LAUNDRY TREATING APPLIANCE HAVING A MOVABLE LAUNDRY GUIDE

Abstract

A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation includes a cabinet defining an interior and at least partially defining a loading opening provided within a front surface of the cabinet. A drum is rotatable within the interior and at least partially defines a treating chamber located within the interior and accessible through the loading opening. The laundry treating appliance can further include a laundry guide.

Description

BACKGROUND

Laundry treating appliances, such as washing machines, combination washer/dryers, condensing dryers, refreshers, and non-aqueous systems, can have a configuration based on a rotating laundry basket or drum that defines a drum opening and at least partially defines a treating chamber in which laundry items are placed for treating. The laundry treating appliance can have a controller that implements a number of user-selectable, pre-programmed cycles of operation having one or more operating parameters. Hot air, cold air, or a mixture thereof can be supplied to the treating chamber in accordance with the cycle of operation and via a drying air circuit, an air recirculation circuit, or an air flow assembly.

Laundry treating appliances having a generally horizontal axis configuration include a laundry loading opening that is provided in a front surface of a cabinet of the laundry treating appliance. Due to the height and configuration of horizontal axis laundry treating appliances, in order to add or remove laundry items from the treating chamber, a user may have to bend down, such as to load laundry items into the treating chamber or to remove laundry items that may have shifted to the rear of the treating chamber during the cycle of operation, which can result in unwanted strain on the user. Ergonomic features can be included with the laundry treating appliance in order to improve the ease in loading and unloading laundry items within the treating chamber of the laundry treating appliance.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation, the laundry treating appliance comprising a cabinet defining an interior and at least partially defining a loading opening provided within a front surface of the cabinet, a drum, rotatable within the interior, and at least partially defining a treating chamber located within the interior and accessible through the loading opening, a movable laundry ramp provided within the treating chamber and overlying a portion of an inner surface of the drum, the movable laundry ramp movable between at least a non-lifted position and a lifted position relative to the drum for lifting laundry items toward the loading opening for removal from the drum, and a collapsible chute coupled to the front surface of the cabinet and movable between at least a collapsed position and an extended position for receiving laundry items to be loaded into the treating chamber.

In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation, the laundry treating appliance comprising a cabinet defining an interior and at least partially defining a loading opening provided within a front surface of the cabinet, a drum, rotatable within the interior, and at least partially defining a treating chamber located within the interior and accessible through the loading opening, and a movable laundry ramp provided within the treating chamber and overlying a portion of an inner surface of the drum, the movable laundry ramp movable between at least a non-lifted position and a lifted position wherein at least a rear portion of the movable laundry ramp is lifted upwardly from a drum surface such that laundry items are lifted up toward the loading opening, and optionally can be urged toward the loading opening by angling the movable laundry ramp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a laundry treating appliance including a rotatable drum.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic of a control assembly of the laundry treating appliance of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top and front perspective view of a fascia for use with the laundry treating appliance of FIG. 1 and including a collapsible chute in a collapsed position.

FIG. 4 is a top and front perspective view of the fascia of FIG. 3 with the collapsible chute in an extended position.

FIG. 5 is a top and front perspective view of the fascia of FIG. 3 with the collapsible chute in an extended and inclined position.

FIG. 6 is a top and front perspective view of a movable laundry ramp for use with the rotatable drum of FIG. 1, the movable laundry ramp shown in a non-lifted position.

FIG. 7 is a bottom and front perspective view of the movable laundry ramp of FIG. 6 with the movable laundry ramp in the non-lifted position.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the movable laundry ramp of FIG. 6 with the movable laundry ramp in a lifted position.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the movable laundry ramp of FIG. 6 with the movable laundry ramp in a lifted and inclined position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Particularly in horizontal axis, front-loading laundry treating appliances, loading and unloading of laundry items from the treating chamber can present ergonomic challenges for a user, as it may be necessary for the user to bend down to reach the loading opening, as well as to reach into the treating chamber to reach laundry items that may have settled at the back of the treating chamber at the end of the cycle of operation. In order to reduce strain on the user due to such loading and unloading challenges, the laundry treating appliance can include laundry guiding features to make the loading and unloading of laundry items easier, such as a collapsible chute and/or a movable laundry ramp. The collapsible chute can be coupled to a front surface of the cabinet or fascia and can be movable into an extended position to extend outwardly from the loading opening and serve as a chute for urging laundry into the treating chamber so that a user does not have to place the laundry items all the way into the treating chamber. Additionally, or alternatively, the movable laundry ramp can be provided within the treating chamber and movable to a lifted position wherein at least a rear portion of the movable laundry ramp is lifted upwardly from a drum surface such that laundry items are lifted up toward the loading opening, and optionally can be urged toward the loading opening by angling the movable laundry ramp. Such laundry guiding features can make the loading and unloading of laundry items easier and can improve the ergonomic experience for the user.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a laundry treating appliance 10 according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The laundry treating appliance 10 can be any laundry treating appliance 10 which performs a cycle of operation to clean or otherwise treat laundry items placed therein, non-limiting examples of which include a horizontal or vertical axis clothes washer; a horizontal or vertical axis clothes dryer; a combination washing machine and dryer; a tumbling or stationary refreshing/revitalizing machine; an extractor; a non-aqueous washing apparatus; and a revitalizing machine. While the laundry treating appliance 10 is illustrated herein as a horizontal axis, front-load laundry treating appliance 10, the aspects of the present disclosure can have applicability in laundry treating appliances with other configurations. The laundry treating appliance 10 shares many features of a conventional automated clothes washer and/or dryer, which will not be described in detail herein except as necessary for a complete understanding of the exemplary aspects in accordance with the present disclosure.

