The Maytag Company

Curran D Cotton

David I Ellingson

James D Wilson

William J Noe

Donald E Erickson

A control system is provided for controlling the operation of at least a pair of coin actuated appliances. A control panel area is provided which includes a coin drop mechanism, selection switches and indicators. A microcontroller is in circuit association with the coin drop mechanism, the selection switches and the indicators. The microcontroller is operable for accumulating the value of coins received and for effecting a display of the value in the indicators. Upon operation of a selection switch for a particular appliance by the appliance user, the microcontroller will effect operation of that appliance and the assignment of the displayed value to that appliance.

Control for coin actuated appliances

A combination appliance is provided having a washing machine and a dryer separately supported above the washing machine. The physical arrangement of the washing machine/dryer combination provides a compartment below the dryer cabinet and behind the washing machine cabinet. A recessed area in the top cover of the washing machine and below the bottom of the dryer defines a pocket which is in communication with the compartment. A sliding access door is operable within the recessed area and is manually movable to a posture partially within the compartment and partially within the pocket for providing clear access to within the washing machine.

Combination appliance with sliding door

A control system is provided for controlling the operation of a plurality of associated appliances. The appliances are individually powered from separate power sources. A single control panel is mounted on one of the appliances and includes selection switches for operator input of cycle information corresponding to each of the appliances and also includes display apparatus. A single controller is in circuit communication with the power supply of one appliance, the selection switches and the display apparatus and outputs data signals to a driver which outputs data signals to control operation of the appliances and the display apparatus. The driver is operable for outputting a series of multiplexed data signals on outputs to the appliances, the display apparatus and the selection switches so that the controller is operable for effecting selective and independent operation of one or concurrent and independent operation of more than one of a plurality of associated appliances. Low voltage cabling is provided between the controller and each appliance for carrying data signals to each appliance.

Control system for a combined appliance

A control is provided for a fabric drying machine and includes selection apparatus operable for initiating a fabric drying cycle having a dryness sensing operation. The control includes a microcontroller for controlling the fabric drying cycle as initiated by the selection apparatus. A power supply is provided for energizing the control and sensors are associated with the fabric drying machine for completing an electrical current path through wet fabrics or other conductive materials during the dryness sensing operation. Electrical circuitry interconnects the sensors and the microcontroller. The circuitry is operable for providing a series of input signals to the microcontroller upon completion of an electrical current path across the sensors and indicative of a dryness condition of the fabrics of less than a predetermined dryness and is further operable for differentiating between contact by wet fabrics and metallic objects. Counting apparatus is associated with the microcontroller for accumulating a count of the input signals, the microcontroller being responsive to at least a predetermined number of input signals in a predetermined sensing period for continuing the fabric drying cycle and repeating the predetermined sensing period and responsive to less than the predetermined number of input signals in the predetermined sensing period for initiating termination of the fabric drying cycle.

Microcontroller-based dryer control

A power-up circuit is provided for a microprocessor based appliance control which includes a power source providing power between first and second conductors. A first circuit is connected across the conductors and a second circuit is electrically disconnected from one of the conductors and from the power source by a normally open switch. The second circuit includes a microprocessor control and the first circuit includes a relay coil for controlling the normally open switch. An optically coupled solid state relay couples the first and second circuits through a pair of light actuated silicon controlled rectifiers in the first circuit for energizing the relay coil and a pair of light emitting diodes in the second circuit for illuminating the light actuated silicon controlled rectifiers. A touch switch and related components are associated with the first circuit and are responsive to manual actuation of the touch switch to initiate energization of the relay coil independent of the light emitting diodes to effect closing of the normally open switch and connection of the second circuit to the power source. After this connection, the light emitting diodes will emit light to illuminate the silicon controlled rectifiers and maintain the relay coil in an energized posture until the cycle is terminated through the microprocessor control.

Power-up circuit for microprocessor based appliance control

A microprocessor controlled appliance is provided which has a smooth unbroken control surface. A control panel assembly includes a support panel and a decorative panel overlying the support panel. The assembly further includes a continuous flexible membrane layer. The support and decorative panels each include a generally aligned opening providing rear communication with the flexible membrane layer. A power source provides power between a pair of electrical conductors for energizing the appliance. A manually-set electrically-reset switch is associated with one of the conductors and is mounted to the support panel below the flexible membrane layer. The switch is manually operable to a closed position by depressing the membrane layer through the opening to complete a circuit across the pair of conductors for powering-up the microprocessor controlled appliance. Mechanism is provided for holding the switch in the closed position including a portion engageable with the switch. A device is operable responsive to the microprocessor for effecting disengagement of the mechanism to effect resetting of the switch to its normally open position.

Power-up control for microprocessor based appliance

A control system for a fabric drying apparatus comprising a resistive heating element in series with high limit and cycling thermostats and connected across the two power lines of a three wire alternating current power supply. The drive motor of the timer is electrically connected between the junction of two legs of the heating circuit and the neutral wire of the power supply. The impedance of the timer drive motor is high compared to the resistance of the heating element; therefore, when the heating element is energized for dying fabrics, the current flow to the timer drive motor is negligible and the timer will not advance. When the cycling thermostat in one of the legs opens at a predetermined temperature, the heating element will be deenergized and current will flow in the other leg and neutral line and the timer will advance until the thermostat closes to reenergize the heating element.

Growing community of inventors

Newton, IA, United States of America

Curran D Cotton