US-12618185-B2 - Method for controlling an agitation cycle in a washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine appliance comprises a wash basket with an agitation device mounted within a wash tub, a motor mechanically coupled to the agitation device, and a control panel. A controller is configured to receive a user input selecting a target wash cycle from a plurality of wash cycles including a subset of modifiable wash cycles and a subset of fixed wash cycles, the target wash cycle including an agitation cycle profile, determine that the target wash cycle is a modifiable wash cycle, receive a user input selecting an agitation cycle modifier for adjusting an agitation cycle profile of the target wash cycle, and perform the target wash cycle with a modified agitation cycle profile as modified by the agitation cycle modifier.

Inventors

• John Joseph Roetker

Assignees

• HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230825

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A washing machine appliance comprising: a subwasher positioned within a cabinet, the subwasher comprising: a wash tub; a wash basket mounted within the wash tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber configured for receiving a load of laundry articles; an agitation device positioned within the wash chamber; a motor mechanically coupled to the agitation device; a control panel including input selectors; and a controller operably coupled to the motor and the control panel, the controller configured to: receive a user input selecting a target wash cycle from a plurality of wash cycles, wherein the plurality of wash cycles comprises a subset of modifiable wash cycles and a subset of fixed wash cycles, the target wash cycle comprising an agitation cycle profile; determine that the target wash cycle is a modifiable wash cycle; receive a user input selecting an agitation cycle modifier for adjusting the agitation cycle profile of the target wash cycle; and perform the target wash cycle with a modified agitation cycle profile as modified by the agitation cycle modifier, wherein the control panel comprises a display screen including a user input, the controller further configured to: cause a display of an agitation modification selector at the display screen in response to a user input selecting a target wash cycle included in the subset of modifiable wash cycles of the plurality of wash cycles; and block the display of an agitation modification selector at the display screen in response to a user input selecting a target wash cycle included in the subset of fixed wash cycles of the plurality of wash cycles.
2. 2 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the agitation cycle profile comprises: rotation of the agitation device in a first direction at a first speed for a first duration; a first dwell time; rotation of the agitation device in a second direction at a second speed for a second duration; and a second dwell time; and wherein the agitation cycle modifier alters one or more of the first speed, the first duration, the first dwell time, the second speed, the second duration, and the second dwell time.
3. 3 . The washing machine appliance of claim 2 , wherein the agitation cycle modifier reduces the first speed and the second speed.
4. 4 . The washing machine appliance of claim 2 , wherein the agitation cycle modifier reduces the first duration and the second duration by a total time reduction and increases the first dwell time and the second dwell time by a total time increase corresponding to the total time reduction.
5. 5 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein: receiving a user input selecting an agitation cycle modifier for adjusting an agitation cycle profile of the target wash cycle comprises user manipulation of the agitation modification selector at the display screen.
6. 6 . The washing machine appliance of claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause a display at the display screen confirming a selection of an agitation cycle modifier for the target wash cycle.
7. 7 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the agitation device comprises at least one of a plurality of ribs extending from the wash basket into the wash chamber and a vane agitator.
8. 8 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the agitation cycle modifier reduces a duty cycle.
9. 9 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the subset of modifiable wash cycles comprises a normal cycle, a whites cycle, a towels cycle, a cold wash cycle, a synthetics cycle, and a rinse and spin cycle.
10. 10 . A method of operating a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising a subwasher positioned within a cabinet, the subwasher comprising a wash tub, a wash basket mounted within the wash tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber configured for receiving a load of laundry articles, an agitation device positioned within the wash chamber, a motor mechanically coupled to the agitation device, a control panel including input selectors, and a controller operably coupled to the motor and the control panel, the method comprising: receiving a user input selecting a target wash cycle from a plurality of wash cycles, wherein the plurality of wash cycles comprises a subset of modifiable wash cycles and a subset of fixed wash cycles, the target wash cycle comprising an agitation cycle profile; determining that the target wash cycle is a modifiable wash cycle; receiving a user input selecting an agitation cycle modifier for adjusting the agitation cycle profile of the target wash cycle; and performing the target wash cycle with a modified agitation cycle profile as modified by the agitation cycle modifier, wherein the control panel comprises a display screen including a user input, the method further comprising: causing a display of an agitation modification selector at the display screen in response to a user input selecting a target wash cycle included in the subset of modifiable wash cycles of the plurality of wash cycles; and blocking the display of an agitation modification selector at the display screen in response to a user input selecting a target wash cycle included in the subset of fixed wash cycles of the plurality of wash cycles.
