ES2997981T3 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner includes a pre-filter (340) made of a flexible material, the pre-filter (340) being arranged to face an air suction port (312) through which air is sucked, a roller (372) configured to support one side of the pre-filter (340) in a longitudinal direction, the roller (372) being configured to allow the pre-filter (340) to move in a left-to-right direction, a roller rotation mechanism configured to allow the roller (372) to rotate, and a brush unit (380) arranged to come into contact with the pre-filter (340) when the roller (372) rotates, the brush unit (380) being spaced apart from the roller rotation mechanism. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, no legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Air conditioner

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to an air conditioner and, more particularly, to an air conditioner in which a filter can be cleaned.

Air conditioners are devices that maintain the air in an interior space in the most suitable state according to its use and purpose.

An air conditioner of this type can be classified as vertical, wall-mounted, or ceiling-mounted depending on its installation position. A vertical air conditioner can be defined as a type of air conditioner installed indoors, while a wall-mounted air conditioner can be defined as a type of air conditioner attached to a wall. A ceiling-mounted air conditioner, on the other hand, can be defined as a type of air conditioner installed on the ceiling.

An air conditioner can be a cooler for cooling a predetermined space, a heater for heating a predetermined space, an air conditioner for cooling or heating a predetermined space, and a cleaner for cleaning the air within a predetermined space. The function of an air conditioner can be determined by the type of air conditioning unit installed in the air conditioner.

The air conditioner may include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator to drive a refrigerant cycle in which compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation of a refrigerant are performed, thereby cooling or heating a predetermined space.

The air conditioner may include an electric heater and voltage may be applied to the electric heater to heat the predetermined space.

The air conditioner may include a cleaning unit such as a filter unit and can purify the air in the predetermined space.

A filter can be installed to filter out dust in the air in the air conditioner, and a cleaning kit can also be provided to clean the filter.

An example of an air conditioner including a filter and a cleaning kit is described in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2009-0044786 A (published on May 7, 2009). The air conditioner includes a movable cleaning kit arranged to move along the filter and sweep away foreign substances on the filter, and a cleaning moving mechanism connected to the movable cleaning kit to allow the movable cleaning kit to move in a left-to-right direction. The movable cleaning kit includes a cleaning kit body movably connected by the moving mechanism, and a brush protruding from the cleaning kit body toward the filter.

However, in the air conditioner that includes the mobile cleaning kit described above, since the brush and the mobile cleaning kit move, dust separated from the brush or the filter may be scattered around the filter as the brush moves along the filter, and therefore the periphery of the filter may not be kept clean. Furthermore, since the cleaning kit body for the movement of the brush requires a separate space, in which the mobile cleaning kit is arranged, between an air suction port and the filter, the space utilization within the air conditioner may be low, and it may be difficult to realize a compact air conditioner.

Another example of the air conditioner including the filter and the cleaning kit as described above is disclosed in Patent Publication No. 2005-300154 A (Published on October 27, 2005). Here, the air conditioner may include a filter cleaning portion in which the filter is reciprocally arranged within a main body cabinet by a slider and which is arranged to contact the filter along a movable path of the filter. Furthermore, the filter cleaning portion may include a lower cover, an upper cover, and a pair of brushes. Therefore, foreign substances in the filter can be separated from the filter and then stored in a space between the lower cover and the upper cover while the filter moved by the slider passes between the pair of brushes.

However, as described above, the filter that moves along the slide can be partially removed from the air conditioner for cleaning, and a portion of the filter arranged outside the air conditioner may be damaged or contaminated.

[Prior Art Document]

[Patent Document]

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2009-0044786A (Published on May 7, 2009);

Japanese Patent Publication No. 102005-300154 A (Published on October 27, 2005)

JP 2010088960 A is a further related prior art document.

SUMMARY

The invention is specified in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. In the following description, although various features may be designated as optional, it is assumed, however, that all features comprised in the independent claims are not to be construed as optional. The embodiments provide an air conditioner in which contamination or damage to a filter when cleaning the filter can be minimized, and space utilization is high.

Embodiments also provide an air conditioner in which damage to other components due to a filter can be minimized.

In one embodiment, an air conditioner includes a pre-filter, a roller, a roller rotation mechanism, and a brush unit. The air conditioner may include a filter housing.

The prefilter can be made of a flexible material and arranged facing an air suction opening through which air is drawn. The prefilter can be coupled to the roller. When the roller rotates, the prefilter can move within the filter housing along an outer circumference of the roller to come into contact with the brush unit.

The roller can support one side of the prefilter in a longitudinal direction and allow the prefilter to move from left to right. The roller can be rotated into the filter housing.

The roller rotation mechanism can allow the roller to rotate.

The brush unit may be arranged in the filter housing. The brush unit may be arranged to come into contact with the prefilter when the roller rotates. The brush unit may be separate from the roller rotation mechanism.

In the air conditioner, the enclosure where the pre-filter position is fixed and the brush unit moves, keeps the pre-filter periphery as clean as possible. Furthermore, since there is no need to provide space for the brush unit to move, the interior space can be better utilized.

In addition, when cleaning the pre-filter, since the pre-filter moves within the filter housing and is not removed from the filter housing, the space utilization inside the air conditioner can be high, damage to the pre-filter can be minimized, and damage to other components arranged inside the air conditioner by the pre-filter can be minimized.

The filter box, roller, pre-filter and brush unit can constitute the filter assembly, and the roller, pre-filter, brush unit together with the filter box can be removed from the air conditioner, and the user and operator can easily handle the roller, pre-filter and brush unit.

The filter box may be provided with an outer inlet which is the air suction hole through which the air is sucked, and an inner outlet which is the air discharge hole through which the air is discharged.

To allow the pre-filter to move across the roller, the roller may include a drive gear, and the pre-filter may include a driven gear engaged with the drive gear.

The brush unit can be arranged to contact the pre-filter when the roller rotates. The brush unit can be arranged next to the roller.

The air conditioner may also include an electrostatic dust filter disposed between the pre-filter and the filter housing and separated from the roller. When the roller rotates, it may not interfere with the electrostatic dust filter, minimizing damage to the electrostatic dust filter.

The electrostatic dust filter can be a filter assembly consisting of a filter housing, roller, pre-filter, and brush unit. The electrostatic dust filter can be removed from the air conditioner along with the roller, pre-filter, brush unit, and filter housing, and the user or operator can clean the electrostatic dust filter with a cleaning solution, such as water.

The pre-filter can move between the filter housing and the electrostatic dust filter, and the outer surface of the electrostatic dust filter and the inner surface of the filter housing can provide the passage through which the pre-filter moves.

The thickness of the electrostatic dust filter in the airflow direction may be less than or equal to the diameter of the roller. When the thickness of the electrostatic dust filter is greater than the diameter of the roller, a portion of the pre-filter disposed between the electrostatic dust filter and the filter housing may be convex. Alternatively, as described above, when the thickness of the electrostatic dust filter is less than or equal to the diameter of the roller, a portion of the pre-filter disposed between the electrostatic dust filter and the filter housing may be unfolded as flat as possible.

The filter housing may be provided with a guide body configured to guide the pre-filter so that the pre-filter moves between the electrostatic dust filter and the lower housing. A portion of the pre-filter that moves along the outer circumference of the roller may be guided between the electrostatic dust filter and the lower housing by the guide body, and the pre-filter may move as smoothly and stably as possible.

The air conditioner may further include a filter guide configured to guide the pre-filter to move along an outer circumference of the roller when the roller rotates, and the filter guide may have a guide surface in contact with the pre-filter.

At least a portion of the filter guide may be arc-shaped, and the radius of the arc-shaped portion may be larger than the radius of the roller.

The filter guide may include a first guide and a second guide, which are separated from each other by a diameter larger than the diameter of the roller and a third guide that connects the first guide with the second guide.

A portion of the pre-filter arranged between the filter guide and the roller can be bent into an arc shape while being guided toward each of the rollers and the guide surface, and the pre-filter can be moved stably, minimizing malfunction.

The air conditioner may further include a dust container arranged in the filter housing and having a space in which the dust separated from the pre-filter is stored. The brush unit may be arranged between the roller and the dust container. The dust container may constitute the filter assembly together with the brush unit.

In this case, the user or operator can clean the pre-filter with cleaning solution such as water, removing the filter assembly from an air conditioner, replacing the brush unit, or removing foreign substances left on the brush unit, and allow the dust container to be emptied.

The filter housing may include an upper cover in which the outer inlet is provided and a lower housing in which the inner inlet is provided, and a dust container accommodation space may be defined between the lower housing and the upper cover to accommodate the dust container.

The brush unit may include a brush body having a dust passage open toward the roller and a brush disposed on a surface of the brush body facing the roller, and which is in contact with a portion of the pre-filter that is bent along the roller.

An air conditioner according to this embodiment may include a main body including a suction port and a discharge unit, and a fan accommodated in the main body. The filter assembly may be arranged to be removable from the main body, and a roller rotation mechanism to which the roller is detachably connected may be mounted on the main body.

The air conditioner may further include a filter cleaning device to which the dust container is detachably connected, wherein the filter cleaning device may be mounted on the main body and the dust container may be connected to the filter cleaning device when the filter assembly is mounted on the main body.

According to the embodiment, since the pre-filter is cleaned by the brush unit while moving within the filter housing along the outer circumference of the roller, the pre-filter can be cleaned in the state where it is not removed from the filter housing, the interior of the air conditioner can be improved in spatial utilization.

Furthermore, since the prefilter does not come into contact with or interfere with other components located outside the filter housing, contamination and damage to the prefilter or other components, which occur when the prefilter comes into contact with or interferes with other components, can be minimized.

Furthermore, since the roller, pre-filter, and brush unit are removed from the air conditioner along with the filter housing, the user or operator can easily handle the roller, pre-filter, and brush unit.

Furthermore, since the electrostatic dust filter arranged inside the filter box is separated from the roller arranged inside the filter box, damage to the electrostatic dust filter by the roller can be minimized.

Furthermore, since the electrostatic dust filter is removed from the air conditioner along with the roller, pre-filter, brush unit, and filter box, the roller, pre-filter, electrostatic dust filter, and brush unit can be easily maintained compared to the case where the filter box, roller, pre-filter, electrostatic dust filter, and brush unit are each removed separately.

Furthermore, since the part of the pre-filter that moves along the outer circumference of the roller is guided between the electrostatic dust filter and the lower housing by the guide body, the pre-filter can move as smoothly and stably as possible.

In addition, the pre-filter portion between the filter guide and the roller can be bent into an arc while guiding each of the rollers and the guide surface, and the pre-filter can move stably, minimizing malfunctions.

In addition, since the dust container in which dust is stored is separate from the filter, the user or operator can clean the pre-filter with cleaning solution such as water, by removing the filter assembly from an air conditioner, replacing the brush unit, or removing any foreign substances remaining on the brush unit and allowing the dust container to be emptied.

Furthermore, since the filter assembly is arranged to be removed from the main body, and the roller assembly is detachably connected to the body, the user or operator can easily clean the entire roller rotation mechanism and the filter assembly using a cleaning solution such as water.

Details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and in the description below. Other features will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a view illustrating a state in which an air conditioner is installed on a wall according to an embodiment.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the air conditioner when a box and front panel are separated from a chassis.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the air conditioner according to an embodiment.

Figure 4 is a bottom view of a filter assembly according to one embodiment.

Figure 5 is a perspective view when the front panel of Figure 1 is arranged in a first position.

Figure 6 is a perspective view when the front panel of Figure 1 is arranged in a second position.

Figure 7 is a perspective view when the front panel of Figure 1 is arranged in a third position.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the air conditioner according to an embodiment.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a bottom view illustrating the interior of a dielectric filter according to one embodiment.

Figure 12 is a view of a filter assembly and a movement mechanism according to one embodiment. Figure 13 is a plan view when the filter assembly of Figure 8 is withdrawn forward.

Figure 14 is a perspective view when the filter assembly of Figure 8 is withdrawn forward. Figure 15 is a perspective view illustrating the interior of the filter assembly according to one embodiment. Figure 16 is a bottom view when a dust container is separated from a filter housing according to one embodiment.

Figure 17 is an exploded perspective view of the filter assembly according to one embodiment.

Figure 18 is a bottom view of a prefilter according to one embodiment.

Figure 19 is an enlarged cross-sectional view when the filter assembly is connected to a filter cleaning device according to an embodiment.

Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C' of Figure 8.

Figure 21 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the prefilter, a roller and a brush when the prefilter is not cleaned according to one embodiment.

Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view when the prefilter of Figure 21 is cleaned.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECTS

Detailed embodiments will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a view illustrating a state in which an air conditioner is installed on a wall according to an embodiment, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the air conditioner when a case and a front panel are separated from a chassis; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the air conditioner according to an embodiment, and Figure 4 is a bottom view of a filter assembly according to an embodiment.

An air conditioner of this embodiment can be installed on a W wall.

The air conditioner may include a main body 10 having an interior space S1 therein. The main body 10 may define an exterior appearance of the air conditioner, and the main body 10 may include a suction port and a discharge port. In addition, a fan 40 and an air conditioning unit may be accommodated in the main body 10.

When the blower fan 40 rotates, the air outside the main body 10 can be sucked into the indoor space S1 through the suction hole, and the air introduced into the main body 10 can be conditioned by the air conditioning unit and then discharged to the outside of the main body 10 through the discharge hole.

The main body 10 may be provided as a set of a plurality of members, and an example of the main body 10 may include a chassis 30 and a box 100.

The main body 10 may be installed on the wall W by an installation plate 20. The installation plate 20 may be a component for fixing the body 10 to the wall W. The installation plate 20 may be coupled to the wall W, and the chassis 30 may be mounted on the installation plate 20. The installation plate 20 may have a thin plate shape and include a center portion coupled to a rear surface of the chassis 30 and both side portions extending downward from both sides of the center portion to support a bottom portion of the chassis 30.

The chassis 30 may include a plate coupling portion 31 coupled to the installation plate 20 and a rear guide 33 extending downward to be surrounded from the plate coupling portion 31 to surround a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the fan 40.

The plate coupling piece 31 may have a thin plate shape.

The rear guide 33 may function as a flow guide to guide an air flow discharged from the fan 40 toward the discharge port.

The fan 40 may include a tangential fan. The tangential fan may draw air drawn in from an upper portion of the main body 10 in a circumferential direction to discharge the air in the circumferential direction. An axial direction of the fan 40 may be a horizontal direction of the main body 10.

The fan 40 may be rotatably supported on both sides of the chassis 30.

The chassis 30 may further include two fan support portions 35 that support both ends of the fan 40. The two fan support portions 35 may protrude forward from both sides of the rear guide 33.

A fan motor 45 driving the fan 40 may be mounted outside one of the two fan support portions 35. A shaft of the fan motor 45 may be coupled to the fan 40 by passing through the fan support portions 35.

A motor cover 47 may be coupled to the fan motor 45. The fan motor 45 may be accommodated in an interior space defined by the fan support portion 35 and the motor cover 47.

The chassis 30 may be provided with a control module 50 that controls the main body 10. The control module 50 may be arranged at one side of the fan motor 45 and supported by the case 100. The control module 50 may include a control box 52 defining an exterior appearance and a control component arranged in the control box 53 to enable the air conditioner to operate.

