Patent ID: 12259153

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described in the present specification and configurations shown in the drawings are just exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, and there may be various modifications that may replace the embodiments of the present specification and the drawings at the time of filing the present application.

Like reference numerals or symbols in each of the drawings of the present specification represent components or elements that perform substantially the same functions.

The terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe particular embodiments and are not intended to limit and/or restrict the present disclosure. An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression of the plural unless it has a clearly different meaning in context. In the present specification, it should be understood that the terms such as “including,” “having,” or the like are intended to indicate the existence of features, numbers, steps, actions, 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, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added.

It should be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” and the like are used herein to describe various elements, these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, a first element discussed below could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element may be termed a first element without departing from the teachings of this disclosure. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

A refrigerating cycle that is constituted by an air conditioner includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. The refrigerating cycle includes a series of procedures including compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation, performs heat-exchanging between high-temperature air and a low-temperature refrigerant, and then supplies the low-temperature air into an internal space.

The compressor compresses a refrigerant gas in a high-temperature and high-pressure state and discharges the compressed refrigerant gas to introduce the discharged refrigerant gas into the condenser. The condenser condenses the compressed refrigerant in a liquid state and dissipates heat around the condenser through a condensation procedure. The expansion valve expands a liquid refrigerant in the high-temperature and high-pressure state condensed by the condenser into a liquid refrigerant having a low-pressure state. The evaporator evaporates the refrigerant expanded by the expansion valve. The evaporator achieves a cooling effect by heat-exchanging with an object to be cooled by using latent heat of evaporation of the refrigerant and returns the refrigerant gas having a low-temperature and low-pressure state to the compressor. Through this cycle, an air temperature of an interior space can be controlled.

An outdoor unit of the air conditioner includes the compressor of the refrigerating cycle and an outdoor heat exchanger. The expansion valve may be disposed in any one of an indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and an indoor heat exchanger is in the indoor unit of the air conditioner.

The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner that air conditions an interior space, and the outdoor heat exchanger serves as a condenser while the indoor heat exchanger serves as an evaporator. Hereinafter, for convenience, the indoor unit including the indoor heat exchanger is referred to as an air conditioner, and the indoor heat exchanger is referred to as a heat exchanger.

FIG.1is a perspective view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG.2is an enlarged view of portion A ofFIG.1,FIG.3is a front view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG.4is a cross-sectional view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

An air conditioner1includes a housing10having an inlet12and an outlet14, a heat exchanger40that performs heat exchanging with air introduced into the housing10, and a blower fan45that circulates the air to an inside or outside of the housing10.

The air conditioner1may be a wall-hanging type air conditioner1installed on a wall surface, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

The housing10may form an entire exterior of the air conditioner1. The housing10may include a discharge plate20having a plurality of holes22formed therein. The plurality of holes22may be distinguished from the outlet14. The plurality of holes22may be distributed in the discharge plate20, as shown inFIG.2, and a width of each of the holes22may be smaller than that of the outlet14. Also, air that flows in a second flow path75b,which will be described later, may be discharged to the outside of the housing10through the plurality of holes22. The plurality of holes22may be distributed in the discharge plate20to be spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other, as illustrated inFIG.2. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and the holes22may also be distributed to be concentrated in a particular region of the discharge plate20. The air is discharged through the plurality of holes22, a plurality of blade holes56, which will be described later, and a plurality of holes385of a moving blade384so that the air can be discharged to the outside of the housing10at a low speed. Thus, a user is not directly contacted by wind, and a purpose of air conditioning can be achieved so that the user's satisfaction can be improved.

The housing10may include a front panel having the outlet14formed by an outlet forming part15, a rear panel24disposed behind the front panel, a pair of side panels25disposed between the front panel and the rear panel24, an upper panel26having the inlet12formed therein and disposed above the pair of side panels25, and a lower panel27disposed below the pair of side panels25. The outlet14and the inlet12are disposed in the front panel and the upper panel26, respectively. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. The front panel may have the same configuration as that of the above-described discharge plate20. An inlet guide13that guides the air to the inlet12may be disposed in the upper panel26. A plurality of inlet guides13may be formed in parallel in a longitudinal direction of the housing10.

The air conditioner1may include a discharge blade50that opens/closes the outlet14. The discharge blade50is rotatably disposed in the housing10. In detail, the discharge blade50may be rotatable around a blade shaft59with respect to the discharge plate20. The blade shaft59may be disposed on an inner surface of the discharge plate20.

The discharge blade50may move between a closing position50bat which the outlet14is closed, and a guide position50aat which the outlet14is open and a direction of air blown from the blower fan45to be discharged to the outlet14is controlled. The guide position50ais a position at which the discharge blade50opens the outlet14and the air discharged through the outlet14is guided in a predetermined angle range in which the discharge blade50controls the direction of the discharged air. The air conditioner1may control an air flow from the blower fan45to the discharge plate20or the outlet14by the discharge blade50moving between the guide position50aand the closing position50b.When the discharge blade50is at the guide position50a,an operation of opening the outlet14and an operation of blocking an air flow to the discharge plate20may be performed together. When the discharge blade50is at the closing position50b,an operation of closing the outlet14and releasing of the operation of blocking the air flow to the discharge plate20may be performed together.

The air conditioner1may include an auxiliary blade70that controls the direction of the air blown from the blower fan45at an inside of the discharge blade50. The discharge blade50may control the blown air in a vertical direction, and the auxiliary blade70may control the blown air in a horizontal direction. At least one auxiliary blade70may be provided. In the current embodiment, a plurality of auxiliary blades70are spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other in the horizontal direction. The plurality of auxiliary blades70may be arranged in a longitudinal direction of the outlet14. The auxiliary blades70may be disposed inside the discharge blade50to be configured not to be exposed to the outside when the discharge blade50is at the closing position50b.

A sensor receiver (refer to72ofFIG.7) may be disposed in a lateral portion of the auxiliary blade70. The sensor receiver72may be covered by the discharge blade50when the discharge blade50is at the closing position50b.Even when the sensor receiver72is covered by the discharge blade50, the sensor receiver72senses a signal through the plurality of holes22formed in the discharge blade50and transmits the signal to a controller (not shown) so that the air conditioner1can operate.

FIGS.5and6are views showing an operation of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The operation of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference toFIG.4.

The heat exchanger40may be disposed inside the housing10, and may be disposed on an air moving path from the inlet12to the outlet14. The heat exchanger40is configured to absorb heat from air introduced into the inlet12or to transfer heat to the air. A drain panel42may be disposed below the heat exchanger40in order to collect moisture condensed in the heat exchanger40. The drain panel42may be connected to a drain hose (not shown) connected to the outside of the housing10and may discharge the condensed moisture to the outside of the housing10.

The blower fan45is disposed inside the housing10. The blower fan45is configured to blow air so that the air can flow from the inlet12to the outlet14or the discharge plate20. The blower fan45may be a cross flow fan having the same longitudinal direction as that of the housing10.

The air conditioner1may include a flow path guide74. The flow path guide74is configured to guide the air blown from the blower fan45.

The flow path guide74may include a first flow path guide76and a second flow path guide78.

The first flow path guide76is provided to form a first flow path75athrough which the air flows from the blower fan45to the outlet14. The first flow path75amay be connected to the outlet14. The outlet14may be disposed at an end of the first flow path guide76. The outlet14may be disposed on an extension line of the air moving path guided by the first flow path guide76.

