Manipulation Of Liquid Patents (Class 8/158)
  • Patent number: 8776553
    Abstract: A method and apparatus according to one embodiment for determining laundry load size in an automatic clothes washer includes supplying water to predetermined water levels higher than a saturate water level and determining the amount of water supplied to reach each predetermined water level from a prior water level, and determining a load size based on the determined amount of water supplied between the current predetermined water level and the prior water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jenn-Yeu Nieh, James A. Oskins
  • Patent number: 8776296
    Abstract: A controlling method of a washing machine is disclosed. The controlling method of a washing machine includes washing laundry accommodated in a drum provided in the washing machine, primarily rinsing the washed laundry and an inside of the drum, using clean wash water, primarily dewatering the rinsed laundry and secondarily rinsing the dewatered laundry, using clean wash water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eun Jin Park, Deug Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 8780353
    Abstract: The embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for determining at least one characteristic of a physical resource for use in a physical resource consuming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk M. Dunsbergen, Kaustav Ghosh, Robert J. Pinkowski
  • Patent number: 8776297
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet, a tub provided in the cabinet, a drum rotatably provided in the tub for receiving laundry, a gasket provided between the cabinet and the tub, a plurality of spray nozzles provided at a lower part of the gasket for spraying wash water upward into the drum, and a pump for pumping wash water to the spray nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myong Hun Im, Soo Young Oh, Moon Hee Hong, Kyung Chul Woo, Woo Young Kim, Sang Heon Lee, Byung Keol Choi
  • Patent number: 8769749
    Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a mixing vaporizer is provided. The mixing vaporizer includes a first hole that a raw material flows in therethrough, a second hole that carrier gas flows in therethrough, a mixing space that generates mixed gas by mixing the raw material and the carrier gas, a carrier gas nozzle that is connected to the second hole for supplying the carrier gas to the mixing space, and a third hole that discharges the mixed gas. The cleaning device cleans the mixing vaporizer by circulating a cleaning solution through at least one the first hole, the second hole, and the third hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: STS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Young Ryou
  • Patent number: 8719985
    Abstract: A control method of a washing machine, in which a hydraulic pressure of water supplied into the washing machine is estimated, enabling sensing of a laundry weight and measurement of a supply amount of the water. The control method includes calculating a first water supply time required to initially supply water to a setup water level, calculating a second water supply time required to additionally supply water according to a variation in water level due to laundry wetting after the initial supply of water, sensing a laundry weight according to a ratio of the first water supply time to the second water supply time, and measuring a flow rate of water using the amount of water supplied to the setup water level and the laundry weight data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Joo Park, Soon Bae Yang, Jun Hyun Park, Jung Chul Choi
  • Patent number: 8719986
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a control method of a washing machine which minimizes damage to laundry to be washed. The control method includes executing a washing cycle to wash laundry to be washed by supplying wash water, dissolving detergent in wash water and washing the laundry, executing a rinsing cycle to rinse the laundry by draining wash water, spin-drying the laundry, and rinsing the laundry, and executing a spin-drying cycle to spin-dry the laundry by draining wash water and spin-drying the laundry, wherein the dissolving of the detergent is carried out at a water level lower than a predetermined reference water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Pyounghwan Kim, Hyungyong Kim, Seogkyu Park, Youngkee Oh, Deughee Lee, Eunjin Park, Taehyok Kwon
  • Patent number: 8707742
    Abstract: A laundry treatment machine includes a device driving unit configured to control a lock device including a lock element, and a lead, which moves along with the lock element. If the lock element is moved to a lock position, a device controller determines whether the lead is moved from its initial position to a predetermined position and outputs a first detection signal as the result of the determination. The device controller outputs lock information if the first detection signal is received, and determines that the lid assembly and the top cover are not locked and outputs lock error information if the first detection signal is not received. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether laundry is stuck between the lid assembly and the top cover and whether the motor is broken by locking or unlocking the lid assembly and the top cover with the use of the lock element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Youngjong Kim, Changwoo Son
  • Patent number: 8695381
    Abstract: Methods and systems that detect high resonance frequencies as a laundering device (e.g., a washer or dryer) is in a spin cycle, and avoids those frequencies, as well as a band around those frequencies (e.g., 75 rpm on either side of the resonant frequency), in subsequent spin cycles, is described. Aspects of the invention also provide for detecting whether the setup of the laundering device has changed (e.g., resulting from a change in physical location or setup), and provides for the recalibration of a resonance frequency or known high vibration speed when a new setup is detected. Aspects of the invention recognize that solutions to minimize vibration are unnecessary. It is not necessary to optimize or minimize vibration in order for a laundry device to work properly, but rather it is sufficient to ensure that the laundry device does not spin the drum at a speed that causes excessive vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael T. Moore
