WASHING MACHINE APPLIANCES WITH SHORTENED SUPPLEMENTARY SPIN AND DRAIN CYCLES

Abstract

A washing machine appliance includes a cabinet, a tub, a wash basket, a motor, a pump, and a controller. The wash basket is rotatably mounted within the tub. The motor is configured to rotate the wash basket within the tub. The pump is configured to drain fluid from the tub. The controller is in operative communication with the pump and the motor and may direct a primary spin and drain cycle, which includes an initial drain of the tub prior to a first spin cycle. The controller may further receive a supplemental spin and drain cycle request, identify a drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance, and perform a spin and drain cycle without the initial drain of the tub following identifying the drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance. A method of directing a washing machine appliance to perform supplemental spin and drain cycles is also disclosed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to washing machine appliances, and more particularly to washing machine appliance spin and drain cycles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Washing machine appliances generally wash articles in a wash basket that is rotated inside a tub. A drain and spin phase of the washing machine appliance aids in removing excess fluid from the articles in the wash basket. The drain and spin phase may begin with turning on a pump to drain fluid from the tub. Further, a drip down phase may allow more fluid to drain from articles in the wash basket following the initial drain. The pump connected to the drain may then be turned on a second time to purge as much fluid from the system as possible prior to beginning a spin cycle. This generally aids in removing fluid from articles more quickly or more efficiently.

Challenges exist in that sometimes it may be desirable to run one or more supplemental spin and drain cycles. For example, a user may select an additional spin and drain cycle if articles in a wash basket are wetter than expected following a first spin and drain cycle. Further, in a difficult load, such as loads prone to imbalance due to weight or size, a user may be required to manually distribute articles within the wash basket. The initial drain sequence of the primary spin and drain cycle may delay user feedback on whether manual distribution of articles was properly performed. The initial drain sequence may lead to an unsatisfactory experience due to the time to correct the distribution of the articles in the wash basket.

Accordingly, increasing user satisfaction during a manual redistribution of articles in a wash basket would be useful. Further, decreasing a time period between subsequent spin and drain cycles would be beneficial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine appliance is provided. The washing machine appliance may have a vertical direction, a transverse direction, and a lateral direction. The washing machine appliance may include a cabinet defining an opening, a tub disposed within the cabinet, a wash basket, a motor, a pump, and a controller. The wash basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub. The motor may be in mechanical communication with the wash basket and may be configured to rotate the wash basket within the tub. The pump may be configured to drain fluid from the tub. The controller may be in operative communication with the pump and the motor. The controller may further be configured to perform a primary spin and drain cycle, receive a request for a supplemental spin and drain cycle following the primary spin and drain cycle, and perform the supplemental spin and drain cycle. The primary spin and drain cycle may include operating the pump to perform an initial drain of the tub, and subsequently operating the motor to rotate the wash basket while continuing operation of the pump to discharge fluid extracted during the rotation of the wash basket. The supplemental spin and drain cycle may include operating the motor to rotate the wash bucket and operating the pump to discharge fluid from the tub following receipt of the supplemental spin and drain cycle request and without performing an initial drain of the tub.

In another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine appliance is provided. The washing machine appliance may have a vertical direction, a transverse direction, and a lateral direction. The washing machine appliance may include a cabinet defining an opening, a tub disposed within the cabinet, a wash basket, a motor, a pump, and a controller. The wash basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub. The motor may be in mechanical communication with the wash basket and may be configured to rotate the wash basket within the tub. The pump may be configured to drain fluid from the tub. The controller may be in operative communication with the pump and the motor. The controller may be configured to direct primary spin and drain cycle. The primary spin and drain cycle may include an initial drain of the tub prior to a first spin cycle. The controller may further be configured to receive a supplemental spin and drain cycle request, determine that an immediately prior primary spin and drain cycle was performed with an initial drain of the tub, identify a drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance, and perform a spin and drain cycle without the initial drain of the tub following identifying the drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance.

In another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a method of directing a washing machine appliance to perform supplemental spin and drain cycles is provided. The washing machine appliance directed by the method may have a wash basket, a tub, and a pump configured to drain fluid from the tub. The method may include receiving a supplemental spin and drain cycle request, determining an immediately prior primary spin and drain cycle was performed with an initial drain of the tub, identifying a drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance, and performing the spin cycle without the initial drain of the tub following identification of the drain omission condition.

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 perspective view of a washing machine appliance according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 provides a side, cross sectional view of the exemplary washing machine appliance of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 provides a flow chart of a method for performing spin and drain cycles according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

Use of the same or similar reference numerals in the figures denotes the same or similar features unless the context indicates otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

As used herein, the terms “includes” and “including” are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” Similarly, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, is applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially,” are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. For example, the approximating language may refer to being within a 10 percent margin.

