Abstract: A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a fluid additive dispenser and a controller. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing, a dispenser drawer, a water supply conduit, a first water valve, a shower plate, and a second water valve. The water supply conduit may be directed to the pod compartment defined by the dispenser drawer and define a water inlet. The shower plate may be disposed upstream from a primary compartment and the pod compartment. The controller may be configured to initiate a washing operation that includes initiating a wetting water flow at the second water valve to the pod compartment through the shower plate, initiating a break water flow to the pod compartment through the water supply conduit following the wetting water flow, and initiating a fill water flow through the shower plate following the break water flow.

Abstract: A method for operating a laundry apparatus, the laundry apparatus including a tub and a detergent dispenser, the method including initiating a washing cycle of a washing load; supplying a first dose of detergent to the tub via the detergent dispenser; performing a first agitation phase of the washing cycle; determining that a two-phase detergent condition exists; supplying a second dose of detergent to the tub via the detergent dispenser; and performing a second agitation phase of the washing cycle.

Abstract: A method for operating a laundry apparatus, the laundry apparatus including a tub and a detergent dispenser, the method including initiating a washing cycle of a washing load; supplying a first fill of heated water and a dose of detergent to the tub via the detergent dispenser; performing a first agitation phase of the washing cycle; determining that a two-phase heated water fill condition exists; supplying a second fill of heated water to the tub; and performing a second agitation phase of the washing cycle.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a sump for collecting wash fluid and a water supply valve for supplying the wash fluid during a fill cycle. A controller is configured for detecting when a pressure sensor of a water level detection system is partially blocked and implementing an incremental fill process. Specifically, the controller is configured for determining a remaining fill volume for the wash fluid to reach the target fill volume, opening the supply valve to provide a fraction of the remaining fill volume into the sump and then closing the supply valve, determining that a sump pressure measured by the water level detection system has stabilized, and repeating these steps until a stopping criterion occurs, such as when a fill cycle limit or a target volume is achieved.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a sump for collecting wash fluid, a supply valve for supplying the wash fluid, a drain assembly for discharging the wash fluid from the sump, and a water level detection system for measuring sump pressures/fill levels. A controller is configured to perform an initial fill cycle and determine a first volume of wash fluid required to reach a target pressure. The drain assembly then drains the sump and the process is repeated to determine a second volume of wash fluid required to reach the target pressure. The difference between the first volume and the second volume is at least partially a result of wash fluid that the drain assembly could not discharge through the drain hose. The controller may determine that the external drain is elevated, and compensate accordingly, if a difference between the first volume and the second volume exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method of operating a washing machine appliance is provided. The washing machine appliance includes a rotatable basket and a motor configured to drive the rotatable basket. The method includes sensing an attribute of articles in the basket. The method also includes determining a pause duration for an agitation operation based at least in part on the sensed attribute of the articles in the basket. The method further includes performing the agitation operation for a period of time. The agitation operation includes activating a motor of the washing machine appliance to agitate the articles within the basket for an agitation duration and deactivating the motor of the washing machine appliance for the pause duration. The period of time is equal to the sum of the agitation duration and the pause duration.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a sump for collecting wash fluid, a water supply valve for supplying wash fluid during a fill cycle, and a drain pump assembly for draining that wash fluid during a drain cycle. A controller is configured for monitoring the sump pressure using a water level detection system, detecting a fill sensing failure such as a slow pressure rise after the fill cycle, detecting a drain sensing failure such as a slow pressure drop during the drain cycle, and determining that the water level detection system is malfunctioning if the fill sensing failure and the drain sensing failure are detected.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub defining a wash chamber, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, and a motor operably coupled to the wash basket for selectively rotating the wash basket. A controller is configured for accelerating the wash basket at a predetermined acceleration rate during an acceleration period while monitoring various acceleration parameters. The controller also rotates the wash basket at a predetermined speed during a steady state period either before or after the acceleration period while measuring steady state parameters. The controller further determines a load score based at least in part on the acceleration parameters and the steady state parameters and determines a load weight based on the load score, the acceleration parameters, the steady state parameters, and a weighted transfer function.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a sump for collecting wash fluid, a water supply valve for supplying the wash fluid during a fill cycle, and a water level detection system including a pressure sensor for measuring sump pressures/fill levels. A controller is configured for operating the supply valve to fill the sump until a target volume is reached and obtaining a fill volume using the water level detection system. The controller determines that a fault condition exists based on a difference between the target volume and the fill volume, e.g., such as when the difference exceeds a predetermined fault threshold, and initiates a fault abatement process in response to determining that the fault condition exists.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub defining a wash chamber, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, and a motor operably coupled to the wash basket for selectively rotating the wash basket. A controller is configured for accelerating the wash basket to a predetermined speed during an acceleration period and maintaining that speed during a steady state period. The controller further determines a power drop from the maximum power required to accelerate the wash basket to the power required to maintain the predetermined speed, and the dry load weight is calculated using this power drop and a transfer function.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a sump for collecting wash fluid and a water supply valve for supplying the wash fluid during a fill cycle. A controller is configured for detecting when a pressure sensor of a water level detection system is partially blocked and implementing an incremental fill process. Specifically, the controller is configured for determining a remaining fill volume for the wash fluid to reach the target fill volume, opening the supply valve to provide a fraction of the remaining fill volume into the sump and then closing the supply valve, determining that a sump pressure measured by the water level detection system has stabilized, and repeating these steps until a stopping criterion occurs, such as when a fill cycle limit or a target volume is achieved.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a fluid additive dispenser and a controller. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing, a dispenser drawer, a water supply conduit, a first water valve, a shower plate, and a second water valve. The water supply conduit may be directed to the pod compartment defined by the dispenser drawer and define a water inlet. The shower plate may be disposed upstream from a primary compartment and the pod compartment. The controller may be configured to initiate a washing operation that includes initiating a wetting water flow at the second water valve to the pod compartment through the shower plate, initiating a break water flow to the pod compartment through the water supply conduit following the wetting water flow, and initiating a fill water flow through the shower plate following the break water flow.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub defining a wash chamber, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, and a motor operably coupled to the wash basket for selectively rotating the wash basket. A controller is configured for accelerating the wash basket during an acceleration period and maintaining the basket speed at a predetermined speed during a steady state period. Periodic measurements of a motor power and a basket speed are obtained during the acceleration period and an average motor power and an average basket speed are obtained during the steady state period. A load score is calculated based on the periodic measurements of the motor power and the basket speed, the average motor power, and the average basket speed.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a sump for collecting wash fluid, a water supply valve for supplying wash fluid during a fill cycle, and a drain pump assembly for draining that wash fluid during a drain cycle. A controller is configured for monitoring the sump pressure using a water level detection system, detecting a fill sensing failure such as a slow pressure rise after the fill cycle, detecting a drain sensing failure such as a slow pressure drop during the drain cycle, and determining that the water level detection system is malfunctioning if the fill sensing failure and the drain sensing failure are detected.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a motor for selectively rotating a wash basket within a wash tub. A controller is configured for initiating a spin cycle by ramping up the speed of the wash basket to a target speed. The controller monitors a measured basket speed to determine whether the measured basket speed has reached a predetermined acceleration reference speed within an acceleration time limit or whether the measured basket speed has fallen below a dropout reference speed for a dropout time limit. If either condition exists, the controller adjusts the operation of the washing machine appliance, e.g., by reducing the wash basket speed to permit wash fluid entrained in the annulus to escape and reduce drag on the wash basket.

Abstract: A method of testing a washing machine appliance includes performing a first fill test, performing a second fill test, performing an agitate test, performing a drain test, and performing a spin test. Each of the steps of performing the first fill test, performing the second fill test, performing the agitate test, performing the drain test, and performing the spin test are performed in a continuous process.

Abstract: Washing machine appliances and methods for operating washing machine appliances are provided. A washing machine appliance has a tub and a basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the basket defining a chamber for receipt of articles for washing. A method includes spraying an initial rinse volume of water into the tub, the water at a cold temperature. The method further includes rotating the articles within the tub, and spinning the articles within the tub. The method further includes spraying a final rinse volume of water into the tub, the water at a temperature greater than the cold temperature. The method further includes rotating the articles within the tub, and spinning the articles within the tub.

Abstract: A system for a computer application software developer has been developed. The system includes a local computer system with a computer readable electronic data storage media with a browser located on the local computer system. An application tools platform is stored on the browser that includes a computer software code compiler for use by the computer application software developer.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a fluid additive detection system with a pressure sensor. A fluid conduit extends between the pressure sensor and a reservoir. An inlet of the fluid conduit is positioned adjacent a bottom wall of the reservoir, and the inlet of the fluid conduit is contiguous with an interior of the reservoir such that fluid additive within the reservoir is flowable into the fluid conduit at the inlet of the fluid conduit. A pressure measurement signal of the pressure sensor is variable as a function of a height of the fluid additive within the reservoir.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub defining a wash chamber for receipt of a load of articles for washing and a water control valve for regulating a flow of water from a water supply into the wash chamber. A controller is configured for detecting a low water level in the wash chamber, e.g., due to a low water supply pressure, by obtaining a target volume and a fill volume; obtaining an underfill limit based at least in part on the fill volume; obtaining a tub water level after attempting to fill to the target volume; obtaining a new fill level if the tub water level is less than the underfill limit; and filling the wash tub to the new fill level.