Laundry Dryer Cycle Interruption for Multi-Level Fabric Drying Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry drying technologies are inadequate when dealing with mixed fabrics or varying drying needs for the same fabric type, as they fail to provide precise control over drying levels, leading to unsatisfactory results.
Innovation Solution
A method and appliance that utilize a processing unit to manage drying cycles by monitoring time, air temperature, and humidity, allowing for multiple drying levels by comparing parameters to predetermined thresholds, enabling the user to interrupt and resume the cycle for partial drying and complete drying of clothes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single drying cycle is used for all clothes, then the drying process is simple to operate, but it cannot satisfy different drying needs of different fabric types or same fabric types
Solution Approach 1:
The drying cycle is divided into multiple independent sub-cycles (first drying cycle, second drying cycle, etc.), each with its own drying level threshold. This allows different portions of the laundry load to be dried to different degrees simultaneously, enabling shirts to remain slightly wet for ironing while towels are dried completely, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the drying process by monitoring humidity levels and automatically interrupting sub-cycles when predetermined drying levels are reached. This dynamic control enables the appliance to adapt to different fabric requirements without requiring complex manual intervention, maintaining ease of operation while achieving high adaptability.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple drying cycles are implemented for different drying levels, then drying precision for different fabrics is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed to manage multiple drying cycles using the same basic control logic and sensors. By reusing existing components for different drying levels rather than creating separate control systems, the patent achieves high drying precision while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves different drying levels by changing operational parameters (humidity thresholds, cycle durations) rather than adding complex hardware. The control unit adjusts drying parameters based on selected programs, enabling precise control over drying levels for different fabrics while keeping the physical device structure relatively simple.
3Ease of operation
If the drying cycle is interrupted for partial drying, then user control over moisture levels is enhanced, but the loss of time for cycle resumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary drying actions by completing the first drying cycle to an intermediate level before interruption. When resumed, the second drying cycle continues from where it left off rather than starting over, saving time. This preliminary action approach allows users to remove partially dried items (like shirts for ironing) while minimizing total drying time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial drying action by interrupting the cycle at an intermediate humidity level rather than running to complete dryness. This allows users to extract items that don't need full drying (such as ironable garments) while the remaining items continue drying, optimizing both user control and time efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
Method for controlling a household appliance (1) adapted to carry out a laundry drying cycle as well as household appliance (1) for implementing same, wherein said household appliance (1) is equipped with a drum (10) into which laundry to be dried is loaded and, wherein the method comprises the steps of: starting a drying cycle; during the execution of said drying cycle, determining a first parameter (P1) as a function of at least one of: time elapsed since the cycle was started, temperature of the drying air, humidity of said laundry; making a first comparison between said first parameter (P1) and a predetermined first threshold (Ref1); based on said first comparison, generating a notification signal (NS) and interrupting said drying cycle; resuming said drying cycle; determining a second parameter (P2) as a function of at least one of: time elapsed since the cycle was started or resumed, temperature of the drying air, humidity of said laundry; making a second comparison between said second parameter (P2) and a predetermined second threshold (Ref2) and, based on said second comparison, ending said drying cycle.