The present invention advantageously provides a washing machine appliance that may provide improved spin and drain cycle options for users. In some embodiments, the controller may direct supplemental spin and drain cycles to omit an initial drain of a tub of the washing machine appliance, which may shorten spin and drain cycle times. Further, embodiments described herein may shorten the time a user spends manually balancing a load within the washing machine. For example, if a washing machine appliance detects an out of balance error, a primary spin and drain cycle may end prematurely, and a user may rebalance the load within the washing machine appliance in order to begin a supplemental spin and drain cycle. Sometimes, multiple iterations of manual user rebalancing are required to get a load to be properly balanced. Embodiments described herein may shorten times and increase user satisfaction in such situations. In some examples, no error may occur, such as a user desiring an extra spin and drain cycle upon completion of a full cycle of a washing machine appliance. Embodiments described herein may also improve time spent or energy required for supplemental spin and drain cycles.

Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary horizontal axis washing machine appliance 100, and FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of washing machine appliance 100. As illustrated, washing machine appliance 100 generally defines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L, and a transverse direction T, each of which is mutually perpendicular, such that an orthogonal coordinate system is generally defined. Washing machine appliance 100 includes a cabinet 102 that extends between a top 104 and a bottom 106 along the vertical direction V, between a left side 108 and a right side 110 along the lateral direction, and between a front 112 and a rear 114 (as shown in FIG. 2) along the transverse direction T.

Referring to FIG. 2, a wash basket 120 is rotatably mounted within cabinet 102 such that it is rotatable about an axis of rotation A. A motor 122, e.g., such as a pancake motor, is in mechanical communication with wash basket 120 to selectively rotate wash basket 120 (e.g., during an agitation or a spin cycle of washing machine appliance 100) within wash tub 124. Wash basket 120 is received within a wash tub 124 and defines a wash chamber 126 that is configured for receipt of articles for washing. Wash tub 124 is disposed within cabinet 102. Wash tub 124 holds wash and rinse fluids for agitation in wash basket 120 within wash tub 124. As used herein, “wash fluid” may refer to water, detergent, fabric softener, bleach, or any other suitable wash additive or combination thereof. Indeed, for simplicity of discussion, these terms may all be used interchangeably herein without limiting the present subject matter to any particular “wash fluid.”

Wash basket 120 may define one or more agitator features that extend into wash chamber 126 to assist in agitation and cleaning articles disposed within wash chamber 126 during operation of washing machine appliance 100. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of ribs 128 extends from basket 120 into wash chamber 126. In this manner, for example, ribs 128 may lift articles disposed in wash basket 120 during rotation of wash basket 120.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1 and 2, cabinet 102 also includes a front panel 130 which defines an opening 132 that permits user access to wash basket 120 of wash tub 124. More specifically, washing machine appliance 100 includes a door 134 that is positioned over opening 132 and is rotatably mounted to front panel 130. In this manner, door 134 permits selective access to opening 132 by being movable between an open position (not shown) facilitating access to a wash tub 124 and a closed position (FIG. 1) prohibiting access to wash tub 124.

A window 136 in door 134 permits viewing of wash basket 120 when door 134 is in the closed position, e.g., during operation of washing machine appliance 100. Door 134 also includes a handle (not shown) that, e.g., a user may pull when opening and closing door 134. Further, although door 134 is illustrated as mounted to front panel 130, it should be appreciated that door 134 may be mounted to another side of cabinet 102 or any other suitable support according to alternative embodiments.

Referring again to FIG. 2, wash basket 120 also defines a plurality of perforations 140 in order to facilitate fluid communication between an interior of basket 120 and wash tub 124. A sump 142 is defined by wash tub 124 at a bottom of wash tub 124 along the vertical direction V. Thus, sump 142 is configured for receipt of and generally collects wash fluid during operation of washing machine appliance 100. For example, during operation of washing machine appliance 100, wash fluid may be urged by gravity from basket 120 to sump 142 through plurality of perforations 140.

A drain assembly 144 is located beneath wash tub 124 and is in fluid communication with sump 142 for periodically discharging soiled wash fluid from washing machine appliance 100. Drain assembly 144 may generally include a drain pump 146 which is in fluid communication with sump 142 and with an external drain 148 through a drain hose 150. In this manner, drain pump 146 is configured to drain fluid (e.g., wash fluid) from tub 124. As best shown in FIG. 2, external drain 148 may be positioned within a distal end of a standpipe 152, e.g., that may be mounted within a wall of the structure where the washing machine appliance 100 is mounted. Such standpipes 152 may be positioned above an overflow level of washing machine appliance 100, e.g., to prevent overflow during a drain cycle. During a drain cycle, drain pump 146 urges a flow of wash fluid from sump 142, through drain hose 150, to external drain 148, where the wash fluid drains through standpipe 152. More specifically, drain pump 146 includes a motor (not shown) which is energized during a drain cycle such that drain pump 146 draws wash fluid from sump 142 and urges it through drain hose 150 to external drain 148.

