Patent Description:
A dishwasher refers to a device that washes washing targets, such as dishes and cookware, contained in the dishwasher by spraying washing water, such as water, to the washing targets. In this case, the washing water used for a washing process may include a detergent.

In general, the dishwasher includes a washing tub configured to define a washing space, an accommodation part disposed in the washing tub and configured to accommodate the washing targets, a spray arm configured to spray the washing water to the accommodation part, and a sump configured to store water and supply the washing water to the spray arm.

The use of the dishwasher may contribute to user convenience by reducing the time and effort required to wash washing targets, such as dishes, after a meal.

Typically, the dishwasher may be configured to perform a washing operation of washing the washing target, a rinsing operation of rinsing the washing target, and a drying operation of drying the washing target completely washed and rinsed.

Recently, dishwashers have been introduced, which include a moisture absorption device that may absorb moisture contained in air discharged from a tub and resupply the air into the tub during the drying operation to reduce the time required to dry the washing target. <CIT> relates to a dishwasher with a tank for the dishes and a sorption dryer.

In this regard, <CIT> (Patent Document <NUM>) discloses a dishwasher including a moisture absorption device that removes moisture contained in air discharged from a tub and resupplies the air into the tub.

In the dishwasher of Patent Document <NUM>, a suction port, through which air is discharged from the tub, is penetratively formed in a left surface of the tub, the moisture absorption device, which includes a moisture absorbent, a heater part, and the like, is accommodated in a base so as to be very adjacent to the left surface of the tub, and a discharge port, through which air from which moisture is removed is discharged, is penetratively formed in a lower surface of the tub so as to be very adjacent to the left surface of the tub.

The moisture absorption device disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> is disposed to be biased toward the left side of the dishwasher based on a horizontal direction.

Because the moisture absorption device of the dishwasher disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> is disposed to be biased toward the left side as described above, the moisture absorption device cannot effectively serve as a counterweight for preventing the dishwasher from falling over by a load applied to a door when the door is fully opened, which causes a problem in that a weight balance having a significant weight needs to be additionally provided to prevent the dishwasher from falling over.

In addition, in the dishwasher disclosed in Patent Document <NUM>, the moisture absorption device, which has a significant weight ratio compared to other objects accommodated in the base, applies an eccentric weight to the dishwasher, which causes a problem in that noise and vibration, which are generated during the operation of the dishwasher, are highly likely to become severe.

The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above-mentioned problems in the related art, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher in which a blowing part, a heater part, and a moisture absorbent, which constitute a moisture sorption drying device, are arranged between a sump and a rear surface of a base so as to be as close as possible to the rear surface of the base and arranged in a long line in a leftward/rightward direction, such that the moisture sorption drying device may effectively serve as a counterweight for preventing the dishwasher from falling over, and a volume and weight of a weight balance additionally provided may be reduced.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher in which a moisture absorbent is disposed to be closer to the other side surface of the base than the sump based on the leftward/rightward direction to minimize weight eccentricity that may be caused by a water jacket disposed on one side surface of the base, and constituent components are disposed in consideration of a weight distribution in a forward/rearward direction and the leftward/rightward direction to minimize vibration and noise that are highly likely to be generated by the weight eccentricity.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects and advantages of the present invention, which are not mentioned above, may be understood from the following descriptions and more clearly understood from the embodiment of the present invention. In addition, it can be easily understood that the objects and advantages of the present invention may be realized by means defined in the claims and a combination thereof.

A dishwasher according to the present invention includes: a tub having a washing space therein; a base disposed below the tub and configured to define a predetermined installation space; a moisture sorption drying device accommodated in the installation space and configured to absorb moisture from air discharged from the tub and resupply the air into the tub; and a sump accommodated in the installation space and configured to store washing water to be provided to the washing space, in which the moisture sorption drying device includes: a blowing part configured to generate an airflow by accelerating the air discharged from the tub; a heater part configured to heat the air having passed through the blowing part; and a moisture absorbent configured to absorb water vapor contained in the air having passed through the heater part, and in which the blowing part, the heater part, and the moisture absorbent are disposed in the installation space based on a forward/rearward direction so as to be arranged between the sump and a rear surface of the base in a leftward/rightward direction.

In addition, the blowing part, the heater part, and the moisture absorbent may be arranged in this order while being disposed in the leftward/rightward direction from one side surface of the base toward the other side surface disposed to be opposite to one side surface.

In addition, the moisture sorption drying device may further include a housing having a heater accommodation portion for accommodating the heater part, and a moisture absorbent accommodation portion for accommodating the moisture absorbent, and the moisture absorbent accommodation portion may be disposed to be closer to the other side surface of the base than the sump based on the leftward/rightward direction.

In addition, the installation space may include: a first space formed between the other side surface of the base and an imaginary vertical plane passing through a center of the sump and extending in the forward/rearward direction; and a second space formed between the imaginary vertical plane and one side surface of the base, and the moisture absorbent accommodation portion may be disposed in the first space as a whole.

In addition, the blowing part may be disposed in the second space as a whole, a part of the heater part may be disposed in the first space, and the remaining part of the heater part may be disposed in the second space.

In addition, the dishwasher may further include: a washing pump configured to pressurize the washing water stored in the sump and supply the washing water to the washing space, in which the washing pump is disposed in the first space together with the moisture absorbent accommodation portion.

In addition, the dishwasher may further include: a weight balance accommodated in the installation space and disposed between the moisture sorption drying device and the rear surface of the base, in which a weight of the weight balance is smaller than a weight of the moisture sorption drying device.

In addition, a volume of the moisture absorbent accommodation portion may be smaller than a volume of the weight balance.

In addition, a center of gravity of the weight balance and a center of gravity of the moisture sorption drying device may be provided to be closer to the other side surface of the base than one side surface of the base based on the leftward/rightward direction.

In addition, the center of gravity of the moisture sorption drying device may be formed on the moisture absorbent accommodation portion.

In addition, a weight of the moisture absorbent accommodated in the moisture absorbent accommodation portion may be within a range of <NUM> to <NUM>.

In addition, the dishwasher may further include: a water jacket disposed outside one side surface of the tub and configured to store the washing water; and a water softening device configured to soften the washing water stored in the water jacket and washing water provided from an external water supply source and provide the washing water to the sump, in which the water jacket is coupled to one side surface of the tub and extends in a downward direction toward the other side surface of the base, and in which the water softening device is disposed between the water jacket and the sump based on the leftward/rightward direction.

In addition, a capacity of the washing water discharged from the water softening device or stored in the water jacket may be within a range of <NUM> to <NUM> liters.

In addition, the capacity of the washing water discharged from the water softening device or stored in the water jacket may be less than <NUM> liters.

In addition, the tub may have an air suction hole through which air to be introduced into the blowing part passes, and an air supply hole through which air having passed through the moisture absorbent passes, the air suction hole may be formed in one side surface of the tub, and the air supply hole may be formed in a lower surface of the tub.

In addition, the air suction hole may be formed at a position on one side surface of the tub that is closer to a rear surface of the tub than the sump.

In addition, the air supply hole may be formed at a position on the lower surface of the tub that is closer to a rear surface of the tub than the sump.

According to the dishwasher according to the present invention, the moisture sorption drying device may effectively serve as the counterweight for preventing the dishwasher from falling over.

In addition, according to the dishwasher according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the volume and weight of the weight balance provided to prevent the dishwasher from falling over.

In addition, according to the dishwasher according to the present invention, the moisture absorbent and the moisture absorbent housing of the moisture sorption drying device are disposed to be opposite to the water jacket based on the sump, which may minimize the weight eccentricity, disperse the weight, and minimize the occurrence of the vibration and noise.

The specific effects of the present invention, together with the above-mentioned effects, will be described along with the description of specific items for carrying out the present invention.

The above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the present invention, the specific descriptions of publicly known technologies related with the present invention will be omitted when it is determined that the specific descriptions may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar constituent elements.

Terms "first", "second", and the like may be used to describe various constituent elements, but the constituent elements are of course not limited by these terms. These terms are merely used to distinguish one constituent element from another constituent element. Therefore, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the first constituent element may, of course, be the second constituent element.

Throughout the specification, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the respective constituent elements may each be singular or plural.

Hereinafter, a configuration in which any component is disposed "above (below)" a constituent element or disposed on "an upper portion (or a lower portion)" of a constituent element may not only mean that any component is disposed to adjoin an upper surface (or a lower surface) of the constituent element, but also mean that another component may be interposed between the constituent element and any component disposed above (or below) the constituent element.

In addition, when one constituent element is described as being "connected," "coupled," or "attached" to another constituent element, it should be understood that the constituent elements may be connected or attached directly to each other, and an intervening constituent element may be "interposed" between the constituent elements, or the constituent elements may be "connected," "coupled," or "attached" to each other by an intervening constituent element.

Singular expressions used in the present specification include plural expressions unless clearly described as different meanings in the context. It should not be interpreted that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes" and/or "including," used herein necessarily include all of the several constituent elements or several steps disclosed in the present specification, and it should be interpreted that the terms do not include some of the constituent elements or steps and may further include additional constituent elements or steps.

In addition, singular expressions used in the present specification include plural expressions unless clearly described as different meanings in the context. It should not be interpreted that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes" and/or "including," used herein necessarily include all of the several constituent elements or several steps disclosed in the present specification, and it should be interpreted that the terms do not include some of the constituent elements or steps and may further include additional constituent elements or steps.

Throughout the specification, "A and/or B" means A, B, or A and B unless explicitly described to the contrary, and "C to D" means C or more and D or less unless explicitly described to the contrary.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings illustrating configurations according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an overall structure of a dishwasher <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a front perspective view illustrating the dishwasher according to the present invention, <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view briefly illustrating an internal structure of the dishwasher according to the present invention, and <FIG> is a front perspective view illustrating a state in which a door <NUM> of the dishwasher <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is opened.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the dishwasher <NUM> according to the present invention includes a casing <NUM> configured to define an external shape, a tub <NUM> installed in the casing <NUM>, configured to define a washing space <NUM> in which a washing target is washed, and having an opened front side, the door <NUM> configured to open or close the opened front side of the tub <NUM>, a drive part <NUM> positioned below the tub <NUM> and configured to supply, collect, circulate, and drain washing water used to wash the washing target, an accommodation part <NUM> detachably provided in the washing space <NUM> in the tub <NUM> and configured such that the washing target is seated in the accommodation part <NUM>, and a spray part disposed adjacent to the accommodation part <NUM> and configured to spray the washing water used to wash the washing target.

In this case, for example, the washing targets seated in the accommodation part <NUM> may be dishes, such as bowls, plates, spoons, and chopsticks, and other cookware. Hereinafter, the washing target will be referred to as the dish unless otherwise stated.

The tub <NUM> may be formed in a box shape having a front side entirely opened and correspond to a component known as a so-called washing tub.

The washing space <NUM> may be formed in the tub <NUM>, and the opened front side may be opened or closed by the door <NUM>.

The tub <NUM> may be formed by pressing a metal plate highly resistant to a high temperature and moisture, for example, a board made of a material such as a stainless steel.

In addition, a plurality of brackets may be disposed on an inner surface of the tub <NUM>, and the plurality of brackets serves to support and install functional components, such as the accommodation part <NUM> and the spray part to be described below, in the tub <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the drive part <NUM> may include a sump <NUM> configured to store the washing water, a sump cover <NUM> configured to separate the sump <NUM> from the tub <NUM>, a water supply part <NUM> configured to supply the washing water to the sump <NUM> from the outside, a water discharge part <NUM> configured to discharge the washing water in the sump <NUM> to the outside, and a washing pump <NUM> and a supply channel <NUM> configured to supply the washing water in the sump <NUM> to the spray part.

The water supply part <NUM> serves to supply the washing water, which is supplied from an external water supply source, to the sump <NUM>.

As described below, the water supply part <NUM> may include a water jacket <NUM> configured to store the washing water supplied from the external water supply source, and a water softening device <NUM> or water purification filter (not illustrated) configured to soften the washing water stored in the water jacket.

The sump cover <NUM> may be disposed above the sump <NUM> and serve to separate the tub <NUM> and the sump <NUM>. In addition, the sump cover <NUM> may have a plurality of recovery holes for recovering the washing water, which is sprayed to the washing space <NUM> by the spray part, into the sump <NUM>.

That is, the washing water, which is sprayed toward the dishes by the spray part, may fall downward to a lower side of the washing space <NUM> and be recovered into the sump <NUM> through the sump cover <NUM>.

The washing pump <NUM> is provided at a lateral or lower side of the sump <NUM> and serves to pressurize the washing water and supply the washing water to the spray part.

One end of the washing pump <NUM> may be connected to the sump <NUM>, and the other end of the washing pump <NUM> may be connected to the supply channel <NUM>. The washing pump <NUM> may include an impeller <NUM>, a motor <NUM>, and the like. When electric power is supplied to the motor <NUM>, the impeller <NUM> may rotate, and the washing water in the sump <NUM> may be pressurized and then supplied to the spray part via the supply channel <NUM>.

Although not illustrated, a washing water heater may be provided at one side of the washing pump <NUM> and serve to heat the supplied washing water during a washing operation or a drying/rinsing operation.

Meanwhile, the supply channel <NUM> may serve to selectively supply the spray part with the washing water supplied from the washing pump <NUM>.

For example, the supply channel <NUM> may include a first supply channel <NUM> connected to a lower spray arm <NUM>, and a second supply channel <NUM> connected to an upper spray arm <NUM> and a top nozzle <NUM>. A supply channel switching valve <NUM> may be provided in the supply channel <NUM> and selectively open or close the supply channels <NUM> and <NUM>.

In this case, the supply channel switching valve <NUM> may be controlled to sequentially or simultaneously open the supply channels <NUM> and <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the spray part is configured to supply the washing water to the dishes and the like accommodated in the accommodation part <NUM>.

More specifically, the spray part may include the lower spray arm <NUM> positioned at a lower side of the tub <NUM> and configured to spray the washing water to a lower rack <NUM>, the upper spray arm <NUM> positioned between the lower rack <NUM> and an upper rack <NUM> and configured to spray the washing water to the lower rack <NUM> and the upper rack <NUM>, and the top nozzle <NUM> positioned at an upper side of the tub <NUM> and configured to spray the washing water to a top rack <NUM> or the upper rack <NUM>.

In particular, the lower spray arm <NUM> and the upper spray arm <NUM> may be rotatably provided in the washing space <NUM> of the tub <NUM> and spray the washing water while rotating toward the dishes in the accommodation part <NUM>.

The lower spray arm <NUM> may be rotatably supported above the sump cover <NUM> to spray the washing water toward the lower rack <NUM> while rotating at a position below the lower rack <NUM>.

In addition, the upper spray arm <NUM> may be rotatably supported by a spray arm holder <NUM> to spray the washing water while rotating at a position between the lower rack <NUM> and the upper rack <NUM>.

Meanwhile, although not illustrated, a means for switching a direction of the washing water sprayed from the lower spray arm <NUM> to an upward direction (U-direction) may be further provided on a lower surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM> to improve washing efficiency.

Because the configuration already publicly known in the art may be applied to the detailed configuration of the spray part, a description of the specific configuration of the spray part will be omitted hereinafter.

Meanwhile, the accommodation part <NUM> for accommodating the dishes may be provided in the washing space <NUM>.

The accommodation part <NUM> may be configured to be withdrawn from the inside of the tub <NUM> through the opened front side of the tub <NUM>.

<FIG> exemplarily illustrates an embodiment in which the accommodation part includes the lower rack <NUM> positioned at the lower side of the tub <NUM> and configured to accommodate comparatively large dishes, the upper rack <NUM> positioned above the lower rack <NUM> and configured to accommodate dishes with middle sizes, and the top rack <NUM> positioned at the upper side of the tub <NUM> and configured to accommodate dishes and the like with small sizes. As illustrated, the description will be made on the basis of the embodiment of the dishwasher <NUM> in which three accommodation parts <NUM> are provided. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

The lower rack <NUM>, the upper rack <NUM>, and the top rack <NUM> may be configured to be withdrawn to the outside through the opened front side of the tub <NUM>.

To this end, guide rails <NUM> may be provided at two opposite side walls that define an inner peripheral surface of the tub <NUM>. For example, the guide rails <NUM> may include an upper rail, a lower rail, a top rail, and the like.

Wheels may be provided on a lower portion of each of the lower rack <NUM>, the upper rack <NUM>, and the top rack <NUM>. A user may withdraw the lower rack <NUM>, the upper rack <NUM>, and the top rack <NUM> to the outside through the front side of the tub <NUM> and easily accommodate the dishes on the lower rack <NUM>, the upper rack <NUM>, and the top rack <NUM> or easily take out the completely washed dishes from the lower rack <NUM>, the upper rack <NUM>, and the top rack <NUM>.

