CN118265823A - Clothes treating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A clothes treating apparatus includes: a cabinet; a cylindrical tub provided at the cabinet, the tub including an air discharge port formed on a circumferential surface of the tub and a tub duct protruding outward from an outer side of the tub to guide air discharged through the air discharge port; a filter cartridge to which a filter is mounted to filter foreign matters contained in the air traveling through the air discharge port, the filter cartridge being coupled to the tub duct; and a cleaning nozzle coupled to the tub duct, having a side corresponding to the air discharge port and disposed to be inclined with respect to the tub duct to face the filter, the cleaning nozzle including a nozzle located inside the tub duct and extending through a duct opening formed through a side surface of the tub duct to spray water toward the filter, wherein the duct opening is disposed in a quadrangular shape such that the nozzle passing through the duct opening is completely exposed to the filter to allow the water sprayed from the nozzle to reach the filter.

Description

Clothes treating apparatus

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus for washing and drying laundry.

Background

The laundry treating apparatus is a home appliance for washing and drying laundry by performing a washing operation, a rinsing operation, a dehydrating operation, and a drying operation.

The laundry treating apparatus is classified into a pulsator type, which washes laundry by causing a water current generated by rotating a rotating blade including a small blade located in a bottom of a washing tub to collide with the laundry, a pulsator type, which washes laundry by using a water current generated by regularly varying a rotation direction of a large pulsator blade having a blade at a center of the washing tub, and a drum type, which washes laundry by using an impact generated by a decontaminating action of a water fall and a detergent by rotating a drum containing laundry.

Laundry treatment apparatus of the drum type, comprising: a cabinet; a tub installed inside the cabinet and containing washing water; a drum rotatably installed inside the tub and accommodating laundry; a driver for rotating the drum; a drain pipe for discharging the washing water from the drum to the outside of the cabinet; and a dryer for drying the laundry.

The dryer of the laundry treating apparatus includes: a heater for heating air; a blower for circulating air; a duct forming a flow path of air; a filter located on the duct and configured to filter foreign matters contained in air circulated in the duct; and a cleaning nozzle for spraying water toward the filter to remove foreign materials collected in the filter.

However, certain areas of the filter may not be in contact with the water sprayed from the cleaning nozzle or may be in contact with water having weak water pressure. In this case, foreign matter collected in the region may not be removed.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of improving a filter cleaning efficiency by cleaning a nozzle.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of cleaning an entire area of a filter.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of increasing an area of a filter by positioning the filter on a circumferential surface of a tub.

Technical proposal

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a laundry treatment apparatus includes: a cabinet; a tub inside the cabinet, the tub having a cylindrical shape, and the tub including an air opening formed in a circumference of the tub and a tub duct protruding outward from the tub and configured to guide air discharged through the air opening, the tub duct having a duct opening formed in one side of the tub duct; a filter cartridge to which a filter is mounted to filter foreign substances contained in air traveling through the air outlet, the filter cartridge being coupled to the tub duct; and a cleaning nozzle coupled to the tub duct, the cleaning nozzle having one side corresponding to a shape of the air outlet, and the cleaning nozzle being inclined with respect to the tub duct to face the filter, the cleaning nozzle including a nozzle inserted into the tub duct through the duct opening to be positioned inside the tub duct, and configured to spray water toward the filter, wherein the duct opening is in a quadrangular shape such that the nozzle passing through the duct opening is completely exposed to the filter so that the sprayed water reaches the filter.

The nozzle may extend in a first direction inclined with respect to the tub duct.

The first direction may be parallel to a tangent line tangent to a point on the filter.

The duct opening may be formed to penetrate the tub duct in a second direction inclined with respect to the tub duct.

The first direction along which the nozzle extends may be perpendicular to the second direction.

The cleaning nozzle may further include a nozzle rib inserted into the duct opening to cover the duct opening.

The nozzle rib may have a quadrangular shape to prevent water sprayed from the nozzle from being blocked by the nozzle rib.

The laundry treating apparatus may further include a sealing member coupled with the nozzle rib and configured to seal between the nozzle rib and the duct opening.

The nozzle rib may include a separation preventing protrusion configured to press at least a portion of the sealing member when the sealing member is coupled with the nozzle rib to prevent the sealing member from being separated from the nozzle rib.

The separation preventing protrusion may be caught by an inner surface of the tub pipe when the cleaning nozzle is coupled with the tub pipe, to prevent the cleaning nozzle from being separated from the tub pipe.

The filter cartridge may include: a box body having a shape corresponding to the tub duct and inserted into the tub duct; and a cartridge opening formed in one side of the cartridge body to correspond to a duct opening of the tub duct such that the nozzle passes through the duct opening and the cartridge opening.

The cartridge opening may be quadrilateral in shape such that the nozzle passing through the duct opening and the cartridge opening is fully exposed to the filter to allow the sprayed water to reach the filter.

The filter cartridge may further include a cartridge protrusion protruding from the cartridge body toward the cartridge opening.

The cartridge protrusion may be pressed by the cleaning nozzle when the filter cartridge is inserted into the tub duct to prevent the filter cartridge from being detached from the tub duct.

The filter cartridge may include an anti-rotation protrusion protruding outwardly from the top surface of the cartridge body in a radial direction of the top surface of the cartridge body,

The tub duct may include an anti-rotation groove recessed from at least a portion of a top surface of the tub duct and having a shape corresponding to a shape of the anti-rotation protrusion so that the anti-rotation protrusion is inserted into the anti-rotation groove.

