Laundry treating appliance with cleaning system for residual treating chemistry

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.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Contemporary appliances, such as clothes washers, dryers or dishwashers, may be provided with a dispensing system for automatically dispensing one or more treating chemistries during one or more cleaning cycles. The dispensing system may comprise a bulk dispensing holding multiple charges of treating chemistries, such as inside a removable cartridge. The treating chemistries may be supplied to the treating chamber via a metering pump, which is capable of controlling and varying the amount and dose frequency of treating chemistry from the cartridge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for operating a laundry treating appliance having a treating chemistry dispensing system including a removable reservoir coupled to an inlet of a dispenser, including spraying directly the inlet with a cleaning fluid, whereby the spraying of the cleaning fluid at least partially removes any residual treating chemistry on the inlet.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The invention is generally directed toward solving the problem of residual treating chemistry left in a dispensing system upon the removal of a reservoir, such as a cartridge. The residual chemistry may contaminate subsequent chemistry or interfere with the proper functioning of the dispensing system. The particular approach of the invention is to clean the interface between the reservoir and the dispensing system to remove the residual treating chemistry. One contemplated method is to spray a liquid onto the interface upon the removal of the reservoir to effect a rinsing of the treating chemistry from the interface.

FIG. 1is a schematic view of a laundry treating appliance10according to a first embodiment of the invention. As illustrated, the laundry treating appliance10may be a horizontal axis washing machine, although the laundry treating appliance10may be other machines, non-limiting examples of which include a vertical axis washing machine; a clothes dryer; a fabric freshener; a revitalizing machine; a tumbling or stationary refreshing/revitalizing machine; and a non-aqueous laundry system; and a dishwasher. Although much of the remainder of this application will focus on the embodiment of the washing machine, the invention may have utility in other environments, including other cleaning appliances, such as dishwashers, for example. The invention may also be utilized in fabric treatment appliances such as a dryer, such as a tumble dryer or a stationary dryer, or a combination washing machine and dryer.

Vertical axis washing machines have a rotatable drum that rotates about a generally vertical axis relative to a surface that supports the washing machine. However, the rotational axis need not be perfectly vertical to the surface. The drum may rotate about an axis inclined relative to the vertical axis, with fifteen degrees of inclination being one example of the inclination. Similar to the vertical axis laundry washing machine, the horizontal axis washing machine refers to a washing machine having a rotatable drum that rotates about a generally horizontal axis relative to a surface that supports the washing machine. The drum may rotate about the axis inclined relative to the horizontal axis, with fifteen degrees of inclination being one example of the inclination. The horizontal axis washing machine10shares many features of a conventional automated clothes washer, which will not be described in detail herein except as necessary for a complete understanding of the invention.

Vertical axis and horizontal axis machines are often best differentiated by the manner in which they impart mechanical energy to the fabric articles. In vertical axis machines, the fabric moving element moves within a drum to impart mechanical energy directly to the clothes or indirectly through wash liquid in the drum. In horizontal axis machines, mechanical energy is typically imparted to the clothes by the tumbling action formed by the repeated lifting and dropping of the clothes, which is typically implemented by the rotating drum itself. The invention disclosed herein may be suitable for use in both horizontal axis and vertical axis automatic clothes washing machines. The invention will be illustrated and described, however, in the context of a horizontal axis washing machine.

The washing machine10may include a cabinet12defining an interior and enclosing components typically found in a conventional washing machine, such as motors, pumps, fluid lines, controls, sensors, transducers, and the like. A door14may be hingedly mounted to the cabinet12to selectively close an access opening to the interior of a drum16that defines a treating chamber17in which one or more articles may be treated.

Both the drum16and a basket18may be located within the interior of the cabinet12. The drum16may be operably coupled with a motor19to selectively rotate the drum16during a cleaning cycle. The drum16may be associated with a sump20for holding a liquid used during a cleaning cycle. The sump20may be normally connected to a drain via a valve and/or pump to provide a flow path for removing the liquid from the washing machine10.

The coupling of the motor19to the drum16may be direct or indirect. A direct coupling may include the output shaft of the motor coupled to a hub of the drum. An indirect coupling may include a belt coupling an output shaft of the motor to a wheel/pulley on the drum.

