METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A CYCLE OF OPERATION IN A LAUNDRY TREATING APPLIANCE

• US 20120079664A1
• Filed: 10/05/2010
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: HEILMAN, LAYNE E., IHNE, SARAH, CIVANELLI, CLAUDIO
• Granted Patent: US 8,321,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/137
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/14 Doors or covers; Securing means therefor

Abstract

A method for controlling a laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber for treating laundry may provide a wash liquid including an enzyme into the treating chamber to effect an enzymatic reaction having at least one constituent product, monitor the concentration of the at least one constituent product, and alter the control of the laundry treating appliance in response to the concentration reaching a plateau.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a laundry treating appliance comprising a treating chamber for treating laundry, the method comprising:

providing a wash liquid including an enzyme into the treating chamber to effect an enzymatic reaction having at least one constituent product;

monitoring an amount of the at least one constituent product; and

altering the control of the laundry treating appliance in response to the amount of the at least one constituent product reaching a plateau.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a wash liquid comprises introducing the wash liquid into the treating chamber.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wash liquid comprises detergent and water.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the detergent comprises the enzyme and an enzyme inhibitor.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising heating the wash liquid to a first temperature range where an enzyme activity is greater than an enzyme inhibitor activity.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising heating the wash liquid to a second temperature range, greater than the first temperature range, where the enzyme inhibitor activity is greater than the enzyme activity.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating the wash liquid to a temperature range corresponding to a desired enzyme activity.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein after the heating of the wash liquid to the temperature range corresponding to a desired enzyme activity, stopping the heating until the plateau is reached.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the temperature of the wash liquid is maintained within the temperature range corresponding to a desired enzyme activity until the plateau is reached.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising agitating any laundry within the treating chamber.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the agitating the laundry comprises rotating the treating chamber.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing a wash liquid and monitoring the amount of the constituent product is part of a wash phase.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising a rinse phase following the wash phase to rinse at least a portion of the wash liquid from any laundry in the treating chamber with a rinse liquid.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising an extraction phase following the rinse phase to remove at least a portion of the rinse liquid that may have been absorbed by any laundry in the treating chamber.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the altering the control of the laundry treating appliance comprises switching from the wash phase to at least one of the rinse phase and the extraction phase.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the altering the control of the laundry treating appliance comprises at least one of reducing and extending a duration of the wash phase.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein altering the control of the laundry treating appliance comprises controlling a heating element to heat the wash liquid as a function of the amount of constituent product of the at least one constituent product.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitoring the amount of constituent product comprises sensing a concentration of the at least one constituent product.

19. A method of controlling a laundry treating appliance comprising a treating chamber for treating laundry, the method comprising:

providing a wash liquid including an enzyme and an enzyme inhibitor into the treating chamber;

heating the wash liquid to a first temperature range in which an activity of the enzyme is greater than an activity of the enzyme inhibitor and less than a second temperature range in which the activity of the enzyme inhibitor is greater than the activity of the enzyme to effect an enzymatic reaction having at least one constituent product;

monitoring the amount of the at least one constituent product; and

heating the wash liquid to the second temperature range in response to the amount of constituent product reaching a plateau.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein providing a wash liquid comprises introducing the wash liquid into the treating chamber.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the wash liquid comprises detergent and water.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the detergent includes the enzyme and the enzyme inhibitor.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein after heating the wash liquid to the first temperature range, stopping the heating until the plateau is reached.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the temperature of the wash liquid is maintained at the first temperature range until the plateau is reached.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising agitating any laundry within the treating chamber.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the agitating the laundry comprises rotating the treating chamber.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein the providing a wash liquid and monitoring the amount of constituent product is part of a wash phase.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising a rinse phase following the wash phase to rinse at least a portion of the wash liquid from any laundry in the treating chamber with a rinse liquid.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising an extraction phase following the rinse phase to remove at least a portion of the rinse liquid that may have been absorbed by any laundry in the treating chamber.

30. The method of claim 19 wherein the monitoring the amount of the at least one constituent product comprises sensing the concentration of the at least one constituent product.