Patent ID: 7188437

Claim:
A drying unit for washing machines, comprising: a circulating duct connected between one end of a tub and the other end of the tub; a drying blower connected to the circulating duct for generating a blowing force such that air in the tub is circulated through the circulating duct; an air cooling device for performing heat exchange between air blown from the tub to the circulating duct and external air to condense the blown air; and a drying heater mounted in the circulating duct for heating air condensed by the air cooling device to change air supplied to the tub through the circulating duct into hot wind, wherein the circulating duct comprises: a condensing duct connected to one end of the tub to allow air blown from the tub to be condensed by the air cooling device; and a drying duct connected to the other end of the tub to allow air blown from the condensing duct to be heated, wherein the air cooling device comprises an air cooling duct attached to the outside of the condensing duct to allow external air to be passed, and wherein the drying blower is disposed between the drying duct and the condensing duct.