Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a clothes dryer, and more particularly, to a clothes dryer having a structure for reducing condensation of moist air.

A dryer evaporates water included in an object to be processed, such as clothes or bed clothes, put in the drum (or tub) by supplying hot air to the object. Air evaporated water of the object to be processed in the drum and then discharged from the drum is in a hot and humid state because the air holds the water of the object to be processed. According to methods of processing such hot and humid air, dryers are classified into a condensing type and an exhaust type.

The condensing type dryer condenses water included in hot and humid air through heat exchange by circulating the air without discharging the air to the outside. In contrast, the exhaust type dryer discharges hot and humid air directly to the outside. There is a structural difference in that the condensing type dryer has a structure for processing condensed water and the exhaust type dryer has a structure for exhausting air.

Particularly, in the condensing type dryer, hot and humid air may leak out of the drum because the air is not discharged to the outside. The hot and humid air leaking out of the drum causes dew condensation inside the dryer.

Document <CIT> discloses a dryer for use in front loading horizontal axis washing machine with a fan that inhales air through an intake duct. An intake flow path induces air to a drum installed inside a cabinet and an exhaust duct exhausts air to an outside cabinet from the drum and condenser.

Aspects of embodiments of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a clothes dryer includes a cabinet including an inlet and a base; a drum rotatably provided inside the cabinet, the drum including a front end portion and a rear end portion; a support frame including a front support frame supporting the front end portion of the drum, and having a laundry inlet, wherein the inlet of the cabinet, the laundry inlet, and the front end portion of the drum are positioned so that laundry is insertable through the inlet of the cabinet and then through the laundry inlet to be received in the drum, and a rear support frame supporting the rear end portion of the drum; a blow fan below the front support frame; and a guide portion behind the blow fan, and connected with the blow fan. The blow fan and the guide portion are configured so that the blow fan is operable to move outside air to inside of the cabinet, and the guide portion guides a first portion of the outside air moved inside of the cabinet by the blow fan toward a gap between the drum and the front support frame to dry air leaking from between the drum and the front support frame.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the clothes dryer further includes a Printed Board Assembly (PBA) configured to drive various loads for overall operations of the clothes dryer, wherein the guide portion guides a second portion of the outside air moved inside of the cabinet by the blow fan to the PBA to cool the PBA.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the guide portion includes a first guide portion configured to guide the first portion of the outside air moved inside of the cabinet by the blow fan toward the gap between the drum and the front support frame, and a second guide portion connected with the first guide portion, and configured to guide the second portion of the outside air moved inside of the cabinet by the blow fan to the PBA.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first guide portion and the second guide portion are integrated into one body.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first guide portion extends toward the gap between the drum and the front support frame.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first guide portion includes a first passage through which the first portion of the outside air moves, and a first outlet connected with the first passage and configured to discharge the first portion of the outside air, and the second guide portion includes a second passage through which the second portion of the outside air moves, and a second outlet connected with the second passage and configured to discharge the second portion of the outside air.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the clothes dryer further includes a blow fan case below the front support frame and accommodating the blow fan, wherein the guide portion is coupled with the blow fan case.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a coupling hole is in one side of the blow fan case, and the guide portion includes a coupling member coupled with the coupling hole.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the clothes dryer further includes a forced convection device on the base of the cabinet and configured to circulate air between the drum and the cabinet.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the forced convection device moves at least a portion of the air leaking from between the drum and the front support frame toward the rear support frame.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the clothes dryer further includes a driver configured to transfer power to the drum; a compressor; an expansion valve; an evaporator; and a condenser, wherein the base includes a first area on which the driver, the compressor, and the expansion valve are positioned, a second area on which the evaporator and the condenser are positioned, the second area forming a lower temperature than a temperature of the first area, and the forced convection device is provided on the second area.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the guide portion is adjacent to one of a left plate and a right plate of the cabinet, and the forced convection device is adjacent to a remaining one of the left plate and the right plate of the cabinet.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the forced convection device includes a convection fan configured to dissipate the air by rotating; and a convection fan case accommodating the convection fan.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the clothes dryer further includes a duct connected with the drum and configured to circulate air through the drum, the duct including a hot air discharging duct connected to discharge air from inside of the drum, a connecting duct connected with the hot air discharging duct and accommodating an evaporator and a condenser to treat air passing through the connecting duct, and a hot air guide duct connected with the connecting duct and configured to supply air passed through the connecting duct to the drum, wherein the forced convection device is provided on an outer surface of the connecting duct.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the clothes dryer further includes a sealing member coupled with a front surface of the drum and configured to form a seal between the drum and the front support frame, wherein the forced convection device is located behind the sealing member, and configured to circulate at least a portion of the air leaking from between the sealing member and the front support frame.

