APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING LAUNDERING CYCLE BY SENSING WASH AID CONCENTRATION

• US 20100000024A1
• Filed: 07/01/2008
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: KEHL, DENNIS L., LUCKMAN, JOEL ADAM, DOYLE, COLLEEN M., FAWOLE, AYOMIDE, NEKIC, FRANK, HENDRICKSON, MICHAEL STEPHEN
• Granted Patent: US 8,388,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/137
• 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 2103/18 Washing liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/22 Content of detergent or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/02 Water supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/42 Detergent or additive supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/52 Changing sequence of operational steps; Carrying out additional operational steps; Modifying operational steps, e.g. by extending duration of steps
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/60 Audible signals
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/06 Arrangements for preventing or destroying scum

Abstract

An automatic washing machine can be operated in accordance with a selected wash cycle by determining a concentration of a wash aid prior to a dispensing of the wash aid into at least one of a tub and a drum, and selecting an operating parameter of the automatic washing machine in response to the determined concentration.

Claims

1. A method for operating an automatic washing machine in accordance with a selected wash cycle, the automatic washing machine comprising a wash chamber operable to receive fabric articles for washing, a wash aid dispenser fluidly coupled to the wash chamber, and a water supply fluidly coupled to at least one of the dispenser and wash chamber for generating a wash liquid, the method comprising:

automatically determining a concentration of a wash aid prior to a dispensing of the wash aid into the wash chamber; and

selecting an operating parameter of the automatic washing machine in response to the determined concentration.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein selecting an operating parameter of the automatic washing machine comprises controlling a quantity of water introduced into the automatic washing machine based on the determined concentration.

3. The method in accordance with claim 2 wherein controlling the quantity of water introduced into the automatic washing machine comprises controlling a flushing of the wash aid from the laundering aid dispenser.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the flushing is controlled based on a sensed concentration of a wash aid in the wash chamber.

5. The method in accordance with claim 2 wherein controlling the quantity of water introduced into the automatic washing machine comprises maintaining the generation of suds within the wash chamber below a preselected limit.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein selecting an operating parameter of the automatic washing machine comprises at least one of increasing the volume of water for a rinse step and adding at least one rinse step to the wash cycle.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein selecting an operating parameter of the automatic washing machine comprises dispensing a preselected quantity of a wash aid based on the determined concentration.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein selecting an operating parameter of the automatic washing machine comprises at least one of halting the wash cycle, generating an audio signal, generating a visual signal, and generating an error code.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein selecting an operating parameter of the automatic washing machine comprises dispensing a quantity of a suds reducer based on the determined concentration.

10. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the determining of the concentration of the wash aid comprises determining a refractive index of the wash aid.

11. The method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the determining the refractive index comprises sensing the refractive index.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein the sensed refractive index is used to determine a class of concentration.

13. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein the sensed refractive index is used to look up a corresponding concentration from a table of corresponding refractive indexes and concentrations.

14. The method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the refractive index of the wash aid is sensed when the wash aid is in the dispenser.

15. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the determining of the concentration of the wash aid comprises sensing at least one of the electrical conductivity, pH, oxidation/reduction potential, and chemical composition of the wash aid.

16. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the wash aid comprises at least one of a detergent, a water softener, a fabric softener, an anti-sudsing agent, a fabric whitening agent, a fabric brightening agent, in-wash stain removers, color safe bleaches, peroxygen bleaches, and a disinfectant.

17. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising determining a quantity of wash aid to be dispensed.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17 wherein determining the quantity of wash aid to be dispensed comprises sensing the height of the wash aid in one of the dispenser, a bulk dispensing container, and a measuring vessel.

19. The method in accordance with claim 17 wherein determining the quantity of wash aid to be dispensed comprises sensing the weight of the wash aid in one of the dispenser, a bulk dispensing container, and a measuring vessel.

20. A method for operating an automatic washing machine in accordance with a selected wash cycle, the automatic washing machine comprising a wash chamber and a wash aid dispenser fluidly coupled to the wash chamber, and a water supply fluidly coupled to at least one of the dispenser and the wash chamber, the method comprising:

initiating a wash process;

determining a concentration of a wash aid prior to a dispensing of the wash aid into the wash chamber;

selecting an operating parameter of the automatic washing machine in response to the determined concentration;

initiating at least one rinse step after the completion of the wash process; and

initiating at least one spin process after the completion of one of the wash process and the at least one rinse process.

21. The method in accordance with claim 20 wherein selecting an operating parameter of the automatic washing machine comprises dispensing a preselected quantity of a wash aid based on the determined concentration.

22. The method in accordance with claim 21, further comprising determining a quantity of wash aid to be dispensed.

23. The method in accordance with claim 20 wherein determining a concentration of a wash aid comprises sensing a refractive index of the wash aid. [reflective too?]

24. A method for operating an automatic washing machine in accordance with a selected wash cycle, the automatic washing machine comprising a wash chamber, a wash aid dispenser fluidly coupled to the wash chamber, and a water supply fluidly coupled to the wash chamber, the method comprising:

dispensing a wash aid from the dispenser to form a wash liquid in the wash chamber;

determining a concentration of the wash aid in the wash liquid in the wash chamber; and

halting the dispensing of the wash aid when the determined concentration is suitable for the selected wash cycle.

25. The method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the dispensing comprises multiple discrete dispensing processes and the concentration is determined after each discrete dispensing process.

26. The method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the dispensing comprises a continuous dispensing until the flushing is halted.

27. The method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the halting of the occurs prior to the wash liquor reaching the desired volume and water is added to the wash liquor to reach the desired volume without dispensing additional wash aid.

28. The method in accordance with claim 27 wherein any remaining wash aid is dispensed from the dispenser after the completion of the selected wash cycle.

29. The method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the dispensing comprises flushing the wash aid from the dispenser.