CA3134713C

CA3134713C - Device and method for treating laundry

Info

Publication number: CA3134713C
Application number: CA3134713A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Benny LEUNG; Jason Allen Stamper; Mark Robert Sivik
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 2019-04-24
Filing date: 2020-04-15
Publication date: 2023-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-15
Also published as: EP3959369A1; WO2020219306A1; CN113677846B; CA3134713A1; US20200340168A1; CN113677846A; JP2022523840A

Abstract

An automatic laundry treatment machine for treating laundry. The automatic laundry treatment machine has a reservoir having a reservoir fill level and a reservoir liquid outlet having a reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter. A conveyance connects the reservoir liquid outlet to the stationary treatment chamber of the automatic laundry treatment machine. There is an in operation total head difference between the reservoir fill level and the stationary treatment chamber or an in operation total head difference across a portion of the conveyance and the total head difference divided by the cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter in consistent units of length is from about 0.3 to about 2200. The automatic laundry machine can be operated to use the liquid stored in the reservoir to rapidly supply liquid to the stationary treatment chamber, thereby shortening cycle time.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TREATING LAUNDRY
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to devices and methods for cleaning or treating laundry.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Automatic laundry treatment machines are commonly employed to perform laundry treatment processes that can include cleaning and or imparting another benefit to the laundry being treated. Most automatic laundry treatment machines employ similar features and processes to accomplish the task of treating laundry. Laundry is placed in a cylindrical tub within a treatment chamber, which is at least partially filled with water or an aqueous treatment liquor before, during, or after the laundry is placed in the tub.
During the process of treating the laundry, agitation is applied to the wetted laundry to enhance the efficacy of the applied treatment. Agitation can be applied by a rotationally reciprocating agitator, as is common in top loading washing machines in which the tub is mounted on an axis that is vertical relative to the footprint of the laundry treatment machine. Laundry treatment machines that include a tub that is mounted on an axis that is horizontal to the footprint of the washing machine can provide agitation to the wetted laundry by rotation of the tub. The rotation of the tub can be slow enough to cause the laundry contained therein to cascade and or tumble away from the interior wall of the tub as the tub if rotated. The rotation of the tub can be variable, steady, intermittent, and or reciprocating, so that the laundry cascades and or tumbles during the treatment process. The tub may include fins, projections, or an otherwise irregular interior surface of the tub to promote lifting and dropping of the laundry as the tub rotates.
One limitation of automatic laundry treatment machines is such machines use a considerable amount of time to fill the treatment chamber to a level sufficient for performing the laundry treatment process. Automatic laundry treatment machines employ multiple steps of partially filling the laundry treatment chamber with liquid, draining liquid from the laundry treatment chamber, partially refilling the laundry treatment chamber with additional liquid, and additional draining of liquid from the laundry treatment chamber. Often, the automatic laundry treatment machine is otherwise idle while waiting for the quantity of liquid to be delivered to the laundry treatment chamber.
The amount of time to treat laundry is further aggravated by laundry treatment machines designed to use only a small amount of water. Such machines are referred to as high efficiency machines. High efficiency machines tend to use less water than non-high efficiency machines.
High efficiency machines depend on the increased time of contact between the liquid being used to treat the laundry and the laundry to help overcome the limitations associated with using less water than non-high efficiency machines.
When high efficiency machines are used to clean laundry with a detergent composition that includes a surfactant, the small amount of liquid available can result in excessive suds developing in the wash liquor. The laundry treatment machine may pause or delay implementing subsequent treatment cycles of a load of laundry to allow time for excessive suds to dissipate. Or, the laundry treatment machine may rinse the laundry one or more times to dissipate or remove the excessive suds. The additional rinse or rinses requires time to provide additional liquid to the laundry treatment machine. Pausing or delaying or providing additional liquid to the laundry treatment machine adds to the total time required to completely treat laundry.
Water used in household laundry treatment machines is typically provided by connecting the machine to a household water fixture specifically provided to service the machine or the machine is connected to a fixture that services a sink, shower, or bathtub.
Such fixtures have a maximum flow rate that can be provided. Typically, it can take many minutes for the volume of water needed to wash, rinse, or otherwise treat laundry using the household laundry treatment machine to flow from the fixture. Similarly, single user laundry treatment machines used in a commercial setting such as a laundromat, are often served by small water lines having similar limited flow rates.