Laundry treating appliances are typically categorized as either a vertical axis laundry treating appliance or a horizontal axis laundry treating appliance. As used herein, the term “horizontal axis” laundry treating appliance refers to a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum that rotates about a generally horizontal axis relative to a surface that supports the laundry treating appliance. The drum can rotate about the axis inclined relative to the horizontal axis, with fifteen degrees of inclination being one example of the inclination. Similar to the horizontal axis laundry treating appliance, the term “vertical axis” laundry treating appliance refers to a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum that rotates about a generally vertical axis relative to a surface that supports the laundry treating appliance. However, the rotational axis need not be perfectly vertical to the surface. The drum can rotate about an axis inclined relative to the vertical axis, with fifteen degrees of inclination being one example of the inclination.

In another aspect, the terms vertical axis and horizontal axis are often used as shorthand terms for the manner in which the appliance imparts mechanical energy to the laundry, even when the relevant rotational axis is not absolutely vertical or horizontal. As used herein, the “vertical axis” laundry treating appliance refers to a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum, perforate or imperforate, that holds fabric items and, optionally, a clothes mover, such as an agitator, impeller, nutator, and the like within the drum. The clothes mover can move within the drum to impart mechanical energy directly to the clothes or indirectly through wash liquid in the drum. The clothes mover can typically be moved in a reciprocating rotational movement. In some vertical axis laundry treating appliances, the drum rotates about a vertical axis generally perpendicular to a surface that supports the laundry treating appliance. However, the rotational axis need not be vertical. The drum can rotate about an axis inclined relative to the vertical axis.

As used herein, the “horizontal axis” laundry treating appliance refers to a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum, perforated or imperforate, that holds laundry items and washes and/or dries the laundry items. In some horizontal axis laundry treating appliances, the drum rotates about a horizontal axis generally parallel to a surface that supports the laundry treating appliance. However, the rotational axis need not be horizontal. The drum can rotate about an axis inclined or declined relative to the horizontal axis. In horizontal axis laundry treating appliances, the clothes are lifted by the rotating drum and then fall in response to gravity to form a tumbling action. Mechanical energy is imparted to the clothes by the tumbling action formed by the repeated lifting and dropping of the clothes. Vertical axis and horizontal axis machines are best differentiated by the manner in which they impart mechanical energy to the fabric articles.

Regardless of the axis of rotation, a laundry treating appliance can be top-loading or front-loading. In a top-loading laundry treating appliance, laundry items are placed into the drum through an access opening in the top of a cabinet, while in a front-loading laundry treating appliance laundry items are placed into the drum through an access opening in the front of a cabinet. If a laundry treating appliance is a top-loading horizontal axis laundry treating appliance or a front-loading vertical axis laundry treating appliance, an additional access opening is located on the drum.

In more detail, the laundry treating appliance 10 is illustrated as a horizontal axis combination washing and drying laundry treating appliance 10, though it will be understood that the laundry treating appliance 10 need not be only a combination washing and drying laundry treating appliance 10, but that any suitable laundry treating appliance 10 for treating laundry items can be provided, including a clothes washer, a clothes dryer, a condensing laundry dryer, a condensing laundry treating appliance, or any type of combination washing and drying laundry treating appliance. The laundry treating appliance 10 can include a structural support assembly comprising a cabinet 12 which defines a housing within which a laundry holding assembly resides. The cabinet 12 can further comprise a fascia 13 that can be coupled with or formed with a front surface of the cabinet 12 and that at least partially defines a loading opening 15 for the laundry treating appliance 10. The cabinet 12 can be a housing having a chassis and/or a frame, to which decorative panels can or cannot be mounted, defining an interior, enclosing components typically found in a conventional laundry treating appliance, such as motors, pumps, fluid lines, controls, sensors, transducers, and the like. Such components will not be described further herein except as necessary for a complete understanding of the present disclosure.

The laundry holding assembly of the illustrated laundry treating appliance 10 can include a tub 14 dynamically suspended within the structural support assembly of the cabinet 12 by a suitable suspension assembly 28, the tub 14 at least partially defining a treating chamber 18 for laundry items. A rotatable drum 16 can be provided within the tub 14 to further define at least a portion of the laundry treating chamber 18. The treating chamber 18 is configured to receive a laundry load comprising articles for treatment, including, but not limited to, a hat, a scarf, a glove, a sweater, a blouse, a shirt, a pair of shorts, a dress, a sock, a pair of pants, a shoe, an undergarment, and a jacket.

The drum 16 can include a plurality of perforations 20 such that liquid can flow between the tub 14 and the drum 16 through the perforations 20. A plurality of baffles or lifters 22 can be disposed on an inner surface of the drum 16 to lift the laundry load received in the treating chamber 18 while the drum 16 rotates. It is also within the scope of the present disclosure for the laundry holding assembly to comprise only one receptacle, such as the tub 14 without the drum 16, or the drum 16 without the tub 14, with the single receptacle defining the laundry treating chamber 18 for receiving the load to be treated.

The laundry holding assembly can further include a closure, illustrated herein as a door assembly 24, which can be movably mounted to or coupled to the cabinet 12 to selectively close both the tub 14 and the drum 16, as well as the loading opening 15 and the treating chamber 18. In one example, the door assembly 24 can be rotatable relative to the cabinet 12, such as specifically relative to the fascia 13. By way of non-limiting example, the door assembly 24 can be hingedly coupled to the cabinet 12 for movement between an opened condition (not shown) and a closed condition as shown.

A bellows 26 can extend between the tub 14 and the cabinet 12 to couple an open face of the tub 14 with the cabinet 12, such as with the fascia 13 or the loading opening 15, with the door assembly 24 sealing against the bellows 26 or the cabinet 12, or both, when the door assembly 24 closes the tub 14. In the opened condition, the door assembly 24 can be spaced apart from the bellows 26 and can allow access to the treating chamber 18 through the loading opening 15. The bellows 26 can sealingly couple the open face of the tub 14 with the cabinet 12 such that liquid is not permitted to move from the tub 14 into the interior of the cabinet 12.