The guide rail <NUM> may be provided in the form of a stationary guide rail with a simple rail shape for withdrawing or loading the accommodation part <NUM> or a stretchable guide rail configured to guide the withdrawal and accommodation of the accommodation part <NUM> and increase a withdrawal distance in accordance with the withdrawal of the accommodation part <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the door <NUM> serves to open or close the opened front side of the tub <NUM>.

Typically, a hinge part (not illustrated) is provided below the opened front side of the tub <NUM> to open or close the door <NUM>, and the door <NUM> is opened while rotating about the hinge part as a rotation axis.

In this case, a handle <NUM> used to open the door <NUM> may be provided on an outer surface of the door <NUM>, and a control panel <NUM> configured to control the dishwasher <NUM> may be provided on the outer surface of the door <NUM>.

As illustrated, the control panel <NUM> may have a button part <NUM> including a display <NUM> configured to visually display information on a current operating state or the like of the dishwasher, a selection button to which the user's selection manipulation is inputted, and a power button to which the user's manipulation for turning on or off the power of the dishwasher is inputted.

Meanwhile, an inner surface of the door <NUM> may define one surface of the tub <NUM> when the door <NUM> is closed, and the inner surface of the door <NUM> may define a seating surface on which the lower rack <NUM> of the accommodation part <NUM> may be supported when the door <NUM> is fully opened.

To this end, when the door <NUM> is fully opened, the inner surface of the door <NUM> may be formed in a horizontal plane state in a direction identical to a direction in which the guide rail <NUM> configured to guide the lower rack <NUM> extends.

Meanwhile, a detergent supply device <NUM> may be further provided on the inner surface of the door <NUM> and automatically supply a detergent into the tub <NUM>.

Meanwhile, a moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may be provided in an installation space of a base <NUM> at the lower side of the tub <NUM>. The moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may absorb water vapor contained in air discharged from the tub <NUM> and then resupply the air into the tub <NUM> during the drying operation.

As illustrated, the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may include a suction duct <NUM> configured to suck air discharged from the tub <NUM>, a blowing part <NUM> configured to generate an airflow, a heater part <NUM> configured to heat the air sucked from the tub <NUM>, and a moisture absorbent <NUM> configured to absorb water vapor contained in the air.

As described below, an air supply hole <NUM> may be provided in the lower surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM> so that the air from which water vapor is removed by the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may be introduced into the tub <NUM>.

In addition, an air suction hole <NUM>, through which humid air is discharged from the tub <NUM>, may be provided in one side surface, e.g., a right surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM>, and a grille cap <NUM> may be fixed to the air suction hole <NUM> and coupled to an inlet of the suction duct <NUM>.

A detailed configuration of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> will be described below with reference to <FIG> below.

Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG>.

First, as illustrated in <FIG>, the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may be disposed such that the remaining parts, which exclude a main duct <NUM> of the suction duct <NUM> and a discharge guide <NUM>, are accommodated in an installation space between the base <NUM> and the lower surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM> and supported by a bottom surface <NUM> of the base <NUM>.

For example, the blowing part <NUM>, the heater part <NUM>, and a housing <NUM> of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may be disposed at positions adjacent to a rear surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> and arranged in parallel with the rear surface <NUM> of the base <NUM>. More specifically, as described below, the blowing part <NUM>, the heater part <NUM>, and the housing <NUM> may be disposed in the installation space of the base <NUM> so as to be arranged between the sump <NUM> and the rear surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> in a leftward/rightward direction.

The arrangement position of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may be selected in consideration of the properties of the heater part <NUM> of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> that generates high-temperature heat with approximately <NUM> or more in a moisture absorbent drying mode or a moisture absorbent regenerating mode. That is, a position, which avoids electrical components relatively greatly affected by high-temperature heat, may be selected.

As described above, the blowing part <NUM>, the heater part <NUM>, and the housing <NUM> of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> are disposed adjacent to the rear surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> and arranged in parallel with the rear surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> in a long line, such that the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may additionally serve as a counterweight for preventing the dishwasher <NUM> from being inclined forward, i.e., falling over forward by a load applied to the door <NUM> when the door <NUM> is in a fully opened state. Because the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> serves as a counterweight as described below, a weight balance <NUM>, which is mounted to prevent the dishwasher <NUM> from falling over, may be miniaturized and lightweight.

In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, the arrangement position may be selected based on the position of the air supply hole <NUM> formed in the lower surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM>. The air supply hole <NUM>, through which dry air is discharged, may be formed at a corner of the lower surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM> that is adjacent to a rear surface <NUM> and a left surface <NUM> in consideration of user's safety so that the air supply hole <NUM> is distinguished from a water softener communication hole <NUM> disposed adjacent to the front side of the tub <NUM>. Therefore, as illustrated, the air supply hole <NUM> may be formed at a position closer to the rear surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM> than the sump <NUM>.

The air, which is supplied through the air supply hole <NUM>, may be uniformly distributed to the washing space <NUM> of the tub <NUM> through the discharge guide <NUM> disposed in a state of being exposed to the washing space <NUM>.

In particular, the housing <NUM> of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM>, which accommodates the moisture absorbent <NUM>, may be disposed adjacent to a lower side of the air supply hole <NUM> so that the air with absorbed moisture may be effectively supplied through the air supply hole <NUM> formed at this position.

However, the arrangement position of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> is provided for illustrative purposes only. On the contrary, the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may be disposed at a position adjacent to a left surface <NUM>, a right surface <NUM>, or a front surface <NUM> instead of the rear surface <NUM> of the base <NUM>. Hereinafter, the description will be made on the basis of an embodiment in which the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> is disposed adjacent to the rear surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> and arranged approximately in parallel with the rear surface <NUM> of the base <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in <FIG>, the blowing part <NUM>, the heater part <NUM>, and the housing <NUM> of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may be disposed adjacent to the rear surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> and arranged in parallel with the rear surface <NUM>. In case that the air supply hole <NUM> is formed at the corner of the lower surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM> that is adjacent to the rear surface and the left surface. The air suction hole <NUM>, through which humid air is discharged from the tub <NUM>, may be formed at an edge of the right surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM> at which the right surface <NUM> and the rear surface <NUM> meet together. The air suction hole <NUM> may be formed at a position adjacent to an upper surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM>. In addition, like the air supply hole <NUM>, the air suction hole <NUM> may be formed at a position closer to the rear surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM> than the sump <NUM> based on the forward/rearward direction.

The position of the air suction hole <NUM> may be selected as a position maximally distant from the air supply hole <NUM> formed in the lower surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM>.

Because the air suction hole <NUM> is disposed at the position maximally distant from the air supply hole <NUM> and the discharge guide <NUM> as described above, it is possible to remarkably reduce a likelihood that the air passing through the air supply hole <NUM> and the discharge guide <NUM> is introduced directly back into the air suction hole without passing over the washing target.

In addition, as described below, the air suction hole <NUM> may be disposed at a position higher in the upward/downward direction than an upper rail <NUM> constituting the guide rail <NUM>. For example, the air suction hole <NUM> may be disposed between a top rail <NUM> and the upper rail <NUM> based on the upward/downward direction.

Therefore, because the air suction hole <NUM> may be formed at the position higher in the upward/downward direction than the upper rack <NUM> mounted on the upper rail <NUM> and configured to move while being guided by the upper rail <NUM>, an airflow F in the washing space <NUM> may be guided so that the air uniformly passes through the lower rack <NUM> and the upper rack <NUM> and then is introduced into the air suction hole <NUM>.

In addition, the air suction hole <NUM>, together with the main duct <NUM> to be described below, may be formed rearward of the water jacket <NUM> that stores the washing water to be supplied to the sump <NUM> that stores the washing water.

In this case, as described below, a tub hole <NUM> may be formed in the water jacket <NUM> and allow the internal space to communicate with the washing space <NUM> of the tub <NUM>, and a water jacket communication hole <NUM> may be provided in the right surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM> while corresponding to the tub hole <NUM>.

The air suction hole <NUM> may be formed at a position, which may avoid the water jacket <NUM>, and formed above the water jacket communication hole <NUM>.

A grille cap 118a similar in shape to a grille cap <NUM> of the air suction hole <NUM> may be coupled to the tub hole <NUM> to minimize the inflow of the washing water and prevent the inflow of foreign substances.

