Laundry treating appliance with vent

Abstract

A laundry treating appliance includes a ventilation system for reducing buildup of odor. The ventilation system can be configured to periodically evacuate air from the treating chamber to refresh the air within the treating chamber. Fresh air can be pumped from an entrance in the bottom of the cabinet and can exit an opening in the washing machine.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An automatic washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet defining an interior with an access opening at a front side of the cabinet, the access opening adapted for insertion and removal of laundry items to be treated in a treating chamber;   a water conduit adapted to provide water to the treating chamber;   a rotatable basket located within the interior and rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis;   a door for selectively closing the access opening and being pivotable about a generally vertical axis;   a vent passage extending through a top of the door and towards the treating chamber thereby proving an air path between the outside the cabinet and the interior of the cabinet; and   a controller for operating the washing machine in a plurality of cycles of operation, including at least one treating cycle where water is introduced into the treating chamber, the controller configured to, without introduction of water into the treating chamber and after completion of the treating cycle, rotate the basket at intervals which generates air flow from outside of the cabinet and into the treating chamber with the air flow passing through the vent passage to address odor buildup in the treating chamber.   
     
     
         22 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the intervals are fixed intervals. 
     
     
         23 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the intervals are variable intervals. 
     
     
         24 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the vent passage is formed by a plurality of slits at the top of the door. 
     
     
         25 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the vent passage facilitates the exit of air flow from the treating chamber outside the cabinet. 
     
     
         26 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the controller automatically initiates the rotation of the basket after completion of the treating cycle. 
     
     
         27 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 21 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect the presence of laundry within the treating chamber. 
     
     
         28 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the controller is configured to initiate the rotation of the basket based upon a signal from the sensor indicating the presence of laundry within the treating chamber. 
     
     
         29 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the sensor is a weight sensor. 
     
     
         30 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the sensor is a door position sensor. 
     
     
         31 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 21  further comprising a user interface arranged on the cabinet for receiving user input for activating the basket rotation to draw air from outside the machine towards the treating chamber to address odor buildup. 
     
     
         32 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the vent passage is adjustable from an open position that permits air flow to a closed position that restricts air flow through the vent passage. 
     
     
         33 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 32 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively open and close the vent passage.