Method for operating a washing appliance and washing appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10508375-B2
Application number	US-201415320768-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2014
Priority date	Jun 24, 2014
Publication date	Dec 17, 2019
Grant date	Dec 17, 2019

Abstract

A method for operating a laundry washing appliance having a washing chamber to wash laundry the method includes selecting a default washing temperature and/or a washing cycle having a default washing temperature; supplying a detergent to the washing chamber; and determining a type of the detergent which has been added. When the detergent is of a first type, then the method includes comparing the default washing temperature with a threshold temperature and if the default washing temperature is higher than the threshold temperature, then emitting a warning signal and/or changing said default washing temperature.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for operating a laundry washing appliance having a washing chamber to wash goods, said method including:
selecting a default washing temperature or a washing program having a default washing temperature;
supplying a detergent to the washing chamber;
detecting, by a sensor, a physical property of the detergent;
determining a type of said detergent which has been added based on the physical property of the detergent detected by the sensor;

wherein, in case said detergent is determined to be a first type including a deterrent in liquid or gel form, the method includes:
comparing said default washing temperature with a threshold temperature; and
when said default washing temperature is higher than said threshold temperature, emitting a warning signal or changing said default washing temperature.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said changing said default temperature includes:
lowering said default washing temperature to a reference temperature.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said reference temperature is identical to said threshold temperature.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein emitting a warning signal includes:
emitting a visual or acoustic signal indicating that the default washing temperature is too high.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, after emitting said warning signal, the method includes
allowing a user to modify said default washing temperature or said washing program.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, after changing said default washing temperature, the method includes:
allowing a user to modify the changed temperature.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, in ease said detergent is of a second type, the method includes leaving the default washing temperature or washing cycle unmodified.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said detergent of the second type is a detergent in powder form.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the type of said detergent includes:
measuring the conductivity of a washing liquid present in said washing chamber.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein said measuring the conductivity of the washing liquid includes:
determining the rate of change in conductivity caused by dissolution of said detergent in said washing liquid.

11. The method according to claim 1 , including:
measuring the turbidity of a washing liquid present in said washing chamber.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein measuring the turbidity of a washing liquid present in said washing chamber includes:
determining the rate of change in turbidity caused by dissolution of said detergent in said washing liquid.

13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein determining the type of said detergent includes:
measuring the conductivity of a washing liquid present in said washing chamber; and
measuring the turbidity of a washing liquid present in said washing chamber; and
determining that said detergent is a liquid or gel detergent when said conductivity is below a conductivity threshold and said turbidity is below a turbidity threshold; or
determining that said detergent is a powder detergent when said conductivity is above a conductivity threshold and said turbidity is above a turbidity threshold.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the type of said detergent includes:
selecting the type of detergent among a list of possible detergent types.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said threshold temperature depends on said selected washing program.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein selecting a default washing temperature or a washing program having a default washing temperature includes:
automatically selecting a washing program on the basis of one or more parameters of said goods.

17. A washing appliance including:
a washing chamber to wash laundry apt to rotate around an axis;
a control panel including one or more selection devices apt to select a default washing temperature or a washing program having a default washing temperature to wash laundry inside said washing chamber;
a sensor configured to detect a physical property of a detergent in the washing chamber; and
a control unit in communication with said sensor and said control panel, said control unit configured to:
determine a type of the detergent in said washing chamber based on the physical property of the detergent detected by the sensor, and
in response to determining that the type of detergent is a liquid or a gel, check whether said default washing temperature is higher than a given threshold, and send a warning signal or change said default washing temperature when said default washing temperature is higher than said threshold.

18. The washing appliance according to claim 17 , wherein said sensor is located within said washing chamber.

19. The washing appliance according to claim 17 , including a recirculating water circuit and said sensor is located within said circuit.

20. The washing appliance according claim 17 , wherein said sensor includes a conductivity sensor.

21. The washing appliance according to claim 17 , wherein said sensor includes a turbidity sensor.

22. The washing appliance according to claim 17 , wherein said washing appliance is a washing machine or a washer-dryer.

23. The washing appliance according to claim 17 , including a warning device connected to said control unit apt to warn a user when said default washing temperature is higher than a given threshold.

24. The washing appliance according to claim 17 , wherein said control unit is apt to modify said default washing temperature.

Assignees

• Electrolux Appliances AB

Inventors

• Zattin Andrea
• Del Maschio Federico
• Pesavento Elena

Classifications

• A47L15/0021 Primary

  Regulation of operational steps within the washing processes, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending from the detergent nature or from the condition of the crockery · CPC title

• A47L2401/026

  Nature or type of the consumable product, e.g. information on detergent, e.g. 3-in-1 tablets, rinsing aid or salt · CPC title

• A47L2401/30

  Variation of electrical, magnetical or optical quantities · CPC title

• A47L2401/12

  Water temperature · CPC title

• A47L2401/10

  Water cloudiness or dirtiness, e.g. turbidity, foaming or level of bacteria · CPC title