These and/or other embodiments 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:.

Configurations illustrated in the embodiments and the drawings described in the present specification are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Also, like reference numerals or symbols denoted in the drawings of the present specification represent members or components that perform the substantially same functions.

Also, the terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe the embodiments, and are not intended to limit and/or restrict the disclosure. In the present specification, it is to be understood that the terms such as "comprising", "including" or "having", etc., are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added.

Also, it will be understood that, although the terms including ordinal numbers, such as "first", "second", etc., may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first component could be termed a second component, and, similarly, a second component could be termed a first component, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of associated listed items.

Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a clothes dryer capable of lowering relative humidity of moist air leaking between an outer side of a drum and a front support frame.

Embodiments of the invention may provide a clothes dryer capable of reducing condensation of moist air on a front support frame by causing forced convection on an inner side of the front support frame.

According to embodiments of the invention, moist air leaking between a drum and a front support frame may be prevented from being condensed on an inner side of the frame. Also, ambient temperature of the drum may be prevented from being reduced by outside air, and, accordingly, performance deterioration of the dryer may be prevented. Also, because inside moist air is not discharged to the outside, dew condensation and mold growth inside a laundry room may be not accelerated.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a clothes dryer includes a cabinet including an inlet and a base; a drum rotatably provided inside the cabinet; a duct connected with the drum and configured to circulate air, the duct including a hot air discharging duct connected to discharge inside air of the drum, a connecting duct connected with the hot air discharging duct and accommodating an evaporator and a condenser, and a hot air guide duct connected with the connecting duct and configured to again supply air passed through the connecting duct to the drum; and a forced convection device provided on an outer surface of the connecting duct and configured to circulate air leaking between the drum and the cabinet. The clothes dryer includes a support frame including a front support frame including a laundry inlet corresponding to the inlet and rotatably supporting a front end portion of the drum, and a rear support frame rotatably supporting a rear end portion of the drum, and the forced convection device moves air leaking between the drum and the front support frame toward the rear support frame. The base may include a first area on which a driver configured to transfer power to the drum, a compressor, and an expansion valve are positioned; and a second area on which an evaporator and a condenser are positioned, the second area forming lower temperature than temperature of the first area, and the forced convection device may be provided on the second area. The forced convection device may be provided at an edge of the connecting duct. The forced convection device may include: a convection fan configured to dissipate the air by rotating; and a convection fan case accommodating the convection fan.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing an appearance of a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing the clothes dryer of <FIG>, <FIG> is an enlarged view showing 'A' of <FIG>, <FIG> shows a coupled state of a front support frame, a blow fan, a guide portion, a sealing member, a drum, and a rear support frame in a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of a front support frame, a blow fan, a guide portion, a sealing member, a drum, and a rear support frame in a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a clothes dryer <NUM> may include a cabinet <NUM> forming an appearance, and a drum <NUM> rotatably installed inside the cabinet <NUM>.

The cabinet <NUM> may be substantially in a shape of a hexahedron (box). More specifically, the cabinet <NUM> may include a rear plate, an upper plate <NUM>, a front plate <NUM>, a left plate 14a, a right plate 14b, and a base <NUM>. An embodiment of the disclosure shows an example in which the front plate, the upper plate, the base, etc., forming the cabinet <NUM> are prepared separately and then assembled together. However, a concept of the disclosure is not limited to this. For example, at least one part of the cabinet, the front plate, the upper plate, the base, etc., may be integrated into one body.

In the front plate <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM>, an inlet 13a through which clothes (not shown) as an object to be dried are put into or taken out of the drum <NUM> may be formed. The inlet 13a may be opened or closed by a door <NUM>. On an upper portion of the cabinet <NUM>, a control panel <NUM> for controlling operations of the clothes dryer <NUM> may be provided.

A laundry inlet <NUM> which will be described below may be formed in a front support frame <NUM> to correspond to the inlet 13a. That is, the laundry inlet <NUM> which will be described below may be formed in the front support frame <NUM> to communicate with the inlet 13a.

In one side of a lower portion of the front plate <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM>, a plurality of holes 13b may be formed. The plurality of holes 13b may allow outside air to enter inside of the cabinet <NUM>. In at least one portion of a rear support frame <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM>, a plurality of holes 61b may be formed.