In some embodiments, a pressure sensor 186 may be located proximate to sump 142 or another suitable portion of tub 124. In general, pressure sensor 186 may be any sensor suitable for determining a water level within sump 142 based on pressure readings. For example, pressure sensor 186 may be a piezoelectric pressure sensor and thus may include an elastically deformable plate and a piezoresistor mounted on the elastically deformable plate. According to exemplary embodiments, pressure sensor 186 is positioned proximate top 104 of cabinet 102, e.g., proximate or mounted to control panel 160. Pressure sensor 186 may be connected to a water detection system (not shown) that includes an air chamber that extends from sump 142. A pressure hose may be fluidly coupled to a top end of the air chamber and may extend to pressure sensor 186.

Water level detection system and pressure sensor 186 generally operate by measuring a pressure of air within air chamber and using the measured chamber pressure to estimate the water level in sump 142. For example, when the water level within sump 142 falls below a chamber inlet, the pressure within air chamber normalizes to ambient or atmospheric pressure, and thus reads a zero pressure. However, when water is present in sump 142 and rises above chamber inlet, the measured air pressure becomes positive and may increase proportionally with the water level. A predetermined threshold level for tub 124 may be set by placement of the chamber inlet along the tub in the vertical direction V. Pressure sensor 186 may be used to detect a fluid level in relation to the predetermined threshold for the tub. Although sump 142 is described herein as containing water, it should be appreciated that aspects of the present subject matter may be used for detecting the level of any other suitable wash fluid. Other systems for determining pressure within the tub or whether fluid within the tub is below the threshold level may also be used within washing machine appliance 100, as would be understood.

A spout 154 is configured for directing a flow of fluid into wash tub 124. For example, spout 154 may be in fluid communication with a water supply 155 (FIG. 2) in order to direct fluid (e.g., clean water or wash fluid) into wash tub 124. Spout 154 may also be in fluid communication with the sump 142. For example, drain pump assembly 144 may direct wash fluid disposed in sump 142 to spout 154 in order to circulate wash fluid in wash tub 124.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a detergent drawer 156 is slidably mounted within front panel 130. Detergent drawer 156 receives a wash additive (e.g., detergent, fabric softener, bleach, or any other suitable liquid or powder) and directs the fluid additive to wash tub 124 during operation of washing machine appliance 100. According to the illustrated embodiment, detergent drawer 156 may also be fluidly coupled to spout 154 to facilitate the complete and accurate dispensing of wash additive.

In addition, a water supply valve 158 may provide or direct a flow of water from a water supply source (such as a municipal water supply 155) into detergent dispenser 156 and into wash tub 124. In this manner, water supply valve 158 may generally be operable to supply water into detergent dispenser 156 to generate a wash fluid, e.g., for use in a wash cycle, or a flow of fresh water, e.g., for a rinse cycle. It should be appreciated that water supply valve 158 may be positioned at any other suitable location within cabinet 102. In addition, although water supply valve 158 is described herein as regulating the flow of “wash fluid,” it should be appreciated that this term includes, water, detergent, other additives, or some mixture thereof.

A control panel 160 including a plurality of input selectors 162 is coupled to front panel 130. Control panel 160 and input selectors 162 collectively form a user interface input for operator selection of machine cycles and features. For example, in one embodiment, a display 164 indicates selected features, a countdown timer, and/or other items of interest to machine users.

Operation of washing machine appliance 100 is controlled by a controller or processing device 166 (FIG. 1) that is operatively coupled to control panel 160 for user manipulation to select washing machine cycles and features. In response to user manipulation of control panel 160, controller 166 operates the various components of washing machine appliance 100 to execute selected machine cycles and features. For example, controller 166 is in operative communication with water supply valve 155, pump 146, and motor 122.

Controller 166 may include a memory and microprocessor, such as a general or special purpose microprocessor operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with a cleaning cycle. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. Alternatively, controller 166 may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software. Control panel 160 and other components of washing machine appliance 100 may be in communication with controller 166 via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses.

During operation of washing machine appliance 100, laundry items are loaded into wash basket 120 through opening 132, and washing operation is initiated through operator manipulation of input selectors 162. Wash tub 124 is filled with water, detergent, and/or other fluid additives, e.g., via spout 154 and or detergent drawer 156. One or more valves (e.g., water supply valve 158) can be controlled by washing machine appliance 100 to provide for filling wash basket 120 to the appropriate level for the amount of articles being washed and/or rinsed. By way of example for a wash mode, once wash basket 120 is properly filled with fluid, the contents of wash basket 120 can be agitated (e.g., with ribs 128) for washing of laundry items in wash basket 120.