Meanwhile, the grille cap <NUM> may be coupled to the air suction hole <NUM>. The grille cap <NUM> may minimize a degree to which the washing water and foreign substances, which scatter in the tub <NUM>, are introduced into the suction duct <NUM>.

The grille cap <NUM> may pass through the air suction hole <NUM> and be coupled to an inlet 811a of the main duct <NUM> that constitutes the suction duct <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate a detailed configuration of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM>.

As illustrated, the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may include the blowing part <NUM> configured to generate the airflow F of the air sucked from the tub <NUM> and to be supplied to the tub <NUM>, the heater part <NUM> having a heater <NUM> configured to heat the air to be supplied to the moisture absorbent <NUM>, the plurality of moisture absorbents <NUM> disposed at a downstream side of the blowing part <NUM> and the heater part <NUM> in a flow direction of the air and configured to absorb moisture contained in the air, the housing <NUM> configured to define therein a heater accommodation space S1 for accommodating the heater part <NUM> and a moisture absorbent accommodation space S3 for accommodating the moisture absorbent <NUM>, and the suction duct <NUM> configured to connect the air suction hole of the tub <NUM> and the blowing part <NUM>.

Based on the flow direction of the airflow F, the blowing part <NUM> is disposed at an upstream side of the heater part <NUM> and the moisture absorbent <NUM> and disposed at a downstream side of the suction duct <NUM>. The blowing part <NUM> serves to suck the air from the tub <NUM> and generate the airflow F of the air so that the sucked air may pass through the moisture absorbent <NUM>.

An assembly may be formed in which a blowing fan (not illustrated) and a blowing motor (not illustrated) configured to generate rotational driving power for the blowing fan are modularized together and accommodated in a fan housing <NUM>.

The fan housing <NUM> may be fixed to a main housing <NUM>, which will be described below, by means of a connecting bracket <NUM>.

Meanwhile, a sub-duct <NUM>, which constitutes the suction duct <NUM>, may be coupled and fastened to the other side surface of the fan housing <NUM> in which the suction port is formed.

For example, a Sirocco fan is appropriate in consideration of a positional constraint and a spatial constraint related to the installation of the blowing fan. However, the type of blowing fan applied to the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> is not limited.

In case that the Sirocco fan is applied in the illustrated embodiment, the air, which is guided by the sub-duct <NUM> of the suction duct <NUM>, may be introduced from the other side surface, i.e., the rear surface of the fan housing <NUM> in a direction parallel to a rotation axis from a center of the Sirocco fan, the air may be accelerated radially outward, and then the air may be discharged through the discharge port.

The air, which is accelerated and discharged, may generate the airflow F, pass through an introduction port IN1 of a heater accommodation portion <NUM> of the main housing <NUM>, and then be introduced into a heater housing <NUM> to be described below. In addition, condensate water droplets produced in the main duct <NUM> and the sub-duct <NUM> may be introduced into the fan housing <NUM>, pass through a discharge port <NUM>, and be introduced into the introduction port IN1 of the heater accommodation portion <NUM>.

The heater part <NUM> is disposed between the blowing part <NUM> and the moisture absorbent <NUM> based on the flow direction of the airflow F and serves to heat the airflow F of the air to dry and regenerate the moisture absorbent <NUM> in the moisture absorbent drying mode or the moisture absorbent regenerating mode.

In case that the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> generates a high-temperature airflow F in the moisture absorbent drying mode, electric power may be supplied to the heater <NUM>, such that the heater <NUM> may heat the airflow F. In case that the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> generates a low-temperature airflow F in a moisture absorption mode, a supply of electric power to the heater <NUM> may be cut off, such that the operation of the heater <NUM> may be stopped.

In this case, the operation of the blowing motor may be maintained in case that the low-temperature airflow F is generated in the moisture absorption mode.

For example, a tubular sheath heater may be selected, and the sheath heater may have a comparatively simple structure and excellent heat generation efficiency and be advantageous in preventing an electric leakage caused by the washing water introduced from the tub <NUM>. However, the type of the heater <NUM> provided in the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited.

In order to improve heat exchange efficiency, a heater main body <NUM> of the heater <NUM>, which is a sheath heater, is exposed directly to the airflow F of the air in an air passageway in the heater housing <NUM> and has a three-dimensional shape bent multiple times to ensure a maximum heat transfer area.

For example, <FIG> illustrates an embodiment in which the heater main body <NUM> extending in a 'U' shape is bent again by <NUM> degrees so that the heater main body <NUM> is formed in two rows. Hereinafter, the description will be made on the basis of the embodiment in the heater main body <NUM> extends in two rows. However, the present invention is not limited.

The heater main body <NUM> of the heater <NUM> may be disposed to extend between the introduction port IN1 formed at one end, i.e., a tip portion of the heater accommodation portion <NUM> of the main housing <NUM> and a discharge port OUT1 formed at the other end, i.e., a rear end of the heater accommodation portion <NUM>.

In this case, the heater main body <NUM> may be disposed in the heater accommodation portion <NUM> in a state in which a longitudinal direction of the heater main body <NUM> is arranged to be parallel to a longitudinal direction of the heater accommodation space S1 and the heater housing <NUM>.

Therefore, the heat exchange performance and heat exchange efficiency of the heater main body <NUM> may be improved in comparison with a case in which the longitudinal direction of the heater main body <NUM> is arranged to intersect the longitudinal direction of the heater accommodation space S1.

In addition, the heater main body <NUM> may be disposed in the heater accommodation portion <NUM> of the main housing <NUM> so as to be closer to the discharge port OUT1 formed at the rear end of the heater accommodation portion <NUM> than the introduction port IN1 formed at the tip portion of the heater accommodation portion <NUM>.

One end and the other end of the heater main body <NUM> may extend while penetrating a front surface of the heater housing <NUM> and a front surface portion of the heater accommodation portion <NUM> of the main housing <NUM>.

In addition, a pair of terminals <NUM> may be formed at one end and the other end of the heater main body <NUM> to receive electric power.

As illustrated, the pair of terminals <NUM> may be installed and fixed to the heater accommodation portion <NUM> of the main housing <NUM> by means of a terminal fixing part <NUM>.

In this case, a fixing slot 8411c1 may be provided in a front surface portion of the heater accommodation portion <NUM> so that the terminal fixing part <NUM> may be fitted with the fixing slot 8411c1 in a sliding manner.

Slit-shaped grooves, which extend in the sliding direction, i.e., the upward/downward direction (U-direction), may be formed in two opposite surfaces of the terminal fixing part <NUM>, and the terminal fixing part <NUM> may be fitted with the fixing slot 8411c1 while sliding from above to below so that an edge of the fixing slot 8411c1 is introduced into the slit-shaped grooves.

As described above, the tip side of the heater main body <NUM> may be fixed and supported by the terminal fixing part <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a rear end side of the heater main body <NUM> may be fixed and supported by a single heater bracket <NUM>. That is, the rear end side of the heater main body <NUM> may be supported on the air passageway by means of the heater bracket <NUM> in a state in which the rear end side of the heater main body <NUM> is separated from the heater housing <NUM> and the heater accommodation portion <NUM> of the main housing <NUM>.

In consideration of the function of the heater main body <NUM> that generates high-temperature heat, the heater bracket <NUM> may be made of a metallic material and particularly manufactured by pressing a metal plate highly resistant to a high temperature and moisture, for example, a board made of a material such as a stainless steel.

Meanwhile, the heater housing <NUM> may be formed in a hollow shape with an empty space so that the air passageway in which the heater main body <NUM> is disposed is formed in the heater housing <NUM>. The air passageway in the heater housing <NUM> may define a first flow channel together with an air introduction space S2 formed below a moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM>.

As described above, the heater main body <NUM> may be disposed in the heater housing <NUM> so that the longitudinal direction of the heater main body <NUM> is parallel to the flow direction of the airflow F. Therefore, like the heater main body <NUM>, the heater housing <NUM> may be disposed in the heater accommodation space S1 of the heater accommodation portion <NUM> of the main housing <NUM> so that the longitudinal direction of the heater housing <NUM> is parallel to the flow direction of the airflow F.

In this case, the heater housing <NUM> may extend linearly toward the air introduction space S2 in the longitudinal direction of the heater accommodation portion <NUM> while corresponding to the shape of the heater accommodation space S1.

However, a length of the heater housing <NUM> may be longer than a length of the heater main body <NUM> so that the heater housing <NUM> may accommodate the entire heater main body <NUM>.

In this case, the tip portion of the heater housing <NUM>, which corresponds to the upstream side based on the flow direction of the airflow F, and the rear end of the heater housing <NUM>, which corresponds to the downstream side, may be entirely opened so that the airflow F may flow.

