CN111503745A

CN111503745A - Air conditioner

Info

Publication number: CN111503745A
Application number: CN202010075550.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 金学载; 姜镇一; 李银淳; 尹亨旭
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2019-01-31
Filing date: 2020-01-22
Publication date: 2020-08-07
Also published as: EP3690333A1; CN113218005A; CN117053286A; EP4227589A1; ES2947472T3; EP3690333B1

Abstract

An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner includes: a pre-filter of flexible material facing an air intake opening through which air is drawn; a roller supporting one side of the pre-filter in a length direction to move the pre-filter left and right; a roller rotating mechanism that rotates the roller; and a brush unit configured such that the pre-filter is in contact with the brush unit when the roller rotates, and the brush unit is spaced apart from the roller rotating mechanism.

Description

Air conditioner

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to an air conditioner capable of cleaning a filter.

Background

An air conditioner is an apparatus for maintaining indoor air in an optimum state according to use and purpose.

Air conditioners may be classified into a cabinet type, a wall type, or a ceiling type according to installation locations. The cabinet type indoor unit is understood to be a type of air conditioner installed to stand in an indoor space, and the wall type indoor unit is understood to be a type of air conditioner installed to be attached to a wall surface. In addition, the ceiling-mounted indoor unit is understood as a ceiling-mounted type air conditioner.

The air conditioner may be a cooling machine for cooling a predetermined space, may be a heating machine for heating the predetermined space, may be a cooling or heating air conditioner for cooling or heating the predetermined space, may be a purifying machine for purifying air in the predetermined space, or the like, and the function of such an air conditioner may be determined according to the type of air conditioning unit installed inside the air conditioner.

The air conditioner may include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator, and may drive a refrigeration cycle that performs compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation processes of a refrigerant to cool or heat the predetermined space.

The air conditioner may include an electric heater, and the predetermined space may be heated by applying a current to the electric heater.

The air conditioner may include a purifying unit, such as a filter unit, which may purify the air of the predetermined space.

In the air conditioner, a filter for filtering dust in air may be provided, and a cleaning kit for cleaning the filter may be provided.

An example of an air conditioner having the filter and the cleaning kit as described above is disclosed in korean laid-open patent publication No. 10-2009-0044786A (published 5/7 2009), which includes: a mobile cleaning kit configured to clean foreign matter in the filter as the filter moves; and a cleaning moving tool connected to the moving cleaning kit to move the moving cleaning kit in a left-right direction, the moving cleaning kit including a cleaning kit main body connected to be moved by the moving tool and a brush formed to protrude from the cleaning kit main body toward the filter.

However, in the air conditioner having the movable cleaning kit as described above, since the brush and the movable cleaning kit are moved, dust separated from the brush or the filter may be scattered around the filter in the process of moving the brush along the filter, and thus the cleaning around the filter may not be maintained. In addition, since the cleaning kit body for moving the brush requires an additional space between the air suction part and the filter in order to install the movable cleaning kit, the space utilization rate of the inside of the air conditioner is low, and there is a problem that the air conditioner is difficult to be compact.

As another example of an air conditioner having a filter and a cleaning kit as described above, in japanese laid-open patent publication JP2005-300154a (published 2005-10/27), the filter reciprocates inside a main body casing by a slide device, and includes a filter cleaning section that contacts the filter along a moving path of the filter, the filter cleaning section including a lower cover, an upper cover, and a pair of brushes, and foreign matter in the filter is separated from the filter while the filter moved by the slide device passes through the pair of brushes, and may be stored in a space between the lower cover and the upper cover.

However, as described above, a portion of the filter moved by the sliding device can be pulled out to the outside of the air conditioner to clean the entire filter, there is a problem in that the portion located at the outside of the air conditioner may be damaged or contaminated.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Korean laid-open patent publication No. 10-2009-0044786A (published 5/7/2009)

Japanese laid-open patent publication JP2005-300154A (published in 10 months and 27 days of 2005)

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide an air conditioner which can minimize the pollution or damage of a filter when the filter is cleaned and has higher internal space utilization rate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner which can minimize damage of a filter to other components.

An air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a pre-filter, a roller rotating mechanism, and a brush unit. The air conditioner may include a filter housing.

The pre-filter may face an air intake opening through which air is drawn, and may be a flexible material. The prefilter can be engaged with the roller. When the roller rotates, the pre-filter can move along the outer circumference of the roller inside the filter housing and can be in contact with the brush unit.

The roller can support one side of the pre-filter in a length direction and can move the pre-filter left and right. The roller is rotatably accommodated inside the filter housing.

The roller rotating mechanism may rotate the roller.

The brush unit may be disposed at the filter housing. The brush unit may be configured to be able to contact the pre-filter when the roller rotates. The brush unit can be spaced apart from the roller rotation mechanism.

Compared with the case of fixing the position of the pre-filter and moving the brush unit, the air conditioner can keep the surrounding of the pre-filter clean, and does not need a space for moving the brush unit, thereby improving the space utilization rate of the interior of the air conditioner.

Further, when cleaning the pre-filter, the pre-filter moves inside the filter housing and is not drawn out from the filter housing to the outside, so that the space utilization rate inside the air conditioner is high, the damage of the pre-filter can be minimized, and the possibility that other parts disposed inside the air conditioner are damaged by the pre-filter can be minimized.

The filter housing, the roller, the pre-filter, and the brush unit may constitute a filter assembly, the roller, the pre-filter, and the brush unit may be drawn out to the outside from the air conditioner together with the filter housing, and a user or an operator may easily manage the roller, the pre-filter, and the brush unit.

The filter housing may have an external inlet formed therein as an air suction port for sucking air and an internal outlet formed therein as an air discharge port for discharging air.

To move the pre-filter using the roller, the roller may include a driving gear, and the pre-filter may include a driven gear engaged with the driving gear.

The brush unit may be configured to contact the pre-filter while the roller rotates. The brush unit may be disposed adjacent to the roller.

The air conditioner may further include an electrostatic filter disposed between the pre-filter and the filter housing and spaced apart from the roller. The roller does not interfere with the electrostatic filter when the roller rotates, and damage of the electrostatic filter can be minimized.

The electrostatic filter may constitute the filter assembly together with the filter housing, the roller, the pre-filter, and the brush unit. The electrostatic filter can be drawn out to the outside from the air conditioner together with the roller, the pre-filter, the brush unit, and the filter housing, and a user or an operator can wash the electrostatic filter with a washing solution such as water.

The pre-filter is movable between the filter housing and an electrostatic filter, an outer surface of the electrostatic filter and an inner surface of the filter housing being configured to form a channel through which the pre-filter is movable.

The thickness in the air flow direction in the electrostatic filter may be less than or equal to the diameter of the roller. When the thickness of the electrostatic filter is greater than the diameter of the roller, a portion of the pre-filter between the electrostatic filter and the filter housing may be protruded. On the other hand, as described above, when the thickness of the electrostatic filter is smaller than or equal to the diameter of the roller, the portion of the pre-filter located between the electrostatic filter and the filter housing can be spread out in a flat state as much as possible.

The filter housing may have a guide body formed therein, the guide body guiding the pre-filter to move between the electrostatic filter and the lower housing. A portion of the pre-filter that moves along the outer circumference of the roller may be guided by the guide body between the electrostatic filter and the lower housing, and the pre-filter may move smoothly and stably to the maximum extent.

The air conditioner may further include a filter guide to guide the pre-filter to move along an outer circumference of the roller when the roller rotates, and the filter guide may be formed with a guide surface to contact the pre-filter.

At least a portion of the filter guide is arc-shaped, and a radius of the arc-shaped portion may be greater than a radius of the roller.

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

The portion of the pre-filter between the filter guide and the roller may be guided by the roller and the guide surface, respectively, and bent in an arc shape, and it is possible to minimize malfunction of the pre-filter and stably move the pre-filter.

The air conditioner may further include a dust bucket disposed at the filter housing and formed with a space to store the dust separated from the pre-filter. The brush unit may be disposed between the roller and the dust bucket. The dust bucket may constitute the filter assembly together with the brush unit.

In this case, a user or operator may wash the pre-filter with a washing solution such as water by pulling the filter assembly out of the air conditioner, may replace the brush unit or remove foreign substances remaining in the brush unit, and may empty the dust tub.

The filter housing may include an upper cover formed with the external inlet and a lower housing formed with the internal outlet, and a dust bucket receiving space to receive the dust bucket may be formed between the lower housing and the upper cover.

The brush unit may include: a brush main body formed with a dust passage opened toward the roller; and a brush formed in a face of the brush main body facing the roller and contacting a portion of the pre-filter bent along the roller.

The air conditioner according to the embodiment may include: a main body having a suction portion and a discharge portion; and a blower fan housed inside the main body. The filter assembly may be configured to be able to be drawn out from the main body, and a roller rotating mechanism may be installed in the main body, and the roller may be detachably coupled to the roller rotating mechanism.

The air conditioner may further include a filter cleaning device to which the dust bucket is detachably connected, the filter cleaning device being mountable to the main body, the dust bucket being connectable with the filter cleaning device when the filter assembly is mounted to the main body.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the pre-filter moves inside the filter housing along the outer circumference of the roller and is cleaned by the brush unit, so that it is not necessary to pull out the pre-filter from the filter housing to the outside when cleaning the pre-filter, and thus the space utilization rate of the inside of the air conditioner is high.

In addition, the pre-filter does not contact or interfere with other components located outside the filter housing, thus minimizing contamination and damage to the pre-filter or other components that may occur if the pre-filter contacts or interferes with other components.

In addition, the roller, the pre-filter, and the brush unit can be drawn out to the outside from the air conditioner together with the filter housing, and thus, a user or an operator can easily manage the roller, the pre-filter, and the brush unit.

In addition, since the electrostatic filter disposed inside the filter housing is spaced apart from the roller disposed inside the filter housing, damage to the electrostatic filter by the roller can be minimized.

In addition, the electrostatic filter can be drawn out to the outside from the air conditioner together with the roller, the pre-filter, the brush unit, and the filter housing, and thus, there is an advantage of facilitating maintenance management as compared with a case where the roller, the pre-filter, the electrostatic filter, and the brush unit are separately drawn out.

In addition, a portion of the pre-filter that moves along the outer circumference of the roller may be guided by the guide body between the electrostatic filter and the lower housing, and thus the pre-filter can be moved smoothly and stably to the maximum.

In addition, the portion of the pre-filter between the filter guide and the roller is guided by the roller and the guide surface, respectively, and bent in an arc shape, and it is possible to minimize malfunction of the pre-filter and stably move the pre-filter.

In addition, a dust bucket storing dust separated from the filter is disposed at the filter housing, a user or an operator may wash the pre-filter with a washing solution such as water by pulling the filter assembly out of the air conditioner, may replace the brush unit or remove foreign substances remaining in the brush unit, and may empty the dust bucket.

In addition, the filter assembly may be configured to be able to be drawn out from the main body to the outside, and a roller rotating mechanism is installed in the main body, the roller being detachably coupled to the roller rotating mechanism. Accordingly, a user or operator can easily wash the entire filter assembly separated from the roller rotating mechanism with a washing solution such as water.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a wall.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the air conditioner in which the casing and the front panel shown in fig. 1 are separated from the chassis.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of a filter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the front panel shown in fig. 1 in a first position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the front panel shown in fig. 1 in a second position.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the front panel shown in fig. 1 in a third position.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line a-a' of fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along line B-B' of fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a bottom view illustrating the inside of a dielectric filter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a filter assembly and a movement mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the filter assembly shown in fig. 8 when it is pulled out in the forward direction.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the filter assembly shown in fig. 8 when it is pulled out in the forward direction.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the interior of a filter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 16 is a bottom view of a filter housing separated from a dust cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention,

fig. 17 is an exploded perspective view of a filter assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 18 is a bottom view of a pre-filter according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a filter assembly in connection with a filter cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C' shown in fig. 8.

Fig. 21 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the pre-filter, the roller and the brush when the pre-filter is not cleaned according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 22 is a sectional view showing the prefilter shown in fig. 21 when cleaned.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a view showing a state in which an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a wall, fig. 2 is a perspective view of the air conditioner when a housing and a front panel shown in fig. 1 are separated from a chassis, fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 4 is a bottom view of a filter assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The air conditioner of the present embodiment may be mounted on a wall W.

The air conditioner may include a main body 10, the main body 10 having an inner space S1 formed therein. The main body 10 may form an external appearance of an air conditioner, and the main body 10 may have a suction portion and a discharge portion formed therein. In addition, the main body 10 may house an air supply fan 40 and an air conditioning unit therein.

When the blower fan 40 is rotated, air outside the main body 10 may be drawn into the internal space S1 through the suction portion, air flowing into the main body 10 may be conditioned by the air conditioning unit, and then may be discharged outside the main body 10 through the discharge portion.

The main body 10 may be formed of an assembly of a plurality of members, and the main body 10 may include a chassis 30 and a case 100, for example.

The main body 10 may be mounted on a wall W by means of a mounting plate 20. The mounting plate 20 may be a structure for fixing the body 10 to a wall W. The mounting plate 20 may be coupled to the wall W and the chassis 30 may be hung from the mounting plate 20. The mounting plate 20 may have a thin plate shape, and may include a central portion coupled to the rear surface of the base plate 30 and side portions extending downward from both sides of the central portion to support the lower portion of the base plate 30.

The chassis 30 may include a plate coupling portion 31 and a rear guide 33, the plate coupling portion 31 may be coupled to the mounting plate 20, and the rear guide 33 may extend downward from the plate coupling portion 31 in an arc shape to surround a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the air blowing fan 40.

The plate coupling portion 31 may have a thin plate-like shape.

The rear guide 33 may be used as a flow guide for guiding the airflow discharged from the blower fan 40 to the discharge unit.

The air blowing fan 40 may include a cross flow fan. The cross-flow fan may suck air sucked from an upper portion of the main body 10 in a circumferential direction and discharge the air in the circumferential direction. The axial direction of the blower fan 40 may be the lateral direction of the main body 10.

The air blowing fan 40 may be rotatably supported on both sides of the chassis 30.

The chassis 30 may further include two fan supporting portions 35 supporting both side ends of the air blowing fan 40. The two fan supporting parts 35 may protrude forward from both sides of the rear guide 33.

The fan motor 45 for driving the air blowing fan 40 may be disposed outside one of the two fan supporting portions 35, and may be disposed outside the other of the two fan supporting portions 35. The shaft of the fan motor 45 may be coupled to the air blowing fan 40 by passing through the fan support portion 35.

A motor cover 47 may be incorporated in the fan motor 45. The fan motor 45 may be accommodated in an inner space formed by the fan support part 35 and the motor cover 47.

The chassis 30 may be provided therein with a control module 50 that controls the main body 10. The control module 50 may be located at a side of the fan motor 45 and may be supported by a housing 100. The control module 50 may include a control box 52 forming an external appearance and a control part disposed inside the control box 52 to operate the air conditioner.

The air conditioner may further include a lower plate 55 forming a lower appearance of the main body 10. The lower plate 55 may be disposed at a lower side of the chassis 30.

The housing 100 may be coupled to the front of the chassis 30. Further, the air blowing fan 40 may be accommodated between the chassis 30 and the casing 100. An internal space S1 may be formed between the chassis 30 and the casing 100, and the blower fan 40 may be accommodated in the internal space S1.