Inside the cabinet <NUM>, a blow fan <NUM> which will be described below may be positioned. Outside air entered the inside of the cabinet <NUM> by the blow fan <NUM> may flow by the blow fan <NUM> and be discharged to outside of the cabinet <NUM> through the plurality of holes 61b formed in the rear support frame <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM>.

Outside air may enter the inside of the cabinet <NUM> through the plurality of holes 13b formed in the front plate <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM> and flow by the blow fan <NUM>.

The blow fan <NUM> may be positioned in a front lower space of the cabinet <NUM>. The blow fan <NUM> may be positioned to correspond to the plurality of holes 13b formed in the front plate <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM>.

Inside the cabinet <NUM>, the drum <NUM> being in a shape of a cylinder may be provided. In a front end portion 22a of the drum <NUM>, an opening 20a corresponding to the inlet <NUM> formed in the front plate <NUM> may be formed. An object to be dried may be put into the drum <NUM> or taken out of the drum <NUM> through the opening 20a.

The drum <NUM> may be provided inside the cabinet <NUM> in such a way as to be rotatable with respect to a rotating axis. On an inner circumferential surface of the drum <NUM>, a lifter <NUM> for lifting an object to be dried while the drum <NUM> rotates may be provided. While the drum <NUM> rotates, an operation of lifting the object to be dried by the lifter <NUM> and dropping the object to be dried may be repeatedly performed. On an outer circumferential surface of the drum <NUM>, a roller <NUM> supporting the drum <NUM> to enable the drum <NUM> to smoothly rotate may be provided.

The drum <NUM> may be rotatable by receiving power from a driver <NUM>. The driver <NUM> may be positioned in an inner lower space of the cabinet <NUM>. The driver <NUM> may be mounted on the base <NUM>. The driver <NUM> may include a motor <NUM>, and a pulley <NUM> and a belt <NUM> for transferring power of the motor <NUM> to the drum <NUM>. The pulley <NUM> may be connected with a rotating shaft <NUM> connected with the motor <NUM>. According to a rotation of the rotating shaft <NUM> by the motor <NUM>, the pulley <NUM> may also rotate together with the rotating shaft <NUM>. The belt <NUM> may be wound around an outer surface of the pulley <NUM> and an outer surface of the drum <NUM>. According to a rotation of the belt <NUM> by a driving force of the motor <NUM>, the drum <NUM> may rotate together with the belt <NUM>.

The clothes dryer <NUM> may further include support frames <NUM> and <NUM> that support the drum <NUM>. The support frames <NUM> and <NUM> may be positioned between the cabinet <NUM> and the drum <NUM>. The support frames <NUM> and <NUM> may include a front support frame <NUM> that rotatably supports the front end portion 22a of the drum <NUM>, and a rear support frame <NUM> that rotatably supports a rear end portion 22b of the drum <NUM>. The front support frame <NUM> may be fixed on the front plate <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM> and positioned between the front plate <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM> and the front end portion 22a of the drum <NUM>.

In the front support frame <NUM>, the laundry inlet <NUM> may be formed. An object to be dried may be put into the drum <NUM> through the laundry inlet <NUM>. The rear support frame <NUM> may be connected with a hot air guide duct <NUM> which will be described below, and hot and dry air capable of drying an object to be dried may enter the inside of the drum <NUM> through a second guide hole 330b of the hot air guide duct <NUM>.

The clothes dryer <NUM> may further include a sealing member <NUM> positioned between the drum <NUM> and the front support frame <NUM> to maintain airtightness between the drum <NUM> and the front support frame <NUM>.

The front support frame <NUM> may include a sealing member installing portion 50a in which the sealing member <NUM> is installed. The sealing member <NUM> may be installed in the sealing member installing portion 50a. The front end portion 22a of the drum <NUM> may be in contact with the sealing member <NUM> and supported by the sealing member <NUM>.

The sealing member <NUM> may seal between the front end portion 22a of the drum <NUM> and the sealing member installing portion 50a of the front support frame <NUM>.

Insufficient sealing between the drum <NUM> and the front support frame <NUM> may cause leakage of lint or a steam that may be generated during drying of an object to be dried through a gap between the drum <NUM> and the front support frame <NUM>. The lint or steam may deteriorate drying performance of the clothes dryer <NUM> and also cause a safety accident such as a fire. Accordingly, it may be significantly important to secure airtightness between the drum <NUM> and the front support frame <NUM> by using the sealing member <NUM>.

The sealing member <NUM> may function to reduce frictional resistance between the drum <NUM> and the front support frame <NUM>, as well as maintaining airtightness between the drum <NUM> and the front support frame <NUM>.