For example, the heater housing <NUM> may include a lower housing <NUM> and an upper housing <NUM> formed in shapes divided in the upward/downward direction (U-direction) so that the tip portion and the rear end may easily define the opened air passageway as described above.

The lower housing <NUM>, which constitutes the divided lower portion of the heater housing <NUM>, defines a front surface, a rear surface, and a lower surface of the heater housing <NUM> based on the illustrated state.

A passing slot 8321a with a 'U' shape may be formed in a front surface 8321c of the lower housing <NUM> so that a terminal <NUM> of the heater main body <NUM> may pass through the passing slot 8321a forward.

A lower surface 8321e of the lower housing <NUM>, which defines a lower-end surface of the internal air passageway, may be formed approximately in parallel with a bottom surface portion of the heater accommodation portion <NUM> of the main housing <NUM>. As described below, because the bottom surface portion of the heater accommodation portion <NUM> extends in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the heater accommodation portion <NUM>, the lower surface 8321e of the lower housing <NUM> may also extend in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the heater accommodation portion <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the lower housing <NUM> provides an air passageway having a flow path area larger than a cross-sectional area of the introduction port IN1 of the heater accommodation portion <NUM>.

To this end, as illustrated in <FIG>, for example, a tip portion side of the lower housing <NUM> may include an expansion section having a cross-sectional area that gradually expands in the forward/rearward direction in the flow direction of the airflow F.

Because the air passageway expands as described above, a flow velocity of the airflow F may be reduced while air passes through the introduction port IN1 of the heater accommodation portion <NUM>, such that the efficiency of heat exchange between the heater main body <NUM> and the airflow F may be improved.

Meanwhile, the upper housing <NUM> is coupled to an opened upper side of the lower housing <NUM> and serves to define an upper-end surface of the internal air passageway by closing the upper side of the lower housing <NUM>.

To this end, an upper surface 8322a of the upper housing <NUM> may be formed to have a size corresponding to the opened upper side of the lower housing <NUM>. In addition, the upper surface 8322a of the upper housing <NUM> may be formed approximately in parallel with an upper surface portion 8411a of the heater accommodation portion <NUM> of the main housing <NUM> to be described below.

A tip edge of the upper surface 8322a of the upper housing <NUM> may extend toward an upper end of the introduction port IN1 of the heater accommodation portion <NUM>, and a rear end edge of the upper surface 8322a of the upper housing <NUM> may extend toward the discharge port OUT1 of the heater accommodation portion <NUM>.

In this case, the rear end edge of the upper surface 8322a of the upper housing <NUM> may extend to a position of an upper end of the discharge port OUT1 of the heater accommodation portion <NUM>.

In addition, like the lower housing <NUM>, the upper surface 8322a of the upper housing <NUM> may linearly extend from the tip edge to the lower end edge while defining a first intersection angle with respect to a bottom surface portion of the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM>.

Therefore, an upper-end surface of the first flow channel formed in the heater housing <NUM> may linearly extend to the discharge port OUT1 of the heater accommodation portion <NUM>.

In addition, coupling surfaces 8322c, which are formed to be bent in the downward direction, may be formed at front and rear edges of the upper surface of the upper housing <NUM>.

When the upper housing <NUM> and the lower housing <NUM> are coupled, the coupling surfaces 8322c may be respectively in surface contact with the front surface 8321c and a rear surface 8321d of the lower housing <NUM>.

Therefore, coupling and connection strength between the lower housing <NUM> and the upper housing <NUM> may be improved.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in <FIG>, thermostats <NUM> may be provided at an upper side of the upper surface 8322a of the upper housing <NUM> and detect whether the heater main body <NUM> is overheated while constituting a temperature detection part <NUM>.

For example, the thermostats <NUM> may be provided as a pair of thermostats <NUM>. The pair of thermostats <NUM> may be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the heater main body <NUM> to effectively detect whether the heater main body <NUM> is locally overheated.

Meanwhile, the temperature detection part <NUM> may further include a thermistor <NUM> configured to detect a temperature of the airflow F. For example, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the thermistor <NUM> may penetrate a front surface portion of the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM> and a front surface portion of the sub-housing <NUM> and extend to the inside of the air introduction space S2.

An output signal of the temperature detection part <NUM> may be transmitted to a control unit. The control unit may receive the output signal of the temperature detection part <NUM> and determine whether the heater main body <NUM> is overheated and a temperature of the airflow F. When the heater main body <NUM> is overheated, the control unit may stop the operation of the heater main body <NUM> by cutting off the supply of electric power to the heater main body <NUM>.

Meanwhile, a plurality of second bead forming portion 8322b may be formed on the upper surface 8322a of the upper housing <NUM> and formed convexly in the upward direction.

A first cover <NUM>, which is disposed at an upper side of the upper housing <NUM>, and the upper housing <NUM>, may be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval by the second bead forming portion 8321b, such that a separation space may be formed.

Meanwhile, in consideration of the configuration in which the heater main body <NUM>, which generates high-temperature heat, is disposed in the lower housing <NUM> and the upper housing <NUM>, the lower housing <NUM> and the upper housing <NUM> may be formed by pressing a metal plate highly resistant to a high temperature and moisture, for example, a board having an approximately uniform thickness and made of a material such as stainless steel.

The moisture absorbent <NUM> serves to absorb moisture contained in the airflow of the air discharged from and sucked into the tub <NUM> when the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> operates in the moisture absorption mode. The moisture absorbent <NUM> serves to discharge the absorbed moisture to the airflow F when the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> operates in the moisture absorbent drying mode.

That is, the moisture absorbent <NUM> may be made of a reversibly dehydratable material to absorb moisture or discharge the absorbed moisture depending on the operating temperature range.

The applicable reversibly dehydratable material may include any one of aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, silica gel, alumina silica, and zeolite or be a composition having a combination of two or more of the materials selected from these materials.

For example, in the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> according to the present invention, the moisture absorbent <NUM> made of an alumina silica-based material including aluminum oxide and silicon oxide may be applied. The description will be made on the basis of the embodiment in which the moisture absorbent <NUM> made of an alumina silica-based material is applied. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

The moisture absorbent <NUM>, which is made of an alumina silica-based material as described above, may be provided in a particle shape having a predetermined particle diameter to ensure a maximum contact area to the airflow F of the air. In addition, in comparison with a moisture absorbent made of pure aluminum oxide or silicon oxide material, a moisture absorption action may occur within a lower temperature range, and a regeneration action may occur within a lower temperature range.

However, the airflow F of the air comes into contact with the moisture absorbent <NUM> and absorbs moisture or absorbs moisture discharged from the moisture absorbent <NUM> while passing between the plurality of moisture absorbents <NUM> provided in particle shapes.

Therefore, the moisture absorbent <NUM> may inevitably apply flow resistance against the airflow F of the air. The particle diameter of the moisture absorbent <NUM> may be selected to effectively form pores for minimizing the flow resistance and ensure optimal moisture absorption efficiency.

To this end, for example, the moisture absorbent <NUM> having a particle diameter within a range of <NUM> to <NUM> may be selected and applied.

As described below, a total amount of the moisture absorbent <NUM> accommodated in the moisture absorbent accommodation space S3 may be within a range of <NUM> to <NUM> even though the total amount of the moisture absorbent <NUM> may vary depending on shapes and sizes of first and second moisture absorbent holders <NUM> and <NUM> for defining the moisture absorbent accommodation space S3 and shapes and sizes of the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. In this case, the total amount of the moisture absorbent may be within particularly a range of <NUM> to <NUM>, and more particularly <NUM> in consideration of the dispersion and arrangement of the weight in accordance with a capacity of the washing water stored in the water jacket <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the moisture absorbent <NUM> is disposed at a downstream side of the blowing part <NUM> and the heater part <NUM> based on the flow direction of the airflow F.

Specifically, the moisture absorbent <NUM> may be accommodated in the moisture absorbent accommodation space S3 of the main housing <NUM> formed at the downstream side of the blowing part <NUM> and the heater part <NUM>.

The moisture absorbent accommodation space S3 may be defined by a pair of moisture absorbent holders <NUM> provided in the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM> of the main housing <NUM> and disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the upward/downward direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, for example, the pair of moisture absorbent holders <NUM> may include the first moisture absorbent holder <NUM> configured to define the lower-end surface of the moisture absorbent accommodation space S3 and divide the inside of the moisture absorbent accommodation portion into the moisture absorbent accommodation space S3 and the air introduction space S2, and the second moisture absorbent holder <NUM> configured to define the upper-end surface of the moisture absorbent accommodation space S3.

