  523   b  are formed at both end portions of each of the first cover  521  and the third cover  523 . The step portions  521   a ,  521   b ,  523   a , and  523   b  are placed on mounting portions  522   a ,  522   b ,  524   a , and  524   b  formed at both end portions of a second cover  522  and a fourth cover  524 , both of which are to be described later, thereby defining a region overlapped in between adjacent covers in a state of when the discharge port  500  is covered by the covers  521 ,  522 ,  523 , and  524 . 
     The second cover  522  and the fourth cover  524  positioned at both sides of the first cover  521  and the third cover  523  each is provided with an approximately identical shape with respect to each other. The mounting portions  522   a ,  522   b ,  524   a , and  524   b  are formed at both end portions of the second cover  522  and the fourth cover  524 . At the mounting portions  522   a ,  522   b ,  524   a , and  524   b , the step portions  521   a ,  521   b ,  523   a , and  523   b  of the first cover  521  and the third cover  523 , which are described above, are mounted in a state of when the discharge port  500  is covered by the covers  521 ,  522 ,  523 , and  524 . When the cover  52  is positioned at a front side of the indoor unit  1 , the step portions  521   a ,  521   b ,  523   a  and  523   b  are positioned at a front of the mounting portions  522   a ,  522   b ,  524   a  and  524   b.    
     Thus, in a state of when the discharge port  500  is covered by the cover  52 , front surfaces of the first cover  521 , the second cover  522 , the third cover  523 , and the fourth cover  524  form a smooth surface without being disconnected. 
     Guide parts  525 ,  526 ,  527 , and  528  may be provided at a rear surface of the cover  52 . The guide parts  525 ,  526 ,  527 , and  528  include the first guide part  525 , the second guide part  526 , the third guide part  527 , and the fourth guide part  528  that are formed at central portions of each of the covers  521 ,  522 ,  523 , and  524 , respectively. Each of the first guide part  525 , the second guide part  526 , the third guide part  527 , and the fourth guide part  528  is protruded toward the discharge port  500  from the central portion of each of the covers  521 ,  522 ,  523 , and  524 , and is configured to penetrate through guide holes  511 ,  512 ,  513 , and  514 , respectively, provided at the guide plate  51 , details of which are to be described later. 
     A supporting part  529  configured to penetrate through the guide holes  511 ,  512 ,  513 , and  514 , respectively, may be mounted at the cover  52 . The supporting part  529  may include a first supporting part  529   a  and a second supporting part  529   b . The second supporting part  529   b  may be provided in a protruded manner from the first supporting part  529   a . A groove is formed at each of the guide parts  525 ,  526 ,  527 , and  528 , and the second supporting part  529   b  may be inserted into the grooves after passing through rail holes  504   a ,  504   b ,  504   c , and  504   d  and through the guide holes  511 ,  512 ,  513 , and  514 . The first supporting part  529   a  may be positioned at a rear of the rail plate  504 . 
     The guide plate  51  may be positioned at a rear of the cover  52 . The first guide hole  511 , the second guide hole  512 , the third guide hole  513 , and the fourth guide hole  514  may be formed at the guide plate  51 . The guide holes  511 ,  512 ,  513 , and  514  may be extended from an external diameter of the guide plate  51  toward a central side of the guide plate  51 . The guide holes  511 ,  512 ,  513 , and  514  may be extended in the shape of a spiral. 
     The first guide part  525 , the second guide part  526 , the third guide part  527 , and the fourth guide part  528  are configured to penetrate through the first guide hole  511 , the second guide hole  512 , the third guide hole  513 , and the fourth guide hole  514 , respectively. 
     A connecting hole  517  may be formed at a central portion of the guide plate  51 . A teeth part  518  may be formed at an inner side surface of the guide plate  51  forming the connecting hole  517 . The gear part  422  is provided at one side of the motor  42 ′ and is inserted into the connecting hole  517 . The gear part  422  may be tooth-coupled into the teeth part  518  formed at the inner side surface of the guide plate  51 . As the gear part  422  provided at the motor  42 ′ and the teeth part  518  formed at the inner side surface of the guide plate  51  are tooth-coupled with respect to each other, the driving force of the motor  42 ′ may be delivered to the guide plate  51 . The guide plate  51  may be rotated in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction by the driving force of the motor  42 ′. A rotational speed of the motor  42 ′ may be delivered to the guide plate  51  as the rotational speed of the motor  42 ′ is varied by the gear ratio of the gear part  422  and the teeth part  518 . 