With these limitations in mind, there is a continuing unaddressed need for laundry treatment machines and processes for treating laundry that reduce the amount of time required to treat laundry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An automatic laundry treatment machine suitable for treating laundry with an aqueous treatment liquor, comprising: a reservoir having a reservoir liquid inlet and one or more reservoir liquid outlets downstream of said reservoir liquid inlet, said reservoir having a reservoir fill level above said one or more reservoir liquid outlets; a stationary treatment chamber having a stationary treatment chamber inlet in fluid communication with said one or more reservoir liquid outlets, wherein said stationary treatment chamber contains a rotatable tub;
and a conveyance connecting said one or more reservoir liquid outlets and said stationary treatment chamber inlet;
wherein said one or more reservoir liquid outlets have a cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter; wherein there is an in operation total head difference between said reservoir fill level and said stationary treatment chamber inlet or an in operation total head difference across a portion of said conveyance and said total head difference divided by said cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter in consistent units of length is from about 0.3 to about 2200.
A process of treating laundry using the automatic laundry treatment machine of the preceding paragraph comprising the steps of draining a first liquid from said treatment chamber as part of or after a first laundry treatment sub-cycle; then transferring a second liquid from said reservoir to said stationary treatment chamber; then performing a second laundry treatment sub-.. cycle employing said second liquid; and during said second laundry treatment sub-cycle, at least partially refilling said reservoir with a third liquid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 Exterior view of an automatic laundry treatment machine.
Fig. 2 Interior view of an automatic laundry treatment machine in which the reservoir is above the stationary treatment chamber and flow of liquid from the reservoir to the stationary treatment chamber is driven by gravity.
Fig. 3 Interior view of an automatic laundry treatment machine in which the reservoir is below the stationary treatment chamber and a pump is employed to drive flow of liquid from the .. reservoir to the stationary treatment chamber.
Fig. 4 is a flow diagram of a process for operating the automatic laundry treatment machine.
Fig. 5 is a flow diagram of a process for operating the automatic laundry treatment machine, including optional steps for resolving an excess suds condition.
Fig. 6 is a cross section of a reservoir.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Automatic laundry treatment machines are commonly employed to treat laundry.
Laundry treatment machines are most commonly used for cleaning laundry and are often referred to as laundry washing machines. Laundry treatment machines can also be used for more than just cleaning. For instance, laundry treatment machines are often employed to soften laundry. Other treatments imparted to laundry via laundry treatment processes are targeted to providing anti-wrinkle benefits, anti-static benefits, scent benefits, malodor benefits, anti-microbial benefits, color rejuvenation, color stabilization, stain removal or treatment benefits, stain resistance benefits, color enhancement benefits, insect repellant benefits, and the like. Automatic laundry treatment machines are machines that once initiated by the user automatically carry out processes for treating laundry and are powered by electricity.
The automatic laundry treatment machines can dispense laundry treatment active compositions for treating the laundry during the process for treating laundry.
Laundry treatment active compositions can refer to any one or more compositions for treating laundry including but not limited to surfactants (nonionic, anionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric, and cationic), detergents, cleaning agents, chelants, perfumes, hueing dyes, enzymes, bleaching agents, oxidizing agents, builders, soil release polymers, deposition aids, anti-deposition agents, fabric enhancing agents, softening agents including but not limited to silicones, cationic surfactants and cationic polymers.
The laundry treatment active compositions can be formulated laundry treatment active compositions comprising multiple components or can be provided or added to the stationary treatment chamber or tub or used in the process as a single active composition added to the stationary treatment chamber or tub or process or added in a sequence of one or more active compositions or formulated compositions added during any of one or more sub-cycles of laundry treatment process, or in any combination thereof. The laundry treatment active compositions can include formulating aids, solvents, stabilizing aids, or other materials to aid in formulation, stability, manufacture, processing, or delivery of the composition. The automatic laundry treatment machines and processes can also use suds suppressors.
An automatic laundry treatment machine 10 is shown in Fig. 1. The automatic laundry treatment machine 10 shown in Fig. 1 is a front loading automatic laundry treatment machine 10.