The air conditioner may further include an air conditioning unit (airconditioning) accommodated in the internal space S1. An example of the air conditioning unit may be a heat exchanger 60 through which refrigerant passes. Another example of the air conditioning unit may be a thermoelectric element. Yet another example of the air conditioning unit may be an electric heater.

Hereinafter, the heat exchanger 60 is accommodated in the internal space S1 of the air conditioner, for example. However, the present invention is not limited to the heat exchanger 60 accommodated in the internal space S1, and of course, various air conditioning units such as a thermoelectric element, an electric heater, a humidifying device, a purifying unit, etc. may be selectively accommodated in the internal space S1.

The internal space S1 defined by the chassis 30 and the housing 100 may accommodate the heat exchanger 60. Based on the air flow, the heat exchanger 60 may be supported by at least one of the chassis 30 and the spit grid assembly 80.

The heat exchanger 60 may have a curved shape. In detail, the heat exchanger 60 includes: a first heat exchange portion 61 extending vertically in a direction corresponding to the front surface portion of the main body 10; a second heat exchange portion 63 extending obliquely upward from the first heat exchange portion 61; and a third heat exchange portion 65 extending obliquely downward from the second heat exchange portion 63. The first to third heat exchange portions 61 to 65 may be disposed outside the air blowing fan 40, and may be understood as being disposed in an intake area of air taken in by the air blowing fan 40.

The heat exchanger 60 incorporates a heat exchanger bracket 67 therein. The heat exchanger bracket 67 is coupled to a side of the heat exchanger 60, and may be supported by an inner surface of the case 100.

The heat exchanger 60 incorporates a refrigerant pipe 70 therein. The refrigerant pipe 70 may flow the refrigerant into the heat exchanger 60 or guide the flow of the refrigerant discharged from the heat exchanger 60. The refrigerant pipe 70 is coupled to a side of the heat exchanger 60, and a pipe cover 75 surrounds an outer side of the refrigerant pipe 70.

A housing 100 is provided in front of the chassis 30. An air flow path is formed inside the case 100.

The air conditioner may include a filter assembly 300. The filter assembly 300 may be configured on the body 10 to be able to be drawn out to the outside.

The air conditioner may include a pair of

side portions

111 and 112 forming a side appearance thereof. In addition, the air conditioner may further include a top surface portion 113 forming an appearance of a top surface thereof.

In addition, the air conditioner may further include an upper casing 114 in which the filter assembly 300 is inserted to be received. The upper case 114 may be formed at the main body 10, and the filter housing of the filter assembly 300 may be detachably mounted to the upper case 114.

A pair of

side surface parts

111 and 112 and a top surface part 113 may be formed by at least one of the chassis 30 and the case 100.

The upper case 114 may be formed in a shape recessed from the top surface portion 113. The upper case 114 may be a filter assembly receiving body covering at least one surface of the filter assembly 300, and may be a filter housing case covering at least one surface of a filter housing 310 forming an external appearance of the filter assembly 300.

When the filter assembly 300 is inserted into the upper casing 114, a top surface appearance of the air conditioner may be formed. When the filter assembly 300 is inserted into the upper casing 114, the filter assembly 300 may be disposed at an upper portion of at least one of the base pan 30 and the casing 100, and air outside the air conditioner may be purified by the filter assembly 300 and then flow between the base pan 30 and the casing 100.

When the filter assembly 300 is inserted into the upper case 114, the top surface of the filter assembly 300 may be exposed to the outside, and the top surface of the filter assembly 300 may form the appearance of the top surface of the air conditioner. The filter assembly 300 can be pulled out from above the air conditioner in a state of being accommodated in the upper casing 114.

A discharge portion is formed at a lower portion of the housing 100. The discharge portion may include a lower discharge portion 126. The lower discharge portion 126 may be formed at a lower portion of the housing. The lower discharge portion 126 may be formed to discharge air downward.

The housing 100 may be formed of one member, or may be formed of a combination of a plurality of

members

110 and 120. If the case 100 is an assembly of a plurality of members, the case 100 may include a case body 110 coupled to a chassis 30 and a grill frame 120 disposed in front of the case body 110.

The air conditioner may also include a spit grill assembly 80.

The spit grill assembly 80 may be disposed at a lower portion of the housing 100. The spit grid assembly 80 may include a spit grid body 81 spaced from the chassis 30. The spit grill assembly 80 may include left and right vanes 82 that control the direction of the spit airflow. The left and right blades 82 are rotatable in the left-right direction with respect to a vertical line to control the left-right direction of the discharge airflow. A plurality of left and right blades 83 may be provided and connected to one link 84, and the plurality of left and right blades 82 may be rotated together with the movement of the link 84. The spit grill assembly 80 may include left and right vane motors 86, which left and right vane motors 86 rotate the left and right vanes 82. The left and right vane motors 86 may be provided in the discharge grill main body 81.

The lower portion of the housing 100 may include upper and lower vanes 88 to control the upward and downward direction of the discharged airflow. A link 89 may be connected to a side of the upper and lower blades 88, and an upper and lower blade motor 90 for driving the upper and lower blades 88 may be connected to the link 89. The upper and lower vane motors 90 may be provided in at least one of the chassis 30, the lower plate 55, and the discharge grill body 81.

The front panel 150 may be disposed at the housing 100. The front panel 150 may be disposed in front of the housing 100 to form a front appearance of the main body 10.

The front panel 150 may be provided therein with a display unit 152 capable of confirming operation information of the main body 10. The front panel 150 may have a display hole 154 formed therein, and the display unit 152 is located in the display hole 154.

The air conditioner may further include a driving mechanism 170 (refer to fig. 2), and the driving mechanism 170 may be connected to the front panel 150 to move the front panel 150 to a plurality of positions. The drive mechanism 170 may be disposed on the housing 100 or the chassis 30. The driving mechanism 170 may be connected to the front panel 150 using a power transmission member such as a gear.

For example, the front panel 150 may have a rack bar formed long in the vertical direction. In addition, the driving mechanism 170 may include a motor 172, and may further include a pinion 174 rotated by the motor 172 and engaged with the rack gear.

The air conditioner may further include a high voltage Power Supply 180 (refer to fig. 2) applying a high voltage to the filter assembly 300.

The high voltage power supply 180 may apply a high voltage to the filter assembly 300 and a charging module 360 (refer to fig. 9) described later. The charging module 360 may ionize foreign substances such as dust in the air, and the foreign substances ionized by the charging module 360 may be collected to the inside of the filter assembly 300.

The filter assembly 300 may include a filter housing 310 and at least one filter received inside the filter housing 310. The Filter assembly 300 may include a Pre-Filter 340(Pre Filter, refer to fig. 3) accommodated in the interior of the Filter housing 310.

The pre-filter 340 may be a filter for filtering foreign substances flowing into the air conditioner, and particularly, for filtering foreign substances flowing into the inside of the filter assembly 300. The pre-filter 340 may have a mesh shape. The pre-filter 340 may be located before an air conditioning unit (e.g., the heat exchanger 60) in the direction of air flow.

The filter assembly 300 may include a plurality of filters, in which case the filter assembly 300 may further include a dust collection filter 350 (refer to fig. 4).

When the filter assembly 300 includes a pre-filter 340 and a dust collection filter 350, the pre-filter 340 may be located before the dust collection filter 350 in an air flow direction.

An example of the dust collecting Filter 350 may be a High performance Filter, such as a High efficiency air Filter (High efficiency particulate air Filter) capable of filtering out fine dust and the like.

Another example of the dust collection filter 350 may be an electrostatic dust collection filter that traps dust using electricity. In a state where the dust collection filter 350 is accommodated in the filter housing 310, the dust collection filter 350 may be electrically connected to the high voltage power supply 180 through a wire, a terminal, and the like. The dust collection filter 350 may be an electrostatic filter that collects foreign substances using static electricity of the foreign substances ionized by the charging module 360.