After the agitation phase of the wash cycle is completed, wash tub 124 can be drained. Laundry articles can then be rinsed by again adding fluid to wash tub 124, depending on the particulars of the cleaning cycle selected by a user. Ribs 128 may again provide agitation within wash basket 120.

One or more spin and drain cycles may also be used. In particular, a spin and drain cycle may be performed after the wash cycle and/or after the rinse cycle in order to wring wash fluid from the articles being washed. During a primary spin and drain cycle, drain assembly 144, including pump 146, discharge any remaining wash fluid from tub 124 during an initial drain. Following the initial drain, basket 120 is rotated at relatively high speeds, and drain assembly 144 discharges additional collected wash fluid from sump 142. After articles disposed in wash basket 120 are cleaned, washed, and/or rinsed, the user can remove the articles from wash basket 120, e.g., by opening door 134 and reaching into wash basket 120 through opening 132.

As used herein, a primary spin and drain cycle includes an initial drain of any remaining fluid left in tub 124 followed by operation of the motor 122 to rotate the wash basket 120 while continuing operation of the pump 146 to discharge fluid extracted during rotation of the wash basket 120. The primary spin and drain cycle may be a part of a washing operation of washing machine appliance 100. The primary spin and drain cycle may follow a wash cycle or a rinse cycle of the washing machine appliance 100. The primary spin and drain cycle may also be a separately requested spin and drain cycle where conditions for a supplemental spin and drain cycle are not met, conditions as described herein. The primary spin and drain cycle includes operating the drain pump 146 to remove fluids present in sump 142 of tub 124, including fluids that may have dripped down from wash basket 120 in between the previous cycle and the primary spin and drain cycle. Following the initial operation of the drain pump 146, rotation of wash basket 120 by the motor 122 is begun with further operation of the drain pump 146. As the wash basket 120 rotates, additional fluid is removed from articles in wash basket 120, the additional fluid moving through perforations 140 in wash basket 120 and into tub 124. The fluid is then drained from tub 124 by pump 146 as wash basket 120 rotates by motor 122.

While described in the context of a specific embodiment of horizontal axis washing machine appliance 100, using the teachings disclosed herein it will be understood that horizontal axis washing machine appliance 100 is provided by way of example only. Other washing machine appliances having different configurations, different appearances, and/or different features may also be utilized with the present subject matter as well, e.g., vertical axis washing machine appliances.

Turning generally to FIGS. 2 and 3, various methods (e.g., method 300) may be provided for use with appliance 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. In some embodiments, all, or some of the various steps of the method(s) may be performed by a suitable controller (e.g., controller 166). Thus, controller 166 may be configured to direct such a method. During such methods, controller 166 may receive inputs and transmit outputs from various other portions of the appliance 100, including pump 146 or motor 122. The present methods may advantageously perform supplemental spin and drain cycles that are shorter, having omitted an initial drain of the tub 124 present in primary spin and drain cycles. For instance, the disclosed methods may advantageously attempt to spin wash basket 120 with a shorter wait time for the user between receipt of the user request and operating the motor 122 to rotate wash basket 120. Such may be particularly useful if a user has manually repositioned a load within wash basket 120 and requested operation of a supplemental spin and drain cycle to confirm proper repositioning of the load.

At step 310, the method 300 includes performing a primary spin and drain cycle. Step 310 includes operating the pump 146 to perform an initial drain of the tub 124. Subsequent to performance of the initial drain of the tub 124, step 310 further includes operating motor 122 to rotate wash basket 120 while continuing operation of pump 146 to discharge fluid (e.g., in direction of arrow 190 in FIG. 2) extracted during rotation of wash basket 120. For example, controller 166 may operate pump 146 during the initial drain. Controller 166 may further operate pump 146 and motor 122 following initial drain to rotate the wash basket 120 and drain fluid extracted from the wash basket 120.

The primary spin and drain cycle may be a part of a washing operation of washing machine appliance 100 and may follow a wash cycle or a rinse cycle. In some embodiments, a primary spin and drain cycle may be performed independent of a wash cycle or a rinse cycle. The initial drain in the primary spin and drain cycle may operating pump 146 briefly to discharge any fluid from drain hose 150 and sump 142. Following the short drain, the initial drain may include a drip down pause, the drip down pause allowing water to drain from items in the wash basket 120 and into the tub 124. Following the drip down pause, the initial drain may include operating the pump 146 to drain the tub 124 a second time. All of this may be prior to operating the motor 122 to rotate the wash basket 120 to extract fluid from items in the wash basket 120, the fluid flowing into tub 124. The fluid in the tub 124 may flow into the sump 142. While the motor 122 is operated to rotate wash basket 120, the drain pump 146 may also be operated to drain tub 124 (e.g., at sump 142) of wash fluid extracted while wash basket 120 is spinning.

