Optimized drying cycle based on washing cycle

Abstract

A pair of laundry appliances includes a washing machine appliance and a dryer appliance. A method of operating the pair of laundry appliances includes characterizing a load of articles in the washing machine appliance. The method also includes washing the load of articles in the washing machine appliance. The method further includes determining a parameter for a drying operation of the dryer appliance for the load of articles based on the characterization of the load of articles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a pair of laundry appliances, the pair of laundry appliances comprising a washing machine appliance and a dryer appliance, the method comprising:
 characterizing, by the washing machine appliance, a load of articles in the washing machine appliance;   washing the load of articles in the washing machine appliance; and   determining a recommended time and a recommended temperature for a drying operation of the dryer appliance for the load of articles based on the characterization of the load of articles.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reserving, by the washing machine appliance, the dryer appliance and preselecting the recommended time and the recommended temperature on the dryer appliance. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising uploading, by the washing machine appliance, the recommended time and the recommended temperature to a remote database. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein characterizing the load of articles comprises measuring an inertia of the load of articles and determining a load size of the load of articles based on the measured inertia of the load of articles. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein characterizing the load of articles comprises determining an absorptivity of the load of articles and determining a load type of the load of articles based on the determined absorptivity of the load of articles. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein characterizing the load of articles comprises receiving, by the washing machine appliance, a user input comprising a cycle selection for washing the load of articles. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein washing the load of articles in the washing machine appliance comprises performing a spin cycle, and wherein characterizing the load of articles is based on the spin cycle. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recommended time and the recommended temperature for the drying operation are determined based on a profile of the dryer appliance. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising drying the load of articles in the dryer appliance with the recommended time and the recommended temperature, receiving user feedback after drying the load of articles, determining an adjustment factor for at least one of the recommended time and the recommended temperature based on the user feedback, and associating the adjustment factor with a user profile. 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a pair of laundry appliances, the pair of laundry appliances comprising a washing machine appliance and a dryer appliance, the method comprising:
 characterizing a load of articles in the washing machine appliance;   washing the load of articles in the washing machine appliance; and   determining a parameter for a drying operation of the dryer appliance for the load of articles based on the characterization of the load of articles.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein determining the parameter for the drying operation comprises determining a plurality of recommended dry times, each recommended dry time of the plurality of dry times corresponding to one selectable temperature of a plurality of selectable temperatures. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising reserving, by the washing machine appliance, the dryer appliance. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein reserving the dryer appliance comprises preselecting the determined parameter for the drying operation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising uploading, by the washing machine appliance, the determined parameter for the drying operation to a remote database. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein characterizing the load of articles comprises measuring a load size and a load type of the load of articles. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising receiving, by the washing machine appliance, a user selection, wherein characterizing the load of articles comprises inferring a load size and a load type of the load of articles based on the user selection. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein washing the load of articles in the washing machine appliance comprises performing a spin cycle, and wherein characterizing the load of articles is based on the spin cycle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the determined parameter for the drying operation is based on a profile of the dryer appliance. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising accessing a user profile in a remote database, wherein the determined parameter for the drying operation is based on the user profile, the user profile comprising frequently selected options for drying operation parameters. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the determined parameter comprises at least one of a recommended time and a recommended temperature for the drying operation.