     The first guide hole  511  and the third guide hole  513  each may be formed in the shape of a spiral hole that is extended from an outer circumferential end of the guide plate  51  toward a central portion of the guide plate  51 . In a case when the guide plate  51  is rotated in a clockwise direction by being delivered with a driving force from the motor  42 ′, a force is applied to the first guide part  525  and the third guide part  527  penetrating the first guide hole  511  and the third guide hole  513 , respectively, and thus the first cover  521  and the third cover  523  are moved. 
     The rail plate  503  may be disposed at a central portion of the diffuser assembly  50 . The discharge port  500  may be positioned at an outer side of the rail plate  503 . A rail  504  extended in a radial direction of the rail plate  503  may be provided at the rail plate  503 . The rail  504  may be able to guide radial movement of the cover  52 . 
     The number of the rails  504  may be provided in a way to correspond to the number of the covers  52 . The rail  504  is composed of a first rail  504   a , a second rail  504   b , a third rail  504   c , and a fourth rail  504   d  that are configured to guide movements of the guide parts  525 ,  526 ,  527 , and  528 , respectively. The first guide part  525  and the fourth guide part  528  are penetrated through the first guide hole  511  and the fourth guide hole  514 , respectively, and may be guided while inserted into the first rail  504   a  and the fourth rail  504   d , respectively. According to the above, as the guide plate  51  is rotated, a force is applied to the first guide part  525 , the second guide part  526 , the third guide part  527 , and the fourth guide part  528  by the guide holes  511 ,  512 ,  513 , and  514  of the guide plate, respectively, and as the guide parts  525 ,  526 ,  527 , and  528  are moved along the rails  504   a ,  504   b ,  504   c , and  504   d , and as a result, the covers  521 ,  522 ,  523 , and  524  may be moved in a reciprocating manner in a radial direction of the rail plate  503 . 
       FIG. 8  is a drawing illustrating a moving path of the guide part of the discharge port opening and closing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 9A  is a drawing illustrating the discharge port closed by the discharge port opening and closing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 9B  is a drawing illustrating the discharge port open by the discharge port opening and closing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8  to  FIG. 9B , the cover  52  of the discharge port opening and closing apparatus  5  in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure may be able to open/close the discharge port  500  as the guide plate  51  is rotated in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. 
     In a state when the discharge port  500  is closed as the cover  52  is positioned at an outer side of the guide plate  51 , when the guide plate  51  is rotated in a clockwise direction by the motor  42 ′, the cover  52  may be able to open the discharge port  500  by moving toward a central portion of the guide plate  51 . In a state when the discharge port  500  is closed by the cover  52 , a front surface of the cover  52  forms a smooth surface having no step difference. 
     In this case, the first cover  521  and the third cover  523  are moved toward a central portion of the guide plate  51  at the same time when the guide plate  51  is rotated. The first guide part  525  of the first cover  521  and the third guide part  527  of the third cover  523  are guided by the first rail  504   a  and the third rail  504   c , respectively, and may be moved toward a central portion of the guide plate  51 . 
     Even if the guide plate  51  is rotated, the second cover  522  is not moved as long as the second guide part  526  is positioned in a first section  512   a  of the second guide hole  512 . In a similar manner, the fourth cover  524  is not moved in a case when the fourth guide part  528  is positioned in a first section  514   a  of the fourth guide hole  514 . 
     In a case when the second guide part  526  is positioned in a second section  512   b  after passing through the first section  512   a  of the second guide hole  512  and when the guide plate  51  is rotated in a clockwise direction, the second cover  522  may be moved toward a central portion of the guide plate  51 . A curvature of the second section  512   b  is provided in a way to be greater than a curvature of the first guide hole  511  or the third guide hole  513 , and thus, at the second section  512   b , the second cover  522  may be moved toward a central side of the guide plate  51  faster than the first cover  521  or the third cover  523 . 
