Wall-mounted washing machine

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a wall-mounted washing machine capable of preventing a housing from being deformed and discolored by hot air of a drying device. The washing machine, including: a tub; a drying device including: a fan configured to blow air; a hot air supply duct coupled to the fan and configured to guide air blown from the fan into the tub; a drying heater disposed inside the hot air supply duct and configured to heat air of the hot air supply duct; and a hot air discharge duct coupled to the tub and configured to guide air passing through the tub to the fan to dehumidify air passing through the tub, wherein the hot air supply duct comprises a heat dissipation plate disposed on an outer surface of the hot air supply duct and configured to restrict heat from being transferred to a housing.

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 blow air; 
 a hot air supply duct coupled to the fan and configured to guide air blown from the fan into the tub; 
 a drying heater disposed inside the hot air supply duct and configured to heat air introduced into the hot air supply duct; and 
 a hot air discharge duct coupled to the tub and configured to guide air passing through the tub toward the fan to dehumidify the air passing through the tub, wherein 
   the hot air supply duct comprises a heat dissipation plate disposed on an outer surface of the hot air supply duct and configured to restrict heat generated in the drying heater from being transferred to a housing.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the hot air supply duct further comprises:
 an extension portion coupled to the fan at one end and extending along an upper surface of the tub at the other end; and   a bent portion bent downward from the other end of the extension portion toward a front surface of the tub, and   wherein the heat dissipation plate is coupled to an outer surface of the bent portion.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , further comprising a fastening member fastening the heat dissipation plate to the outer surface of the bent portion, and
 a fastening member insertion portion protruding from the bent portion,   wherein the fastening member is inserted into the fastening member insertion portion.   
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the fastening member insertion portion comprises: a boss portion protruding from the outer surface of the bent portion, the boss portion comprising: a protruding end portion fitted to the heat dissipation plate and a hollow portion into which the fastening member is inserted; and a support portion protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the boss portion and configured to support an inner surface of the heat dissipation plate. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 4 , wherein the support portion comprises a plurality of support portions disposed along the outer circumferential surface of the boss portion. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein the drying heater is disposed inside the extension portion. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rear panel configured to support the tub and operable to be installed on a wall surface;   a drum disposed inside the tub and configured to accommodate washing items; and   a tub front panel coupled to a front surface of the tub.   
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein the drying device is configured to communicate with a front upper portion of the tub front panel and a rear lower portion of the tub. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein an end portion of the hot air supply duct on a side of the tub front panel is coupled to the front upper portion of the tub front panel, and an end portion of the hot air discharge duct on the side of the tub is connected to the rear lower portion of the tub. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein when the fan is operated, air is heated by the drying heater while moving along the hot air supply duct and is introduced into the tub through the tub front panel, and
 wherein air passing through the tub is cooled and dehumidified by the condensed water while moving along the hot air discharge duct and is introduced to the fan.   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein at least one vent hole for circulating the air is formed in the rear panel. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of ribs disposed on a rear surface of the rear panel, and
 wherein each end portions of the ribs are cut away to form air circulation grooves.   
     
     
         13 . A washing machine, comprising:
 a tub; and   a drying device comprising:
 a fan configured to blow air; 
 a hot air supply duct coupled to the fan and configured to guide air blown from the fan into the tub; 
 a drying heater disposed inside the hot air supply duct and configured to heat air of the hot air supply duct; and 
 a hot air discharge duct coupled to the tub and configured to guide air passing through the tub to the fan to dehumidify air passing through the tub, wherein 
   the hot air supply duct comprises a heat dissipation plate disposed on an outer surface of the hot air supply duct and configured to restrict heat from being transferred to a housing.   
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 13 , wherein the hot air supply duct further comprises: an extension portion coupled to the fan at one end and extending along an upper surface of the tub at the other end; and a bent portion bent downward from the other end of the extension portion toward a front surface of the tub, and wherein further
 the heat dissipation plate is coupled to an outer surface of the bent portion.   
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 14 , further comprising a fastening member and wherein the heat dissipation plate is fastened to the outer surface of the bent portion by the fastening member, and a fastening member insertion portion protruding from the bent portion is formed in the bent portion wherein the fastening member is inserted into the fastening member insertion portion. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine of  claim 15 , wherein the fastening member insertion portion comprises: a boss portion protruding from the outer surface of the bent portion, the boss portion comprising: a protruding end portion fitted to the heat dissipation plate and a hollow portion into which the fastening member is inserted; and a support portion protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the boss portion and configured to support an inner surface of the heat dissipation plate. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine of  claim 14 , wherein the drying heater is disposed inside the extension portion. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a rear panel configured to support the tub and operable to be installed on a wall surface;   a drum disposed inside the tub and configured to accommodate washing items; and   a tub front panel coupled to a front surface of the tub.   
     
     
         19 . The washing machine of  claim 18 , wherein the drying device is configured to communicate with a front upper portion of the tub front panel and a rear lower portion of the tub. 
     
     
         20 . The washing machine of  claim 18 , wherein when the fan is operated, air is heated by the drying heater while moving along the hot air supply duct and is introduced into the tub through the tub front panel, and wherein further
 air passing through the tub is cooled and dehumidified by the condensed water while moving along the hot air discharge duct and is introduced to the fan.