Washing machine with drying function

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a washing machine with drying function. The washing machine with drying function comprises a heater duct having a heater and a blowing fan mounted therein. The heater duct communicates with a condensing duct. A connection duct communicates with the heater duct and a tub for guiding air having passed through the heater duct into the tub. According to the present invention, flow and heat loss of hot wind is minimized, and thus, the drying performance of the washing machine with drying function is improved.

1 . A washing machine with drying function, comprising: 
 a tub disposed in a cabinet while being supported;    a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub, the drum being provided with through-holes;    a condensing duct connected to one side of the tub;    a heater duct connected to the condensing duct, the heater duct having a heater and a blowing fan mounted therein; and    a connection duct connected to the heater duct and the tub, while communicating with the heater duct and the tub, for guiding air having passed through the heater duct into the tub.    
   
   
       2 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a heater duct gasket disposed between the heater duct and the connection duct for sealing a space between the heater duct and the connection duct.    
   
   
       3 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a tub gasket disposed between the connection duct and the tub for sealing a space between the connection duct and the tub.    
   
   
       4 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a heater duct gasket disposed between the heater duct and the connection duct for sealing a space between the heater duct and the connection duct; and    a tub gasket disposed between the connection duct and the tub for sealing a space between the connection duct and the tub.    
   
   
       5 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the tub is provided at one side thereof with a first communication hole communicating with the condensing duct, and at the other side thereof with a second communication hole communicating with the connection duct.  
   
   
       6 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the connection duct is provided with a stepped end, the stepped end being inserted in the second communication hole of the tub.  
   
   
       7 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein 
 the second communication hole is formed at a front part of the tub, and    the connection duct is fixed to the front part of the tub.    
   
   
       8 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein 
 the second communication hole is formed at an upper position of the front part of the tub,    the tub is provided at an upper position of the front part thereof with bosses, and    the connection duct is fixed to the bosses by means of the fixing bolts.    
   
   
       9 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the drum is provided at a front part thereof with a plurality of hot wind through-holes.  
   
   
       10 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the connection duct is fixed to the heater duct by means of fixing bolts.  
   
   
       11 . A washing machine with drying function, comprising: 
 a tub disposed in a cabinet while being supported, the tub being provided at one side thereof with a first communication hole and at the other side thereof with a second communication hole;    a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub, the drum being provided with through-holes;    a condensing duct communicating with the first communication hole of the tub;    a heater duct connected to the condensing duct, the heater duct having a heater and a blowing fan mounted therein;    a connection duct, having one end communicating with the heater duct and the other end communicating with the second communication hole of the tub, for directly guiding air having passed through the heater duct into the tub;    a heater duct gasket disposed between the heater duct and the connection duct for sealing a space between the heater duct and the connection duct; and    a tub gasket disposed between the connection duct and the tub for sealing a space between the connection duct and the tub.    
   
   
       12 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the connection duct is provided with a stepped end, the stepped end being inserted in the second communication hole of the tub.  
   
   
       13 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein 
 the second communication hole is formed at a front part of the tub, and    the connection duct is fixed to the front part of the tub.    
   
   
       14 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein 
 the second communication hole is formed at an upper position of the front part of the tub,    the tub is provided at an upper position of the front part thereof with bosses, and    the connection duct is fixed to the bosses by means of the fixing bolts.    
   
   
       15 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the drum is provided at a front part thereof with a plurality of hot wind through-holes.  
   
   
       16 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the connection duct is fixed to the heater duct by means of fixing bolts.  
   
   
       17 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the connection duct is formed in the shape of an elbow pipe.  
   
   
       18 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 left and right balance weights disposed at both sides of a front part of the tub, respectively, while opposite upper ends of the left and right balance weights are spaced apart from each other by a distance greater than the width of the connection duct.    
   
   
       19 . A washing machine with drying function, comprising: 
 a tub disposed in a cabinet while being supported, the tub being provided at a circumferential part or a rear part thereof with a first communication hole and at an upper position of a front part thereof with a second communication hole;    a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub, the drum being provided with through-holes;    a condensing duct communicating with the first communication hole of the tub;    a cooling water supplying means for supplying cooling water into the condensing duct;    a heater duct connected to the condensing duct, the heater duct having a heater and a blowing fan mounted therein;    a connection duct, having one end communicating with the heater duct and the other end communicating with the second communication hole of the tub, for guiding air having passed through the heater duct into the tub;    a heater duct gasket disposed between the heater duct and the connection duct for sealing a space between the heater duct and the connection duct; and    a tub gasket disposed between the connection duct and the tub for sealing a space between the connection duct and the tub.    
   
   
       20 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the drum is provided at a front part thereof with a plurality of hot wind through-holes.