Patent Description:
Air conditioners are apparatuses that maintain air in a door space to the most proper state according to use and purpose thereof.

Such an air conditioner may be classified into an upright type, a wall-mounted type, or a ceiling type according to its installation position. The upright air conditioner may be understood as a type of air conditioner, which is installed to be erected in an indoor space, and the wall-mounted type air conditioner may be understood as a type of air conditioner, which is installed to be attached to a wall surface. Also, the ceiling type air conditioner may be understood as a type of air conditioner, which is installed on a ceiling.

The air conditioner may be a cooler for cooling a predetermined space, a heater for hating a predetermined space, an air conditioner for cooling or heating a predetermined space, and a cleaner for cleaning air within a predetermined space. The function of the air conditioner may be determined according to a type of an air conditioning unit installed in the air conditioner.

The air conditioner may include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator to drive a refrigerant cycle in which compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation processes of a refrigerant are performed, thereby cooling or heating a predetermined space.

The air conditioner may include an electric heater, and current may be applied to the electric heater to heat the predetermined space.

The air conditioner may include a cleaning unit such as a filter unit and may purify air in the predetermined space.

A filter for filtering dust in the air may be disposed in the air conditioner, and also, a cleaning kit for cleaning the filter may be disposed.

An example of the air conditioner including the filter and the cleaning kit is disclosed in <CIT>). The air conditioner includes a movable cleaning kit disposed to be movable along the filter and sweep foreign substance on the filter and a cleaning moving mechanism connected to the cleaning movable kit to allow the movable cleaning kit to move a left-right direction. The movable cleaning kit includes a cleaning kit body movably connected by the moving mechanism and a brush protruding from the cleaning kit body toward the filter.

However, in the air conditioner including the above-described movable cleaning kit, since the brush and the movable cleaning kit move, dust separated from the brush or the filter may be scattered around the filter while the brush moves along the filter, and thus, the periphery of the filter may not be maintained in the clean state. Also, since the cleaning kit body for the movement of the brush requires a separate space, in which the movable cleaning kit is disposed, between an air suction hole and the filter, spatial utilization within the air conditioner may be low, and it may be difficult to realize a compact air conditioner.

Another example of the air conditioner including the filter and the cleaning kit as described above is disclosed in <CIT>). Here, the air conditioner may include a filter cleaning part in which the filter is reciprocally disposed within a main body cabinet by a slider and which is disposed to contact the filter along a moving path of the filter. Also, the filter cleaning part may include a lower cover, an upper cover, and a pair of brushes. Thus, foreign substance on the filter may be separated from the filter and then be stored in a space between the lower cover and the upper cover while the filter moving by the slider passes between the pair of brushes.

However, as described above, the filter moving by the slider may be partially withdrawn out of the air conditioner so that the whole thereof is cleaned, and a portion of the filter disposed outside the air conditioner may be damaged or contaminated.

Embodiments provide an air conditioner in which contamination or damage of a filter is capable of being minimized when the filter is cleaned, and spatial utilization is high.

Embodiments also provide an air conditioner in which damage of other components due to a filter is capable of being minimized.

In one embodiment, an air conditioner includes a prefilter, a roller, a roller rotation mechanism, and a brush unit. The air conditioner may include a filter case.

The prefilter may be made of a flexible material and disposed to face an air suction hole through which air is suctioned. The prefilter may be engaged with the roller. When the roller rotates, the prefilter may move within the filter case along an outer circumference of the roller to contact the brush unit.

The roller may support one side of the prefilter in a longitudinal direction and allow the prefilter to move in a left-right direction. The roller may be rotatably accommodated in the filter case.

The roller rotation mechanism may allow the roller to rotate.

The brush unit may be disposed in the filter case. The brush unit may be disposed to contact the prefilter when the roller rotates. The brush unit may be spaced apart from the roller rotation mechanism.

In the air conditioner, in the case in which the position of the prefilter is fixed, and the brush unit moves, the periphery of the prefilter may be maintained in the more cleaned state. Also, since it is unnecessary to provide the space for the movement of the brush unit, the inner spatial utilization may be high.

Also, when the prefilter is cleaned, since the prefilter moves within the filter case and is not withdrawn out of the filter case, the spatial utilization within the air conditioner may be high, the damage of the prefilter may be minimized, and the damage of other components disposed inside the air conditioner by the prefilter may be minimized.

The filter case, the roller, the prefilter, and the brush unit may constitute the filter assembly, and the roller, the prefilter, the brush unit together with the filter case may be withdrawn out of the air conditioner, and the user and the operator may easily manage the roller, the prefilter, and the brush unit.

The filter case may be provided with the outer inlet that is the air suction hole through which the air is suctioned, and the inner outlet that is the air discharge hole through which the air is discharged.

To allow the prefilter to move by the roller, the roller may include a driving gear, and the prefilter may include a driven gear engaged with the driving gear.

The brush unit may be disposed to contact the prefilter when the roller rotates. The brush unit may be disposed to be disposed next to the roller.

The air conditioner may further include an electrostatic dust filter disposed between the prefilter and the filter case and spaced apart from the roller. When the roller rotates, the roller may not interfere with the electrostatic dust filter to minimize the damage to the electrostatic dust filter.

The electrostatic dust filter may constitute the filter assembly together with the filter case, the roller, the prefilter, and the brush unit. The electrostatic dust filter may be withdrawn out of the air conditioner together with the roller, the prefilter, the brush unit, and the filter case, and the user or the operator may clean the electrostatic dust filter with the cleaning solution such as water.

The prefilter may move between the filter case and the electrostatic dust filter, and the outer surface of the electrostatic dust filter and the inner surface of the filter case may provide the passage through which the prefilter moves.

A thickness of the electrostatic dust filter in the air flow direction may be less than or equal to a diameter of the roller. When the thickness of the electrostatic dust filter is greater than the diameter of the roller, a portion of the prefilter disposed between the electrostatic dust filter and the filter case may be convex. On the other hand, as described above, when the thickness of the electrostatic dust filter is less than or equal to the diameter of the roller, a portion of the prefilter disposed between the electrostatic dust filter and the filter case may be unfolded as flat as possible.

The filter case may be provided with a guide body configured to guide the prefilter so that the prefilter moves between the electrostatic dust filter and the lower case. A portion of the prefilter moving along the outer circumference of the roller may be guided between the electrostatic dust filter and the lower case by the guide body, and the prefilter may move as smoothly and stably as possible.

The air conditioner may further include a filter guide configured to guide the prefilter so as to move along an outer circumference of the roller when the roller rotates, and the filter guide may have a guide surface contacting the prefilter.

At least a portion of the filter guide may have an arc shape, and a radius of the arc-shaped portion may be larger than a radius of the roller.

The filter guide may include a first guide and a second guide, which are spaced apart from each other by a diameter greater than a diameter of the roller and a third guide connecting the first guide to the second guide.

A portion of the prefilter disposed between the filter guide and the roller may be bent in an arc shape while being guided to each of the roller and the guide surface, and the prefilter may stably move while minimizing malfunction.

The air conditioner may further include a dust container disposed in the filter case and having a space in which dust separated from the prefilter is stored. The brush unit may be disposed between the roller and the dust container. The dust container may constitute the filter assembly together with the brush unit.

In this case, the user or the operator may clean the prefilter with the cleaning solution such as water by withdrawing the filter assembly out of an air conditioner, replace the brush unit or remove foreign substances remaining on the brush unit, and allows the dust container to be empty.

The filter case may include an upper cover in which the outer inlet is provided and a lower case in which the inner inlet is provided, and a dust container accommodation space may be defined between the lower case and the upper cover to accommodate the dust container.

The brush unit may include a brush body having a dust passage opened toward the roller and a brush disposed on a surface of the brush body facing the roller and contacting a portion of the prefilter that is bent along the roller.