The sealing member <NUM> may be in a shape of a closed loop. For example, the sealing member <NUM> may be in a shape of a ring.

The drum <NUM> may accommodate an object to be dried therein to dry the object to be dried. In the cabinet <NUM>, a duct <NUM> for forming a flow path <NUM> for circulating dry air to the drum <NUM> may be provided.

The duct <NUM> may include a hot air discharging duct <NUM> forming a discharging flow path <NUM> for discharging hot air passed through the inside of the drum <NUM>, a hot air guide duct <NUM> forming a guide flow path <NUM> for guiding hot air to the drum <NUM>, and a connecting duct <NUM> forming a connecting flow path <NUM> and connecting the hot air discharging duct <NUM> with the hot air guide duct <NUM>.

The flow path <NUM> may include the discharging flow path <NUM>, the connecting flow path <NUM>, and the guide flow path <NUM>.

The connecting flow path <NUM> may accommodate an evaporator <NUM> and a condenser <NUM> of a heat pump <NUM>.

The hot air discharging duct <NUM> may be positioned below the front surface of the drum <NUM>. The hot air guide duct <NUM> may be positioned behind the drum <NUM>. The connecting duct <NUM> may be positioned below the drum <NUM>. The connecting duct <NUM> may be installed on the base <NUM>.

Hot and dry air may be supplied to the inside of the drum <NUM> by the hot air guide duct <NUM>, and an object to be dried inside the drum <NUM> may be dried by the hot and dry air. After drying the object to be dried, the air may be in a hot and humid state, and the hot and humid air in the drum <NUM> may be discharged to outside of the drum <NUM> through the hot air discharging duct <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a guide portion, a duct, and a heat pump installed on a base and a rear support frame according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of a guide portion, a duct, and a heat pump installed on a base and a rear support frame according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the hot air discharging duct <NUM> may include a first hole 310a through which hot air of the drum <NUM> is introduced, and a second hole 310b for discharging the air introduced through the first hole 310a to the connecting duct <NUM>.

In the hot air discharging duct <NUM>, a filter may be installed to filter foreign materials such as lint included in hot air passed through the drum <NUM>. The air drying the object to be dried inside the drum <NUM> may be discharged through the hot air discharging duct <NUM>. The air discharged from the hot air discharging duct <NUM> may enter the connecting duct <NUM>.

The hot and humid air entered the connecting duct <NUM> through the hot air discharging duct <NUM> may be guided to the evaporator <NUM> which will be described below, and thus, water included in the hot and humid air may be removed.

The evaporator <NUM> may configure the heat pump <NUM> together with the condenser <NUM>, a compressor <NUM>, and an expansion valve <NUM> (see <FIG>), which will be described below. The heat pump <NUM> may cool hot refrigerant by circulating the refrigerant to remove moist from the air, and then again heat the air.

The heat pump <NUM> may be mounted on the base <NUM>. The evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> of the heat pump <NUM> may be positioned on one side of the base <NUM>. The evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> of the heat pump <NUM> may be positioned inside the duct <NUM>. The evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> of the heat pump <NUM> may be positioned inside the connecting duct <NUM>. The evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> of the heat pump <NUM> may be positioned in order in a front-rear direction of the base <NUM> inside the connecting duct <NUM>.

The hot air discharging duct <NUM> positioned below a front portion of the drum <NUM>, the connecting duct <NUM> positioned below the drum <NUM>, and the hot air guide duct <NUM> positioned behind the drum <NUM> may be positioned in order in the front-rear direction of the base <NUM>.

The hot air discharging duct <NUM>, the connecting duct <NUM>, and the hot air guide duct <NUM> may be positioned with a straight line structure in the front-rear direction with respect to the drum <NUM> to reduce flow resistance. The flow path <NUM> formed by the hot air discharging duct <NUM>, the connecting duct <NUM>, and the hot air guide duct <NUM> may be aligned from a front portion to a rear portion of the base <NUM> to reduce flow resistance of air. More specifically, the connecting flow path <NUM> may be aligned from the front portion to the rear portion of the base <NUM> to reduce flow resistance.

A blower <NUM> for causing air to flow may be provided inside the duct <NUM>. The blower <NUM> may include a fan <NUM>. The blower <NUM> may be positioned inside the connecting duct <NUM>. The blower <NUM> may be positioned behind the connecting duct <NUM>. The blower <NUM> may be positioned behind the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM>. The blower <NUM> may circulate air inside the flow path <NUM>.

