The dryer works by tumbling the
clothing and blowing air through the drum. The drum has baffles
protruding into the drum to keep the clothes from bunching up.
The length of time the dryer runs and the air temperature are
elements of the various drying cycles.
A motor turns the clothes drum and
also turns a fan (called the blower). The air flow from the blower
passes over a heating element (in an electric dryer) or through
a gas jet (in a gas dryer). The air then passes through the drum
and out the back of the dryer through ducts to the vent which
is typically located outdoors.
The dryer cannot operate until the
door switch signals that the door is closed. The start button
must then be pressed to enable the timer control. The timer control
either regulates the length of time the dryer runs or it works
in conjunction with a moisture sensor that measures the water
vapor in the drum to determine when the clothes have dried.
The temperature selector controls
the maximum temperature inside the drum with the aid of thermostats.
The heat turns on and off as needed to maintain the temperature.