An air conditioner according to this embodiment may include a main body including a suction hole and a discharge unit and a blower fan accommodated in the main body. The filter assembly may be disposed to be withdrawn out of the main body, and a roller rotation mechanism to which the roller is separably connected may be mounted on the main body.

The air conditioner may further include a filter cleaning device to which the dust container is separably connected, wherein the filter cleaning device may be mounted on the main body, and the dust container may be connected to the filter cleaning device when the filter assembly is mounted on the main body.

According to the embodiment, since the prefilter is cleaned by the brush unit while moving inside the filter case along the outer circumference of the roller, the prefilter may be cleaned in the state that is not withdrawn out of the filter case, the inside of the air conditioner may be improved in spatial utilization.

In addition, since the prefilter does not contact or interfere with other components disposed outside the filter case, the contamination and damage of the prefilter or other components, which occur when the prefilter contacts or interferes with other components, may be minimized.

In addition, since the roller, the prefilter, and the brush unit are withdrawn out of the air conditioner together with the filter case, the user or the operator may easily manages the roller, the prefilter, and the brush unit.

In addition, since the electrostatic dust filter disposed inside the filter case is spaced apart from the roller disposed inside the filter case, the damage of the electrostatic dust filter by the roller may be minimized.

In addition, since the electrostatic dust filter is withdrawn out of the air conditioner together with the roller, the prefilter, the brush unit, and the filter case, the roller, the prefilter, the electrostatic dust filter, and the brush unit may be easily maintained compared to the case in which each of the filter case, the roller, the prefilter, the electrostatic dust filter, and the brush unit is separately withdrawn.

In addition, since the portion of the prefilter moving along the outer circumference of the roller is guided between the electrostatic dust filter and the lower case by the guide body, the prefilter may move as smoothly and stably as possible.

In addition, the portion of the prefilter disposed between the filter guide and the roller may be bent in the arc shape while being guided to each of the roller and the guide surface, and the prefilter may stably move while minimizing malfunction.

In addition, since the dust container in which the dust separated from the filter is stored, the user or the operator may clean the prefilter with the cleaning solution such as water by withdrawing the filter assembly out of an air conditioner, replace the brush unit or remove foreign substances remaining on the brush unit, and allows the dust container to be empty.

In addition, since the filter assembly is disposed to be withdrawn out of the main body, and the roller assembly is separably connected to the body, the user or operator may easily clean the whole of the roller rotation mechanism and the filter assembly by using the cleaning solution such as water.

Hereinafter, detailed embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which an air conditioner is installed on a wall according to an embodiment, <FIG> is a perspective view of the air conditioner when a case and a front panel are separated from a chassis, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the air conditioner according to an embodiment, and <FIG> is a bottom view of a filter assembly according to an embodiment.

An air conditioner of this embodiment may be installed on a wall W.

The air conditioner may include a main body <NUM> having an inner space S1 therein. The main body <NUM> may define an outer appearance of the air conditioner, and the main body <NUM> may include a suction hole and a discharge hole. In addition, a blower fan <NUM> and an air conditioning unit may be accommodated in the main body <NUM>.

When the blower fan <NUM> rotates, air outside the main body <NUM> may be suctioned into the inner space S1 through the suction hole, and the air introduced into the main body <NUM> may be air-conditioned by the air conditioning unit and then be discharged to the outside of the main body <NUM> through the discharge hole.

The main body <NUM> may be provided as an assembly of a plurality of members, and an example of the main body <NUM> may include a chassis <NUM> and a case <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> may be installed on the wall W by an installation plate <NUM>. The installation plate <NUM> may be a component for fixing the body <NUM> to the wall W. The installation plate <NUM> may be coupled to the wall W, and the chassis <NUM> may be mounted on the installation plate <NUM>. The installation plate <NUM> may have a thin plate shape and include a central portion coupled to a rear surface of the chassis <NUM> and both side portions extending downward from both sides of the central portion to support a lower portion of the chassis <NUM>.

The chassis <NUM> may include a plate coupling part <NUM> coupled to the installation plate <NUM> and a rear guide <NUM> extending downward to be rounded from the plate coupling part <NUM> so as to surround a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the blower fan <NUM>.

The plate coupling part <NUM> may have a thin plate shape.

The rear guide <NUM> may function as a flow guide for guiding a flow of air discharged from the blower fan <NUM> toward the discharge hole.

The blower fan <NUM> may include a tangential fan. The tangential fan may suction air suctioned from an upper portion of the main body <NUM> in a circumferential direction to discharge the air in the circumferential direction. An axial direction of the blower fan <NUM> may be a horizontal direction of the main body <NUM>.

The blower fan <NUM> may be rotatably supported at both sides of the chassis <NUM>.

The chassis <NUM> may further include two fan support parts <NUM> supporting both ends of the blower fan <NUM>. The two fan support parts <NUM> may protrude forward from both sides of the rear guide <NUM>.

A fan motor <NUM> driving the blower fan <NUM> may be installed outside one of the two fan support parts <NUM>. A shaft of the fan motor <NUM> may be coupled to the blower fan <NUM> by passing through the fan support parts <NUM>.

A motor cover <NUM> may be coupled to the fan motor <NUM>. The fan motor <NUM> may be accommodated in an inner space defined by the fan support part <NUM> and the motor cover <NUM>.

The chassis <NUM> may be provided with a control module <NUM> controlling the main body <NUM>. The control module <NUM> may be disposed at a side of the fan motor <NUM> and supported by the case <NUM>. The control module <NUM> may include a control box <NUM> defining an outer appearance and a control component disposed in the control box <NUM> to allow the air conditioner to operate.

The air conditioner may further include a lower plate <NUM> defining a lower outer appearance of the main body <NUM>. The lower plate <NUM> may be disposed below the chassis <NUM>.

The case <NUM> may be coupled to the front of the chassis <NUM>. Also, the blower fan <NUM> may be accommodated between the chassis <NUM> and the case <NUM>. An inner space S1 may be defined between the chassis <NUM> and the case <NUM>, and the blower fan <NUM> may be accommodated in the inner space S1.

The air conditioner may further include an air conditioning unit accommodated in the inner space S1. One example of the air conditioning unit may be a heat exchanger <NUM> through which a refrigerant passes. Another example of the air conditioning unit may be a thermoelectric element. Another example of the air conditioning unit may be an electric heater.

Hereinafter, the air conditioner will be described as an example in which the heat exchanger <NUM> is accommodated in the inner space S1. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the heat exchanger <NUM> accommodated in the inner space S1, and thus, it may be possible that various air conditioning units, such as thermoelectric elements, electric heaters, humidifiers, and purification units, are selectively accommodated in the inner space S1.

The heat exchanger <NUM> may be accommodated in the inner space S1 defined by the chassis <NUM> and the case <NUM>. The heat exchanger <NUM> may be supported by at least one of the chassis <NUM> or a discharge grill assembly <NUM> based on the flow of air.

The heat exchanger <NUM> may have a bent shape. In detail, the heat exchanger <NUM> includes a first heat exchange part <NUM> extending vertically in a direction corresponding to the front surface of the main body <NUM>, a second heat exchange part <NUM> extending to be inclined upward from the first heat exchange part <NUM>, and a third heat exchange part <NUM> extending to be inclined downward from the second heat exchange part <NUM>. The first to third heat exchange parts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be disposed outside the blower fan <NUM> and be understood as being disposed at a suction region of air suctioned into the blower fan <NUM>.

A heat exchanger holder <NUM> is coupled to the heat exchanger <NUM>. The heat exchanger holder <NUM> may be coupled to a side of the heat exchanger <NUM> and may be supported on an inner surface of the case <NUM>.

A refrigerant tube <NUM> is coupled to the heat exchanger <NUM>. The refrigerant tube <NUM> may introduce a refrigerant into the heat exchanger <NUM> or guide a flow of the refrigerant discharged from the heat exchanger <NUM>. The refrigerant tube <NUM> is coupled to the side of the heat exchanger <NUM> so that a tube cover <NUM> surrounds the outside of the refrigerant tube <NUM>.

A case <NUM> is provided at the front of the chassis <NUM>. An air passage is provided in the case <NUM>.

The air conditioner may include a filter assembly <NUM>. The filter assembly <NUM> may be disposed to be withdrawn out of the body <NUM>.

The air conditioner may include a pair of side parts <NUM> and <NUM> defining an outer appearance of the side surface thereof. Also, the air conditioner may further include a top surface part <NUM> defining an outer appearance of the top surface of the air conditioner.

The air conditioner may further include an upper housing <NUM> in which the filter assembly <NUM> is inserted and accommodated. The upper housing <NUM> may be provided in the main body <NUM>, and the filter case of the filter assembly <NUM> may be separably mounted in the upper housing <NUM>.

The pair of side parts <NUM> and <NUM> and the top surface part <NUM> may be provided by at least one of the chassis <NUM> or the case <NUM>.

The upper housing <NUM> may have a shape recessed from the top surface part <NUM>. The upper housing <NUM> may be a filter assembly accommodation body covering at least one surface of the filter assembly <NUM> or a filter casing housing covering at least one surface of the filter case <NUM> defining an appearance of the filter assembly <NUM>.

When the filter assembly <NUM> is inserted into the upper housing <NUM>, the filter assembly <NUM> may define an outer appearance of the top surface of the air conditioner. When the filter assembly <NUM> is inserted into the upper housing <NUM>, the filter assembly <NUM> may be disposed on an upper portion of at least one of the chassis <NUM> or the case <NUM>, and the air outside the air conditioner may be introduced between the chassis <NUM> and the case <NUM> after being purified while passing through the filter assembly <NUM>.

When the filter assembly <NUM> is inserted into the upper housing <NUM>, the top surface of the filter assembly <NUM> may be exposed to the outside, and the top surface of the filter assembly <NUM> may define the outer appearance of the top surface of the air conditioner. The filter assembly <NUM> may be withdrawn upward from the air conditioner in a state of being accommodated in the upper housing <NUM>.

A discharge hole is defined in a lower portion of the case <NUM>. The discharge hole may include a lower discharge hole <NUM>. The lower discharge hole <NUM> may be provided in a lower portion of the case. The lower discharge hole <NUM> may be configured to discharge the air in a downward direction.

The case <NUM> may be provided as one member or an assembly of a plurality of members <NUM> and <NUM>. When the case <NUM> is provided as the assembly of the plurality of members, the case <NUM> may include a case body <NUM> coupled to the chassis <NUM> and a grill frame <NUM> disposed in front of the case body <NUM>.

The air conditioner may further include a discharge grill assembly <NUM>.

The discharge grill assembly <NUM> may be disposed in a lower portion of the case <NUM>. The discharge grill assembly <NUM> may include a discharge grill body <NUM> spaced apart from the chassis <NUM>. The discharge grill assembly <NUM> may include a horizontal vane <NUM> controlling a direction of the discharge air flow. The horizontal vane <NUM> may rotate in a left-right direction based on a vertical line to control the discharge air flow in the left-right direction. The horizontal vane <NUM> may be provided in plurality and connected to one link bar. The plurality of horizontal vanes <NUM> may rotate together as a link moves. The discharge grill assembly <NUM> may include a horizontal vane motor <NUM> that allows the horizontal vane <NUM> to rotate. The horizontal vane motor <NUM> may be installed in the discharge grill body <NUM>.

A vertical vane <NUM> controlling the discharge air flow in the vertical direction is provided in a lower portion of the case <NUM>. The link <NUM> may be connected to a side of the vertical vane <NUM>, and a vertical vane motor <NUM> for driving the vertical vane <NUM> may be connected to the link <NUM>. The vertical vane motor <NUM> may be installed on at least one of the chassis <NUM>, the lower plate <NUM>, or the discharge grill body <NUM>.

A front panel <NUM> may be disposed on the case <NUM>. The front panel <NUM> may be disposed in front of the case <NUM> to define an outer appearance of the front surface of the main body <NUM>.

The front panel <NUM> may be provided with a display unit <NUM> that is capable of confirming operation information of the main body <NUM>. The front panel <NUM> may have a display hole <NUM> in which the display unit <NUM> is disposed.

The air conditioner may further include a driving mechanism <NUM> (see <FIG>) connected to the front panel <NUM> to allow the front panel <NUM> to operate to a plurality of positions. The driving mechanism <NUM> may be installed in the case <NUM> or the chassis <NUM>. The driving mechanism <NUM> may be connected to the front panel <NUM> and a power transmission member such as a gear.

For example, the front panel <NUM> may be provided with a long rack in the vertical direction. In addition, the driving mechanism <NUM> may include a motor <NUM> and may further include a pinion <NUM> rotating by the motor <NUM> and engaged with the rack.

The air conditioner may further include a high voltage power supply <NUM> (see <FIG>) applying a high voltage to the filter assembly <NUM>.

The high voltage power supply <NUM> may apply the high voltage to the filter assembly <NUM> and a charging module <NUM> (see <FIG>) to be described later. The charging module <NUM> may ionize foreign substances such as dust in the air, and the foreign substances ionized by the charging module <NUM> may be collected inside the filter assembly <NUM>.

The filter assembly <NUM> may include a filter case <NUM> and at least one filter accommodated in the filter case <NUM>. The filter assembly <NUM> may include a prefilter <NUM> (see <FIG>) accommodated in the filter case <NUM>.

The prefilter <NUM> may be a filter for filtering the foreign substances introduced into the air conditioner, in particular, the filter assembly <NUM>. The prefilter <NUM> may have a mesh shape. The prefilter <NUM> may be disposed in the front of the air conditioning unit (for example, the heat exchanger <NUM>) in the air flow direction.

The filter assembly <NUM> may include a plurality of filters. In this case, the filter assembly <NUM> may further include a dust collection filter <NUM> (see <FIG>).

When the filter assembly <NUM> includes the prefilter <NUM> and the dust collection filter <NUM>, the prefilter <NUM> may be disposed in the front of the dust collection filter <NUM> in the air flow direction.

According to the invention, the dust collection filter <NUM> is an electric dust collection filter which collects dust using electricity. In the state in which the dust collection filter <NUM> is accommodated in the filter case <NUM>, the electrostatic dust filter <NUM> may be electrically connected to the high voltage power supply <NUM> through a wire and a terminal. The dust collection filter <NUM> is an electrostatic dust filter that collects the foreign substances by using static electricity of the foreign substances ionized by the charging module <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the invention in which the dust collection filter <NUM> is an electrostatic dust filter will be described.

The prefilter <NUM> may filter large dust in the air flowing toward the electrostatic dust filter <NUM> in a state of being disposed above the electrostatic dust filter <NUM>.

The electrostatic dust filter <NUM> is disposed between the prefilter <NUM> and the filter case <NUM>. The electrostatic dust filter <NUM> is spaced apart from the roller <NUM>. A thickness of the electrostatic dust filter <NUM> in the air flow direction may be less than or equal to a diameter of the roller <NUM>.

The air conditioner further includes a brush unit <NUM> (see <FIG>) separating foreign substances (hereinafter, referred to as 'dust') such as dust attached to the filter (for example, the prefilter <NUM>) from the filter. Also, the air conditioner may further include a dust container <NUM> (see <FIG>) in which dust separated from the filter is contained.

The brush unit <NUM> may be disposed at a position at which the filter, in particular, the prefilter <NUM> contacts the brush unit <NUM>.

The dust attached to the prefilter <NUM> may contact the brush unit <NUM> and be separated from the prefilter <NUM>, and the dust separated from the prefilter <NUM> may be introduced into the dust container <NUM> and then stored in the dust container <NUM>.

The dust container <NUM> may be disposed to be withdrawn out of the air conditioner, and the dust stored therein may be discarded by the user.

The air conditioner may further include a filter cleaning device <NUM> (see <FIG>) separating the dust accumulated in the filter, in particular, the prefilter <NUM>.

The filter cleaning device <NUM> may communicate with the dust container <NUM> when the dust container <NUM> is mounted in the air conditioner. The filter cleaning device <NUM> may be separated from the dust container <NUM> when the dust container <NUM> is withdrawn to the outside. The filter cleaning device <NUM> may be a suction unit connected to the dust container <NUM> to suction air from the dust container <NUM>. The filter cleaning device <NUM> may include a fan motor unit that suctions and blows air from the dust container <NUM>. The filter cleaning device <NUM> may be a fan motor unit in which the dust container <NUM> separably contacts the filter cleaning device <NUM>.

An electric wire may be connected to the filter cleaning device <NUM>, and the filter cleaning device <NUM> may be mounted in the main body <NUM>.

The filter cleaning device <NUM> may be accommodated between the case <NUM> and the chassis <NUM>. The filter cleaning device <NUM> may be disposed inside the case <NUM>. The filter cleaning device <NUM> may be disposed to be disposed above the control module <NUM>.

When the filter cleaning device <NUM> is driven, suction force of the filter cleaning device <NUM> may be applied to the filter (particularly, the prefilter <NUM>) through the dust container <NUM> and the brush unit <NUM>, and the dust attached to the filter of the filter assembly <NUM> may be introduced into the dust container <NUM> and be temporarily stored in the dust container <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the brush unit <NUM> and the dust container <NUM> may be disposed in the filter case <NUM> so as to be withdrawn out of the air conditioner together with the filter case <NUM>.

In this case, the brush unit <NUM> and the dust container <NUM> may constitute a portion of the filter assembly <NUM>, and the dust container <NUM> may be connected to or separated from the filter cleaning device <NUM> to be described later.

On the other hand, the brush unit <NUM> and the dust container <NUM> may be disposed in the chassis <NUM> or the case <NUM>, but not disposed in the filter case <NUM>. In this case, the brush unit <NUM> and the dust container <NUM> may be maintained in the state of being connected to the filter cleaning device <NUM>. When the filter assembly <NUM> is mounted, the brush unit <NUM> and the dust container <NUM> may be connected to the filter assembly <NUM>.

The brush unit <NUM> and the dust container <NUM> need to be cleaned by the user or a service provider and be preferably disposed to be easily withdrawn or mounted.

When the brush unit <NUM> and the dust container <NUM> are disposed in the filter case <NUM> together with the prefilter <NUM> and the electrostatic dust filter <NUM>, the user or the operator may withdraw the prefilter <NUM> and the electrostatic dust filter <NUM> together with each other and the brush unit <NUM> and the dust container <NUM> together with each other through the simple operation of withdrawing the filter assembly <NUM> to the outside and also may clean the prefilter <NUM>, the electrostatic dust filter <NUM>, and the brush unit <NUM>. Then, the dust container <NUM> may be emptied.

<FIG> is a perspective view when the front panel of <FIG> is disposed at a first position, <FIG> is a perspective view when the front panel of <FIG> is disposed at a second position, and <FIG> is a perspective view when the front panel of <FIG> is disposed at a third position.

The driving mechanism <NUM> (see <FIG>) may allow the front panel <NUM> to ascend or descend as illustrated in <FIG>. The driving mechanism <NUM> may be a front panel elevation mechanism that elevates the front panel <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the discharge hole provided in the case <NUM> may further include a front discharge hole <NUM>. The front discharge hole <NUM> may be provided by opening a portion of a front lower portion of the case <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

The driving mechanism <NUM> may allow the front panel <NUM> to move to a plurality of positions.

The plurality of positions may include a first position P1 and a second position P2.

The first position P1 may be a position at which the front panel <NUM> covers the front surface <NUM> of the filter assembly <NUM>.

The second position P2 may be a position relatively lower than the first position P1. The second position P1 may be a position at which the front panel <NUM> exposes the front surface <NUM> of the filter assembly <NUM>. The first position P1 and the second position P2 may be positions at which the front panel <NUM> covers the front discharge hole <NUM>.

When the front panel <NUM> is disposed at the first position P1, as illustrated in <FIG>, the front panel <NUM> may cover the front surface <NUM> and the front discharge hole <NUM> of the filter assembly <NUM>.

When the front panel <NUM> is disposed at the second position, as illustrated in <FIG>, the front panel <NUM> may expose the front surface <NUM> of the filter assembly <NUM> but cover the front discharge hole <NUM>. When the front panel <NUM> is disposed at the second position P2, an upper end of the front panel <NUM> may be disposed below the front of the filter assembly <NUM>, and the filter assembly <NUM> may be movable forward over the upper end of the front panel <NUM>.

A user or the air conditioner may allow the filter assembly <NUM> to move forward when the front panel <NUM> is disposed at the second position P2, and the user may easily withdraw the filter assembly <NUM> forward without separating the front panel <NUM> or the case <NUM>.

The user may simply clean the filter assembly <NUM> withdrawn to the front of the upper housing <NUM> by using a cleaning solution such as water. After the user cleans the filter assembly <NUM>, the user may insert the filter assembly <NUM> into the upper housing <NUM> while seated in the upper housing <NUM>, and the filter assembly <NUM> may be inserted into and accommodated in the upper housing <NUM>.

The plurality of positions may further include a third position P3. The third position P3 may be a position relatively higher than the first position P1. As shown in <FIG>, the third position P3 may be a position at which the front panel <NUM> opens the front discharge hole <NUM> and may be a position at which the front panel <NUM> covers the front surface <NUM> of the filter assembly <NUM>. When the front panel <NUM> is disposed at the third position, air flowing toward the filter assembly <NUM> may be guided to the rear surface of the front panel <NUM> and then suctioned into the filter assembly <NUM>.

The air conditioner may selectively perform a downward airflow mode in which the air-conditioned air is discharged to a lower side of the case <NUM> through the lower discharge hole <NUM> (see <FIG>) and a upward airflow mode in which the air-conditioned air is discharged to a front side of the case <NUM> through the front discharge hole <NUM> (see <FIG>).

When the front panel <NUM> is disposed at the first position P1 or the second position P2, the air conditioner may discharge the air-conditioned air through the lower discharge hole <NUM>.

When the front panel <NUM> is disposed at the third position P3, the air conditioner may discharge the air-conditioned air through the front discharge hole <NUM> and the lower discharge hole <NUM>.

<FIG> is a plan view of the air conditioner according to an embodiment, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of <FIG>, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' of <FIG>, <FIG> is a bottom view illustrating the inside of a dielectric filter according to an embodiment, and <FIG> is a view of the filter assembly and the moving mechanism according to an embodiment.

The air conditioner may further include a charging module <NUM> (or an ionization module, see <FIG> and <FIG>).

The charging module <NUM> may be an ionization module or ionizing module that ionizes foreign substances in the air. The charging module <NUM> may be installed so that the foreign substances in the air are ionized before introducing the electrostatic dust filter <NUM>.

The charging module <NUM> may ionize the foreign substances in the air flowing toward the electrostatic dust filter <NUM> and may include a discharge electrode <NUM> that ionizes the foreign substances in the air when a high voltage is applied.