  • Patent number: 8691257
    Abstract: A water soluble bag for containing soiled textiles, said bag having an open end, a closed end, and sides extending therebetween, said bag made of a plastic film having a thickness of at least 1.3 mils, wherein said bag dissolves in water at a temperature of 165° F. in less than about 250 seconds and does not dissolve in water at a temperature of 85° F. in 7 days, and said bag being capable of containing at least 175 lbs. of soiled textiles and having a capacity of at least 50 gallons. Also disclosed is a receptacle for collecting soiled textiles comprising a container and a water soluble bag. Also disclosed is a receptacle for collecting soiled textiles comprising a container, a sling, and a water soluble bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Cintas Corporation
    Inventors: Keith Hartman, David Mesko, Tim Magee, Richard Gerlach
  • Patent number: 8677538
    Abstract: In a household cleaning appliance configured to execute a cleaning cycle on an article, having a non-bulk dispersing system that stores a single dose of treating chemistry that the dispensing system dispenses to the treating chamber in total as part of the execution of the cleaning cycle, the method includes adding bulk dispensing functionality to the non-bulk dispensing system for operating the dispensing system as a bulk dispensing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Hendrickson, Joel Adam Luckman, Colleen M. Doyle
  • Patent number: 8679198
    Abstract: A washing machine and a method of controlling the washing machine may be provided. The washing machine may include a drum in which laundry are provided and rotated. A laundry amount may be sensed. The drum may operate at a first speed so that a part of the laundry tumbles within the drum and another part of the laundry adheres to the drum or the drum operates at a second speed so that the laundry adheres to the drum according to the sensed laundry amount. Accordingly, at a time of a dehydration cycle, stability of the washing machine and a laundry balancing can be ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sun Cheol Bae, Kyung Hoon Kim, Han Su Jung, Jae Hyeok Choi, Ja In Koo
  • Patent number: 8674242
    Abstract: A laundry weight sensing method. A motor is consecutively turned on and off plural times, the number of pulses output from a counter electromotive force detector according to counter electromotive force of the motor when the motor is finally turned off is counted, and a laundry weight is sensed using the counted number of pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Hoon Kim, Sang Yeon Pyo, Jae Ryong Park, See Young Choi
  • Patent number: 8671488
    Abstract: A steam control device and method of a washing machine are disclosed. The steam control method includes determining whether an instruction of course washing with steam is input; opening a water supply valve to supply water into a steam generator if the instruction of course washing is input; detecting a temperature of water supplied to the steam generator using a temperature sensor; and checking a water supply time corresponding to the detected water supply temperature and supplying water to the steam generator for the water supply time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Ju Dong Lee
  • Patent number: 8650689
    Abstract: A household washing machine that includes a foam-promoting agent dispenser that adds a predetermined amount of a foam-promoting agent during a washing cycle, and a foam-inhibiting agent dispenser that adds a predetermined amount of a foam-inhibiting agent before the end of a rinsing cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Koch, Ingo Schulze
  • Patent number: 8646139
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, and/or device adapted for washing and drying a product via a continuous forward flow of product and a reverse flow of aqueous content. Certain exemplary embodiments can provide an auger, a rotating paddle wheel, a perforated spiral drum, a perforated cylindrical drum, and/or a hydraulic ram press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Eastern Bioplastics, LLC
    Inventors: Cecil E. Meyerhoeffer, Jr., Aaron Showalter
  • Patent number: 8644992
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to methods and apparatus for controlling operation of a washing machine motor. Different control algorithms may be used during different time periods of operation of the motor where each algorithm is configured to provide different operating characteristics of the motor based on the needs of the washing machine system. The method and apparatus both provide for changing from one motor control algorithm to another algorithm while the motor is spinning. For certain type motors, a time period may be established between operation of the motor under a first or second control algorithms where no energy is supplied to the motor but the motor is permitted to continue to spin. During this period of time for these type motors, magnetic fields in the motor are permitted to subside prior to application of the second control algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Richard Dean Suel, II
  • Patent number: 8631526
    Abstract: Method for controlling the centrifugation process of a washing machine, wherein during a first, a second and a third laundry distribution phases (D1, D2, D3), performing a number of unbalance value measurements (M1-M7) and comprising an unbalance value of the drum of the washing machine with predetermined unbalance values. If the current unbalance values are within predetermined intervals, the washing machine performs a spin phase (S1, S2, Smax). If the values are not within the predetermined intervals, the washing machine performs a laundry redistribution phase (R1, R2), after which a further laundry distribution phase (D1, D3) may take place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Inventors: Milan Janicek, Zuzana Vasickova, Pavel Stepan