The second flow path guide78is provided to form a second flow path75b.The second flow path75bmay be connected to the plurality of holes22. In detail, the second flow path75bis formed by the second flow path guide78and an inner surface of the discharge plate20, and air that flows in the second flow path75bmay be discharged to the outside of the housing10through the plurality of holes22of the discharge plate20. The second flow path75bdiverges from the first flow path75a,and the air flows into the plurality of holes22. A guide opening77is formed in the first flow path guide76so that air flowing in the first flow path75acan flow in the second flow path75b.The above-described drain panel42may be disposed on a rear surface of the second flow path guide78.

The second flow path guide78may include a curved surface guide79. The curved surface guide79may be formed as a curved surface in consideration of a rotation of the discharge blade50. The curved surface guide79may form a rotation space79aof a flow path door part54of the discharge blade50, which will be described later. The rotation space79ais a space in which a part of the second flow path75bis formed and the flow path door part54is rotatable. Due to the rotation space79aformed in an inside of the curved surface guide79, the discharge blade50is not interfered with by the curved surface guide79and is rotatable.

The discharge blade50may rotate and move between the guide position50aand the closing position50b.The discharge blade50may operate to selectively block the first and second flow paths75aand75b.When the discharge blade50is at the closing position50b,the discharge blade50may close the outlet14. In addition, the discharge blade50is configured to cover the sensor receiver72at the closing position50bso that an internal configuration of the housing10is not exposed to the outside.

The discharge blade50may include a blade body52and a plurality of blade holes56.

The blade body52may be formed to be rotatable around the blade shaft59. The blade body52may be configured to correspond to the outlet14. The blade body52may have an approximate plate shape. The plurality of blade holes56may be distributed in the blade body52, and a width of each of the blade holes56may be smaller than that of the outlet14. Also, even when the discharge blade50is at the closing position50b,the air can be discharged to the outside of the housing10through the plurality of blade holes56of the discharge blade50. The plurality of blade holes56and the plurality of holes22of the discharge plate20may also have the same size and the same shape or different sizes and different shapes.

The blade body52may include a guide part53and the flow path door part54. The guide part53and the flow path door part54may be integrally formed.

The guide part53controls the direction of the air blown from the blower fan45and discharged to the outlet14when the discharge blade50is at the guide position50a.The guide part53may change the direction of the air discharged to the outside of the housing10according to a rotation angle at which the blade shaft59is centered.

At the guide position50a,the flow path door part54extends from the guide part53and is provided to block the air that flows in the second flow path75b.When the discharge blade50is at the guide position50a,the flow path door part54is configured to move the rotation space79aformed by the curved surface guide79. That is, when the discharge blade50is at the guide position50a,the flow path door part54is configured to block the second flow path75b.At the guide position50a,the guide part53moves to the outside of the housing10and the flow path door part54relatively moves to the inside of the housing10.

Hereinafter, an operation of an air conditioner according to the present disclosure will be described with reference toFIGS.4,5, and6.

First, a case where the discharge blade50is at the closing position50b,will be described.

When the discharge blade50is at the closing position50b,the outlet14is closed by the discharge blade50, and the second flow path75bis open as shown inFIG.4. Thus, air blown from the blower fan45flows in the first and second flow paths75aand75bto be discharged to the outside of the housing10through the plurality of holes22of the discharge plate20and the plurality of blade holes56of the discharge blade50.

Next, a case where the discharge blade50is at the guide position50awill be described.

When the discharge blade50is at the guide position50a,the outlet14is open, and the second flow path75bis blocked by the flow path door part54as shown inFIGS.5and6. That is, air blown from the blower fan45can flow only through the first flow path75a.

Thus, the air blown from the blower fan45flows along the first flow path75aand is discharged to the outside of the housing10through the outlet14.

Hereinafter, a coupling and disassembling of the discharge plate20in the air conditioner1will be described.

FIGS.7and8are views showing a disassembling of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The discharge plate20may be detachably provided at the housing10. The housing10may include a front frame30, which is in an inside of the discharge plate20, to which the discharge plate20may be coupled. That is, the discharge plate20may be detachably provided at the front frame30. The front frame30may include the second flow path guide78.