The filter cartridge may include a support groove formed in a bottom of the filter cartridge along a circumference of the filter.

The tub duct may include a support rib formed along a circumference of the air outlet and inserted into the support groove to support the filter cartridge.

The filter cartridge may further include a first support surface positioned at a lower end of the bottom of the filter cartridge.

The tub duct may further include a second support surface corresponding to and supporting the first support surface.

The filter cartridge may include a first support surface positioned at a lower end of a bottom of the filter cartridge and a catching protrusion positioned at an upper end of the bottom of the filter cartridge and protruding outward from the filter cartridge,

The tub duct may include a second support surface corresponding to and supporting the first support surface.

The filter cartridge may be coupled with the tub duct by the first support surface supported by the second support surface and the catching protrusion caught by the circumferential surface of the tub.

The nozzle may include: a first portion of the nozzle positioned outside the barrel conduit and a second portion of the nozzle positioned inside the barrel conduit, and both the first portion of the nozzle and the second portion of the nozzle may be fully exposed to the filter to spray water to the filter.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a laundry treatment apparatus includes: a cabinet; a tub inside the cabinet and including an air outlet; a tub duct protruding outward from an outside of the tub and configured to guide air discharged through the air outlet, wherein a duct opening is formed in one side of the tub duct; a filter cartridge including a filter covering the air outlet, the filter being inserted into the tub duct; and a cleaning nozzle including a nozzle passing through the duct opening to be positioned inside the tub duct, the cleaning nozzle being coupled with the tub duct in an inclined manner with respect to the tub duct such that the nozzle faces the filter, wherein the cleaning nozzle is positioned such that a distance between the nozzle and the filter is smallest at a third position of the nozzle between a first position of the nozzle closest to the duct opening and a second position of the nozzle farthest from the duct opening.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a laundry treatment apparatus may include: a cabinet; a tub inside the cabinet, the tub comprising: an air outlet; a tub duct protruding outward from an outside of the tub and configured to guide air discharged through the air outlet, the tub duct having a duct opening formed in one side thereof; a filter cartridge to which the filter is mounted, the filter cartridge being inserted into the tub duct; and a cleaning nozzle including a nozzle inserted into the tub duct through the duct opening to be positioned inside the tub duct, the cleaning nozzle coupled with the tub duct to be inclined with respect to the tub duct such that the nozzle faces the filter, wherein the nozzle has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the third portion being located between the first portion and the second portion, the first portion being positioned close to the duct opening, and wherein the cleaning nozzle is positioned such that a distance between the nozzle and the filter is minimum at the third portion of the nozzle.

The first portion of the nozzle may be positioned outside the tub duct and the second portion of the nozzle is positioned inside the tub duct, and the first portion of the nozzle, the second portion of the nozzle, and the third portion of the nozzle may be completely exposed to the filter to spray water to the filter.

Advantageous effects

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a laundry treating apparatus capable of improving a filter cleaning efficiency by cleaning a nozzle may be provided.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a laundry treatment apparatus capable of cleaning an entire area of a filter may be provided.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a laundry treatment apparatus capable of increasing an area of a filter by positioning the filter on a circumferential surface of a tub may be provided.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates some components in a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of area A of FIG. 3 after removal of some components;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the components shown in FIG. 4;

fig. 6 is a view for describing air flow during a drying operation in the laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along B-B of FIG. 4;

Fig. 8 illustrates a filter cartridge in a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 9 illustrates a cleaning nozzle and a sealing member in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the cleaning nozzle and sealing member of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows the cleaning nozzle and sealing member of FIG. 9 at another angle;

FIG. 12 illustrates the cleaning nozzle of FIG. 10 at another angle; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, taken along line B-B of fig. 4.

Detailed Description

The configuration illustrated in the embodiments and the drawings described in the present specification are only preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, and it will therefore be understood that various modified examples are possible that can replace the embodiments and the drawings described in the present specification when submitting the present application.

Furthermore, like reference numerals or symbols indicated in the drawings of the present specification denote elements or components that perform substantially the same function.

Furthermore, the terminology used in the present specification is for the purpose of describing embodiments only and is not intended to limit and/or restrict the present disclosure. It should be understood that the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," and/or "having," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or groups thereof.

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

Meanwhile, in the following description, the terms "front", "rear", "left" and "right" are defined based on the drawings, and the shape and position of components are not limited by terms.

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

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In this specification, the laundry treating apparatus 1 may be a washing machine having a drying function.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, the laundry treating apparatus 1 may include a cabinet 10 forming an external appearance, a tub 20 located inside the cabinet 10, a drum 30 rotatably located inside the tub 20, and a driving motor 40 for driving the drum 30.

On the front side of the cabinet 10, an inlet 11 may be formed to allow a user to put laundry into the drum 30. The inlet 11 may be opened or closed by a door 12 installed at the front side of the cabinet 10.

Above the tub 20, a water supply pipe 50 for supplying washing water to the tub 20 may be installed. One side of the water supply pipe 50 may be connected to the water supply valve 56, and the other side of the water supply pipe 50 may be connected to the detergent box 52.

The detergent box 52 may be connected to the tub 20 through a connection pipe 54. The water supplied through the water supply pipe 50 may be supplied to the inside of the tub 20 together with the detergent via the detergent box 52.