The first moisture absorbent holder <NUM> and the second moisture absorbent holder <NUM> may be formed in plate shapes to define the upper-end surface and the lower-end surface of the moisture absorbent accommodation space S3.

More specifically, the first moisture absorbent holder <NUM> may include an outer peripheral edge portion <NUM> configured to maintain overall strength, and a mesh portion <NUM> formed in the outer peripheral edge portion <NUM> and configured to transmit air.

Likewise, the second moisture absorbent holder <NUM> may include an outer peripheral edge portion <NUM> configured to maintain overall strength, and a mesh portion <NUM> formed in the outer peripheral edge portion <NUM> and configured to transmit air.

Therefore, a second flow channel, through which the airflow F of the air may pass, may be formed between the mesh portion <NUM> of the first moisture absorbent holder <NUM> and the mesh portion <NUM> of the second moisture absorbent holder <NUM>.

In this case, in order to prevent the withdrawal of the moisture absorbent <NUM>, the mesh portion <NUM> of the first moisture absorbent holder <NUM> and the mesh portion <NUM> of the second moisture absorbent holder <NUM> may have lattice sizes smaller than the particle diameter of the moisture absorbent <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the mesh portion <NUM> of the second moisture absorbent holder <NUM> may be disposed approximately in parallel with a bottom surface portion of the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM>, and the mesh portion <NUM> of the first moisture absorbent holder <NUM> may be disposed to have a predetermined intersection angle with respect to a bottom surface portion of the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM>.

More specifically, the mesh portion <NUM> of the first moisture absorbent holder <NUM> may include a first holding surface 8612a configured to define a second intersection angle with respect to the bottom surface portion of the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM>, and a second holding surface 8612b configured to define a third intersection angle with respect to the bottom surface portion of the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the housing <NUM> of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> serves to accommodate the heater part <NUM> and the moisture absorbent <NUM> and defines the first flow channel of the airflow F, which passes through the heater main body <NUM>, and the second flow channel of the airflow F that passes through the moisture absorbent <NUM>.

For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the housing <NUM> may include the main housing <NUM> having the heater accommodation space S1 for accommodating the heater part <NUM> and the moisture absorbent accommodation space S3 for accommodating the moisture absorbent <NUM>, and the sub-housing <NUM> coupled to an outer peripheral surface of the main housing <NUM>.

First, the main housing <NUM> may include the heater accommodation portion <NUM> having the heater accommodation space S1 therein, and the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM> having the moisture absorbent accommodation space S3 therein.

As illustrated, based on the state in which the heater accommodation portion <NUM> is disposed in the base <NUM>, the heater accommodation portion <NUM> may have a hollow box shape having an entirely opened upper surface portion and having a hexahedral shape as a whole.

The heater housing <NUM> and the heater main body <NUM> may be inserted through the opened upper side portion of the heater accommodation portion <NUM>.

The opened upper side portion of the heater accommodation portion <NUM> may be closed by being coupled to a first cover <NUM> to be described below after the heater part <NUM> is completely disposed and assembled as described above. To this end, fastening bosses <NUM> may be integrally provided on front and rear surface portions 8411c and 8411d of the heater accommodation portion <NUM> at positions corresponding to fastening bosses <NUM> of the first cover <NUM>.

The heater accommodation space S1 may be formed in the hollow heater accommodation portion <NUM> and have a shape corresponding to an external shape of the heater housing <NUM>.

Meanwhile, based on the state in which the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM> of the main housing <NUM> is disposed in the base <NUM>, the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM> of the main housing <NUM> may have a hollow box shape having an entirely opened upper surface portion and having a hexahedral shape as a whole.

The opened upper side portion of the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM> may serve as a discharge port OUT2 through which the air having passed through the moisture absorbent <NUM> is discharged.

The opened upper side portion of the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM> may be closed by being coupled to a second cover <NUM> to be described below after the moisture absorbent holder <NUM> and the moisture absorbent <NUM> are completely disposed therein.

To this end, fastening bosses <NUM> may be integrally provided on a front surface portion, a rear surface portion, a right surface portion, and a left surface portion of the outer peripheral surface portion of the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM> at positions corresponding to fastening bosses <NUM> of the second cover <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the sub-housing <NUM> is coupled to the main housing <NUM> while having a shape at least partially surrounding an outer surface of the main housing <NUM> and serves to thermally insulate the internal space of the main housing <NUM> from the outside.

As illustrated, the sub-housing <NUM> may be disposed to surround an outer peripheral surface and a bottom surface portion of the main housing <NUM> from the outside.

In this case, clearances may be at least locally formed between the inner surface of the sub-housing <NUM> and the outer peripheral surface portion and the bottom surface portion of the main housing <NUM>.

With the above-mentioned clearances, a thermally insulative air layer may be formed between the sub-housing <NUM> and the main housing <NUM>, like a thermally insulative air layer between the heater housing <NUM> and the heater accommodation portion <NUM> of the main housing <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the sub-housing <NUM> may be provided as a segmented body segmented in the forward/rearward direction in consideration of ease of manufacturing and assembling.

Meanwhile, as described above, the opened upper side portion of the heater accommodation portion <NUM> of the main housing <NUM> and the opened upper side portion of the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM> may be closed by covers <NUM>.

For example, as illustrated, in consideration of a shape of the main housing <NUM>, the covers <NUM> may include the first cover <NUM> coupled to the heater accommodation portion <NUM>, and the second cover <NUM> coupled to the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM>.

The first cover <NUM> coupled to the heater accommodation portion <NUM> may be provided in a plate shape corresponding to a shape of the upper housing <NUM> of the heater housing <NUM>.

The first cover <NUM> may have a pair of through-holes <NUM> through which the thermostat <NUM> may pass.

In addition, the plurality of fastening bosses <NUM> may be integrally at the outer periphery edge of the first cover <NUM> and configured to be fastened to the main housing <NUM> and the sub-housing <NUM>. Fastening means, such as screw bolts, may extend while passing through the fastening bosses <NUM> and be screw-coupled to the fastening bosses <NUM> provided on the heater accommodation portion <NUM> of the main housing <NUM> or fastening bosses <NUM> provided on the sub-housing <NUM>.

Similar to the thermally insulative air layer between the lower housing <NUM> of the heater housing <NUM> and the heater accommodation portion <NUM> of the main housing <NUM>, a thermally insulative air layer may be formed between the first cover <NUM> and the upper housing <NUM>.

Meanwhile, unlike the first cover <NUM>, the second cover <NUM> coupled to the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM> may be formed to have a three-dimensional shape similar to an inverted funnel shape.

That is, an inner surface of the second cover <NUM> may be configured to have an inverted funnel shape convex upward so that the air having passed through the moisture absorbent <NUM> and the second moisture absorbent holder <NUM> may converge.

Therefore, because a convergence surface <NUM> convex upward is provided on the second cover <NUM>, a predetermined separation space may be formed between the convergence surface of the second cover <NUM> and the second moisture absorbent holder <NUM> for defining the upper-end surface of the moisture absorbent accommodation space S3, and the separation space defines a discharge flow path for the air having passed through the moisture absorbent <NUM>. The discharge flow path is continuously formed in the second flow channel formed between the pair of moisture absorbent holders <NUM>, such that the discharge flow path may be a third flow channel.

A discharge port, through which the air having passed through the third flow channel, which is the discharge flow path, is discharged, may be provided at an uppermost end of the internal convergence surface <NUM> of the second cover <NUM>.

A lower end of a connection duct part <NUM>, which guides the airflow F toward the lower surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM>, may be integrally connected to the discharge port.

In addition, like the first cover <NUM>, the plurality of fastening bosses <NUM> may be integrally provided at the outer periphery edge of the second cover <NUM> and configured to be fastened to the main housing <NUM> and the sub-housing <NUM>. Fastening means, such as screw bolts, may extend while passing through the fastening bosses <NUM> and be screw-coupled to the fastening bosses <NUM> provided on the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM> of the main housing <NUM> or the fastening bosses <NUM> provided on the sub-housing <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may further include the connection duct part <NUM> connected to the discharge port, which is penetratively formed in the upper surface of the second cover <NUM>, and having an air passageway therein.

