LAUNDRY TREATING APPLIANCE WITH STAIN STATION

• US 20170037559A1
• Filed: 08/04/2016
• Published: 02/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: MASCIOVECCHIO, KURT L., ROGERS, BRIAN, THOMPSON, RAY, GALLAGHER, ERIC A., MOORE, MICHAEL T., PINKOWSKI, ROBERT J., SCHARICH, DAVID III, STORMO, GUY
• Granted Patent: US 10,914,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/006 for washing or rinsing only
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/088 Liquid supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/12 Casings; Tubs

Abstract

A laundry treating appliance, such as a clothes washer, either vertical or horizontal axis, can have a bulk dispenser capable of dispensing multiple doses of treating chemistry from a reservoir of treating chemistry. A housing fluidly couples a supply of water and the treating chemistry for supplying both to a treating chamber within the laundry treating appliance.

Claims

1. A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to a cycle of operation, the laundry treating appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining an interior and defining an access opening;

a treating chamber located within the interior and accessible through the access opening; and

a treating chemistry station comprising at least one actuator and a treating chemistry conduit, the at least one actuator located on the cabinet, and the treating chemistry conduit directed toward the treating chamber, wherein actuation of the at least one actuator causes a discharge of treating chemistry from the treating chemistry conduit toward the treating chamber.

2. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 further comprising at least one nozzle disposed on a terminal end of the treating chemistry conduit.

3. The laundry treating appliance of claim 2 wherein the at least one actuator comprises multiple actuators, and the at least one nozzle comprises multiple nozzles, with the multiple actuators and nozzles arranged in pairs.

4. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor providing a sensor output indicative of an amount of treating chemistry dispensed through the treating chemistry conduit.

5. The laundry treating appliance of claim 4 further comprising a controller operably coupled to the at least one sensor to receive the sensor output and reduce a volume of treating chemistry supplied to the treating chamber for a selected cycle of operation based on the sensor output.

6. The laundry treating appliance of claim 5 wherein the volume of treating chemistry is reduced by the amount of treating chemistry indicated by the sensor output.

7. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the cabinet further comprises a fascia at least partially defining the access opening, having the actuator disposed on the fascia.

8. The laundry treating appliance of claim 7 wherein the treating chemistry conduit is adjacent the actuator.

9. The laundry treating appliance of claim 8 wherein the treating chemistry conduit passes through the fascia.

10. The laundry treating appliance of claim 9 wherein the treating chemistry conduit is directed toward the treating chamber.

11. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the treating chemistry conduit is fluidly coupled to a bulk treating chemistry reservoir.

12. The laundry treating appliance of claim 11 further comprising a pump fluidly coupling the bulk treating chemistry reservoir and the treating chemistry conduit.

13. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the treating chemistry station further comprises a water conduit, providing for a mixed discharge of water and treating chemistry form the treating chemistry station.

14. A stain station for a laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber for treating laundry according to a cycle of operation, the stain station comprising:

one or more nozzles for dispensing a volume of treating chemistry to the treating chamber; and

at least one actuator disposed on the laundry treating appliance for selectively dispensing treating chemistry from one or more of the nozzles.

15. The stain station of claim 14 further comprising at least one sensor providing a sensor output indicative of an amount of treating chemistry dispensed through one or more nozzles.

16. The stain station of claim 15 further comprising a controller operably coupled to the at least one sensor to receive the sensor output and reduce the treating chemistry supplied to the treating chamber for a selected cycle of operation based on the sensor output.

17. The stain station of claim 14 wherein the stain station is fluidly coupled to a bulk treating chemistry reservoir.

18. The stain station of claim 17 further comprising a pump fluidly coupling the bulk treating chemistry reservoir.

19. A method of treating laundry in a laundry treating appliance according to a selected cycle of operation, the method comprising:

determining an amount of treating chemistry dispensed during a pre-treating operation to define a determined amount of pre-treating chemistry;

reducing a predetermined amount of treating chemistry for the selected cycle of operation based on the determined amount of pre-treating chemistry to define a reduced treating chemistry amount; and

dispensing the reduced treating chemistry amount during an execution of the selected cycle of operation.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the reduced treating chemistry amount is equal to a difference between the predetermined amount and the determined amount.