At step 320, the method 300 includes receiving a supplemental spin and drain request. In some embodiments, method 300 may begin at step 320. For example, a user may use input selectors 162 to send a supplemental spin and drain request. Receipt of the supplemental spin and drain request may be a separate request from that of a request to perform a wash operation, a rinse operation, or another washing machine cycle that includes the addition of fluid to the wash basket 120 prior to a supplemental spin and drain cycle.

In some embodiments, such as in embodiments where an interruption is detected, receipt of the supplemental spin and drain request may be an input that the user has completed an attempt to respond to the interruption or spin anomaly. For example, if the interruption is an out of balance wash basket 120 load condition, receiving the supplemental spin and drain request may be receiving an input from the user that manual rebalancing has been performed.

Additionally or alternatively, at step 330, the method 300 includes determining that an immediately prior primary spin and drain cycle was performed with an initial drain of the tub 124. The controller 166 may determine the immediately prior spin and drain cycle was performed with an initial drain of the tub 124.

As used herein, the immediately prior primary spin and drain cycle includes the last spin and drain cycle performed by the controller 166 prior to receipt of the supplemental spin and drain cycle request. In this manner, determination that the immediately prior primary spin and drain cycle was performed means that the last time the controller 166 performed a cycle, prior to receiving the request for a supplemental spin and drain cycle, it was a primary spin and drain cycle. This primary spin and drain cycle may be a part of a washing operation, like at the end of a wash cycle or after a rinse cycle. The immediately prior primary spin and drain cycle does not need to be independently selected or requested by the user. The immediately prior primary spin and drain cycle does need to be the last cycle performed by the washing machine appliance 100 prior to the request to perform the supplemental spin and drain request.

Optionally, at step 340, the method 300 may include identifying a drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance 100. A drain omission condition may include low fluid conditions, prior cycle conditions or events, time-based omissions, or water valve operation conditions. In some embodiments, one or more of these conditions may be present. Only one condition being present may be needed to identify an omission condition. Each of these drain omission conditions will now be discussed in more detail below.

For instance, if the drain omission condition is detecting a fluid level in the tub 124 below a predetermined threshold, the controller 166 may receive data about the fluid level, and the controller 166 analyzes that data to determine if the fluid level in the tub 124 is below the predetermined threshold. In some embodiments, a pressure sensor, such as pressure sensor 186 is used to detect the fluid level in the tub 124.

If the drain omission condition is detecting an interruption during the primary spin and drain cycle, the controller 166 may determine that the primary spin and drain cycle terminated prematurely. Detection of the interruption may occur prior to receiving the supplemental spin and drain cycle request in some embodiments. The interruption may be any interruption during the spin and drain cycle. In some embodiments, the interruption may include detection of a spin anomaly. The spin anomaly includes any out of normal or out of parameter spinning of the wash basket 120. This may include detection of an out of balance wash basket 120 load condition or an out of balance error indicating the load or items within wash basket 120 are out of balance. The interruption may further be another error during the primary spin and drain cycle. The interruption may be a request to stop the washing machine during the primary spin and drain cycle, for example. Other interruptions such as events or errors that result in halting or terminating the primary spin and drain cycle may also be detected interruptions. In the case of the out of balance error, the primary spin and drain cycle may be terminated prematurely by the controller 166 as a part of the method 300.

In some embodiments, where an interruption is detected, the detection may occur before receipt of a request for a supplemental spin and drain cycle (step 320) or after receipt of a request for a supplemental spin and drain cycle. In some embodiments, the detection of the interruption may be during the immediately prior primary spin and drain cycle in order to be a drain omission condition.

Additionally or alternatively, if the drain omission condition is detecting an out of balance wash basket 120 during the primary spin and drain cycle, the controller 166 may determine that a drain omission condition has occurred. In some embodiments, determining that the drain omission condition has occurred is congruent with the identification of the out of balance wash basket 120.

In some embodiments, the drain omission condition is determining a directly prior cycle ending in a state identified as a state having fluid below a predetermined threshold in the tub 124. For example, the controller 166 may determine the last cycle that was performed prior to receiving the request for a supplemental spin and drain cycle. The controller 166 may also determine whether that cycle was terminated in a state identified as having fluid in the tub 124 below the predetermined level. For example, if the directly prior cycle was a rinse and spin cycle, the controller 166 may determine that fluid should be largely evacuated from the tub 124, and hence the directly prior cycle ended in a state identified as a state having fluid below a predetermined threshold in the tub 124. Advantageously, this may allow a user to request spin and drain cycles without having to do an initial drain of the tub 124. For example, if a user selected a primary spin and drain cycle that spins at a lower spin rotation speed and the items in the load finished the primary spin and drain cycle with the items having more moisture than desired, the user may request a supplemental spin and drain cycle. In this case, controller 166 may detect the drain omission condition, having the prior cycle completed in a state known to have fluid below the predetermined threshold in tub 124, and may proceed with a supplemental spin and drain cycle in response to the request. In proceeding with the supplemental spin and drain cycle, an initial drain portion of the spin and drain cycle would be omitted and the supplemental spin and drain cycle would begin with rotation of the wash basket 120 with the pump 146 activated to drain as spinning occurs.

