Controlled moisture removal in a laundry treating appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treating appliances often leave residual moisture in the treating chamber after a cycle, leading to mold, mildew, and unpleasant odors if not properly managed, as existing systems fail to effectively reduce humidity post-cycle.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a humidity reduction device, such as a fan or heat source, controlled by a controller that determines the door position to initiate dehumidification either after the door is opened or a predetermined time after the cycle completion, ensuring air circulation and moisture reduction within the treating chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the door remains closed after a treating cycle to maintain a clean environment, then mold and mildew growth is prevented, but humidity accumulates in the treating chamber causing unpleasant odors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the humidity reduction function as a separate operational phase after the main treating cycle. The controller automatically initiates a humidity reduction cycle that operates independently from the door opening/closing state, extracting the moisture removal function from the main treatment process to address the contradiction between maintaining a closed environment and preventing odor accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by reducing humidity in the treating chamber before the door is opened or after the cycle completion. This preliminary dehumidification prevents the accumulation of moisture that would otherwise lead to unpleasant odors, while still maintaining the closed door state to prevent mold and mildew growth during the humidity reduction phase.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the door is opened immediately after a treating cycle to reduce humidity, then moisture and odors are removed, but the risk of mold and mildew growth increases if laundry remains in the chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by keeping the door closed during the humidity reduction phase. The controller continues the treating cycle operations with the door closed, allowing humidity reduction to occur without interrupting the protective barrier. This continuous closed-state operation prevents mold and mildew growth while still achieving moisture removal through controlled ventilation or dehumidification mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control where the controller monitors the completion of the treating cycle and automatically initiates the humidity reduction phase. The system uses feedback from cycle completion signals to determine when to start humidity reduction, ensuring that moisture is removed at the appropriate time while maintaining door closure to prevent contamination.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a humidity reduction device is added to the appliance, then humidity control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the humidity reduction device to serve multiple functions. The same ventilation or dehumidification mechanism is used both during and after the treating cycle, and the door assembly serves both as a closure barrier and as part of the humidity control system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for entirely separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the humidity reduction function with existing appliance components. The ventilation system, door assembly, and controller are integrated to work together for humidity control, rather than adding completely separate systems. This merging approach achieves effective humidity control while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
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
Effectively reduces humidity in the treating chamber and appliance, preventing mold and mildew growth, thereby eliminating unpleasant odors and extending appliance lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
ensuring air circulation and moisture reduction within the treating chamber
Implementation Method 2
reducing humidity from the treating chamber
Implementation Method 3
Incorporating a humidity reduction device, such as a fan or heat source
Implementation Method 4
reducing humidity from the treating chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for reducing humidity both within laundry and within a laundry treating appliance in response to a door being opened or closed are disclosed.