Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Patents Company

Kenneth N Whah

Robert J Pinkowski

John W Euler

John Carl Aldrin

Matthew G Czach

Duane M Kobos

Ralph E Christman

Richard Bruce Mills

David Meese

Jonathan P Van Dore

Tony L Ellis

Ernst Grunewald

Marcus W Franck

A storage bin assembly for mounting to a household refrigerator door comprises a storage bin defining a recess and having an opening to provide access to the recess. The storage bin is movably mounted to the door for movement between an opened position where the recess can be accessed through the opening and a closed position where the opening is sealed with the door. The door can comprise a housing that supports the storage bin and seals with the storage bin when the storage bin is in the closed position. The storage bin can comprise a peripheral wall that defines the recess and terminates at an upper edge defining the opening.

Refrigerator with storage bin

This invention relates a control for an automatic washer incorporating a spray pretreatment or stain care cycle. In order to manage the occurrence of the condition of suds lock, the state of the washing machine related to the suds lock condition during spray pretreatment is determined by one or more of a number of methods. With this information concerning the state of the spray pretreatment process, the occurrence of suds lock can be ascertained and the cycle can be controlled accordingly to minimize negative effects resulting from a prolonged suds lock condition. Additionally, with certain information related to the occurrence of suds lock, steps can be taken during the spray pretreatment portion of the cycle to avoid the condition of suds lock altogether. Using the same primary process for measuring suds lock, load size can also be ascertained. Information about load size can be used to control the wash cycle.

Control for an automatic washer with spray pretreatment

Control for and automatic washer with spray pretreatment

A method for operating an automatic dishwasher in a manner to minimize the deposition of contaminants or filming on the dishes is provided. The present invention contemplates that objectionable filming on washed dishes or dishware items may occur if residual water left on the dishes at the end of the final drain step is not given a chance to drip off or drain from the dishware. The present invention provides for a drip period following the final drain step in the dishwashing cycle. The drip period provides an opportunity for gravity assisted draining or 'drip-off' of residual water from the dishware items prior to evaporation such that the minute particles which are suspended in the residual water are not deposited onto the dishes. During the drip period, rapid evaporation of residual liquid from the dishware items is prevented. This is accomplished, in part, by keeping a vent aperture in the dishwasher door closed for a predetermined time after the final rinse such that the relative humidity remains high in the dishwasher tub and by delaying the energization of the heater such that evaporation is not promoted by the introduction of heat into the dishwasher tub. The present invention further contemplates the use of a purge operation prior to the rinse step wherein a small amount of liquid is supplied into the dishwasher, briefly recirculated and then discharged to drain. The combination of the purge operation with a drip period after the final drain minimizes filming on the dishware items within the dishwasher.

Cycle for a dishwasher to reduce filming

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Porter, IN, United States of America

Kenneth N Whah