Wall-mounted washing machine

Abstract

A wall-mounted washing machine includes a rear panel capable of being hung on a wall surface; a tub configured to store washing water and supported by the rear panel; a drum rotatably installed inside the tub and configured to accommodate washing objects; a tub front panel coupled to a front surface of the tub; a drying device coupled to an outer surface of the tub and configured to dry the washing objects; and a water level detecting sensor coupled to the tub front panel and configured to detect an internal pressure of the tub to determine an amount of the washing water. The water level detecting sensor is disposed in a front upper portion of the tub front panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wall-mounted washing machine, the washing machine comprising:
 a rear panel adapted to be hung on a substantially vertical surface;   a tub configured to store washing water and supported by the rear panel;   a drum rotatably installed inside the tub and configured to accommodate washing items;   a tub front panel coupled to a front surface of the tub;   a drying device coupled to an outer surface of the tub and configured to dry the washing items; and   a water level detecting sensor coupled to the tub front panel and configured to determine an amount of the washing water,   wherein the water level detecting sensor is disposed in a front upper portion of the tub front panel.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the drying device comprises:
 a fan coupled to an upper portion of the tub and configured to blow air;   a hot air supply duct coupled to the fan and configured to supply air 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.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein the water level detecting sensor is disposed more adjacent to the fan than the hot air supply duct. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein the fan is disposed more rearward than the water level detecting sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein a distance between the water level detecting sensor and the fan is less than a distance between the water level detecting sensor and the hot air supply duct. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein the water level detecting sensor is disposed in a position biased toward the hot air discharge duct. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein an end portion of the hot air supply duct on a side of the tub is connected to a front upper portion of the tub, and an end portion of the hot air discharge duct on the side of the tub is connected to a rear lower portion of the tub. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein a condensed water introduction port through which condensed water is introduced is provided on one side of the hot air discharge duct, and wherein further
 condensed water introduced through the condensed water introduction port is used to remove moisture from air passing through the hot air discharge duct.   
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein at least one vent hole for circulating air is formed in the rear panel. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of ribs is provided on a rear surface of the rear panel, and end portions of the ribs are cut away to form air circulation grooves. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the water level detecting sensor is operable to detect an internal pressure of the tub. 
     
     
         12 . A wall-mounted washing machine, the washing machine comprising:
 a rear panel adapted to be hung on a wall surface;   a tub configured to store washing water and supported by the rear panel;   a drum disposed inside the tub and configured to rotate and accommodate washing items;   a tub front panel coupled to a front surface of the tub;   a drying device coupled to an outer surface of the tub and configured to dry the washing items, wherein the drying device comprises: a fan; and a hot air supply duct; and   a water level detecting sensor coupled to the tub front panel and configured to determine an amount of the washing water,   wherein the water level detecting sensor is disposed in a front upper portion of the tub front panel and is disposed more adjacent to the fan than the hot air supply duct.   
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the fan is coupled to an upper portion of the tub and configured to blow air and wherein the hot air supply duct coupled to the fan and configured to supply air into the tub, and wherein the drying device further comprises:
 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.   
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the fan is disposed more rearward than the water level detecting sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein a distance between the water level detecting sensor and the fan is less than a distance between the water level detecting sensor and the hot air supply duct. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the water level detecting sensor is disposed in a position biased toward the hot air discharge duct. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine of  claim 13 , wherein an end portion of the hot air supply duct on a side of the tub is connected to a front upper portion of the tub, and an end portion of the hot air discharge duct on the side of the tub is connected to a rear lower portion of the tub. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine of  claim 13 , wherein a condensed water introduction port through which condensed water is introduced is provided on one side of the hot air discharge duct, and wherein further
 condensed water introduced through the condensed water introduction port is used to remove moisture from air passing through the hot air discharge duct.   
     
     
         19 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein at least one vent hole for circulating air is formed in the rear panel. 
     
     
         20 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the water level detecting sensor is operable to detect an internal pressure of the tub.