Hereinafter, the description will be given taking the dust collecting filter 350 as an example of an electrostatic filter, and the electrostatic filter will be described using the same reference numerals as the dust collecting filter 350. However, the present invention is not limited to the dust collecting filter 350 being an electrostatic filter.

The pre-filter 340 may filter out large dust in the air flowing toward the electrostatic filter 350 in a state of being located at an upper side of the electrostatic filter 350.

The electrostatic filter 350 may be disposed between the pre-filter 340 and the filter housing 310. The electrostatic filter 350 may be spaced apart from the roller 372. The thickness of the electrostatic filter 350 in the air flow direction may be less than or equal to the diameter of the roller 372.

The air conditioner may further include a brush unit 380 (refer to fig. 4), and the brush unit 380 may separate foreign substances such as dust and the like (hereinafter, referred to as 'dust') attached to the filter from the filter (e.g., the pre-filter 340). In addition, the air conditioner may further include a dust bucket 390 (refer to fig. 4), and the dust separated from the filter is loaded in the dust bucket 390.

The brush unit 380 may be disposed at a position where it can contact the filter, particularly the pre-filter 340.

Dust adhered to the pre-filter 340 may be separated from the pre-filter 340 by contacting the brush unit 380, and the dust separated from the pre-filter 340 may flow into the dust bucket 390 and be stored inside the dust bucket 390.

The dust bucket 390 can be pulled out to the outside of the air conditioner, and the dust stored inside thereof can be discarded by a user or the like.

The air conditioner may further include a filter cleaning apparatus 400 (refer to fig. 2), the filter cleaning apparatus 400 separating dust accumulated in the filter, particularly, the pre-filter 340.

When the dust bucket 390 is installed in the air conditioner, the filter cleaning apparatus 400 may communicate with the dust bucket 390. When the dust bucket 390 is pulled out to the outside, the filter cleaning apparatus 400 may be separated from the dust bucket 390. The filter cleaning apparatus 400 may be a suction unit connected to the dust tub 390 to suck air in the dust tub 390. The filter cleaning apparatus 400 may include a fan motor unit that sucks air in the dust tub 390 to blow. The filter cleaning apparatus 400 may be a fan motor unit separably contacting the dust tub 390.

An electric wire may be connected to the filter cleaning apparatus 400, and the filter cleaning apparatus 400 may be installed at the main body 10.

The filter cleaning apparatus 400 may be accommodated between the housing 100 and the chassis 30. The filter cleaning apparatus 400 may be disposed inside the housing 100. The filter cleaning apparatus 400 may be configured to be located at an upper side of the control module 50.

When the filter cleaning apparatus 400 is driven, the suction force of the filter cleaning apparatus 400 may act on the filter (particularly, the pre-filter 340) through the dust bucket 390 and the brush unit 380, and dust attached to the filter of the filter assembly 300 may flow into the dust bucket 390 to be temporarily stored inside the dust bucket 390.

As shown in fig. 4, the brush unit 380 and the dust bucket 390 may be disposed at the filter housing 310, and may be drawn out to the outside of the air conditioner together with the filter housing 310.

In this case, the brush unit 380 and the dust bucket 390 may constitute a part of the filter assembly 300, and the dust bucket 390 may be connected to or separated from a filter cleaning apparatus 400, which will be described later.

On the other hand, the brush unit 380 and the dust bucket 390 may be disposed at the chassis 30 or the housing 100, not at the filter housing 310. In this case, the brush unit 380 and the dust bucket 300 may maintain a state of being connected to the filter cleaning apparatus 400, and may be connected to the filter assembly 30 when the filter assembly 30 is mounted.

The brush unit 380 and the dust bucket 390 are preferably configured to require washing by a user or a service provider and to be easily pulled out or installed.

When the brush unit 380 and the dust bucket 390 are disposed at the filter housing 310 together with the pre-filter 340 and the electrostatic filter 350, a user or an operator can draw out the pre-filter 340, the electrostatic filter 350, the brush unit 380, and the dust bucket 390 together by a simple operation of drawing out the filter assembly 300 to the outside, and can wash the pre-filter 340, the electrostatic filter 350, and the brush unit 380 and empty the dust bucket 390.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the front panel shown in fig. 1 at a first position, fig. 6 is a perspective view of the front panel shown in fig. 1 at a second position, and fig. 7 is a perspective view of the front panel shown in fig. 1 at a third position.

As shown in fig. 5 to 7, the driving mechanism 170 (refer to fig. 2) may raise or lower the front panel 150. The driving mechanism 170 may be a front panel elevating mechanism for elevating the front panel 150.

As shown in fig. 7, the discharge portion formed in the housing 100 may further include a front discharge portion 129. The front discharge portion 129 may be formed by opening a part thereof in the front-rear direction at a lower portion of the front surface of the housing 100.

The driving mechanism 170 may move the front panel 150 to a plurality of positions.

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

The first position P1 may be a position where the front panel 150 covers the front face 301 of the filter assembly 300.

The second position P2 may be a position relatively lower than the first position P1. The second position P1 may be a position where the front panel 150 exposes the front face 301 of the filter assembly 300. The first position P1 and the second position P2 may be positions where the front panel 150 shields the front spout 129.

When the front panel 150 is in the first position, as shown in fig. 5, the front panel 150 may shield the front 301 and the front discharge opening 129 of the filter assembly 300.

When the front panel 150 is in the second position, as shown in fig. 6, the front panel 150 may expose the front 301 of the filter assembly 300 and shield the front discharge opening 129.

When the front panel 150 is located at the second position, the upper end of the front panel 150 may be located at a lower front side of the filter assembly 300, and the filter assembly 300 may be moved forward beyond the upper end of the front panel 150.

When the front panel 150 is located at the second position P2, the user or the air conditioner may move the filter assembly 300 forward, and the user may easily pull out the filter assembly 300 forward without separating the front panel 150 or the housing 100.

The user can easily wash the filter assembly 300 drawn out from the front of the upper housing 114 using a washing solution such as water. The user may place and insert the filter assembly 300 into the upper housing 114 after washing the filter assembly 300, and the filter assembly 300 may be inserted and received into the upper housing 114.

In another aspect, the plurality of positions may further include a third position P3. The third position P3 may be a position relatively higher than the first position P1. As shown in fig. 7, the third position P3 may be a position where the front panel 150 opens the front discharge opening 129, and may be a position where the front panel 150 covers the front face 301 of the filter assembly 300. When the front panel 150 is located at the third position, the air flowing toward the filter assembly 300 may be directed to the rear surface of the front panel 150 and then drawn into the filter assembly 300.

The air conditioner may selectively perform a down airflow mode for discharging air-conditioned air to the lower side of the casing 100 through the lower discharge portion 126 (see fig. 1) and a forward airflow mode for discharging air-conditioned air to the front of the casing 100 through the forward discharge portion 129 (see fig. 6).

When the front panel 150 is located at the first position P1 or the second position P2, the air conditioner may discharge air conditioned air through the lower discharge portion 126.

When the front panel 150 is located at the third position, the air conditioner can discharge the air-conditioned air through the front discharge portion 129 and the lower discharge portion 126.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line a-a 'of fig. 8, fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along line B-B' of fig. 8, fig. 11 is a bottom view illustrating the inside of a dielectric filter according to an embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 12 is a view illustrating a filter assembly and a moving mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The air conditioner may further include a charging module 360 (or an ionization module, refer to fig. 8 and 9).

The charging module 360 may be an electrolysis module or an ionization module that ionizes foreign substances in the air. The charging module 360 may be configured such that foreign substances in the air can be ionized before flowing into the electrostatic filter 350.