The laundry treating appliance 10 can optionally further comprise a washing circuit which can include a liquid supply assembly for supplying liquid, such as water or a combination of water and one or more wash aids, such as detergent, to the laundry treating appliance 10 for use in treating laundry during a cycle of operation. The liquid supply assembly can include a source of water, such as a household water supply 40, which can include separate valves 42 and 44 for controlling the flow of hot and cold water, respectively. The valves 42, 44 can be opened individually or together to provide a mix of hot and cold water at a selected temperature. The valves 42, 44 are selectively openable to provide water, such as from the household water supply 40, to be supplied through an inlet conduit 46 directly to the tub 14 or the drum 16 by controlling first and second diverter mechanisms 48 and 50, respectively. The diverter mechanisms 48, 50 can each be a diverter valve having two outlets such that each of the diverter mechanisms 48, 50 can selectively direct a flow of liquid to one or both of two flow paths. Water from the household water supply 40 can flow through the inlet conduit 46 to the first diverter mechanism 48 which can direct the flow of liquid to a supply conduit 52. The second diverter mechanism 50 on the supply conduit 52 can direct the flow of liquid to a tub outlet conduit 54 which can be provided with a spray nozzle 56 configured to spray the flow of liquid into the tub 14 in a desired pattern and under a desired amount of pressure. For example, the spray nozzle 56 can be configured to dispense a flow or stream of water into the tub 14 by gravity, i.e. a non-pressurized stream. In this manner, water from the household water supply 40 can be supplied directly to the tub 14. While the valves 42, 44 and the conduit 46 are illustrated exteriorly of the cabinet 12, it will be understood that these components can be internal to the cabinet 12.

The laundry treating appliance 10 can also optionally be provided with a dispensing assembly for dispensing treating chemistry to the treating chamber 18 for use in treating the laundry according to a cycle of operation. The dispensing assembly can include a treating chemistry dispenser 62 which can be a single dose dispenser, a bulk dispenser, or an integrated single dose and bulk dispenser and is fluidly coupled to the treating chamber 18. The treating chemistry dispenser 62 can be configured to dispense a treating chemistry directly to the tub 14 or mixed with water from the liquid supply assembly through a dispensing outlet conduit 64. The treating chemistry dispenser 62 can include means for supplying or mixing detergent to or with water from the water supply 40. Alternatively or additionally, water from the water supply 40 can also be supplied to the tub 14 through the treating chemistry dispenser 62 without the addition of a detergent. The dispensing outlet conduit 64 can include a dispensing nozzle 66 configured to dispense the treating chemistry into the tub 14 in a desired pattern and under a desired amount of pressure. For example, the dispensing nozzle 66 can be configured to dispense a flow or stream of treating chemistry into the tub 14 by gravity, i.e. a non-pressurized stream. Water can be supplied to the treating chemistry dispenser 62 from the supply conduit 52 by directing the diverter mechanism 50 to direct the flow of water to a dispensing supply conduit 68.

The treating chemistry dispenser 62 can include multiple chambers or reservoirs for receiving doses of different treating chemistries. The treating chemistry dispenser 62 can be implemented as a dispensing drawer that is slidably received within the cabinet 12, or within a separate dispenser housing which can be provided in the cabinet 12. The treating chemistry dispenser 62 can be moveable between a fill position, where the treating chemistry dispenser 62 is exterior to the cabinet 12 and can be filled with treating chemistry, and a dispense position, where the treating chemistry dispenser 62 are interior of the cabinet 12.

Non-limiting examples of treating chemistries that can be dispensed by the dispensing assembly during a cycle of operation include one or more of the following: water, detergents, surfactants, enzymes, fragrances, stiffness/sizing agents, wrinkle releasers/reducers, softeners, antistatic or electrostatic agents, stain repellents, water repellents, energy reduction/extraction aids, antibacterial agents, medicinal agents, vitamins, moisturizers, shrinkage inhibitors, and color fidelity agents, and combinations thereof. The treating chemistries can be in the form of a liquid, powder, or any other suitable phase or state of matter.

The laundry treating appliance 10 can also optionally include a recirculation and drain assembly for recirculating liquid within the laundry holding assembly and draining liquid from the laundry treating appliance 10. Liquid supplied to the tub 14 through tub outlet conduit 54 and/or the dispensing supply conduit 68 typically enters a space between the tub 14 and the drum 16 and can flow by gravity to a sump 70 formed in part by a lower portion of the tub 14. The sump 70 can also be formed by a sump conduit 72 that can fluidly couple the lower portion of the tub 14 to a pump 74. The pump 74 can have an inlet fluidly coupled with the sump 70 and an outlet configured to fluidly couple and to direct liquid to a drain conduit 76, which can drain the liquid from the laundry treating appliance 10, or to a recirculation conduit 78, which can terminate at a recirculation inlet 80. In this configuration, the pump 74 can be used to drain or recirculate wash water in the sump 70. The recirculation inlet 80 can direct the liquid from the recirculation conduit 78 into the drum 16 by fluidly coupling the recirculation conduit 78 with the drum 16. The recirculation inlet 80 can introduce the liquid into the drum 16 in any suitable manner, such as by spraying, dripping, or providing a steady flow of liquid. In this manner, liquid provided to the tub 14, with or without treating chemistry, can be recirculated into the treating chamber 18 for treating the laundry within. The recirculation and drain assembly can include other types of recirculation systems.