11. 11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the agitation cycle profile comprises: rotation of the agitation device in a first direction at a first speed for a first duration; a first dwell time; rotation of the agitation device in a second direction at a second speed for a second duration; and a second dwell time; and wherein the agitation cycle modifier alters one or more of the first speed, the first duration, the first dwell time, the second speed, the second duration, and the second dwell time.
12. 12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the agitation cycle modifier reduces the first speed and the second speed.
13. 13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the agitation cycle modifier reduces the first duration and second duration by a total time reduction ad increases the first dwell time and the second dwell time by a total time increase corresponding to the total time reduction.
14. 14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein receiving a user input selecting an agitation cycle modifier for adjusting an agitation cycle profile of the target wash cycle comprises user manipulation of the agitation modification selector.
15. 15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the method is further configured to cause a display at the display screen confirming selection of an agitation cycle modifier for the target wash cycle.
16. 16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the agitation cycle modifier reduces a duty cycle.
17. 17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the subset of modifiable wash cycles comprises a normal cycle, a whites cycle, a towels cycle, a cold wash cycle, a synthetics cycle, and a rinse and spin cycle.
18. 18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the subset of fixed wash cycles comprises a quick wash cycle, a bulky cycle, a sanitize cycle, a power clean wash cycle, a self-clean cycle, and a delicates cycle.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure relates generally to washing machine appliances, more specifically to methods of operating the agitation cycle in a washing machine. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Washing machine appliances generally include a cabinet that receives a tub for containing wash and rinse water, and a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub. At various stages of a wash cycle, the wash basket agitates a load of laundry articles received therein. The agitation adds mechanical energy to the laundry load and causes interfacial scrubbing of the laundry articles that is useful in removing stains and particulate matter from the articles. Recently, the interfacial scrubbing has been associated with microfiber abrasion and release of microfibers to the laundry effluent. Efforts have been made to reduce the release of microfibers to the environment in the wastewater system. One method is to reduce the abrasion in washing machines by reducing the energy added to laundry articles in the agitating the wash basket. However, some laundry loads of soiled articles require energetic agitation in order to be adequately cleaned. Accordingly, a laundry agitation cycle which prevents the transmission of microfibers into the wastewater system without hampering the laundry process would be beneficial. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. In one exemplary aspect a washing machine appliance is disclosed, the washing machine appliance comprises a wash basket mounted within a wash tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber, an agitation device positioned in the wash chamber, a motor mechanically coupled to the agitation device, a control panel, and a controller operably coupled to the motor and the control panel. The controller is configured to receive a user input selecting a target wash cycle from a plurality of wash cycles including a subset of modifiable wash cycles and a subset of fixed wash cycles, the target wash cycle including an agitation cycle profile. The controller is further configured to determine that the target wash cycle is a modifiable wash cycle, receive a user input selecting an agitation cycle modifier for adjusting an agitation cycle profile of the target wash cycle, and perform the target wash cycle with a modified agitation cycle profile as modified by the agitation cycle modifier. In another exemplary aspect a method of operating a washing machine appliance is disclosed. The washing machine comprises a wash basket mounted within a wash tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber, an agitation device positioned in the wash chamber, a motor mechanically coupled to the agitation device, a control panel, and a controller operably coupled to the motor and the control panel. The method comprises receiving a user input selecting a target wash cycle from a plurality of wash cycles including a subset of modifiable wash cycles and a subset of fixed wash cycles, the target wash cycle including an agitation cycle profile. The method further comprises determining that the target wash cycle is a modifiable wash cycle, receiving a user input selecting an agitation cycle modifier for adjusting an agitation cycle profile of the target wash cycle, and performing the target wash cycle with a modified agitation cycle profile as modified by the agitation cycle modifier. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures. FIG. 1 provides a front perspective view of a laundry appliance with the door closed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 provides a front perspective view of the laundry appliance of FIG. 1 with the door open; FIG. 3 provides a side sectional view taken along III-III of the laundry appliance of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 provides a side sectional view taken along III-III of an alternate embodiment of the laundry appliance of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 provides an enlarged view of a portion of the control panel of FIG. 1; FIG. 6; illustrates a method for operating a washing machine appliance in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; and FIG. 7 provides a flow diagram of an exemplary process for implementing a an agitation cycle modifier in a washing machine appliance wash cycle in accordance with