     In a case when the guide plate  51  is moved in a clockwise direction, the second cover  522  is stopped without moving in the first section  514   a  of the second guide hole  512 , and when a second section  514   b  is reached, the second cover  522  is moved toward a central side of the guide plate  51 . That is, the fourth cover  524 , after the first cover  521  or the third cover  523  is first moved toward a central side of the guide plate  51 , is then moved subsequently toward the guide plate  51  while having a certain time interval. 
     As the above, by having the fourth cover  524  moved while provided with a certain time interval with respect to the first cover  521  or the third cover  523 , both of which are adjacent to the fourth cover  524 , the discharge port  500  may be prevented from being interfered with respect to the first cover  521  or the third cover  523  at the time of when the discharge port  500  is open. 
     In a similar manner, in a case when the fourth guide part  528  is positioned in the second section  514   b  after passing through the first section  514   a  of the fourth guide hole  514  and when the guide plate  51  is rotated in a clockwise direction, the fourth cover  524  may be moved toward a central portion of the guide plate  51 . A curvature of the second section  514   b  is provided in a way to be greater than a curvature of the first guide hole  511  or the third guide hole  513 , and thus, at the second section  514   b , the fourth cover  524  may be moved toward a central side of the guide plate  51  faster than the first cover  521  or the third cover  523 . 
     In a case when the guide plate  51  is moved in a clockwise direction, the fourth cover  524  is stopped without moving in the first section  514   a  of the fourth guide hole  514 , and when the second section  514   b  is reached, the fourth cover  524  is moved toward a central side of the guide plate  51 . That is, the fourth cover  524 , after the first cover  521  or the third cover  523  is first moved toward a central side of the guide plate  51 , is then moved subsequently toward the guide plate  51  while having a certain time interval. 
     An inclination part  515  is provided at an outer side of the first guide hole  511 , and thus, as much as the first cover  521  is moved toward a central side of the guide plate  51  by the first guide hole  511 , the first cover  521  may be moved backward along the inclination part  515 . 
     In a similar manner, an inclination part  516  is provided at an outer side of the third guide hole  513 , and thus, as much as the third cover  523  is moved toward a central side of the guide plate  51  by the third guide hole  513 , the third cover  523  may be moved backward along the inclination part  516 . 
     Through the above, as the cover  52  is moved toward a central side of the guide plate  51 , the first cover  521 , the second cover  522 , the third cover  523 , and the fourth cover  524  may be spaced apart with respect to each other in forward/backward directions. Through the above, the first cover  521 , the second cover  522 , the third cover  523 , and the fourth cover  524  may be prevented from being interfered with respect to each other at the time of opening the discharge port  500 . 
     As the above, by having the fourth cover  524  moved while having a time interval with respect to the first cover  521  or the third cover  523  that are adjacent to the fourth cover  524 , the fourth cover  524  may be prevented from being interfered with respect to the first cover  521  or the third cover  523  at the time of an opening of the discharge port  500 . 
     As the guide plate  51  is rotated in a state of when the discharge port  500  is open, the cover  52  is moved toward an outer side of the guide plate  51 , and thus the discharge port  500  may be closed. 
     The first cover  521  and the third cover  523  may be moved toward a central side of the guide plate  51  at the same time of when the guide plate  51  is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction. The second cover  522  and the fourth cover  524  as well may be moved toward a central side of the guide plate  51  at the same time of when the guide plate  51  is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction. 
     The second section  512   b  of the second guide hole  512 , in which the second guide part  526  of the second cover  522  is moved, is provided with a curvature greater than a curvature of the first guide hole  511  or the third guide hole  513 , and thus, the second cover  522  may be moved at a faster speed than the first cover  521  or the third cover  523  toward an outer side of the guide plate  51 . 
     In a similar manner, the second section  514   b  of the fourth guide hole  514 , in which the fourth guide part  528  of the fourth cover  524  is moved, is provided with a curvature greater than a curvature of the first guide hole  511  or the third guide hole  513 , and thus, the fourth cover  524  may be moved at a faster speed than the first cover  521  or the third cover  523  toward an outer side of the guide plate  51 . 