As described above, the heater part <NUM>, the blowing part <NUM>, and the moisture absorbent <NUM> are disposed below the lower surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM>. The connection duct part <NUM> serves to guide the airflow F, which is discharged from the separation space formed below the second cover <NUM>, so that the airflow F moves toward the air supply hole <NUM> formed in the lower surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM>.

As in the illustrated embodiment, a duct main body <NUM> of the connection duct part <NUM> may be configured to have a shape capable of connecting the air supply hole <NUM> of the tub <NUM> and the discharge port of the heater housing <NUM> so as to guide the airflow F.

For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the duct main body <NUM> of the connection duct part <NUM> may be configured in a cylindrical shape having a lower end fluid-communicating with the discharge port of the second cover <NUM>, and an upper end extending in the upward direction (U-direction) and passing through the air supply hole <NUM>.

Meanwhile, as means for improving fastening efficiency and preventing water leakage, a ring-shaped flange surface <NUM> and an external thread portion <NUM> may be integrally provided on an outer peripheral surface of the duct main body <NUM>.

An upper end of the duct main body <NUM> may penetrate the lower surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM> and extend in the upward direction (U-direction). The upper end of the duct main body <NUM> and the external thread portion <NUM> may at least partially pass through the lower surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM> and protrude toward the inside of the tub <NUM>.

A fastening nut (not illustrated) may be coupled to the external thread portion <NUM> disposed to pass through the inside of the tub <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the discharge guide <NUM> may be coupled to the upper end of the duct main body <NUM> and switch a discharge direction of the airflow F supplied through the connection duct part <NUM>.

With the discharge guide <NUM>, a part of the airflow F may be switched to propagate toward the lower surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM>, and another part of the airflow F may be switched to propagate toward the upper surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may further include the suction duct <NUM> having a tip portion connected to an air suction hole of the tub <NUM>, and a rear end connected to the blowing part <NUM> and configured to serve to guide the airflow F of the air, which is discharged from the tub <NUM> through the air supply hole <NUM>, to the moisture absorbent <NUM> through the blowing part <NUM> and the heater part <NUM>.

More specifically, as illustrated in <FIG>, the suction duct <NUM> may include the main duct <NUM> extending in the upward/downward direction and disposed outside the right surface of the tub <NUM>, and the sub-duct <NUM> provided between the rear end of the main duct <NUM> and the blowing part <NUM> and disposed below the lower surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM>.

The main duct <NUM> is disposed outside the right surface of the tub <NUM> and tightly attached to the right surface, and the main duct <NUM> serves to guide the airflow F of the air, which is sucked through an air suction hole formed in the right surface of the tub <NUM>, to a position below the lower surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM>.

To this end, as illustrated, the main duct <NUM> may be disposed to extend linearly to be as long as possible in the upward/downward direction from the upper end to the lower end. Therefore, moisture may be maximally condensed in the main duct <NUM>.

In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, an air passageway C may be formed in the main duct <NUM> and extend approximately vertically so that the airflow F moves in the downward direction.

As described below, the air passageway C may include a first air passageway C1 configured to guide the airflow, which is introduced from the tub <NUM>, in the upward direction, a second air passageway C2 configured to guide the airflow, which has passed through the first air passageway C1, in the downward direction, and a third air passageway C3 disposed between the first air passageway C1 and the second air passageway C2 and configured to switch the flow direction of the airflow.

The air having passed through the air passageway C of the main duct <NUM> may be introduced into the blowing part <NUM> through the sub-duct <NUM> to be described below. The airflow F having passed through the blowing part <NUM> may be introduced into the heater accommodation space S1 of the heater accommodation portion <NUM> inclined downward.

As described above, the interior of the main duct <NUM> may be manufactured in a hollow shape to define an air passageway through which the airflow F of the air may flow.

In order to easily implement the hollow shape and manufacturing convenience, as illustrated in <FIG>, for example, the main duct <NUM> may include first and second duct bodies provided as a segmented body segmented along a vertical plane.

The first duct body may be formed in a hollow box shape opened at a left side thereof so that an inverted U-shaped air passageway may be formed therein. A hollow state is maintained in the first duct body. Therefore, a reinforcement rib <NUM> may be integrally positioned on the right surface in the first duct body and extend from the right surface toward the left surface in the extension direction of the air passageway. In addition, the reinforcement rib <NUM> extends from an upper end of the inlet 811a, which is formed in the second duct body, to an outlet 811b of the main duct <NUM> along the air passageway. Therefore, the reinforcement rib <NUM> may also serve as a blocking wall for minimizing a degree to which the washing water, which is introduced from the inlet 811a and scatters, moves toward the outlet 811b. An outlet forming portion <NUM> may be provided at a lower end of the first duct body and opened in the downward direction, and the outlet forming portion <NUM> has the outlet 811b through which the airflow of the air passes. The second duct body is coupled to the opened left side of the first duct body and serves to close the air passageway formed in a first duct body <NUM>.

To this end, the second duct body may be provided in a plate shape corresponding to a shape of the opened left side of the first duct body.

An inlet forming portion <NUM> may be provided on a second duct body <NUM> and have the inlet 811a having shapes and sizes corresponding to the air suction port of the tub <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the function of preventing the dishwasher <NUM> from falling over in accordance with the arrangement position of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

In case that a load, which pushes the door <NUM> in the downward direction, is applied at a predetermined level or higher when the door <NUM> is in the fully opened state as described above, the dishwasher <NUM> may fall over while being inclined forward based on a first front leg 96a and a second front leg 96b of the base <NUM>.

In this case, the blowing part <NUM>, the heater part <NUM>, and the moisture absorbent <NUM> of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> of the dishwasher <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention may be disposed in the installation space of the base <NUM> so as to be arranged in a row in the leftward/rightward direction between the sump <NUM> and the rear surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> based on the forward/rearward direction.

As described above, among the components of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM>, the blowing part <NUM>, the heater part <NUM>, and the moisture absorbent <NUM> are at least arranged to be very adjacent to the rear surface of the base <NUM>, such that the blowing part <NUM>, the heater part <NUM>, and the moisture absorbent <NUM> may be arranged at positions most spaced apart rearward from the first front leg 96a and the second front leg 96b in the installation space of the base <NUM> based on the horizontal direction.

Therefore, a maximally long horizontal distance from the first front leg 96a or the second front leg 96b may be ensured, such that it is possible to ensure a maximum moment of force of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> that prevents the dishwasher <NUM> from falling over.

In addition, because the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> of the dishwasher <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention may include the moisture absorbent <NUM> with the weight at a predetermined level or higher, the weight of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may greatly increase in comparison with the related art. Therefore, the weight balance <NUM> disposed rearward of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may be minimized and lightweight.

For example, in the related art, the weight balance <NUM> with the weight of <NUM> or more is required to prevent the dishwasher <NUM> from falling over. In contrast, the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> with a total weight of <NUM> or more including the weight of <NUM> to <NUM> of the moisture absorbent <NUM> may be applied, such that the weight of the weight balance <NUM> may be reduced to a level of <NUM> to <NUM> less than the total weight of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM>.

Therefore, as illustrated in <FIG>, a maximum width Wmax of the weight balance <NUM> in the forward/rearward direction may be smaller than a maximum width of the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM> in the forward/rearward direction. Further, an overall volume of the weight balance <NUM> may be maintained to be smaller than a volume of the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM>.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in <FIG>, the dishwasher <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured such that the water jacket <NUM> and the water softening device <NUM>, which have a significantly large weight ratio, are disposed to be biased in the rightward direction based on the leftward/rightward direction toward the sump <NUM> disposed at an approximately central side of the installation space of the base <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the water softening device <NUM> is illustrated as being provided to soften the washing water. However, a water purification filter (not illustrated) may be provided instead of the water softening device <NUM>. Hereinafter, for example, the description will be made on the basis of the configuration in which the water softening device <NUM> is provided.

As in the illustrated embodiment, the water jacket <NUM> may be disposed between the casing <NUM> and the tub <NUM>.

The water jacket <NUM> serves to store the washing water supplied from the external water supply source and supply the stored washing water to the sump <NUM>.

To this end, the water jacket <NUM> may receive the washing water from the external water supply source through a water supply flow path <NUM> formed at a lower end side thereof.

In this case, whether to supply the washing water through the water supply flow path <NUM> may be adjusted by a water supply valve <NUM> configured to open or close the water supply flow path <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the water jacket <NUM> supplies the washing water to the sump <NUM> through a sump connection flow path <NUM> via the water softening device <NUM>. In this case, whether to supply the washing water to the sump <NUM> through the sump connection flow path <NUM> may be adjusted by a water jacket valve <NUM>.

