# US 12,000,081 B2 · Travel cycle for a condenser or heat pump dryer appliance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,081 B2 - Document ID: US12000081B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/205,627 - Filed: 2021-03-18 - Published: 2022-09-22 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-03-18 - Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Michael Wuttikorn Ekbundit - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000081B2 ## CPC - D06F 58/32: Control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers (control of operations performed in washer-dryers D06F33/50; details of control systems, e.g. for detecting or measuring specific parameters or for selection or indication of programs D06F34/00) - D06F 58/34: characterised by the purpose or target of the control - D06F 34/04: Signal transfer or data transmission arrangements - D06F 34/18: Condition of the laundry, e.g. nature or weight - D06F 34/20: Parameters relating to constructional components, e.g. door sensors - D06F 34/28: Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating programme parameters, e.g. the selected programme or its progress - D06F 58/24: Condensing arrangements - D06F 39/001: {Arrangements for transporting, moving, or setting washing machines; Protective arrangements for use during transport (transport in general B65)} - D06F 2103/04: Quantity, e.g. weight or variation of weight - D06F 2103/40: Opening or locking status of doors - D06F 2103/42: related to filters or pumps - D06F 2103/58: related to condensation, e.g. condensate water level - D06F 2105/02: Water supply - D06F 2105/08: Draining of washing liquids - D06F 2105/36: Condensing arrangements, e.g. control of water injection therefor - D06F 2105/54: Changing between normal operation mode and special operation modes, e.g. service mode, component cleaning mode or stand-by mode - D06F 2105/58: Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES ## Abstract A dryer appliance and a method of operating the same are provided. In one aspect, the dryer appliance includes a drum rotatably mounted within a cabinet. The drum defines a chamber that is in fluid communication with a conditioning system of the dryer appliance that circulates heated air through the chamber. A controller is configured to receive a command to initiate an appliance travel cycle and implement a responsive action to prepare the dryer appliance for travel. The responsive action may be the automated adjustment of one or more operating parameters of the dryer appliance, such as performing a load sensing procedure, drying the chamber, closing the water supply valves, etc. In addition, the responsive action may include providing a user instruction to prepare the dryer appliance, e.g., by cleaning the lint filter, emptying the condensate collection tank, removing hoses and cables, addressing any error codes, etc. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dryer appliance comprising: a cabinet; a drum rotatably mounted within the cabinet, the drum defining a chamber for receipt of articles for drying, the drum defining a drum exit and a drum inlet to the chamber; a conditioning system configured to heat and remove moisture from air flowing therethrough; a duct system for providing fluid communication between the drum exit and the conditioning system and between the conditioning system and the drum inlet, the duct system, the conditioning system, and the drum defining a process air flowpath; a blower fan operable to move air through the process air flowpath; and a controller configured to: receive a command to initiate an appliance travel cycle; and implement a responsive action to prepare the dryer appliance for travel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dryer appliance of claim 1, wherein implementing the responsive action comprises: performing a load sensing algorithm to verify that the chamber is empty. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dryer appliance of claim 1, wherein implementing the responsive action comprises: performing a drying cycle when the chamber is empty. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The dryer appliance of claim 1, wherein implementing the responsive action comprises: verifying that a lint filter and a condensate collection tank are installed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The dryer appliance of claim 1, further comprising: one or more water supply valves, and wherein implementing the responsive action comprises closing the one or more water supply valves. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The dryer appliance of claim 1, further comprising: a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet for providing selective access to a chamber; and a door lock for selectively locking the door in a closed position, wherein implementing the responsive action comprises verifying the door is closed and locked. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The dryer appliance of claim 1, wherein implementing the responsive action comprises: alerting a user of any service codes or error faults. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The dryer appliance of claim 1, wherein implementing the responsive action comprises: providing a user instruction to take a preparatory action for travel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The dryer appliance of claim 8, further comprising: a collection tank in fluid communication with the conditioning system for receiving condensate water from process air flowing through the conditioning system, wherein the preparatory action comprises emptying the collection tank. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The dryer appliance of claim 8, wherein the preparatory action comprises cleaning a lint filter or vacuuming components of the conditioning system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The dryer appliance of claim 8, wherein the preparatory action comprises disconnecting all water supply hoses and electrical cables. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The dryer appliance of claim 8, further comprising: a user interface panel positioned on the cabinet for facilitating user interaction with the dryer appliance, wherein the user instruction is provided through the user interface panel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The dryer appliance of claim 12, wherein the command to initiate the appliance travel cycle is received from a user through the user interface panel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The dryer appliance of claim 8, wherein the controller is in operative communication with a remote device through an external network, and wherein the user instruction is provided through the remote device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The dryer appliance of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine that the responsive action has been implemented; and power down the dryer appliance. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The dryer appliance of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: receive a command to terminate the appliance travel cycle; and return all operating parameters of the dryer appliance to a normal mode. ### Claim 17 A method of operating a dryer appliance, the dryer appliance comprising a drum rotatably mounted within a cabinet, the drum defining a chamber for receipt of articles for drying, the drum defining a drum exit and a drum inlet to the chamber, a conditioning system configured to heat and remove moisture from air flowing therethrough, a duct system for providing fluid communication between the drum exit and the conditioning system and between the conditioning system and the drum inlet, the duct system, the conditioning system, and the drum defining a process air flowpath, and a blower fan operable to move air through the process air flowpath, the method comprising: receiving a command to initiate an appliance travel cycle; and implementing a responsive action to prepare the dryer appliance for travel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein implementing the responsive action comprises at least one of performing a load sensing algorithm to verify that the chamber is empty or performing a drying cycle when the chamber is empty. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein implementing the responsive action comprises at least one of closing one or more water supply valves or verifying a door is closed and locked. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein implementing the responsive action comprises at least one of alerting a user of any service codes or error faults or providing a user instruction to take a preparatory action for travel.