Wall-mounted washing machine

Abstract

A wall-mounted washing machine includes a tub and 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 air propelled 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 the air passing through the tub toward the fan to cool and dehumidify the air passing through the tub. The fan is configured to draw air from the hot air discharge duct and to supply the air back to the hot air supply duct.

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 in 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; and cool and dehumidify air passing through the tub, 
   wherein the fan is configured to draw air from the hot air discharge duct for supply to the hot air supply duct.   
     
     
         2 . The wall-mounted 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. 
     
     
         3 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the drying device further comprises a condensing water introduction port through which condensing water is introduced, wherein the condensing water introduction port is disposed in the hot air discharge duct. 
     
     
         4 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein at least one curved portion is formed on one surface of the hot air discharge duct opposite to the condensing water introduction port. 
     
     
         5 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein one surface of the hot air discharge duct is curved to bulge toward the condensing water introduction port. 
     
     
         6 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein an area of a longitudinal cross section of the condensing water introduction port grows larger from a central portion thereof toward opposite end portions thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a rear panel configured to support the tub and couple the tub 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. 
 
     
     
         8 . The wall-mounted 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 wall-mounted 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 a front upper portion of the tub front panel, and wherein an end portion of the hot air discharge duct on a side of the tub is coupled to a rear lower portion of the tub. 
     
     
         10 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein the drying device further comprises: a hot air introduction port disposed in a front upper portion of the tub front panel and configured to introduce hot air discharged from the hot air supply duct; and a hot air discharge port disposed in a rear lower portion of the tub and configured to discharge hot air passing through the drum. 
     
     
         11 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 6 , wherein: the drying heater is configured, when the fan is activated, to heat air moving along the hot air supply duct; and heated air is introduced into the tub through the tub front panel; and air passing through the tub is cooled and dehumidified by condensing water before being re-introduced into the fan. 
     
     
         12 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein the rear panel comprises at least one vent hole for circulating air. 
     
     
         13 . The wall-mounted washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein the rear panel comprises a plurality of ribs disposed on a rear surface of the rear panel, and wherein end portions of the ribs comprise cut-away portions forming air circulation grooves.