An energy efficient autonomous laundry system includes a plurality of combination washing and drying machines each one of which includes heated and cold side heat exchangers disposed in series within a dedicated closed air loop at each machine, a heat pump providing separate streams of heated and cooled fluid to the heat exchangers, one or more sensors disposed in the closed air loop, and a controller in operative communication with all of these system components. The controller is configured to receive an output signal of one or more air sensors in the closed air loop, analyze the output signal, determine, based on the analysis, whether the at least one air characteristic is within a range of values for at least one of air temperature, air flow, and air humidity, and adjust one or more controls, including controls for adjusting at least one of air temperature, air flow, and air humidity.

Disclosed herein is a method of controlling a laundry treating apparatus, if a user selects a uniform course, including performing a preheating operation of a heater to generate steam, performing a first cooling operation to operate a blower unit and a moving hanger after the preheating operation has been terminated, performing a steam operation to operate the blower unit and a steam unit and to circulate steam to a treating chamber after the first cooling operation has been terminated, performing a standby operation to operate the blower unit after the steam operation has been terminated, performing a second cooling operation to operate the blower unit after the standby operation has been terminated, and performing a drying operation to operate the blower unit and a heat pump unit and to provide heat to the treating chamber to dry the treating chamber after the second cooling operation has been terminated.

A method controls a laundry treatment apparatus that includes a drum in which a target object to be dried is put, a drum motor to drive the drum, an air duct to guide air into the drum, a heat pump provided in the air duct to dehumidify and heat the air, a blower fan to move the air of the air duct, and a blower motor to drive the blower fan. The method includes a drum driving step for repeatedly driving the drum by accelerating and decelerating the drum, a steam supply step for supplying or stopping steam for a predetermined time during execution of the drum driving step, and an air supply step for circulating internal air of the drum during execution of the drum driving step. The circulation of the internal air of the drum is stopped during execution of the steam supply step.

A vent system for a dryer, may include an exhaust air conduit configured to provide an airstream to a dryer; a sensor within the conduit and configured to measure the airstream; and a controller configured to receive sensor data from the sensor and determine an airflow. A method for detecting a variation in airflow through a vent of a dryer may include receiving sensor data from at least one sensor in an air conduit of a clothes dryer; determining an estimated airflow based on the sensor data; comparing the estimated airflow to a predetermined expected airflow; and adjusting the estimated airflow in response to the estimated airflow not being within a predefined margin of the predetermined expected airflow.

A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum defining a laundry treating chamber, where the laundry in the laundry treating chamber may be imaged and a condition of the laundry determined based on the imaging of the laundry. A notification can be provided to a user based on the determined motion condition.

A method is provided for controlling a drying cycle of a laundry dryer having a laundry drum and an air stream fan for circulating drying air through said laundry drum. The method includes the steps of: starting a drying cycle (14); performing the drying cycle (16); detecting an electric resistance and/or conductivity of the laundry during the drying cycle (16) for estimating a dryness level of the laundry; comparing the electric resistance and/or conductivity of the laundry with an end cycle condition (20; 28, 30; 36); and finishing the drying cycle (16), if the end cycle condition (20; 28, 30; 36) is fulfilled. The end cycle condition (20; 28, 30; 36) depends on the rotation speed (S.sub.D) of the laundry drum and/or on the rotation speed (S.sub.F) of the air stream fan.

Disclosed herein is a method of controlling a laundry treating apparatus, if a user selects a uniform course, including performing a preheating operation of a heater to generate steam, performing a first cooling operation to operate a blower unit and a moving hanger after the preheating operation has been terminated, performing a steam operation to operate the blower unit and a steam unit and to circulate steam to a treating chamber after the first cooling operation has been terminated, performing a standby operation to operate the blower unit after the steam operation has been terminated, performing a second cooling operation to operate the blower unit after the standby operation has been terminated, and performing a drying operation to operate the blower unit and a heat pump unit and to provide heat to the treating chamber to dry the treating chamber after the second cooling operation has been terminated.

Listed are some of this invention's unique features for producing a healthier home and a safer clothes dryer vent within the same housing system, which may be installed within a typical wall system or as a free-standing unit in a laundry room.

Included are two airflow receiving ports that accepts airflow from a clothes dryer or optionally from a house's interior rooms and two airflow exhaust ports that discharge the same airflow into an exhaust pipe to the outside or optionally into the building interior as recycled airflow.

A drainage device removes water derived from condensate which forms in the exhaust pipe and otherwise flows back into the housing.

Two (2) receiving ports and the two (2) exiting ports combine to provide four (4) combinations of airflow management.

The choice of which of the four (4) airflow ports are activated for airflow passage is subject to a selection from a control system which contains switches for the desired airflow management thru the housing.

Additionally, an exhaust system constructed to select airflow destinations, first destination, airflow can be directed to exit to the building's outside atmosphere or second destination, airflow can be directed to exit into an interior duct system for recycling of the filtered airflow.

Additionally, the control system contains monitors and sensors to indicate unsafe temperatures, air pressure changes or filter blockage within the housing.

A shutdown mechanism within the control system stops the airflow exhaust fan and stops the clothes dryer to provide an additional measure of safety.

Included in the invention is a multi-filter filtration system that includes filters that block lint particulate from a clothes dryer and block indoor pollutants comprising pre-filters, True HEPA filters, with activated carbon filters and air cleaners to meet EPA Indoor Air Quality Standards and MERV Ratings.

A multi-speed airflow exhaust fan moves airflow in thru the receiving ports, thru the multi-filters and out thru the exiting ports. Additionally, within the housing, access openings with removable windows provide internal inspections and accessibility.

In conclusion the elements of this invention combine to improve the efficiency and safety of a clothes dryer's exhaust system and improve the indoor air quality of a home or commercial building.

A method of operating a laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to a treating cycle of operation. The laundry treating appliance comprises a treating chamber for receiving the laundry that is selectively accessible through a door movable between opened and closed positions. The method comprises determining at the end of a laundry treating cycle whether the door has been opened and subsequently reclosed and reducing humidity in the treating chamber after the determination that the door has been reclosed.

The present invention relates to a dryer control method comprising: an air supply step for supplying air to a drum via an air supply unit; a first agitation step for controlling a drive unit so that the drum carries out a second motion and a third motion from when the air supply step begins until a preset reference time is reached; and a second agitation step for controlling the drive unit so that the drum carries out a first motion, the second motion and the third motion from when the reference time is reached until the completion of the air supply step.