Rinsing procedure for automatic washing machine
AssigneeFisher & Paykel Limited
InventorsGordon George Badger, Paul Stephen Hood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laundry washing machine in which water is conserved by replacing the conventional deep rinse by a series of spray rinses. Each spray rinse utilises a predetermined quantity of water which is sprayed directly at the clothes load while the load is rotated, thereby allowing the rinse water to pass straight through the clothes load, removing soil and/or detergent from the clothes on its way. The amount of water used in each spray rinse is determined from a first "sense rinse" cycle in which the volume of water required to totally saturate the clothes load is found. In each subsequent rinse, a proportion (preferably from about 50% to about 100%) of this value is used.
Claims21
A method of washing and rinsing a load in a washing liquid and detergent solution during a washing cycle of a laundry washing machine having a rotatable spin tub within a stationary water container, the walls of said spin tub having a number of holes therein to allow liquid flow between said spin tub and said water container, a valve means to control admission of washing liquid to said spin tub, draining means to control the removal of said washing liquid from said water container, control means including timing means to determine the duration of selected functions of said washing machine and washing liquid level determining means, said method comprising the steps of:
- i) commencing a washing phase of said washing cycle in which said valve means admits washing liquid to said spin tub and said load is washed in said liquid and detergent solution,
- ii) operating said draining means to drain a substantial amount of said washing liquid and detergent from said water container,
- iii) commencing a washing liquid and detergent extraction phase of said washing cycle to centrifugally extract washing liquid and detergent from said load by rotating said spin tub at a first speed for a predetermined length of time to cause said washing liquid and detergent to pass from said load, through said holes in said spin tub walls and into said water container while said draining means is operated to remove said washing liquid and said detergent from said water container,
- iv) commencing a sensing rinse phase of said washing cycle by initiating admission of washing liquid into said spin tub while starting said timing means and causing said draining means to prevent said washing liquid from being removed from said water container,
- v) completing said sensing rinse by ending said admission of washing liquid to said spin tub when said washing liquid level indicating means indicates that the level of washing liquid in said water container has reached a predetermined level and stopping said timing means, said timing means indicating a sensed time representative of a sensed volume of washing liquid admitted to said spin tub during said sensing rinse phase,
- vi) operating said draining means to cause extraction of washing liquid and detergent from said water container and commencing a further washing liquid and detergent extraction phase of said washing cycle by rotating said spin tub at a second speed to centrifugally extract washing liquid and detergent from said load,
- vii) commencing a further rinse phase by operating said washing liquid admission means to cause a predetermined fraction of said sensed volume of said washing liquid to be admitted to said spin tub,
- vii) rotating said spin tub at a third spin speed to centrifugally extract washing liquid and detergent from said load, and
- ix) repeating steps (vii) and (viii) a number of times until the end of said washing cycle is reached.
A laundry washing machine having a rotatable spin tub within a stationary water container, the walls of said spin tub having a number of holes therein to allow liquid flow between said spin tub and said water container, a valve means to control admission of washing liquid to said spin tub, draining means to control the removal of said washing liquid from said water container, control means which control the operation of said machine which includes timing means to determine the duration of selected functions of said washing machine and washing liquid level determining means, said control means storing a program which causes the control means to:
- i) commence a washing phase of said washing cycle in which said valve means admits washing liquid to said spin tub and said load is washed in said liquid and detergent solution,
- ii) operate said draining means to drain a substantial amount of said washing liquid and detergent from said water container,
- iii) commence a washing liquid and detergent extraction phase of said washing cycle to centrifugally extract washing liquid and detergent from said load by rotating said spin tub at a first speed for a predetermined length of time to cause said washing liquid and detergent to pass from said load, through said holes in said spin tub walls and into said water container while said draining means is operated to remove said washing liquid and said detergent from said water container,
- iv) commence a sensing rinse phase of said washing cycle by initiating admission of washing liquid into said spin tub while starting said timing means and causing said draining means to prevent said washing liquid from being removed from said water container,
- v) complete said sensing rinse by ending said admission of washing liquid to said spin tub when said washing liquid level indicating means indicates that the level of washing liquid in said water container has reached a predetermined level and stopping said timing means, said timing means indicating a sensed time representative of a sensed volume of washing liquid admitted to said spin tub during said sensing rinse phase,
- vi) operate said draining means to cause extraction of washing liquid and detergent from said water container and commencing a further washing liquid and detergent extraction phase of said washing cycle by rotating said spin tub at a second speed to centrifugally extract washing liquid and detergent from said load,
- vii) commence a further rinse phase by operating said washing liquid admission means to cause a predetermined fraction of said sensed volume of said washing liquid to be admitted to said spin tub,
- viii) rotate said spin tub at a third spin speed to centrifugally extract washing liquid and detergent from said load, and
- ix) commence further rinse and spin phases utilising a predetermined fraction of said sense volume of said washing fluid until the end of said washing cycle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.