INTELLIGENT DISPENSING IN A LAUNDRY APPLIANCE

• US 20090272004A1
• Filed: 05/01/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Chernetski, Fredrick E., McAllister, Karl D., Dalton, Michael T.
• Application Number:
  US12/113,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20090272004A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/389
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/10 Drying cabinets or drying chambers having heating or ventilating means
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/203 Laundry conditioning arrangements

Abstract

A clothes dryer having a drum having an inner surface at least partially defining a treating chamber in combination with a dispensing system that sprays a fabric-condition substance onto an inner surface of the drum for subsequent distribution to the fabric articles. The dispensing system may have a variable delivery system to vary the distribution pattern of the fabric-condition substance into the treating chamber. The flow characteristic of the fabric-conditioning substance may also be varied as it is dispensed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for drying fabric articles comprising:

a drum rotatably mounted within a cabinet for moving fabric articles, the drum having an inner surface at least partially defining a chamber for containing the fabric articles;

at least one dispenser for dispensing a fabric-conditioning substance into the chamber;

a reservoir coupled with the dispenser; and

a delivery apparatus coupled with the reservoir and the dispenser for delivering the fabric-conditioning substance from the reservoir to the dispenser,

wherein the dispenser is configured to direct the fabric-conditioning substance onto the inner surface of the drum, and the delivery apparatus can be controlled to vary a selected dispensing mode of the fabric-conditioning substance.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dispenser is positioned adjacent to an access opening of the drum.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dispenser is directed at an area of the drum where fabric articles separate from the drum during rotation.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fabric-conditioning substance is selected from at least one of:

a fluid, vapor, powder and phase changing liquid.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fabric-conditioning substance intermittently impinges upon an inner surface of the drum to distribute the fabric-conditioning substance axially within the drum.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a duty cycle of the delivery apparatus is varied to vary the dispensing mode of the fabric-conditioning substance.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the duty cycle of the delivery apparatus is selectively dependent on the fabric-conditioning substance being dispensed.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output pressure of the delivery apparatus is varied to vary the dispensing mode of the fabric-conditioning substance.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the output pressure of the delivery apparatus is selectively dependent on the fabric-conditioning substance being dispensed.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor to determine the fabric-conditioning substance being dispensed.

11. An apparatus for drying fabric articles comprising:

a cabinet;

a drum rotatably mounted within the cabinet, the drum having an inner surface at least partially defining a chamber for containing the fabric articles and an access opening into the chamber;

an air flow system for circulating and venting air relative to the chamber;

at least one nozzle for dispensing a fabric-conditioning substance into the chamber;

a source of fabric-conditioning substance coupled with the nozzle; and

a delivery system for delivering the fabric-conditioning substance from the source to the nozzle and having a variable delivery apparatus to vary a distribution pattern of the fabric-conditioning substance.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the nozzle is selectively controllable to direct the fabric-conditioning substance onto one of the inner surface and the fabric articles.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising at least one sensor configured to monitor apparatus conditions and control the dispensing of the fabric-conditioning substance.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a first motor associated with the air flow system and a second motor associated with rotation of the drum, to independently control the flow of air through the air flow system and the rotation of the drum.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the source comprises a household water line.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the variable delivery apparatus comprises a variable speed pump that utilizes varying speeds to vary the distribution pattern of the fabric-conditioning substance.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the variable delivery apparatus comprises a pump configured to implement a selected one of a plurality of varying duty cycles to vary the distribution pattern of the fabric-conditioning substance.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the delivery system is configured to remove residual fabric-conditioning substance from the at least one nozzle after the fabric-conditioning substance has been dispensed from the nozzle.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the nozzle is movably mounted within the chamber so that the nozzle directs the fabric-conditioning substance at selected areas within the chamber.

20. A method of dispensing a fabric-conditioning substance in an apparatus for drying fabric articles having a drum and at least one nozzle, the method comprising the steps of:

rotating the drum to move the fabric articles;

dispensing the fabric-conditioning substance into the drum through the nozzle; and

varying a flow characteristic of the fabric-conditioning substance as it is dispensed through the nozzle.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of stopping an outflow of air from the drum while the fabric-conditioning substance is dispensed into the drum.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of directing the fabric-conditioning substance at an area of the drum where the fabric articles separate from the drum during rotation.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of reversing a flow of fabric-conditioning substance through the nozzle.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of varying a flow characteristic of the fabric-conditioning substance as it is dispensed based on an apparatus operating conditions.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of heating the fabric articles to improve absorption of the fabric-conditioning substance.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of identifying the fabric-conditioning substance to be dispensed.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of varying a flow characteristic of the fabric-conditioning substance as it is dispensed based on the identified fabric-conditioning substance.