Automatic air drying of clothes washer
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsHaitian Hu, Hairong Li
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A front load laundry appliance includes a basket supported for rotation within a cabinet, a door rotatable between an open position and a secured closed position to provide selective access to the basket, and a controller. The controller is configured to initiate an air dry mode for the laundry appliance when a set of conditions exist for the laundry appliance. In the air dry mode, the rotating basket draws a flow of ambient air through the basket to a vent.
Claims20
A laundry appliance comprising:
- a cabinet including a front panel, the front panel defining an opening;
- a basket supported for rotation within the cabinet, the basket defining and interior space accessible through the opening and configured to receive laundry articles;
- a motor assembly mechanically coupled to the basket and configured to selectively rotate the basket;
- a door assembly rotatably mounted to the cabinet, the door assembly rotatable between an open position allowing access to the opening and a secured closed position blocking access to the opening;
- and
- a controller in operative communication with the basket and the door assembly, wherein the controller is configured to:
- determine the basket is empty of laundry articles;
- determine the door assembly is in the secured closed position;
- determine a laundry appliance idle time;
- and
- initiate an air dry mode for the laundry appliance during the laundry appliance idle time.
A method of operating a laundry appliance comprising a cabinet including a front panel defining an opening, a basket supported for rotation within the cabinet, the basket defining and interior space accessible through the opening and configured to receive laundry articles, a door assembly rotatably mounted to the cabinet, the door assembly rotatable between an open position and a secured closed position blocking access to the opening, a controller, and user input devices in operative communication with the controller, the method comprising:
- determining the basket is empty of laundry articles;
- determining the door assembly is in the secured closed position;
- determining a laundry appliance idle time;
- and
- initiating an air dry mode for the laundry appliance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.