Travel cycle for a combination washer and dryer appliance

Abstract

A laundry appliance and a method of operating the same are provided. In one aspect, the laundry appliance includes a laundry basket rotatably mounted within a tub that defines a chamber that is in fluid communication with a conditioning system of the laundry appliance that circulates heated air through the chamber. A controller is configured to receive a command to initiate an appliance travel cycle and implement a responsive action to prepare the laundry appliance for travel. The responsive action may be the automated adjustment of one or more operating parameters of the laundry appliance, such as performing a load sensing procedure, rinsing and/or drying the chamber, closing the water supply valves, etc. In addition, the responsive action may include providing a user instruction to prepare the laundry appliance, e.g., by cleaning the lint filter, emptying the condensate collection tank, removing hoses and cables, addressing any error codes, etc.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry appliance comprising:
 a tub positioned within a cabinet, the tub defining a tub outlet and a tub inlet;   a laundry basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the laundry basket defining a chamber for receipt of articles for washing or drying;   a conditioning system configured to heat and remove moisture from air flowing therethrough;   a duct system for providing fluid communication between the tub outlet and the conditioning system and between the conditioning system and the tub inlet, the duct system, the conditioning system, and the chamber defining a process air flow path;   a blower fan operable to move air through the process air flow path; and   a controller configured to:
 receive a command to initiate an appliance travel cycle; and 
 implement a responsive action to prepare the laundry appliance for travel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises:
 performing a load sensing algorithm to verify that the chamber is empty.   
     
     
         3 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises:
 performing at least one of a rinsing cycle or drying cycle when the chamber is empty.   
     
     
         4 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises:
 verifying that a lint filter and a condensate collection tank are installed.   
     
     
         5 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more water supply valves, and wherein implementing the responsive action comprises closing the one or more water supply valves or confirming that the one or more water supply valve are closed.   
     
     
         6 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet for providing selective access to the chamber; and   a door lock for selectively locking the door in a closed position, wherein implementing the responsive action comprises verifying the door is closed and locked.   
     
     
         7 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises:
 alerting a user of any service codes or error faults.   
     
     
         8 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises:
 providing a user instruction to take a preparatory action for travel.   
     
     
         9 . The laundry appliance of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a collection tank in fluid communication with the conditioning system for receiving condensate water from process air flowing through the conditioning system, wherein the preparatory action comprises emptying the collection tank.   
     
     
         10 . The laundry appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the preparatory action comprises cleaning a lint filter or vacuuming components of the conditioning system. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the preparatory action comprises disconnecting water supply hoses and electrical cables. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry appliance of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a user interface panel positioned on the cabinet for facilitating user interaction with the laundry appliance, wherein the user instruction is provided through the user interface panel.   
     
     
         13 . The laundry appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the command to initiate the appliance travel cycle is received from a user through the user interface panel. 
     
     
         14 . The laundry appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is in operative communication with a remote device through an external network, and wherein the user instruction is provided through the remote device. 
     
     
         15 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that the responsive action has been implemented; and   power down the laundry appliance.   
     
     
         16 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive a command to terminate the appliance travel cycle; and   return operating parameters of the laundry appliance to a normal mode.   
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a laundry appliance, the laundry appliance comprising a tub positioned within a cabinet, a laundry basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the laundry basket defining a chamber for receipt of articles for washing or drying, a conditioning system configured to heat and remove moisture from air flowing therethrough, a duct system for providing fluid communication between a tub outlet and the conditioning system and between the conditioning system and a tub inlet, and a blower fan operable to move air through the duct system, the method comprising:
 receiving a command to initiate an appliance travel cycle; and   implementing a responsive action to prepare the laundry appliance for travel.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises at least one of performing a load sensing algorithm to verify that the chamber is empty or performing at least one of a rinsing cycle or drying cycle when the chamber is empty. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises at least one of closing one or more water supply valves, confirming that the one or more water supply valves are closed, or verifying a door is closed and locked. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein implementing the responsive action comprises at least one of alerting a user of any service codes or error faults or providing a user instruction to take a preparatory action for travel.