Dryer Warmup Cycle Scheduling for User-Selected Future Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dryer appliances do not have a warmup cycle that allows users to preheat clothes to a selected temperature at a user-specified future time, limiting the ability to have warmed clothes ready when needed.
Innovation Solution
A dryer appliance with a controller that initiates a warming operation based on user-input parameters, including duration and start time, using a heating assembly and air handler to warm articles in the drum to a desired temperature at a predetermined time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a dryer appliance performs a traditional drying cycle or timed cycle, then the clothes are dried or warmed, but the clothes are not available at a user-selected future time
Solution Approach 1:
The controller calculates and schedules the warming operation to start in advance of the user-selected time. The system determines the required duration based on input parameters and automatically initiates the warming cycle at the appropriate start time, ensuring clothes are ready exactly when needed without requiring user intervention at the moment of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the warming operation parameters including start time and duration based on user inputs. The controller flexibly schedules the warming cycle to accommodate different user needs and time requirements, making the appliance adaptable to various scenarios rather than operating on fixed cycles only.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the dryer appliance adds scheduling functionality for warmup cycles, then clothes can be warmed at selected times, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller utilizes existing components (heating assembly, air handler, timer) already present in the dryer for traditional drying operations. By repurposing these existing elements to perform warming functions with scheduled operation, the system achieves multi-functionality without adding substantial new hardware, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller automatically calculates the start time and duration of the warming operation based on user-selected parameters. The system self-manages the scheduling logic, determining when to initiate the warming cycle and how long to run it, reducing the need for complex external control mechanisms or manual timing interventions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables users to have clothes warmed to a specific temperature at a chosen future time, enhancing convenience by allowing for preheating of already dried clothes.
Implementation Method 1
a heating assembly heats the flow of air
Implementation Method 2
An air handler is provided for urging the flow of air through the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A dryer appliance and a method of operating the dryer for a warming operation is provided. The dryer appliance includes an air handler to urge the flow of air through a chamber rotatably mounted in a cabinet and a heating assembly for heating the flow of air. A controller controls the heating assembly and the air handler to initiate a warming operation for an article in the chamber. The warming operation includes receiving input parameters for a warming operation and determining a duration of the warming operation from the input parameters. Based on the input parameters and duration of the warming operation a start time is determined and the warming operation is initiated at the determined start time.