U.S. patent application number 16/872465 was filed with the patent office on 2020-08-27 for laundry treating appliance with remotely controlled airflow and method of operating the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION. Invention is credited to STEVEN D. FICKE, GREGORY T. HEINE, GREGORY S. LIETO.
Application Number | 20200270796 16/872465 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004824572 |
Filed Date | 2020-08-27 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200270796 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FICKE; STEVEN D. ; et
al. |
August 27, 2020 |
LAUNDRY TREATING APPLIANCE WITH REMOTELY CONTROLLED AIRFLOW AND
METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME
Abstract
A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum at least
partially defining a laundry treating chamber, a fan fluidly
coupled with the laundry treating chamber and a controller. The
controller is configured to operate an automatic cycle of operation
for the laundry treating appliance. The controller is also adapted
to send an alert signal to an electronic device remote from the
laundry treating appliance, during the cycle of operation,
indicative of an ending of the cycle of operation. Upon receiving
an authorization signal to enable an anti-sour cycle from the
remote electronic device prior to the ending of the cycle of
operation, the controller automatically initiates the anti-sour
cycle for the laundry treating appliance. The anti-sour cycle
comprises energizing the fan to flow air through the laundry
treating chamber. Upon failing to receive the authorization signal
from the remote electronic device, the controller does not initiate
the anti-sour cycle.
Inventors: |
FICKE; STEVEN D.;
(STEVENSVILLE, MI) ; HEINE; GREGORY T.; (SAINT
JOSEPH, MI) ; LIETO; GREGORY S.; (GRAND HAVEN,
MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION |
Benton Harbor |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004824572 |
Appl. No.: |
16/872465 |
Filed: |
May 12, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15685603 |
Aug 24, 2017 |
10697104 |
|
|
16872465 |
|
|
|
|
13938449 |
Jul 10, 2013 |
9765469 |
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15685603 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 34/28 20200201;
D06F 25/00 20130101; D06F 33/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 34/28 20060101
D06F034/28; D06F 33/00 20060101 D06F033/00 |
Claims
1. A laundry treating appliance, comprising: a rotatable drum at
least partially defining a laundry treating chamber; a fan fluidly
coupled with the laundry treating chamber; a controller configured
to operate an automatic cycle of operation for the laundry treating
appliance and configured to operate an anti-sour cycle comprising
energizing of the fan to flow air through the laundry treating
chamber; wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal
indicative of a user selection of an anti-sour cycle at a user
interface prior to initiation of the automatic cycle of operation
and the controller automatically initiates the anti-sour cycle at
the end of the automatic cycle of operation.
2. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the controller
is configured to send an alert signal to an electronic device
remote from the laundry treating appliance.
3. The laundry treating appliance of claim 2 wherein the controller
sends the alert signal during the cycle of operation indicative of
an ending of the cycle of operation.
4. The laundry treating appliance of claim 3 wherein the controller
is adapted to receive an authorization signal from the remote
electronic device.
5. The laundry treating appliance of claim 4 wherein upon receiving
the authorization signal, the controller automatically initiates
the anti-sour cycle.
6. The laundry treating appliance of claim 4 wherein upon failing
to receive the authorization signal from the remote electronic
device, not initiating the anti-sour cycle.
7. The laundry treating appliance of claim 4 wherein the controller
only sends the alert signal when the anti-sour cycle is selected on
a user interface of the laundry treating appliance.
8. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 further comprising a
user interface having an anti-sour cycle input.
9. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the anti-sour
cycle comprises flowing unheated air through the treating
chamber.
10. The laundry treating appliance of claim 9 wherein the anti-sour
cycle comprises rotating the drum to reposition the laundry.
11. The laundry treating appliance of claim 10 wherein the rotating
the drum is intermittent.
12. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the
controller is configured to at least one of intermittently rotate
the rotatable drum or intermittently flow air from by way of the
fan during the anti-sour cycle.