The tub 20 may be supported by a damper 42. The damper 42 may connect an inner bottom portion of the cabinet 10 with an outer surface of the tub 20.

The drum 30 may include a cylindrical portion 31, a front plate 32 positioned in front of the cylindrical portion 31, and a rear plate 33 positioned behind the cylindrical portion 31. In the front plate 32, an opening may be formed to allow a user to put laundry into the drum 30 or take laundry out of the drum 30, and a shaft 43 for transmitting power from the driving motor 40 may be connected to the rear plate 33.

In the circumference of the drum 30, a plurality of through holes 34 may be formed to pass washing water, and a plurality of lifters 35 may be installed on the inner circumferential surface of the drum 30 to lift and drop laundry being washed according to the rotation of the drum 30.

The drum 30 may be connected to the driving motor 40 through a shaft 43. Depending on the connection type of the shaft 43 and the driving motor 40, there may be a direct driving type in which the driving motor 40 is directly connected with the shaft 43 to rotate the drum 30, and an indirect driving type in which a pulley 44 is connected between the driving motor 40 and the shaft 43 to drive the drum 30.

The laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may be of an indirect driving type, but is not limited thereto. However, the technical features of the present disclosure may also be applicable to a direct drive type.

One end of the shaft 43 may be connected with the rear plate 33 of the drum 30, and the other end of the shaft 43 may extend to the outside of the rear portion 22 of the tub 20. The other end of the shaft 43 may be inserted into a pulley 44 to obtain driving force from the driving motor 40. Further, a motor pulley 41 may be formed at the rotation shaft of the driving motor 40. A drive belt 45 may be disposed between the motor pulley 41 and the shaft pulley 44. The shaft 43 may be driven by a drive belt 45.

The driving motor 40 may be positioned at a side below the tub 20, and the driving belt 45 may be rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction toward the up-down direction of the tub 20 to rotate the shaft 43.

In the rear portion 22 of the tub 20, a bearing housing 46 may be installed to rotatably support the shaft 43. The bearing housing 46 may be formed of an aluminum alloy and may be inserted into the rear portion 22 of the tub 20 at the time of injection molding of the tub 20.

Meanwhile, a display 14 may be provided in the front upper portion of the cabinet 10 to display the state of the laundry treating apparatus 1 to the user. The display 14 may include an input device. A printed circuit board assembly (not shown) may be provided in a front upper portion of the cabinet 10.

A cover 19 covering the filtering apparatus 60 may be provided in a front lower portion of the cabinet 10. The user may open the cover 19 to access the filter device 60.

The laundry treating apparatus 1 may include a drain pump 80, the drain pump 80 being positioned below the tub 20 to drain water stored in the tub 20 to the outside of the laundry treating apparatus 1. In order to allow water stored in the tub 20 to enter the drain pump 80, the drain pump 80 may be connected to a drain pipe 81 of the tub 20 through a connection hose 82.

The laundry treating apparatus 1 may include a filtering apparatus 60 for filtering water discharged from the drain pump 80. The filtering apparatus 60 may be adjacent to the drain pump 80 below the tub 20. In order to supply water from the drain pump 80 to the filtering apparatus 60, the filtering apparatus 60 may be connected to the drain pump 80 through a first circulation hose 83 and a first drain hose 85. In order that the water entering the filtering apparatus 60 through the first circulation hose 83 is filtered and then guided to the tub 20, the filtering apparatus 60 may be connected to the tub 20 through the second circulation hose 84. In order that water entering the filter 60 through the first drain hose 85 is filtered and then guided to the outside of the cabinet 10, the filter apparatus 60 may be connected with the second drain hose 86.

Fig. 3 illustrates some components in a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to fig. 3, the tub 20 may include a front part 21 and a rear part 22. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the tub 20 may be formed by coupling a front portion 21 of the tub 20 with a rear portion 22 of the tub 20.

In the rear portion 22 of the tub 20, a tub duct 24, which will be described below, may be provided. The tub pipe 24 may be connected to a water supply hose 51, and the water supply hose 51 is connected to a water supply pipe 50. The cleaning nozzle 100 may be coupled with one end of the water supply hose 51.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of area a of fig. 3 after removal of some components.

Referring to fig. 4, a tub duct 24 may be provided in the rear portion 22 of the tub 20. The tub duct 24 is formed to protrude upward from a circumferential surface of the rear part 22, and forms a flow path for guiding air.

The filter cartridge 90 may be coupled with an inner surface of the barrel conduit 24. A filter 91 for filtering foreign substances contained in the air may be provided on the bottom of the filter cartridge 90.

The cleaning nozzle 100 may be coupled with the tub duct 24. The cleaning nozzle 100 may include a nozzle 101 positioned inside the tub duct 24 by penetrating the tub duct 24 and the filter cartridge 90.

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the components shown in fig. 4.

Hereinafter, the components shown in fig. 4 will be described in detail with reference to fig. 5.

The rear portion 22 of the tub 20 may be cylindrical in shape. The rear portion 22 may include air outlets 23 formed on the circumference. The air outlet 23 may be formed by drilling a hole on the circumference of the rear portion 22 of the tub 20. The air outlet 23 may be located at an upper region of the rear portion 22. Air inside the drum 30 may pass through the tub 20 and be discharged to the outside of the tub 20 through the air outlet 23. Details regarding the air flow will be described below.

