Hermetic compressor with discharge valve plate edges and discharge valve stopper aligned along a curved virtual line

A hermetic compressor, comprising:

• a cylinder in which a compression chamber is formed;
• a valve assembly provided at a front end of the cylinder to cover the compression chamber;
• and
• a discharge cover coupled to the valve assembly at an opposite side to the cylinder with the valve assembly interposed therebetween, wherein the valve assembly comprises:
• a valve plate having one suction port and a plurality of discharge ports;
• a suction valve provided at a first surface of the valve plate that faces the compression chamber;
• a discharge valve provided at a second surface of the valve plate opposite to the first surface thereof, the discharge valve including a fixed end and a plurality of flaps that extends radially from the fixed end, the plurality of flaps being configured respectively to open and close the plurality of discharge ports;
• and
• a valve stopper provided between the valve plate and the discharge cover with the discharge valve interposed therebetween to be fixed to the valve plate together with the discharge valve by being pressed by the discharge cover, and limiting a degree of opening of the plurality of flaps of the discharge valve, wherein the valve plate includes a discharge guide groove that accommodates the plurality of discharge ports and a valve support that supports one side of the fixed end of the discharge valve, wherein the valve support extends from an inner circumferential surface of the discharge guide groove toward the plurality of discharge ports, wherein the valve stopper includes a valve pressing portion that presses another side of the fixed end of the discharge valve toward the valve support to be fixed onto the valve support of the valve plate, and wherein a height of the valve support and a height of the valve stopper are respectively formed to be smaller than a depth of the discharge guide groove.