Abstract: A fluid flow system for a laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air along an airflow path having a heat exchanger. A drain channel receives condensate from the heat exchanger and fluid spray from a spray nozzle for directing lint particles to the drain channel and on to a sump for collecting fluid, including the condensate. A pump seat and a fluid outlet are integrally formed in a sump cover. A pump directs the fluid from the sump to the fluid outlet. A fluid level sensor detects at least minimum and maximum capacities of the fluid in the sump. When the fluid is below the minimum capacity, the pump defines an idle state. When the fluid reaches the minimum capacity, the pump defines an active state. When the fluid exceeds the maximum capacity, the pump directs the fluid to the fluid outlet.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance comprising a tub with a tub access opening, a rotatable drum located within the tub and partially defining a treating chamber, a drying air duct having an inlet formed in the tub and defining a cross-sectional area of the inlet, and a filter overlying the inlet and having a surface area greater than the cross-sectional area of the drying air duct.

Abstract: A method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a drum, and an air conduit fluidly coupled to the drum, with a heat source associated with the air conduit, includes moving air through an air conduit to the drum; heating the moving air by operating the heat source; and introducing atomized liquid into the air conduit upstream of the heat source.

Abstract: A seal for a tub/drum assembly has a ring body to secure the seal to the tub/drum assembly. An arm extends from the ring body. The arm reduces a gap between the tub and drum. A mass at an end of the arm. The mass enables the arm to deflect at high drum rotational speeds increasing the gap between the tub and drum during high rotational speed of the drum. Alternatively, the arm is of a material prohibiting substantial deflection so that the gap is maintained at all speeds between the tub and drum without the arm contacting the drum creating high resistance in an airflow path.

Abstract: A laundry appliance including an appliance housing, a drum housing positioned in the appliance housing, and a drum that is configured to rotate inside the drum housing. A laundry compartment inside the drum is accessible through openings in the front of the appliance housing, drum housing, and drum. A front appliance door is pivotally connected to a front ring of the drum housing. A water recirculation insert is mounted to the front ring of the drum housing. The water recirculation insert includes a nozzle portion that extends through the front ring to a nozzle opening that is located inside the drum housing and configured to dispense recirculated fluid directly into the laundry compartment.

Abstract: A mechanism for transferring processed air in an appliance, such as a dryer or washer/dryer combination or the like, between a tub assembly and an exhaust housing has a flexible duct with an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end connects to the tub/drum assembly and the outlet end connects to the exhaust housing. A compressing and expanding member is positioned between the inlet end and the outlet end. The mechanism compressing and/or expanding with movement of the tub/drum assembly during washing and/or drying cycles. At least one of the inlet and outlet ends includes a retaining member to secure the duct with the tub/drum assembly or the exhaust housing.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing contact resolution are described herein. When initiating a communications session using a voice activated electronic device, a contact name may be resolved to determine an appropriate contact with which the communications session may be directed to. Contacts from an individual's contact list may be queried to determine a listing of probable contacts associated with the contact name, and contact identifiers associated with the contact may be determined. Using one or more rules for disambiguating between similar contact names, a single contact may be identified, and a communications session with that contact may be initiated.

Abstract: A washer and dryer combination appliance including a housing, a drum positioned in the housing, and a dynamic, expandable seal positioned between the drum and the housing. A laundry compartment inside the drum is accessible through openings in the front of the housing and drum. The drum has a rear wall with perforations that permit air to flow into the laundry compartment. An air gap is located between the rear of the housing and the rear wall of the drum. The dynamic, expandable seal, is actuatable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the dynamic, expandable seal extends across the air gap to direct airflow through the perforations in the rear wall of the drum. In the retracted position, the dynamic, expandable seal is spaced away from the drum and therefore does not add any drag on the drum as the drum rotates.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) dryer includes a cuboid structure defining an interior, an RF applicator having an anode and a cathode, the anode having multiple digits extending from an anode trunk and the cathode having multiple digits extending from a cathode trunk and, the cathode encompassing the multiple digits of the anode, and a drying surface on which textiles are supported for drying, located relative to the RF applicator such that the drying surface lies within an e-field generated by the RF applicator.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall. A drum is rotationally operable within the tub. An air flow path extends through an air flow port defined within the rear wall. A lint filter is positioned within the air flow port. A fluid spray system extends through the rear wall and directs a flow of fluid over the air flow port and the lint filter in a direction generally parallel with an inside surface of the rear wall.