At least one coupling groove may be formed in any one of the discharge plate20and the front frame30, and at least one coupling protrusion to be inserted in and coupled to the at least one coupling groove may be formed in the other one of the discharge plate20and the front frame30.

In the current embodiment, the discharge plate20may include a first coupling member62that protrudes from a surface facing the front frame30, and a first coupling groove63formed to be concave in an end of the first coupling member62. Also, the front frame30may include a first coupling protrusion32to be inserted in and coupled to the first coupling groove63of the discharge plate20.

The first coupling member62includes a pair of elastic legs62athat have elasticity and spread. In detail, the pair of elastic legs62aof the first coupling protrusion32are elastically deformed and spread while the first coupling protrusion32is being inserted into the first coupling groove63, and when the first coupling protrusion32is inserted into the first coupling groove63, the pair of spread elastic legs62aelastically return. Through this configuration, the first coupling protrusion32does not deviate from the first coupling groove63.

Also, the front frame30may include a second coupling member34that protrudes from a surface facing the discharge plate20, and a second coupling groove35formed concavely in an end of the second coupling member34. The discharge plate20may include a second coupling protrusion64to be inserted and coupled to the second coupling groove35of the front frame30.

The second coupling member34includes a pair of elastic legs34athat have elasticity and spread. In detail, the pair of elastic legs34aof the second coupling protrusion64are elastically deformed and spread while the second coupling protrusion64is being inserted into the second coupling groove35, and when the second coupling protrusion64is inserted into the second coupling groove35, the pair of spread elastic legs34aelastically return. Through this configuration, the second coupling protrusion64does not deviate from the second coupling groove35.

At least one insertion hole36may be formed in any one of the discharge plate20and the front frame30, and at least one hook66to hook the at least one insertion hole36may be formed in the other one of the discharge plate20and the front frame30. In the current embodiment, the hook66that protrudes from the surface facing the front frame30may be formed in the discharge plate20, and the insertion hole36is formed in the front frame30at a position corresponding to the hook66so that the hook66can hook the insertion hole36.

The hook66may be coupled to the insertion hole36to withstand only a weight of the discharge plate20. Through this configuration, the hook66may easily deviate from the insertion hole36when the first coupling member62and the first coupling protrusion32are separated from each other and the second coupling member34and the second coupling protrusion64are separated from each other.

In the current embodiment, the first coupling member62, the second coupling protrusion64, and the hook66are provided in order in the discharge plate20, and the first coupling protrusion32, the second coupling member34, and a coupling groove are provided in order in the front frame30. However, the order is not limited thereto.

The coupling members34and62and the coupling protrusions32and64, and the hooks66and the insertion holes36are spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other in the horizontal direction that is a longitudinal direction of the air conditioner1so that the discharge plate20can be stably coupled to the front frame30.

The discharge plate20may include step prevention protrusions68that protrude from both ends of the discharge plate20. A pair of step prevention protrusions68may be provided at a left end and a right end of the discharge plate20. The front frame30may include a pair of step prevention grooves (refer to38ofFIG.7) corresponding to the pair of step prevention protrusions. The pair of step prevention protrusions68are coupled to the pair of step prevention grooves38so that left and right sides of the discharge plate20can be coupled to the front frame30in parallel.

Hereinafter, the air conditioner1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. A description of the same configuration as the above-described configuration will be omitted.

FIG.9is a perspective view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

A housing110may form an entire exterior of an air conditioner100. The housing110may include a discharge plate120having a plurality of holes22formed therein. The plurality of holes22may be distinguished from an outlet14. The plurality of holes22are distributed in the discharge plate120as illustrated inFIG.2, and a width of each of the holes22may be smaller than that of the outlet14. In addition, air that flows in the second flow path75bcan be discharged to the outside of the housing110through the plurality of holes22.

The housing110may include a front panel having an outlet14formed therein, a rear panel24disposed behind the front panel, a pair of side panels disposed between the front panel and the rear panel24, an upper panel26having an inlet12formed therein and disposed above the plurality of side panels, and a lower panel27disposed below a pair of side panels25.

The front panel and the pair of side panels may have the same configuration as that of the above-described discharge plate120. That is, the discharge plate120is formed at a front side and both sides of the housing110so that a region in which the plurality of holes22are distributed can be enlarged.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. A description of the same configuration as the above-described configuration will be omitted.

FIG.10is a front view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG.11is an enlarged view of portion C ofFIG.10.

An air conditioner200may include a discharge plate220and a discharge blade250.

The discharge plate220may include a plurality of holes222, and the discharge blade250may include a plurality of blade holes256.

A portion of the plurality of holes222in a section of the discharge plate220may have a larger size than that of a portion of the plurality of holes222in another section of the discharge plate220. Similarly, a plurality of blade holes256in the section of the discharge blade250may have a larger size than that of the plurality of blade holes256in the other section of the discharge blade250.

In the current embodiment, the discharge plate220may include a first section221aand a second section221b.A plurality of holes222ain the first section221amay have a larger size than that of a plurality of holes222bin the second section221b.The second section221bmay be provided at both left and right sides of the first section221a.Through this configuration, a wind speed of air discharged through the plurality of holes222ain the first section221ais faster than a wind speed of air discharge through the plurality of holes222bin the second section221bso that the air discharged through the plurality of holes222of the discharge plate220can be linearly discharged forward.

Also, the discharge blade250may include a first blade section251aand a second blade section251b.A plurality of blade holes256ain the first section221amay have a larger size than of a plurality of blade holes256bin the second section221b.The second section221bmay be provided at both left and right sides of the first section221a.Through this configuration, a wind speed of air discharged through the plurality of blade holes256ain the first section221ais faster than a wind speed of air discharged through the plurality of blade holes256bin the second section221bso that air discharged through the plurality of blade holes256of the discharge blade250can be linearly discharged forward.

In the current embodiment, a width of the first section221aand a width of the first blade section251aare identical to each other. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, the width of the first section221aand the width of the first blade section251amay be different from each other. In addition, the first and second sections221aand221band the first and second blade sections251aand251bare arranged in the horizontal direction. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and the first and second sections221aand221band the first and second blade sections251aand251bmay be arranged in the vertical direction. Of course, a plurality of sections may be formed in the vertical and the horizontal directions so that a plurality of holes formed in a central part of the plurality of sections may have a larger size than that of a plurality of holes formed in an outside part of the plurality of sections.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. A description of the same configuration as that of the above-described configuration will be omitted.

FIG.12is a view of portion B ofFIG.4according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

A discharge blade50may further include a separation protrusion58.

The separation protrusion58may protrude from a blade body52to be spaced a predetermined distance apart from an outlet forming part15. The separation protrusion58may be spaced the predetermined distance apart from the outlet forming part15with a predetermined gap between the blade body52and the outlet forming part15.

When the blade body52and the outlet forming part15are in contact with each other, heat-exchanged air is stagnate between the blade body52and the outlet forming part15and dew is formed in the blade body52due to a temperature difference between inner and outer surfaces of the blade body52. Due to the separation protrusion58, the blade body52and the outlet forming part15may be spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other so that a small amount of air can be discharged to the outside of the housing10by the predetermined gap to prevent the occurrence of this phenomenon. Through this configuration, heat-exchanged air flows on the outer surface of the blade body52, so that dew can be prevented from being formed in the blade body52.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. A description of the same configuration as that of the above-described configuration will be omitted.

FIG.13is a perspective view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG.14is a front view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIGS.15through18are views showing an operation of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

An air conditioner300may include a discharge blade350that opens/closes an outlet14. The discharge blade350may include a blade body52, a blade hole356, and a blade shaft359. The discharge blade350is rotatably provided in a housing310. In detail, the discharge blade350may be provided inside the housing310to be rotatable around the blade shaft359. The blade shaft359may be disposed at an inner surface of a discharge plate320.