While the drum16may be described as defining the treating chamber17, with the basket18located within the drum16, it may be that just the basket18need be considered the treating chamber17as the laundry load is typically retained within the basket18and the treating chemistry may be dispensed directly into the basket18or indirectly through the drum16.

The cabinet12may also include a dispensing system28for dispensing a treating chemistry during a cleaning cycle. The dispensing system28may include a reservoir34of treating chemistry that is releasably coupled to a dispenser29, which dispenses the treating chemistry from the reservoir to the treating chamber17. The treating chemistry may be any type of aid for treating laundry, and non-limiting examples include, but are not limited to washing aids, such as detergents and oxidizers, including bleaches, and additives, such as fabric softeners, sanitizers, de-wrinklers, and chemicals for imparting desired properties to the laundry, including stain resistance, fragrance (e.g., perfumes), insect repellency, and UV protection.

As illustrated, the dispensing system28may be located in the upper portion of the cabinet12such that the user may access the dispensing system28from the exterior of the cabinet12, although other locations are also possible. The dispenser29may include a dispensing housing30and a dispensing drawer32received within and fluidly coupled to the dispensing housing30. The reservoir is illustrated in the form of a bulk dispensing cartridge34and may be releasably received in the dispensing drawer32.

Although the bulk dispensing cartridge34has been illustrated or described as a rectangular box-like container, the bulk dispensing cartridge34may be any type of removable container configured to store multiple doses of a treating chemistry. The container may have any shape and size that is receivable within the dispensing. The removable container may be flexible, rigid, expandable, or collapsible. The container may be made of any type of material. Some examples of suitable cartridges are, without limitation, a plastic container, a cardboard container, a coated cardboard container, and a bladder, all of which are capable of being received within the dispensing.

The dispenser29may further include a metering pump36fluidly coupling the bulk dispensing cartridge34to the dispensing housing30which in turn fluidly couples to the tub16via a dispensing line38. The metering pump36may be a pump having, for example, a mechanical flow meter, a magnetic flow meter, or any other meter suitable for measuring liquid flow, all well known in the treatment appliance art. The metering pump36may be operably coupled with the controller24through a control lead40.

The metering pump36may dose treating chemistry into the drum16one or more times during a single cleaning cycle. Dosing of the treating chemistry does not need to be done all at one time. For example, smaller amounts of treating chemistry, equal to a full single dose, or in other embodiments, a fraction of a full dose, may be dispensed by the metering pump36at separate times throughout the cleaning cycle. Further, multiple full doses may be dispensed during the cleaning cycle. As used herein, the term “single dose of treating chemistry”, and variations thereof, refers to an amount of treating chemistry sufficient for one cleaning cycle of the washing machine10and the term “multiple doses of treating chemistry”, and variations thereof, refers to an amount of treating chemistry sufficient for multiple cleaning cycles of the automatic clothes washing machine.

A water supply system typically provides water to the bulk dispensing system28. The water supply system is illustrated as having a conduit42fluidly coupled with a water supply44, and a valve46. The water supply44may fluidly couple to the drum16directly through conduit42to valve46and then through a dispensing line48. Alternatively, the water supply44may also be coupled to the drum16via the dispensing system28and the dispensing line38, where water is supplied to the dispensing system28through conduit42, valve46, and conduit50.

While not shown, some clothes washers include a recirculation system for recirculation of liquid from the sump20to the laundry in the basket18. The recirculating spray may be used in combination with rotating the drum to draw the sprayed liquid through the laundry using centrifugal force. Alternatively, or in combination with the recirculation system, the liquid may be raised to a level within the drum16where a portion of the basket18may be submerged. The rotation of the basket18causes the laundry to tumble in the liquid. Either of the recirculation or tumble methods of cleaning may be used with the current invention. The recirculation system may be implemented by providing a recirculation pump having an inlet coupled to the sump20and an outlet supplying a spray nozzle directed to the interior of the drum.

The washing machine10may also include a controller24to communicably couple one or more components to receive an output signal from components and control the operation of the washing machine10to implement one or more cycles of operation. A user interface22may be provided to enable the user to input commands to the controller24and receive information about a specific cleaning cycle from sensors (not shown) in the washing machine10or via input by the user through the user interface22.

