Wall-mounted washing machine

Abstract

A wall-mounted washing machine includes a drying device. The drying device includes a fan coupled to the tub, a hot air supply duct coupled to the fan and configured to guide the air blown from the fan into the tub, a drying heater disposed inside the hot air supply duct and configured to heat the air introduced into the hot air supply duct, and a hot air discharge duct coupled to the tub and configured to guide air flowing from the tub toward the fan and to dehumidify the air passing through the tub. At least a part of the hot air discharge duct is integrally formed with the tub.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wall-mounted washing machine comprising:
 a tub; and   a drying device comprising: a fan coupled to the tub and configured to propel air; a hot air supply duct coupled to the fan and configured to guide air flowing from the fan into the tub; a drying heater disposed inside the hot air supply duct and configured to heat air inside the hot air supply duct; and a hot air discharge duct coupled to the tub and configured to guide air exiting from the tub toward the fan and configured to dehumidify the air exiting from the tub,   wherein at least part of the hot air discharge duct is integrally formed with the tub.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the hot air discharge duct comprises: a first duct formation member integrally injection-molded with an outer circumferential surface of the tub; and a second duct formation member coupled to the first duct formation member. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , further comprising a sealing member, wherein the first duct formation member and the second duct formation member are fitted to each other, and wherein the sealing member is interposed between the first duct formation member and the second duct formation member. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein the first duct formation member and the second duct formation member are fused to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the drying device further comprises a condensing water introduction port disposed in the hot air discharge duct, wherein the condensing water introduction port is configured to receive condensing water supplied to the hot air discharge duct, and
 wherein one surface of the hot air discharge duct comprises at least one curved portion opposite to the condensing water introduction port.   
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 5 , wherein one surface of the hot air discharge duct is curved to bulge toward the condensing water introduction port. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 5 , wherein a longitudinal cross section of the condensing water introduction port has an area that grows larger from a central portion of the condensing water introduction port toward opposite end portions of the condensing water introduction port. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the fan, the hot air supply duct, the tub and the hot air discharge duct are configured to form a closed air circulation path. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a rear panel configured to support the tub and to be affixed to a wall surface;   a drum rotatably installed inside the tub and configured to accommodate washing objects; and   a tub front panel coupled to a front surface of the tub.   
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein the drying device is configured to communicate air with a front upper portion of the tub front panel and a rear lower portion of the tub. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein a first end portion of the hot air supply duct that is proximate to the tub front panel is coupled to the front upper portion of the tub front panel, and wherein a second end portion of the hot air discharge duct that is proximate to the tub is coupled to the rear lower portion of the tub. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein the drying heater is configured to, when the fan is operational, heat air flowing inside the hot air supply duct, wherein air exiting from the hot air supply duct is introduced into the tub through the tub front panel, wherein the condensing water is operable to cool and dehumidify air exiting from the tub, and wherein air exiting from the hot air discharge duct is introduced into the fan. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein the rear panel comprises at least one vent hole for air to flow through. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein a rear surface of the rear panel comprises a plurality of ribs, and wherein end portions of the plurality of ribs comprise cut away portions that form air circulation grooves.