  • Patent number: 8627525
    Abstract: A method for controlling a spinning cycle of a washing machine, the method includes accelerating a drum up to a first speed at which the laundry items essentially lie firmly against the wall of the drum, detecting a movement of the detergent solution tub in at least one direction for at least one predetermined period during the rotation of the drum at a speed that is equal to or greater than the first speed, determining an amplitude of the movement for the recorded direction, determining further movement amplitudes for known or detected speeds during the predetermined period, determining a change in the movement amplitude over the speed, and controlling the spinning cycle as a function of the change of the movement amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Jurmann
  • Patent number: 8627527
    Abstract: A laundry treating device includes two separate laundry washing mechanisms. Methods of controlling such a laundry treating device include steps for supplying water to a first tub provided in the first laundry treating device and to a second tub provided in the second laundry treating device. The water can be supplied to the two tubs simultaneously or separately. Also, the water supply steps can be alternated. Further individual hot and cold water supply steps can include simultaneously or sequentially supplying the hot and cold water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Soo Lee, Ki Chul Woo, Na Eun Kim, Dong Won Kim, Sung Min Kim, Sung Ryong Kim
  • Patent number: 8627524
    Abstract: Household-type front loading and water-recirculating clothes washing machine adapted to automatically measure the weight of the dry clothes loaded in the machine for washing, also on the basis of the information on the type of clothes in said washload entered from the outside (user), in which the measurement of such weight of the washload is performed by measuring the amount of water that is absorbed by the clothes in the washload when this is soaked with water to a point at which it is in a dynamic saturation, i.e. steady-state condition. Said measurement of the amount of water absorbed in the clothes is obtained by subtracting the amount of water that is present in the machine, and that does not interact with the washload, from the total amount of water let into the wash tub. The weight of the load of clothes is finally calculated by processing and interpolating the amount of absorbed water and rectifying such value with an information on the properties of the clothes in the washload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Carlo Urbanet, Silvano Cimetta, Mirko Gasparini, Marco Giovagnoni
  • Patent number: 8627526
    Abstract: The embodiments of the invention relate to a method for determining at least one characteristic of a physical resource for use in a physical resource consuming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk M. Dunsbergen, Kaustav Ghosh, Robert J. Pinkowski
  • Patent number: 8627688
    Abstract: There is described a control system (15) for controlling unbalance of the wash assembly (5) in a vertical-rotation-axis washing machine (1), wherein a wash assembly (5) is housed inside a casing (2), and has a wash drum (8) rotating about an axis of rotation (R) substantially parallel to a vertical reference axis (V), and an electric drive unit (12) for rotating the wash drum (8) about the relative axis of rotation (R); said control system has first computing blocks (19, 20, 21) for determining a number of operating quantities (Cm(t), J, alpha (t)) associated with rotation of the wash drum (8), and for determining, as a function of the quantities, the time pattern of the amplitude (h(t)) of vertical oscillation of the centre of mass (B) of the wash assembly (5) in a first direction substantially parallel to the vertical reference axis (V); and a second computing block (23) for determining the maximum amplitude (H) of vertical oscillation of the wash assembly (5) within a given time interval (T); the second co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Alvaro Volpato, Jose Machado, Daniel Kaminski de Souza, Marco Giovagnoni, Fabio Altinier, Stefano Galassi
  • Patent number: 8621893
    Abstract: A washing machine having balancers and a method of controlling the same is provided. The number of rotations of a motor is maintained at a designated number before excessive vibration of a tub occurs for a designated time in order to prevent excessive vibration of the tub before balls reach a balancing position. The method includes sensing the number of rotations of a motor; determining whether or not the sensed number of rotations of the motor reaches a designated number of rotations by comparing the sensed number of rotations of the motor with the designated number of rotations; and controlling the motor such that the number of rotations of the motor is maintained at the designated number of rotations when it is determined that the sensed number of rotations of the motor reaches the designated number of rotations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong Seok Ko, Seung Ju Choi, Gyu Sung Na
  • Patent number: 8615833
    Abstract: A washing machine provided with recirculation with controlled flow. It further presents a method to control the level of the washing liquid, associated to the said machine, providing economy of resources such as water and cleaning products, guaranteeing an effective washing of clothes and similar articles, still associated with a decreases foam formation and lower nose emissions during the process, thus improving the operation of the equipment. The washing machine is provided with a washing tub (2), a basket (3), a two-way pump (7), level sensor (5), pool (6), recirculation hose (9), drainage hose (8) and control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Do Brazil S.A.