The liquid supply and/or recirculation and drain assembly can optionally be provided with a heating assembly which can include one or more devices for heating laundry and/or liquid supplied to the tub 14, such as a steam generator 82 and/or a sump heater 84. Liquid from the household water supply 40 can be provided to the steam generator 82 through the inlet conduit 46 by controlling the first diverter mechanism 48 to direct the flow of liquid to a steam supply conduit 86. Steam generated by the steam generator 82 can be supplied to the tub 14 through a steam outlet conduit 87. The steam generator 82 can be any suitable type of steam generator such as a flow through steam generator or a tank-type steam generator. Alternatively, the sump heater 84 can be used to generate steam in place of or in addition to the steam generator 82. In addition or alternatively to generating steam, the steam generator 82 and/or sump heater 84 can be used to heat the laundry and/or liquid within the tub 14 as part of a cycle of operation. The sump heater 84 can be provided within the sump 70 to heat liquid that collects in the sump 70. Alternatively, the heating assembly can include an in-line heater that heats the liquid as it flows through the liquid supply, dispensing, and/or recirculation assemblies.

It is noted that the illustrated suspension assembly, liquid supply assembly, recirculation and drain assembly, and dispensing assembly are shown for exemplary purposes only and are not limited to the assemblies shown in the drawings and described above. For example, the liquid supply, dispensing, and recirculation and pump assemblies can differ from the configuration shown in FIG. 1, such as by inclusion of other valves, conduits, treating chemistry dispensers, heaters, sensors (such as water level sensors and temperature sensors), and the like, to control the flow of liquid through the laundry treating appliance 10 and for the introduction of more than one type of treating chemistry, or can be omitted entirely or in part, such as when the laundry treating appliance 10 is provide as only a clothes dryer. For example, the liquid supply assembly can include a single valve for controlling the flow of water from the household water source. In another example, the recirculation and pump assembly can include two separate pumps for recirculation and draining, instead of the single pump as previously described. In yet another example, the liquid supply assembly can be configured to supply liquid into the interior of the drum 16 or into the interior of the tub 14 not occupied by the drum 16, such that liquid can be supplied directly to the tub 14 without having to travel through the drum 16.

The laundry treating appliance 10 also includes a drive assembly for rotating the drum 16 within the tub 14. The drive assembly can include a motor 88, which can be directly coupled with the drum 16 through a drive shaft 90 to rotate the drum 16 about a rotational axis during a cycle of operation. The motor 88 can be a brushless permanent magnet (BPM) motor having a stator 92 and a rotor 94. Alternately, the motor 88 can be coupled to the drum 16 through a belt and a drive shaft to rotate the drum 16, as is known in the art. Other motors, such as an induction motor or a permanent split capacitor (PSC) motor, can also be used.

The motor 88 can rotationally drive the drum 16, including that the motor 88 can rotate the drum 16 at various speeds in either rotational direction. In particular, the motor 88 can rotate the drum 16 at tumbling speeds wherein the laundry items in the drum 16 rotate with the drum 16 from a lowest location of the drum 16 towards a highest location of the drum 16, but fall back to the lowest location of the drum 16 before reaching the highest location of the drum 16. The rotation of the laundry items with the drum 16 can be facilitated by the lifters 22. Typically, the force applied to the laundry items at the tumbling speeds is less than about 1G. Alternatively, the motor 88 can rotate the drum 16 at spin speeds wherein the laundry items rotate with the drum 16 without falling. The spin speeds can also be referred to as satellizing speeds or sticking speeds. Typically, the force applied to the laundry items at the spin speeds is greater than or about equal to 1G. As used herein, “tumbling” of the drum 16 refers to rotating the drum 16 at a tumble speed, “spinning” the drum 16 refers to rotating the drum 16 at a spin speed, and “rotating” of the drum 16 refers to rotating the drum 16 at any speed.

The laundry treating appliance 10 can optionally further comprise an air flow assembly or an air recirculation circuit, illustrated herein as a drying air circuit 60, fluidly coupled to the treating chamber 18 for drying laundry items. The drying air circuit 60 can be a closed loop circuit or an open loop circuit. The drying air circuit 60 can comprise a treating chamber air inlet 58 and a treating chamber air outlet 59, and specifically can be fluidly coupled with the treating chamber air inlet 58 and the treating chamber air outlet 59 and configured to supply drying air through the treating chamber 18 from the treating chamber air inlet 58 to the treating chamber air outlet 59. While the treating chamber air inlet 58 is illustrated herein as being provided on the bellows 26, it will be understood that the treating chamber air inlet 58 can be any provided at any suitable position of the treating chamber 18, including as an opening in at least one of the drum 16 or the tub 14. The treating chamber air outlet 59 is illustrated herein as being provided at a rear wall of the tub 14, the drum 16, and the treating chamber 18, though such a position is not limiting. The treating chamber air inlet 58 and the treating chamber air outlet 59 can be provided at any suitable locations of the treating chamber 18 so long as they are spaced from one another to allow drying air to flow through the treating chamber 18.

In one example, the drying air circuit 60 can be provided as a closed loop, or recirculating, drying air circuit 60, as illustrated herein. The closed loop drying air circuit 60 can define a drying air flow pathway, as indicated by the arrows 30, to recirculate air through the treating chamber 18. The closed loop drying air circuit 60 can include a condenser 32, a blower 34, a heating portion 36, and a drying air conduit 38. The condenser 32 can be provided with a condenser drain conduit (not shown) that fluidly couples the condenser 32 with the pump 74 and the drain conduit 76. Condensed liquid collected within the condenser 32 can flow through the condenser drain conduit to the pump 74, where it can be provided to the recirculation and drain assembly. The blower 34 is fluidly coupled to the treating chamber 18 such that actuation of the blower 34 supplies or circulates air through the treating chamber 18 by flowing air from the treating chamber air inlet 58 to the treating chamber air outlet 59. The heating portion 36 can enclose at least one heater or heating element (not shown) that is configured to heat recirculating air that flows through the drying air circuit 60. In one example, the drying air circuit 60 can be provided adjacent an upper portion of the tub 14, though it will be understood that the drying air circuit 60 need not be provided adjacent the upper portion of the tub 14, and can be provided at any suitable location adjacent the tub 14 or the treating chamber 18.

