Method for implementing cleaning cycles in commercial washing machine appliances

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11970808-B2
Application number	US-202217715285-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 7, 2022
Priority date	Apr 7, 2022
Publication date	Apr 30, 2024
Grant date	Apr 30, 2024

Abstract

A method of operating a washing machine appliance in a commercial laundromat setting includes receiving a request to start a new wash cycle from a user of the washing machine appliance, determining that a self-clean condition exists, identifying an anticipated laundromat capacity, determining that the anticipated laundromat capacity falls below a predetermined capacity threshold, prompting the user to initiate a self-clean cycle in response to determining that the self-clean condition exists and that the anticipated laundromat capacity falls below the predetermined capacity threshold, receiving a command to initiate the self-clean cycle from the user, and initiating the self-clean cycle and providing the user with an incentive for initiating the self-clean cycle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a washing machine appliance comprising:
receiving a request to start a new wash cycle from a user;
determining that a self-clean condition exists;
identifying an anticipated laundromat capacity;
determining that the anticipated laundromat capacity falls below a predetermined capacity threshold;
prompting the user to initiate a self-clean cycle in response to determining that the self-clean condition exists and that the anticipated laundromat capacity falls below the predetermined capacity threshold;
receiving a command to initiate the self-clean cycle from the user; and
initiating the self-clean cycle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the self-clean condition exists comprises:
determining that a predetermined number of cycles has been performed since a performance of a prior self-clean cycle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the self-clean condition exists comprises:
determining that a predetermined amount of time has passed since performing a prior self-clean cycle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the self-clean condition exists comprises:
determining that an idle time measured between consecutive operating cycles exceeds a predetermined idle time.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the self-clean condition exists comprises:
determining that an accumulated soil level exceeds a predetermined soil threshold.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the anticipated laundromat capacity comprises:
identifying a current laundromat capacity; and
determining the anticipated laundromat capacity based at least in part on the current laundromat capacity.

7. The method of claim 1 , identifying the anticipated laundromat capacity comprises using a machine learning algorithm.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the machine learning algorithm uses historical laundromat usage data to determine the anticipated laundromat capacity.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the anticipated laundromat capacity falls below the predetermined capacity threshold comprises:
determining a self-clean cycle time; and
determining that the anticipated laundromat capacity during the self-clean cycle time falls below the predetermined capacity threshold.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein prompting the user to initiate the self-clean cycle comprises:
offering the user with an incentive for initiating the self-clean cycle; and
providing the user with the incentive after the self-clean cycle is initiated.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the incentive comprises at least one of a free or discounted wash cycle, a free or discounted dry cycle, or cycle credits.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the washing machine appliance is in operative communication with a remote device through an external network, and wherein communications with the user are performed using the remote device.

13. A washing machine appliance operating in a commercial laundromat, the washing machine appliance comprising:
a wash tub positioned within a cabinet;
a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub and defining a wash chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes;
a motor assembly mechanically coupled to the wash basket for selectively rotating the wash basket; and
a controller operably coupled to the motor assembly, the controller being configured to:
receive a request to start a new wash cycle from a user;
determine that a self-clean condition exists;
identify an anticipated laundromat capacity;
determine that the anticipated laundromat capacity falls below a predetermined capacity threshold;
prompt the user to initiate a self-clean cycle in response to determining that the self-clean condition exists and that the anticipated laundromat capacity falls below the predetermined capacity threshold;
receive a command to initiate the self-clean cycle from the user; and
initiate the self-clean cycle.

14. The washing machine appliance of claim 13 , wherein determining that the self-clean condition exists comprises at least one of determining that a predetermined number of cycles has been performed since a performance of a prior self-clean cycle, determining that a predetermined amount of time has passed since the performance of a prior self-clean cycle, determining that an idle time measured between consecutive operating cycles exceeds a predetermined idle time, or determining that an accumulated soil level exceeds a predetermined soil threshold.

15. The washing machine appliance of claim 13 , wherein identifying the anticipated laundromat capacity comprises:
identifying a current laundromat capacity; and
determining the anticipated laundromat capacity based at least in part on the current laundromat capacity.

16. The washing machine appliance of claim 13 , wherein prompting the user to initiate the self-clean cycle comprises:
offering the user with an incentive for initiating the self-clean cycle; and
providing the user with the incentive after the self-clean cycle is initiated.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Chung Myunggeon
• Yoon Je Kwon
• Jo Jaewon

Classifications

• D06F33/43 Primary

  Control of cleaning or disinfection of washing machine parts, e.g. of tubs · CPC title

• D06F2101/20

  Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programs, service modes or refreshment cycles · CPC title

• D06F2103/68

  Operation mode; Program phase · CPC title

• D06F2105/54

  Changing between normal operation mode and special operation modes, e.g. service mode, component cleaning mode or stand-by mode · CPC title

• D06F2105/58

  Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user · CPC title