The air conditioner may further include a bottom plate 55 defining a lower exterior appearance of the main body 10. The bottom plate 55 may be disposed below the chassis 30.

The box 100 may be coupled to the front of the chassis 30. In addition, the fan 40 may be accommodated between the chassis 30 and the box 100. An interior space S1 may be defined between the chassis 30 and the box 100, and the fan 40 may be accommodated in the interior space S1.

The air conditioner may further include an air conditioning unit housed in the interior space S1. An example of the air conditioning unit may be a heat exchanger 60 through which a refrigerant passes. Another example of the air conditioning unit may be a thermoelectric element. Another example of the air conditioning unit may be an electric heater.

Next, the air conditioner will be described as an example in which the heat exchanger 60 is accommodated in the indoor space S1. However, the present invention is not limited to the heat exchanger 60 accommodated in the indoor space S1, and therefore, it is possible that various air conditioning units such as thermoelectric elements, electric heaters, humidifiers, and purification units are selectively accommodated in the indoor space S1.

The heat exchanger 60 may be accommodated in the interior space S1 defined by the chassis 30 and the box 100. The heat exchanger 60 may be supported by at least one of the chassis 30 or a discharge grille assembly 80 depending on the air flow.

The heat exchanger 60 may have a folded shape. In detail, the heat exchanger 60 includes a first heat exchange portion 61 extending vertically in a direction corresponding to the front surface of the main body 10, a second heat exchange portion 63 extending so as to be inclined upwardly from the first heat exchange portion 61, and a third heat exchange portion 65 extending inclined downwardly from the second heat exchange portion 63. The first to third heat exchange portions 61, 63, and 65 may be arranged outside the fan 40 and should be understood to be arranged in a suction region of sucked air in the fan 40.

A heat exchanger support 67 is coupled to the heat exchanger 60. The heat exchanger support 67 may be coupled to a side of the heat exchanger 60 and may rest on an inner surface of the housing 100.

A refrigerant tube 70 is coupled to the heat exchanger 60. The refrigerant tube 70 may introduce a refrigerant into the heat exchanger 60 or guide a flow of refrigerant discharged from the heat exchanger 60. The refrigerant tube 70 is coupled to the side of the heat exchanger 60 such that a tube cover 75 surrounds the outside of the refrigerant tube 70.

A box 100 is provided at the front of the chassis 30. An air passage is provided in the box 100.

The air conditioner may include a filter assembly 300. The filter assembly 300 may be arranged to be removed from the body 10.

The air conditioner may include a pair of side portions 111 and 112 defining an exterior appearance of the side surface thereof. In addition, the air conditioner may further include a top surface portion 113 defining an exterior appearance of the top surface of the air conditioner.

The air conditioner may further include an upper casing 114 into which the filter assembly 300 is inserted and housed. The upper casing 114 may be provided in the main body 10, and the filter box of the filter assembly 300 may be detachably mounted in the upper casing 114.

The pair of side portions 111 and 112 and the upper surface portion 113 may be provided by at least one of the chassis 30 or the box 100.

The upper housing 114 may have a recessed shape from the upper surface portion 113. The upper housing 114 may be a filter assembly housing body covering at least one surface of the filter assembly 300 or a filter housing housing covering at least one surface of the filter housing 310 defining an appearance of the filter assembly 300.

When the filter assembly 300 is inserted into the upper casing 114, the filter assembly 300 may define an exterior appearance of the upper surface of the air conditioner. When the filter assembly 300 is inserted into the upper casing 114, the filter assembly 300 may be positioned on an upper portion of at least one of the chassis 30 or the box 100, and air outside the air conditioner may be introduced between the chassis 30 and the box 100 after being purified by passing through the filter assembly 300.

When the filter assembly 300 is inserted into the upper casing 114, the upper surface of the filter assembly 300 may be exposed to the outside, and the upper surface of the filter assembly 300 may define the exterior appearance of the upper surface of the air conditioner. The filter assembly 300 may be withdrawn upwardly from the air conditioner in a state accommodated in the upper casing 114.

A discharge opening is defined in a lower portion of the housing 100. The discharge opening may include a lower discharge opening 126. The lower discharge opening 126 may be defined in a lower portion of the housing. The lower discharge opening 126 may be configured to discharge air in a downward direction.

The box 100 may be provided as one member or as an assembly of a plurality of members 110 and 120. When the box 100 is provided as an assembly of a plurality of members, the box 100 may include a box body 110 coupled to the chassis 30 and a grid frame 120 disposed in front of the box body 110.

The air conditioner may further include a discharge grille assembly 80.

The discharge grille assembly 80 may be disposed at a lower portion of the casing 100. The discharge grille assembly 80 may include a discharge grille body 81 separated from the chassis 30. The discharge grille assembly 80 may include a horizontal vane 82 that controls a discharge airflow direction. The horizontal vane 82 may rotate in a left-to-right direction based on a vertical line to control the discharge airflow in a left-to-right direction. The horizontal vane 83 may be provided in plural forms and connected to a link bar. The plurality of horizontal vanes 83 may rotate together when a link is moved. The discharge grille assembly 80 may include a horizontal vane motor 86 that enables the horizontal vane 82 to rotate. The horizontal vane motor 86 may be installed on the discharge grille body 81.

In a lower portion of the casing 100, a vertical vane 88 is provided which controls the discharge airflow in the vertical direction. The link 89 may be connected to one side of the vertical vane 88, and a vertical vane motor 90 for driving the vertical vane 88 may be connected to the link 89. The vertical vane motor 90 may be installed on at least one of the chassis 30, the bottom plate 55, or the discharge grille body 81.

A front panel 150 may be provided on the box 100. The front panel 150 may be provided in front of the box 100 to define an exterior appearance of the front surface of the main body 10.

The front panel 150 may be provided with a display unit 152 that is capable of confirming the operation information of the main body 10. The front panel 150 may have a display hole 154 in which the display unit 152 is arranged.

The air conditioner may further include a drive mechanism 170 (see FIG. 3 ) connected to the front panel 150 to allow the front panel 150 to operate in a plurality of positions. The drive mechanism 170 may be installed in the case 100 or the chassis 30. The drive mechanism 170 may be connected to the front panel 150 and to a power transmission member, such as a gear.

For example, the front panel 150 may be provided with a vertically extended rack. Furthermore, the drive mechanism 170 may include a motor 172 and may further include a pinion 174 rotated by the motor 172 and coupled to the rack.

The air conditioner may further include a high voltage power supply 180 (see Figure 2) that applies a high voltage to the filter assembly 300.

The high voltage power supply 180 may apply the high voltage to the filter assembly 300 and to a charging module 360 (see Figure 9) which will be described later. The charging module 360 may ionize foreign substances in the air, such as dust, and the foreign substances ionized by the charging module 360 may be collected within the filter assembly 300.

The filter assembly 300 may include a filter housing 310 and at least one filter housed in the filter housing 310. The filter assembly 300 may include a pre-filter 340 (see Figure 3) housed in the filter housing 310.

The pre-filter 340 may be a filter for filtering out foreign substances introduced into the air conditioner, in particular, the filter assembly 300. The pre-filter 340 may be in the form of a mesh. The pre-filter 340 may be arranged at the front of the air conditioning unit (e.g., the heat exchanger 60) in the direction of air flow.

The filter assembly 300 may include a plurality of filters. In this case, the filter assembly 300 may further include a dust collection filter 350 (see Figure 4).

When the filter assembly 300 includes the pre-filter 340 and the dust collection filter 350, the pre-filter 340 may be arranged at the front of the dust collection filter 350 in the air flow direction.

According to the invention, the dust-collecting filter 350 is an electric dust-collecting filter that collects dust using electricity. In the state in which the dust-collecting filter 350 is housed in the filter case 310, the electrostatic dust filter 350 can be electrically connected to the high-voltage power supply 180 via a wire and a terminal. The dust-collecting filter 350 is an electrostatic dust filter that collects foreign substances using static electricity from the foreign substances ionized by the charging module 360.

Next, the invention will be described in which the dust collection filter 350 is an electrostatic dust filter.

The pre-filter 340 can filter large dust in the air flowing to the electrostatic dust filter 350 in a state arranged on the electrostatic dust filter 350.

The electrostatic dust filter 350 is arranged between the pre-filter 340 and the filter housing 310. The electrostatic dust filter 350 is separated from the roller 372. The thickness of the electrostatic dust filter 350 in the air flow direction may be less than or equal to a diameter of the roller 372.

The air conditioner further includes a brush unit 380 (see Figure 4) that separates foreign substances (hereinafter "dust") such as dust adhering to the filter (for example, the pre-filter 340) from the filter. In addition, the air conditioner may further include a dust container 390 (see Figure 4) in which the dust separated from the filter is contained.

The brush unit 380 may be arranged in a position where the filter, in particular, pre-filter 340 may be in contact with the brush unit 380.

Dust adhering to the pre-filter 340 may contact the brush unit 380 and be separated from the pre-filter 340, and the dust separated from the pre-filter 340 may be introduced into the dust container 390 and then stored in the dust container 390.

The dust container 390 can be arranged to be removed from the air conditioner, and the user can remove the dust stored therein.

The air conditioner may further include a filter cleaning device 400 (see Figure 2) that separates the dust accumulated in the filter, in particular, in the pre-filter 340.

The filter cleaning device 400 may communicate with the dust container 390 when the dust container 390 is mounted on the air conditioner. The filter cleaning device 400 may be detachable from the dust container 390 when the dust container 390 is removed to the outside. The filter cleaning device 400 may be a suction unit connected to the dust container 390 for drawing air from the dust container 390. The filter cleaning device 400 may include a fan motor unit that sucks and blows air from the dust container 390. The filter cleaning device 400 may be a fan motor unit in which the dust container 390 detachably contacts the filter cleaning device 400.

An electric cable can be connected to the filter cleaning device 400, and the filter cleaning device 400 can be mounted on the main body 10.

The filter cleaning device 400 may be accommodated between the housing 100 and the chassis 30. The filter cleaning device 400 may be positioned within the housing 100. The filter cleaning device 400 may be positioned over the control module 50.

When the filter cleaning device 400 is operated, the suction force of the filter cleaning device 400 may be applied to the filter (particularly, the pre-filter 340) through the dust container 390 and the brush unit 380, and dust adhered to the filter of the filter assembly 300 may be drawn into the dust container 390 and temporarily stored in the dust container 390.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the brush unit 380 and the dust container 390 can be arranged in the filter box 310 to be removed from the air conditioner together with the filter box 310.

In this case, the brush unit 380 and the dust container 390 may constitute a part of the filter assembly 300, and the dust container 390 may be connected to or separated from the filter cleaning device 400 which will be described later.

On the other hand, the brush unit 380 and the dust container 390 may be placed in the chassis 30 or in the box 100, but not in the filter box 310. In this case, the brush unit 380 and the dust container 390 may be kept in the state of being connected to the filter cleaning device 400. When the filter assembly 30 is assembled, the brush unit 380 and the dust container 390 may be connected to the filter assembly 30.

The brush unit 380 and the dust container 390 must be cleaned by the user or a service provider and preferably must be removed so that they can be easily removed or mounted.

When the brush unit 380 and the dust container 390 are arranged in the filter case 310 together with the pre-filter 340 and the electrostatic dust filter 350, the user or the operator can remove the pre-filter 340 and the electrostatic dust filter 350 together and the brush unit 380 and the dust container 390 from each other through the simple operation of withdrawing the filter assembly 300 to the outside and can also clean the pre-filter 340, the electrostatic dust filter 350 and the brush unit 380. Then, the dust container 390 can be emptied.

Figure 5 is a perspective view when the front panel of Figure 1 is arranged in a first position, Figure 6 is a perspective view when the front panel of Figure 1 is arranged in a second position, and Figure 7 is a perspective view when the front panel of Figure 1 is arranged in a third position.

The driving mechanism 170 (see Figure 2) may allow the front panel 150 to be raised or lowered as illustrated in Figures 5 to 7. The driving mechanism 170 may be a front panel lifting mechanism that raises the front panel 150.

As illustrated in Figure 7, the discharge port provided in the box 100 may further include a front discharge port 129. The front discharge port 129 may be provided by opening a portion of a front bottom portion of the box 100 in the front-rear direction.

The drive mechanism 170 may allow the front panel 150 to be moved to a plurality of positions.

The plurality of positions may include a first position P1 and a second position P2.

The first position P1 may be a position in which the front panel 150 covers the front surface 301 of the filter assembly 300.

The second position P2 may be a relatively lower position than the first position P1. The second position P1 may be a position in which the front panel 150 exposes the front surface 301 of the filter assembly 300. The first position P1 and the second position P2 may be positions in which the front panel 150 covers the front discharge port 129.

When the front panel 150 is arranged in the first position P1, as illustrated in Figure 5, the front panel 150 can cover the front surface 301 and the front discharge port 129 of the filter assembly 300.

When the front panel 150 is arranged in the second position, as illustrated in Figure 6, the front panel 150 may expose the front surface 301 of the filter assembly 300 but covers the front discharge port 129. When the front panel 150 is placed in the second position P2, an upper end of the front panel 150 may be placed below the front of the filter assembly 300, and the filter assembly 300 may be moved forward over the upper end of the front panel 150.

A user of the air conditioner can allow the filter assembly 300 to move forward when the front panel 150 is arranged in the second position P2, and the user can easily remove the filter assembly 300 forward without separating the front panel 150 or the case 100.

The user may simply clean the filter assembly 300 removed toward the front of the upper housing 114 using a cleaning solution such as water. After the user cleans the filter assembly 300, the user may insert the filter assembly 300 into the upper housing 114 while seated in the upper housing 114, and the filter assembly 300 may be inserted and accommodated in the upper housing 114.

The plurality of positions may further include a third position P3. The third position P3 may be a position relatively higher than the first position P1. As shown in Figure 7, the third position P3 may be a position in which the front panel 150 opens the front discharge hole 129 and may be a position in which the front panel 150 covers the front surface 301 of the filter assembly 300. When the front panel 150 is arranged in the third position, air flowing into the filter assembly 300 may be guided to the rear surface of the front panel 150 and then sucked into the filter assembly 300.

The air conditioner may selectively perform a downward airflow mode in which the air from the air conditioner is discharged to a lower side of the case 100 through the lower discharge hole 126 (see Fig. 1) and an upward airflow mode in which the air from the air conditioner is discharged to a front side of the case 100 through the front discharge hole 129 (see Fig. 6).

When the front panel 150 is arranged in the first position P1 or the second position P2, the air conditioner can discharge the conditioned air through the lower discharge hole 126.

When the front panel 150 is arranged in the third position P3, the air conditioner can discharge the air from the air conditioner through the front discharge hole 129 and the lower discharge hole 126.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the air conditioner according to an embodiment, Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A' of Figure 8, Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B' of Figure 8, Figure 11 is a bottom view illustrating the interior of the dielectric filter according to an embodiment, and Figure 12 is a view of the filter assembly and the movement mechanism according to an embodiment.

The air conditioner may further include a charging module 360 (or an ionization module, see Figures 8 and 9).

The charging module 360 may be an ionization module or an ionization module that ionizes foreign substances in the air. The charging module 360 may be installed so that foreign substances in the air are ionized before entering the electrostatic dust filter 350.