    Inventors: Cirilo Alex Cavalli, Johninson Imhoff, Marcelo Piekarski
  • Patent number: 8615834
    Abstract: A method of determining the number of doses and the types of a treating chemistry available in the bulk dispensing system, and providing an indication of the determination on a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Karl D. McAllister, Michael T. Dalton
  • Patent number: 8613804
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dry cleaning articles using siloxane solvents are provided. In the systems and methods according to the present invention, the siloxane solvent suspends impurities extracted from the articles being cleaned, and the system filters off the impurities, thereby cleaning the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Greenearth Cleaning, LLC
    Inventors: James E. Douglas, Wolf-Dieter R Berndt
  • Patent number: 8601626
    Abstract: A washing machine and associated washing method are provided. The method may include rotating a drum, measuring and storing a vibration level of a cabinet while increasing a rotational speed of the drum, and measuring the vibration level of the cabinet after the rotational speed of the drum reaches a target rotational speed and determining whether or not the vibration level of the cabinet is greater than a set value. The method may then include adjusting the rotational speed of the drum if the vibration level is greater than the set value so as to minimize vibration and resonance in a support surface on which the washing machine is positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Deok Kyu Kim, Kyung Seop Hong, Bon Kwon Koo, Jae Chul Lee
  • Patent number: 8601625
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a program controller for controlling a program sequence, a drum rotatably supported in a tub, a liquor drain system on a floor of the tub, a liquor drain pump, a drive motor for driving the drum, a heater, a sensor for determining an amount of liquid or of suds in the tub that sense a hydrostatic pressure, a time gradient of the hydrostatic pressure, and/or a guide value in the tub or the drum, and a switch for rotating and stopping the drum and for increasing the speed of the drum if the hydrostatic pressure is less than a predetermined value and for decreasing the speed of the drum if the hydrostatic pressure is more than another predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Moschütz
  • Patent number: 8595954
    Abstract: A clothes treating apparatus includes a drum, an air suction unit forming a flow path of air introduced into the drum, an air exhaustion unit forming a flow path of air exhausted from the drum, a condenser heating air sucked into the drum through the air suction unit, an evaporator cooling air exhausted from the drum through the air exhaustion unit, a compressor compressing refrigerant introduced from the evaporator, and a variable expander expanding a refrigerant introduced from the condenser, and having a variable open degree. An operation method includes measuring a temperature of a refrigerant into the evaporator, and a temperature of a refrigerant into the compressor, and decreasing an open degree of the variable expander when a temperature difference between the two measured temperatures is less than a predetermined first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyuksoo Lee, Sungmin Ye, Byeongjo Ryoo
  • Patent number: 8595875
    Abstract: A laundry treatment machine and a washing method therefor are provided. The laundry treatment machine may discharge fluid by driving a drainage device, while rotating a drum during a time period between a plurality of rinsing operations. The rotation speed of the drum may be controlled to be lower than a reference speed, which is the rotation speed of the drum when laundry is not uniformly distributed in the drum, and thus, eccentricity of the laundry is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myong Hum Im, Byung Keol Choi, Woo Young Kim, Kyung Chul Woo, Kyeong Hwan Kim, Han Gil Park, Soo Young Oh
  • Patent number: 8590083
    Abstract: A laundry appliance having a perforated rotatable drum for spin dehydrating a wet textile load, an electric motor for providing an accelerating force which in use causes the drum to rotate, load sensors for detecting any static dynamic imbalance in the rotation of the drum, and a controller which receives inputs from the load sensors and is programmed to, in a spin-up phase, energize said electric motor so as to evenly distribute the load within the drum and thereby minimize any static or dynamic imbalance when the drum rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited
    Inventor: David Charles Rhodes
  • Patent number: 8584289
    Abstract: A laundry treatment machine and a washing method therefor are provided. During a rinsing operation, the laundry treatment machine may rotate a drum while supplying fluid into the drum. In addition, the laundry treatment machine may control a fluid circulation device to circulate the fluid, and thus, to spray the circulated fluid into the drum during the rotation of the drum. The drum realizes at least one of first through fourth motions. The laundry treatment machine may perform various rinsing operations in consideration of the fluid level in a tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myong Hum Im, Byung Keol Choi, Woo Young Kim, Kyung Chul Woo, Kyeong Hwan Kim, Han Gil Park, Soo Young Oh
