Device for sensing flow path switching unit for dryer, and dryer comprising same

Abstract

A flow path switching unit for a dryer that dries material. The flow path switching unit for the dryer includes a body portion, and a flow path guide which partitions an internal space of the body portion so as to selectively form a first flow path of air for drying material and a second flow path of air for dehumidifying outside air based on an arrangement position of the body portion. The flow path switching unit provides the first flow path for guiding the air from a drum of a dryer toward a heat exchanger of the dryer at the first position, and the second flow path for guiding the outside air introduced from the outside of the dryer to the outside at the second position.

1 . A device for sensing a flow path switching for a dryer, the device comprising:
 a mounting portion to be provided in a main body that accommodates a drum;   a flow path switching unit, coupleable to and decoupleable from the mounting portion, to provide a drying mode to dry material while coupled to the mounting portion and at a first position and to provide a dehumidifying mode to dehumidify outside air while coupled to the mounting portion and at a second position, the flow path switching unit being rotatable by 180° from the first position so that positions of top and bottom surfaces of the flow path switching unit are inverted;   a first indicator unit to be provided on the flow path switching unit, and while the first indicator unit is provided on the flow path switching unit, to indicate the first position;   a second indicator unit to be provided on the flow path switching unit, and while the second indicator unit is provided on the flow path switching unit, to indicate the second position;   a first sensor, to be provided on the mounting portion, and while the first sensor is provided on the mounting portion, the first sensor is configured to sense the first indicator unit; and   a second sensor to be provided on the mounting portion and while the second sensor is provided on the mounting portion, the second sensor is configured to sense the second indicator unit.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the flow path switching unit comprises a body portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface that forms an exterior of the flow path switching unit,   the mounting portion comprises an upper wall, a lower wall, and side walls respectively corresponding to the top surface, the bottom surface, the first side surface, and the second side surface opposite to the first side surface so that the flow path switching unit is coupleable to and decoupleable from the mounting portion,   when the first sensor and the second sensor are arranged at different positions on one surface of the mounting portion,   the first indicator unit is arranged on one surface of the body portion, which faces the first sensor, and the second indicator unit is arranged on one opposite surface of the body portion, which faces the one surface of the body portion where the first indicator unit is arranged, and   at the first position, the first indicator unit faces the first sensor, and at the second position, the second indicator unit faces the second sensor.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the flow path switching unit comprises a body portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface to form an exterior of the flow path switching unit,   the mounting portion comprises an upper wall, a lower wall, and side walls respectively corresponding to the top surface, the bottom surface, the first side surface, and the second side surface opposite to the first side surface so that the flow path switching unit is coupleable to and decoupleable from the mounting portion,   the first sensor and the second sensor are arranged   at different positions on the upper wall of the mounting portion,   at different positions on the lower wall of the mounting portion, or   at different positions on the side walls of the mounting portion, and   at the first position, the first indicator unit faces the first sensor, and at the second position, the second indicator unit faces the second sensor.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the flow path switching unit comprises a body portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface to form an exterior of the flow path switching unit,   the mounting portion comprises an upper wall, a lower wall, and side walls respectively corresponding to the top surface, the bottom surface, the first side surface, and the second side surface opposite to the first side surface so that the flow path switching unit is coupleable to and decoupleable from the mounting portion,   when the first sensor and the second sensor are arranged
 at different positions on the upper wall of the mounting portion, a virtual line connecting the first sensor to the second sensor is arranged parallel to a left-right width direction of the body portion, 
 at different positions on the lower wall of the mounting portion, a virtual line connecting the first sensor to the second sensor is arranged parallel to a left-right width direction of the body portion, or 
 at different positions on the side walls of the mounting portion, a virtual line connecting the first sensor to the second sensor is arranged parallel to a height direction of the body portion. 
   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the flow path switching unit comprises a body portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface to form an exterior of the flow path switching unit,   the mounting portion comprises an upper wall, a lower wall, and side walls respectively corresponding to the top surface, the bottom surface, the first side surface, and the second side surface opposite to the first side surface to accommodate the flow path switching unit,   when the first indicator unit and the second indicator unit are arranged at different positions on one surface of the body portion,   the first sensor is arranged on one surface of the mounting portion, which faces the first indicator unit, and the second sensor is arranged on one opposite surface of the mounting portion, which faces the one surface of the mounting portion where the first sensor is arranged, and   at the first position, the first indicator unit faces the first sensor, and at the second position, the second indicator unit faces the second sensor.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the flow path switching unit comprises a body portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface to form an exterior of the flow path switching unit,   the mounting portion comprises an upper wall, a lower wall, and side walls respectively corresponding to the top surface, the bottom surface, the first side surface, and the second side surface opposite to the first side surface so that the flow path switching unit is coupleable to and decoupleable from the mounting portion, and   the first indicator unit and the second indicator unit are arranged   at different position on the top surface of the body portion,   at different positions on the bottom surface of the body portion, or   at different positions on one of the first side surface and the second side surface of the body portion, and   at the first position, the first indicator unit faces the first sensor, and at the second position, the second indicator unit faces the second sensor.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first indicator unit and the second indicator unit include magnetic substances, and   the first sensor and the second sensor are sensors operated by magnetic forces of the magnetic substances.   
     