The charging module 360 may ionize foreign substances in the air flowing toward the electrostatic dust filter 350 and may include a discharge electrode 361 that ionizes foreign substances in the air when a high voltage is applied.

The discharge electrode 361 may include a carbon fiber or a bundle of carbon fibers. The discharge electrode 361 may be electrically connected to the high-voltage power supply 170 shown in Figure 2.

The discharge electrode 361 may be embedded in the filter assembly 300 to bind the ionized foreign substances to the electrostatic dust filter 350. However, when the discharge electrode 361 is placed inside the filter assembly 300, the filter assembly 300 may increase in thickness due to a thickness of the discharge electrode 361 and a distance between the discharge electrode 361 and the electrostatic dust filter 350. In addition, when the user separates the filter assembly 300 from the chassis 30 or the case 100 to clean the filter assembly 300, the discharge electrode 361 has to be electrically connected to the high voltage power supply 170. When the filter assembly 300 is cleaned, the discharge electrode 361 is more likely to be damaged.

The discharge electrode 361 may be disposed outside the filter assembly 300, and even if the filter assembly 300 is removed to clean the filter assembly 300, the discharge electrode 361 may not be removed together with the filter assembly 300.

The discharge electrode 361 may be arranged on the chassis 30 or the housing 100, for example, facing the outside of the air conditioner. In this case, the discharge electrode 361 may ionize foreign substances in the air outside the air conditioner, particularly outside the filter assembly 300.

Foreign substances in the air outside the air conditioner may be ionized outside the filter assembly 300. The foreign substances ionized by the discharge electrode 361 may be sucked into the filter assembly 300 and then collected in the electrostatic dust filter 350 while passing through the filter assembly 300.

The discharge electrode 361 can ionize foreign substances in the air around the filter assembly 300. For this, the discharge electrode 361 may be arranged near the upper housing 114, for example, arranged to face an upper side of the upper housing 114.

When the fan 40 is driven, the external air of the air conditioner may flow to the upper sides of the upper case 114 and the filter assembly 300 and then be sucked into the filter assembly 300. Here, foreign substances in the air flowing to the upper sides of the upper case body 114 and the filter assembly 300 may be ionized by the discharge electrode 361.

The discharge electrode 361 facing the upper side of the upper casing 114 can minimize the energy loss to ionize foreign substances in the air.

The loading module 360 may further include a module mounter 364 disposed on an upper portion of at least one of the chassis 30 and the box 100.

A space S5 may be defined in which the discharge electrode 361 is accommodated in the module mounter 364. The space S5 may be larger than the discharge electrode 361.

An upper end of the discharge electrode 361 may be disposed lower than an upper end of the module mounter 364. In this case, the discharge electrode 361 may be protected by the module mounter 364, and safety accidents may occur when the user touches the discharge electrode 361 or damage to the discharge electrode 361 may be minimized.

In the module mounter 364, a cable passage hole 365 may be defined through which a cable 362 connected to the discharge electrode 361 may pass. The cable 362 may be fixed in the cable passage hole 365 and the cable 362 connected to the discharge electrode 361 may extend into the high voltage power supply 180 illustrated in Figure 2.

The charging module 360 may be provided in pairs within the air conditioner. The pair of charging modules 360A and 360B may be spaced longitudinally Y apart from the filter assembly 300.

The filter assembly 300 may have a long polygonal shape in which the longitudinal direction Y (i.e., a left-to-right direction) is longer than a width direction X (i.e., a front-to-back direction), and a length L2 of the filter assembly 300 may be defined as a length in the left-right direction Y of the filter assembly 300.

A distance L1 between the pair of load modules 360A and 360B may be greater than or equal to the length L2 of the filter assembly 300.

The pair of charging modules 360A and 360B may be arranged symmetrically with the filter assembly 300 between them.

The pair of charging modules 360A and 360B may include a left charging module 360A installed on the left side of the filter assembly 300 and a right charging module 360B installed on the right side of the filter assembly 300.

Hereinafter, a common configuration of the left charging module 360A and the right charging module 360B will be described as a charging module 360, and when it is necessary to distinguish the left charging module 360A from the right charging module 360B, the left charging module 360A and the right charging module 360B will be described to distinguish each other.

A distance L3 between the discharge electrode 361 of the left charging module 360A and the discharge electrode 361 of the right charging module 360B may be greater than the length L2 of the filter assembly 300.

The extension lines E1 and E2 extending from the discharge electrodes 361 of each pair of charging modules 360A and 360B may cross each other on the outside of the air conditioner. The extension lines E1 and E2 may cross above the filter assembly 300.

When the fan 40 rotates, foreign substances in the air flowing upstream of the filter assembly 300 may be deionized while passing around the discharge electrode 361. Foreign substances passing through the pre-filter 340 among the foreign substances ionized by the discharge electrode 361 may be adsorbed and collected in the electrostatic dust filter 350.

The filter assembly 300 will now be described in detail.

A space S3 in which at least one filter is accommodated may be defined in the filter box 310.

The filter housing 310 may be configured to allow air to pass therethrough. An exterior inlet 312 may be provided in the filter housing 310 through which exterior air is drawn into the filter housing 310. An interior outlet 314 through which air passing through the space S3 of the filter housing 310 is discharged to flow into the interior space S1 may be provided in the filter housing 310.

The external inlet 312 may be an air suction port through which the external air of the air conditioner is sucked into the interior of the air conditioner. An air suction port may be defined in the filter case 310, and the space S3 in which the pre-filter 340 is accommodated may be defined in the filter case 310.

The internal outlet 314 may be an air discharge hole through which the air sucked into the filter assembly 300 is discharged to the outside of the filter assembly 300, and an air discharge hole may be defined in the filter case 310.

The outer inlet 312 may face an upper side when the filter assembly 300 is inserted into the upper housing 114, and the outer inlet 312 may be exposed to the outside of the air conditioner.

The inner outlet 314 may face a lower side when the filter assembly 300 is inserted into the upper case 114, and the inner outlet 314 may face the interior of the air conditioner.

The filter housing 310 may be provided as an assembly of a plurality of members.

The filter case 310 includes an upper cover 320 having the outer inlet 312 through which the outer air is sucked and a lower case having the inner outlet 314 (the air discharge hole) through which the air passing through the filter flows to the opening 115.

The upper cover 320 can be detachably coupled to the lower case 330 by a hook piece, such as a hook, or a coupling member, such as a screw, and when the upper cover 320 is separated from the lower case 330, the inside of the filter case 310 can be opened.

The top cover 320 may be an outer cover that defines the outer appearance of the top surface of the air conditioner when the filter assembly 300 is mounted on the air conditioner.

The lower casing 330 may be an inner box in which a bottom surface of the filter assembly 300 may face the interior of the air conditioner, particularly the interior space S1, when the filter assembly 300 is mounted.

The prefilter 340 may be made of a flexible material that can be bent or folded. The length of the prefilter 340 in the left-right direction may be longer than the length of the prefilter 340 in the front-rear direction.

As illustrated in Figure 10, the prefilter 340 may include a filter net 342 having a through hole through which air passes. The prefilter 340 may include a filter body 344 that supports the filter net 342.

The pre-filter 340 can be accommodated between the electrostatic dust filter 350 and the top cover 320.

The electrostatic dust filter 350 may be a collection module in which foreign substances ionized by the charging module 360 are collected. The electrostatic dust filter 350 may be adapted to be positioned after the pre-filter 340 in the airflow direction.

The electrostatic dust filter 350 may be a dielectric filter in which an electrode is surrounded by a dielectric, and the electrostatic dust filter 350 may be cleaned with a cleaning solution such as water.

The electrostatic dust filter 350 may include a first filter body 351 surrounding a first electrode 351A by a first dielectric 351B and a second filter body 352 surrounding a second electrode 352A by a second dielectric 352B.