13. The laundry treating appliance of claim 2 wherein the alert
signal comprises a status signal for the cycle of operation.
14. The laundry treating appliance of claim 13 wherein the status
signal comprises a remaining time for the cycle of operation.
15. The laundry treating appliance of claim 14 further comprising
displaying a countdown timer on the electronic device based on the
remaining time.
16. A laundry treating appliance, comprising: a rotatable drum at
least partially defining a laundry treating chamber; a fan fluidly
coupled with the laundry treating chamber; and a controller
configured to operate an automatic cycle of operation for the
laundry treating appliance and adapted to send an alert signal to
an electronic device remote from the laundry treating appliance,
during the cycle of operation, indicative of an ending of the cycle
of operation, and upon receiving an authorization signal to enable
an anti-sour cycle from the remote electronic device prior to the
ending of the cycle of operation, automatically initiating the
anti-sour cycle for the laundry treating appliance comprising
energizing of the fan to flow air through the laundry treating
chamber, and upon failing to receive the authorization signal from
the remote electronic device, not initiating the anti-sour
cycle.
17. The laundry treating appliance of claim 16 further comprising a
user interface having an anti-sour cycle input.
18. The laundry treating appliance of claim 17 wherein the
controller is configured to send the alert signal when the
anti-sour cycle input is selected.
19. The laundry treating appliance of claim 18 wherein the
controller is configured to send the alert signal only when the
anti-sour cycle input is selected.
20. The laundry treating appliance of claim 16 wherein the
controller is configured to at least one of intermittently rotate
the rotatable drum or intermittently flow air from by way of the
fan, upon receiving the authorization signal.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims priority to and is a continuation of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/685,603, filed Aug. 24, 2017,
now allowed, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 13/938,449, filed Jul. 10, 2013, issued as U.S. Pat. No.
9,765,469, on Sep. 19, 2017, both of which are incorporated herein
by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Laundry treating appliances, such as clothes washers, may
have a rotating drum defining a treating chamber in which laundry
items may be placed for treating according to a cycle of operation.
After completion of the cycle of operation, moisture may remain in
the laundry and/or within the treating chamber. Moisture-laden
laundry items in the treating chamber may induce the formation of
mold or mildew, which may create a sour smell that most users find
unpleasant. A user may be prevented from immediately removing
moisture-laden laundry from the appliance at the end of a cycle of
operation, thereby posing a risk of mold or mildew formation, and
an ensuing sour smell.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a laundry treating
appliance comprising a rotatable drum at least partially defining a
laundry treating chamber, a fan fluidly coupled with the laundry
treating chamber and a controller. The controller is configured to
operate an automatic cycle of operation for the laundry treating
appliance and is configured to operate an anti-sour cycle. The
anti-sour cycle comprises energizing the fan to flow air through
the laundry treating chamber. The controller is also configured to
receive a signal indicative of a user selection of an anti-sour
cycle at a user interface prior to initiation of the automatic
cycle of operation and the controller automatically initiates the
anti-sour cycle at the end of the automatic cycle of operation.
[0004] In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a laundry
treating appliance having a rotatable drum at least partially
defining a laundry treating chamber, a fan fluidly coupled with the
laundry treating chamber and a controller. The controller is
configured to operate an automatic cycle of operation for the
laundry treating appliance. The controller is also adapted to send
an alert signal to an electronic device remote from the laundry
treating appliance, during the cycle of operation, indicative of an
ending of the cycle of operation. Upon receiving an authorization
signal to enable an anti-sour cycle from the remote electronic
device prior to the ending of the cycle of operation, the
controller automatically initiates the anti-sour cycle for the
laundry treating appliance. The anti-sour cycle comprises
energizing the fan to flow air through the laundry treating
chamber. Upon failing to receive the authorization signal from the
remote electronic device, the controller does not initiate the
anti-sour cycle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] In the drawings:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a laundry treating appliance
according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a control system of the
laundry treating appliance of FIG. 1, including a controller
coupled with the Internet for communication with a remote
electronic device.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a partially schematic view of the control system
of FIG. 2 including a remote electronic device in the form of a
mobile smartphone having a selectable mobile application for
controlling the operation of the laundry treating appliance.