  • Patent number: 8578532
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance and a method for operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum defining a chamber for receiving laundry. The operation of the laundry treating appliance may be based on the mechanical energy due to the falling action of the laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Farhad Ashrafzadeh, Ryan R. Bellinger, Duane M. Kobos, Richard A. Sunshine
  • Patent number: 8576401
    Abstract: The embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for determining at least one characteristic of a physical resource for use in a physical resource consuming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk M. Dunsbergen, Kaustav Ghosh, Robert J. Pinkowski
  • Patent number: 8566989
    Abstract: A clothing treating apparatus and a method of controlling such an apparatus are provided. The clothing treating apparatus may make use of a draining function which may be automatically or manually performed after determining whether or not water received in a detachable water supply tank may be re-used or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hea Kyung Yoo, Dae Yun Park, Jong Seok Kim, Dong Won Kim, Sog Kie Hong
  • Patent number: 8566990
    Abstract: A laundry machine and a method of controlling the laundry machine are disclosed. The laundry machine includes a steam generator (300) which generates steam to supply the steam into a drum (130), a water supply line (320) which supplies water into the steam generator (300), a filter (360) installed in the water supply line (320) to filter water, a regenerating unit (382) which regenerates the filter (360), and a controller which controls operations of the steam generator (300) and the regenerating unit (382).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Hun Bae, Jung Wook Moon, Chul Jin Choi, Dong Hyun Kim, Young Bok Son
  • Patent number: 8562754
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub having a door that provides access to the tub. The door has a handle which extends a top surface of the door beyond a front surface of the door. A touchscreen panel is mounted to the top surface of a door to provide a user interface. The user interface includes a carrousel of icons via which a user may select a wash cycle. The user interface further includes a programmed delay interface via which a user may specify a desired start time and/or stop time for the wash cycle. The user interface may further provide the user with usage guidance to aid the user in the usage of the dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher G. Koch, Sandra C. Steward, Daniel Szecket
  • Patent number: 8551256
    Abstract: A washing machine and a washing control method of the same that is capable of controlling laundry to be effectively washed with bubbles depending upon load of the washing machine and types of the laundry. The washing control method includes detecting the amount of load depending upon the weight of laundry, controlling the amount of wetting water according to the detected amount of load to wet the laundry, and generating bubbles to wash the laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bo Ram Lee, Sang Yeon Pyo, Hyun Sook Kim, Sung Hoon Kim, Seong Min Oak
  • Patent number: 8533881
    Abstract: A method for treating laundry in a laundry treating appliance including the application of a lipase solution to the laundry during a cycle of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Whirpool Corporation
    Inventors: Irene M. Brockman, Kaustav Ghosh
  • Patent number: 8528139
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum defining a rotatable treating chamber. The operation of the laundry treating appliance may determine the presence of an over-sudsing condition to execute a biofilm treating cycle based on the presence of the over-sudsing condition determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony H. Hardaway
  • Patent number: 8522579
    Abstract: A clothes washer is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current state of an associated utility. The controller operates the clothes washer in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. In the case of a water heating clothes washer containing a heater assembly, the controller is configured to change the power consuming characteristics of the heater assembly to reduce power consumption of the clothes washer in an energy savings mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jerrod Aaron Kappler
  • Patent number: 8510886
    Abstract: A method for accelerating the wetting of washing in the variable-speed drum of a drum washing machine. A quantity of fresh water is introduced according to the determined quantity of laundry. The drum is driven at intervals and in a reversing manner in successive phases for a first determined length of time at an rpm which is adapted to the washing. The drum is stopped and/or driven at an rpm adapted to the wetting of the washing for a second pre-determined length of time, such that the water is especially effectively distributed over the washing by means of ladling devices located on the drum. The required quantity of washing liquid for the following washing phase is determined once the drum is driven at intervals and in a reversing manner at an rpm adapted to the washing after the second pre-determined length of time has come to an end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Schulze, Gundula Czyzewski