     
         8 . A device for sensing a flow path switching for a dryer, the device comprising:
 a mounting portion provided in a main body accommodating a drum;   a flow path switching unit detachably coupled to the mounting portion and providing a drying mode to dry material at a first position and a dehumidifying mode for dehumidifying outside air at a second position that is rotated by 180° from the first position so that positions of top and bottom surfaces are inverted;   an indicator unit provided on the flow path switching unit for identifying the first position or the second position;   a first sensor provided on the mounting portion and configured to sense the indicator unit when the flow path switching unit is at the first position; and   a second sensor provided on the mounting portion and configured to sense the indicator unit when the flow path switching unit is at the second position.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein
 the flow path switching unit comprises a body portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface to form an exterior of the flow path switching unit,   the mounting portion comprises an upper wall, a lower wall, and side walls respectively corresponding to the top surface, the bottom surface, the first side surface, and the second side surface opposite to the first side surface so that the flow path switching unit is coupleable to and decoupleable from the mounting portion, and   the indicator unit is arranged   on the top surface of the body portion,   on the bottom surface of the body portion, or   on one of the first side surface and the second side surface of the body portion,   the first sensor is arranged on one surface of the mounting portion, which faces the indicator unit, and the second sensor is arranged on one opposite surface of the mounting portion, which faces the one surface of the mounting portion where the first sensor is arranged, and   at the first position, the indicator unit faces the first sensor, and at the second position, the indicator unit faces the second sensor.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein
 the indicator unit includes a magnetic substance, and   the first sensor and the second sensor are sensors operated by magnetic force of the magnetic substance.   
     
     
         11 . A dryer comprising:
 the device for sensing the flow path switching for the dryer of  claim 1 ;   a drum to accommodate the material; and   a heat exchanger providing the drum with heat so as to dry the material.   
     
     
         12 . The dryer of  claim 11 , wherein
 the flow path switching unit comprises a body portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface to form an exterior of the flow path switching unit,   the mounting portion comprises an upper wall, a lower wall, and side walls respectively corresponding to the top surface, the bottom surface, the first side surface, and the second side surface opposite to the first side surface so that the flow path switching unit is coupleable to and decoupleable from the mounting portion, and   when the first sensor and the second sensor are arranged at different positions on one surface of the mounting portion,   the first indicator unit is arranged on one surface of the body portion, which faces the first sensor, and the second indicator unit is arranged on one opposite surface of the body portion, which faces the one surface of the body portion where the first indicator unit is arranged, and   at the first position, the first indicator unit faces the first sensor, and at the second position, the second indicator unit faces the second sensor.   
     
     
         13 . The dryer of  claim 11 , wherein
 the flow path switching unit comprises a body portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface to form an exterior of the flow path switching unit,   the mounting portion comprises an upper wall, a lower wall, and side walls respectively corresponding to the top surface, the bottom surface, the first side surface, and the second side surface opposite to the first side surface to accommodate the flow path switching unit,   when the first indicator unit and the second indicator unit are arranged at different positions on one surface of the body portion,   the first sensor is arranged on one surface of the mounting portion, which faces the first indicator unit, and the second sensor is arranged on one opposite surface of the mounting portion, which faces the one surface of the mounting portion where the first sensor is arranged, and   at the first position, the first indicator unit faces the first sensor, and at the second position, the second indicator unit faces the second sensor.   
     
     
         14 . The dryer of  claim 11 , wherein
 the first indicator unit and the second indicator unit include magnetic substances, and   the first sensor and the second sensor are sensors operated by magnetic force of the magnetic substances.   
     
     
         15 . The dryer of  claim 11 , comprising
 a controller configured to execute the drying mode or the dehumidifying mode by identifying the first position or the second position of the flow path switching unit.