In one example, the drying air flow pathway 30 can pass through the components of the closed loop drying air circuit 60 such that air exiting the treating chamber 18 through the treating chamber air outlet 59 flows through the condenser 32, through the blower 34, through the heating portion 36 to be heated to become drying air, and then through the drying air conduit 38 to enter the treating chamber 18 through the treating chamber air inlet 58. However, while the blower 34 is illustrated herein as being provided in between the condenser 32 and the heating portion 36, and specifically downstream of the condenser 32 and upstream of the heating portion 36, it will be understood that the blower 34 can be provided at any suitable location within the drying air circuit 60 so as to drive the supply of air along the drying air flow pathway 30. By way of non-limiting example, the blower 34 can be provided between the treating chamber air outlet 59 and the condenser 32 or between the heating portion 36 and the treating chamber air inlet 58. Further, while the closed loop drying air circuit 60 is illustrated herein as including both the condenser 32 and the heating portion 36, it will be understood that the closed loop drying air circuit 60 could also include the condenser 32, but not the heating portion 36, or could include the heating portion 36, but not the condenser 32.

When the drying air circuit 60 is provided as an open loop drying air circuit 60, the condenser 32 is not necessary. Alternatively, the blower 34, instead of being fluidly coupled with the condenser 32, can be fluidly coupled with an ambient air source, which can draw ambient air either from within the cabinet 12 or from the exterior of the cabinet 12. The ambient air can be provided from the blower 34 to the heating portion 36 to be heated to be provided through the drying air conduit 38 to enter the treating chamber 18 through the treating chamber air inlet 58. Air that flows through the treating chamber 18 and gathers moisture from the laundry items within the treating chamber 18, and is then exhausted through the treating chamber air outlet 59 and can be exhausted to the exterior of the cabinet 12. As the drying air is not being recirculated to the treating chamber 18, no condensing is necessary. In such an example, while the blower 34 is illustrated as being provided upstream of the heating portion 36, it will also be understood that the blower 34 can be provided between the heating portion 36 and the treating chamber air inlet 58. Additionally or alternatively, the same blower 34 or an additional blower 34 can be provided downstream of the treating chamber air outlet 59 to draw the exhaust air out of the treating chamber 18. Further, in such an example, the condenser 32 can be included such that the blower 34 can be selectively fluidly coupled with the condenser 32 to optionally draw air from the ambient air source or from the condenser 32, as well as to optionally provide the drawn air either to the condenser 32 or to be exhausted to the exterior of the cabinet 12.

The laundry treating appliance 10 also includes a control assembly for controlling the operation of the laundry treating appliance 10 and its various working components to control the operation of the working components and to implement one or more treating cycles of operation. The control assembly can include a controller 96 located within the cabinet 12 and a user interface 98 that is operably coupled with the controller 96. The user interface 98 can provide an input and output function for the controller 96. In one example, the user interface 98 can be provided or integrated with the door assembly 24. In another example, as shown, the user interface 98 can be provided on a front panel of the cabinet 12.

The user interface 98 can include one or more knobs, dials, switches, displays, touch screens and the like for communicating with the user, such as to receive input and provide output. For example, the displays can include any suitable communication technology including that of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) array, or any suitable display that can convey a message to the user. The user can enter different types of information including, without limitation, cycle selection and cycle parameters, such as cycle options. Other communications paths and methods can also be included in the laundry treating appliance 10 and can allow the controller 96 to communicate with the user in a variety of ways. For example, the controller 96 can be configured to send a text message to the user, send an electronic mail to the user, or provide audio information to the user either through the laundry treating appliance 10 or utilizing another device such as a mobile phone.

The controller 96 can include the machine controller and any additional controllers provided for controlling any of the components of the laundry treating appliance 10. For example, the controller 96 can include the machine controller and a motor controller. Many known types of controllers can be used for the controller 96. It is contemplated that the controller is a microprocessor-based controller that implements control software and sends/receives one or more electrical signals to/from each of the various working components to effect the control software. As an example, proportional control (P), proportional integral control (PI), and proportional derivative control (PD), or a combination thereof, a proportional integral derivative control (PID control), can be used to control the various components.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the controller 96 can be provided with a memory 100 and a central processing unit (CPU) 102. The memory 100 can be used for storing the control software that is executed by the CPU 102 in completing a cycle of operation using the laundry treating appliance 10 and any additional software. For example, the memory 100 can store a set of executable instructions including at least one user-selectable cycle of operation. Examples, without limitation, of cycles of operation include: wash, heavy duty wash, delicate wash, quick wash, pre-wash, refresh, rinse only, timed wash, dry, heavy duty dry, delicate dry, quick dry, or automatic dry, which can be selected at the user interface 98. The memory 100 can also be used to store information, such as a database or table, and to store data received from one or more components of the laundry treating appliance 10 that can be communicably coupled with the controller 96. The database or table can be used to store the various operating parameters for the one or more cycles of operation, including factory default values for the operating parameters and any adjustments to them by the control assembly or by user input.