[0009] FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation view of the mobile
smartphone of FIG. 3 illustrating exemplary controls and a display
of information accessible through the smartphone display.
[0010] FIG. 5 is an exemplary flow chart of the operation of the
control system of FIG. 2 under two alternative scenarios.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, an
embodiment of a laundry treating appliance 110 according to the
invention is illustrated. The laundry treating appliance 110 may be
any appliance that may perform a cycle of operation on laundry,
non-limiting examples of which include a horizontal or vertical
axis clothes washer; a combination washing machine and dryer; a
tumbling or stationary refreshing/revitalizing machine; an
extractor; a non-aqueous washing apparatus; and a revitalizing
machine. An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described
herein with respect to the laundry treating appliance 110 as a
washing machine. The washing machine 110 described herein may share
many features of a traditional automatic washing machine, which
will not be described further except as necessary for a complete
understanding of the invention.
[0012] Pursuant to the invention, an optional anti-sour cycle (also
referred to as an airflow step) may be selected and controlled by a
remotely-located appliance user to reduce the level of humidity in
the washing machine 110 after completion of a cycle of operation,
thereby controlling the growth of mold and mildew, and attendant
odors, in damp laundry. The anti-sour cycle may be initiated by the
transmission of an alert signal from the washing machine 110 to a
remote electronic device, (not shown), more fully described
hereinafter, and the return transmission of an authorization signal
from the remote electronic device to the washing machine 110 in
response to the alert signal. Thus, an exemplary embodiment of the
washing machine 110 may include a cabinet 112 enclosing a
controller 114 that may receive input from an appliance user
through a user interface 115 and the remote electronic device. As
hereinafter described, the controller 114 may be electrically
coupled with the Internet to define a remote communication and
control system for the anti-sour cycle.
[0013] A stationary tub 116 may be located within the cabinet 112
and may define an interior chamber 118. A rotatable drum 120 may be
located within the interior chamber 118 and may include a plurality
of perforations 121 therethrough. Liquid may flow between the tub
116 and the drum 120 through the perforations 121. The drum 120 may
further include one or more lifters or baffles 122 disposed on an
inner surface of the drum 120 to lift fabric items contained in the
drum 120 while the drum 120 rotates. The drum 120 may define a
treating chamber 128 for receiving fabric items to be cleaned.
[0014] The drum 120 may be rotated by a suitable drive mechanism,
which is illustrated as a motor 123 coupled to the drum 120 through
a belt 124 and a drive shaft 125. The motor 123 may be operably
coupled to the controller 114 to control the rotation of the drum
120 to complete a cycle of operation. Other drive mechanisms, such
as direct drive, may also be used.
[0015] Both the tub 116 and the drum 120 may be selectively closed
by a door 126. A bellows 127 may couple an open face of the tub 116
with the cabinet 112, and the door 126 may seal against the bellows
127 when the door 126 closes the tub 116.
[0016] While the drum 120 is illustrated and described herein as
defining the treating chamber 128 for receiving fabric items to be
treated, the tub 116 and/or the drum 120 may be considered a
receptacle, with either of them defining the treating chamber 128.
While the illustrated washing machine 110 includes both the tub 116
and the drum 120, it is within the scope of the invention for the
laundry treating appliance to include only one receptacle, with the
receptacle defining the treating chamber 128 for receiving the
fabric items to be treated.
[0017] The washing machine 110 of FIG. 1 may further include a
liquid supply and recirculation system. Liquid, such as water or
water with a wash aid, may be supplied to the washing machine 110
from a water supply 129, such as a household water supply. A first
supply conduit 130 may fluidly couple the water supply 129 to a
treatment dispenser 132. An inlet valve 134 may control flow of the
liquid from the water supply 129 and through the first supply
conduit 130 to the treatment dispenser 132. A dispensing conduit
136 may fluidly couple the treatment dispenser 132 with the tub
116.