The first dielectric 351B and the second dielectric 351B may be lining members that prevent foreign substances from being exposed to the first electrode 351A and the second electrode 352A and may be an adsorption body that is adsorbed by the electric fields generated between the second electrode 352A and the second electrode 352A.

As illustrated in Figure 11, the first filter body 351 and the second filter body 352 may be spaced apart from each other in a direction X that is perpendicular to an air suction direction Z. The first filter body 351 and the second filter body 352 may be alternately arranged in a direction X that is perpendicular to the air suction direction Z.

An electrode terminal is provided on the electrostatic dust filter 350. A pair of electrode terminals is provided to the electrostatic dust filter 350, and the pair of electrode terminals includes a positive terminal 353 and a ground terminal 354, as illustrated in Figure 11.

The positive terminal 353 and the ground terminal 354 may be separated in the longitudinal direction Y of the filter assembly 300.

The positive terminal 353 may be electrically connected to the first electrode 351A and may be separated from the second filter body 352.

A portion of the first electrode 351A may be connected to the positive terminal 353 of the first filter body 351.

Each of the positive electrode terminals 353 and the ground terminal 354 are arranged to pass through the filter frame of the electrostatic dust filter 350, and a part of each of the positive electrode terminals 353 and ground 354 may be arranged outside the filter frame of the electric filter 350.

The ground terminal 354 may be electrically connected to the second electrode 352A and may be separated from the first filter body 351.

A portion of the second electrode 352A may be connected to the ground terminal 354 of the second filter body 352.

Hereinafter, a common configuration of the positive terminal 353 and the ground terminal 354 will be described as the electrode terminals 353 and 354, and when it is necessary to distinguish the positive terminal 353 from the ground terminal 354, the positive terminal 353 and the ground terminal 354 will be described to distinguish each other.

The electrostatic dust filter 350 may include a filter frame having a space S4 therein. The filter frame may be provided as an assembly of a plurality of elements 356 and 357. The assembly 356 and 367 may include an upper frame 356 and a lower frame 357, and the upper frame 356 and the lower frame 357 may be separately coupled to each other by a hook portion 358 such as the hook.

The main body 10 may further include a moving mechanism 500 that allows a position of the filter assembly 300 to be moved. The moving mechanism 500 may be a filter assembly rearward moving mechanism that allows the filter assembly 300 to be moved rearward.

The motion mechanism 500 may include a drive source such as a motor and at least one power transmission member connected to the drive source. An example of the motion mechanism 500 may include a motor 510, a drive gear 520 rotated by the motor 512.

The motor 510 may be installed to be fixed within the air conditioner. The air conditioner may further include a bracket 540 installed on at least one of the chassis 30 and the housing 100. The motor 510 may be mounted to the bracket 540 by means of a coupling element such as a screw.

The pinion 520 may be directly connected to a rotation shaft of the motor 510 or may be connected to the rotation shaft of the motor 510 through a separate intermediate gear.

The moving mechanism 500 may include a rack 530 engaged with the pinion 520. The rack 530 may be provided on the filter assembly 300. The rack 530 may be provided on the filter housing 310 as illustrated in Figure 12. The grid 530 may be provided at a bottom portion of the filter housing 310 so as to be protruding. The grid 530 may be longitudinally arranged on the lower housing 330 in the front-rear direction.

The moving mechanism 500 may be controlled by a control module 50. When the control module 50 controls the motor 510 in a forward moving mode, the motor 510 may allow the rotation shaft to rotate in either clockwise or counterclockwise directions to allow the shelf 530 to move forward, and the filter assembly 300 may move forward in a state of being positioned in the upper case 114.

The control module 50 may transmit a forward motion mode signal to the motor 510 when the user inputs a command to remove the filter assembly 300 through an input unit of a remote control or the like, or when the air conditioner is under a filter assembly removal condition.

An example of the filter assembly removal condition may be a case where the air conditioner runs for a certain time.

When the control module 50 controls the motor 510 in the backward movement mode, the motor 510 may allow the rotation axis of the motor 510 to rotate in a direction opposite to that in the forward movement mode to allow the rack 530 to move backward. The filter assembly 300 may be deeply inserted into the upper case 114 in a state of being placed in the upper case 114.

In the state in which the user inserts the filter assembly 300 into the upper housing 114, the remote controller or the like may input the command to mount the filter assembly 300 through the input unit. In this case, the control module 50 may transmit the command of the reverse motion mode to the motor 510.

The air conditioner may include a detection unit 550 capable of detecting a position of the filter assembly 300. The detection unit 550 may be installed to detect a correct position (i.e., a normal mounting position) of the filter assembly 300. The detection unit 550 may be installed to detect a maximum removal position of the filter assembly 300 (i.e., a position in which the moving mechanism 500 allows the filter assembly 300 to move forward to the maximum).

The air conditioner may further include a magnet 560 installed in the filter case 310 and a magnet sensor 570 installed in the movement mechanism 500 for detecting the magnet 560. The magnet 560 and the magnet sensor 570 may constitute the detection unit 550.

A magnet mounting portion 337 on which the magnet 560 is seated may be accommodated in the lower case 330, and the magnet 560 may be mounted on the magnet mounting portion 337 to move back and forth together with the filter assembly 300.

The magnetic sensor 570 may be installed in the movable mechanism 500, in particular, in the support 540. The support 540 may be provided with a magnetic sensor housing part 544 into which the magnetic sensor 570 is inserted and housed.

The magnetic sensor 570 may detect the magnet 560 while the motor 510 is driven in the reverse motion mode. Furthermore, when the magnet 560 is detected by the magnet sensor 570, the control module 50 may stop the reverse motion mode of the motor 510.

The position at which the magnet sensor 570 detects the magnet 560 may be a position at which the electrode terminals 353 and 354, which will be described later, of the electrostatic dust filter 350 contact the supply terminals 121 and 122 provided in the upper case 114 or maintain contact with the supply terminals 121 and 122. Therefore, the control module 50 can reliably apply the high voltage to the electrostatic dust filter 350.

Figure 13 is a plan view when the filter assembly of Figure 8 is withdrawn forwardly, and Figure 14 is a perspective view when the filter assembly of Figure 8 is withdrawn forwardly.

The upper housing 114 may be configured to accommodate the filter assembly 300 to be inserted. The top surface of the upper housing 114 and the front surface of the upper housing 114 may be open.

The upper housing 114 may have a three-dimensional shape, and an upper space S2 in which the filter assembly 300 is accommodated may be defined within the upper housing 114.

A through hole 115 communicating with each of the upper space S2 and the inner space S1 may be defined in a lower portion of the upper housing 114.

The upper housing 114 is a pair of side bodies 116 and 117 separated in the left-right directions toward the side surfaces 302 and 303 of the filter case 310 and the pair of side bodies 116. It may include a rear body 118 connecting the 117 and toward the rear surface 304 of the filter case 310.

Each of the two side bodies 116 and 117 and the rear body 118 may have a predetermined length in the vertical direction Z, and the length of each of the two side bodies 116 and 117 and the rear body 118 may be greater than or equal to a thickness of the filter assembly 300 (i.e., the vertical length of the filter assembly 300).

The upper housing 114 may further include a lower body 119 to which the filter assembly 300 is mounted, and the lower body 119 may be provided below the pair of side walls 116 and 117.

The lower body 119 may have a stepped portion relative to an upper end of each of the two side bodies 116 and 117 and the rear body 118.

The pair of side bodies 116 and 117 and the lower body 119 may have a width in the front-rear direction X, and the width may be greater than or equal to the width in the front-rear directions X of the filter assembly 300.

