System and method for lowering humidity within a washing machine appliance

Abstract

A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub defining a wash chamber and an intake and exhaust duct that are fluidly coupled to the wash chamber. A fan is operably coupled to one of these ducts for urging a flow of air through the wash chamber. A controller is configured for determining that a wash cycle has finished and operating the fan according to a periodic fan schedule, the periodic fan schedule comprising an ON time and an OFF time of the fan, to urge the flow of air through the wash chamber and out the exhaust duct to lower a humidity within the wash chamber and the gasket, e.g., to reduce mold and mildew growth.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine appliance comprising:
 a wash tub positioned within a cabinet and defining a wash chamber;   a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub and being configured for receiving of a load of articles for washing;   one or more ducts providing fluid communication between an ambient environment and the wash chamber;   a fan operably coupled to the one or more ducts for urging a flow of air through the one or more ducts and through the wash chamber; and   a controller operably coupled to the fan, the controller being configured for:
 determining that a wash cycle has finished; and 
 selectively operating the fan according to a periodic fan schedule, the periodic fan schedule comprising an ON time and an OFF time of the fan. 
   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the ON time and the OFF time are fixed time intervals. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the periodic fan schedule comprises 5 minutes of fan operation every 30 minutes. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein selectively operating the fan comprises:
 repeating the periodic fan schedule until a total drying time has lapsed, the total drying time being measured from the end of the wash cycle.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the total drying time is between about 6 and 10 hours. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the total drying time is about 8 hours. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more ducts comprises:
 an intake duct providing fluid communication between the ambient environment and the wash chamber for providing the flow of air into the wash chamber; and   an exhaust duct providing fluid communication between the wash chamber and the ambient environment for discharging the flow of air from the wash chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the fan is mounted in the exhaust duct at a rear panel of the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vent door operably coupled to one of the one or more ducts for regulating the flow of air, wherein the controller is further configured for:   opening the vent door when the fan is operating.   
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured for:
 determining whether a load is in the wash chamber; and   selectively operating the fan according to the periodic fan schedule only if there is no load in the wash chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprises:
 a vent button, wherein the periodic fan schedule is initiated only when the vent button has been pressed after a wash cycle.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the fan is a single speed fan. 
     
     
         13 . A method of lowering a humidity within a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising a wash basket rotatably mounted within a wash tub, one or more ducts providing fluid communication between an ambient environment and the wash chamber, and a fan operably coupled to the one or more ducts, the method comprising:
 determining that a wash cycle has finished; and   selectively operating the fan according to a periodic fan schedule to urge a flow of air through the wash chamber, the periodic fan schedule comprising an ON time and an OFF time of the fan.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the ON time and the OFF time are fixed time intervals. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the periodic fan schedule comprises 5 minutes of fan operation every 30 minutes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein selectively operating the fan comprises:
 repeating the periodic fan schedule until a total drying time has lapsed, the total drying time being measured from the end of the wash cycle.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the total drying time is about 8 hours. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the washing machine appliance comprises a vent door operably coupled to at least one of the one or more ducts for regulating the flow of air, the method further comprising:
 opening the vent door when the fan is operating.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 determining whether a load is in the wash chamber; and   selectively operating the fan according to the periodic fan schedule only if there is no load in the wash chamber.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the washing machine further comprises a vent button, the method further comprising:
 selectively operating the fan according to the periodic fan schedule only when the vent button has been pressed after a wash cycle.