Adjusted operation of a combination washer/dryer appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12000073-B2
Application number	US-202117245739-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2021
Priority date	Apr 30, 2021
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

A combination washer/dryer appliance may include a cabinet, a tub, a laundry basket, a heater, and a controller. The laundry basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub and define a chamber for receipt of articles for washing or drying. The controller may be operably coupled to the heater and configured to initiate a wash/dry operation. The wash/dry operation may include initiating a wash/dry operation for articles within the laundry basket. The wash/dry operation may include a wash cycle and a dry cycle. The wash/dry operation may further include determining completion of the wash cycle and directing a tumble cycle of the laundry basket in response to determining completion of the wash cycle. The wash/dry operation may still further include determining a user drying preference during the tumble cycle of the laundry basket and adjusting the wash/dry operation based on the determined user drying preference.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A combination washer/dryer appliance comprising:
a cabinet;
a tub positioned within the cabinet, the tub defining a tub outlet and a tub inlet;
a laundry basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the laundry basket defining a chamber for receipt of articles for washing or drying;
a heater configured to heat and remove moisture from air flowing therethrough; and
a controller operably coupled to the heater and configured to initiate a wash/dry operation, the wash/dry operation comprising:
initiating a wash/dry operation for articles within the laundry basket, the wash/dry operation comprising a wash cycle and a dry cycle,
determining completion of the wash cycle,
directing a tumble cycle of the laundry basket in response to determining completion of the wash cycle, wherein the tumble cycle comprises rotating the laundry basket,
determining a user drying preference during the tumble cycle of the laundry basket,
adjusting the wash/dry operation based on the determined user drying preference, and
generating a notification indicating completion of the wash cycle in response to determining completion of the wash cycle prior to adjusting the wash/dry operation.

2. The combination washer/dryer appliance of claim 1 , wherein determining the user drying preference comprises receiving a drying input signal from a user interface.

3. The combination washer/dryer appliance of claim 2 , wherein adjusting the wash/dry operation comprises initiating the dry cycle activation to heat articles within the laundry basket.

4. The combination washer/dryer appliance of claim 1 , wherein determining the user drying preference comprises receiving a pause input signal.

5. The combination washer/dryer appliance of claim 4 , wherein the pause input signal is prompted in response to opening a door of the combination washer/dryer appliance.

6. The combination washer/dryer appliance of claim 4 , wherein the pause input signal is prompted in response to user engagement of a corresponding portion of a user interface of the combination washer/dryer appliance.

7. The combination washer/dryer appliance of claim 4 , wherein adjusting the wash/dry operation comprises halting rotation of the laundry basket.

8. The combination washer/dryer appliance of claim 7 , wherein adjusting the wash/dry operation further comprises receiving a resumption signal following halting rotation of the laundry basket.

9. The combination washer/dryer appliance of claim 8 , wherein adjusting the wash/dry operation further comprises initiating the dry cycle in response to receiving the resumption signal, wherein the dry cycle comprises activating of the heater to heat articles within the laundry basket.

10. A method of operating a combination washer/dryer appliance comprising a cabinet, a laundry basket rotatably mounted within the cabinet, and a heater in thermal communication with the laundry basket, the method comprising:
initiating a wash/dry operation for articles within the laundry basket, the wash/dry operation comprising a wash cycle and a dry cycle;
determining completion of the wash cycle;
directing a tumble cycle of the laundry basket in response to determining completion of the wash cycle, wherein the tumble cycle comprises rotating the laundry basket;
determining a user drying preference during the tumble cycle of the laundry basket;
adjusting the wash/dry operation based on the determined user drying preference; and
generating a notification indicating completion of the wash cycle in response to determining completion of the wash cycle prior to adjusting the wash/dry operation.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining the user drying preference comprises receiving a drying input signal from a user interface.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the wash/dry operation comprises initiating the dry cycle to heat articles within the laundry basket.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining the user drying preference comprises receiving a pause input signal.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the pause input signal is prompted in response to opening a door of the combination washer/dryer appliance.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the pause input signal is prompted in response to user engagement of a corresponding portion of a user interface of the combination washer/dryer appliance.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein adjusting the wash/dry operation comprises halting rotation of the laundry basket.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein adjusting the wash/dry operation further comprises receiving a resumption signal following halting rotation of the laundry basket.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein adjusting the wash/dry operation further comprises initiating the dry cycle in response to receiving the resumption signal, wherein the dry cycle comprises activating of the heater to heat articles within the laundry basket.

19. A combination washer/dryer appliance comprising:
a cabinet;
a tub positioned within the cabinet, the tub defining a tub outlet and a tub inlet;
a laundry basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the laundry basket defining a chamber for receipt of articles for washing or drying;
a heater configured to heat and remove moisture from air flowing therethrough; and
a controller operably coupled to the heater and configured to initiate a wash/dry operation, the wash/dry operation comprising:
initiating a wash/dry operation for articles within the laundry basket, the wash/dry operation comprising a wash cycle and a dry cycle,
determining completion of the wash cycle,
directing a tumble cycle of the laundry basket in response to determining completion of the wash cycle, wherein the tumble cycle comprises rotating the laundry basket,
determining a user drying preference during the tumble cycle of the laundry basket, wherein determining the user drying preference comprises receiving a pause input signal, and
adjusting the wash/dry operation based on the determined user drying preference, wherein adjusting the wash/dry operation comprises halting rotation of the laundry basket.

20. The combination washer/dryer appliance of claim 19 , wherein adjusting the wash/dry operation further comprises initiating the dry cycle in response to receiving the resumption signal, wherein the dry cycle comprises activating of the heater to heat articles within the laundry basket.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Kellow Jeffrey
• Dunn David Scott

Classifications

• D06F33/60 Primary

  of centrifugal separation of water from the laundry · CPC title

• D06F33/56

  of washing · CPC title

• D06F34/28

  Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress · CPC title

• D06F2101/20

  Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programs, service modes or refreshment cycles · CPC title

• D06F2103/40

  Opening or locking status of doors · CPC title