The automatic laundry treatment machine 10 can be suitable for treating laundry 20 with an aqueous treatment liquor. The automatic treatment machine 10 can comprise a reservoir 30, a stationary treatment chamber 40, and a rotatable tub 50 contained within the stationary treatment chamber 40. The reservoir 30 and stationary treatment chamber 40 can be together within a single cabinet 55. The automatic laundry treatment machine 10, more particularly the cabinet 55, can be sized and dimensioned for domestic use. Domestic use means that the laundry treatment machine 10 is intended to be employed by the occupant or occupants of only one domicile at a time. A
domestic use laundry treatment machine may serve multiple domiciles, one at a time. Such laundry treatment machines 10 may be found in single residences, laundry rooms serving multiple residences, and laundromats, the laundry treatment machines in such locations being intended to be used by an occupant or occupants of a single domicile and not being intended to treat loads of laundry sourced from multiple domiciles in a single use. The cabinet 55 can have a volume from about 0.15 m3 to about 1.5 m3. The cabinet 55 can have a maximum dimension of less than about 1.6 m, the maximum dimension being the largest dimension of the cabinet 55 in any direction, which means that the maximum dimension is not the width, depth, or height of the cabinet. The cabinet 55 can have a maximum dimension of less than about 2 m. The cabinet 55 can have a maximum dimension of less than about 1.0 m. The cabinet 55 can have a maximum dimension of less than about 0.8 m. The cabinet 55 can have a maximum width from about 0.3 m to about 0.8 m. The cabinet 55 can have a maximum height from about 0.8 m to about 1.2 m, optionally about 1 m, so as to be able to fit under typical domestic countertops. The cabinet 55 can have a depth from about 0.6 m to about 1 m, optionally from about 0.6 m to about 0.9 m, optionally about 0.85 m, to fit front to back underneath typical domestic countertops. The external liquid source can be a tap water service line, hot water, cold water, or both, optionally chemically or otherwise treated tap water. Optionally, one or more laundry treatment active compositions can be added to the liquid in transit to the reservoir 30.
The laundry treatment machine 10 can have a footprint 15. The footprint 15 is a projection of the cabinet 55 onto the flat surface upon which the cabinet 55 rests when the laundry treatment machine 10 is in the intended use in-use position. The laundry treatment machine 10 rests on or with its footprint 15. The footprint 15 can be a projection of the cabinet 55 onto a floor upon which the laundry treatment machine 10 rests when the laundry treatment machine is being used.
The stationary treatment chamber 40 can be above the footprint 15. The rotatable tub 50 can be rotatable about a horizontal axis A relative to the footprint 15. A
horizontal axis A can be practical for providing stability to the laundry treatment machine 10 when the rotatable tub 50 is rotating. Horizontal axis laundry treatment machines 10 are commonly referred to as front loading washing machines.
The stationary treatment chamber 40 can be above the footprint 15. Further, the reservoir can be above the footprint 15. A majority of the space occupied by the reservoir 30 can be positioned within a projection of the stationary treatment chamber 40 orthogonal to or orthogonally away from the footprint. Such an arrangement provides for a compact arrangement of the stationary treatment chamber 40 and reservoir 30 which can reduce the overall volume of the laundry treatment machine 10. A practical arrangement of the elements of the laundry treatment machine 10 can be to provide the reservoir 30 and the stationary treatment chamber 40 together within a single cabinet 55 and provide a majority of the space occupied by the reservoir 30 positioned with a projection of the stationary treatment chamber 40 orthogonal to or orthogonally away from the footprint 15. Positioning the reservoir 30 above the stationary treatment chamber 40 so that a majority of the space occupied by the reservoir 30 is positioned within a projection of the stationary treatment chamber 40 orthogonally away from the footprint 15 can provide for a compact arrangement of the elements and for gravity driven flow of liquid from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40.
The laundry treatment machine 10 can be provided with a door 25. The door 25 can be sealingly engaged with the stationary treatment chamber 40. A flexible bellows gasket can be employed to provide such seal.
The reservoir 30 can have a reservoir liquid inlet 60 and one or more reservoir liquid outlets 70 downstream of the reservoir liquid inlet 60 (Fig. 2). The reservoir liquid inlet 60 can be downstream of an inlet valve 80. The inlet valve 80 can regulate the ability of liquid to flow into the reservoir 30 from an external liquid source. The inlet valve 80 can be opened and closed according to a predetermined program to provide for flow of liquid into the reservoir 30. The inlet valve 80 can be an electromechanically operated valve.