The compressor <NUM> and the expansion valve <NUM> of the heat pump <NUM> may be positioned in the other side of the base <NUM>. The compressor <NUM> and the expansion valve <NUM> of the heat pump <NUM> may be positioned outside the duct <NUM>. The compressor <NUM> and the expansion valve <NUM> of the heat pump <NUM> may be positioned outside the connecting duct <NUM>. The compressor <NUM> and the expansion valve <NUM> of the heat pump <NUM> may be positioned on the same line as the motor <NUM> in one side of the base <NUM>.

The blow fan <NUM> may be mounted on the base <NUM>. The blow fan <NUM> may be positioned at a front portion of one side of the base <NUM>. The blow fan <NUM> may be positioned on a rear lower side of the front plate <NUM>. The blow fan <NUM> may receive power from a motor (not shown). The motor may rotate the blow fan <NUM> to circulate inside air of the cabinet <NUM>. The blow fan <NUM> may be positioned at a location corresponding to the plurality of holes 13b formed in the front plate <NUM>. The blow fan <NUM> and the motor may be aligned at a location at which the compressor <NUM>, the expansion valve <NUM>, and the motor <NUM> are positioned. Air entering the inside of the cabinet <NUM> through the blow fan <NUM> may cool the inside of the base <NUM>, that is, the compressor <NUM>, the expansion valve <NUM>, and the motor <NUM>, and then be discharged through the plurality of holes 61b formed in the rear support frame <NUM>.

Also, a guide portion <NUM> that communicates with the blow fan <NUM> to dry air leaking out of the drum <NUM> by using outside air entered into the inside of the cabinet <NUM> may be provided on the base <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> will be described below.

Meanwhile, the base <NUM> may include a first area <NUM> on which the motor <NUM> is positioned, and a second area <NUM> except for the first area <NUM>. The first area <NUM> and the second area <NUM> may be formed respectively in left and right sides with respect to a center of the base <NUM>. An embodiment of the disclosure shows an example in which the first area is provided in the right side of the base and the second area is provided in the left side of the base. However, a concept of the disclosure is not limited to this.

The first area <NUM> may be formed in one side of the base <NUM>, and the second area <NUM> may be formed in the other side of the base <NUM>. On the first area <NUM> of the base <NUM>, the motor <NUM> for driving the drum <NUM> may be positioned. On the first area <NUM> of the base <NUM>, the blow fan <NUM>, the compressor <NUM> and the expansion valve <NUM> of the heat pump <NUM>, and the motor <NUM> may be positioned.

On the second area <NUM> of the base <NUM>, the hot air guide duct <NUM>, and the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> of the heat pump <NUM> may be positioned.

The connecting duct <NUM> may be positioned on the second area <NUM> of the base <NUM>. The hot air discharging duct <NUM> for discharging hot air passed through the inside of the drum <NUM> may be positioned in a front portion of the base <NUM>, and extend over the first area <NUM> and the second area <NUM> of the base <NUM>. At least a part of the hot air discharging duct <NUM> may be positioned on the second area <NUM>.

The hot air discharging duct <NUM> may be biased to the second area <NUM>. The hot air discharging duct <NUM> may be connected with the connecting duct <NUM> to communicate with the connecting duct <NUM>.

The connecting duct <NUM> may include an air inlet (hereinafter, referred to as a first connecting hole) 320a, which will be described below, for supplying air passed through the drum <NUM>. The first connecting hole 320a of the connecting duct <NUM> may be positioned in the second area <NUM> of the base <NUM>. The first connecting hole 320a of the connecting duct <NUM> may be biased from the center C of the base <NUM>.

The connecting duct <NUM> may include an air outlet (hereinafter, referred to as a second connecting hole) 320b, which will be described below, for discharging inside air. The second connecting hole 320b may be connected with a first guide hole 330a of the hot air guide duct <NUM> to guide air of the connecting duct <NUM> to the drum <NUM> through the hot air guide duct <NUM>. The second connecting hole 320b for discharging inside air of the connecting duct <NUM> may be located in at least a portion of the second area <NUM>. The second connecting hole 320b of the connecting duct <NUM> may be biased from the center C of the base <NUM>. Air entered through the first guide hole 330a of the hot air guide duct <NUM>, corresponding to the second connecting hole 320b of the connecting duct <NUM>, may be discharged to the drum <NUM> through the second guide hole 330b of the hot air guide duct <NUM>.