When the filter assembly 300 is accommodated in the upper casing 114, the upper surface 305 of the filter assembly 300 may coincide with the upper surface portion 113 of the air conditioner, and the front surface 301 of the filter assembly may coincide with the front surface of the case 100.

The power terminals 121 and 122 in contact with the electrode terminals 353 and 354 may be arranged in the upper housing 114.

The power terminals 121 and 122 may be fixed terminals that are fixed to the chassis 30 or to the box 100. The power terminals 121 and 122 may correspond one to one to the electrode terminals 353 and 354. The power terminals 121 and 122 may include a positive fixed terminal 121 with/from the positive terminal 353 being in contact or separated and a fixed ground terminal 122 with/from the ground terminal 354 being in contact or separated.

The positive fixed terminal 121 and the ground fixed terminal 122 may be separated from each other in the longitudinal direction Y of the filter assembly 300. Next, a common configuration of the power supply terminals 121 and 122 will be described. When it is necessary to distinguish the positive fixed terminal 121 and the ground fixed terminal 122, the positive fixed terminal 121 and the ground fixed terminal 122 will be described so as to be distinguishable from each other.

The positive fixed terminal 121 may be connected to the high voltage power supply 180 illustrated in Figure 2, and a cable or a bus bar connected to the positive fixed terminal 121 may extend to the high voltage power supply 180.

The stationary ground terminal 122 may be connected to the high voltage power supply 180 illustrated in Figure 2, the same as the positive fixed terminal 121, and a cable or bus bar connected to the stationary ground terminal 122 may extend to the high voltage power supply 180.

A terminal hole 338 (see Figure 15) through which at least one of the electrode terminals 353 and 354 and the feed terminals 121 and 122 passes is defined in the filter housing 310. For example, the terminal hole 338 may be defined in the lower housing 330.

Figure 15 is a perspective view illustrating the interior of the filter assembly according to an embodiment, Figure 16 is a bottom view when the dust container is separated from the filter housing according to an embodiment, Figure 17 is an exploded perspective view of the filter assembly according to an embodiment, Figure 18 is a bottom view of the pre-filter according to an embodiment, Figure 19 is an enlarged cross-sectional view when the filter assembly is connected to the filter cleaning device according to an embodiment, and Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C' of Figure 8.

The filter housing 310 may have a substantially hexahedral shape and may be arranged lengthwise in the left-right direction Y.

The air conditioner may include a roller 370 rotatably arranged in the filter case 310. As illustrated in Figure 19, the roller 370 may be arranged to be separated from the electrostatic dust filter 350 in the filter case 310. The roller 370 may be arranged in the filter case 310 to be arranged beside the electrostatic dust filter 350.

Roller 370 may support one side of prefilter 340 in the longitudinal direction. Roller 370 may allow prefilter 340 to move in the left-to-right direction.

The roller 370 may include a drive gear that allows the pre-filter 340 to move. The drive mechanism may include a pair of pinions 372 and 374. The pair of pinions 372 and 374 may be spaced apart from each other in a direction that is perpendicular to the airflow direction Z and the longitudinal direction Y of the pre-filter 340.

The roller 370 may include a rotation shaft 376 connecting the pair of pinions 372 and 374 to each other. The pair of pinions 372 and 374 and the rotation shaft 376 may rotate integrally.

The pre-filter 340 may have a driven gear engaged with the roller drive gear 370. The driven gear may be a pair of racks 346 and 348 provided on the pre-filter 340 as illustrated in Figure 18.

The pair of racks 346 and 348 may mesh with the pair of pinions 372 and 374 constituting the driving mechanism. The pair of frames 346 and 348 may be integrally integrated with the filter body 344. The pair of frames 346 and 348 may protrude from the bottom surface of the filter body 344. Each of the pairs of frames 346 and 348 may be arranged lengthwise in the longitudinal direction Y of the prefilter 340, and the pair of frames 346 and 348 may be spaced apart from each other in the direction X that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of each of the prefilters 346 and 348.

When the pre-filter 340 rotates, as illustrated in Figures 21 and 22, the pre-filter 340 can move within the filter housing 310 along an outer circumference of the roller 370.

The 340 prefilter can be a flexible filter that can be bent.

A portion of the prefilter 340, which is connected to the roller 370, may be bent into an arc shape along the outer circumference of the roller 370, and a portion of the prefilter 340, which is not connected to the roller 370, may be bent and extended into a substantially flat shape along the longitudinal direction of the filter housing 310.

As illustrated in Figure 21, the pre-filter 340 can filter foreign substances such as dust inside the filter case 310. As illustrated in Figure 22, foreign substances such as dust, which are filtered by the pre-filter 340, can be separated inside the filter case 310 while moving along the outer circumference of the roller 370.

The pre-filter drive gear 340 can be engaged with the roller 370 regardless of the position of the pre-filter 340, and the electrostatic dust filter 350 can be positioned adjacent to the roller 370 so as to be separated from the roller 370.

A length L6 of the pre-filter 340 may be longer than a length L7 of the electrostatic dust filter 350, and a portion of the pre-filter 340 may be arranged to face a portion between the electrostatic dust filter 350 and the roller 370. The pre-filter 340 may minimize introduction of foreign substances such as dust into a space between the electrostatic dust filter 350 and the roller 370.

The air conditioner may include a roller rotation mechanism that allows the roller 370 to rotate. The roller rotation mechanism may be mounted on the filter assembly 300 or on the body 10.

For example, the roller rotation mechanism may be mounted on the filter assembly 300, and in this case, the roller rotation mechanism may be mounted on the filter housing 310. When the roller rotation mechanism is mounted on the filter housing 310, the roller rotation mechanism may be removed from the main body 10 together with the filter assembly 300.

For another example, the roller rotation mechanism may be mounted on the main body 10. In this case, the roller rotation mechanism may be mounted on the main body 10. When the roller rotation mechanism is mounted on the main body 10, the roller rotation mechanism may be separated from the filter assembly 300 when the roller rotation mechanism is removed. That is, when the roller rotation mechanism is mounted on the main body 10, the roller 370 may be detachably connected to the roller rotation mechanism.

When the filter assembly 300 is assembled, the roller 370 can be connected to the roller rotation mechanism. When the filter assembly 300 is removed, the roller can be separated from the roller rotation mechanism, and the entire filter assembly 300 can be simply cleaned with a cleaning solution, such as water.

When the roller rotation mechanism is mounted on the main body 10, the roller rotation mechanism may be installed on the chassis 30 or the casing 100.

The roller rotation mechanism may be arranged in the rear body 118. When the filter box 310 is mounted in the upper housing 114, the roller rotation mechanism may be arranged behind the filter box 310.

The roller rotation mechanism includes a connector 377 that is detachably connected to either of the pair of pinions 372 and 374 and a roller rotation motor 378 that enables the connector 377 to rotate.

The roller rotation motor 378 may include a rotation shaft connected to the connector 377.

The brush unit 380 may be arranged in the filter housing 310. When the roller 370 rotates, the pre-filter 340 may be in contact with the brush unit 380.

In the filter case 310, a brush unit housing portion 349 may be provided into which the brush unit 380 is inserted. The brush unit housing portion 349 may be provided in at least one of the upper cover 320 or the lower case 330. The brush unit 380 may be inserted into the brush unit housing portion 349. After the brush unit 380 is inserted into a dust container housing space S7 to be described later, the brush unit 380 may be inserted into the brush unit housing portion 349 in the dust container housing space S7.

When the brush unit 380 is placed in the filter box 310, the brush unit 380 may be placed in the filter box 310 next to the roller 370, and the brush unit may be placed between the roller 370 and the dust container 390 as illustrated in Figure 19. The brush unit 380 may be separated from the roller rotation mechanism.

The brush unit 380 may be in contact with the folded portion of the pre-filter 340 along the roller 370.

