Dishwashing appliances and open-door drying methods

Abstract

A dishwashing appliance and methods for operating the same may provide a cabinet, a tub, a door, a spray assembly, a heating element, and a controller. The door may be rotatably mounted to the cabinet to move between a fully-open position, a preset open-vent position, and a closed position. The preset open-vent position may be between the fully-open and closed positions. The spray assembly may be positioned within the wash chamber. The heating element may be mounted within the cabinet in thermal communication with the wash chamber. The controller may be configured to initiate a dry cycle. The dry cycle may include moving the door from the closed position, determining the door is in the preset open-vent position following moving the door from the closed position, and activating the heating element to generate heat within the wash chamber following moving the door from the closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a dishwashing appliance comprising a tub defining a wash chamber and a door selectively rotated to a closed position across a front opening of the tub to restrict access to the wash chamber, the method comprising:
 moving the door from the closed position;   determining the door is in a preset open-vent position following moving the door from the closed position; and   activating a heating element to generate heat within the wash chamber following moving the door from the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein activating the heating element occurs as the door is in the preset open-vent position. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining the door has moved from the preset open-vent position; and   deactivating the heating element to prevent heat generation within the wash chamber in response to determining the door has moved from the preset open-vent position.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the door is in the preset open-vent position comprises receiving a position signal from a sensor in operable communication with the door. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the sensor is electrically connected to a door closure assembly comprising a first contact mounted to the tub and a second contact mounted to the door, wherein the position signal is received in response to detecting contact between the first contact and the second contact at the sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the sensor is mounted within the door to detect an angle of the door relative to the tub. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the door extends from a bottom end to a top end, wherein the preset open-vent position defines a set gap between the top end of the door and the tub, and wherein the set gap is between 1 centimeter and 13 centimeters. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 activating the heating element to generate heat within the wash chamber as the door is in a closed position prior to moving the door from the closed position.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 holding the door in the preset open-vent position in response to determining the door is in the preset open-vent position; and   deactivating the heating element to prevent heat generation within the wash chamber.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising
 returning the door to the closed position following deactivating the heating element; and   reactivating the heating element to generate heat within the wash chamber in response to returning the door to the closed position.   
     
     
         11 . A dishwashing appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a tub positioned within the cabinet and defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing;   a door rotatably mounted to the cabinet to move between a fully-open position, a preset open-vent position, and a closed position, the preset open-vent position being between the fully-open and closed positions;   a spray assembly positioned within the wash chamber;   a heating element mounted within the cabinet in thermal communication with the wash chamber; and   a controller in operative communication with the heating element, the controller being configured to initiate a dry cycle, the dry cycle comprising
 moving the door from the closed position, 
 determining the door is in the preset open-vent position following moving the door from the closed position, and 
 activating the heating element to generate heat within the wash chamber following moving the door from the closed position. 
   
     
     
         12 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 11 , wherein activating the heating element occurs as the door is in the preset open-vent position. 
     
     
         13 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the dry cycle further comprises
 determining the door has moved from the preset open-vent position, and   deactivating the heating element to prevent heat generation within the wash chamber in response to determining the door has moved from the preset open-vent position.   
     
     
         14 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising a position signal in operable communication with the door, wherein determining the door is in the preset open-vent position comprises receiving a position signal from the position sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the position sensor is electrically connected to a door closure assembly comprising a first contact mounted to the tub and a second contact mounted to the door, wherein the position signal is received in response to detecting contact between the first contact and the second contact at the position sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the position sensor is mounted within the door to detect an angle thereof relative to the tub. 
     
     
         17 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the door extends from a bottom end to a top end, wherein the preset open-vent position defines a set gap between the top end of the door and the tub, and wherein the set gap is between 1 centimeter and 13 centimeters. 
     
     
         18 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the dry cycle further comprises
 activating the heating element to generate heat within the wash chamber as the door is in a closed position prior to moving the door from the closed position.   
     
     
         19 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the dry cycle further comprises
 holding the door in the preset open-vent position in response to determining the door is in the preset open-vent position, and   deactivating the heating element to prevent heat generation within the wash chamber.   
     
     
         20 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 19 , wherein the dry cycle further comprises
 returning the door to the closed position following deactivating the heating element, and   reactivating the heating element to generate heat within the wash chamber in response to returning the door to the closed position.