Maytag Corporation

Dr. Johannes Heidenhain Gmbh

The Maytag Company

Douglas A Ochsner

John Francis Broker

Evan R Vande Haar

Donald E Erickson

Scott A Merkle

Charles L Jackson

Stephen D Schober

Jordan S Bruntz

Brian L Ness

Scott E Griffith

Kimberly J Hood

Brett C Oleson

Lashelle D Woods

Gary N Petersen

Margaret H Fey

Gary T Ostrander

Brett A Noser

An apparatus, method and system of wash action control for an automatic washing machine. A manually operable user interface allows selection from between a plurality of discrete agitation speed selections which comprise at least a continuous speed agitation mode for a given agitation period during a wash cycle and an intermittent speed agitation mode for at least a part of a given agitation period. The intermittent speed agitation mode automatically varies agitation speed between at least two sub-periods of the given agitation period. The variation in agitation speed can be between a faster and a slower speed or a certain speed and no agitation.

Washing machine agitation action control

A household appliance is provided with a visual display, as well as a control system which enables the visual display to be used in an advertising mode of operation. The advertising mode can be selectively operated in either automatic or interactive formats. In the automatic format, a series of screens are successively displayed on the screen in order to advertise various features and advantages of the appliance. In the interactive format, the consumer can enter desired selections through the screen as if the appliance was actually in use. The appliance then simulates an operation cycle based on the selections made. The selections are preferably stored in a volatile memory location such that the control system reverts back to default settings and options, either after a preset idle period or upon establishing an OFF condition for the appliance.

Household appliance with advertising display mode

An unbalance detection and control system senses an out-of-balance condition developed during a plaster speed portion of spin cycle in a washing machine, particularly a horizontal axis washing machine, through fluctuations in command signals sent from a main controller to maintain a spinning basket or tub of the washing machine at plaster speed. Preferably, the controller sends a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal to a drive controller which, in turn, regulates a motor used to spin the tub. A feedback loop is employed to reflect an actual operational state achieved by the spinning tub, which may warrant a change in the command signal. Excessive fluctuations in the command signals indicate a need to redistribute the load of clothes in the tub.

Unbalance detection system for a washing machine

A clothes washing machine is automatically responsive to indications of high suds level conditions during washing operations to, not only counteract the high level of suds, but effectively educate the user on avoiding the reoccurrence of the conditions. A display, such as an LCD touch screen which is also preferably used to input desired cycle parameters, is integrated into the washing machine for both alerting the user to the occurrence of a high suds level condition and conveying information on how to avoid the development of the situation in the future. In order to avoid prematurely alarming the user, it is preferable to instruct the user only after a predetermined number of high level suds cycles are detected.

Suds detection and display system for an automatic washing machine

A pricing control system for multi-operation vending machines, such as those commonly found in laundromat facilities, incorporates an offset price setting field for storing at least one incremental offset price which is added to a pre-established base price in order to set the cost for a respective vending machine operation. In accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention, a single offset price is used to increment each of the base prices established for a given vending machine such that the costs associated with each of the operations is incremented an equal amount. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, multiple offset price amounts are stored and added to predetermined base prices to establish the cost of each of the respective vending machine operations. The price control system is considered to be particularly advantageous when utilized in connection with a debit card charging arrangement and enables facility operators to change the numerous vending machine operation prices by only altering the data stored in the offset price setting field. In addition, the use of the pricing control system of the present invention readily enables penny increment price changes to be implemented in existing vending machine facilities.

Pricing control system for multi-operation vending machines

A method and apparatus for optimizing the rotational speed of a washing machine tub to minimize washing machine vibration. The washing machine uses an accelerometer to sense machine vibration. A computer software program monitors, records, and compares machine vibrations over a range of rotational speeds to determine a rotational speed which minimizes machine vibration.

Accelerometer for optimizing speed of clothes washer

A washing machine for automatically laundering articles of clothing by imparting mechanical actions upon the articles of clothing within a basket of the machine during a washing operation that includes a wash cycle and a preset number of rinse cycles incorporates a control system that functions to alter the mechanical actions imparted upon the articles of clothing during at least the wash cycle, and preferably both the wash cycle and at least one of the rinse cycles, and/or adds a supplemental rinse cycle to the overall washing operation in response to an indication of a high suds level condition in the machine. The control system receives signals indicative of an operating parameter of the washing machine, such as the input torque or operating speed of a motor of the machine, from a detection unit and utilizes these signals to determine the presence of high levels of suds and the need to transfer to a suds reduction mode of operation. In at least a preferred embodiment of the invention, provisions are made to recover from the suds reduction mode by returning to the normal washing operation and/or simply cancel the supplemental rinse cycle.

Automatic washing machine incorporating a suds detection and control

A data acquisition system having selective communication capability to enable the data acquisition system to communicate with other data acquisition systems. The probe of the present invention initiates communication with a data acquisition unit located in an appliance. The data acquisition unit maintains a collection record which indicates the current setup and counts of the appliances. When the probe communicates with the data unit, it identifies itself and based upon this identification, the data unit responds with a particular collection record which is compatible with the probe communicating with the data unit. In addition, if the probe is used to setup a data unit, the probe decides what type of setup record to send based upon the collection record received from the data unit.

Data acquisition system having selective communication capability

A data acquisition system having selective communication capability to enable the data acquisition system to communicate with other data acquisition systems. The probe of the present invention initiates communication with a data acquisition unit located in an appliance. The data acquisition unit maintains a collection record which indicates the current setup and counts of the appliance. When the probe communicates with the data unit, it identifies itself and based upon this identification, the data unit responds with a particular collection record which is compatible with the probe communicating with the data unit. In addition, if the probe is used to setup a data unit, the probe decides what type of setup record to send based upon the collection record received from the data unit.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a self-test feature for an apparatus utilizing an optical communication link, such as commercial laundry appliances having a data acquisition system for storing information on appliance usage for subsequent transmission to a portable data unit. A signal having at least one known characteristic is applied to the transmitting portion of an optical transceiver, and at least a portion of the resulting transmitted optical energy is coupled to the optical detector of the receiving section of the same transceiver. The characteristics of the resulting output of the receiver elements of the transceiver corresponding to the coupled signal are compared to the corresponding characteristic of the known input signal. Correspondence of these characteristics will confirm valid operation of the transmitting elements and the receiving elements, and thus verify operation of the optical transceiver.

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Newton, IA, United States of America

Douglas A Ochsner