Because the air outlet 23 is formed by drilling on the circumference of the tub 20, the air outlet 23 may have a curved shape. The air outlet 23 may be generally oval in shape when viewed from above the tub 20. The side section of the air outlet 23 may be arc-shaped.

The tub duct 24 may be formed to protrude outward from the tub 20. The tub duct 24 may be formed by an upwardly protruding edge of the air outlet 23. The tub duct 24 may guide the air discharged through the air outlet 23 upward.

The tub duct 24 may include a duct opening 25. The duct opening 25 may be formed by drilling a hole in a portion of the tub duct 24. The duct opening 25 may be formed to penetrate the tub duct 24 obliquely in an oblique direction. In other words, the duct opening 25 may form a passage connecting the inside of the tub duct 24 with the outside of the tub duct 24. The passage may extend in a manner inclined downwardly from the outside of the tub pipe 24 toward the inside of the tub pipe 24.

The pipe opening 25 may be quadrangular in shape such that all water sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 100, which will be described below, travels through the pipe opening 25 and reaches the filter 91.

In the top surface of the tub duct 24, an anti-rotation groove 26 may be formed, and an anti-rotation protrusion 93 (to be described below) of the filter cartridge 90 is inserted into the anti-rotation groove 26. By inserting the rotation preventing protrusion 93 into the rotation preventing groove 26, the filter cartridge 90 can be prevented from rotating within the tub duct 24.

Coupling parts 29 may be provided at both sides of the duct opening 25, and the coupling member S is coupled with the coupling parts 29 to couple the cleaning nozzle 100 with the rear part 22 of the tub. The coupling portion 29 may be in the shape of a boss for receiving the coupling member S, as shown in fig. 5.

The filter cartridge 90 may be coupled with the tub duct 24. The filter cartridge 90 may include a filter 91 at the bottom. The filter 91 may have a shape corresponding to the air outlet 23 to cover the air outlet 23. Accordingly, the filter 91 may be generally oval in shape when viewed from above the filter cartridge 90, and the side cross section of the filter 91 may be arcuate in shape.

The filter cartridge 90 may be in the shape of a cylinder with an inclined bottom. The filter cartridge 90 may be inserted into the barrel channel 24. The filter 91 may cover the air outlet 23 by inserting the filter cartridge 90 into the tub duct 24 and coupling the filter cartridge 90 with the tub duct 24.

The filter cartridge 90 may include: a filter 91; a case body 92, the case body 92 being cylindrical in shape and supporting the filter 91; an anti-rotation protrusion 93, the anti-rotation protrusion 93 being formed in a top surface of the cartridge body 92; and a cartridge opening 94, the cartridge opening 94 penetrating the cartridge body 92. In the cartridge opening 94, a cartridge protrusion 95 and a cartridge recess 96 may be provided.

As described above, the filter 91 may cover the air outlet 23 to filter foreign substances contained in the air traveling through the air outlet 23. The filter 91 may have a shape corresponding to the air outlet 23 to cover the air outlet 23.

The case body 92 may be in the shape of a cylinder with a bottom inclined. In the top surface of the cartridge body 92, an anti-rotation protrusion 93 may be provided. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the rotation preventing protrusion 93 may protrude outward from the top surface of the cartridge body 92 in the radial direction of the cartridge body 92. Further, a plurality of rotation preventing protrusions 93 may be arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the cartridge body 92. Referring to fig. 5, the filter cartridge 90 may include three anti-rotation protrusions 93, but is not limited thereto. However, one or more anti-rotation protrusions 93 may be provided.

The cartridge opening 94 may correspond to the duct opening 25. The cartridge opening 94 may be quadrilateral in shape such that all water ejected from the cleaning nozzle 100 travels through the cartridge opening 94 and to the filter 91. However, since the cartridge opening 94 includes the cartridge protrusion 95 and the cartridge recess 96, the shape of the cartridge opening 94 may be slightly different from a normal quadrangle, which will be described below. The nozzle 101 of the cleaning nozzle 100 may pass through the duct opening 25 and the cartridge opening 94 to be positioned in a flow path formed in the tub duct 24.

The cartridge protrusion 95 may be pressed by the nozzle rib 103 of the cleaning nozzle 100 or the sealing rib 111 of the sealing member 110. Since the cartridge protrusion 95 is pressed by the nozzle rib 103 or the sealing rib 111, the filter cartridge 90 can be prevented from being detached from the tub duct 24.

The cartridge recess 96 may be provided as a recess having a substantially arc-shaped shape corresponding to the upper shape of the nozzle 10. The nozzle 101 may be inserted into the cartridge recess 96. The cartridge recess 96 may be configured to avoid interference between the cartridge opening 94 and the nozzle 101.

The cleaning nozzle 100 may remove foreign substances (e.g., fluff) collected in the filter 91 by spraying water onto the filter 91. In other words, the cleaning nozzle 100 may clean the filter 90 by spraying water onto the filter 91.

The cleaning nozzle 100 may include: a nozzle 101, the nozzle 101 for receiving water from the water supply hose 51 and spraying the water; a nozzle body 104, the nozzle body 104 supporting the nozzle 101 and coupling the nozzle 101 with the rear portion 22 of the tub 20; and a coupling hole 105, the coupling hole 105 being formed by drilling a portion of the nozzle body 104, wherein the coupling member S may pass through the coupling hole 105.

The laundry treating apparatus 1 may include a sealing member 110 for sealing a gap between the cleaning nozzle 100 and the duct opening 25. The sealing member 110 may include a cavity 112 having a shape corresponding to the nozzle rib 103 of the cleaning nozzle 100, which will be described below.

Fig. 6 is a view for describing air flow during a drying operation in the laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, air flow during a drying operation in the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 6.

Referring to fig. 6, the laundry treating apparatus 1 may include a dryer. The dryer may dry laundry received inside the drum 30.

The dryer may supply dry and hot air to the inside of the drum 30, change wet and cool air traveling through the inside of the drum 30 into dry and hot air, and then supply the dry and hot air to the inside of the drum 30 again. The laundry received in the inside of the drum 30 can be dried by the air circulation that supplies the dry and hot air to the inside of the drum 30 and discharges the wet and cold air from the drum 30.

The dryer may include a tub duct 24, a connection duct 71, a fan 73, a motor 72 for rotating the fan 73, upper ducts 74 and 75, and a heater 76, and a front duct 77.

According to the rotation of the fan 73 by the driving force of the motor 72, the air inside the drum 30 may be moved to the tub 20 through the plurality of through holes 34, and then discharged through the air outlet 23. The air discharged through the air outlet 23 may move to the upper ducts 74 and 75 via the tub duct 24 and the connection duct 71. Air entering the upper ducts 74 and 75 may travel through the heater 76 so that the temperature of the air increases and the air enters the drum 30 via the front duct 77.

The dry and hot air entering the inside of the drum 30 may be changed into wet and cold air by traveling through the laundry, and the wet and cold air may be condensed by means of low-temperature water flowing along the rear wall of the rear portion 22 of the tub 20 to become dry and cold air.

The dry and cool air may enter the upper ducts 74 and 75 via the air outlet 23, the tub duct 24, and the connection duct 71 and pass through the heater 76 inside the upper ducts 74 and 75, thereby becoming dry and hot air.

The laundry treating apparatus 1 may dry the laundry received inside the drum 30 by repeating the above-described process.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along B-B of fig. 4.

The arrangement and structural features of the tub duct 24, the filter cartridge 90, the cleaning nozzle 100, and the sealing member 110 will be described in detail with reference to fig. 7.

As described above, the cleaning nozzle 100 may be coupled with the tub duct 24 such that the nozzle 101 is located on a flow path formed inside the tub duct 24. In this case, a sealing member 101 may be located between the cleaning nozzle 100 and the tub pipe 24 to seal the inside of the tub pipe 24 from the outside.

The nozzle 101 may be inclined with respect to the barrel duct 24. The nozzle 101 may extend in a first direction and include a plurality of water spray holes 102. The nozzle 101 may extend parallel to a tangent to the point P on the filter 91.

Referring to fig. 7, a straight line L1 parallel to the first direction along which the nozzle 101 extends may be parallel to a tangent line L2 tangent to the point P on the filter 91. In this specification, the meaning of "parallel" may include mathematically parallel, as well as substantially parallel rather than mathematically parallel.

In other words, the nozzle 101 may be inclined with respect to the tub duct 24 to face the filter 91. Because the nozzle 101 is inclined with respect to the tub duct 24 to face the filter 91, a distance d1 between the filter 91 and the water spray hole 102 located at one end of the nozzle 101, a distance d3 between the filter 91 and the water spray hole 102 located at the other end of the nozzle 101, and a distance d2 between the filter 91 and the water spray hole 102 located at a position facing the point P may be similar or equivalent to each other. That is, although the distances d1, d2, and d3 are slightly different from each other, the distances d1, d2, and d3 may not have a substantial difference that may cause any difference in the filter cleaning ability. In other words, the cleaning nozzle 100 may have a uniform cleaning capability from one end of the nozzle 101 to the other end.

However, regarding the distance between the filter 91 and the nozzle 101, the position of the nozzle 101 closest to the pipe opening 25 is referred to as a first position, the position of the nozzle 101 farthest from the pipe opening 25 is referred to as a second position, and any position of the nozzle 101 between the first position and the second position is referred to as a third position. In this case, at the third position of the nozzle 101, the nozzle 101 may be spaced apart from the filter 91 by the shortest distance. Referring to fig. 7, a distance d2 between the nozzle 101 and the filter 91 at the third position may be shorter than a distance d1 between the nozzle 101 and the filter 91 at the first position. Further, the distance d2 between the nozzle 101 and the filter 91 at the third position may be shorter than the distance d3 between the nozzle 101 and the filter 91 at the second position.

Although the air outlet 23 and the filter 91 are provided in the curved circumference of the tub 20, the nozzle 101 may be horizontally positioned. In this case, the distance between the water spray hole 102 and the filter 91 may be relatively long at one end of the nozzle 101 near the water supply nozzle 51, and the distance between the water spray hole 102 and the filter 91 may be relatively short at the other end of the nozzle 101 far from the water supply nozzle 51. In this case, since the distance between the water spray hole 102 at one end of the nozzle 101 and the filter 91 is long, it may be difficult to completely clean the filter 91.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the nozzle 101 may be inclined with respect to the tub duct 24 to face the filter 91. As described above, since the nozzle 101 is inclined, the distances between the water spray holes 102 and the filter 91 may be similar or equivalent to each other from one end of the nozzle 101 to the other end. Thus, a uniform filter cleaning capability from one end of the nozzle 101 to the other end can be achieved.