The details of the dispensing system28will now be described with respect toFIGS. 2-3. Referring specifically toFIG. 2, the dispenser29includes a dispensing drawer32, which is configured to releasably receive and carry the bulk dispensing cartridge34. The dispensing drawer32is mounted to the cabinet12for slidable movement between a closed position (FIG. 2) and an opened position (FIG. 3).

Still referring toFIG. 2, an interface between the bulk dispensing cartridge34and the metering pump36may be formed by cooperating connectors62,64. As illustrated, the bulk dispensing cartridge34includes the female connector62and the metering pump36includes the male connector64. The male connector64defines an inlet for the dispenser29. The female and male connector62,64may fluidly couple the bulk dispensing cartridge34to the metering pump36. The metering pump36may optionally include a valve (not shown) that may be positioned between the male connector64and the metering pump36to control the flow of the treating chemistry.

Although the female and male connectors62,64are coupled to the metering pump36and bulk dispensing cartridge34respectively, it is noted that any configuration of male and/or female connectors may be adapted to the metering pump36and/or dispensing cartridge34. For example, female and male connectors may be coupled to the metering pump36and bulk dispensing cartridge34, respectively. In another example, both male connectors may be adapted to fluidly couple the bulk dispensing cartridge34to the metering pump36by female connectors in between.

The metering pump36may be fluidly coupled through an outlet conduit66to a mixing chamber68. The mixing chamber68may be further coupled to the water inlet70from the water supply44through a diverter valve72. The mixing chamber68may be coupled to the treating chamber17via the dispensing line38and the control valve73. The mixing chamber68is optional and may be eliminated. For example, the water inlet70and output conduit66may be directly coupled to the dispensing line38.

The dispensing system may include a cleaning sprayer74having at least one nozzle75spraying the inlet to the dispenser29, which is illustrated as the male connector64. A cleaning fluid from the nozzle75may be provided from the water supply44through the diverter valve72. The cleaning sprayer74may be located anywhere relative to the male connector64, but is shown positioned above the male connector64of the metering pump36such that the nozzle75of the cleaning sprayer74may directly aim downwardly at the male connector64, such that the cleaning fluid is caught by the housing30and ultimately find its way to the sump20where it can be drained.

The dispenser29may also comprise one or more sensors76for detecting the presence of the cartridge34coupled to the dispenser29. The sensor76may be positioned on the inner surface of the cabinet12, near to the cleaning sprayer74, while the sensor76may be practically positioned anywhere in, or coupled to the dishwasher10, to sense the displacement or absence of the dispensing drawer32relative to the cabinet12. For example, the sensor76may be positioned on the outside portion of the cabinet10to sense the movement of the dispensing drawer32exterior of the cabinet12. The sensor76may be, for example, in the form of a position sensor, such as a switch, and may be operably coupled to the controller24.

The sensor76may directly or indirectly determine the presence/absence of the bulk dispensing cartridge34. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the dispensing drawer32being in the opened position is indicative of the bulk dispensing cartridge34being uncoupled from the dispenser29. Thus, the position of the dispensing drawer32may be used to indicate the presence/absence of the bulk dispensing cartridge34. For purposes of this application, determining the presence or absence of the bulk dispensing cartridge34are equal alternatives. To the extent only one is described, it should not be considered as excluding the other or limiting the invention to the described version.

FIG. 4is a schematic view of a controller24of the washing machine10inFIG. 1. The controller24may be communicably coupled to components of the washing machine10such as the motor19, metering pumps36, control valves46,72,73, and sensor76to either control these components and/or receive their input for use in controlling the components. The controller24is also operably coupled to the user interface22to receive input from the user for the implementation of the wash cycle and provide the user with information regarding the cleaning cycle.

The user interface22may be provided that has operational controls such as dials, lights, knobs, levers, buttons, switches, and displays enabling the user to input commands to a controller24and receive information about a specific cleaning cycle from sensors (not shown) in the washing machine10or via input by the user through the user interface22. To aid the input of information by the user, the user interface22may be electrically coupled with the controller24through user interface leads26. The user may enter many different types of information, including, without limitation, cycle selection and cycle parameters, such as cycle options. Any suitable cycle may be used. Non-limiting examples include, Heavy Duty, Normal, Delicates, Rinse and Spin, Sanitize, and Bio-Film Clean Out. The term “cleaning cycle” is used to mean one operational cycle of the washing machine10that cleans a load of laundry.

