Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.

Fikreadam Abebe Damtew

James Quentin Pollett

Troy Marshall Wright

S Neil Malone

Alexander Boris Leibman

Jerrod Aaron Kappler

Ryan Ellis Leonard

Venkata Chakradhar Rangu

Jay Pareshbhai Shinde

Aaron Lee Welch

Senthil Kandasamy

Rushikesh Nandkumar Salvi

A method for operating a washing machine may include a step of receiving an input indicative of a first wash cycle command. The method may also include a step of selecting an active tank of two or more tanks based on the first wash cycle command. The method may further include a step of supplying a dose of additive to the tub from the active tank.

Systems and methods for dispensing an additive for a washing machine appliance

Washing machine appliance ventilation systems and methods include rotating a wash basket of the washing machine appliance for an ON period, whereby a flow of ambient air is drawn through an aperture in the washing machine appliance from an ambient environment into the wash basket. The systems and methods also include comparing a humidity within the washing machine appliance to a reference humidity value. When a difference between the humidity within the washing machine appliance and the reference humidity value is greater than a threshold, the step of rotating the wash basket for the ON period is repeated. When the difference between the humidity within the washing machine appliance and the reference humidity value is less than or equal to the threshold, the ventilation cycle or method is terminated.

Washing machine ventilation systems and methods

A washing machine appliance including a ventilation structure. A vent line is at a wash tub. A vent filter is provided to the vent line that allows air to flow from the wash tub, and through the vent line, the vent filter redirecting cleaning fluids impinging on the vent filter back toward the wash tub. The vent filter may include a plurality of louvers. The louvers may be located adjacent to one another so as to form a plurality of openings for the flow of air from the wash tub.

Washing machine ventilation structure

A washing machine includes a cabinet, a door, a tub provided within the cabinet, a wireless communication module provided within the cabinet, and a controller in operative communication with the wireless communication module. The controller is configured to perform a series of operations, including receiving an initiation signal for a laundry operation to be performed by the washing machine appliance; sending a wake-up signal to a mobile electronic device via the wireless communication module in response to receiving the initiation signal; emitting a laundry operation trigger prior to initiating the laundry operation; determining that the mobile device is within a predetermined distance from the washing machine appliance in response to generating the laundry operation trigger; and receiving a confirmation signal before beginning the laundry operation.

Method for preventing accidental washing of electronic devices in a washing machine appliance

A washing machine appliance may include a cabinet, a tub, a wash basket, a drawer, an air inlet, and an air outlet. The cabinet defining an opening to receive articles therethrough. The tub being positioned within the cabinet. The wash basket being rotatably mounted within the tub. The wash basket defining a wash chamber for receiving articles for washing. The drawer mounted to the cabinet. The drawer defining a compartment to receive a scent additive therein. The air inlet line extending from the compartment in downstream fluid communication with the wash chamber to direct air therefrom. The air outlet line extending to the compartment in upstream fluid communication with the wash chamber to direct air thereto.

Washing machine appliance and additive assembly

A fluid circulation system of a washing machine appliance includes a wash tub configured for containing fluid during operation of the washing machine appliance and a drain pump positioned below the wash tub. The fluid circulation system also includes a hydraulically actuated diverter valve coupled to the drain pump. The diverter valve is in fluid communication with the drain pump and is downstream of the drain pump. The diverter valve is configured to selectively direct a flow of fluid from the drain pump to one of the wash tub or an outlet of the washing machine appliance.

Washing machine appliance with hydraulically actuated diverter valve

A washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub positioned in the cabinet, a basket assembly mounted in the tub, a manifold mounted in the cabinet, and a dispenser box slidably mounted to the manifold. The dispenser box is configured to provide selective access to an interior of the dispenser box, and a powder detergent chamber is configured for receiving powder detergent. A drawer is slidably mounted to the dispenser box within the interior of the dispenser box. The drawer defines a liquid detergent chamber. Liquid detergent chamber nests within the powder detergent chamber in the interior of the dispenser box.

Systems for appliance detergent dispensing

A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a fluid additive dispenser and a controller. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing, a dispenser drawer, a water supply conduit, a first water valve, a shower plate, and a second water valve. The water supply conduit may be directed to the pod compartment defined by the dispenser drawer and define a water inlet. The shower plate may be disposed upstream from a primary compartment and the pod compartment. The controller may be configured to initiate a washing operation that includes initiating a wetting water flow at the second water valve to the pod compartment through the shower plate, initiating a break water flow to the pod compartment through the water supply conduit following the wetting water flow, and initiating a fill water flow through the shower plate following the break water flow.

Additive dispenser for varying the types of additives within a washing machine appliance

A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub disposed within the cabinet, a basket, and a fluid additive dispenser. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing, a dispenser drawer, and a pod cup. The housing may extend between an open front end and a closed rear end. The housing may be disposed within the cabinet. The dispenser drawer may be slidably received in the housing above the basket. The dispenser drawer may extend from a forward end to a rearward end. The dispenser drawer may define a primary compartment and a pod compartment adjacent to the primary compartment between the forward end and the rearward end. The pod cup may be selectively received on the dispenser drawer within the pod compartment to hold an additive pod. The pod cup may define an opening therein to permit a wash fluid therethrough.

A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a basket, and a fluid additive dispenser. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing and a dispenser drawer. The housing may extend between an open front end and a closed rear end. The housing may be disposed within the cabinet. The dispenser drawer may be selectively received in the housing above the basket. The dispenser drawer may extend from a forward end proximate to the rotation axis to a rearward end distal to the rotation axis. The dispenser drawer may define a primary compartment and a pod compartment adjacent to the primary compartment between the forward end and the rearward end. The dispenser drawer may further define a pod outlet extending through a wall of the pod compartment to direct a wash fluid therefrom.

A washing machine appliance as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub, a fluid additive dispenser, and a controller. The tub may be disposed within the cabinet. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing, a dispenser drawer, a water supply conduit, a conduit water valve, and an optical sensor. The optical sensor may be mounted to a housing and directed at a pod compartment. The controller may be operably coupled to the fluid additive dispenser and may be configured to initiate a washing operation. The washing operation may include receiving an image signal from the optical sensor, determining a pod characteristic within the pod compartment based on the received image signal, and directing water to the pod compartment based on the determined pod characteristic.

A method for detecting drain standpipe height in a washing machine appliance includes activating a drain pump such that the drain pump flows wash fluid from a tub to a drain standpipe, determining a height of the drain standpipe, and adjusting operation of the washing machine appliance in response to the determined height of the drain standpipe.

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Louisville, KY, United States of America

Fikreadam Abebe Damtew