The duct opening 25 may be formed to penetrate the tub duct 24 in an inclined direction. More specifically, the duct opening 25 may be formed to penetrate the tub duct 24 from the outside to the inside. In other words, the duct opening 25 may be formed to penetrate the tub duct 24 in the third direction. The duct opening 25 may extend in a third direction.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the straight line L3 parallel to the third direction along which the duct opening 25 extends may be perpendicular to the straight line L1 parallel to the first direction along which the nozzle 101 extends. In this specification, the meaning of "vertical" may include mathematical vertical, as well as substantially vertical, rather than mathematical vertical.

As shown in fig. 7, the duct opening 25 may extend in a third direction inclined with respect to the tub duct 24. The duct opening 25 may form a passage extending in the third direction and penetrating the tub duct 24. The sealing rib 111 (to be described below) of the sealing member 110 may extend in a third direction. The nozzle rib 103 of the cleaning nozzle 100 may extend in a third direction. Accordingly, the sealing member 110 and the nozzle rib 103 may seal the duct opening 25 to prevent air from being discharged through the duct opening 25.

Fig. 8 illustrates a filter cartridge in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to fig. 7 and 8, the filter cartridge 90 may include a support groove 97 formed along the circumference of the filter 91 in the bottom of the filter cartridge 90. Further, the filter cartridge 90 may include a first support surface 98 at a lower end of the bottom of the filter cartridge 90. The first support surface 98 may be an area in the bottom of the filter cartridge 90 that is level with the ground.

The tub duct 24 may include a support rib 27, and the support rib 27 is positioned along the circumference of the air outlet 23 and is inserted in the support groove 97. Further, the tub duct 24 may include a second support surface 28, the second support surface 28 corresponding to the first support surface 98 to support the first support surface 98.

The rotation preventing protrusion 93 may be inserted into the rotation preventing groove 26 to prevent the filter cartridge 90 from rotating when the filter cartridge 90 is inserted into the tub duct 24. Further, when the filter cartridge 90 is inserted into the tub duct 24, the support rib 27 of the tub duct 24 may be inserted into the support groove 97 of the filter cartridge 90, and thus, the filter cartridge 90 may be prevented from penetrating the air outlet 23. Likewise, upon insertion of the filter cartridge 90 into the barrel duct 24, the first support rib 98 of the filter cartridge 90 may be supported by the second support surface 28 of the barrel duct 24, and thus, the filter cartridge 90 may be prevented from penetrating the air outlet 23. That is, since the support rib 27 is inserted into the support groove 97 and the first support surface 98 is supported by the second support surface 28, the filter cartridge 90 can be placed inside the tub duct 24.

Referring to fig. 8, the filter cartridge 90 may include a cartridge opening 94, a cartridge protrusion 95 formed in the cartridge opening 94, and a cartridge groove 96.

The cartridge projection 95 may protrude from the cartridge body 92 toward the cartridge opening 94. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cartridge protrusion 95 may be formed at both sides of the cartridge opening 94.

The cartridge protrusion 95 may be pressed by the cleaning nozzle 100 or the sealing member 110 when the filter cartridge 90 is inserted into the tub duct 24. Since the cartridge protrusion 95 is pressed by the cleaning nozzle 100 or the sealing member 110, the filter cartridge 90 can be prevented from being detached from the tub duct 24.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the filter cartridge and the tub pipe may be integrated. In embodiments of the present disclosure, a filter cartridge may not be provided. The filter may be directly installed in the tub duct to cover the air outlet. The nozzle of the cleaning nozzle may pass through the duct opening to be positioned within the tub duct. Fig. 9 illustrates a cleaning nozzle and a sealing member in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 10 is an exploded view of the cleaning nozzle and sealing member of fig. 9.

Referring to fig. 9 and 10, the sealing member 110 may be elastically coupled with the cleaning nozzle 100 to seal between the cleaning nozzle 100 and the pipe opening 25. The cleaning nozzle 100 may include a nozzle 101 having a water spray hole 102, a nozzle rib 103 inserted into the duct opening 25 to cover the duct opening 25, a nozzle body 104 for coupling the nozzle 101 with the tub duct 24, a coupling hole 105 provided in the nozzle body 104, and a separation preventing protrusion 106 formed on the nozzle rib 103.

The nozzle rib 103 may surround the inlet of the nozzle 101. As described above, the nozzle rib 103 may be inserted into the duct opening 25 and extend in the same direction as the duct opening 25.

The nozzle rib 103 may have a shape corresponding to the duct opening 25. The nozzle rib 103 may have a quadrangular shape to prevent water sprayed from the nozzle 101 from being blocked by the nozzle rib 103. The region of the nozzle 101 where the water spray hole 102 is formed is referred to as the bottom of the nozzle 101. The nozzle rib 103 may be quadrangular in shape when viewed from below the bottom of the nozzle 101.

The nozzle ribs 103 may have different heights according to a distance from an inlet of the nozzle 101. The inlet of the nozzle 101 may be an end of the nozzle 101 where water enters the nozzle 101 from the water supply hose 51. The height of the nozzle rib 130 may be an extension length from the lower end of the nozzle rib 103 to the nozzle body 104. In other words, the height of the nozzle rib 103 may indicate the protruding length from the nozzle body 104 to the lower end of the nozzle rib 103.