The charging module 360 ionizes foreign substances in the air flowing toward the electrostatic filter 350, and may include a discharge electrode 361 that ionizes the foreign substances in the air when a high voltage is applied.

The discharge electrode 361 may include a fiber combination such as Carbon fiber or Carbon fiber. The discharge electrode 361 may be electrically connected to the high voltage power supply 180 shown in fig. 2.

The discharge electrode 361 may be built in the filter assembly 300 to allow the ionized foreign matter to be attached to the electrostatic filter 350. However, when the discharge electrode 361 is disposed inside the filter assembly 300, the filter assembly 300 may become thick due to the thickness of the discharge electrode 361, the distance between the discharge electrode 361 and the electrostatic filter 350, and the like. In addition, when a user separates the filter assembly 300 from the chassis 30 or the case 100 to clean the filter assembly 300, the discharge electrode 361 needs to be electrically disconnected from the high voltage power supply 180, and the possibility of damage to the discharge electrode 361 may be increased when washing the filter assembly 300.

The discharge electrode 361 is preferably located outside the filter assembly 300, and even if the filter assembly 300 is pulled out to wash the filter assembly 300, the discharge electrode 361 is preferably not pulled out together with the filter assembly 300.

The discharge electrode 361 may be located in the chassis 30 or the casing 100, and may be disposed toward the outside of the air conditioner, for example. In this case, the discharge electrode 361 may ionize foreign substances in the air outside the air conditioner, particularly, outside the filter assembly 300.

The foreign substances in the air outside the air conditioner may be ionized outside the filter assembly 300, and the foreign substances ionized by the discharge electrode 361 may be sucked into the filter assembly 300 and collected by the electrostatic filter 350 through the filter assembly 300.

On the other hand, the discharge electrode 361 is preferably configured to ionize foreign matters in the air around the filter module 300 as much as possible, and for this reason, the discharge electrode 361 may be disposed at a position close to the upper casing 114, and may be directed to the upper side of the upper casing 114, for example.

When the air supply fan 40 is driven, the external air of the air conditioner may flow to the upper side of the upper casing 114 and the filter assembly 300 and then may be sucked into the filter assembly 300, and thus the foreign substances in the air flowing to the upper side of the upper casing 114 and the filter assembly 300 are preferably ionized by the discharge electrode 361.

The discharge electrode 361 facing the upper side of the upper casing 114 can minimize power loss of foreign substances in the ionized air.

The charging module 360 may further include a module mounter 364, and the module mounter 364 is disposed on an upper portion of at least one of the chassis 30 and the case 100.

The module mounter 364 may be internally formed with a space S5 to receive the discharge electrode 361. Such a space S5 may be formed larger than the discharge electrode 361.

The discharge electrode 361 is preferably configured to have an upper end lower than an upper end of the module mounter 364. In this case, the discharge electrode 361 may be protected by the module mounter 364, and a safety accident that may occur when a user touches the discharge electrode 361 or damage to the discharge electrode 361 can be minimized.

A wire through hole 365 may be formed in the module mounter 364, and the wire 362 connected to the discharge electrode 361 passes through the wire through hole 365. Such a wire 362 may be fixed by being inserted into the wire through hole 365, and the wire 362 connected to the discharge electrode 361 may extend into the high voltage power supply 180 shown in fig. 2.

On the other hand, a pair of the charging modules 360 may be provided in the air conditioner. A pair of charging

modules

360A and 360B may be spaced apart in the length direction Y of the filter assembly 300.

The filter assembly 300 may be in a polygonal shape having a length in the left-right direction Y longer than a length in the front-rear direction X, and the length L2 of the filter assembly 300 may be defined as the length in the left-right direction Y of the filter assembly 300.

The distance L1 between the pair of charging

modules

360A and 360B can be greater than or equal to the length L2 of the filter assembly.

The pair of charging

modules

360A and 360B may be symmetrically disposed across the filter assembly 300.

The pair of charging

modules

360A and 360B may include a left charging module 360A located on a left side of the filter assembly 300 and a right charging module 360B located on a right side of the filter assembly 300.

Hereinafter, the same configuration of the left and right charging

modules

360A and 360B will be referred to as a charging module 360, and when it is necessary to distinguish between the left and right charging

modules

360A and 360B, the same configuration will be referred to as a left and right charging

modules

360A and 360B, respectively.

The distance L3 between the discharge electrode 361 of the left charging module 360A and the discharge electrode 361 of the right charging module 360B may be longer than the length L2 of the filter assembly 300.

Extension lines E1 and E2 extending from the discharge electrode 361 of the pair of charging

modules

360A and 360B, respectively, may cross each other outside the air conditioner. Such extension lines E1 and E2 may cross each other at the upper side of the filter assembly 300.

When the air blowing fan 40 is rotated, the foreign substances in the air flowing to the upper side of the filter assembly 300 may be ionized while passing around the discharge electrode 361, and among the foreign substances ionized by the discharge electrode 361, the foreign substances passing through the pre-filter 340 may be adsorbed and collected by the electrostatic filter 350.

Hereinafter, the filter assembly 300 is explained in detail.

The inside of the filter housing 310 may be formed with a space S3 in which at least one filter is accommodated.

The filter housing 310 may be configured to allow air to pass through. The filter housing 310 may have an external inlet 312 formed therein, the external inlet 312 being used for external air to be sucked into the filter housing 310. The filter housing 310 may have an inner outlet 314 formed therein, the inner outlet 314 being for the air passing through the space S3 of the filter housing 310 to be spitted out to flow to the inner space S1.

The exterior inlet 312 may be an air suction inlet through which exterior air of the air conditioner is sucked into the air conditioner. In the filter housing 310, an air suction port may be formed, and a space S3 accommodating the pre-filter 340 may be formed.

The internal outlet 314 may be an air discharge port through which air drawn into the filter assembly 300 can be discharged to the outside of the filter assembly 300, and the air discharge port may be formed in the filter housing 310.

The external inlet 312 may be directed to an upper side when the filter assembly 300 is inserted into the upper case 114, and the external inlet 312 may be exposed to the outside of the air conditioner.

The interior outlet 314 may face a lower side when the filter assembly 300 is inserted into the upper casing 114, and the interior outlet 314 may face an interior of the air conditioner.

The filter housing 310 may be constructed of an assembly of multiple components.

The filter housing 310 may include an upper cover 320 and a lower housing 330, the upper cover 320 having an external inlet 312 formed therein to suck external air, and the lower housing 330 having an internal outlet 314 (air discharge port) formed therein through which air passing through the filter flows to the through-hole 115.

The upper cover 320 may be detachably coupled to the lower case 330 using a hook portion such as a hook or a coupling member such as a screw, and the inside of the filter case 310 may be opened when the upper cover 320 is separated from the lower case 330.

The upper cover 320 may be an outer cover capable of forming an external appearance of a top surface of the air conditioner when the filter assembly 300 is mounted to the air conditioner.

The lower case 330 may be an inner case whose bottom surface can face the inside of the air conditioner, particularly, the inner space S1 when the filter assembly 300 is mounted to the air conditioner.

The pre-filter 340 may be formed of a flexible material that can be bent or bent. The length of the pre-filter 340 in the left-right direction may be longer than the length of the pre-filter 340 in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 10, the pre-filter 340 may include a filter mesh 342, and the filter mesh 342 is formed with through holes through which air may pass. The pre-filter 340 may include a filter body 344 supporting a filter mesh 342.

The pre-filter 340 may be accommodated between the electrostatic filter 350 and the upper cover 320.

The electrostatic filter 350 may be a trapping module that traps foreign substances ionized by the charging module 360. The electrostatic filter 350 may be accommodated in such a manner as to be located behind the pre-filter 340 in the direction of air flow.