Accordingly, in the second area <NUM> of the base <NUM>, the hot air discharging duct <NUM> for guiding air discharged from the inside of the drum <NUM> to the connecting duct <NUM>, the connecting duct <NUM> for allowing air supplied from the hot air discharging duct <NUM> to pass through the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM>, and the hot air guide duct <NUM> for again supplying air discharged from the connecting duct <NUM> to the drum <NUM> may be positioned in order. The flow path <NUM> may be simplified by the hot air discharging duct <NUM>, the connecting duct <NUM>, and the hot air guide duct <NUM> aligned in the second area <NUM> of the base <NUM> to reduce flow resistance.

The duct <NUM> installed in the base <NUM> may form the flow path <NUM> for circulating dry air to the drum <NUM>.

The duct <NUM> may include the hot air discharging duct <NUM>, the connecting duct <NUM>, and the hot air guide duct <NUM>. The hot air discharging duct <NUM>, the connecting duct <NUM>, and the hot air guide duct <NUM> may form the flow path <NUM>. The flow path <NUM> may include the discharging flow path <NUM> formed by the hot air discharging duct <NUM> for discharging hot air passed through the inside of the drum <NUM>, the connecting flow path <NUM> connected with the discharging flow path <NUM> and formed by the connecting duct <NUM> connecting the hot air discharging duct <NUM> with the hot air guide duct <NUM>, and the guide flow path <NUM> connecting the connecting flow path <NUM> with the drum <NUM> and formed by the hot air guide duct <NUM> for guiding hot air to the drum <NUM>.

The discharging flow path <NUM> may be formed below the front portion of the drum <NUM>. Hot and humid air entered the discharging flow path <NUM> formed by the hot air discharging duct <NUM> may enter the connecting flow path <NUM> by the hot air connecting duct <NUM>. Air of the connecting flow path <NUM> may be heat-exchanged by the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> to become hot and dry air, and the hot and dry air may be supplied to the drum <NUM> through the guide flow path <NUM> formed by the hot air guide duct <NUM>. The hot air discharging duct <NUM> may include the first hole <NUM>10a through which hot air of the drum <NUM> is introduced, and the second hole 310b for discharging the air introduced through the first hole 310a is discharged to the connecting duct <NUM>. The second hole 310b may be connected with the first connecting hole 320a of the connecting duct <NUM>.

In the hot air guide duct <NUM>, the first guide hole 330a for introducing hot and dry air of the connecting flow path <NUM>, and the second guide hole 330b through which air entered into the hot air guide duct <NUM> through the first guide hole 330a is discharged to the drum <NUM> may be formed. The second guide hole 330b may be connected with the drum <NUM>.

The connecting duct <NUM> provided between the hot air guide duct <NUM> and the hot air discharging duct <NUM> may move hot and humid air passed through the inside of the drum <NUM> to the evaporator <NUM>.

The evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> may be positioned inside the connecting duct <NUM>. The evaporator <NUM> may configure the heat pump <NUM> together with the condenser <NUM>, the compressor <NUM>, and the expansion valve <NUM>.

The heat pump <NUM> may cool hot air by circulating a refrigerant to remove moist from the air, and again heat the air. The evaporator <NUM> may remove moist from hot and humid air by cooling the air. Condensed water generated from air dehumidified by the evaporator <NUM> may be collected in a lower portion of the evaporator <NUM> and discharged to the outside.

The refrigerant of the heat pump <NUM> may receive heat from hot air in the evaporator <NUM>, then be compressed by the compressor <NUM>, and supplied to the condenser <NUM>. The air dehumidified by the evaporator <NUM> may enter the condenser <NUM>, be heated by the refrigerant, and then enter the drum <NUM>.

Because heat exchange between air and a refrigerant occurs through the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> of the heat pump <NUM> to form hot and dry air, the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> are referred to as a heat exchanger.

The hot and dry air formed through the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> may again enter the inside of the drum <NUM> through the blower <NUM> positioned inside the connecting duct <NUM>. The blower <NUM> may be positioned between the connecting duct <NUM> and the hot air guide duct <NUM>.

The connecting duct <NUM> may include a first connecting duct <NUM> installed on the base <NUM>, and a second connecting duct <NUM> coupled with the first connecting duct <NUM>. The evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> of the heat pump <NUM> may be positioned between the first connecting duct <NUM> and the second connecting duct <NUM>.