The reservoir 30 can have a reservoir fill level 90 above the one or more reservoir liquid outlets 70. The reservoir 30 can be an enclosure for storing liquid. The reservoir 30 can be an injection molded plastic enclosure. The reservoir 30 can be provided with a fitment or coupling at the reservoir liquid inlet 60 and the one or more reservoir liquid outlets 70 to couple the reservoir with upstream and downstream appurtenances. The reservoir 30 can comprise one or more sensors for detecting the liquid level within the reservoir 30 and for triggering or signaling various processes within the automatic laundry treatment machine 10. Such sensors include, but are not limited to, float switches, conductance sensors, pressure sensors, and optical sensors that indicate the presence of liquid at a particular level within the reservoir 30. The reservoir fill level 90 is the intended maximum fill level of liquid in the reservoir 30 when the automatic laundry treatment machine 10 is in use. The reservoir fill level 90 can be established based on sensors engaged with the reservoir 30 to detect the level of liquid within the reservoir 30. Supply of liquid to the reservoir can be regulated as a function of input from the sensors.
The automatic laundry treatment machine 10 can comprise one or more reservoir valves 100 between the reservoir liquid outlet 70 and the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110. The one 30 or more reservoir valves 100 can be downstream of the reservoir liquid outlet 70 and upstream of the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110. Multiple reservoir valves 100 can be practical if there is more than one reservoir liquid outlet 70 in that each reservoir liquid outlet 70 can be associated with single reservoir valve 100. Optionally, if there are more than one reservoir liquid outlets 70, the reservoir liquid outlets 70 can converge upstream of a reservoir valve 100 so that a single reservoir valve 100 can control flow from multiple reservoir liquid outlets 70.
The laundry treatment machine 10 can comprise a stationary treatment chamber 40 having a stationary treatment chamber inlet 110 in fluid communication with the one or more reservoir liquid outlets 70. The stationary treatment chamber 40 is downstream of the reservoir 30. A
conveyance 35 can connect the one or more reservoir liquid outlets 70 and the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110. The conveyance 35 can be a pipe. Optionally, the conveyance 35 can include a pump that is between the one or more reservoir liquid outlets 70 and the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110. The pump can pump liquid through or in the conveyance towards the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110.
The stationary treatment chamber 40 can contain a rotatable tub 50. The rotatable tub 50 is mounted within the stationary treatment chamber 40 to be rotatable about an axis of the rotatable tub 50. In operation, the stationary treatment chamber 40 can contain a liquid that can be contacted to the laundry being treated in the rotatable tub 50. The rotatable tub 50 can be liquid pervious so that liquid can flow in and out of the rotatable tub 50. The rotatable tub 50 can be positioned so that at least part of the rotatable tub 50 is submerged in the liquid contained in the stationary treatment chamber4. As the rotatable tub 50 is rotated, movement of the laundry being treated and the rotation of the rotatable tub 50 can generate currents of liquid that move through the laundry being treated.
The rotatable tub 50 can be a plastic, metal, or composite tub having a plurality of apertures in the circumferential wall of the tub. The rotatable tube can be a ceramic or acrylic coated metallic or plastic tub. The rotatable tub 50 can be in operable engagement with a drive shaft that is in operable engagement with a motor to drive rotation of the rotatable tub 50.
The one or more reservoir liquid outlets 70 can have a cumulative reservoir liquid outlet .. open cross sectional area. The cumulative reservoir liquid outlet open cross sectional area is a scalar quantity. The open cross sectional area is measured as the cross sectional area available for flow of liquid through the reservoir liquid outlet 70. For a plurality of liquid outlets 70, the cumulative reservoir liquid outlet open cross sectional area is the sum of the open cross sectional area of each reservoir liquid outlet 70. The one or more reservoir liquid outlets 70 can have a cumulative reservoir liquid outlet open cross sectional area of from about 4 cm2 to about 200 cm2, optionally from about 4 cm2 to about 100 cm2, optionally from about 4 cm2 to about 50 cm2. Such open cross sectional areas can be sufficient to rapidly convey the contents of the liquid reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40 even under a configuration for gravity driven flow. A

single reservoir liquid outlet 70 having a reservoir liquid outlet open cross sectional area greater than about 4 cm2 can be practical.