[0018] Liquid that flows from the treatment dispenser 132 through
the flow conduit 136 to the tub 116 typically enters a space
between the tub 116 and the drum 120 and may flow by gravity to a
sump 138 formed in part by a lower portion 140 of the tub 116. The
sump 138 may also be formed by a sump conduit 142 that may fluidly
couple the lower portion 140 of the tub 116 to a pump 144.
[0019] The pump 144 may direct fluid to a drain conduit 146, which
may drain the liquid from the washing machine 110, or to a
recirculation conduit 148, which may terminate at a recirculation
inlet 150. The recirculation inlet 150 may direct the liquid from
the recirculation conduit 148 into the drum 120. The recirculation
inlet 150 may introduce the liquid into the drum 120 in any
suitable manner, such as by spraying, dripping, or providing a
steady flow of the liquid.
[0020] The washing machine 110 may include a sump heater 152 which
may be located in the sump 138. The sump heater 152 may be any type
of heater and is illustrated as a resistive heating element for
exemplary purposes. The sump 138 may also include a one-way check
valve 153 for draining liquid from the sump 138.
[0021] The washing machine 110 may further include an airflow
device, an exemplary embodiment of which may be a fan 170, for
controlling the flow of air within the treating chamber 128 and
removing moisture that may remain in a laundry load. The airflow
device 170 may be operated to control the humidity of the air
within the treating chamber 128 by venting and/or supplying air
from the exterior of the washing machine 110 to the tub 116.
Although the airflow device is illustrated as a fan 170, other
types of airflow devices may be utilized without diverging from the
scope of the invention.
[0022] The airflow device 170 may be fluidly coupled with the tub
116 through a first ventilation conduit 172 for venting the
interior of the tub 116, including the interior chamber 118 and the
treating chamber 128. The treating chamber 128 may be fluidly
coupled with the interior chamber 118 through the perforations 121
in the drum 120 so that air may flow between the two chambers 118,
128. A second ventilation conduit 160 may be fluidly coupled with
the tub 116 and with a vent 162 open to ambient air. The vent 162,
the second ventilation conduit 160, the tub 116, the drum 120, the
ventilation conduit 172, and the airflow device 170 may define an
air flow path for ambient air drawn into and through the tub 116,
and exhausted from the tub 116 to the exterior of the washing
machine 110.
[0023] The washing machine 110 may include an air heater 154 which
may be located in the second ventilation conduit 160. The air
heater 154 is illustrated as a resistance-type heating element for
exemplary purposes, but other suitable types may be used. The air
heater 154 may be located in the second ventilation conduit 160 so
that air flowing through the conduit 160 into the drum 120 under
the influence of the fan 170 may be heated by the air heater 154.
The fan 170 may draw ambient air from the exterior of the washing
machine 110 through the vent 162 and the second ventilation conduit
160. Heated airflow 176 may continue into the interior chamber 118
and the treating chamber 128, and may exit through the first
ventilation conduit 172 to be exhausted to the exterior of the
washing machine 110 under the influence of the airflow device
170.
[0024] Alternatively, the airflow device 170 may be operated in
reverse so that air may be drawn through the first ventilation
conduit 172, into the treating chamber 128, through the second
ventilation conduit 160, and out the vent 162. However, the air
heater 154 may not be operated since it may otherwise be heating
air that immediately flows out through the vent 162.
[0025] It is within the scope of the invention to utilize more than
one airflow device, both intermittently and concurrently. For
example, in addition to the airflow device 170 illustrated in FIG.
