Cleaning systems and methods for operating the same

Abstract

Cleaning systems and methods for operating dryer appliances of cleaning systems are provided. A cleaning system includes a dryer appliance and a washing machine appliance. A method includes receiving a cycle status signal from the washing machine appliance, the cycle status signal providing a wash cycle completion indicator. The method further includes determining if the wash cycle completion indicator exceeds a dry cycle completion indicator for the dryer appliance, and operating the dryer appliance in an extended tumble cycle after a dry cycle of the dryer appliance is complete when the wash cycle completion indicator exceeds the dry cycle completion time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a dryer appliance of a cleaning system, the cleaning system comprising the dryer appliance and a washing machine appliance, the method comprising:
 receiving a cycle status signal from the washing machine appliance, the cycle status signal providing a wash cycle completion indicator;   determining if the wash cycle completion indicator exceeds a dry cycle completion indicator for the dryer appliance; and   operating the dryer appliance in an extended tumble cycle after a dry cycle of the dryer appliance is complete when the wash cycle completion indicator exceeds the dry cycle completion time.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising requesting the cycle status signal from the washing machine appliance when a dry cycle of the dryer appliance reaches a dry cycle completion check point. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the dry cycle completion check point occurs at a dry cycle end point. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the dry cycle completion check point occurs at a predetermined time period before a dry cycle end point. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extended tumble cycle occurs until a wash cycle of the washing machine appliance is complete. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extended tumble cycle occurs until a predetermined time period expires after a wash cycle of the washing machine appliance is complete. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising receiving an extended tumble cycle time period signal, the extended tumble cycle time period signal providing the predetermined time period. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the extended tumble cycle time period signal is received from a user interface device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising requesting the extended tumble cycle time period signal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the extended tumble cycle time period signal is requested from a user interface device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving step and the determining step are performed in a continuous loop. 
     
     
         12 . A cleaning system, comprising:
 a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising a first controller operable to store and transmit wash control information for the washing machine appliance; and   a dryer appliance, the dryer appliance comprising a second controller operable to store and transmit dry control information for the dryer appliance, the second controller operable for:
 receiving a cycle status signal from the first controller, the cycle status signal providing a wash cycle completion indicator; 
 determining if the wash cycle completion indicator exceeds a dry cycle completion indicator for the dryer appliance; and 
 operating the dryer appliance in an extended tumble cycle after a dry cycle of the dryer appliance is complete when the wash cycle completion indicator exceeds the dry cycle completion time. 
   
     
     
         13 . The cleaning system of  claim 12 , wherein the second controller is further operable for requesting the cycle status signal from the first controller when a dry cycle of the dryer appliance reaches a dry cycle completion check point. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning system of  claim 12 , wherein the extended tumble cycle occurs until a wash cycle of the washing machine appliance is complete. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning system of  claim 12 , wherein the extended tumble cycle occurs until a predetermined time period expires after a wash cycle of the washing machine appliance is complete. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning system of  claim 15 , further comprising receiving an extended tumble cycle time period signal, the extended tumble cycle time period signal providing the predetermined time period. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaning system of  claim 16 , further comprising a user interface device in communication with the washer appliance and the dryer appliance, and wherein the extended tumble cycle time period signal is received from the user interface device. 
     
     
         18 . The cleaning system of  claim 16 , further comprising requesting the extended tumble cycle time period signal. 
     
     
         19 . The cleaning system of  claim 18 , further comprising a user interface device in communication with the washer appliance and the dryer appliance, and wherein the extended tumble cycle time period signal is requested from the user interface device. 
     
     
         20 . The cleaning system of  claim 12 , wherein the first controller and the second controller are in wireless communication.