One end of the connecting duct <NUM> may be connected with the hot air discharging duct <NUM>, and the other end may be connected with the hot air guide duct <NUM>. The connecting duct <NUM> may include the first connecting hole 320a formed to be connected with the hot air discharging duct <NUM>, and the second connecting hole 320b formed to be connected with the hot air guide duct <NUM>. The first connecting hole 320a and the second connecting hole 320b may be formed to correspond to the first connecting duct <NUM> and the second connecting duct <NUM>, respectively, and the first connecting hole 320a may be connected with the second connecting hole 320b by coupling of the first connecting duct <NUM> with the second connecting duct <NUM>.

The first connecting duct <NUM> may be formed to install the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> therein. The first connecting duct <NUM> may be formed to install the blower <NUM> therein. An embodiment of the disclosure shows an example in which the first connecting duct <NUM> is formed separately from the base <NUM>. However, a concept of the disclosure is not limited to this.

The second connecting duct <NUM> may be coupled with the first connecting duct <NUM> to cover the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM>. The second connecting duct <NUM> may accommodate the blower <NUM> therein. The second connecting duct <NUM> may cover the blower <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing one side of a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure, <FIG> is an enlarged view showing 'B' of <FIG>, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of a blow fan and a guide duct according to an embodiment of the disclosure, <FIG> is an internal perspective view showing the other side of a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and <FIG> is a top view showing a connecting duct and a forced convection device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the clothes dryer <NUM> may further include the guide portion <NUM> connected with the blow fan <NUM> to dry air leaking out of the drum by using outside air entered the inside of the drum.

The guide portion <NUM> may be provided at a rear lower side of the front plate of the cabinet <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> may be provided below the front support frame <NUM>.

The clothes dryer <NUM> may further include a Printed Board Assembly (PBA) <NUM> for driving various loads required for overall operations. The PBA <NUM> may be adjacent to the right plate 14b of the cabinet.

The guide portion <NUM> may provide outside air toward the PBA <NUM> to cool the PBA <NUM>. For this, the guide portion <NUM> may be provided below the PBA <NUM> while being adjacent to the right plate 14b of the cabinet, although not limited thereto. However, the PBA <NUM> and the guide portion may be adjacent to the left plate 14a of the cabinet.

The guide portion <NUM> may lower temperature and humidity of moist air by mixing air leaking out of the drum with outside air of the cabinet <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> may disperse air leaking out of the drum <NUM> with the outside air.

The guide portion <NUM> may include a first guide portion <NUM> connected with the blow fan <NUM> to provide a part of outside air to the PBA <NUM>, and a second guide portion <NUM> connected with the first guide portion <NUM> to provide the other part of the outside air toward the drum <NUM> and dry air leaking out of the drum <NUM>. The first guide portion <NUM> and the second guide portion <NUM> may be integrated into one body.

The guide portion <NUM> may include the first guide portion <NUM> and the second guide portion <NUM> to cause outside air to flow in two directions such that the outside air is provided between the PBA <NUM> and the drum and the front support frame <NUM>.

The first guide portion <NUM> may include a first outlet <NUM>, and the second guide portion <NUM> may include a second outlet <NUM> such that outside air passed through the first outlet <NUM> cools the PBA <NUM> and outside air passed through the second outlet <NUM> dries air leaking out of the drum <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> may cool the PBA <NUM> while reducing relative humidity of air leaking out of the drum <NUM>.

Upon entrance of outside air through the blow fan <NUM>, the first guide portion <NUM> may move a part of the air toward the PBA <NUM> to cool the PBA <NUM>, and the second guide portion <NUM> communicating with the first guide portion <NUM> may move the other part of the air toward the drum to dry air leaking out of the drum.

In this case, the second guide portion <NUM> may dry air leaking between the drum <NUM> and the front support frame <NUM>. An end portion of the second guide portion <NUM> may extend toward between the drum <NUM> and the front support frame <NUM>.

Air leaking between the front end portion 22a of the drum <NUM> and the sealing member installing portion 50a of the front support frame <NUM> may be effectively dried through the second guide portion <NUM> to be lowered in temperature and humidity, and accordingly, the air may be prevented from being condensed inside the cabinet.

Particularly, the guide portion <NUM> being adjacent to the right plate 14b of the cabinet <NUM> may efficiently dry air leaking to a right side of the drum <NUM>. That is, because the guide portion <NUM> is adjacent to the first area <NUM> of the base <NUM>, the guide portion <NUM> may efficiently dry air leaking to the first area <NUM> from the drum <NUM>.

More specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the blow fan <NUM> may be accommodated inside a blow fan case <NUM> provided below the front support frame <NUM>, and the guide portion <NUM> may be coupled with the blow fan case <NUM> to perform a drying operation by using outside air entering by the blow fan <NUM>.

