Method for operating a laundry washing machine using a unit dose package and laundry washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12264429-B2
Application number	US-202418630260-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2024
Priority date	Sep 14, 2018
Publication date	Apr 1, 2025
Grant date	Apr 1, 2025

Abstract

A laundry washing machine and a method for operating the washing machine offer ways to load a unit dose package into a compartment of the washing machine. A control unit controls the washing machine to add water to a compartment having a unit dose package. The tub is then filled with hot or cold water depending on the temperature of the water in the tub, or whether a sanitizing cycle of a washing program has been selected.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A laundry washing machine, comprising:
a cabinet supporting a washing tub;
a washing drum rotatably mounted within the washing tub and configured to receive a laundry load;
a treating agents dispenser comprising a compartment configured to receive a unit dose package containing a pre-measured amount of a treating agent; and
one or more water conveying lines configured to convey water to the compartment; a supply line fluidly connecting the treating agents dispenser and the washing tub; and a control unit configured to control the laundry washing machine to:
activate a controllable valve to provide a first water supply to the washing tub through the one or more water conveying lines and the compartment;
measure a temperature of water in the washing tub and store a value of the measured temperature in a memory of the control unit; and
perform a selection process based at least in part on the value of the measured temperature, the selection process comprising electing between one of:
(a) filling the washing tub with a volume of hot water when the value of the measured temperature is equal to or below a predetermined value; and
(b) filling the washing tub with a volume of cold water when the value of the measured temperature is above the predetermined value.

2. The laundry washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined value is 25° C.

3. The laundry washing machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the selection process is based at least in part on the value of the measured temperature and on a determination of whether or not the laundry washing mode is operating in a predetermined operating mode;
step (b) of the selection process comprises filling the washing tub with a volume of cold water when both (i) the value of the measured temperature is above the predetermined value and (ii) the laundry washing machine is not operating in the predetermined operating mode; and
the selection process further comprises:
(c) filling the washing tub with a volume of hot water when both (i) the value of the measured temperature is above the predetermined value and (ii) the laundry washing machine is operating in the predetermined operating mode.

4. The laundry washing machine of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined operating mode comprises a sanitizing cycle.

5. The laundry washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to control the laundry washing machine, after completing performance of the selection process, to fill the washing tub with an additional volume of water.

6. The laundry washing machine of claim 5 , wherein the additional volume of water comprises a volume of water sufficient to fill the washing tub to a water level corresponding to one or both of a preselected washing program and a sensed load level within the washing tub.

7. The laundry washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to provide the first water supply by:
activating the controllable valve to provide a first portion of the first water supply;
waiting a predetermined time without providing water through the controllable valve; and
after the predetermined time elapses, activating the controllable valve to provide a second portion of the first water supply.

8. The laundry washing machine of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined time is at least 10 seconds.

9. The laundry washing machine of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined time is at least 20 seconds.

10. The laundry washing machine of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined time is at least 30 seconds.

11. The laundry washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the one or more water conveying lines comprise at least one nozzle for generating a water jet over the compartment, and wherein water from the at least one water jet is oriented to directly hit the unit dose package.

12. The laundry washing machine of claim 1 , further comprising an interface unit arranged at a surface of the cabinet and configured to communicate user input selections to the control unit, the user interface unit having a selection input for selecting a washing program configured for using a unit dose package, wherein the control unit selects the washing program configured for using a unit dose package as the default washing program until a user input is received to change the washing program to a different washing program.

13. The laundry washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the unit dose package comprises a laundry-treating composition in a water-soluble membrane.

14. The laundry washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the control unit further controls a sensor in the laundry washing machine to monitor at least one of a water level, pressure or a moisture level in the washing tub, and wherein when the at least one water level, pressure or moisture level is below a predetermined threshold, water is supplied to the washing tub to maintain a water level for the selected washing program.

Assignees

• Electrolux Home Prod Inc
• Electrolux Consumer Products Inc

Inventors

• White Allison
• Li Yihong
• Madalena Oscar

Classifications

• C11D2111/12

  Soft surfaces, e.g. textile · CPC title

• D06F33/37 Primary

  of metering of detergents or additives · CPC title

• D06F2105/52

  Changing sequence of operational steps; Carrying out additional operational steps; Modifying operational steps, e.g. by extending duration of steps · CPC title

• D06F39/088

  Liquid supply arrangements · CPC title

• D06F2101/20

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