The controller 96 can be operably coupled with one or more components of the laundry treating appliance 10 for communicating with and controlling the operation of the component to complete a cycle of operation. For example, the controller 96 can be operably coupled with the valves 42, 44 and the diverter mechanisms 48, 50 for controlling the temperature and flow rate of treating liquid into the treating chamber 18, the motor 88 for controlling the direction and speed of rotation of the drum 16, the pump 74 for controlling the amount of treating liquid in the treating chamber 18 or sump 70, the treating chemistry dispenser 62 for controlling the flow of treating chemistries into the treating chamber 18, the user interface 98 for receiving user selected inputs and communicating information to the user, and the steam generator 82, the sump heater 84, the drying air circuit 60, including the blower 34 and the heating portion 36, to control the operation of these and other components to implement one or more of the cycles of operation.

The controller 96 can also be coupled with one or more sensors 104 provided in one or more of the assemblies of the laundry treating appliance 10 to receive input from the sensors 104, which are known in the art and not shown for simplicity. Non-limiting examples of sensors 104 that can be communicably coupled with the controller 96 include: a treating chamber temperature sensor, such as a thermistor, which can detect the temperature of the treating liquid in the treating chamber 18 and/or the temperature of the treating liquid being supplied to the treating chamber 18, a moisture sensor, a weight sensor, a chemical sensor, a position sensor, an imbalance sensor, a load size sensor, and a motor torque sensor, which can be used to determine a variety of assembly and laundry characteristics, such as laundry load inertia or mass.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the details of the fascia 13 that at least partially defines the loading opening 15 for the cabinet 12 can be better seen. The laundry treating appliance 10 can further comprise a movable laundry guide, illustrated herein as a collapsible chute 200 that is selectively extendable from the laundry treating appliance 10 such that the collapsible chute 200 can receive laundry items to be loaded through the loading opening 15 and urge the laundry items into the treating chamber 18. As shown, the collapsible chute 200 is in a collapsed position. In the collapsed position, the collapsible chute 200 is coupled to the fascia 13, such as to a front surface of the fascia 13. In one non-limiting example, the collapsible chute 200 can be coupled to the fascia 13 such that the collapsible chute 200 underlies at least a portion of the loading opening 15. Further, the collapsible chute 200 can have a cross-sectional profile that is complementary in shape with the at least a portion of the loading opening 15. It is contemplated that the collapsible chute 200 can be in the collapsed position at rest, or, alternatively, the collapsible chute 200 can be retained in the collapsed position by a retaining member (not shown), non-limiting examples of which include a latch or clasp.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the collapsible chute 200 is shown in an extended position. In one example, the collapsible chute 200 can underlie or confront the door assembly 24 when the door assembly 24 is in the closed position, such that the collapsible chute 200 can only be moved into the extended position when the door assembly 24 is in the opened position. In the extended position, the collapsible chute 200 extends outwardly from the front of the fascia 13, away from the loading opening 15 and from the treating chamber 18. In the extended position, it can be seen that the collapsible chute 200 comprises a chute body 210. By way of non-limiting example, the chute body 210 can be generally semi-circular in cross-sectional shape. The collapsible chute 200 can have any suitable structure and material such that it can move between the collapsed position, where it is compressed against the fascia 13, and the extended position, where it extends outwardly away from the fascia 13. By way of non-limiting example, the collapsible chute 200 can have a bellows-like or accordion style structure and can be formed of a material resilient enough to tolerate the movement between the collapsed and extended positions. Further by way of non-limiting example, the collapsible chute 200 can include biasing means, such as a locking member or a biasing spring or hinge, such that the collapsible chute 200 is biased toward the extended position when not retained in the collapsed position and, once moved into the extended position, will maintain the extended position until it is moved back to the collapsed position. It is also contemplated that movement of the collapsible chute 200 between the collapsed and extended positions can be performed manually by a user, though it will also be understood that automatic mechanisms for movement of the collapsible chute 200 between the collapsed and extended positions can also be provided. In one non-limiting example, movement of the door assembly 24 into the closed position can also serve to automatically collapse the collapsible chute 200 back into the collapsed position from the extended position.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the collapsible chute 200 can also be adjustable relative to the fascia 13, not only for movement between the collapsed and extended positions, but also can be adjustable with respect to the angle of the collapsible chute 200 relative to the fascia 13. This angled position as illustrated can be thought of as an extended and inclined position of the collapsible chute 200. By way of non-limiting example, it is contemplated that the collapsible chute 200, when in the extended position, can be moveable either upwardly or downwardly with respect to the fascia 13. However, it is also contemplated that the collapsible chute 200 can simply extend generally horizontally outwardly from the fascia 13, rather than being provided at an adjusted angle relative to the fascia 13. In this way, a user can adjust the angle of the collapsible chute 200 in order to aid with loading laundry items into or removing laundry items from the treating chamber 18. For example, when the collapsible chute 200 is angled upwardly, as shown in FIG. 5, the collapsible chute 200 can aid in loading laundry items into the treating chamber 18 because laundry items can be placed onto the collapsible chute 200 and then can slide into or toward the treating chamber 18. This can also make the loading process easier for a user because the user doesn't have to bend down as far as they would if they were placing the laundry items directly into the treating chamber 18.

Referring now to FIG. 6, alternatively to or in addition to the collapsible chute 200, the laundry treating appliance 10 can further comprise a second movable laundry guide, illustrated herein as a movable laundry ramp 300 that is selectively liftable within the treating chamber 18 and relative to the drum 16, between at least a non-lifted position (as shown) and a lifted position (FIG. 8), such that the movable laundry ramp 300 can lift laundry items to be more easily unloaded from the loading opening 15, and can optionally urge the laundry items toward the loading opening 15. More specifically, at least a rear portion of the movable laundry ramp 300 is lifted upwardly from the drum 16 in the lifted position such that laundry items are lifted up toward the loading opening 15, and optionally can be urged toward the loading opening 15 by angling the movable laundry ramp 300. Unlike the collapsible chute 200, which was provided on the front surface of the cabinet 12, such as on the fascia 13, to extend outwardly from the laundry treating appliance 10, the movable laundry ramp 300 is positioned within the treating chamber 18 and extends along at least a portion of the inner surface of the drum 16. In one non-limiting example, the movable laundry ramp 300 can overlie at least a portion of the inner surface of the drum 16, and, more specifically, can overlie at least a portion of at least one of the lifters 22.