The discharge blade350may be provided to move between a closing position350bat which the outlet14is closed, and a guide position350aat which air blown from a blower fan45is guided by being rotated from the closing position350b.

The air conditioner300may include a flow path blade380.

The flow path blade380is rotatably provided in the housing310. In detail, the flow path blade380may be rotatably provided in a second flow path guide78. The flow path blade380may be rotatably provided to block a second flow path75b.The flow path blade380, which is a separate configuration from the discharge blade350, may operate independently from the discharge blade350. The flow path blade380may have a rotation shaft382spaced a predetermined distance apart from the blade shaft359of the discharge blade350and may rotate around the rotation shaft382. That is, the discharge blade350may operate to close the outlet14, and the flow path blade380may operate to close the second flow path75b.

The flow path blade380is provided to move between an open position380aat which the flow path blade380is in close contact with the second flow path guide78to prevent interference of a flow of air passing through the second flow path75b,and a closing position380bat which the second flow path75bis blocked.

The air conditioner300may include a moving blade384. The moving blade384may be disposed on an outlet forming part15of the discharge plate320and may be slidable with respect to the discharge plate320. In detail, the discharge plate320includes an insertion space386into which the moving blade384is inserted, and the moving blade384may be provided to be inserted into the insertion space386, or at least a part of the moving blade384may be exposed from the discharge plate320. The moving blade384may have a plurality of holes385formed therein, like the discharge plate320or the discharge blade350. That is, due to a sliding operation of the moving blade384, a width of the discharge plate320may be enlarged.

When the discharge blade350rotates around the blade shaft359, a gap G is formed between the discharge blade350and an upper portion of the outlet forming part15as shown inFIG.17. The moving blade384may be configured to be slidable from the discharge plate320so as to fill the gap G. The moving blade384may operate in conjunction with the discharge blade350. That is, when the discharge blade350is at the closing position350b,the moving blade384may be slidable downwards and may fill the gap G, and when the discharge blade350is at the guide position350a,the moving blade384may be pressurized by the discharge blade350, may move upwards, and may be inserted into the insertion space386.

Hereinafter, an operation of an air conditioner according to the present disclosure will be described.

For convenience of explanation, first through fourth modes will be described.

A first mode is an operation mode in which air blown from the blower fan45is discharged to the outlet14as shown inFIG.15. The discharge blade350is disposed at the guide position350aand opens the outlet14, and the flow path blade380is disposed to close the second flow path75b.The moving blade384is pressurized by the discharge blade350, and at least a part of the moving blade384is inserted into the insertion space386. Since the discharge blade350is rotated by a predetermined angle at the guide position350a,the discharge blade350is slidable. Through this configuration, the air blown from the blower fan45may move along the first flow path75aand may be discharged to the outside of the housing310through the outlet14.

A second mode is an operation mode in which air blown from the blower fan45is discharged through the outlet14and the plurality of holes22as shown inFIG.16. The discharge blade350is disposed at the guide position350aand opens the outlet14, and the flow path blade380is disposed to open the second flow75b.The moving blade384is pressurized by the discharge blade350, and at least a part of the moving blade384is inserted into the insertion space386. Since the discharge blade350is rotated by a predetermined angle at the guide position350a,the discharge blade is slidable. Through this configuration, the air blown from the blower fan45flows along the first and second flow paths75aand75band may be discharged to the outside of the housing310through the outlet14, the plurality of holes22of the discharge plate320, and the plurality of holes22of the moving blade384.