In addition, the water jacket <NUM> may further include a supply channel <NUM>, a storage part <NUM>, a flow meter <NUM>, and the tub hole <NUM>.

The supply channel <NUM> defines a route through which the washing water supplied to the water jacket <NUM> through the water supply flow path <NUM> flows. The washing water supplied through the water supply flow path <NUM> may move to the storage part <NUM> through the supply channel <NUM>.

The storage part <NUM> serves to store the washing water. To this end, the storage part <NUM> may have therein a storage space <NUM> with a hollow shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the washing water of a total of <NUM> to <NUM> liters may be stored in the storage space <NUM>. Particularly, the washing water of about <NUM> liters may be stored.

For example, the water jacket <NUM> may be disposed between the right surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM> and the casing <NUM> so as to be disposed adjacent to the main duct <NUM> in parallel with the main duct <NUM> of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM>. The water jacket <NUM> may be provided in a plate shape capable of extending to the right surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> in the downward direction.

In this case, as illustrated in <FIG>, the water jacket <NUM> may be disposed forward of the main duct <NUM> in consideration of the position at which the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> is disposed.

Meanwhile, the water softening device <NUM> may serve to soften the washing water to be supplied to the tub <NUM> and be manufactured in a shape capable of being accommodated in the installation space of the base <NUM> at the lower side of the tub <NUM>.

More specifically, as illustrated in <FIG>, the water softening device <NUM> may include a tank body <NUM> configured to define a space in which the washing water is accommodated, a tank cover <NUM> configured to block an opened upper side of the tank body <NUM>, and a tank base <NUM> configured to block an opened lower side of the tank body <NUM>.

The inside of the tank body <NUM>, which constitutes the water softening device <NUM>, may be divided into two opposite left and right sides as a whole, such that a regeneration tank and an exchange tank may be formed.

The exchange tank may define a space in which an ion exchange resin for softening the introduced washing water is accommodated.

The tank cover <NUM> may be mounted at an upper side of the tank body <NUM>, and the tank base <NUM> may be mounted at a lower side of the tank body <NUM>, such that an upper surface and a lower surface of the exchange tank <NUM> may be defined. That is, the opened upper and lower sides of the exchange tank <NUM> formed in the tank body <NUM> may be blocked by the tank cover <NUM> and the tank body <NUM>.

The tank cover <NUM> may have a water inlet port <NUM>, a recovery port <NUM>, and a water outlet port <NUM> through which the washing water flows inward and outward.

The washing water, which is provided from the water jacket <NUM> and to be supplied to the sump <NUM>, may be temporarily stored in the tank body <NUM> of the water softening device <NUM> having the above-mentioned structure.

The water softening device <NUM> is configured to be connected directly to and communicate directly with the water jacket <NUM> to receive the washing water. Therefore, the water softening device needs to be disposed to be as close as possible to the water jacket <NUM>. To this end, the water softening device <NUM> may be disposed between the sump <NUM> and the water jacket <NUM> based on the leftward/rightward direction.

Therefore, based on the sump <NUM> disposed at an approximately central side of the installation space of the base <NUM>, the water jacket <NUM> and the water softening device <NUM> are disposed at positions biased toward the sump <NUM> in the rightward direction.

That is, as illustrated in <FIG>, the installation space of the base <NUM> may be divided into a first space A1 passing through a center of the sump <NUM> and formed between the left surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> and an imaginary vertical plane VP extending in the forward/rearward direction, and a second space A2 formed between the imaginary vertical plane VP and the right surface <NUM> of the base <NUM>. The water jacket <NUM> and the water softening device <NUM> are disposed in the second space A2 as a whole.

Therefore, the water jacket <NUM> and the water softening device <NUM>, which store a significant amount of washing water, act as an eccentric weight to the dishwasher <NUM>.

The above-mentioned eccentric weight is highly likely to act as a factor that worsens noise and vibration generated during the operation of the dishwasher <NUM>.

In this regard, as described above, the blowing part <NUM>, the heater part <NUM>, and the moisture absorbent <NUM>, which constitute the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> of the dishwasher <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention, may be arranged to be very adjacent to the rear surface of the base <NUM> and disposed in the installation space of the base <NUM> so that the blowing part <NUM>, the heater part <NUM>, and the moisture absorbent <NUM> are sequentially arranged in this order while being disposed in the leftward/rightward direction from the right surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> toward the left surface <NUM> of the base <NUM>.

Because the blowing part <NUM>, the heater part <NUM>, and the moisture absorbent <NUM> are arranged in the above-mentioned order, the moisture absorbent <NUM>, which accounts for the highest weight ratio among the components of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM>, may be disposed to be closer to the left surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> than the sump <NUM> based on the leftward/rightward direction in the state in which the moisture absorbent <NUM> is accommodated in the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

Further, the moisture absorbent <NUM> and the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM> may be configured to be disposed in the first space A1, as a whole, in the installation space of the base <NUM>.

In this case, as illustrated, the blowing part <NUM> may be disposed in the second space A2 as a whole, a part of the heater part <NUM> may be disposed in the first space A1, and the remaining part of the heater part <NUM> may be disposed in the second space A2.

In addition, the washing pump <NUM>, which accounts for a relatively high weight ratio among the components disposed in the installation space of the base <NUM>, may also be disposed in the first space A1 as a whole together with the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM>.

Therefore, the moisture absorbent <NUM>, the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM>, and the washing pump <NUM> are disposed to be opposite to the water jacket <NUM> and the water softening device <NUM> based on the sump <NUM>, such that the weight, which is biased by the water jacket <NUM> and the water softening device <NUM>, may be dispersed, which may minimize noise and vibration that may be caused by the eccentric weight.

Meanwhile, because the moisture absorbent <NUM> and the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM>, which accounts for the highest weight ratio, are disposed in the first space A1 as described above, a center of gravity CM1 of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may be provided in the first space A1.

More specifically, as illustrated in <FIG>, the center of gravity CM1 of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may be provided on the moisture absorbent accommodation portion <NUM> so as to be adjacent to the heater part <NUM>.

That is, the center of gravity CM1 of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may be provided to be closer to the left surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> than the right surface <NUM> of the base <NUM> based on the leftward/rightward direction.

However, as described above, the center of gravity CM1 of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> is provided at a position spaced apart leftward from the imaginary vertical plane VP, which passes through the center of the sump <NUM>, based on the leftward/rightward direction. However, the center of gravity CM1 of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> may be provided at a position much closer to the imaginary vertical plane VP than the left surface <NUM> of the base <NUM>.

Likewise, the center of gravity of the weight balance <NUM>, which is disposed rearward of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM>, is positioned at a position spaced apart leftward from the imaginary vertical plane VP. However, the center of gravity of the weight balance <NUM> may be provided at a position much closer to the imaginary vertical plane VP than the left surface <NUM> of the base <NUM>.

That is, the center of gravity CM1 of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> and a center of gravity CM2 of the weight balance are provided in the first space A1 to disperse the weight, but an interval from the center of the installation space of the base <NUM> in the leftward/rightward direction may be minimized.

Because the center of gravity CM1 of the moisture sorption drying device <NUM> and the center of gravity CM2 of the weight balance are provided to be as close as possible to the imaginary vertical plane VP as described above, the function of the counterweight for preventing the dishwasher <NUM> from falling over with respect to the center of the installation space of the base <NUM> may be effectively maintained.

Claim 1:
A dishwasher (<NUM>) comprising:
a tub (<NUM>) having a washing space (<NUM>) therein;
a base (<NUM>) disposed below the tub (<NUM>) and configured to define a predetermined installation space;
a sorption drying device (<NUM>) accommodated in the installation space and configured to absorb moisture from air discharged from the tub (<NUM>) and resupply the air into the tub (<NUM>); and
a sump (<NUM>) configured to store washing water to be provided to the washing space (<NUM>),
wherein the sorption drying device (<NUM>) comprises:
a blowing part (<NUM>) configured to generate an airflow by accelerating the air discharged from the tub (<NUM>);
a heater part (<NUM>) configured to heat the air having passed through the blowing part (<NUM>); and
an absorbent (<NUM>) configured to absorb water vapor contained in the air having passed through the heater part (<NUM>), characterized in that
the blowing part (<NUM>), the heater part (<NUM>), and the absorbent (<NUM>) are disposed in the installation space based on a forward/rearward direction so as to be arranged between the sump (<NUM>) and a rear surface of the base (<NUM>) in a leftward/rightward direction.