In this way, the controller24can implement a wash cycle selected by the user according to any options selected by the user and provide related information to the user. The controller24may also comprise a central processing unit (CPU)80and an associated memory82where various wash cycle and associated data, such as look-up tables, may be stored. One or more software applications, such as an arrangement of executable commands/instructions may be stored in the memory and executed by the CPU80to implement the one or more wash cycles.

In operation, when the dispensing drawer32having the bulk dispensing cartridge34is in the closed position (FIG. 2), the female connector64in the bulk dispensing cartridge34engages the male connector64for interface coupling. The metering pump36may pump a predetermined amount of the treating chemistry35from the dispensing cartridge34to the mixing chamber68one or more times. Water may be separately provided by the actuation of the control valve46from the water supply44through the diverter valve72to the mixing chamber68. Treating chemistry may be mixed with water in the mixing chamber68to form treating chemistry-water solution78, and supplied to the treating chamber17via dispensing line38.

It is noted that supplying treating chemistry and/or water could be accomplished by the user selecting a cleaning cycle on the user interface22, which would then be processed by the controller24, along with an optional determination in a known manner of the size of the load or other load parameters, to automatically dispense the appropriate volume of treating chemistry.

In the closed position, the female and male connectors62,64are coupled, and the dispensing drawer32may not move around. Therefore, the sensor76does not sense any displacement or absence of the dispensing drawer32, and does not send any output signal to the controller24. As a result the cleaning sprayer74may not provide any cleaning fluid downward onto the inlet of the first coupler64.

The dispensing drawer32may be withdrawn outside the dishwasher10to the opened position (FIG. 3) when, for example, the amount the treating chemistry in the bulk dispensing cartridge34is below a predetermined level such that the bulk dispensing cartridge34needs to be replaced. When the dispensing drawer32slides outside the cabinet12, the female and male connector62,64may disengage each other, and the residual treating chemistry captured around the exterior of an inlet of the male connector64may be exposed.

The position sensor76indicating that the drawer is opened may be used as an indication that the inlet of the male connector64is exposed, which is accomplished by the position sensor76sending an output signal to the controller24. The controller24may then open the diverter valve72to provide the cleaning fluid from the nozzle75of the cleaning sprayer74downward the inlet of the male connector64to clean off any residual treating chemistry. The cleaning fluid may include water or mixed treating chemistry-water solution78. The cleaning fluid may be provided only for a predetermined time. The sprayed cleaning fluid may be received by the dispensing housing, and may drain to the treating chamber17or a sump20via the dispensing line38and the control valve73.

FIG. 5is a side schematic view of variation of the dispensing system ofFIGS. 2 and 3, with the addition of a second sprayer77. This variation of the dispensing system works in the same manner as the dispensing system ofFIGS. 2 and 3, except that the second sprayer77is configured to spray on the back of the female connector62and the cartridge32as the drawer is opened. In this manner, the inlet, female connector62, and cartridge are all sprayed to clean any residual treating chemistry. While two sprayers74,77are illustrated, it is possible to configure just the single sprayer74to spray the inlet, drawer, and the cartridge. With this two sprayer configuration, the sensor76may be configured to indicate an opened position of the dispensing cartridge34when the position of the dispensing cartridge34is changed relative to the cabinet12by a predetermined spacing, where the predetermined spacing may be such that a liquid of spray may be applied to both the inlet64and the dispensing cartridge34and the female connector62at the same time.

The benefit of a rinsing nozzle with bulk dispensing system may be that the cleaning sprayer74is able to clean off any unnecessary, residual treating chemistry that may stick around the inlet of the metering pump36. Depending on the type of treating chemistry and lapse of time until the bulk dispensing cartridge34is replaced, the residual treating chemistry may solidify and interfere with the fluid coupling of the replacement cartridge; and, if the treating chemistries are different, the residual chemistry may contaminate the chemistry in the replacement cartridge. By spraying a cleaning fluid directly onto the connector of the metering pump36, the possibility that the treating chemistry may block the inlet conduit of the metering pump36may be prevented. The spray may also be used to clean the housing30. The cleaning may be effected without the user having to manually clean off the treating chemistry dropped on the dispensing housing30or other component of the washing machine10.