Abstract: A combination washer/dryer machine has a rotatable drum inside a cabinet. The drum has an external surface. A tub is positioned inside the cabinet. The drum is rotatable in the tub. The tub has an inner surface. A seal extends between the exterior surface of the drum and the inner surface of the tub forming a desired gap during both washing and drying operations and minimizing bypass of drying air during the drying operation.

Abstract: A combination washer/dryer machine has a rotatable drum inside a cabinet. The drum has an exterior surface. A tub is positioned inside the cabinet. The drum is rotatable in the tub. The tub has an inner surface. An electromagnetic seal extends between the exterior surface of the drum and the inner surface of the tub during drying operations to minimize the bypass of drying air around the drum.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet that includes a pump. A drum is disposed within the cabinet and a tub is operably coupled to the drum and is disposed proximate to the cabinet. A water recirculation assembly is operably coupled to the pump. The water recirculation assembly includes a first tube that is operably coupled to the pump within the cabinet, a second tube that is fluidly coupled to the first tube, and a gap that is defined between the first tube and the second tube.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum for processing laundry. A blower directs process air through an airflow path that includes the rotating drum. A heat exchanger is positioned within the airflow path that dehumidifies the process air. A fixedly-secured lint filter captures lint from the process air at a position upstream of the heat exchanger. A fluid spray system has spray nozzles that deliver fluid to a surface of the fixedly-secured lint filter. Each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles directs captured lint away from the fixedly-secured lint filter.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum for processing laundry. A blower directs process air through an airflow path that includes the rotating drum. A heat exchanger is positioned within the airflow path that dehumidifies the process air. A fixedly-secured lint filter captures lint from the process air at a position upstream of the heat exchanger. A fluid spray system has spray nozzles that deliver fluid to a surface of the fixedly-secured lint filter. Each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles directs captured lint away from the fixedly-secured lint filter.

Abstract: An air purification system is provided. A visor portion is configured to secure to a head of a user and maintain a field of vision for the user. An air delivery portion is configured to draw in air from an external environment. A disposable barrier hood is configured to cover at least the visor portion. The visor portion defines a breathing outlet to exhaust the drawn-in air in proximity to a breathing area for consumption by the user. The disposable barrier hood fluidly isolates the breathing area from the external environment.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall. A drum is rotationally operable within the tub. An air flow path extends through an air flow port defined within the rear wall. A lint filter is positioned within the air flow port. A fluid spray system extends through the rear wall and directs a flow of fluid over the air flow port and the lint filter in a direction generally parallel with an inside surface of the rear wall.

Abstract: A fluid flow system for a laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air along an airflow path having a heat exchanger. A drain channel receives condensate from the heat exchanger and fluid spray from a spray nozzle for directing lint particles to the drain channel and on to a sump for collecting fluid, including the condensate. A pump seat and a fluid outlet are integrally formed in a sump cover. A pump directs the fluid from the sump to the fluid outlet. A fluid level sensor detects at least minimum and maximum capacities of the fluid in the sump. When the fluid is below the minimum capacity, the pump defines an idle state. When the fluid reaches the minimum capacity, the pump defines an active state. When the fluid exceeds the maximum capacity, the pump directs the fluid to the fluid outlet.

Abstract: A fluid flow system for a laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air along an airflow path having a heat exchanger. A drain channel receives condensate from the heat exchanger and fluid spray from a spray nozzle for directing lint particles to the drain channel and on to a sump for collecting fluid, including the condensate. A pump seat and a fluid outlet are integrally formed in a sump cover. A pump directs the fluid from the sump to the fluid outlet. A fluid level sensor detects at least minimum and maximum capacities of the fluid in the sump. When the fluid is below the minimum capacity, the pump defines an idle state. When the fluid reaches the minimum capacity, the pump defines an active state. When the fluid exceeds the maximum capacity, the pump directs the fluid to the fluid outlet.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance comprising a tub with a tub access opening, a rotatable drum located within the tub and partially defining a treating chamber, a drying air duct having an inlet formed in the tub and defining a cross-sectional area of the inlet, and a filter overlying the inlet and having a surface area greater than the cross-sectional area of the drying air duct.