Further, the laundry treating appliance 10 can include means, such as a position sensor, for sensing a rotational position of the drum 16 to ensure that, when the rotation of the drum 16 is stopped at the completion of a cycle of operation, the rotational position of the drum 16 is in a specific unloading rotational position. When the drum 16 is in such unloading position, the movable laundry ramp 300 can specifically overlie a lower portion of the drum 16. By ensuring that the movable laundry ramp 300 is positioned at the lowermost portion of the drum 16 when the drum 16 is stopped in the unloading position, vertically upward movement of the movable laundry ramp 300 relative to the drum 16 can be achieved. As seen in FIG. 6, the movable laundry ramp 300 is provided in the non-lifted position, wherein the movable laundry ramp 300 contacts and is not spaced vertically from the drum 16.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the movable laundry ramp 300 is shown still in the non-lifted position, but from a bottom perspective view, such that the at least one actuator 320 for movement of the movable laundry ramp 300 can be seen. The at least one actuator 320 can be provided as a linear actuator 320 having an actuator base 322 and an actuator piston 324 at least partially extending from the actuator base 322 for reciprocating movement relative to the actuator base 322. As shown herein, the drum 16 further includes an opening 310 through which the actuator piston 324 can selectively extend to come into contact with and to effect the vertically upward motion of the movable laundry ramp 300. The actuators 320 can be operably coupled with the controller 96 for providing power to and actuation of the actuators 320, and/or can also include an intermediate actuator, such as, by way of non-limiting example, by a stepper motor or via a slip ring provided outside the tub 14 that is coupled to a power supply (not shown) and also coupled with a wire harness extending from the slip ring to the lifters 22.

While the movable laundry ramp 300 is illustrated herein as being coupled with two actuators 320 spaced apart from one another to be positioned at opposing sides of the movable laundry ramp 300, it will be understood that any suitable number of actuators 320 can be provided with the movable laundry ramp 300, including only a single actuator 320. In addition, it will be understood that the actuators 320 can be provided at any suitable position or positions along the front-to-rear depth of the drum 16. In one non-limiting example, the actuators 320 at the opposing sides of the movable laundry ramp 300 can be offset from the midpoint of the depth of the drum 16, such that the actuators 320 are closer to the rear of the drum 16 than to the front of the drum 16 to vary the extent of the vertically upward movement of the movable laundry ramp 300 from the front to the rear of the movable laundry ramp 300, in order to facilitate angling of the movable laundry ramp 300 wherein the rear portion of the movable laundry ramp 300 is raised higher than a front portion of the movable laundry ramp 300.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the movable laundry ramp 300 is shown in a lifted position relative to the drum 16. The at least one actuator 320 has been actuated such that the actuator piston 324 lifts the movable laundry ramp 300 upwardly away from and out of contact with the drum 16, thus effectively raising the lower surface of the treating chamber 18 relative to the loading opening 15. By way of non-limiting example, the stroke length of the at least one actuator 320 can be specifically selected to ensure that the front edge of the movable laundry ramp 300 is not raised above the lowermost extent of the loading opening 15, in order to avoid laundry items being inadvertently pushed out of the treating chamber 18, such as onto a floor.

Further, while the movable laundry ramp 300 is illustrated herein as being lifted by a uniform amount from the front to the rear of the movable laundry ramp 300, it will be understood that this is not limiting and that it is also contemplated that the extend of the vertical lift of the movable laundry ramp 300 can vary from front to back or from side to side of the movable laundry ramp 300. Accordingly, and turning now to FIG. 9, the movable laundry ramp 300 is shown in what can be thought of as a lifted and inclined position, wherein the front edge of the movable laundry ramp 300 is lifted to be generally even with the lower edge of the loading opening 15, while the rear edge of the movable laundry ramp 300 is lifted higher than the front edge, such that the movable laundry ramp 300 can serve to urge the laundry items in the treating chamber 18 closer to the loading opening 15, making it easier for a user to remove all laundry items from the treating chamber 18 without having to bend down as much to look for laundry items that may have settled at the back of the treating chamber 18. It will be understood that the inclined position of the movable laundry ramp 300 is not limited to inclining downwardly toward the loading opening 15, and can assume any suitable inclined position, including that the movable laundry ramp 300 could incline downwardly away from the loading opening 15.

In the case that the laundry treating appliance 10 is, for example, a dryer, where liquid sealing within the treating chamber 18 is not a significant concern, the actuator pistons 324 can pass through the drum 16 to contact and lift the movable laundry ramp 300. However, in the case that the laundry treating appliance 10 is provided as a washing machine or a combination washing and drying laundry treating appliance 10, the treating chamber 18 should be maintained in a watertight condition, even as the movable laundry ramp 300 is lifted or lowered. In order to accomplish this, in one non-limiting example, the movable laundry ramp 300 can be enclosed within and coupled to the drum 16 by way of a rubber boot (not shown), such as a flexible, accordion-shaped rubber boot.

In another non-limiting example, rather than lifting the movable laundry ramp 300 away from the lifters 22, the lifters 22 instead can be lifted by the actuators 320, thereby lifting the movable laundry ramp 300 with the lifters 22. In such an example, the lifters 22 can comprise a flexible, accordion-shaped rubber boot that can be raised and lowered to in turn raise and lower the movable laundry ramp 300. In this case, like was previously described with respect to the movable laundry ramp 300, the lifters 22 can be raised and lowered in a uniform fashion from front to back, or can be inclined downwardly either toward or away from the loading opening 15. Further, it is contemplated that all of the lifters 22 within the drum 16 can be collapsible or flexible lifters 22, or that only a subset of the lifters 22 within the drum 16 may be collapsible or flexible lifters 22, such as only the lifters 22 that the movable laundry ramp 300 overlies. In such examples where the lifters 22 themselves can be raised and lowered in inclined positions, when the lifters 22 are inclined downwardly toward the loading opening 15, the inclined lifters 22 can urge laundry items toward the front of the drum 16. Further by way of non-limiting example, the lifters 22 can be provided in the downwardly inclined position even during the final portion of rotating of the drum 16 during the cycle of operation, such that the rotation of the drum 16 and the downward inclination of the lifters 22 serve to act together as an Archimedes screw to urge laundry items toward the front of the treating chamber 18.

The aspects of the present disclosure described herein set forth multiple laundry guiding features that can be included with a laundry treating appliance to improve the ergonomics of the process of loading and unloading laundry within the treating chamber by a user. The collapsible chute can be provided to aid in loading laundry items into the treating chamber by allowing the laundry items to slide within the chute into the treating chamber, such as by starting from a height greater than the height of the loading opening. The movable laundry ramp can be provided to aid at least in unloading laundry items from the treating chamber, such as by being provided at an angle in order to urge laundry items at the back of the treating chamber to slide toward the loading opening for ease of removal from the treating chamber. Both the collapsible chute and the movable laundry ramp can be provided with any suitable type of laundry treating appliance, including combination washer/dryers, standalone washing machines, or standalone dryers. It is also contemplated that any of these types of laundry treating appliances can include either only the collapsible chute or only the movable laundry ramp.

To the extent not already described, the different features and structures of the various aspects can be used in combination with each other as desired. That one feature is not illustrated in all of the aspects is not meant to be construed that it cannot be, but is done for brevity of description. Thus, the various features of the different aspects can be mixed and matched as desired to form new aspects, whether or not the new aspects are expressly described.

This written description uses examples to disclose aspects of the disclosure, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice aspects of the disclosure, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. While aspects of the disclosure have been specifically described in connection with certain specific details thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of the disclosure, which is defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation, the laundry treating appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining an interior and at least partially defining a loading opening provided within a front surface of the cabinet;

a drum, rotatable within the interior, and at least partially defining a treating chamber located within the interior and accessible through the loading opening;

a movable laundry ramp provided within the treating chamber and overlying a portion of an inner surface of the drum, the movable laundry ramp movable between at least a non-lifted position and a lifted position relative to the drum for lifting laundry items toward the loading opening for removal from the drum; and

a collapsible chute coupled to the front surface of the cabinet and movable between at least a collapsed position and an extended position for receiving laundry items to be loaded into the treating chamber.

2. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 further comprising a door assembly movably coupled to the cabinet for movement between closed and opened positions to selectively close and open the loading opening.

3. The laundry treating appliance of claim 2 wherein the collapsible chute is retained in the collapsed position when the door assembly is in the closed position.

4. The laundry treating appliance of claim 2 wherein the collapsible chute can only be moved to the extended position when the door assembly is in the opened position.

5. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the collapsible chute extends outwardly from the front surface, away from the treating chamber, in the extended position.

6. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the collapsible chute is biased toward the extended position.

7. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the collapsible chute has a semi-circular cross-sectional shape at least when the collapsible chute is in the extended position.

8. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the collapsible chute is coupled to the front surface of the cabinet adjacent to and at least partially underlying the loading opening.

9. The laundry treating appliance of claim 8 wherein the angle of the collapsible chute relative to the loading opening can be adjusted when the collapsible chute is in the extended position.

10. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 further comprising a position sensor to determine when the rotatable drum is in an unloading rotational position.

11. The laundry treating appliance of claim 10 wherein the movable laundry ramp overlies a lowermost portion of the drum when the drum is in the unloading rotational position.

12. The laundry treating appliance of claim 11 wherein the movable laundry ramp is movable vertically upward from the drum when the drum is in the unloading rotational position.

13. The laundry treating appliance of claim 12 further comprising at least one linear actuator coupled with the movable laundry ramp to move the movable laundry ramp vertically upward from the drum.

14. The laundry treating appliance of claim 12 wherein the extent of the vertically upward movement of the movable laundry ramp can vary from a front to a rear of the movable laundry ramp such that a rear portion of the movable laundry ramp can be raised higher than a front portion of the movable laundry ramp.

15. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 further comprising at least one lifter provided on the inner surface of the drum.

16. The laundry treating appliance of claim 15 wherein the movable laundry ramp overlies at least a portion of at least one lifter.

17. A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation, the laundry treating appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining an interior and at least partially defining a loading opening provided within a front surface of the cabinet;

a drum, rotatable within the interior, and at least partially defining a treating chamber located within the interior and accessible through the loading opening; and

a movable laundry ramp provided within the treating chamber and overlying a portion of an inner surface of the drum, the movable laundry ramp movable between at least a non-lifted position and a lifted position wherein at least a rear portion of the movable laundry ramp is lifted upwardly from a drum surface such that laundry items are lifted up toward the loading opening, and optionally can be urged toward the loading opening by angling the movable laundry ramp.

18. The laundry treating appliance of claim 17 further comprising a position sensor to determine when the rotatable drum is in an unloading rotational position.

19. The laundry treating appliance of claim 18 wherein the movable laundry ramp overlies a lowermost portion of the drum when the drum is in the unloading rotational position.

20. The laundry treating appliance of claim 19 wherein the movable laundry ramp is movable vertically upward from the drum when the drum is in the unloading rotational position.