Laundry treating appliance and method of operation for a laundry treating appliance

• US 10,373,770 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2016
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Bodine, Darryl C., Erickson, Donald E., Flachs, Michelle K., Litaker, Terry K., Paraskevopoulos, Chris W., Albright, Scott, Blake, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnes-Bullock, Crystal J
• Application Number:
  US15/262,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20160376743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4257 Details of the loading door
• 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: D06F 2103/40 Opening or locking status of doors
• 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 33/30 Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control controlling processes of washer-dryers D06F33/50
• 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 37/04 adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/38 in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/083 Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/087 Water level measuring or regulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/14 Doors or covers; Securing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/40 Steam generating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2633 Washing, laundry
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/161 for actuation by moving a closing member, e.g. door, cover or lid the switch controlling enclosed equipment H01H9/226; switches operated by a removable member, wherein one single insertion movement of a key comprises an unlocking stroke and a switch actuating stroke, e.g. security switch for safety guards H01H27/002

Abstract

A laundry treating appliance having at least one automatic cycle of operation, a plurality of components selectively operable by a controller to implement the at least one cycle of operation on a load of laundry received within a treating chamber of the appliance with the controller having a user interface for receiving input from a user and a door for closing an open face of the treating chamber.

Claims

1. A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry in accordance with a treating cycle of operation, comprising:

a treating chamber having an opened face;

a door moveable between an opened position and a closed position where the door selectively closes the open face of the treating chamber and having an outer panel;

a user interface located on the outer panel of the door and where the user interface is configured to communicate with a user of the laundry treating appliance including that the user interface is configured to receive user input and provide output; and

a controller for controlling operation of the laundry treating appliance and wherein the controller is configured to determine a position of the door to define a determined position and operate the user interface based on the determined position and wherein the controller is configured to operate the user interface such that the user interface is invisible and inactive when the door is determined to be in the opened position or a partially opened position and the user interface is visible and active when the door is determined to be in the closed position.

2. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1, further comprising a sensor operably coupled with the controller and providing a signal to the controller related to a position of the door.

3. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the user interface comprises a circuit board having a plurality of switches that are accessible to the user and the controller activates the switches when the door is determined to be in the closed position.

4. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of lights and where the controller illuminates at least some of the plurality of lights when the door is determined to be in the closed position.

5. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the door further includes a window and the user interface is located on the window of the door.

6. A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry in accordance with a treating cycle of operation, comprising:

a treating chamber having an opened face;

a door moveable between an opened position and a closed position where the door selectively closes the opened face of the treating chamber and having an outer panel located within a frame;

a user interface located on the outer panel of the door and where the user interface is configured to communicate with a user of the laundry treating appliance including that the user interface is configured to receive user input and provide output;

an actuator operably coupled with the door to move the door; and

a controller for controlling operation of the laundry treating appliance and wherein the controller is configured to determine a position or movement of the door based on the actuator and configured to activate the user interface when the door is determined to be in the closed position or moving towards the closed position.

7. The laundry treating appliance of claim 6, further comprising a sensor operably coupled with the controller and providing a signal to the controller regarding a position of the door.

8. The laundry treating appliance of claim 6 wherein the user interface comprises a circuit board having a plurality of switches that are accessible to the user and the controller activates the switches when the door is determined to be in the closed position.

9. The laundry treating appliance of claim 6 wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of lights and where the controller illuminates at least some of the plurality of lights to activate the user interface when the door is determined to be in the closed position.

10. The laundry treating appliance of claim 6 wherein the outer panel further includes a window and the user interface is located on the window.

11. A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry in accordance with a treating cycle of operation, comprising:

a chassis defining an interior;

a treating chamber located within the interior and having an opened face;

a door for selectively closing the opened face of the treating chamber and having a front face forming an outer window;

a user interface located on the outer window of the front face of the door and configured for communicating with a user of the laundry treating appliance including that the user interface is configured to receive user input and provide output; and

a controller for controlling operation of the user interface.

12. The laundry treating appliance of claim 11 wherein the door is pivotally mounted to the chassis between an opened position and a closed position where the door closes the opened face.

13. The laundry treating appliance of claim 11 wherein the user interface is operated by the controller to be inactive when the door is in an opened position or a partially open position.

14. The laundry treating appliance of claim 13 wherein the user interface is operated by the controller to be active when the door is in a closed position.

15. The laundry treating appliance of claim 11 wherein the user interface is not visible when the door is in an opened position or a partially open position.

16. The laundry treating appliance of claim 15 wherein the user interface is visible and active when the door is in a closed position.

17. The laundry treating appliance of claim 11 wherein the door further includes an inner panel that seals the treating chamber.