Dish treating appliance with a drying system and method of operation

Abstract

A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, with an access opening. The dishwasher further includes a closure movable between closed and opened positions to selectively close and open the access opening. A method of drying dishes within the dishwasher includes moving the closure to a partially open position between the closed and opened positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of drying dishes within a dishwasher having a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, with an access opening, and a closure movable between opened and closed positions to selectively open/close the access opening, the method comprising:
 forcing heated air through the treating chamber; and   moving the closure to a partially open position between the closed and opened positions while forcing heated air through the treating chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the forcing heated air through the treating chamber comprises recirculating at least a portion of the heated air through the treating chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the forcing heated air through the treating chamber comprises heating ambient air. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the forcing heated air through the treating chamber comprises flowing the heated ambient air through the treating chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the forcing heated air through the treating chamber comprises emitting the heated ambient air from the treating chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the closure remains in the closed position until a temperature in the treating chamber falls below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the predetermined threshold is 50° C. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the moving the closure to the partially open position from the closed position occurs when the temperature in the treating chamber falls below the predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the forcing heated air through the treating chamber comprises forcing the heated air through the treating chamber until the closure reaches the partially open position. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the forcing heated air through the treating chamber ceases when the closure reaches the partially open position. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the closure remains in the partially open position once the closure is moved to the partially open position. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the forcing heated air through the treating chamber comprises operating a heating element provided within and thermally coupled with the treating chamber to heat the air within the treating chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the operating the heating element comprises intermittently operating the heating element. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the intermittently operating the heating element comprises operating the heating element for a predetermined number of on/off cycles. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the forcing heated air through the treating chamber comprises operating a blower that is fluidly coupled with the treating chamber and configured to draw at least a portion of the heated air through the treating chamber and to the blower. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the operating the blower comprises intermittently operating the blower while the closure is in the closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the operating the blower comprises operating the blower until the closure reaches the partially open position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the operating the blower to draw the at least a portion of the heated air through the treating chamber comprises drawing the at least a portion of the heated air from the treating chamber into an air conduit provided within the closure. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the air conduit comprises an inlet provided in an inner surface of the closure, the inlet fluidly coupling the treating chamber with the air conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the air conduit comprises an outlet provided at a lower portion of the closure, the outlet fluidly coupling the air conduit with ambient air exterior of the dishwasher to emit the at least a portion of the heated air from the treating chamber.