The nozzle rib 103 may have different heights according to a distance from an inlet of the nozzle 101 such that the nozzle 101 is inclined with respect to the nozzle body 104. The nozzle rib 103 may have a first height h1 at the inlet of water into the nozzle 101. The nozzle rib 103 may have a third height h3 at a position farthest from the inlet of the nozzle 101. The nozzle rib 103 may have a second height h2 at a position spaced a distance from the inlet of the nozzle 101.

The height of the nozzle rib 103 may increase and then decrease as the nozzle rib 103 moves away from the inlet of the nozzle 101. Referring to fig. 10, the second height h2 of the nozzle rib 103 may be greater than the first height h1. The second height h2 of the nozzle rib 103 may be greater than the third height h3. The third height h3 of the nozzle rib 103 may be greater than the first height h1. The height of the nozzle rib 103 may satisfy h2 > h3 > h1. Since the height of the nozzle rib 103 varies according to the distance from the inlet of the nozzle 101, the nozzle 101 may be inclined with respect to the nozzle body 104.

Referring to fig. 7, when the cleaning nozzle 100 is coupled with the tub duct 24, the separation preventing protrusion 106 may be caught by an inner surface of the tub duct 24 to prevent the cleaning nozzle 100 from being separated from the tub duct 24. That is, the separation preventing protrusion 106 may prevent the cleaning nozzle 100 from being separated from the tub duct 24.

The sealing member 110 may include: a sealing rib 111, the sealing rib 111 corresponding to the nozzle rib 103 to surround the nozzle rib 103; a cavity 112, the nozzle 101 passing through the sealing member 110 through the cavity 112; and a sealing groove 113, the sealing groove 113 having a shape corresponding to an upper portion of the nozzle 101. Because the nozzle 101 is inserted into the sealing groove 113, a gap is not generated between the nozzle 101 and the sealing rib 111. That is, the sealing groove 113 may seal between the nozzle 101 and the sealing rib 111.

Referring to fig. 7 and 9, one side of the sealing member 110 may be supported by the nozzle 101, and the other side of the sealing member 110 may be supported by the nozzle rib 103 including the separation preventing protrusion 106. The illustrated side of the sealing member 110 may be a portion of the sealing member 110 located above the nozzle 101, as can be seen in fig. 7. The other side of the sealing member 110 may be a portion of the sealing member 110 located below the nozzle 101, as can be seen in fig. 7.

As shown in fig. 7, when the cleaning nozzle 100 is coupled with the tub duct 24, the nozzle rib 103 may extend parallel to the third direction L3 along which the duct opening 25 extends. In the case where the nozzle rib 103 extends in the horizontal direction, the other side of the sealing member 110 may move in the horizontal direction, and thus, the sealing member 110 may be separated from the cleaning nozzle 100. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the nozzle rib 103 may extend in the third direction L3 instead of the horizontal direction to restrict the movement of the other side of the sealing member 110 in the horizontal direction, thereby preventing the sealing member 110 from being separated from the cleaning nozzle 100. Fig. 11 shows the cleaning nozzle and sealing member of fig. 9 at another angle. Fig. 12 shows the cleaning nozzle of fig. 10 at another angle.

Technical effects obtained by the quadrangular shapes of the nozzle rib 103, the cartridge opening 94, and the duct opening 25 will be described in detail with reference to fig. 11 and 12. The quadrilateral shape may include a normal quadrilateral with right angle corners, a quadrilateral with rounded corners, and a quadrilateral in which all or some of its four sides are curved. Further, the quadrangular shape may include both square and rectangle.

Referring to fig. 12, the minimum injection angle of water injected from the nozzle 101 through the water injection hole 102 is θ1. Water may be sprayed through the water spray holes 102 in the maximum range of θ2.

Under the assumption that water is sprayed through the water spray hole 102 in a range of 180 °, the minimum spray angle at which water sprayed from the water spray hole 102 meets the nozzle rib 103 is assumed to be θ1.

In the case where θ2 is greater than θ1, the water sprayed through the water spray hole 102 does not meet the nozzle rib 103. In other words, in the case where θ2 is greater than θ1, the water injected through the water injection hole 102 is not blocked by the nozzle rib 103. In another expression, in the case where θ2 is greater than θ1, the traveling path of the water injected through the water injection hole 102 may not be limited by the nozzle rib 103. Since all of the water sprayed through the water spray holes 102 travels through the nozzle ribs 103 to the filter 91, the filter cleaning ability of the cleaning nozzle 100 is not deteriorated.

In the case where the nozzle rib 103 is circular instead of quadrangular, a region in which θ2 is smaller than the quadrangular shape may be generated. Since the plurality of water spray holes 102 are provided in the direction in which the nozzles 101 extend, in the case where θ2 at all of the water spray holes 102 is greater than θ1, water sprayed from the water spray holes 102 is not blocked by the nozzle ribs 103. In the case where the nozzle rib 103 is circular, θ1 may be greater than θ2 at some of the water spray holes 102, and thus, water sprayed from the water spray holes 102 may be blocked by the nozzle rib 103. Since the nozzle rib 103 blocks water sprayed from the water spray hole 102, the filter cleaning ability of the cleaning nozzle 100 may be deteriorated.

