# US 2021/0274993 A1 · Dishwashing appliances and open-door drying methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0274993 A1 - Document ID: US20210274993A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/808,539 - Filed: 2020-03-04 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-04 - Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Timothy Kopera - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210274993A1 ## CPC - A47L 15/0034: {Drying phases, including dripping-off phases} - A47L 15/4259: {Arrangements of locking or security/safety devices for doors, e.g. door latches, switch to stop operation when door is open} - A47L 15/488: {Connections of the tub with the ambient air, e.g. air intake or venting arrangements} - A47L 2401/26: Loading door status, e.g. door latch opened or closed state - A47L 2501/06: Water heaters - A47L 2501/11: Air heaters - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) ## Abstract A dishwashing appliance and methods for operating the same may provide a cabinet, a tub, a door, a spray assembly, a heating element, and a controller. The door may be rotatably mounted to the cabinet to move between a fully-open position, a preset open-vent position, and a closed position. The preset open-vent position may be between the fully-open and closed positions. The spray assembly may be positioned within the wash chamber. The heating element may be mounted within the cabinet in thermal communication with the wash chamber. The controller may be configured to initiate a dry cycle. The dry cycle may include moving the door from the closed position, determining the door is in the preset open-vent position following moving the door from the closed position, and activating the heating element to generate heat within the wash chamber following moving the door from the closed position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating a dishwashing appliance comprising a tub defining a wash chamber and a door selectively rotated to a closed position across a front opening of the tub to restrict access to the wash chamber, the method comprising: moving the door from the closed position; determining the door is in a preset open-vent position following moving the door from the closed position; and activating a heating element to generate heat within the wash chamber following moving the door from the closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein activating the heating element occurs as the door is in the preset open-vent position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining the door has moved from the preset open-vent position; and deactivating the heating element to prevent heat generation within the wash chamber in response to determining the door has moved from the preset open-vent position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining the door is in the preset open-vent position comprises receiving a position signal from a sensor in operable communication with the door. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the sensor is electrically connected to a door closure assembly comprising a first contact mounted to the tub and a second contact mounted to the door, wherein the position signal is received in response to detecting contact between the first contact and the second contact at the sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the sensor is mounted within the door to detect an angle of the door relative to the tub. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the door extends from a bottom end to a top end, wherein the preset open-vent position defines a set gap between the top end of the door and the tub, and wherein the set gap is between 1 centimeter and 13 centimeters. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: activating the heating element to generate heat within the wash chamber as the door is in a closed position prior to moving the door from the closed position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: holding the door in the preset open-vent position in response to determining the door is in the preset open-vent position; and deactivating the heating element to prevent heat generation within the wash chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising returning the door to the closed position following deactivating the heating element; and reactivating the heating element to generate heat within the wash chamber in response to returning the door to the closed position. ### Claim 11 A dishwashing appliance, comprising: a cabinet; a tub positioned within the cabinet and defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing; a door rotatably mounted to the cabinet to move between a fully-open position, a preset open-vent position, and a closed position, the preset open-vent position being between the fully-open and closed positions; a spray assembly positioned within the wash chamber; a heating element mounted within the cabinet in thermal communication with the wash chamber; and a controller in operative communication with the heating element, the controller being configured to initiate a dry cycle, the dry cycle comprising moving the door from the closed position, determining the door is in the preset open-vent position following moving the door from the closed position, and activating the heating element to generate heat within the wash chamber following moving the door from the closed position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The dishwashing appliance of claim 11, wherein activating the heating element occurs as the door is in the preset open-vent position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The dishwashing appliance of claim 11, wherein the dry cycle further comprises determining the door has moved from the preset open-vent position, and deactivating the heating element to prevent heat generation within the wash chamber in response to determining the door has moved from the preset open-vent position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The dishwashing appliance of claim 11, further comprising a position signal in operable communication with the door, wherein determining the door is in the preset open-vent position comprises receiving a position signal from the position sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The dishwashing appliance of claim 14, wherein the position sensor is electrically connected to a door closure assembly comprising a first contact mounted to the tub and a second contact mounted to the door, wherein the position signal is received in response to detecting contact between the first contact and the second contact at the position sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The dishwashing appliance of claim 14, wherein the position sensor is mounted within the door to detect an angle thereof relative to the tub. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The dishwashing appliance of claim 11, wherein the door extends from a bottom end to a top end, wherein the preset open-vent position defines a set gap between the top end of the door and the tub, and wherein the set gap is between 1 centimeter and 13 centimeters. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The dishwashing appliance of claim 11, wherein the dry cycle further comprises activating the heating element to generate heat within the wash chamber as the door is in a closed position prior to moving the door from the closed position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The dishwashing appliance of claim 18, wherein the dry cycle further comprises holding the door in the preset open-vent position in response to determining the door is in the preset open-vent position, and deactivating the heating element to prevent heat generation within the wash chamber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The dishwashing appliance of claim 19, wherein the dry cycle further comprises returning the door to the closed position following deactivating the heating element, and reactivating the heating element to generate heat within the wash chamber in response to returning the door to the closed position.