Methods and compositions for treating laundry items
First Claim
1. A method of inhibiting dye transfer between items of laundry in a laundry treating appliance comprising a treating chamber for receiving the laundry items for treatment according to a cycle of operation, the method comprising:
- supplying liquid to the treating chamber to form a liquid mixture comprising the liquid and free dye molecules from the laundry;
supplying a dye absorber to the liquid mixture to form a complex of dye molecules and absorber in solution or in suspension within the liquid mixture;
conducting at least one of ultraviolet (UV) or visible light spectroscopy on the liquid at predetermined wavelengths characteristic of at least one of the dye absorber or the complex to define at least one of an absorbance or fluorescence value indicative of a level of at least one of the dye absorber or complex in the liquid;
comparing the absorbance or fluorescence value to a reference value; and
altering the cycle of operation in response to the comparison.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for inhibiting dye transfer between items of laundry in a fabric treating appliance including a treating chamber for receiving the fabric items for treatment according to a cycle of operation, the method including supplying liquid to the treating chamber to form a liquid mixture comprising the liquid and free dye molecules and dye absorbers in solution or in suspension within the liquid mixture. At least one of ultraviolet (UV) or visible light spectroscopy may be conducted on the liquid to define at least one of an absorbance or fluorescence value indicative of a level of at least one of the dye absorber or complex in the liquid.
118 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of inhibiting dye transfer between items of laundry in a laundry treating appliance comprising a treating chamber for receiving the laundry items for treatment according to a cycle of operation, the method comprising:
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supplying liquid to the treating chamber to form a liquid mixture comprising the liquid and free dye molecules from the laundry; supplying a dye absorber to the liquid mixture to form a complex of dye molecules and absorber in solution or in suspension within the liquid mixture; conducting at least one of ultraviolet (UV) or visible light spectroscopy on the liquid at predetermined wavelengths characteristic of at least one of the dye absorber or the complex to define at least one of an absorbance or fluorescence value indicative of a level of at least one of the dye absorber or complex in the liquid; comparing the absorbance or fluorescence value to a reference value; and altering the cycle of operation in response to the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification