Dispensing treating chemistry in a laundry treating appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treating appliances often inefficiently dispense treating chemistries, such as detergents, due to fixed dosing times and volumes, which can lead to uneven distribution and reduced effectiveness, as the amount of laundry and soil level are not dynamically considered.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a dispensing pump in a laundry treating appliance determines the soil level and adjusts dispensing parameters like delivery rate, dilution rate, flow rate, and dispensing interval based on the soil level to optimize the dispensing of treating chemistries, ensuring efficient distribution and use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed predetermined dosing time and volume is used for dispensing treating chemistry, then the dispensing system is simple to operate, but the distribution becomes uneven and effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing system transitions from fixed predetermined dosing to dynamic adjustment of dispensing parameters. The controller continuously monitors soil level sensors and automatically adjusts the dispensing rate, timing, and volume of treating chemistry based on real-time soil level measurements, ensuring optimal distribution regardless of load conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple dispensing parameters including dispensing rate, dispensing volume, and dispensing timing based on detected soil levels. When high soil levels are detected, the system increases dispensing volume and rate; when low soil levels are detected, it reduces these parameters, thereby achieving uniform and effective distribution.
2Device complexity
If a fixed predetermined volume of treating chemistry is dispensed, then the dispensing system is simple to control, but the effectiveness is reduced when the amount of laundry or soil level varies
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates soil level sensors that continuously monitor the condition of the laundry load and provide feedback to the controller. The controller uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the dispensing parameters of treating chemistry, ensuring that the treatment effectiveness matches the actual soil level and amount of laundry present.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting soil levels and independently controlling the dispensing parameters without requiring user intervention. The controller autonomously modifies dispensing volume, rate, and timing based on sensor inputs, making the system adaptive to varying laundry conditions.
3Productivity
If treating chemistry is completely dispensed at the beginning of the wash phase, then the dispensing process is simple and quick, but the distribution becomes uneven and effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing process is segmented into multiple phases rather than being delivered as a single batch. The system divides the total dispensing volume into incremental portions that are released at different times during the wash cycle, allowing for more uniform distribution of treating chemistry throughout the laundry load.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic dispensing action where treating chemistry is released in intervals rather than continuously or all at once. The controller activates the dispensing mechanism at periodic intervals based on soil level feedback, ensuring that the chemistry is distributed uniformly throughout the wash phase.
Data Source
AI summary
An appliance and method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber for receiving laundry for treatment and a dispensing system having a dispensing pump for dispensing a treating chemistry for use in treating the laundry, the method comprising determining a soil level of laundry in the treating chamber and determining a dispensing parameter based on the determined soil level.