Method and apparatus for balancing an unbalanced load in a washing machine

A washing machine comprising:

• a suspension system comprising a wash tub, a basket rotatably coupled within the wash tub and configured to receive a laundry load having a load size, and a drive and motor assembly, the suspension system defining a natural frequency that varies relative to the load size;
• a sensing mechanism configured to detect an unbalanced load in the washing machine based in part on the natural frequency of the suspension system relative to the load size;
• and
• a controller programmed to:
• determine the natural frequency of the suspension system based on the particular suspension system and the size of the load;
• initiate a spin cycle by increasing a spin speed of the basket to a target spin speed;
• communicate with the sensing mechanism;
• when an unbalanced load is detected by the sensing mechanism identify an out-of-balance load prior to reaching the target spin speed;
• determine if a quantity of previous out-of-balance load redistribution attempts exceeds a redistribution attempt threshold level;
• initiate an out-of-balance load redistribution if the quantity of previous out-of-balance load redistribution attempts has not exceeded the redistribution attempt threshold level;
• increase the spin speed of the basket to the target spin speed after the out-of-balance load redistribution;
• detect if the laundry load is out-of-balance with the sensing mechanism after increasing the spin speed of the basket;
• and
• if the determined quantity of previous out-of-balance load redistribution attempts has exceeded the redistribution attempt threshold level, limit the spin speed of the basket to a limited spin speed lower than and based on the determined natural frequency of the suspension system corresponding to the load size for a predefined period of time.