Maytag Corporation

Mark A Cracraft

Randall L Cooper

Mitchell N Corbett

Darrin Scott Manke

Mary E Kennedy

An automatic dishwashing machine includes enhanced drying and draining cycles. Toward the end of the rinse and hold cycle when the water is draining, a second quantity of water is added to the machine resulting in a purging action which reduces the concentration of soil in the wash pump. During the normal wash cycle, if the dishwashing machine determines that the water is sufficiently dirty, a second drain is initiated to remove any dirty water that is present in the bottom of the pump after the first drain. During the dry cycle, the machine senses the temperature of the water and the presence of a rinse aid to select an appropriate dry cycle. The possible dry cycles include a delayed dry cycle and a pulsed dry cycle.

Enhanced draining and drying cycles for an automatic dishwasher

A method and apparatus of adaptively filling a washing machine uses a water level signal from an analog pressure sensor to determine the appropriate fill level of the machine. A fuzzy logic knowledge base uses various inputs which are scaled and added together to create an output value. The inputs to the fuzzy logic knowledge base include the current pre-defined level, the Ross input, the last rate difference value, and the peak rate level. The present invention may also be used to determine the fabric type of the clothing in the washing machine.

Adaptive fill control for an automatic washer

An appliance control panel having selective backlighting includes a selection area that is normally visible to the operator including an 'OPTIONS' switch. By pressing the 'OPTIONS' switch, a plurality of lamps are illuminated. The light from the lamps passes through an assembly of overlays and illuminates a set of optional switches that are not normally visible. The incandescent lamps are positioned partially within a clear plastic mounting plate with a lamp on each side of the optional switches. The clear mounting plate is masked on both sides except for areas on the plate that form depressions around each optional switch. The light is trapped between the masks and escapes through the overlay assembly, illuminating the optional switches.

Growing community of inventors

Urbandale, IA, United States of America

Mark A Cracraft