A third mode is an operation mode in which air blown from the blower fan45is discharged through a plurality of blade holes356of the discharge blade350and the plurality of holes385of the moving blade384, as shown inFIG.17. The discharge blade350is disposed at the closing position350band closes the outlet14, and the flow path blade380is disposed to close the second flow path75b.The moving blade384may slide downwards so that at least a part of the moving blade384protrudes toward the discharge blade350and the moving blade384is in contact with the discharge blade350. Through this configuration, the air blown from the blower fan45may flow along the first flow path75aand may be discharged through the plurality of blade holes356of the discharge blade350and the plurality of holes385of the moving blade384.

A fourth mode is an operation mode in which air blown from the blower fan45is discharged through the plurality of holes22of the discharge plate320, the plurality of blade holes356of the discharge blade350, and the plurality of holes385of the moving blade384as shown inFIG.18. The discharge blade350is disposed at the closing position350band closes the outlet14, and the flow path blade380is disposed to open the second flow path75b.The moving blade384may slide downwards so that at least a part of the moving blade384protrudes toward the discharge plate320and the moving blade384is in contact with the discharge blade350. Through this configuration, the air blown from the blower fan45flows along the first and second flow paths75aand75band may be discharged to the outside of the housing310through the plurality of holes22of the discharge plate320, the plurality of holes385of the moving blade384, and the plurality of blade holes356of the discharge blade350.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. A description of the same configuration as the above-described configuration will be omitted.

FIGS.19through22are views showing an operation of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

A housing10may include a housing door490.

The housing door490may be disposed at a front surface of a discharge plate20and may be provided to move between an open position490aat which the discharge plate20is exposed to the outside, and a closing position490bat which the front surface of the discharge plate20is blocked.

The housing door490may be configured to be slidable between the open position490aand the closing position490b.The housing door490may include a first door491and a second door492disposed below the first door491. The first door491may open/close a top part of the front surface of the discharge plate20, and the second door492may open/close a bottom part of the front surface of the discharge plate20. The first and second doors491and492may operate to be in contact with each other when the housing door490is at the closing position490b.

The second door492may open/close the bottom part of the front surface of the discharge plate20, i.e., a part of a discharge blade50. Thus, in an operation in which the discharge blade50is disposed at a guide position50aand air is discharged through an outlet14, only the second door492may be open.

When the air conditioner does not operate, the first and second doors491and492are disposed at the closing position490bso that the discharge plate20or the discharge blade50is not exposed to the outside. Thus, foreign substances can be prevented from being accumulated in a plurality of holes22or a plurality of blade holes56.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. A description of the same configuration as the above-described configuration will be omitted.

FIG.23is a view showing an operation of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

A housing10may include a housing door590.

The housing door590may be disposed at a front surface of a discharge plate20and may be provided to move between an open position590aat which the discharge plate20is exposed to the outside, and a closing position at which the front surface of the discharge plate20is blocked. Although the closing position of the housing door590is not shown, the housing door590may be configured to cover the front of the housing10, as illustrated inFIGS.19and20.

The housing door590may be configured to rotate and move between the open position590aand the closing position. The housing door590may include a first door591and a second door592disposed below the first door591. The first door591may open/close a top part of the front surface of the discharge plate20, and the second door592may open/close a bottom part of the front surface of the discharge plate20. The first and second doors591and592may operate to be in contact with each other when the housing door590is at the closing position. The first and second doors591and592are hinge-coupled to the housing10, and thus may rotate upwards and downwards, respectively.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. A description of the same configuration as the above-described configuration will be omitted.

FIG.24is a view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

A discharge plate20and a front frame30may be detachably provided in a housing10. The discharge plate20and the front frame30, which are one module, may be separated from the air conditioner1. The discharge plate20and the front frame30are configured as one module so that embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to air conditioners to which the embodiments of the present disclosure are not applied.

As described above, in an air conditioner according to the present disclosure, heat-exchanged air can be discharged by varying a wind speed.

In addition, a blowing method of heat-exchanged air can vary according to an environment of a user.

In addition, heat-exchanged air is controlled not to be blown directly toward a user so that the user's satisfaction can be improved.

Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.