The electrostatic filter 350 may be a dielectric filter configured such that electrodes are surrounded by a dielectric, and the electrostatic filter 350 may be washed with a washing solution such as water.

The electrostatic filter 350 may include a first filter body 351 having a first electrode 351A surrounded by a first dielectric 351B and a second filter body 352 having a second electrode 352A surrounded by a second dielectric 352B.

The first and

second dielectrics

351B and 351B may be coating members that prevent foreign substances from exposing the first electrode 351A or the second electrode 352A, and may be adsorption bodies that adsorb the ionized foreign substances using an electric field formed between the first and

second electrodes

351A and 352A.

As shown in fig. 11, the first filter body 351 and the second filter body 352 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a direction X orthogonal to the air suction direction Z. The first and

second filter bodies

351 and 352 may be alternately disposed in a direction X orthogonal to the suction direction Z of air.

The electrode terminal may be disposed in the electrostatic filter 350. A pair of electrode terminals may be provided in the electrostatic filter 350, and as shown in fig. 11, the pair of electrode terminals may be an anode terminal 353 and a ground terminal 354.

The anode terminal 353 and the ground terminal 354 may be spaced apart in the length direction Y of the filter assembly 300.

The anode terminal 353 may be electrically connected to the first electrode 351A, and may be spaced apart from the second filter body 352.

A portion of the first electrode 351A in the first filter body 351 may be connected to the anode terminal 353.

The anode terminal 353 and the ground terminal 354 may be each configured to penetrate through a filter frame of the electrostatic filter 350, and a part thereof may be located outside the filter frame of the electrostatic filter 350.

The ground terminal 354 may be electrically connected to the second electrode 352A, and may be spaced apart from the first filter body 351.

A portion of the second electrode 352A in the second filter body 352 may be in contact with the ground terminal 354.

Hereinafter, the same configuration in the anode terminal 353 and the ground terminal 354 will be described as being referred to as

electrode terminals

353 and 354, and when it is necessary to distinguish the anode terminal 353 from the ground terminal 354, the description will be made as being referred to as the anode terminal 353 and the ground terminal 354, respectively.

The electrostatic filter 350 may include a filter frame having a space S4 formed therein. The filter frame may be constructed from a combination of

multiple members

356 and 357.

Such combinations

356 and 357 may include upper and

lower frames

356 and 357, and the upper and

lower frames

356 and 357 may be detachably coupled to each other using hooks 358 such as hooks, etc.

The body 10 may further include a moving mechanism 500 capable of moving the position of the filter assembly 300. The moving mechanism 500 may be a filter assembly advancing and retreating mechanism for advancing and retreating the filter assembly 300.

Such a moving mechanism 500 may include a driving source such as a motor or the like and at least one power transmission member connected to the driving source. As an example of the moving mechanism 500, a motor 510 and a pinion 520 rotated by the motor 512 may be included.

The motor 510 may be installed so that its position is fixed inside the air conditioner. The air conditioner may further include a bracket 540 mounted to at least one of the chassis 30 and the case 100. The motor 510 may be mounted in the bracket 540 using a coupling member such as a screw.

The pinion gear 520 may be directly connected to a rotation shaft of the motor 510, or may be connected to the rotation shaft of the motor 510 via an additional intermediate gear.

The moving mechanism 500 may further include a rack gear 530 engaged with the pinion gear 520. The rack gear 530 may be formed at the filter assembly 300. As shown in fig. 12, the rack 530 may be formed at the filter housing 310. The rack 530 may be formed to protrude at a lower portion of the filter housing 310. The rack gear 530 may be formed long in the front-rear direction at the lower portion of the lower case 330.

The movement mechanism 500 may be controlled by the control module 50. When the control module 50 controls the motor 510 in the forward mode, the motor 510 may rotate the rotation shaft in any one of the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction, thereby enabling the rack gear 530 to be advanced, and the filter assembly 300 may be advanced in the forward direction in a state of being placed on the upper housing 114.

When a user inputs a command to pull out the filter assembly 300 through an input part such as a remote controller or the like, or the air conditioner is in a condition to pull out the filter assembly, the control module 50 may transmit a signal of a forward mode to the motor 510.

As an example of the condition for pulling out the filter unit, the air conditioner may be operated for a set time.

When the control module 50 controls the motor 510 in the backward mode, the motor 510 rotates the rotation shaft in a direction opposite to the forward mode, thereby enabling the rack gear 530 to be backward, and the filter assembly 300 can be deeply inserted into the inside of the upper housing 114 in a state of being placed on the upper housing 114.

In a state where the filter assembly 300 is inserted into the upper housing 114, a user may input a filter assembly 300 installation command through an input part such as a remote controller, and in this case, the control module 50 may transmit a signal of a back mode to the motor 510.

The air conditioner may include a sensing unit 550 capable of sensing the position of the filter assembly 300. The sensing unit 550 may be provided to sense a correct position (i.e., a normally installed position) of the filter assembly 300. The sensing unit 550 may be provided to sense a maximum pulled-out position of the filter assembly 300 (i.e., a position where the moving mechanism 500 moves the filter assembly 300 maximally forward).

The air conditioner may further include a magnet 560 provided to the filter housing 310, and a magnet sensor 570 provided to the moving mechanism 500 to sense the magnet 560. The magnet 560 and the magnet sensor 570 may constitute the sensing unit 550.

A magnet mounting portion 337 may be formed in the lower case 330, the magnet 560 may be seated and received in the magnet mounting portion 337, and the magnet 560 may be mounted to the magnet mounting portion 337 and advance and retreat together with the filter assembly 300.

The magnet sensor 570 may be arranged in the moving mechanism 500, in particular in the holder 540. The holder 540 may have a magnet sensor receiving part 544 formed therein, and the magnet sensor 570 is inserted into and received in the magnet sensor receiving part 544.

The magnet sensor 570 may sense the magnet 560 when the motor 510 is driven in the reverse mode, and the control module 50 may stop the reverse mode of the motor 510 if the magnet sensor 570 senses the magnet 560.

The position where the magnet sensor 570 senses the magnet 560 may be a position where

electrode terminals

353 and 354, which will be described later, of the electrostatic filter 350 are in contact with and kept in contact with the

power supply terminals

121 and 122 disposed at the upper case 114, and the control module 50 may reliably apply a high voltage to the electrostatic filter 350.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the filter assembly shown in fig. 8 when it is pulled out in the forward direction, and fig. 14 is a perspective view of the filter assembly shown in fig. 8 when it is pulled out in the forward direction.

The upper housing 114 may be configured such that the filter assembly 300 is inserted into and received by the upper housing 114. Both the top surface of the upper housing 114 and the front surface of the upper housing 114 may be open.

The upper case 114 may have a three-dimensional shape, and an upper space S2 for receiving the filter assembly 300 may be formed at an inner side of the upper case 114.

The lower portion of the upper case 114 may be formed with a through hole 115 communicating with both the upper space S2 and the inner space S1.

The upper case 114 may include a pair of

side bodies

116 and 117 and a rear body 118, the pair of

side bodies

116 and 117 being spaced apart in the left-right direction, and the side body 116 facing a side surface 302 of the filter housing 310, the side body 117 facing a side surface 303 of the filter housing 310, the rear body 118 connecting the pair of

side bodies

116 and 117 and facing a rear surface 304 of the filter housing 310.

Each of the pair of

side bodies

116 and 117 and the rear body 118 may have a predetermined length in the up-down direction Z, and each length of such pair of

side bodies

116 and 117 and the rear body 118 may be greater than or equal to the thickness of the filter assembly 300 (i.e., the up-down direction length of the filter assembly 300).

The upper case 114 may further include a lower body 119 in which the filter assembly 300 is seated, and the lower body 119 may be formed at the lower portion of the pair of

side bodies

116 and 117.