1, a second airflow device (not shown) may be located in the second
ventilation conduit 160 to augment the airflow drawn by the single
airflow device 170 through the vent 162 and the treating chamber
128. Additional airflow devices may be combined with an air heater,
and may be located to provide an optimal airflow path. Optimal
control of airflow through the washing machine 110 may be achieved
by selectively operating a selected number of available airflow
devices, or operating one or more airflow devices by employing
on/off intervals.
[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the controller 114 may be provided
with a memory 190 and a central processing unit (CPU) 192. The
controller 114 may be operably coupled with one or more components
of the washing machine 110 for communicating with and controlling
the functioning of the components to complete a cycle of operation.
For example, the controller 114 may be coupled with the motor 123
for controlling the direction and speed of rotation of the drum
120; the treatment dispenser 132 for dispensing a treatment aid
during a cycle of operation; the sump heater 152 for heating the
wash liquid; the pump 144 for recycling liquid from the sump 38 to
the drum 120; the airflow device 170 for venting the tub 116; and
the air heater 154 for heating air flowing into the tub 116. The
controller 114 may be coupled with the user interface 115 for
receiving user-selected inputs and communicating information to the
user.
[0027] The controller 114 may be communicably coupled with and
receive input from one or more generally known sensors 194 that may
monitor the performance of the washing machine 110. Non-limiting
examples of sensors 194 may include one or more of a treating
chamber temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, a load size sensor,
and a motor torque sensor.
[0028] In addition to permanently storing washing machine 110
control software that may be utilized by the CPU 192 to complete a
cycle of operation, the memory 190 may temporarily store data from
one or more sensors that may be utilized in controlling a cycle of
operation. The controller memory 190 may also store software for
facilitating communication between the controller 114 and a remote
electronic device, in particular, software for establishing and
maintaining Internet communication.
[0029] Referring also to FIG. 3, the user interface 115 may include
known devices 216, such as buttons, switches, touch panels, and
displays, for selecting and monitoring wash liquid temperature 219,
spin speed, special cycles of operation 217, wash cycle duration
219, and the like, and may enable selection of the anti-sour cycle
218. The controller 114 may be communicably coupled with a remote
electronic device 180 such as a smartphone, a cell phone, a tablet,
a laptop computer, and the like. The remote electronic device 180
may include circuitry and software to enable the device 180 to
communicate with the controller 114 concerning the operations of
the washing machine 110 and its selected components, such as the
airflow device 170 and the drum 120. The controller 114 and the
remote electronic device 180 may be communicably coupled through an
Internet-based wireless communication system.
[0030] For example, a remote communication and control system 220
may include the controller 114 electrically coupled with an
Internet service provider (ISP) 224 through known communication
lines 232, 228, such as Ethernet network cables, shielded coaxial
cables, telephone lines, fiber-optics lines, and the like. The ISP
224 may provide Internet access to a device, such as a wireless
router 222 that is coupled through a communication line 226 with
the ISP 224. The wireless router 222 may be remotely located from
the controller 114, for example, at an Internet cafe, a workplace,
a municipal office, a sports arena, a grocery store, or any other
place providing wireless Internet access.
[0031] The wireless router 222 may communicate with the ISP 224
through the communication line 226, and the ISP 224 may communicate
with the controller 114 through the communication line 228 that may
be electrically coupled in a known manner with a cable jack 230, or
similar connection. The washing machine 110 may include a
communication line 232 coupled with the controller 114 that can be
joined with the cable jack 230 to establish the complete remote
communication and control system 220. Communication between the
remote electronic device 180 and the controller 114 may be effected
by transmitting a wireless radio signal 184 between the remote
electronic device 180 and the wireless router 222.
[0032] Alternatively, the controller 114 may be wirelessly coupled
with a wireless router (not shown), known also as a residential
gateway, similar to the wireless router 222. The router may be
coupled in a generally known manner with the ISP 224 through a
communication line and cable jack similar to the communication line
232 and cable jack 230 disclosed in FIG. 3. The router may serve a
local area network (LAN) in the residential structure in which the
washing machine 110 may be located. In addition to home electronics
devices, such as computers, televisions, music systems, and the
like, the controller 114 may be wirelessly coupled with the LAN via
the router to thereby communicate with the ISP 224. Alternatively,
a router may be utilized that is dedicated solely to the washing
machine 110. Regardless of the manner of utilizing the router, the
controller 114 may include a wireless radio signal transmitter (not
shown), incorporated into or coupled with the controller 114, for
communicating with the router.