In this example of determining the directly prior cycle, the fluid level is not measured, but the state of each cycle for the washing machine appliance 100 is known (e.g., in the memory or processor of the controller 166) to end with fluid levels in the tub 124 at either above or below the predetermined threshold. Hence, the controller 166 may determine when to perform an initial drain for the spin and drain cycle, and when to omit the initial drain for the spin and drain cycle. In other words, the controller 166 uses the known state of fluid in the tub 124 from a directly prior cycle to determine whether a requested spin and drain cycle starts with draining using the pump 146 only or starts with the motor 122 rotating the wash basket 120 with the pump 146 draining the tub 124. The controller 166 may further consider whether the directly prior cycle ended with a full cycle or was terminated prematurely. Premature termination may be for various reasons including a user request, a safety measure, an error code, etc.

If the omission condition is detecting fluid below a predetermined threshold in the tub 124, the controller 166 may detect fluid levels in the tub 124. For example, a sensor (e.g., pressure sensor 186) may detect a fluid level either with pressure, weight, floatation, or an equivalent fluid level detection method, and controller 166 may receive data from the sensor and analyze that data to determine whether fluid in the tub 124 is below a predetermined threshold.

The predetermined threshold of the tub 124 for determining an omission condition may be a low level of water in the tub 124. In some embodiments, the level may be an indication that the tub 124 is empty or essentially empty. In some embodiments, the predetermined threshold may be a water level in the sump 142 of the tub 124. The predetermined threshold may be a factory setting for the washing machine appliance 100. Generally, the predetermined threshold as used herein is to indicate that most of the fluid in the tub 124 has previously been drained by the pump 146 or that the current fluid level in the tub 124 is a very low amount of fluid as compared with fluid levels in the tub during wash cycles or rinse cycles.

In some embodiments, the omission condition is determining a directly prior cycle performed before receiving the supplemental spin and drain cycle request is a spin and drain cycle. If the controller 166 determines that the cycle performed directly before the request for a supplemental spin and drain cycle was a spin and drain cycle, the controller 166 may proceed with a supplemental spin and drain cycle. The cycle performed directly before may be the last cycle in time prior to the request for the supplemental spin and drain cycle. In other words, when the directly prior cycle is a spin and drain cycle (with or without an initial drain), the controller 166 selects a spin and drain cycle that skips or omits the initial drain. The controller performs the supplemental spin and drain cycle by directing the motor 122 to rotate the wash basket 120 as the pump 146 is directed to begin draining, omitting the initial drain. Advantageously, this may allow the user to request several spin and drain cycles in succession, without having an unnecessary initial drain to each spin and drain cycle. For instance, the user may request repeated supplementary spin and drain cycles if the user is manually rebalancing a load of items in wash basket 120 for a particularly difficult load. If the wash basket 120 indicates it is imbalanced several times in succession, the omission of the initial drain or the controller 166 directing the rotation of the wash basket 120 with the pump 146 draining fluid instead of directing the pump 146 to drain the tub 124 prior to directing rotation of the wash basket 120, generally lowers the time to complete the manual imbalance correction by the user.

The omission condition may be a time based condition, the controller 166 configured to perform all supplemental spin and drain cycles by omitting the initial drain or beginning the spin and drain cycle with a combined rotation of the wash basket 120 with draining of the tub 124. In some embodiments, the omission condition may include identifying a current time frame being within a predetermined omission time period. The controller 166 may be configured to start a drain timer in response to directing the wash basket 120 to perform the primary spin and drain cycle. If the current time is before the drain timer has expired, or within the predetermined time period, the controller 166 performs the supplemental spin and drain cycle without the initial drain. In some embodiments, the predetermined drain omission time period may begin at the end of the primary spin and drain cycle.

The controller 166 may determine a drain time remaining on the drain timer. This may be done with or directly following a request for a supplemental spin and drain cycle (e.g., from user input). If drain time is remaining on the drain timer, the controller 166 performs all requested spin and drain cycles without the initial drain in response to determining the drain time remains on the drain timer. In some embodiments, within a preset time period after the primary spin and drain cycle, all subsequent spin and drain cycles may omit the initial drain portion of the spin and drain cycle. In some embodiments, the timer may be canceled if a new wash operation is selected (e.g., a wash, rinse, spin, and dry operation).