In the cleaning nozzle 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, θ2 may be greater than θ1 at each of the plurality of water spray holes 102. Further, the nozzle rib 103, the box opening 94 and the pipe opening 25 may also be quadrangular in shape so that all water sprayed from each of the plurality of water spray holes 102 reaches the filter 91. All of the water sprayed from each of the plurality of water spray holes 102 may reach the filter 91 by traveling through the nozzle rib 103, the cartridge opening 94 and the pipe opening 25. Accordingly, the filter cleaning ability of the cleaning nozzle 100 can be improved.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, taken along line B-B of fig. 4.

Referring to fig. 13, a filter cartridge 90 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a locking protrusion 99. The catching protrusion 99 may be located at an upper end of the bottom of the filter cartridge 90. Further, the catching protrusion 99 may protrude outward from the filter cartridge 90.

The first support surface 98 may be supported by the second support surface 28 and the catching protrusion 99 may be elastically deformed and caught by the circumferential surface of the tub 20 when the filter cartridge 90 is inserted into the tub duct 24. Thus, the lower end of the bottom of the filter cartridge 90 may be supported by the first support surface 98 and the second support surface 28, and the upper end of the bottom of the filter cartridge 90 may be supported by the catching protrusion 99. Since the catching protrusion 99 is caught or caught by the circumferential surface of the tub 20, the filter cartridge 90 can be prevented from being separated from the tub duct 24.

So far, specific embodiments have been shown and described. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the technical idea of the present disclosure defined by the appended claims.

Claims (15)

1. A laundry treatment apparatus comprising:

A cabinet;

a tub inside the cabinet, the tub having a cylindrical shape, and the tub comprising:

An air outlet formed in a circumference of the tub; and

A tub duct protruding outwardly from the tub and configured to guide air discharged through the air outlet, the tub duct having a duct opening formed in one side thereof;

A filter cartridge to which a filter is mounted to filter foreign substances contained in air traveling through the air outlet, the filter cartridge being coupled to the tub duct; and

A cleaning nozzle coupled to the tub duct, the cleaning nozzle having one side corresponding to a shape of the air outlet, and being inclined with respect to the tub duct to face the filter, the cleaning nozzle including a nozzle inserted into the tub duct through the duct opening to be positioned inside the tub duct, and configured to spray water toward the filter,

Wherein the pipe opening has a quadrangular shape such that the nozzle passing through the pipe opening is completely exposed to the filter so that the sprayed water reaches the filter.

2. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle extends in a first direction that is oblique relative to the tub conduit, and the first direction is parallel to a tangent line tangent to a point on the filter.

3. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the duct opening is formed to pass through the tub duct in a second direction inclined with respect to the tub duct.

4. A laundry treating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first direction in which the nozzles extend is perpendicular to the second direction.

5. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cleaning nozzle further comprises a nozzle rib inserted into the duct opening to cover the duct opening, and

The nozzle rib has a quadrangular shape to prevent water sprayed from the nozzle from being blocked by the nozzle rib.

6. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a sealing member coupled with the nozzle rib to seal between the nozzle rib and the duct opening.

7. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the nozzle rib includes a separation preventing protrusion configured to press at least a portion of the sealing member when the sealing member is coupled to the nozzle rib to prevent the sealing member from being separated from the nozzle rib.

8. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 7, wherein the separation preventing protrusion is caught by an inner surface of the tub pipe to prevent the cleaning nozzle from being separated from the tub pipe when the cleaning nozzle is coupled to the tub pipe.

9. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filter cartridge comprises:

A box body having a shape corresponding to the tub duct and inserted into the tub duct; and

A cartridge opening formed in one side of the cartridge body to correspond to the duct opening of the tub duct such that the nozzle passes through the duct opening and the cartridge opening.

10. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the cartridge opening has a quadrangular shape such that the nozzle passing through the pipe opening and the cartridge opening is completely exposed to the filter so that the sprayed water reaches the filter.

11. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 9, wherein the filter cartridge further comprises a cartridge protrusion protruding from the cartridge body toward the cartridge opening, and

When the filter cartridge is inserted into the tub duct, the cartridge protrusion is pressed by the cleaning nozzle to prevent the filter cartridge from being separated from the tub duct.

12. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 9, wherein the filter cartridge comprises an anti-rotation protrusion protruding outwardly from a top surface of the cartridge body in a radial direction of the top surface of the cartridge body,

The tub duct includes an anti-rotation groove recessed from at least a portion of a top surface of the tub duct and having a shape corresponding to a shape of the anti-rotation protrusion so that the anti-rotation protrusion is inserted into the anti-rotation groove.

13. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter cartridge comprises a support groove formed in a bottom of the filter cartridge along a circumference of the filter, and

The tub duct includes a support rib formed along a circumference of the air outlet and inserted into the support groove to support the filter cartridge.

14. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 13, wherein the filter cartridge further comprises a first support surface positioned at a lower end of a bottom of the filter cartridge, and

The tub duct further includes a second support surface corresponding to and supporting the first support surface.

15. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter case includes a first support surface positioned at a lower end of a bottom of the filter case and a catching protrusion positioned at an upper end of the bottom of the filter case and protruding outward from the filter case,

The barrel duct includes a second support surface corresponding to and supporting the first support surface, and

The filter cartridge is coupled with the tub duct by the first support surface supported by the second support surface and the catching protrusion caught by the circumferential surface of the tub.