     The second cover  522  and the fourth cover  524  are placed at positions capable of closing the discharge port  500  after the second guide part  526  and the fourth guide part  528  passed through the second sections  512   b  and  514   b . When the second guide part  526  and the fourth guide part  528  are reached at the first sections  512   a  and  514   a , even in a case when the guide plate  51  is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the second cover  522  and the fourth cover  524  are not moved. 
     The first cover  521  and the third cover  523  may be placed at positions capable of closing the discharge port  500  in a certain period of time after the second cover  522  and the fourth cover  524  close the discharge port  500 . As the above, by having the first cover  521  and the third cover  523  reached at the positions capable of closing the discharge port  500  in a certain period of time after the second cover  522  and the fourth cover  524  adjacent to the first cover  521  and the third cover  523  close the discharge port  500 , the first cover  521  and the third cover  523  may be prevented from being interfered by the second cover  522  and the fourth cover  524  at the time of closing the discharge port  500 . 
     Meanwhile, the cover  52  closing the discharge port  500  may be able to form a smooth surface having no step difference when viewed from a front. 
     In more detail (see  FIG. 7 ), a first set of interference parts may be provided at mounting portions of the second cover  522 . The first set of interference parts may include a first interference part  522   c  of the second cover  522  and a second interference part  522   d  of the second cover  522 . The first interference part  522   c  of the second cover  522  may be formed in a protruded manner toward a front on a side of the first mounting portion  522   a  of the second cover  522 . The second interference part  522   d  of the second cover  522  may be formed in a protruded manner toward a front on a side of the second mounting portion  522   b  of the second cover  522 . 
     The first interference part  522   c  of the second cover  522  may interfere with one side of the second mounting portion  521   b  of the first cover  521  that is adjacent to the first interference part  522   c  of the second cover  522 . The second interference part  522   d  of the second cover  522  may interfere with the first mounting portion  523   a  of the third cover  523  adjacent to the second interference part  522   d  of the second cover  522 . When the front surface of the cover  52  forms a smooth surface having no step, the second mounting portion  521   b  of the first cover  521  and the first mounting portion  523   a  of the third cover  523  may be provided in a way to be interfered with the first and second interference parts  522   c  and  522   d  of the second cover  522 . 
     In a similar manner, a second set of interference parts may be provided at the mounting portions of the fourth cover  524 . The second set of interference parts may include a first interference part  524   c  of the fourth cover  524  and a second interference part  524   d  of the fourth cover  524 . The first interference part  524   c  of the fourth cover  524  may be formed in a protruded manner toward a front on a side of the first mounting portion  524   a  of the fourth cover  524 . The second interference part  524   d  of the fourth cover  524  may be formed in a protruded manner toward a front on a side of the second mounting portion  524   b  of the fourth cover  524 . 
     The first interference part  524   c  of the fourth cover  524  may interfere with the second mounting portion  523   b  of the third cover  523  adjacent to the first interference part  524   c  of the fourth cover  524 . The second interference part  524   d  of the fourth cover  524  may interfere with the first mounting portion  521   a  of the first cover  521  adjacent to the second interference part  524   d  of the fourth cover  524 . When the front surface of the cover  52  forms a plane surface, the second mounting portion  523   b  of the third cover  523  and the first mounting portion  521   a  of the first cover  521  may be provided in a way to be interfered by the first and second interference parts  524   c  and  524   d  of the fourth cover  524 . 
     As the cover  52 , which is provided at the position capable of closing the discharge port  500  after moving toward an outer side of the guide plate  51 , the interference parts provided at the second cover  522  and the fourth cover  524  are provided in a way to interfere with the first cover  521  and the third cover  523  at which the interference parts provided at the first cover  521  and the third cover  523 , and a certain one of the covers may be provided in a way to have an inner side radius diameter and an outer side radius diameter that are identical to the adjacent cover. 
       FIG. 10  is a drawing illustrating the discharge port partially open by the discharge port opening and closing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the discharge port opening and closing apparatus  5  in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure may be able to open a portion of the discharge port  500 . As one example, the discharge port opening and closing apparatus  5  may be able to open only left and right sides of the discharge port  500 . As a user selects a side surface draft through a manipulation unit provided at the housing  110  or a remote control apparatus, only the covers positioned at the left and right sides of the discharge port  500  are moved toward a central side of the discharge port  500 , so that the left and right sides of the discharge port  500  may be open. The air that is heat-exchanged with respect to a refrigerant may be discharged to an indoor space through the left and right sides of the discharge port  500 . 
