Laundry Appliance Post-Cycle Rinse Sequence for Contaminant Removal

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Laundry treatment appliances face issues with residue, such as pet hair, remaining in the drum after washing heavily soiled loads, leading to ineffective washing and contamination of subsequent loads.

Innovation Solution

A laundry treatment appliance with a controller that initiates a rinse sequence after determining the laundry load has been removed from the drum, utilizing high-speed drum rotation, air circulation, and water supply to remove contaminants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the drum is rotated at high speed during the rinse sequence, then contaminants are effectively removed from the laundry assembly, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The rinse sequence operates periodically by alternating between high-speed drum rotation phases and air circulation phases. The controller initiates the rinse sequence after detecting the laundry load has been removed, performs high-speed rotation to dislodge contaminants, then switches to air circulation to remove loosened particles. This periodic alternation achieves effective cleaning while managing energy consumption through phase switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If a rinse sequence is initiated after every laundry cycle, then the laundry assembly is thoroughly cleaned, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontaminant removalVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller uses feedback from sensors to detect when the laundry load has been removed from the drum before initiating the rinse sequence. This feedback mechanism ensures the rinse sequence is triggered at the appropriate time, automatically performing thorough cleaning without requiring additional manual intervention or complex scheduling systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The rinse sequence is designed as an automatic self-service function that the appliance performs on its own after detecting the laundry load has been removed. The controller autonomously initiates the rinse sequence without user input, and the system uses its existing components (drum, air circulation system, water supply) to perform the cleaning, avoiding the need for separate dedicated cleaning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If air circulation is used during the rinse sequence, then contaminants are removed from the drum, but the duration of the cleaning operation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning thoroughnessVSAvoidoperation duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The air circulation system operates continuously during the rinse sequence, maintaining constant airflow through the drum to continuously remove loosened contaminants. The controller keeps the air circulation system active throughout the entire rinse sequence duration, ensuring thorough removal of particles without requiring multiple separate air circulation phases, thereby optimizing the balance between cleaning thoroughness and operation duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively cleans residual contaminants from the drum and tub, ensuring cleaner subsequent wash cycles and improved appliance performance.

Implementation Method 1

Rotating the drum at a high speed may cause water within the drum to be forced into the tub

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

moving air through the drum and tub to evaporate any water remaining within the drum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS12529177B2Laundry treatment appliance and method of performing a post-cycle cleaning operation

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A laundry treatment appliance includes a cabinet; a laundry assembly positioned within the cabinet, the laundry assembly including a wash tub and a drum rotatably provided within the wash tub; and a controller operably coupled with the drum, the controller configured to perform an operation. The operation includes determining that a predetermined laundry cycle of a laundry load has been completed; determining that the laundry load has been removed from the laundry assembly after determining that the predetermined laundry cycle has been completed; and initiating a rinse sequence after determining that the laundry load has been removed from the drum, wherein the rinse sequence is configured to remove contaminants from the laundry assembly.