  • Patent number: 8505139
    Abstract: A washer fill system and method supply a suitable minimum amount of water necessary to wash a particular load of laundry based on readings taken from a pressure sensor that measures liquid pressure in the wash tub. Pressure sensor readings are taken intermittently during the fill process to determine when a sufficient amount of free water for washing the load of clothes has accumulated in the tub. This includes pressure readings taken while pulsing the washer motor to spin the wash basket. Other pressure readings may be taken during a pause in filling to measure the water run-off from the wetted clothes above the free water line, and the release of air bubbles from a load portion below the water line. Determining the sufficiency of the amount of wash liquid in the wash tub involves implementation of an algorithm with coefficients determined through regression analyzes, and may include other factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Vicente Marconcin Vanhazebrouck, Marcos Paulo Soares Bittencourt, Marcelo Piekarski, David Irwin Ellingson, Jon Roepke
  • Patent number: 8484860
    Abstract: Disclosed is a clothes treating apparatus, which treats clothes into a more wearable condition. A clothes treating apparatus includes a cabinet; an accommodating space defined in the cabinet to accommodate clothes, and maintained in a stationary state; an air supplying device generating dry air and supplying the dry air into the accommodating space such that the dry air is circulated in the accommodating space, wherein the air supplying device includes an inlet provided at a bottom of the accommodating space such that the air in the accommodating space flows into the air supplying device through the inlet; and a filter assembly installed in the inlet, and filtering the air passing through the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jung Wook Moon, Dae Yun Park, Sog Kie Hong, Jong Seok Kim, Seung Gyu Ryu, Hye Yong Park, Chang Gyu Choi, Dong Won Kim
  • Patent number: 8468631
    Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of a laundry treating appliance resting on a floor and having a rotatable drum defining a treating chamber that includes creating an imbalance in the drum, rotating the drum at least one predetermined speed, determining an out of balance parameter, determining a floor parameter of the floor based on the out of balance parameter, and setting at least one operating parameter based on the floor parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Farshad Farid, Dennis L. Kehl, Kenneth P. Mitera
  • Patent number: 8460396
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, and/or device adapted for washing and drying a product via a continuous forward flow of product and a reverse flow of aqueous content. Certain exemplary embodiments can provide an auger, a rotating paddle wheel, a spiral drum, a cylindrical drum, and/or a ram press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Eastern Bioplastics, LLC
    Inventors: Cecil E. Meyerhoeffer, Jr., Aaron L. Showalter
  • Patent number: 8435311
    Abstract: A method of collecting soiled textiles to be cleaned, comprising the steps of providing a container having an open end, a closed end, and sides extending therebetween, providing a sling having an open end, a second end, and sides extending therebetween disposed in and supported by said container, providing a water soluble bag having an open end, a closed end, and sides extending therebetween and made of a plastic film having a thickness of at least 1.3 mils, wherein said bag dissolves in water at a temperature of 165° F. in less than about 250 seconds, does not dissolve in water at a temperature of 85° F. in 7 days, being capable of containing at least 175 lbs. of soiled textiles, and having a capacity of at least 50 gallons, wherein said bag is disposed in and supported by said sling, and wherein soiled textiles deposited in said container are contained in said bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Cintas Corporation
    Inventors: Keith Hartman, David Mesko, Tim Magee, Richard Gerlach
  • Patent number: 8424345
    Abstract: There are provided a conductivity sensor of a washing water, an installation construction of the conductivity sensor, and a method for controlling the washing machine, which are capable of controlling the washing machine by calculating a hardness of a washing water from a measured conductivity of the washing water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Suck Park, Young Han Song
  • Patent number: 8413279
    Abstract: A method for deflecting a spray of wash liquid to a desired location in either a drum or tub of a cleaning appliance along different flow paths and/or flow patterns according to the velocity of the wash liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jenn-Yeu Nieh, Matthew Craig Parsons, Jon D. Strait, Nyik Siong Wong