In some embodiments, the omission condition is determined by determining that at least one water valve has not been opened following performance of the immediately prior primary spin and drain cycle. All spin and drain cycle requests may result in performance of a spin and drain cycle without the initial drain when the at least one water valve has been closed following performing the primary spin and drain cycle. When no water has been added to the wash basket 120 by way of at least one water valve, the controller 166 may direct all spin and drain cycles requested (such as a user request for a supplemental spin and drain cycle) to omit the initial drain cycle. The omission condition may include that the at least one water valve has been closed following performance of the immediately prior primary spin and drain cycle. By contrast, if at least one water valve has been opened following performance of the immediately prior primary spin and drain cycle, the omission condition is not identified. If no omission condition is identified, the controller may perform a primary spin and drain cycle in response to a request for a supplemental spin and drain request, the spin and drain cycle beginning with operating the pump 146 to drain tub 124.

At step 350, the method 300 includes performing the supplemental spin and drain cycle. The supplemental spin and drain cycle is performed by operating the motor 122 to rotate the wash basket 120 while operating the pump 146 without performing an initial drain. In other words, the supplemental spin and drain cycle is performed omitting the initial drain. The initial drain is where the controller 166 directs the pump 146 to drain the tub 124 prior to rotating the wash basket. For example, the initial drain is omitted and the controller 166 directs the pump 146 and the motor 122 to operate together only in the supplemental spin and drain cycle. In other words, the supplemental spin and drain cycle includes operating the motor 122 to rotate the wash basket 120 and operating the pump 146 to discharge fluid from the tub 124 following receipt of the supplemental spin and drain cycle request and without performing the initial drain of the supplemental spin and drain cycle of the tub 124.

In some embodiments, the performance of the supplemental spin and drain cycle is done in response to the controller 166 identifying a drain omission condition, the omission condition as discussed herein. The supplemental drain cycle may also be performed in response to detection of an interruption during the primary spin and drain cycle. In some examples, the supplementary spin and drain cycle is performed in response to determining that an immediately prior spin and drain cycle was performed with an initial drain of the tub 124. In some embodiments, the controller 166 is configured to perform the supplemental spin and drain cycle without the initial drain in response to detecting fluid in the tub 124 below the predetermined threshold, as discussed herein.

Additionally or alternatively, the method 300 may include performing more than one supplemental spin and drain cycle. Each spin and drain cycle performed may be preceded by receiving a supplemental spin and drain cycle request. Each supplemental spin and drain cycle may omit the initial drain, beginning the cycle by operating the motor to rotate the wash basket and operating the pump to discharge fluid from the tub without performing the initial drain.

Embodiments described herein may include the drain behavior of a spin and drain cycle on a washing machine appliance when the cycle is run back-to-back due to the user attempting to modify items in the wash basket of the washing machine appliance to address out of balance conditions in the wash basket. Under conditions where the user is attempting to manually distribute a very difficult load in response to termination of the primary spin and drain cycle, (which included the initial drain), having an initial drain repeat with every attempt can become a consumer dissatisfier because the user may need to adjust the items in the wash basket several times to get the wash basket balanced. Under back-to-back cycle conditions, the initial drain adds no additional value and serves as a delay for the consumer to get feedback as to whether they adjusted the wash basket items successfully. Embodiments described herein may take advantage of standard drain behavior on the first spin and drain cycle (also herein referred to as a primary spin and drain cycle) run on wash operation but on subsequent drain and spin cycles (also herein referred to as supplemental spin and drain cycles), skip the initial drain and go straight to the spin. In other words, omit the initial drain and proceed with operating the motor to spin the wash basket as draining occurs with the pump.

Method or controller steps may include receiving a request to begin a spin and drain cycle and determining if a previous spin and drain cycle was the last cycle started. If it was completed, the supplemental spin and drain cycle is performed as requested and the controller omits the initial drain and proceeds to direct rotation of the wash basket. If the previous cycle was not a spin and drain cycle, a primary spin and drain cycle with an initial drain is performed with the initial drain prior to rotation of the wash basket. More advanced controller steps or alternative controller steps could be added to determine when to run an initial drain vs when to skip straight to spin, or to proceed straight to rotation of the wash basket. Any of the following combinations may be considered as optional steps. If the last drain and spin cycle ran detected an out of balance condition, skip the initial drain and proceed straight to spin. If the last cycle ended in spin due to an out of balance condition and the spin and drain cycle was started within a predetermined time period, skip the initial drain, and go straight to spin. In some embodiments, steps may include omitting all initial drains on all supplemental spin and drain cycles within a predetermined time period. In other words, if a spin and drain cycle is run within a certain time period of a previous spin and drain cycle, omit the initial drain on the current spin and drain cycle. If the pressure sensor reads empty or below a predetermined fluid level, omit the initial drain and skip straight to spin. If water valves have not been turned on since the last spin and drain cycle, omit the initial drain, and skip straight to spin.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Claims

