US-12618191-B2 - Adaptive scent dispensing for dryer appliance based on input from linked washer appliance

Abstract

A dryer appliance and a method of operating a dryer appliance are provided. The dryer includes a drum defining a drying chamber rotatably mounted within a cabinet, an additive dispensing assembly to provide a dryer additive to the drying chamber, and a controller for initiating a drying operation. The controller obtains washer operating parameters from a washing machine, determines a drying operation based on the received parameters, initiates a dry cycle, and directs a dryer additive to be dispensed based on the dryer operating schedule.

Inventors

• Jaewon Jo
• Seong Hoon Ryu
• Han Young Kim
• Jisoo Kim
• Je Kwon Yoon

Assignees

• HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20221012

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A dryer appliance comprising: a cabinet; a drum rotatably mounted within the cabinet, the drum defining a drying chamber for receipt of clothes for drying; an additive dispensing assembly positioned within the cabinet and configured to selectively provide a dryer additive to the drying chamber; and a controller in operable communication with the additive dispensing assembly, the controller being configured to initiate a drying operation comprising: obtaining washer operating parameters from a washing machine appliance, determining a dryer operating schedule based on obtaining the washer operating parameters, initiating a dry cycle for a laundry load, and directing a dispensing action of the dryer additive at the additive dispensing assembly based on the dryer operating schedule.
2. 2 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , wherein the washing machine appliance is linked to the dryer appliance.
3. 3 . The dryer appliance of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the washing machine appliance and the dryer appliance is linked to a consumer device.
4. 4 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , wherein determining the dryer operating schedule comprises determining an amount of water to be removed from the laundry load in response to obtaining washer operating parameters.
5. 5 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , wherein directing the dispensing action comprises: retrieving a dry weight of the laundry load in response to washer operating parameters; determining an additive volume of the dryer additive based on the dry weight of the laundry load; and dispensing the additive volume from the additive dispensing assembly to the drying chamber.
6. 6 . The dryer appliance of claim 5 , wherein determining the additive volume comprises selecting the additive volume from a plurality of predetermined volumes.
7. 7 . The dryer appliance of claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of predetermined volumes correlates to a specific dry laundry weight.
8. 8 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , wherein the drying operation further comprises: determining a frequency of additive additions; and determining a dispense time within the dry cycle for adding the additive following the determination of the dryer operating schedule.
9. 9 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , wherein the dryer additive comprises a perfume or odor neutralizer.
10. 10 . A method of operating a dryer appliance comprising a cabinet, a drum defining a drying chamber, and an additive dispensing assembly, the method comprising: obtaining washer operating parameters from a washing machine appliance; determining a dryer operating schedule based on obtaining washer operating parameter; initiating a dry cycle for a laundry load following obtaining the washer operating parameters; and directing a dispensing action of a dryer additive at the additive dispensing assembly based on the dryer operating schedule.
11. 11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the washing machine appliance is linked to the dryer appliance.
12. 12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the washing machine appliance and the dryer appliance is linked to a consumer device.
13. 13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein determining the dryer operating schedule comprises determining an amount of water to be removed from the laundry load in response to obtaining washer operating parameters.
14. 14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein directing the dispensing action comprises: determining a dry weight of the laundry load in response to washer operating parameters; determining an additive volume of the dryer additive based on the dry weight of the laundry load; and dispensing the additive volume from the additive dispensing assembly to the drying chamber.
15. 15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein determining the additive volume comprises selecting the additive volume from a plurality of predetermined volumes.
16. 16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein each predetermined volume of the plurality of predetermined volumes correlates to a specific dry laundry weight.
17. 17 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising: determining a volume of additive to be added; determining a frequency of additive additions; and determining a dispense time within the dry cycle for adding the additive following the determination of the dryer operating schedule.
18. 18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the dryer additive comprises a perfume or odor neutralizer.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present subject matter relates generally to laundry appliances, and more particularly, to dryer appliances and methods of improving dryer operation based on input from a linked washing machine appliance. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Laundry appliances, such as washing machine appliances and dryer appliances, are commonly used to wash and dry, respectively, a load of clothes. Specifically, washing machine appliances generally include a wash tub for containing water or wash fluid and a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub for receiving the load of clothes. These washing machines are typically equipped to determine the weight of a load of clothes to operate efficiently in one or more modes or cycles, such as wash, rinse, and spin cycles. After the washing machine processes are complete, the load of clothes is moved over the to the dryer, which includes a cabinet with a drum rotatably mounted therein and a heating assembly that supplies heated air into a chamber of the drum, e.g., through a duct mounted to a back wall of the drum, to facilitate a drying process. It is sometimes desirable to dispense an additive into the dryer appliance to add a scent to the clothes or modify the characteristics of the fabric. Typically, this is achieved by manually introducing the additive to the dryer appliance at the beginning of the drying cycle. For instance, dryer sheets may be placed within the drum of a dryer appliance to affect the smell or performance (e.g., wrinkle reduction) of the fabrics or clothes being treated (i.e., tumbled or dried) in a specific laundry load. A user must generally remember to supply the additive to each dryer load. Limitations of the manual addition practice can arise during the use of laundry appliances if introduction of the additive is overlooked, made at a less than the ideal time, or at an incorrect dosage. Any of these events may negatively impact the performance of the clothes drying operation. Accordingly, a dryer appliance capable of delivering one or more additives at the correct time and in the correct dosage to beneficially affect the smell or performance of fabrics would be desirable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a dryer appliance comprising a cabinet and a drum mounted for rotation within the cabinet is provided. The drum defines drying chamber for receipt of clothes for drying. An additive dispensing assembly is positioned within the cabinet and configured to selectively provide a dryer additive to the drying chamber. A controller is in operable communication with the additive dispensing assembly and is configured to initiate a dryer operation. The dryer operation comprises obtaining washer operating parameters from a washing machine appliance; determining a dryer operating schedule based on obtaining the washer operating parameters; initiating a dry cycle for a laundry load; and directing a dispensing action of the dryer additive at the additive dispensing assembly based on the dryer operating schedule. In another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a method of operating a dryer appliance comprising a cabinet, a drum defining a drying chamber, and an additive dispensing assembly is provided. The method comprises obtaining washer operating parameters from a washing machine appliance; determining a dryer operating schedule based on obtaining washer operating parameter; initiating a dry cycle for a laundry load following obtaining the washer operating parameters; and directing a dispensing action of a dryer additive at the additive dispensing assembly based on the dryer operating schedule. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures. FIG. 1 provides a schematic representation of a laundry appliance system that includes a washing machine appliance, a dryer appliance, and an external communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of the exemplary washing machine appliance of FIG. 1 with the door of the exemplary washing machine appliance shown in an open position; FIG. 3 provides a side cross-sectional view of the exemplary washing ma