The brush unit 380 may include a brush body 382 inserted into the brush unit housing portion 349 and a brush 384 disposed on the brush body 382 to be in contact with the pre-filter 340.

A dust passage 381 may be provided through which air and dust pass in the brush body 382. The dust passage 381 may face the roller 370, and dust may be separated from the part of the pre-filter 340, which is arranged between the roller 370 and the brush body 382, and may be sucked into the dust container 390 through the dust passage.

The brush 384 may be positioned on a surface of the brush body 382, facing the roller 370, and may be in contact with the folded portion of the pre-filter 340 along the roller 370.

The dust container 390 can be placed in the filter box 310. The dust container 390 can be placed next to the brush unit housing part 349 and can be connected to the brush unit 380.

A length L4 of the upper cover 320 may be greater than a length L5 of the lower casing 330 as illustrated in Figure 16. Between the lower casing 330 and the upper cover 320, a dust container accommodating space S7 may be defined in which the dust container 390 is accommodated.

When the brush unit housing portion 349 is provided in the lower case 330, the upper cover 320 may face the brush unit housing portion 349 and include a side wall 329 that is spaced apart from the brush unit housing portion 349. Furthermore, the dust container housing space S7 may be defined as an empty space defined between the brush unit housing portion 349 and the side wall 329 of the upper cover 320.

A space (S6) may be defined in the dust container 390 in which dust separated from the prefilter 340 is stored. The dust container 390 may be provided as an assembly of a plurality of elements, each of which has an openable interior. The dust container 390 may include a lower case 392 and a case lid 394 that opens and closes a space in the lower case 392. A space S6 in which dust is stored may be defined between the lower case 392 and the case lid 394.

The dust container 390 may further include a dust filter 396 housed in the space S6. The dust filter 396 may be a dust collection filter through which dust moving from the pre-filter 340 and passing air is filtered.

Figure 21 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pre-filter, the roller and the brush when the pre-filter is not cleaned according to an embodiment, and Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view when the pre-filter of Figure 21 is cleaned.

A guide may be provided to guide the movement of the prefilter 340 in the filter housing 310.

The guide may include a filter guide 334 that guides the pre-filter 340 to move along the outer circumference of the roller 370 when the roller 370 rotates.

The filter guide 334 may have a guide surface 335 in contact with the pre-filter 340. The filter guide 334 may be disposed in the filter housing 310, and the filter assembly 300 may further include the filter guide 334.

The filter guide 334 may have a shape that surrounds the outer circumferential surface of the roller 370, and the guide surface 335 may be defined as an inner circumferential surface facing the outer circumferential surface of the roller 370 of the filter guide 334.

At least a portion of the filter guide 334 may be arc-shaped. A radius of the arc-shaped portion of the filter guide 334 may be greater than the radius of the roller 370.

The filter guide 334 includes a first guide 336 and a second guide 337, which are separated by an interval greater than the diameter of the roller 370, and a third guide 339 that connects the first guide 336 with the second guide 337.

The guide may further include a guide body 324 that guides the pre-filter 340 to move toward a rear side of the electrostatic dust filter 350 in the air flow direction.

The guide body 324 can guide the pre-filter 340 to move between the electrostatic dust filter 350 and the lower case 330.

The guide body 324 may be integrated with the filter case 310. The guide body 323 may protrude from an inner surface of the filter case 310 or may be provided at a bottom portion of the lower housing 330. The guide body 323 may be a part of a bottom plate of the lower housing 330.

The guide body 324 may guide a portion of the pre-filter 340, which moves along the outer circumference of the roller 370, to move between the electrostatic dust filter 350 and the lower housing 330.

The roller 372 may allow the pre-filter 340 to move toward the front side of the correction filter 250 in the air flow direction or to move toward the rear side of the electrostatic dust filter 250 in the air flow direction.

The above-described subject matter should be considered illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims (13)

1. An air conditioner comprising: a pre-filter (340) made of a flexible material, the pre-filter (340) being arranged in front of an air suction hole (312) through which the air is sucked; a roller (372) configured to support one side of the pre-filter (340) in a longitudinal direction, the roller (372) being configured to allow the pre-filter (340) to move in a left-to-right direction; a roller rotation mechanism configured to allow the roller (372) to rotate; a brush unit (380) arranged to be in contact with the pre-filter (340) when the roller (372) rotates, the brush unit (380) being separated from the roller rotation mechanism; a filter box (310) in which the air suction hole (312) is defined and which has a space (S3) in which the pre-filter (340) is housed; a main body (10) provided with an upper casing (114) in which the filter box (310) is detachably mounted; characterized in that the air conditioner also includes: an electrostatic dust filter (350) arranged between the pre-filter (340) and the filter box (310) and separated from the roller (372), at least one of the electrode terminals (353 and 354) provided in the electrostatic dust filter (350); and at least one of the power supply terminals (121 and 122) configured to be in contact with the at least one of the electrode terminals (353 and 354) and arranged in the upper housing (114); wherein a terminal hole (338) is defined in the filter housing (310) such that at least one of the electrode terminals (353 and 354) or the feed terminals (121 and 122) is configured to pass through it. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the electrostatic dust filter (350) in the air flow direction is less than or equal to the diameter of the roller (372). 3. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a guide body (324) configured to guide the pre-filter (340) to move at the rear of the electrostatic dust filter (350) in the air flow direction, is provided in the filter case (310). 4. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the roller (372) is configured to allow the pre-filter (340) to move in front of the electrostatic dust filter (350) in the air flow direction or to allow the pre-filter (340) to move in the rear part of the electrostatic dust filter (350) in the air flow direction. 5. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a dust container (390) arranged in the filter box (310) to define a space (S6) adapted to store dust separated from the pre-filter (340). 6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the filter box (310) comprises: an upper cover (320) having the air suction hole (312); and a lower casing (330) coupled to the upper cover (320), the lower casing (330) having an air discharge hole (314), in which a dust container accommodation space (S7) is defined between the lower housing (330) and the upper cover (320), in which the dust container (390) is inserted and accommodated. 7. The air conditioner according to claim 6, wherein the upper cover (320) has a length (L4) greater than the length (L5) of the lower casing (330). 8. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: a blower fan (40) housed in the main body (10), wherein the roller rotation mechanism is arranged in the main body (10). 9. The air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein the upper housing (114) comprises: a pair of side bodies (116, 117) arranged to face a side surface of the filter housing (310); and a rear body (118) configured to connect the pair of side bodies (116, 117) to each other, the rear body (118) is arranged facing a rear surface (304) of the filter box (310), wherein the roller rotation mechanism is arranged in the rear body (118) behind the filter box (310). 10. The air conditioner according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising: a filter cleaning device (400) which is mounted on the main body (10) and to which the duct container (390) is detachably connected, the filter cleaning device (400) is configured to apply suction force to the dust container (390). 11. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein a brush unit housing part (349) in which the brush unit (380) is inserted and accommodated is provided in the filter case (310), and The dust container accommodation space S7 is defined between the brush unit accommodation portion (349) and a wall (329) of the upper cover (320). 12. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the brush unit (380) comprises: a brush body (382) provided with a dust duct (381) opening toward the roller (372); and a brush (384) arranged on a surface of the brush body (382) facing the roller (372), the brush (384) being in contact with a portion of the pre-filter (340) which is bent along the roller (372). 13. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the filter box (310) comprises: an upper cover (320) having the air suction hole (312); and a lower casing (330) coupled to the upper cover (320), the lower casing (330) having an air discharge hole (314), wherein the terminal hole (338) is defined in the lower housing (330), and wherein the upper cover (320) is detachably coupled to the lower housing (330) by a hook piece or a coupling member, and when the upper cover (320) is separated from the lower housing (330), the interior of the filter box (310) is opened.