Apparatus and method for controlling a clothes dryer

US007975401B2

(12) Ulllttld States Patent (10) Patent N0.: US 7,975,401 B2 Beaulac (45) Date of Patent: Jul. 12, 2011 (54) APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR 3,429,317 A * 2/1969 Wochnowski et 61. .. 131/303 CONTROLLINGA CLOTHES DRYER 3,866,335 A * 2/1975 Neville ...... .. 34/602 3,883,959 A * 5/1975 Neville ...... .. 34/599 , . 3,937,227 A * 2/1976 A .. 131/302 (75) Inventor: Sebastien Beaulac, LaSalle (CA) 3,944,841 A .1 3/1976 Jjflugaf) “““ H 307/38 _ _ 4,195,415 A * 4/1980 Livings et al. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 34/549 (73) Assignee: Mabe Canada Inc., Burlington (CA) 4,206,552 A 6/ 1980 P6m616n1Z 6161, 4,257,170 A * 3/1981 Gestblom et al. . . . . . . . . . . .. 34/553 ( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer’ the term ofthis A * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. patent is extended or adjusted under 35 Q ,1 glis1:,1Eiafeta1' 347486 U.S.C. l54(b) by 314 days. 4’412’389 A U/1983 Kmger """"""""""" " 4,422,247 A 12/1983 Deschaaf (21) Appl. N0.: 11/976,796 4,531,305 A 7/1985 Nagayusa et al. 4,622,759 A 11/1986 Abe et al. (22) Filed; ()¢t_ 29, 2007 4,640,022 A 2/1987 Suzuki et al. 4,733,479 A 3/1988 Kaji et al. (65) Prior Publication Data 4,738,034 A 4/1988 Muralmatsu et al. C t' US 2008/0052954 A1 Mar. 6, 2008 ( on mue ) R I d Us A l_ _ D FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS e ate ' ' PP “"0" am CA 1156740 11/1983 (62) Division of application No. 11/412,123, filed on Apr. (Continued) 27, 2006, now Pat. No. 7,322,126. _ _ _ _ _ Primary Examiner — Stephen M. Gravini (30) Foreign Application Priority Data (57) ABSTRACT Apr. 28, 2005 (CA) .................................... .. 2505565 A clothes dryer has a degree of dryness control system that is (51) Int. Cl. responsive to moisture level of clothing articles tumbling in a F 26B 21/06 (2006.01) drum and a target moisture value to control the drying cycle of (52) U.S. Cl. .............. .. 34/601; 34/565; 34/549; 34/572; the clothes dryer. The clothes dryer has a load size parameter 34/603; 34/554; 73/865.9; 705/1; 705/14; producing module and an air flow detection parameter mod374/141; 706/1 ule. These modules generate one of two parameter conditions (58) Field of Classification Search .................. .. 34/601, used by the processor to modify or seleet an appropriate 34/565, 549, 572, 603, 554; 73/865,9; 706/1; moisture target value. The load size producing parameter 705/ 1, 14; 374/141 module generates one of a small load input parameter and a See application file for complete Search history, large load input parameter. The air flow detection module produces one of a first and second air flow parameter to be (56) References Cited utilized by the degree of dryness processor. As a result, the

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