1. A washing machine appliance having a vertical direction, a transverse direction, and a lateral direction, the washing machine appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining an opening;

a tub disposed within the cabinet;

a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub;

a motor in mechanical communication with the wash basket and configured to rotate the wash basket within the tub;

a pump configured to drain fluid from the tub; and

a controller in operative communication with the pump and the motor, the controller further configured to: perform a primary spin and drain cycle, the primary spin and drain cycle comprising operating the pump to perform an initial drain of the tub, and subsequently operating the motor to rotate the wash basket while continuing operation of the pump to discharge fluid extracted during rotation of the wash basket; receive a request for a supplemental spin and drain cycle following the primary spin and drain cycle; and perform the supplemental spin and drain cycle, the supplemental spin and drain cycle comprising operating the motor to rotate the wash basket and operating the pump to discharge fluid from the tub following receipt of the supplemental spin and drain cycle request and without performing an initial drain of the tub.

2. The washing machine appliance of claim 1, the controller is further configured to:

detect a spin anomaly during the primary spin and drain cycle prior to receiving the request for the supplemental spin and drain cycle.

3. The washing machine appliance of claim 2, wherein the spin anomaly detected during the primary spin and drain cycle is an out of balance wash basket load condition.

4. The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detect fluid in the tub below a predetermined threshold following receiving the request for the supplemental spin and drain cycle,

wherein the controller is configured to perform the supplemental spin and drain cycle without the initial drain of the tub in response to detecting fluid in the tub below the predetermined threshold.

5. The washing machine appliance of claim 4, wherein a pressure sensor is used to detect fluid in the tub.

6. The washing machine appliance of claim 1, the controller further configured to:

start a drain timer in response to directing the wash basket to perform the primary spin and drain cycle,

determine a drain time remaining on the drain timer, and

perform a spin and drain cycle without the initial drain of the tub for all spin and drain cycle requests in response to determining the drain time remains on the drain timer.

7. The washing machine appliance of claim 1, further comprising at least one water valve for regulating a flow of fluid into the tub, the controller further in operative communication with the at least one water valve, wherein the controller is further configured to:

perform a spin and drain cycle without the initial drain of the tub for all spin and drain cycle requests when the at least one water valve has been closed following performing the primary spin and drain cycle.

8. A washing machine appliance having a vertical, a transverse, and a lateral direction, the washing machine appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining an opening;

a tub disposed within the cabinet;

a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub;

a motor in mechanical communication with the wash basket and configured to rotate the wash basket within the tub;

a pump configured to drain fluid from the tub; and

a controller in operative communication with the pump and the motor, the controller configured to direct a primary spin and drain cycle which includes an initial drain of the tub prior to a first spin cycle, the controller further configured to: receive a supplemental spin and drain cycle request; determine that an immediately prior primary spin and drain cycle was performed with an initial drain of the tub; identify a drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance; and perform a spin and drain cycle without the initial drain of the tub following identifying the drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance.

9. The washing machine appliance of claim 8, wherein the drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance is identified by detecting an interruption during the primary spin and drain cycle.

10. The washing machine appliance of claim 8, wherein the drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance is identified by detecting an out of balance wash basket during the primary spin and drain cycle.

11. The washing machine appliance of claim 8, wherein the drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance is identified by determining a directly prior cycle ending in a state identified as a state having fluid below a predetermined threshold in the tub.

12. The washing machine appliance of claim 8, wherein the drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance is identified by a detection of fluid below a predetermined threshold in the tub.

13. The washing machine appliance of claim 12, wherein a pressure sensor is used to detect a fluid level in relation to the predetermined threshold in the tub.

14. The washing machine appliance of claim 8, wherein the drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance is identified by a current time frame being within a predetermined drain omission time period, the predetermined drain omission time period beginning at an end of the primary spin and drain cycle.

15. The washing machine appliance of claim 8, further comprising at least one water valve to direct water into the wash basket, the controller in operative communication with the at least one water valve to operate the at least one water valve,

wherein identifying the drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance includes determining that the at least one water valve has not been opened following performance of the immediately prior primary spin and drain cycle.

16. A method of directing a washing machine appliance to perform supplemental spin and drain cycles, the washing machine appliance having a wash basket, a tub, and a pump configured to drain fluid from the tub, the method comprising:

receiving a supplemental spin and drain cycle request;

determining an immediately prior primary spin and drain cycle was performed with an initial drain of the tub;

identifying a drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance; and

performing a spin cycle without the initial drain of the tub following identification of the drain omission condition.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance is identified by detecting an interruption during the immediately prior primary spin and drain cycle.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance is identified by detecting an out of balance wash basket.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance is identified by determining a directly prior cycle ending in a state identified as having a fluid level in the tub below a predetermined threshold.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the drain omission condition of the washing machine appliance is identified by determining a directly prior cycle performed before receiving the supplemental spin and drain cycle request is a spin and drain cycle.