[0033] The controller 114 may require drivers and/or other software
for configuring communication with the router and the LAN, which
may be stored in the memory 190 and processed by the CPU 192. The
user interface 115, which may include a touch screen, may be
utilized to configure communication between the controller 114 and
the router. Alternatively, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a
tablet, the remote electronic device 180, and the like, that are
part of the LAN, may store and utilize the drivers and/or software
for configuring communication between the controller 114 and the
router, and wirelessly sending the resulting IP data to the
controller 114.
[0034] There may be other means of establishing communication
between the remote electronic device 180 and the controller 114,
and the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein should not be
considered a limitation on the claims. For example, the router may
be communicably coupled with the controller 114 via a USB
interface, an IEEE 1394 interface (FireWire), or other suitable
communication interface standards.
[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates the remote electronic device 180 as an
exemplary smartphone. The smartphone 180 may include software
stored in smartphone memory (not shown) in the form of an
application for establishing and maintaining Internet communication
with the controller 114. The application may be interactively
identified on a touch screen 182 by a smartphone icon 186 that may
be selected by a user touching the icon 186 to thereby launch the
application.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 4, selecting the icon 186 may launch an
interactive display on the touch screen 182 that may include one or
more functions, and may enable control of the washing machine 110
and a selected cycle of operation through use of the remote
electronic device 180. For example, the display may include
user-selectable categories 200, such as "Appliances," "Energy," and
"Settings." Selecting the "Settings" function may enable a user to
customize the display, wireless connectivity, and the like.
Selecting the "Appliances" function may enable a user to select and
control one or more appliances. Selecting the "Energy" function may
enable a user to monitor the energy use of one or more appliances,
and optimize appliance operations, such as during a low energy use
time period, in order to minimize the costs of running an
appliance.
[0037] In addition to the launch of the interactive display on the
touch screen 182 by selection of the icon 186, the authorization
signal may be generated by the electronic device 180 merely by
selecting the icon 186.
[0038] It may be necessary to select the anti-sour cycle prior to
the occurrence of a preselected event, such as the completion of a
cycle of operation. The anti-sour cycle may be selected by
actuating a switch 218 on the user interface 115, or by actuating a
touch-screen switch 202 on the smartphone display 182. A user may
be able to initiate the anti-sour cycle, even though the user may
be away from the washing machine 110, solely by actuating the
switch 202 to remotely select the anti-sour cycle. Alternatively,
it may be necessary to make the anti-sour cycle available for
remote selection by first actuating the switch 218 on the user
interface 115 in order to actuate the touch screen switch 202. If
the anti-sour cycle is not selected prior to the event, the touch
screen switch 202 may be disabled for the current cycle of
operation, thereby precluding the selection of the anti-sour
cycle.
[0039] The display 182 may also include a remote control switch 204
that may enable a user to remotely pause a cycle of operation.
Notifiers, such as LEDs or other attention-drawing icons, may
inform a user of the status of selected parameters, for example,
the type or quantity of a treatment aid, such as detergent 206 or a
freshening chemistry 208. If a notifier indicates that an event
will occur or has occurred that may require some responsive action
on the part of the appliance user, the remote control switch 204
may be actuated to pause the cycle of operation until the event has
been addressed.