In this case, a coupling hole <NUM> may be provided in one side of the blow fan case <NUM>, and the guide portion <NUM> may include a coupling member <NUM> coupled with the coupling hole <NUM>.

The first guide portion <NUM> may include a first passage <NUM> connected with the first outlet <NUM>, and the second guide portion <NUM> may include a second passage <NUM> connected with the second outlet <NUM>. A part of outside air entered by the blow fan <NUM> may be discharged to the first outlet <NUM> and supplied toward the PBA <NUM>, and the other part of the outside air may pass through the second outlet <NUM> and be supplied toward the drum <NUM>.

Meanwhile, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the clothes dryer <NUM> may further include a forced convection device <NUM> on an outer surface of the connecting duct <NUM> to forcedly convect air leaking out of the drum <NUM>.

The forced convection device <NUM> may be adjacent to the left plate 14a of the cabinet <NUM> to forcedly convect air leaking to a left side of the drum <NUM>, thereby preventing condensation on the left side of the drum <NUM> inside the cabinet <NUM>. That is, the forced convection device <NUM> may be provided at an edge of the connecting duct <NUM> to circulate air leaking to the left side of the drum <NUM>.

A right portion of the drum <NUM> may be effectively prevented from condensation by the guide portion <NUM> provided adjacent to the right plate 14b of the cabinet <NUM>, and a left portion of the drum <NUM> may be effectively prevented from condensation by the forced convection device <NUM>, although not limited thereto. However, the guide portion <NUM> and the forced convection device <NUM> may be provided on the same side with respect to the drum <NUM>. Also, the guide portion <NUM> may be provided to the right side of the drum <NUM> and the forced convection device <NUM> may be provided to the left side of the drum <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the forced convection device <NUM> may be provided in the second area <NUM> forming lower temperature than that of the first area <NUM> of the connecting duct <NUM>. Because air leaking out of the drum is more condensed at relatively lower temperature, the forced convection device <NUM> may be provided in the second area <NUM> to effectively prevent condensation of air on the second area <NUM>.

The forced convection device <NUM> may include a convection fan <NUM> for moving air by rotating, and a convection fan case <NUM> accommodating the convection fan <NUM> therein. The forced convection device <NUM> may be provided at an edge of the second area <NUM>. The forced convection device <NUM> may be positioned in a direction from a front portion of the cabinet <NUM> toward a rear portion of the cabinet <NUM> to move air to the rear portion of the cabinet <NUM>, that is, toward the rear support frame <NUM>.

Meanwhile, as described above, the sealing member <NUM> may be provided between the front end portion 22a of the drum <NUM> and the sealing member installing portion 50a of the front support frame <NUM>. Inside air of the drum <NUM> may leak to a gap (g1 and g2 of <FIG>) between the drum <NUM> and the front support frame <NUM>. That is, inside air of the drum <NUM> may leak between the sealing member <NUM> and the drum <NUM> (g1) or between the sealing member <NUM> and the front support frame <NUM> (g2). The forced convection device <NUM> may dissipate air leaking between the sealing member <NUM> and the front support frame <NUM> through forced convection, thereby preventing condensation generation by air leaking out of the drum <NUM> inside the cabinet <NUM>. In this case, because the forced convection device <NUM> is located behind the sealing member <NUM>, the forced convection device <NUM> may effectively prevent condensation of air leaking between the sealing member <NUM> and the front support frame.

Claim 1:
A clothes dryer comprising:
a cabinet (<NUM>) including an inlet and a base (<NUM>);
a drum (<NUM>) rotatably provided inside the cabinet (<NUM>), the drum (<NUM>) including a front end portion and a rear end portion;
a support frame including:
a front support frame (<NUM>) supporting the front end portion of the drum, and having a laundry inlet (<NUM>), wherein the inlet of the cabinet, the laundry inlet, and the front end portion of the drum are positioned so that laundry is insertable through the inlet of the cabinet and then through the laundry inlet to be received in the drum, and
a rear support frame (<NUM>) supporting the rear end portion of the drum;
a blow fan (<NUM>) below the front support frame; and
a guide portion (<NUM>) behind the blow fan, and connected with the blow fan,
wherein the blow fan and the guide portion are configured so that:
the blow fan (<NUM>) is operable to move outside air to inside of the cabinet, characterized in that
the guide portion (<NUM>) guides a first portion of the outside air moved inside of the cabinet (<NUM>) by the blow fan (<NUM>) toward a gap between the drum and the front support frame to dry air leaking from between the drum and the front support frame.