US 5,390,385 AGranted

Laundry management system for washing machines

AssigneeKnight Equipment International

InventorPaul M. Beldham

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Abstract

A system is provided for managing washing machines, and controlling laundry chemical dispensers. The system enables a user to choose controls, such as: automatically select, change, increment and monitor formulations used in a specific washing machine, or in a group of machines; flush out chemicals to the washing machine in conjunction with a low level indicator; select a specific washing machine out of a group of machines for a different operation; a power reset following a spike detection, power surge or a brownout; readings for: hot and cold water consumption, drain output, and steam output; the use of a plurality of machines to perform a series of washings using a sequence of chemicals; and, print-out times, and dates associated with the operation of each machine in a series of machines. The control system is regulated by an input keyboard, and specific operations may be recorded by a printout, viewed on a screen, or both.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A process for monitoring and controlling washing machines and operations therefor, comprising:

a.) controlling the washing machines with a controller board and an associated programmable microprocessor, using a program stored therein, the controller board being adapted to receive and store data and times corresponding to the washing machine operations;
b.) formulating and revising the program by means of a computer, including a memory and an associated input keyboard connected to the computer, the computer being adapted to feed the programs, and revisions thereto the controller board;
c.) interrogating the controller board for data from the washing machine operation contained therein, the computer and keyboard being detachably mounted to the controller board and to output means comprising a printer or display means connected to the computer;
d.) automatically selecting the appropriate chemical dispensing formulae stored in the controller board via formula select status signals from the washing machine at the commencement of each new wash load cycle;
and,
e. ) feeding chemical formulae from chemical containers to pumps connected to the washing machines, the pumps being adapted to receive pumping instructions from the controller, and to transmit pumping operations data to the controller board.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.