The discharge electrode <NUM> may include a carbon fiber or a fiber bundle of carbon fibers. The discharge electrode <NUM> may be electrically connected to the high voltage power supply <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

The discharge electrode <NUM> may be embedded in the filter assembly <NUM> to attach the ionized foreign substances to the electrostatic dust filter <NUM>. However, when the discharge electrode <NUM> is disposed inside the filter assembly <NUM>, the filter assembly <NUM> may increase in thickness due to a thickness of the discharge electrode <NUM> and a distance between the discharge electrode <NUM> and the electrostatic dust filter <NUM>. In addition, when the user separates the filter assembly <NUM> from the chassis <NUM> or the case <NUM> so as to clean the filter assembly <NUM>, the discharge electrode <NUM> has to be electrically connected to the high voltage power supply <NUM>. When the filter assembly <NUM> is cleaned, the discharge electrode <NUM> may be more likely to be damaged.

The discharge electrode <NUM> may be disposed outside the filter assembly <NUM>, and even though the filter assembly <NUM> is withdrawn to clean the filter assembly <NUM>, the discharge electrode <NUM> may not be withdrawn together with the filter assembly <NUM>.

The discharge electrode <NUM> may be disposed in the chassis <NUM> or the case <NUM>, for example, may be disposed to face the outside of the air conditioner. In this case, the discharge electrode <NUM> may ionize the foreign substances of the air outside the air conditioner, particularly outside the filter assembly <NUM>.

The foreign substances in the air outside the air conditioner may be ionized outside the filter assembly <NUM>. The foreign substances ionized by the discharge electrode <NUM> may be suctioned into the filter assembly <NUM> and then collected into the electrostatic dust filter <NUM> while passing through the filter assembly <NUM>.

The discharge electrode <NUM> may ionize the foreign substances in the air around the filter assembly <NUM>. For this, the discharge electrode <NUM> may be disposed close to the upper housing <NUM>, for example, disposed to face an upper side of the upper housing <NUM>.

When the blower fan <NUM> is driven, external air of the air conditioner may flow to upper sides of the upper housing <NUM> and the filter assembly <NUM> and then be suctioned into the filter assembly <NUM>. Here, the foreign substances of the air flowing to the upper sides of the upper housing <NUM> and the filter assembly <NUM> may be ionized by the discharge electrode <NUM>.

The discharge electrode <NUM> facing the upper side of the upper housing <NUM> may minimize a power loss for ionizing the foreign substances in the air.

The charging module <NUM> may further include a module mounter <NUM> disposed on an upper portion of at least one of the chassis <NUM> and the case <NUM>.

A space S5 in which the discharge electrode <NUM> is accommodated may be defined in the module mounter <NUM>. The space S5 may be larger than the discharge electrode <NUM>.

An upper end of the discharge electrode <NUM> may be disposed lower than an upper end of the module mounter <NUM>. In this case, the discharge electrode <NUM> may be protected by the module mounter <NUM>, and safety accidents occurring when the user touches the discharge electrode <NUM> or damage of the discharge electrode <NUM> may be minimized.

A wire through-hole <NUM> through which a wire <NUM> connected to the discharge electrode <NUM> may pass may be defined in the module mounter <NUM>. The wire <NUM> may be fitted into the wire through-hole <NUM> so as to be fixed, and the wire <NUM> connected to the discharge electrode <NUM> may extend into the high voltage power supply <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>.

The charging module <NUM> may be provided in a pair within air conditioner. The pair of charging modules 360A and 360B may be spaced apart in a longitudinal direction Y of the filter assembly <NUM>.

The filter assembly <NUM> may have a long polygonal shape in which the longitudinal direction Y (i.e., a left-right direction) is longer than a width direction X (i.e., a front-rear direction), and a length L2 of the filter assembly <NUM> may be defined as a length in the left-right direction Y of the filter assembly <NUM>.

A distance L1 between the pair of charging modules 360A and 360B may be greater than or equal to the length L2 of the filter assembly <NUM>.

The pair of charging modules 360A and 360B may be symmetrically disposed with the filter assembly <NUM> therebetween.

The pair of charging modules 360A and 360B may include a left charging module 360A installed at a left side of the filter assembly <NUM> and a right charging module 360B installed at a right side of the filter assembly <NUM>.

Hereinafter, a common configuration of the left charging module 360A and the right charging module 360B will be described as a charging module <NUM>, and when it is necessary to distinguish the left charging module 360A from the right charging module 360B, the left charging module 360A and the right charging module 360B will be described to be distinguished from each other.

A distance L3 between the discharge electrode <NUM> of the left charging module 360A and the discharge electrode <NUM> of the right charging module 360B may be greater than the length L2 of the filter assembly <NUM>.

Extension lines E1 and E2 extending from the discharge electrodes <NUM> of each of the pair of charging modules 360A and 360B may cross each other the outside of the air conditioner. The extension lines E1 and E2 may cross each other above the filter assembly <NUM>.

When the blower fan <NUM> rotates, the foreign substances in the air flowing upward of the filter assembly <NUM> may be ionized while passing around the discharge electrode <NUM>. The foreign substances passing through the prefilter <NUM> among the foreign substances ionized by the discharge electrode <NUM> may be adsorbed and collected onto the electrostatic dust filter <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the filter assembly <NUM> will be described in detail.

A space S3 in which at least one filter is accommodated may be defined in the filter case <NUM>.

The filter case <NUM> may be configured to allow air to pass therethrough. An outer inlet <NUM> through which external air is suctioned into the filter case <NUM> may be provided in the filter case <NUM>. An inner outlet <NUM> through which the air passing through the space S3 of the filter case <NUM> is discharged to flow into the inner space S1 may be provided in the filter case <NUM>.

The outer inlet <NUM> may be an air suction hole through which external air of the air conditioner is suctioned into the air conditioner. An air suction hole may be defined in the filter case <NUM>, and the space S3 in which the prefilter <NUM> is accommodated may be defined in the filter case <NUM>.

The inner outlet <NUM> may be an air discharge hole through which air suctioned into the filter assembly <NUM> is discharged to the outside of the filter assembly <NUM>, and an air discharge hole may be defined in the filter case <NUM>.

The outer inlet <NUM> may face an upper side when the filter assembly <NUM> is inserted into the upper housing <NUM>, and the outer inlet <NUM> may be exposed to the outside of the air conditioner.

The inner outlet <NUM> may face a lower side when the filter assembly <NUM> is inserted into the upper housing <NUM>, and the inner outlet <NUM> may face the inside of the air conditioner.

The filter case <NUM> may be provided as an assembly of a plurality of members.

The filter case <NUM> includes an upper cover <NUM> having the outer inlet <NUM> through which external air is suctioned and a lower case having the inner outlet <NUM> (the air discharge hole) through which the air passing through the filter flows to the through-hole <NUM>.

The upper cover <NUM> may be separably coupled to the lower case <NUM> by a hook part such as a hook or a coupling member such as a screw, and when the upper cover <NUM> is separated from the lower case <NUM>, the inside of the filter case <NUM> may be opened.

The upper cover <NUM> may be an outer cover defining the outer appearance the top surface of the air conditioner when the filter assembly <NUM> is mounted in the air conditioner.

The lower case <NUM> may be an inner case in which a bottom surface of the filter assembly <NUM> may face the inside of the air conditioner, particularly the inner space S1, when the filter assembly <NUM> is mounted.

The prefilter <NUM> may be made of a flexible material that is capable of being curved or bent. A length of the prefilter <NUM> in the left-right direction may be greater than a length of the prefilter <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the prefilter <NUM> may include a filter net <NUM> having a through-hole through which air passes. The prefilter <NUM> may include a filter body <NUM> that supports the filter net <NUM>.

The prefilter <NUM> may be accommodated between the electrostatic dust filter <NUM> and the upper cover <NUM>.

The electrostatic dust filter <NUM> may be a collection module in which the foreign substances ionized by the charging module <NUM> are collected. The electrostatic dust filter <NUM> may be accommodated to be disposed after the prefilter <NUM> in the air flow direction.

