APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING CONCENTRATION OF WASH AID IN WASH LIQUID
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for operating an automatic washing machine, the automatic washing machine having a cleaning chamber, a sump, a wash aid dispenser fluidly coupled with the cleaning chamber, and a water supply fluidly coupled with the dispenser for flushing wash aid from the dispenser into the cleaning chamber, whereby wash aid flushed from the dispenser mixes with the flushing water to form a wash liquid, the method comprising:
- flushing a wash aid from the dispenser by supplying water to the dispenser, thereby forming a wash liquid of wash aid and water;
determining a characteristic indicative of the concentration of the wash aid in a wash liquid; and
controlling further flushing of the wash aid from the dispenser based on the determined characteristic.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method of using an automatic washing machine to determine a concentration of a wash aid in a wash liquid, and implementing a controlled flushing of the wash aid in response to the determined concentration.
75 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method for operating an automatic washing machine, the automatic washing machine having a cleaning chamber, a sump, a wash aid dispenser fluidly coupled with the cleaning chamber, and a water supply fluidly coupled with the dispenser for flushing wash aid from the dispenser into the cleaning chamber, whereby wash aid flushed from the dispenser mixes with the flushing water to form a wash liquid, the method comprising:
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flushing a wash aid from the dispenser by supplying water to the dispenser, thereby forming a wash liquid of wash aid and water; determining a characteristic indicative of the concentration of the wash aid in a wash liquid; and controlling further flushing of the wash aid from the dispenser based on the determined characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for operating an automatic washing machine, the automatic washing machine having a cleaning chamber, a wash aid dispenser fluidly coupled with the cleaning chamber, and a water supply fluidly coupled with at least one of the dispenser and the cleaning chamber, the method comprising:
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initiating a wash cycle; flushing a wash aid from the dispenser by supplying water to the dispenser, thereby forming a wash liquid of the wash aid and the water; determining a characteristic indicative of the concentration of the wash aid in the wash liquid; controlling the flushing of the wash aid from the dispenser based on the determined characteristic; initiating at least one rinse cycle after the completion of the wash cycle; and initiating at least one spin cycle after the completion of one of the wash cycle and the at least one rinse cycle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for operating an automatic washing machine, the automatic washing machine having a cleaning chamber, a dispensing system having a bulk wash aid dispenser cartridge fluidly coupled with the cleaning chamber, and a water supply fluidly coupled with at least one of the dispensing system and cleaning chamber, the method comprising:
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dispensing a volume of wash aid from the dispenser cartridge into a volume of water to form a wash liquid; determining a characteristic indicative of the concentration of the wash aid in the wash liquid residing in the cleaning chamber; and controlling the flushing of the wash aid from the dispenser cartridge based on the determined characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. An automatic washing machine comprising:
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a cleaning chamber for holding a laundry load for laundering; a tub enclosing the cleaning chamber; a dispensing system having a wash aid dispenser fluidly coupled with the cleaning chamber; a water supply fluidly coupled with the wash aid dispenser for flushing wash aid from the dispenser into the cleaning chamber; a sensor coupled with the tub for determining a characteristic indicative of the concentration of the wash aid in a wash liquid; and a controller operably coupled with the wash aid dispenser, the water supply, and the sensor, and suitable for controlling the following operations; flushing of a wash aid from the dispenser by supplying water to the dispenser, thereby forming the wash liquid from wash aid and water; determining the characteristic indicative of the concentration of the wash aid in the wash liquid; and controlling further flushing of the wash aid from the dispenser based on the determined characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An automatic washing machine comprising:
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a cleaning chamber for holding a laundry load for laundering; a tub enclosing the cleaning chamber; a dispensing system having a bulk wash aid dispenser cartridge fluidly coupled with the cleaning chamber; a water supply fluidly coupled with the dispensing system for dispensing a wash aid into the cleaning chamber; a sensor coupled with the tub for determining a characteristic indicative of the concentration of the wash aid in a wash liquid; and a controller operably coupled with the bulk wash aid dispenser cartridge, the water supply, and the sensor, and suitable for controlling the following operations; combining a volume of wash aid dispensed from the bulk wash aid dispenser cartridge with a volume of water to form a wash liquid; determining a characteristic indicative of the concentration of the wash aid in the wash liquid; and controlling the dispensing of the wash aid from the bulk wash aid dispenser cartridge based on the determined characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for operating an automatic washing machine, the automatic washing machine having a cleaning chamber, a sump, a source of a wash aid fluidly coupled with at least one of the cleaning chamber and the sump, and a water supply fluidly coupled with at least one of the wash aid source, the cleaning chamber, and the sump, the method comprising:
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dispensing the wash aid from the wash aid source; combining the wash aid with a volume of water to form a wash liquid; determining a characteristic indicative of the concentration of the wash aid in the wash liquid; and controlling further addition to the wash liquid of at least one of the wash aid and the water based on the determined characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification