Method for maximizing drum rotational speed by continuously monitoring inertia during extraction

A method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum defining a treating chamber for receiving a laundry load for treatment, a motor rotatably driving the drum, and a controller controlling the operation of the motor to effect the rotation of the drum, the method comprising:

• setting a maximum rotational speed of the drum, which is greater than a satellizing speed, based on a maximum force condition of the drum that is a function of the mass of the drum and the rotational speed of the drum;
• accelerating the drum, with the motor, to increase a rotational speed of the drum toward the maximum rotational speed;
• repeatedly determining the mass and the rotational speed during the accelerating;
• re-setting the maximum rotational speed based on the determined mass and rotational speed;
• and
• terminating the accelerating when the determined rotational speed satisfies a predefined relationship with the maximum rotational speed.

A laundry treating appliance for treating a laundry load according to at least one cycle of operation, comprising:

• a rotatable drum defining a treating chamber for receiving a laundry load for treatment;
• a motor operably coupled to and rotatably driving the drum;
• a speed sensor providing a speed output indicative of the rotational speed of the drum;
• a mass sensor providing a mass output indicative of the mass of the rotating drum;
• and
• a controller receiving as input the speed output and the mass output, and controlling the motor to effect an accelerating of the drum toward a maximum rotational speed of the drum, which is calculated by the controller based on a maximum force condition of the drum that is a function of the mass of the drum and the rotational speed of the drum, while re-setting the maximum rotational speed during the accelerating based on the received speed output and mass output, and terminating the accelerating when the rotational speed satisfies a predefined relationship with the maximum rotational speed.