The electrostatic dust filter <NUM> may be a dielectric filter in which an electrode is surrounded by a dielectric, and the electrostatic dust filter <NUM> may be cleaned by a cleaning solution such as water.

The electrostatic dust filter <NUM> may include a first filter body <NUM> surrounding a first electrode 351A by a first dielectric 351B and a second filter body <NUM> surrounding a second electrode 352A by a second dielectric 352B.

The first dielectric 351B and the second dielectric 351B may be coating members which prevent the foreign substances from being exposed to the first electrode 351A and the second electrode 352A and may be an adsorption body that is adsorbed by electric fields generated between the second electrode 352A and the second electrode 352A.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first filter body <NUM> and the second filter body <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other in a direction X that is perpendicular to an air suction direction Z. The first filter body <NUM> and the second filter body <NUM> may be alternately disposed in a direction X that is perpendicular to the air suction direction Z.

An electrode terminal is disposed on the electrostatic dust filter <NUM>. A pair of electrode terminals is provided to the electrostatic dust filter <NUM>, and the pair of electrode terminals includes a positive electrode terminal <NUM> and a ground terminal <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

The positive electrode terminal <NUM> and the ground terminal <NUM> may be spaced apart in the longitudinal direction Y of the filter assembly <NUM>.

The positive electrode terminal <NUM> may be electrically connected to the first electrode 351A and may be spaced apart from the second filter body <NUM>.

A portion of the first electrode 351A may be connected to the positive electrode terminal <NUM> of the first filter body <NUM>.

Each of the positive electrode terminal <NUM> and the ground terminal <NUM> are disposed to pass through the filter frame of the electrostatic dust filter <NUM>, and a part of each of the positive electrode terminal <NUM> and the ground terminal <NUM> may be disposed outside the filter frame of the electrostatic dust filter <NUM>.

The ground terminal <NUM> may be electrically connected to the second electrode 352A and may be spaced apart from the first filter body <NUM>.

A portion of the second electrode 352A may be connected to the ground terminal <NUM> of the second filter body <NUM>.

Hereinafter, a common configuration of the positive electrode terminal <NUM> and the ground terminal <NUM> will be described as the electrode terminals <NUM> and <NUM>, and when it is necessary to distinguish the positive electrode terminal <NUM> from the ground terminal <NUM>, the positive electrode terminal <NUM> and the ground terminal <NUM> will be described to be distinguished from each other.

The electrostatic dust filter <NUM> may include a filter frame having a space S4 therein. The filter frame may be provided as an assembly of a plurality of members <NUM> and <NUM>. The assembly <NUM> and <NUM> may include an upper frame <NUM> and a lower frame <NUM>, and the upper frame <NUM> and the lower frame <NUM> may be separably coupled to each other by a hook part <NUM> such as the hook.

The main body <NUM> may further include a moving mechanism <NUM> allowing a position of the filter assembly <NUM> to move. The moving mechanism <NUM> may be a filter assembly backward movement mechanism that allows the filter assembly <NUM> to move backward.

The moving mechanism <NUM> may include a driving source such as a motor and at least one power transmission member connected to the driving source. One example of the moving mechanism <NUM> may include a motor <NUM> and a pinion <NUM> rotating by the motor <NUM>.

The motor <NUM> may be installed to be fixed within the air conditioner. The air conditioner may further include a bracket <NUM> installed on at least one of the chassis <NUM> and the case <NUM>. The motor <NUM> may be mounted to the bracket <NUM> by a coupling member such as a screw.

The pinion <NUM> may be directly connected to a rotation shaft of the motor <NUM> or may be connected to the rotation shaft of the motor <NUM> through a separate intermediate gear.

The moving mechanism <NUM> may include a rack <NUM> engaged with the pinion <NUM>. The rack <NUM> may be provided in the filter assembly <NUM>. The rack <NUM> may be provided in the filter case <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. The rack <NUM> may be disposed on a lower portion of the filter case <NUM> to protrude. The rack <NUM> may be lengthily disposed on the lower case <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

The moving mechanism <NUM> may be controlled by a control module <NUM>. When the control module <NUM> controls the motor <NUM> in a forward movement mode, the motor <NUM> may allow the rotation shaft to rotate in any one of a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction to allow the rack <NUM> to move forward, and the filter assembly <NUM> may move forward in a state of being placed on the upper housing <NUM>.

The control module <NUM> may transmit a signal of the forward movement mode to the motor <NUM> when the user inputs a command for withdrawing the filter assembly <NUM> through an input unit of a remote controller or the like, or when the air conditioner is under a filter assembly withdrawal condition.

An example of the filter assembly withdrawal condition may be a case in which the air conditioner operates for a set time.

When the control module <NUM> controls the motor <NUM> in the backward movement mode, the motor <NUM> may allow the rotation shaft of the motor <NUM> to rotate in a direction opposite to that in the forward movement mode to allow the rack <NUM> to move backward. The filter assembly <NUM> may be deeply inserted into the upper housing <NUM> in a state of being placed in the upper housing <NUM>.

In the state in which the user inserts the filter assembly <NUM> into the upper housing <NUM>, the remote controller or the like may input the command for mounting the filter assembly <NUM> through the input unit. In this case, the control module <NUM> may transmit the single of the backward movement mode to the motor <NUM>.

The air conditioner may include a sensing unit <NUM> capable of sensing a position of the filter assembly <NUM>. The sensing unit <NUM> may be installed to sense a correct position (i.e., a normal mounting position) of the filter assembly <NUM>. The sensing unit <NUM> may be installed to sense a maximum withdrawal position of the filter assembly <NUM> (i.e., a position at which the moving mechanism <NUM> allows the filter assembly <NUM> to maximally move forward).

The air conditioner may further include a magnet <NUM> installed on the filter case <NUM> and a magnet sensor <NUM> installed on the moving mechanism <NUM> to sense the magnet <NUM>. The magnet <NUM> and the magnet sensor <NUM> may constitute the sensing unit <NUM>.

A magnet mounting part <NUM> on which the magnet <NUM> is seated may be accommodated in the lower case <NUM>, and the magnet <NUM> may be mounted on the magnet mounting part <NUM> to move forward and backward together with the filter assembly <NUM>.

The magnet sensor <NUM> may be installed in the moving mechanism <NUM>, in particular, the bracket <NUM>. The bracket <NUM> may be provided with a magnet sensor accommodation part <NUM> in which the magnet sensor <NUM> is inserted and accommodated.

The magnet sensor <NUM> may sense the magnet <NUM> while the motor <NUM> is driven in the backward movement mode. Also, when the magnet <NUM> is sensed by the magnet sensor <NUM>, the control module <NUM> may stop the backward movement mode of the motor <NUM>.

The position at which the magnet sensor <NUM> senses the magnet <NUM> may be a position at which electrode terminals <NUM> and <NUM>, which will be described later, of the electrostatic dust filter <NUM> contacts the supply terminals <NUM> and <NUM> disposed in the upper housing <NUM> or maintains the contact with the supply terminals <NUM> and <NUM>. Thus, the control module <NUM> may reliably apply the high voltage to the electrostatic dust filter <NUM>.

<FIG> is a plan view when the filter assembly of <FIG> is withdrawn forward, and <FIG> is a perspective view when the filter assembly of <FIG> is withdrawn forward.

The upper housing <NUM> may be configured to accommodate the filter assembly <NUM> to be inserted. The top surface of the upper housing <NUM> and the front surface of the upper housing <NUM> may be opened.

The upper housing <NUM> may have a three-dimensional shape, and an upper space S2 in which the filter assembly <NUM> is accommodated may be defined inside the upper housing <NUM>.

