Drum-type washer/dryer

Abstract

A warm air inlet ( 10 ) and a warm air outlet ( 9 ) of a laterally provided cylindrical water tub ( 2 ) are separately arranged in the direction of the axis of the water tub ( 2 ). An airflow duct ( 32 ) connecting the warm air inlet ( 10 ) and the warm air outlet ( 9 ) is placed in the axis direction of the water tub ( 2 ), substantially directly below the water tub ( 2 ). A compressor ( 53 ) of a heat pump ( 57 ) having an evaporator ( 41 ) and a condenser ( 42 ) that are placed in the airflow duct ( 32 ) is placed at a position at a side of the airflow duct ( 32 ) so as to be orthogonal to the axis direction of the tub ( 2 ).

1 . A drum-type washer/dryer comprising:
 a laterally disposed cylindrical water tub having a warm air inlet and a warm air outlet;   a drum disposed inside the water tub;   a drive unit that rotates the drum;   an airflow duct communicating the warm air outlet and the warm air inlet of the water tub;   a heat pump including an evaporator and a condenser disposed in the airflow duct and a compressor to which the evaporator and the condenser are connected;   a blower that re-circulates air inside the water tub through the airflow duct, and   the warm air inlet and the warm air outlet of the water tub are provided in separate locations in an axial direction of the water tub, the airflow duct being disposed substantially immediately below the water tub and along the axial direction of the water tub, and the compressor of the heat pump being disposed in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the water tub and laterally of the airflow duct.   
   
   
       2 . The drum-type washer/dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow duct includes an entrance and an exit opposing each other, and the evaporator and the condenser of the heat pump are disposed between the entrance and the exit so that centers of the evaporator and the condenser substantially match with the centers of the entrance and the exit. 
   
   
       3 . The drum-type washer/dryer of  claim 2 , further comprising a filter case containing a filter that collects lint discharged from laundry, and the filter case is aligned in a row with the evaporator and the condenser of the heat pump and positioned in an upwind of the airflow duct. 
   
   
       4 . The drum-type washer/dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor of the heat pump is disposed on a reinforcing plate overlying a bottom plate being shared with the airflow duct. 
   
   
       5 . The drum-type washer/dryer of  claim 1 , further comprising a drain reservoir that accumulates water dehumidified from air flowing through the airflow duct by the evaporator of the heat pump, and the drain reservoir is formed on the bottom plate of the airflow duct. 
   
   
       6 . The drum-type washer/dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the airflow duct has a sidewall comprising an end plate of the evaporator of the heat pump, an end plate of the condenser, and an auxiliary side plate connecting the end plate of the evaporator and the end plate of the condenser.