Method of operating a household appliance

• US 10,271,708 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2016
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Alexander, Benjamin E., Black, Brian A., Latack, Thomas A., Rhodes, Matthew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Whatley, Katelyn B
• Application Number:
  US15/228,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20160338565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0049 Detection or prevention of malfunction, including accident prevention arrangements to prevent clogging of filters A47L15/4208; safety arrangements for preventing water damage A47L15/421
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/006 using wireless communication between internal components of the machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4219 Water recirculation A47L15/0078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4225 Arrangements or adaption of recirculation or discharge pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/428 Rotary nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4285 Water-heater arrangements steam generating arrangements A47L15/4234
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4293 Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4409 by tipping containers or opening their lids, e.g. with the help of a programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4463 Multi-dose dispensing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4472 Blister packaging or refill cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/449 Metering controlling devices A47L15/4229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/00 User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/02 Characteristics of laundry or load
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/08 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 25/00 Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry and having further drying means, e.g. using hot air control of washing or of washing and drying D06F33/00, D06F34/00; domestic laundry dryers D06F58/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/083 Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/40 : Steam generating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 : based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

A household appliance having a treating chamber in which is received an article for treatment, a treating chemistry dispenser configured to receive a unit dose container for the treating chemistry, and a controller for executing at least one cycle of operation and a method of operating the household appliance to physically alter a unit dose container in conjunction with a cycle of operation and sensing same.

Claims

1. A method of operating a household appliance having a treating chamber in which is received an article for treatment, a treating chemistry dispenser configured to receive a single unit dose container of treating chemistry, and a controller for executing at least one cycle of operation, the method comprising:

physically altering the single unit dose container in conjunction with a first cycle of operation to define a physically altered single unit dose container;

sensing, by a sensor, the physically altered single unit dose container in conjunction with the first cycle of operation;

executing a remainder of the first cycle of operation after the sensing of the physically altered single unit dose container;

determining a presence of a physical alteration of the physically altered single unit dose container, in conjunction with a second cycle of operation; and

when the presence of the physical alteration of the physically altered single unit dose container is determined, providing an indication of the determination via a user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to determining the presence of the physically altered single unit dose container, refraining from executing the second cycle of operation, refraining from executing a remainder of the second cycle of operation, or ceasing execution of the second cycle of operation.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein providing an indication of the determination via the user interface comprises providing an indication that the physically altered single unit does container was not replaced.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the presence of the physically altered single unit dose container, in conjunction with the second cycle of operation comprises determining whether the physically altered single unit dose container has been replaced with a new and unused single unit dose container.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein physically altering the single unit dose container comprises cutting a portion of the single unit dose container.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein cutting the portion of the single unit dose container comprises forming a less stiff portion of the single unit dose container and sensing the physical alteration comprises sensing the less stiff portion.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein sensing the less stiff portion comprises contacting the less stiff portion with a pressure switch when the single unit dose container is received within the treating chemistry dispenser.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein determining the presence of the physically altered single unit dose container comprises determining a state of the pressure switch.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein cutting the portion of the single unit dose container comprises cutting a top of the container.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein sensing the physical alteration comprises sensing a cutting force.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein determining the presence of the physically altered single unit dose container comprises comparing the sensed cutting force to a predetermined cutting force.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein cutting the portion of the single unit dose container comprises severing an electrical conductor provided on the single unit dose container.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein sensing the physical alteration comprises applying an electric potential between the two ends of the electrical conductor.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein sensing the physical alteration comprises sensing an electrical current through the electrical conductor produced by the electric potential applied between the two ends of the electrical conductor to sense a conductance between the two ends of the electrical conductor.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein determining the presence of the physically altered single unit dose container comprises comparing the sensed conductance to a reference conductance.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein physically altering comprises reducing a structural integrity of at least a portion of the single unit dose container.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein physically altering comprises altering a conductance of at least a portion of the single unit dose container.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein physically altering comprises dispensing at least a portion of the treating chemistry through the physical alteration.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein sensing the physical alteration comprises sensing a rigidity of at least a portion of the single unit dose container.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein sensing the physical alteration comprises sensing a conductance of at least a portion of the single unit dose container.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the indication comprises providing at least one of a visual indication or an aural indication via a user interface.