A through-hole <NUM> communicating with each of the upper space S2 and the inner space S1 may be defined in a lower portion of the upper housing <NUM>.

The upper housing <NUM> is a pair of side bodies <NUM> and <NUM> spaced apart in the left-right directions toward the side surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> of the filter case <NUM> and the pair of side bodies <NUM>. It may include a rear body <NUM> connecting the <NUM> and toward the rear surface <NUM> of the filter case <NUM>.

Each of the pair of side bodies <NUM> and <NUM> and the rear body <NUM> may have a predetermined length in the vertical direction Z, and the length of each of the pair of side bodies <NUM> and <NUM> and the rear body <NUM> may be greater than or equal to a thickness of the filter assembly <NUM> (i.e., the vertical length of the filter assembly <NUM>).

The upper housing <NUM> may further include a lower body <NUM> on which the filter assembly <NUM> is mounted, and the lower body <NUM> may be provided under the pair of side walls <NUM> and <NUM>.

The lower body <NUM> may have a stepped portion with respect to an upper end of each of the pair of side bodies <NUM> and <NUM> and the rear body <NUM>.

The pair of side bodies <NUM> and <NUM> and the lower body <NUM> may have a width in the front-rear direction X, and the width may be greater than or equal to a width of the front-rear directions X of the filter assembly <NUM>.

When the filter assembly <NUM> is accommodated in the upper housing <NUM>, the top surface <NUM> of the filter assembly <NUM> may match the top surface part <NUM> of the air conditioner, and the front surface <NUM> of the filter assembly may match the front surface of the case <NUM>.

The supply terminals <NUM> and <NUM> contacting the electrode terminals <NUM> and <NUM> may be disposed in the upper housing <NUM>.

The supply terminals <NUM> and <NUM> may be fixed terminals that are fixed to the chassis <NUM> or the case <NUM>. The supply terminals <NUM> and <NUM> may one-to-one correspond to the electrode terminals <NUM> and <NUM>. The supply terminals <NUM> and <NUM> may include a positive electrode fixed terminal <NUM> with/from the positive electrode terminal <NUM> is in contact or separated and a ground fixed terminal <NUM> with/from the ground terminal <NUM> is in contact or separated.

The positive electrode fixed terminal <NUM> and the ground fixed terminal <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction Y of the filter assembly <NUM>. Hereinafter, a common configuration will be described as the supply terminals <NUM> and <NUM>. When it is necessary to distinguish the positive electrode fixed terminal <NUM> and the ground fixed terminal <NUM>, the positive electrode fixed terminal <NUM> and the ground fixed terminal <NUM> will be described to be distinguished from each other.

The positive electrode fixed terminal <NUM> may be connected to the high voltage power supply <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, and a wire or a bus bar connected to the positive electrode fixed terminal <NUM> may extend to the high voltage power supply <NUM>.

The ground stationary terminal <NUM> may be connected to the high voltage power supply <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, like the positive electrode fixed terminal <NUM>, and a wire or a bus bar connected to the ground stationary terminal <NUM> may extend to the high voltage power supply <NUM>.

A terminal hole <NUM> (see <FIG>) through which at least one of the electrode terminals <NUM> and <NUM> and the supply terminals <NUM> and <NUM> passes is defined in the filter case <NUM>. For example, the terminal hole <NUM> may be defined in the lower case <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the inside of the filter assembly according to an embodiment, <FIG> is a bottom view when the dust container is separated from the filter case according to an embodiment, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the filter assembly according to an embodiment, <FIG> is a bottom view of the prefilter according to an embodiment, <FIG> is an enlarged cross-sectional view when the filter assembly is connected to the filter cleaning device according to an embodiment, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C' of <FIG>.

The filter case <NUM> may have a substantially hexahedral shape and may be lengthily disposed in the left-right direction Y.

The air conditioner may include a roller <NUM> rotatably disposed in the filter case <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the roller <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced apart from the electrostatic dust filter <NUM> in the filter case <NUM>. The roller <NUM> may be disposed in the filter case <NUM> so as to be disposed next to the electrostatic dust filter <NUM>.

The roller <NUM> may support one side of the prefilter <NUM> in the longitudinal direction. The roller <NUM> may allow the prefilter <NUM> to move in the left-right direction.

The roller <NUM> may include a driving gear that allows the prefilter <NUM> to move. The driving gear may include a pair of pinions <NUM> and <NUM>. The pair of pinions <NUM> and <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other in a direction that is perpendicular to the air flow direction Z and the longitudinal direction Y of the prefilter <NUM>.

The roller <NUM> may include a rotation shaft <NUM> connecting the pair of pinions <NUM> and <NUM> to each other. The pair of pinions <NUM> and <NUM> and the rotation shaft <NUM> may integrally rotate.

The prefilter <NUM> may have a driven gear engaged with the driving gear of the roller <NUM>. The driven gear may be a pair of racks <NUM> and <NUM> provided in the prefilter <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

The pair of racks <NUM> and <NUM> may be engaged with the pair of pinions <NUM> and <NUM> constituting the driving gear. The pair of racks <NUM> and <NUM> may be integrated with the filter body <NUM>. The pair of racks <NUM> and <NUM> may protrude from the bottom surface of the filter body <NUM>. Each of the pair of racks <NUM> and <NUM> may be lengthily disposed in the longitudinal direction Y of the prefilter <NUM>, and the pair of racks <NUM> and <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other in the direction X that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of each of the prefilters <NUM> and <NUM>.

When the prefilter <NUM> rotates, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the prefilter <NUM> may move inside the filter case <NUM> along an outer circumference of the roller <NUM>.

The prefilter <NUM> may be a flexible filter that is bendable.

A portion of the prefilter <NUM>, which is connected to the roller <NUM>, may be bent in an arc shape along the outer circumference of the roller <NUM>, and a portion of the prefilter <NUM>, which is not connected to the roller <NUM>, may be spread in a substantially flat shape along the longitudinal direction of the filter case <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the prefilter <NUM> may filter the foreign substances such as dust inside the filter case <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the foreign substances such as the dust, which are filtered by the prefilter <NUM>, may be separated inside the filter case <NUM> while moving along the outer circumference of the roller <NUM>.

The driving gear of the prefilter <NUM> may be engaged with the roller <NUM> regardless of the position of the prefilter <NUM>, and the electrostatic dust filter <NUM> may be disposed next to the roller <NUM> so as to be spaced apart from the roller <NUM>.

A length L6 of the prefilter <NUM> may be greater than a length L7 of the electrostatic dust filter <NUM>, and a portion of the prefilter <NUM> may be disposed to face a portion between the electrostatic dust filter <NUM> and the roller <NUM>. The prefilter <NUM> may minimize the introduction of the foreign substances such as the dust into a gap between the electrostatic dust filter <NUM> and the roller <NUM>.

The air conditioner may include a roller rotation mechanism that allows the roller <NUM> to rotate. The roller rotation mechanism may be mounted in the filter assembly <NUM> or the body <NUM>.

For example, the roller rotation mechanism may be mounted in the filter assembly <NUM>, and in this case, the roller rotation mechanism may be mounted in the filter case <NUM>. When the roller rotation mechanism is mounted in the filter case <NUM>, the roller rotation mechanism may be withdrawn out of the main body <NUM> together with the filter assembly <NUM>.

For another example, the roller rotation mechanism may be mounted in the main body <NUM>. In this case, the roller rotation mechanism may be mounted in the main body <NUM>. When the roller rotation mechanism is mounted in the main body <NUM>, the roller rotation mechanism may be separated from the filter assembly <NUM> when the roller rotation mechanism is withdrawn. That is, when the roller rotation mechanism is mounted in the main body <NUM>, the roller <NUM> may be separably connected to the roller rotation mechanism.

