Laundry treating appliance with cleaning system for residual treating chemistry

• US 8,875,548 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Hendrickson, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pyon, Harold
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hammer, Katie L
• Application Number:
  US12/889,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20120073061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 813/7, 682/05.R
• US Class Current: 68/205.R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/083 Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/088 Liquid supply arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for at least partially removing residual treating chemistry on an interface between a removable treating chemistry reservoir and a dispensing system of a laundry treating appliance.

Claims

1. A method for operating a laundry treating appliance comprising a treating chemistry dispensing system having a dispenser and a removable cartridge defining a reservoir having a first connector releasably coupled to a second connector on an inlet of a pump for the dispenser, the method comprising directly spraying at least one of the first connector of the removable cartridge for the laundry treating appliance or the second connector of the pump for the laundry treating appliance with a cleaning fluid, wherein the spraying of the cleaning fluid at least partially removes any residual treating chemistry on the at least one of the first or second connectors for the laundry treating appliance and the directly spraying is done when the reservoir is uncoupled from the inlet.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the uncoupling of the reservoir initiates the spraying of the inlet with the cleaning fluid.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising spraying at least one of the reservoir or a drawer to remove residual chemistry.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising draining the sprayed cleaning fluid to at least one of a treating chamber or sump of the laundry treating appliance.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the treating chemistry comprises water.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the directly spraying at least one of the first connector of the removable cartridge or the second connector of the pump comprises spraying an exterior of the one of the first connector of the removable cartridge or the second connector of the pump.

7. A method for operating a laundry treating appliance comprising a treating chemistry dispensing system having a dispenser and a removable cartridge defining a reservoir having a first connector releasably coupled to a second connector on an inlet of a pump for the dispenser, the method comprising directly spraying an exterior of at least one of the first connector of the removable cartridge or the second connector of the pump with a cleaning fluid, wherein the spraying of the cleaning fluid at least partially removes any residual treating chemistry on the at least one of the first or second connectors and the directly spraying is done when the reservoir is uncoupled from the inlet.

8. A method for operating a laundry treating appliance comprising a treating chemistry dispensing system having a dispenser and a removable cartridge defining a reservoir having a first connector releasably coupled to a second connector on an inlet of a pump for the dispenser, the method comprising directly spraying at least one of the first or second connectors with a cleaning fluid, wherein the spraying of the cleaning fluid at least partially removes any residual treating chemistry on the at least one of the first or second connectors and the reservoir is carried by a drawer slidably mounted to the laundry treating appliance and a sliding of the drawer uncouples the reservoir from the inlet and the directly spraying is done when the reservoir is uncoupled from the inlet.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the sliding of the drawer away from the laundry treating appliance uncouples the reservoir from the inlet.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the sliding of the drawer away from the laundry treating appliance initiates the spraying of the inlet.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the sliding of the drawer away from the laundry treating appliance initiates the spraying of at least one of the inlet, reservoir, or drawer.