[0040] The display 182 may also include an output of preselected
information for a selected appliance identifying, for example, a
selected cycle of operation 210 such as normal/casual, heavy duty,
delicate, and the like; the time remaining until the end of the
cycle of operation, which may provide the appliance user with a
timely opportunity to select the anti-sour cycle; and the current
status of operation of the appliance, such as pre-wash, soaking,
washing, rinsing, spinning, and the like. As illustrated in FIG. 4,
the display 182 may show that a normal/casual cycle of operation is
currently in progress, 35 minutes remain until the end of the cycle
of operation, and the cycle of operation is currently in a rinsing
step. Thus, the user may be alerted that about 35 minutes remain in
which to select an anti-sour cycle. The remaining time may be
displayed as a countdown timer having a preprogramed or
user-selectable countdown interval, e.g. 1 sec., 0.1 min., 1.0
min., and the like. The electronic device 180 may be programmed to
broadcast an alert signal in the form of a status signal. The
status signal may include information as displayed in FIG. 4, such
as the time remaining for a cycle of operation. Alternatively, the
status signal may simply comprise a completion signal indicating
completion of the cycle of operation.
[0041] It may be understood that the functions and indicators may
vary from those illustrated in FIG. 4 based upon such factors as
the particular appliance being monitored and controlled, and the
type of control desired. For example, an alert signal may be sent
by the washing machine 110 only when the anti-sour cycle is
selected on the user interface 115. During the anti-sour cycle,
either or both unheated air or heated air may flow through the
treating chamber 128, and the airflow may be selectably
intermittent. The drum 120 may also be rotated to reposition the
laundry, and the drum rotation may be intermittent.
[0042] Other variations may include the conditions that the
authorization signal be received by the washing machine 110 from
the remote electronic device 180 prior to the expiration of the
countdown timer in order to utilize the anti-sour cycle, or that
automatic initiation of an anti-sour cycle may be limited to only
instances when the anti-sour cycle is selected on the user
interface 115.
[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary flow chart characterizing
two alternative flows of control for an anti-sour cycle. The flow
of control, or control flow, may differ primarily based upon
whether or not an anti-sour cycle has been selected at the start of
a cycle of operation. In each case, the control flow may begin with
selecting and initiating a cycle of operation 240, which an
appliance user may complete on the user interface 115. This may
include the selection of fabric type, wash liquid temperature,
number and duration of rinse steps, and the like. The control flow
may include an inquiry into whether an anti-sour cycle may have
been selected 242. If the anti-sour cycle has been selected, an
inquiry may follow into whether the remaining cycle time may be
greater than zero 244. If the anti-sour cycle has not been
selected, the control flow may address whether the remaining cycle
time may be greater than zero 272. The anti-sour cycle may be
selected after initiating the cycle of operation (time>0), but
before the cycle of operation has ended (time=0).
[0044] If the remaining time may not be greater than zero, the
control flow may proceed directly to the end of the cycle of
operation 270. If the remaining time may be greater than zero, the
cycle of operation may continue 246. The control flow may then pass
to an inquiry into whether an alert signal may have been sent by
the appliance 248. If an alert signal has not been sent, the cycle
of operation may continue 246, and the control flow may then pass
to an inquiry into whether an alert signal may have been sent 248.
This may be repeated until an alert signal has been sent by the
appliance. The cycle of operation may continue 250, followed by an
inquiry 252 into whether an authorization signal may have been
received by the appliance from the remote electronic device 180. If
no authorization signal has been received, the cycle of operation
may continue 250, followed by a repeat of the immediately prior
inquiry. If an authorization signal has been received, the control
flow may pass to an inquiry addressed to whether the fan may be
operating 254. If it is not, the fan may be started 256. If it is,
the control flow may pass to an inquiry addressed to whether the
air heater may be on 258. If it is not, the air heater may be
started 260. If it is, the cycle of operation may continue 262,
followed by an inquiry addressed to whether the drum motor may be
on 264. If it is not, the drum motor may be started, followed by
continuation of the cycle of operation 268. If the drum motor is
on, the cycle of operation may be continued 268. After step 268,
the control flow may pass back to step 244 and the inquiry
addressed to whether the remaining time may be greater than zero.
The control flow may be repeated until the remaining time is not
greater than zero, and the control flow may pass from step 244 to
the ending of the cycle of operation 270.
[0045] The following alternative control flow may be similar to the
above-described control flow for an anti-sour cycle selected at the
start of a cycle of operation. However, with a cycle of operation
initiated, the anti-sour cycle not selected, and the remaining time
greater than zero, the cycle of operation may be continued for some
variable period of time 274, for example, to a rinse step.
Subsequently, the control flow may pass to an inquiry addressed to
whether the anti-sour cycle may have been selected 276. If the
anti-sour cycle has not been selected, the cycle of operation may
continue at 300, followed by an inquiry again addressed to whether
the remaining time may be greater than zero 272. If, however, the
anti-sour cycle has been selected, the control flow may proceed
through the steps of continuing the cycle of operation 278, an
inquiry into whether an alert signal may have been sent by the
appliance 280, continuing the cycle of operation 282, an inquiry
into whether an authorization signal may have been received by the
appliance 284, an inquiry into whether the fan may be operating
286, an inquiry into whether the air heater may be on 290, and an
inquiry into whether the drum motor may be on 296. Steps may also
include a start fan step 288, a start air heater step 292, and a
start drum motor step 298. The control flow may pass to
continuation of the cycle of operation 300, and ultimately the end
of the cycle of operation 302.
[0046] The flow chart may also include additional steps, such as
whether the drum rotation may be intermittent or continuous;
whether flowing of the air may comprise only the flow of unheated
air; whether the flow of air may comprise the flow of heated or
unheated air without rotation of the drum 120; whether
automatically initiating the anti-sour cycle may occur only when
the anti-sour cycle is selected on the user interface 115; and
whether automatically initiating the anti-sour cycle may occur only
when the authorization signal is received by the washing machine
110 before the expiration of the countdown timer.
[0047] High relative humidity levels in a treating chamber 128 may
contribute to an increase in the growth of microorganisms in a
laundry load. On some occasions, the appliance user may forget or
be unable to remove the laundry after the completion of a cycle of
operation, subjecting the laundry holding in the treating chamber
128 to high relative humidity levels over a substantial period of
time. The growth of microorganisms may generate an unpleasant odor
that may permeate and remain with the laundry. The growth of
microorganisms may also contribute to deterioration of laundry
items over time. Operation of the airflow device 170 to draw
ambient air into the tub 116 and exhaust the air within the tub 116
to the exterior of the washing machine 110 may decrease the
humidity of the environment within the tub 116, thereby
discouraging the growth of odor-producing microorganisms. The
airflow device 170 may also have an additional benefit of reducing
the temperature of the laundry, which may also inhibit the growth
of microorganisms.
[0048] The activation of the airflow device 170 may be combined
with additional tumbling after the completion of the user-selected
cycle of operation. Rotation of the drum 120 and tumbling of the
laundry load may facilitate evaporation of liquid from the laundry
by exposing more of the surface of the laundry. In addition,
tumbling of the laundry may discourage microorganism growth by
providing an unstable substrate (the laundry fabric) on which many
microorganisms find it difficult to propagate. Evaporation of
additional liquid from the laundry and subsequent removal of the
humid air from the tub 116 by the airflow device 170 may further
decrease the growth of odor-causing microorganisms in the
laundry.
[0049] Tumbling of the laundry load and activation of the airflow
device 170 may be employed independently. Alternatively, the
tumbling and activation of the airflow device 170 may be
coordinated to provide an additive or synergistic effect to
discourage the growth of microorganisms. The rate and number of
post-cycle rotations of the drum 120 may be set to minimize the
potential for mechanical damage to laundry items.
[0050] While the invention has been specifically described in
connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be
understood that this is by way of illustration and not of
limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be
construed as broadly as the prior art will permit. It should also
be noted that all elements of all of the claims may be combined
with each other in any possible combination, even if the
combinations have not been expressly claimed.
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