Washing machine having drying function

Abstract

A washing machine having a drying function. The present washing machine includes: a main body; a tub arrangeable inside the main body; a drum rotatable inside the tub; and a drying device, arrangeable above the tub, and including an evaporator and a condenser to remove moisture from air discharged from the tub and to supply heated air to the tub. The drying device includes: a housing to accommodate the evaporator and the condenser; and a holder member formed to protrude from the housing and be connectable to an external equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a main body;   a tub arrangeable inside the main body;   a drum rotatable inside the tub; and   a drying device, arrangeable above the tub, and including an evaporator and a condenser, such that while the drying device is arranged above the tub, the drying device removes moisture from air discharged from the tub and supplies heated air to the tub,   wherein the drying device comprises:
 a housing to accommodate the evaporator and the condenser; and 
 a holder member formed to protrude from the housing and connectable to an external equipment. 
   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein
 the drying device is insertable into an inner space of the main body to thereby be placed in the inner space of the main body.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein
 an inner surface of the main body and the housing are spaced apart from each other by a gap that is less than or equal to a predetermined gap.   
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein
 the holder member is formed in a ring shape.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein
 the holder member is formed to protrude from at least one of an upper surface or a side surface of the housing.   
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein
 the holder member is formed integrally with the housing.   
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein
 the holder member is a first holder member, and the first holder member is among a second holder member, and a third holder member, and   wherein the first holder member is arrangeable at a position corresponding to a front surface of the main body, the second holder member is arrangeable at a position corresponding to a side surface of the main body, and the third holder member is arrangeable at a position corresponding to a rear surface of the main body.   
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein
 the housing includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall surrounding the evaporator and the condenser, and   wherein the first holder member is arranged on an upper surface of the first side wall facing the front surface of the main body, the second holder member is arranged on an upper surface of the second side wall facing the side surface of the main body, and the third holder member is arranged on an upper surface of the third side wall facing the rear surface of the main body.   
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein
 the tub includes a front opening and a rear opening, and   the drying device further includes:
 an inflow duct through which air discharged from the rear opening of the tub flows; 
 a heat exchange duct connected to inflow duct; and 
 a discharge duct connecting the heat exchange duct and the tub and formed to discharge air discharged from the heat exchange duct to the front opening of the tub. 
   
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein
 the inflow duct, the heat exchange duct, and the discharge duct are inside the housing, and the holder member is arranged in a remaining area of the housing except for an area where the inflow duct, the heat exchange duct, and the discharge duct are arranged.   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein
 the housing includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall surrounding the evaporator and the condenser, and   wherein the holder member is a first holder member arranged on an upper surface of the first side wall facing a front surface of the main body;   wherein the drying device includes:
 a second holder member arranged on an upper surface of the second side wall facing a side surface of the main body; and 
 a third holder member arranged on an upper surface of the third side wall facing a rear surface of the main body. 
   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein
 the drying device further includes a compressor arranged closer to the third side wall than the first side wall, and   the second holder member is arranged between the compressor and the discharge duct.