Air conditioner

Abstract

Disclosed are provided an air conditioner having a door that can be smoothly moved by a friction member. The air conditioner includes a main body configured to form an outer appearance, an outlet provided in a lower portion of the main body, and configured to discharge air, a door disposed in a front portion of the main body, and configured to open or close the outlet, a driving device including a pinion configured to be rotatable, and a rack interlocked with the pinion and configured to be movable together with the door; and a friction member configured to press the rack when the rack moves so as to maintain a predetermined spacing between the rack and the pinion. The rack and the door can slide smoothly along a curved path through the friction member by a force of the motor.

1 . An air conditioner comprising:
 a main body configured to form an outer appearance;   an outlet provided in a lower portion of the main body, and configured to discharge air;   a door disposed in a front portion of the main body, and configured to open or close the outlet;   a driving device including a pinion configured to be rotatable, and a rack interlocked with the pinion and configured to be movable together with the door; and   a friction member configured to press the rack when the rack moves so as to maintain a predetermined spacing between the rack and the pinion.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving device comprises a case forming the outer appearance and fixed in the inside of the main body, wherein the pinion and the rack are located in the case. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner according to  claim 2 , wherein the friction member is disposed in the case, and protrudes toward the rack. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner according to  claim 3 , wherein the friction member is disposed between the rack and the pinion so as to press the rack to maintain the predetermined spacing between the rack and the pinion. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner according to  claim 3 , wherein the friction member comprises a pressing part contacting the rack, and a support part to elastically support the pressing part. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner according to  claim 2 , wherein the case comprises an opening at one end so that the rack is moveable to the outside through the opening, and
 one end of the rack exposed through the opening is connected to one end of the door.   
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the rack comprises a saw-toothed unit interlocked with the pinion, and a rack rib provided in both sides of the saw-toothed unit and contacting the friction member. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner according to  claim 7 , wherein the rack rib comprises at least one groove in order to prevent the rack from being deformed by the friction member when the rack stops.