Controlled moisture removal in a laundry treating appliance

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automatic washing machine for treating laundry according to a treating cycle of operation, comprising:
 a cabinet having an interior and an exterior;   a treating chamber within the cabinet for receiving laundry to be treated;   a humidity reduction device controllable to rotate about an axis to draw air from the exterior of the cabinet to the treating chamber;   a sensor for determining the presence of laundry in the treating chamber; and   a controller operably coupled the humidity reduction device and configured to instruct, during at least one humidity reduction cycle, activation of the humidity reduction device to draw air from the exterior into the treating chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the humidity reduction device is a fan. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a humidity sensor for determining the presence of moisture in the treating chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to instruct activation of the humidity reduction device in response to the detection of moisture in the treating chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a door pivotally attached to the cabinet on a front side thereof for selectively restricting access to the treating chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 5 , further comprising a vent arranged between the treating chamber and a front side of the cabinet to create an air flow path therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 6 , further comprising bellows attached to the cabinet and configured to form a seal against the door when closed. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein rotation of the humidity reduction device generates air flow through the vent and the bellows. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein rotation of the humidity reduction device generates air flow through the vent, along the bellows arranged at the door and into the treating chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a door sensor configured to detect a position of the door with respect to the cabinet. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to instruct the operation of the humidity reduction device to operate intermittently during the humidity reduction cycle. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to instruct the operation of the humidity reduction device intermittently during the humidity reduction cycle, the humidity reduction cycle extending for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         13 . An automatic washing machine for treating laundry according to a treating cycle of operation, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a user interface arranged on the cabinet for receiving instructions from a user of the washing machine;   a drum housed within the cabinet and configured to rotate about an axis and defining a treating chamber within the cabinet for receiving laundry to be treated; and   a controller configured to control a plurality of cycles of operation of the washing machine, including at least one treating wash cycle where a water inlet supplies water to the treating chamber and a de-humidifying cycle without the addition of water, the controller configured to, in response to instructions from the user interface, rotate the drum to draw air into the treating chamber during the de-humidifying cycle.   
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 13 , further comprising a vent arranged between the treating chamber and a front side of the cabinet to create an air flow path therebetween. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 14 , further comprising a fan located within the cabinet and configured to rotate to provide air flow through the vent. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine of  claim 15 , further comprising a second vent arranged between the treating chamber and a back side of the cabinet to create a second air flow path therebetween. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine of  claim 16 , wherein the fan rotates to provide air flow through the second vent. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to instruct the drum to rotate during the de-humidifying cycle in one of clockwise or counterclockwise direction. 
     
     
         19 . A washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet having an interior and exterior;   a treating chamber within the cabinet for receiving laundry to be treated;   a humidity reduction device controllable to rotate about an axis to draw air from the exterior of the cabinet to the treating chamber;   a vent that connects the exterior of the cabinet with the interior; and   a controller operably connected to the humidity reduction device, the controller configured to   instruct, during at least one humidity reduction cycle, activation of the humidity reduction device to generate air flow in the vent and to reduces humidity by drawing ambient air in to the interior.   
     
     
         20 . The washing machine of  claim 19 , wherein the humidity reduction device is a fan. 
     
     
         21 . The washing machine of  claim 19 , further comprising bellows attached to the cabinet and configured to form a seal against a door when closed, wherein activation of the humidity reduction device generates air flow through the vent and the bellows.