When the filter assembly <NUM> is mounted, the roller <NUM> may be connected to the roller rotation mechanism. When the filter assembly <NUM> is withdrawn, the roller may be separated from the roller rotation mechanism, and the entire filter assembly <NUM> may be simply cleaned by the cleaning solution such as water.

When the roller rotation mechanism is mounted in the main body <NUM>, the roller rotation mechanism may be installed on the chassis <NUM> or the case <NUM>.

The roller rotation mechanism may be disposed on the rear body <NUM>. When the filter case <NUM> is mounted in the upper housing <NUM>, the roller rotation mechanism may be disposed behind the filter case <NUM>.

The roller rotation mechanism includes a connector <NUM> that is separably connected to any one of the pair of pinions <NUM> and <NUM> and a roller rotation motor <NUM> that allows the connector <NUM> to rotate.

The roller rotation motor <NUM> may include a rotation shaft connected to the connector <NUM>.

The brush unit <NUM> may be disposed in the filter case <NUM>. When the roller <NUM> rotates, the prefilter <NUM> may contact the brush unit <NUM>.

A brush unit accommodating part <NUM> into which the brush unit <NUM> is inserted may be provided in the filter case <NUM>. The brush unit accommodating part <NUM> may be provided in at least one of the upper cover <NUM> or the lower case <NUM>. The brush unit <NUM> may be inserted into the brush unit accommodating part <NUM>. After the brush unit <NUM> is inserted into a dust container accommodation space S7 that will be described later, the brush unit <NUM> may be inserted into the brush unit accommodation part <NUM> in the dust container accommodating space S7.

When the brush unit <NUM> is disposed in the filter case <NUM>, the brush unit <NUM> may be disposed in the filter case <NUM> to be disposed next to the roller <NUM>, and the brush unit may be disposed between the roller <NUM> and the dust container <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. The brush unit <NUM> may be spaced apart from the roller rotation mechanism.

The brush unit <NUM> may contact the bent portion of the prefilter <NUM> along the roller <NUM>.

The brush unit <NUM> may include a brush body <NUM> inserted into the brush unit accommodation part <NUM> and a brush <NUM> disposed on the brush body <NUM> to contact the prefilter <NUM>.

A dust passage <NUM> through which air and dust pass may be provided in the brush body <NUM>. The dust passage <NUM> may face the roller <NUM>, and the dust separated from the portion of the prefilter <NUM>, which is disposed between the roller <NUM> and the brush body <NUM>, may be suction into the dust container <NUM> through the dust passage.

The brush <NUM> may be disposed on one surface of the brush body <NUM>, which faces the roller <NUM>, and may contact the bent portion of the prefilter <NUM> along the roller <NUM>.

The dust container <NUM> may be disposed in the filter case <NUM>. The dust container <NUM> may be disposed next to the brush unit accommodation part <NUM> and be connected to the brush unit <NUM>.

A length L4 of the upper cover <NUM> may be greater than a length L5 of the lower case <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. A dust container accommodation space S7 in which the dust container <NUM> is accommodated may be defined between the lower case <NUM> and the upper cover <NUM>.

When the brush unit accommodation part <NUM> is provided in the lower case <NUM>, the upper cover <NUM> may face the brush unit accommodation part <NUM> and include one side wall <NUM> that is spaced apart from the brush unit accommodation part <NUM>. Also, the dust container accommodation space S7 may be defined as an empty space defined between the brush unit accommodation part <NUM> and the one side wall <NUM> of the upper cover <NUM>.

A space (S6) in which the dust separated from the prefilter <NUM> is stored may be defined in the dust container <NUM>. The dust container <NUM> may be provided as an assembly of a plurality of members each of which has an openable inside. The dust container <NUM> may include a lower box <NUM> and a box cover <NUM> that opens and closes a space of the lower box <NUM>. A space S6 in which the dust is stored may be defined between the lower box <NUM> and the box cover <NUM>.

The dust container <NUM> may further include a dust filter <NUM> accommodated in the space S6. The dust filter <NUM> may be a dust collection filter through which the dust moving from the prefilter <NUM> is filtered, and air passes.

<FIG> is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the prefilter, the roller, and the brush when the prefilter is not cleaned according to an embodiment, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view when the prefilter of <FIG> is cleaned.

A guide that guides the movement of the prefilter <NUM> may be provided in the filter case <NUM>.

The guide may include a filter guide <NUM> that guides the prefilter <NUM> to move along the outer circumference of the roller <NUM> when the roller <NUM> rotates.

The filter guide <NUM> may have a guide surface <NUM> contacting the prefilter <NUM>. The filter guide <NUM> may be disposed in the filter case <NUM>, and the filter assembly <NUM> may further include the filter guide <NUM>.

The filter guide <NUM> may have a shape surrounding the outer circumferential surface of the roller <NUM>, and the guide surface <NUM> may be defined as an inner circumferential surface that faces the outer circumferential surface of the roller <NUM> of the filter guide <NUM>.

At least a portion of the filter guide <NUM> may have an arc shape. A radius of the arc-shaped portion of the filter guide <NUM> may be greater than a radius of the roller <NUM>.

The filter guide <NUM> includes a first guide <NUM> and a second guide <NUM>, which are spaced an interval greater than the diameter of the roller <NUM>, and a third guide <NUM> connecting the first guide <NUM> to the second guide <NUM>.

The guide may further include a guide body <NUM> that guides the prefilter <NUM> to move to a rear side of the electrostatic dust filter <NUM> in the air flow direction.

The guide body <NUM> may guide the prefilter <NUM> to move between the electrostatic dust filter <NUM> and the lower case <NUM>.

The guide body <NUM> may be integrated with the filter case <NUM>. The guide body <NUM> may protrude from an inner surface of the filter case <NUM> or may be disposed on a lower portion of the lower case <NUM>. The guide body <NUM> may be a portion of a lower plate of the lower case <NUM>.

The guide body <NUM> may guide a portion of the prefilter <NUM>, which moves along the outer circumference of the roller <NUM>, to move between the electrostatic dust filter <NUM> and the lower case <NUM>.

The roller <NUM> may allow the prefilter <NUM> to move to a front side of the correction filter <NUM> in the air flow direction or move to the rear side of the electrostatic dust filter <NUM> in the air flow direction.

Claim 1:
An air conditioner comprising:
a prefilter (<NUM>) made of a flexible material, the prefilter (<NUM>) being disposed to face an air suction hole (<NUM>) through which air is suctioned;
a roller (<NUM>) configured to support one side of the prefilter (<NUM>) in a longitudinal direction, the roller (<NUM>) being configured to allow the prefilter (<NUM>) to move in a left-right direction;
a roller rotation mechanism configured to allow the roller (<NUM>) to rotate;
a brush unit (<NUM>) disposed to contact the prefilter (<NUM>) when the roller (<NUM>) rotates, the brush unit (<NUM>) being spaced apart from the roller rotation mechanism;
a filter case (<NUM>) in which the air suction hole (<NUM>) is defined and which has a space (S3) in which the prefilter (<NUM>) is accommodated;
a main body (<NUM>) provided with an upper housing (<NUM>) on which the filter case (<NUM>) is separably mounted;
characterized in that the air conditioner furthermore comprising:
an electrostatic dust filter (<NUM>) disposed between the prefilter (<NUM>) and the filter case (<NUM>) and spaced apart from the roller (<NUM>);
at least one of electrode terminals (<NUM> and <NUM>) provided to the electrostatic dust filter (<NUM>); and
at least one of supply terminals (<NUM> and <NUM>) configured to contact the at least one of electrode terminals (<NUM> and <NUM>) and disposed in the upper housing (<NUM>);
wherein a terminal hole (<NUM>) through which at least one of the electrode terminals (<NUM> and <NUM>) or the supply terminals (<NUM> and <NUM>) is configured to pass is defined in the filter case (<NUM>).