     For example, in a state of when the discharge port  500  is closed by the covers and when a side surface draft is selected by a user, the second cover  522  and the fourth cover  524  positioned at the left and right sides of the discharge port  500  are moved toward a central side of the discharge port  500 , and the first cover  521  and the third cover  523  are not moved. The upper and lower sides of the discharge port  500  are maintained in a closed state by the first cover  521  and the third cover  523 , and only the second cover  522  and the fourth cover  524  are moved toward a central side of the discharge port  500  to open the left and right sides of the discharge port  500 . 
     In the above, an embodiment of the left and right sides of the discharge port  500  being open is described, but a case of when one of the left and right sides of the discharge port  500  is open may be present. In addition, while the first cover  521  and the third cover  523  are not moved, the second cover  522  or the fourth cover  524  is moved toward a central side of the discharge port  500 , so that at least one side of the upper and lower portion of the discharge port  500  may be open. 
     By having portions of the guide parts  525 ,  526 ,  527 , and  528  provided at a rear surface of the first cover  521  to the fourth cover  524  selectively passed through the guide holes  511 ,  512 ,  513 , and  514 , the portions of the guide parts  525 ,  526 ,  527 , and  528  may be moved toward a central side of the discharge port  500 . For example, the second guide part  526  provided at a rear surface of the second cover  522  and the fourth guide part  528  provided at a rear surface of the fourth cover  524  are passed through the second guide hole  512  and the fourth guide hole  514 , respectively, while the first guide part  525  provided at a rear surface of the first cover  521  and the third guide part  527  provided at a rear surface of the third cover  523  are exited from the first guide hole  511  and the third guide hole  513 , and thus, only the second cover  522  and the fourth cover  524  may be controlled to be moved toward a central side of the discharge port  500  by the driving force of the motor  42 ′. The method of having the portions of the first cover  521  to the fourth cover  524  moved is not limited hereto. 
     As the above, when the discharge port  500  is closed by the cover  52 , by having the front surface of the cover  52  form a smooth surface provided with no step, the esthetic beauty of the exterior appearance of the indoor unit  1  may be enhanced. With respect to the guide holes configured to guide the covers, as the first guide holes each having the shape of a spiral and the second guide holes having the first section and the second section are alternatively disposed, the plurality of covers  52  may be sequentially driven while having a time interval. Assuming that the first cover  522  and the third cover  523  are referred to as a first group of covers and that the second cover  522  and the fourth cover  524  are referred to as a second group of covers, after the first group of the covers is moved, then, sequentially, the second group of the covers are moved, and thus, the width of an opening of the discharge port  500  may be varied. 
     Assuming that the position at which the plurality of covers closes the discharge port  500  is referred to as a first position and that the position at which the discharge port  500  is open is referred to as a second position, the area that is overlapped with respect to the adjacent covers at the time of when the plurality of covers is only in the second position is greater than the area that is overlapped with respect to the adjacent covers at the time of when the plurality of covers is only in the first position. 
     By having the at least one cover is spaced apart in forward/backward directions with respect to the adjacent cover while moving along the inclination part provided at an outer side at the time of moving to an inner side of the guide plate  51 , the cover being interfered with respect to the adjacent cover may be prevented at the time of opening/closing the discharge port  500 . 
     In addition, as the cover adjacent to the interference part provided at one end portion of the cover is interfered, the plurality of covers form an even surface while provided with an identical inner side diameter and an identical outer side diameter, and thus, the step difference of the covers is improved, and at the same time, the finishing quality of the discharge port opening and closing apparatus may be enhanced. 
     As is apparent from the above, in accordance with the present disclosure, an air conditioner having a discharge port opening and closing apparatus is configured in a way that a plurality of covers configured to open/close a discharge port is sequentially moved so that the width of an opening of the discharge port may be adjusted, and also, as the covers are moved, the covers are moved toward/backward in a front or rear direction of the discharge port, the covers may be positioned in a overlapped manner in a way not to be interfered with respect to each other at a central side of the discharge port in a state when the discharge port is completely open. 
     Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.