The lower body 119 may have a height difference from the upper end of each of the pair of

side bodies

116 and 117 and the rear body 118.

The pair of

side bodies

116 and 117 and the lower body 119 may have a width in the front-rear direction X, which may be greater than or equal to the width in the front-rear direction X of the filter assembly 300.

When the filter assembly 300 is received in the upper casing 114, the top surface 305 of the filter assembly 300 may be aligned with the top surface portion 113 of the air conditioner, and the front surface 301 of the filter assembly 300 may be aligned with the front surface of the casing 100.

The upper case 114 may be provided therein with

power supply terminals

121 and 122 contacting the

electrode terminals

353 and 354, respectively.

The

power supply terminals

121 and 122 may be fixed terminals fixed to the chassis 30 or the case 100. The

power supply terminals

121 and 122 may correspond to the

electrode terminals

353 and 354 one-to-one. The

power supply terminals

121 and 122 may include an anode fixing terminal 121 and a ground fixing terminal 122, the anode fixing terminal 121 being in contact with or separated from the anode terminal 353, and the ground fixing terminal 122 being in contact with or separated from the ground terminal 354.

The anode fixing terminal 121 and the ground fixing terminal 122 may be disposed to be spaced apart in the longitudinal direction Y of the filter assembly 300, and hereinafter, the same configuration will be referred to as

power supply terminals

121 and 122, and when it is necessary to distinguish them, the same configuration will be described by being divided into the anode fixing terminal 121 and the ground fixing terminal 122.

The anode fixing terminal 121 may be connected to a high voltage power supply 180 shown in fig. 2, and a wire or a bus bar or the like connected to the anode fixing terminal 121 may extend to the high voltage power supply 180.

The ground fixing terminal 122 may be connected to the high voltage power supply 180 shown in fig. 2, and a wire or a bus bar or the like connected to the ground fixing terminal 122 may extend to the high voltage power supply 180, as with the anode fixing terminal 121.

A terminal hole 338 (see fig. 15) may be formed in the filter case 310, and at least one of the

electrode terminals

353 and 354 and the

power supply terminals

121 and 122 may pass through the terminal hole 338, and the terminal hole 338 may be formed in the lower case 330, for example.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing the inside of a filter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, fig. 16 is a bottom view of a filter housing according to an embodiment of the present invention when separated from a dust cartridge, fig. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the filter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, fig. 18 is a bottom view of a pre-filter according to an embodiment of the present invention, fig. 19 is an enlarged sectional view of the filter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention when connected with a filter cleaning device, and fig. 20 is a sectional view taken along line C-C' shown in fig. 8.

The filter housing 310 may have a substantially hexahedral shape, and may be formed long in the left-right direction Y.

The air conditioner may include a roller 370 rotatably disposed inside the filter housing 310. As shown in fig. 19, the roller 370 may be disposed apart from the electrostatic filter 350 inside the filter housing 310. The roller 370 may be disposed in the filter housing 310 adjacent to the electrostatic filter 350.

The roller 370 may support one side in a length direction of the pre-filter 340. The roller 370 may move the pre-filter 340 in the left and right directions.

The roller 370 may have a driving gear for moving the pre-filter 340. The drive gear may include a pair of pinion gears 372 and 374. A pair of

pinions

372 and 374 may be spaced apart in a direction X orthogonal to the air flow direction Z and the length direction Y of the pre-filter 340, respectively.

The roller 370 may include a rotating shaft 376 connecting the pair of

pinions

372 and 374. The pair of

pinions

372 and 374 and the rotating shaft 376 may be integrally rotated.

The pre-filter 340 may have a driven gear formed therein to be engaged with the driving gear of the roller 370. As shown in fig. 18, the driven gear may be a pair of

racks

346 and 348 formed at the pre-filter 340.

The pair of

racks

346 and 348 may be engaged with the pair of

pinions

372 and 374 constituting the driving gear. The pair of

racks

346 and 348 may be integrally formed with the filter body 344. The pair of

racks

346 and 348 may be formed to protrude at the bottom surface of the filter body 344. The pair of

racks

346 and 348 may each be formed long in a length direction Y of the pre-filter 340, and may be spaced apart in a direction X orthogonal to the length direction Y of the pre-filter 340.

When the roller 370 rotates, as shown in fig. 21 and 22, the pre-filter 340 may move inside the filter housing 310 along the outer circumference of the roller 370.

The pre-filter 340 may be a flexible filter that is capable of flexing.

The portion of the pre-filter 340 connected to the roller 370 may be curved along the outer circumference of the roller 370 in an arc shape, and the portion of the pre-filter 340 not connected to the roller 370 may be spread out in a substantially flat shape along the length direction of the filter housing 310.

As shown in fig. 21, the pre-filter 340 may filter out foreign substances such as dust, etc. inside the filter housing 310, and as shown in fig. 22, the foreign substances such as dust, etc. filtered out by the pre-filter 340 may be separated from the inside of the filter housing 310 during the movement of the pre-filter 340 along the outer circumference of the roller 370.

Preferably, the driving gear of the pre-filter 340 maintains a state of being engaged with the roller 370 regardless of the position of the pre-filter 340, and the electrostatic filter 350 may be disposed spaced apart from the roller 370 at one side of the roller 370.

The length L6 of the pre-filter 340 may be longer than the length L7 of the electrostatic filter 350, a portion of the area of the pre-filter 340 may be directed between the electrostatic filter 350 and the roller 370, and the pre-filter 340 may minimize the inflow of foreign substances such as dust and the like into the gap between the electrostatic filter 350 and the roller 370.

On the other hand, the air conditioner may include a roller rotating mechanism for rotating the roller 370. The roller rotating mechanism may be mounted to the filter assembly 300 or may be mounted to the main body 10.

As an example, the roller rotation mechanism may be mounted to the filter assembly 300, in which case it may be mounted to the filter housing 310. When the roller rotation mechanism is mounted to the filter housing 310, the roller rotation mechanism may be drawn out to the outside of the main body 10 together with the filter assembly 300.

As another example, the roller rotating mechanism may be mounted to the main body 10, and in this case, may be mounted to the main body 10. When the roller rotation mechanism is mounted to the main body 10, the roller rotation mechanism may be separated from the filter assembly 300 when the filter assembly 300 is pulled out. That is, the roller 370 can be detachably connected to the roller rotating mechanism when the roller rotating mechanism is mounted to the main body 10.

The rollers 370 may be connected to the roller rotating mechanism to be connected to each other when the filter assembly 300 is mounted, and may be separated from the roller rotating mechanism when the filter assembly 300 is pulled out, and the filter assembly 300 may be easily washed in its entirety with a washing solution such as water.

When the roller rotating mechanism is provided at the main body 10, the roller rotating mechanism may be provided at the chassis 30 or the case 100.

The roller rotating mechanism may be disposed at the rear body 118 and may be located at the rear of the filter housing 310 when the filter housing 310 is mounted to the upper case 114.

The roller rotating mechanism may include a connector 377 detachably connected to the roller 370, particularly, any one 372 of a pair of

pinions

372 and 374, and a roller rotating motor 378 rotating the connector 377.

The roller rotating motor 378 may include a rotating shaft connected to the connector 377.

The brush unit 380 may be disposed at the filter housing 310. When the roller 370 rotates, the pre-filter 340 can be in contact with the brush unit 380.

A brush unit receiving portion 349 into which the brush unit 380 is inserted may be formed in the filter housing 310. The brush unit accommodating part 349 may be formed at least one of the upper cover 320 and the lower case 330. The brush unit 380 may be inserted into the inside of the brush unit accommodating part 349. The brush unit 380 may be inserted into the brush unit receiving part 349 from the dust bucket receiving space S7 after entering a dust bucket receiving space S7, which will be described later.

When the brush unit 380 is disposed at the filter housing 310, the brush unit 380 may be disposed at the filter housing 310 adjacent to the roller 370, and as shown in fig. 19, the brush unit 380 may be disposed between the roller 370 and the dust bucket 390. The brush unit 380 may be spaced apart from the roller rotating mechanism.

The brush unit 380 can contact a portion of the pre-filter 340 bent in an arc shape along the roller 370.

The brush unit 380 may include a brush main body 382 and a brush 384, the brush main body 382 being inserted into the brush unit receiving part 349, and the brush 384 being formed at the brush main body 382 and contacting the pre-filter 340.

A dust passage 381 may be formed in the brush body 382, and air and dust may pass through the dust passage 381. The dust passage 381 may face the roller 370, and dust separated from a portion of the pre-filter 340 between the roller 370 and the brush main body 382 may be drawn into the dust bucket 390 through the dust passage 381.

The brush 384 may be formed in a side of the brush body 382 facing the roller 370, and may be in contact with a portion of the pre-filter 340 bent along the roller 370.

The dust bucket 390 may be disposed at the filter housing 310. The dust bucket 390 may be disposed at one side of the brush unit accommodating part 349, and may be connected to the brush unit 380.

As shown in fig. 16, the length L4 of the upper cover 320 may be longer than the length L5 of the lower case 330, and a dust bucket accommodating space S7 for accommodating the dust bucket 390 may be formed between the lower case 330 and the upper cover 320.

When the brush unit accommodating part 349 is formed at the lower case 330, the upper cover 320 may include one sidewall 329 facing the brush unit accommodating part 349 and spaced apart from the brush unit accommodating part 349. In addition, the dust bucket accommodating space S7 may be defined as an empty space formed between the brush unit accommodating part 349 and one side wall 329 of the upper cover 320.

The dust bucket 390 may have a space S6 formed therein, and the space S6 stores dust separated from the pre-filter 340. The dust bucket 390 may be formed by a combination of a plurality of members that can be opened and closed inside. The dust tub 390 may include a lower case 392 and a case cover 394 opening and closing a space of the lower case 392. A space S6 for storing dust may be formed between the lower case 392 and the case cover 394.

The dust bucket 390 may further include a dust filter 396 received in the space S6. The dust filter 396 is a dust collecting filter that can filter out dust moving from the pre-filter 340 but through which air can pass.

Fig. 21 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a pre-filter, a roller and a brush when the pre-filter is not cleaned according to an embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 22 is a sectional view illustrating a state where the pre-filter shown in fig. 21 is cleaned.

A guide member guiding the movement of the pre-filter 340 may be formed in the filter housing 310.

The guide may include a filter guide 334, and the filter guide 334 guides the pre-filter 340 to move along the outer circumference of the roller 370 when the roller 370 rotates.

The filter guide 334 may have a guide surface 335 formed therein, and the pre-filter 340 may be in contact with the guide surface 335. The filter guide 334 may be disposed at the filter housing 310, and the filter assembly 300 may further include the filter guide 334.

The filter guide 334 may be shaped to surround the outer circumferential surface of the roller 370, and the guide surface 335 may be defined as an inner circumferential surface of the filter guide 334 facing the outer circumferential surface of the roller 370.

At least a portion of the filter guide 334 may be arcuate. The radius of the arc-shaped portion in the filter guide 334 may be greater than the radius of the roller 370.

The filter guide 334 may include first and

second guide members

336 and 337 spaced apart from each other by a distance greater than a diameter of the roller 370, and a third guide member 339 connecting the first and

second guide members

336 and 337.

The guide may further include a guide body 324, and the guide body 324 guides the pre-filter 340 to move behind the electrostatic filter 350 in the air flow direction.

The guide body 324 may guide the pre-filter 340 to move between the electrostatic filter 350 and the lower housing 330.

The guide body 324 may be integrally formed with the filter housing 310. The guide body 324 may be formed to protrude at an inner surface of the filter housing 310, or may be formed at a lower portion of the lower housing 330. The guide body 324 may be a portion of a lower plate of the lower case 330.

The guide body 324 may guide a portion of the pre-filter 340 moving along the outer circumference of the roller 370 to move between the electrostatic filter 350 and the lower housing 330.

The roller 372 may move the pre-filter 340 in front of the electrostatic filter 250 in the air flow direction or may move the pre-filter 340 in back of the electrostatic filter 250 in the air flow direction.

The above description is merely exemplary in nature and various modifications and alterations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention.

Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical ideas of the present invention but to illustrate the present invention, and the scope of the technical ideas of the present invention is not limited by the embodiments.

The scope of the invention should be construed by claims, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent thereto should be construed to be included in the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, characterized by comprising:

a pre-filter of flexible material facing an air intake opening through which air is drawn;

a roller supporting one side of the pre-filter in a length direction to move the pre-filter left and right;

a roller rotating mechanism that rotates the roller; and

a brush unit configured such that the pre-filter is in contact with the brush unit when the roller rotates, and the brush unit is spaced apart from the roller rotating mechanism.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1,

further comprising a filter housing in which the air suction port is formed and a space for accommodating the pre-filter is formed,

the brush unit is disposed adjacent to the roller in the filter housing.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2,

also included is an electrostatic filter disposed between the pre-filter and the filter housing and spaced apart from the roller.

4. An air conditioner according to claim 3,

the thickness of the electrostatic filter in the air flow direction is less than or equal to the diameter of the roller.

5. An air conditioner according to claim 3,

a guide body that guides the pre-filter to move downstream of the electrostatic filter in an air flow direction is formed at the filter housing.

6. An air conditioner according to claim 3,

the roller moves the pre-filter upstream of the electrostatic filter in the air flow direction or moves the pre-filter downstream of the electrostatic filter in the air flow direction.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 2,

the dust collecting device further comprises a dust barrel which is arranged in the filter shell and is provided with a space for storing dust separated from the pre-filter.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 7,

the filter housing includes:

an upper cover formed with the air suction inlet; and

a lower casing combined with the upper cover and formed with an air outlet,

a dust bucket accommodating space is formed between the lower housing and the upper cover, and the dust bucket is inserted into and accommodated in the dust bucket accommodating space.

9. The air conditioner according to claim 8,

the length of the upper cover is longer than that of the lower shell.

10. The air conditioner according to claim 2,

further comprising:

a main body formed with an upper case to which the filter housing is detachably mounted; and

a fan for blowing air, accommodated in the main body,

the roller rotating mechanism is disposed in the main body.

11. The air conditioner according to claim 10,

the upper housing includes:

a pair of side bodies facing a side surface of the filter housing; and

a rear body connecting the pair of side bodies and facing a rear surface of the filter housing,

the roller rotating mechanism is disposed at the rear main body and behind the filter housing.

12. An air conditioner according to claim 10, further comprising:

a dust bucket disposed in the filter housing and having a space formed therein for storing dust separated from the pre-filter; and

a filter cleaning device installed at the main body, the dust bucket being detachably connected to the filter cleaning device, the filter cleaning device applying suction to the dust bucket.

13. The air conditioner according to claim 12,

the filter housing includes:

an upper cover formed with the air suction inlet; and

a lower casing combined with the upper cover and formed with an air outlet,

a dust barrel accommodating space for accommodating the dust barrel is formed between the upper cover and the lower shell.

14. The air conditioner according to claim 13,

the filter housing is formed with a brush unit accommodating part into which the brush unit is inserted and accommodated,

the dust bucket accommodating space is formed between the brush unit accommodating part and one sidewall of the upper cover.

15. The air conditioner according to claim 1,

the brush unit includes:

a brush main body formed with a dust passage opened toward the roller; and

and a brush disposed on a surface of the brush body facing the roller, the brush being in contact with a portion of the pre-filter bent along the roller.