Laundry system and method to reduce textile microfiber release
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsJohn Joseph Roetker, Otto Armando Ramirez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laundry appliance and a method of operating the laundry appliance to reduce textile microfiber release includes performing an air wash cycle of a load of laundry articles before performing a wet wash cycle of the laundry load. The air wash cycle includes operating a fan to circulate an airflow through a laundry basket containing a load of laundry articles to release microfibers from the articles. A wet wash cycle follows the dry wash cycle, the wet wash cycle introduces a wash fluid to the load of laundry articles.
Claims17
A laundry appliance comprising:
- a tub positioned within a cabinet;
- a basket supported for rotation within the tub, the basket defining a chamber for receipt of laundry articles for washing and drying;
- a drive motor operatively coupled to the basket;
- an air duct system providing fluid communication between an air inlet, the chamber, and an air outlet, wherein the air inlet, the chamber, and the air outlet define an air flow path;
- an air filter within the air flow path;
- a fan operable to move a flow of air through the air flow path;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the drive motor and the fan, the controller being configured to:
- perform an air wash cycle on a load of laundry articles, wherein the air wash cycle comprises:
- operating the fan to circulate air within the air duct system;
- and
- rotating the basket at a tumble speed for a tumble duration, wherein rotating the basket comprises a first rotation period at the tumble speed of between about 30 revolutions per minute and about 50 revolutions per minute, followed by a dwell period of between about 3 to 60 seconds during which rotation is suspended, followed by a second rotation period at the tumble speed of between about 30 revolutions per minute and about 50 revolutions per minute;
- and
- perform a wet wash cycle on the load of laundry articles, wherein the wet wash cycle comprises introducing wash fluid into the tub;
- wherein the wet wash cycle is performed immediately following the air wash cycle.
A method of operating a laundry appliance, the laundry appliance comprising a basket defining a chamber, the basket supported for rotation within a tub, a drive motor operatively coupled to the basket, an air duct system providing fluid communication between an air inlet, the chamber, and an air outlet, wherein the air inlet, the chamber, and the air outlet define an air flow path, and a fan operable to move a flow of air through the air flow path, the method comprising:
- performing an air wash cycle on a load of laundry articles, wherein the air wash cycle comprises:
- operating the fan to circulate air within the air duct system;
- and
- rotating the basket at a tumble speed for a tumble duration, wherein rotating the basket comprises a first rotation period at the tumble speed of between about 30 revolutions per minute and about 50 revolutions per minute, followed by a dwell period of between about 3 to 60 seconds during which rotation is suspended, followed by a second rotation period at the tumble speed of between about 30 revolutions per minute and about 50 revolutions per minute;
- and
- performing a wet wash cycle on the load of laundry articles, wherein the wet wash cycle comprises introducing wash fluid into the tub;
- wherein the wet wash cycle is performed immediately following the air wash cycle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.