A remote-controlled washer, dryer, laundry product dispenser and payment system and operating method thereof, and is the front-end of the present invention. Said front-end allows the present invention to communicate with each dryer connected to a common vent. Said communication allows the present invention to sense conditions associated with each and every dryer attached to said common vent and control each such dryer. Consequently, the present invention, unlike anything in the prior art, allows an array of said dryers to be remotely controlled by a venting system.

A washing machine appliance and a method of selectively draining a sump of the washing machine appliance at the start of an operating cycle is provided. The method includes determining that the drain pump assembly has drained wash fluid from the sump, e.g., by checking to see whether an empty sump flag has been set in the controller. In addition, the method includes determining that a water supply valve has not been opened since the wash fluid was drained from the sump and that a sump pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure, e.g., indicating that water is in sump that was not intentionally added by the water supply valve. The drain pump assembly is then operated to perform a drain cycle at the beginning of a subsequent operating cycle.

A washing machine appliance includes a sump for collecting wash fluid and a drain pump assembly for selectively draining that wash fluid in response to sump pressures measured by a water level detection system. Specifically, a controller is configured for operating the drain pump assembly to perform a drain cycle and obtaining a sump pressure after the drain cycle. A variable flag is set to a first state if the measured pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure, which indicates that a certain amount of wash fluid is present in the sump. During a subsequent operating cycle, the drain pump assembly will be operated at the start of the cycle only if the variable flag was set to the first state during the prior operating cycle.

A clothes steamer for an aircraft cabin, having a closable case fixed to an internal surface of the aircraft cabin. A steam generator is fluidly coupled to the clothes holding cavity configured to selectively increase the humidity of air within the clothes holding cavity. A temperature and humidity sensors are configured to produce a first signal indicative of a temperature within the clothes holding cavity. A cold finger configured to remove water from the air within the clothes holding cavity. A controller is provided which is configured to receive temperature and the humidity sensor signals and to selectively produce at least one of a steam generator control signal and a cold finger control signal to selectively operate the steam generator and the cold finger.

A clothes steamer for an aircraft cabin, having a closable case fixed to an internal surface of the aircraft cabin. A steam generator is fluidly coupled to the clothes holding cavity configured to selectively increase the humidity of air within the clothes holding cavity. A temperature and humidity sensors are configured to produce a first signal indicative of a temperature within the clothes holding cavity. A cold finger configured to remove water from the air within the clothes holding cavity. A controller is provided which is configured to receive temperature and the humidity sensor signals and to selectively produce at least one of a steam generator control signal and a cold finger control signal to selectively operate the steam generator and the cold finger.

The present invention relates to a laundry-care appliance (100) having a washing tub (107) and a deodorizing module (109) for dispensing deodorizing substance into the washing tub (107), wherein the deodorizing module (109) is connected to the washing tub (107) and comprises a radial fan (115) for ventilating the washing tub (107), wherein the radial fan (115) is drivable in a first direction of rotation (121) and in a second direction of rotation (123). The deodorizing module (109) is configured to dispense deodorizing substance into the washing tub (107) in a first period of time, wherein the radial fan (115) is drivable in the first direction of rotation (121) in the first period of time in order to distribute the deodorizing substance in the washing tub (107). The radial fen (115) is drivable in the second direction of rotation (123) in a second period of time following the first period of time, in order to remove the deodorizing substance from the washing tub (107) in the second period of time.

A clothes steamer for an aircraft cabin, having a closable case fixed to an internal surface of the aircraft cabin. A steam generator is fluidly coupled to the clothes holding cavity configured to selectively increase the humidity of air within the clothes holding cavity. A temperature and humidity sensors are configured to produce a first signal indicative of a temperature within the clothes holding cavity. A cold finger configured to remove water from the air within the clothes holding cavity. A controller is provided which is configured to receive temperature and the humidity sensor signals and to selectively produce at least one of a steam generator control signal and a cold finger control signal to selectively operate the steam generator and the cold finger.

A dryer appliance and a method of operating the same to detect blockages are provided. The dryer appliance includes an exhaust conduit that defines a flow restriction and is in fluid communication with a drying chamber. A differential pressure sensor is operably coupled to the exhaust conduit at the flow restriction and a controller is configured for using a measured pressure differential to obtain an air flow rate and determine whether a blockage is present in the exhaust conduit, e.g., by comparing the measured flow rate to a baseline, zero-blockage flow rate.

The present invention relates to a method of controlling a washing machine comprising an outer tub containing water, an inner tub which accommodates laundry and is rotatably installed in the outer tub, a dispenser which supplies detergent into the inner tub, and a spray nozzle for spraying water into the inner tub, including the steps of: (a) supplying water into the inner tub via the dispenser; (b) supplying water into the inner tub through the spray nozzle, during when water is supplied into the inner tub via the dispenser; and (c) rotating the inner tub at a cloth wetting speed at which at least some of the laundry in the inner tub is adhered to an inner surface of the inner tub and can be rotated integrally with the inner tub, during when water is supplied through the spray nozzle.

A washing machine appliance and a method of selectively draining a sump of the washing machine appliance at the start of an operating cycle is provided. The method includes determining that the drain pump assembly has drained wash fluid from the sump, e.g., by checking to see whether an empty sump flag has been set in the controller. In addition, the method includes determining that a water supply valve has not been opened since the wash fluid was drained from the sump and that a sump pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure, e.g., indicating that water is in sump that was not intentionally added by the water supply valve. The drain pump assembly is then operated to perform a drain cycle at the beginning of a subsequent operating cycle.