The automatic laundry treatment machine 10 can in operation have a total head difference between the reservoir fill level 90 and the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110 or an in operation total head difference across a portion of the conveyance 35. An in operation total head difference across a portion of the conveyance 35 can be provided by a pump at or downstream of the one or more reservoir liquid outlets 70. The total head difference divided by the cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter in consistent units of length can be greater than about 0.3, optionally greater than about 0.33. Hydraulic diameter is a well-known term of art for describing certain aspects of fluid flow in pipes and ducts and the hydraulic diameter is the area section of the duct or pipe divided by the wetted perimiter of the duct or pipe. The total head difference divided by the cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter in consistent units of length can be from about 0.3 to about 2200. An automatic laundry treatment machine 10 having this aforesaid structure provides for a combination of total head difference and open cross sectional area to drive .. a high volumetric flow rate of liquid from the reservoir 30 into the stationary treatment chamber 110 via the conveyance 35. The total head difference divided by the cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter in consistent units of length can be greater than about 0.5, optionally greater than about 1, optionally greater than about 2, optionally greater than about 3. The total head difference divided by the cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter in consistent units of length can be from about 0.5 to about 2200, optionally from about 1 to about 2000, optionally about 2 to about 2000, optionally about 3 to about 2000, optionally from about 1 to about 1500, optionally from about 1 to about 1000, optionally from about 0.5 to about 1500, optionally about 2 to about 1500, optionally from about 2 to about 1000, optionally from about 3 to about 1500, optionally from about 3 to about 1000. The greater the total head difference divided by the cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter in consistent units of length, the greater the flow rate of liquid from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110.
The values for total head difference divided by cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter disclosed herein can be based on calculations of the flow rate obtainable for a depth of liquid in the reservoir 30 through a circular orifice having the hydraulic diameter as specified. This simplified approach can provide a reasonable approximation of the design conditions that are helpful for delivering to the stationary treatment chamber the desired volume of liquid in a short period of time. This simplified approach helps to avoid the detailed calculation of energy losses that occur due to flow of liquid from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40 and changing boundary conditions that might occur as the liquid level in the reservoir 30 drops over time as liquid is dispensed to the stationary treatment chamber and any changes in the downstream boundary condition that occur as liquid accumulates in the stationary treatment chamber 40.
The availability of the reservoir 30 to store liquid can help to reduce the time required to perform a laundry treatment sub-cycle or perform a laundry treatment cycle comprised of a plurality of sub-cycles. In typical laundry treatment machines, liquid is provided to the laundry treatment machine from a tap water service line. The water from the tap water service line may pass one or more valves to control flow of water into the laundry treatment machine, may be conditioned in some manner, may pass through a dispenser or cartridge containing a laundry treatment active composition. Typically, the water line within a laundry treatment machine has an inside diameter that is smaller than the inside diameter of the tap water service line. Under typical tap water service line pressures, several minutes of flow through the water lines within the laundry treatment machine can be required to provide a volume of liquid sufficient to perform the laundry treatment sub-cycle. For the laundry treatment machine 10 disclosed herein, the reservoir 30 can store the volume of or most of the volume of the liquid or water for a laundry treatment sub-cycle.
The water or liquid stored in reservoir 30 is desirably delivered at a high volumetric flow rate to shorten the laundry treatment sub-cycle time. High volumetric flow rate can be provided for by having a sufficiently high ratio of total head difference divided by the cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter in consistent units of length. Higher volumetric flow rates are associated with one or both of greater total head difference driving flow of water or liquid from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40 and or a large cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter. A large reservoir liquid outlet cumulative hydraulic diameter is indicative of a large open cross sectional area of the reservoir liquid outlet 70 or outlets 70. In operation, the high volumetric flow rate supplies a quantity of liquid to the stationary treatment chamber 40 rapidly, or at least faster than can be supplied from a tap water service line. This is in contrast to typical laundry treatment machines which have to wait for the tap water service line to deliver a sufficient volume of liquid or water to the stationary treatment chamber 40.
For the laundry treatment machine 10 described herein, the ability to rapidly provide water or liquid to the stationary treatment chamber 40 can shorten laundry treatment sub-cycle and total cycle times.
Optionally, just prior to, or during, or just after the volume of liquid or water stored in the reservoir 30 is transferred to the stationary treatment chamber 40, water or liquid provided from the tap water service line can be used to supplement such stored volume. This may be accomplished by feeding the reservoir 30 with additional water or liquid as the water or liquid stored in the reservoir is released, feeding the conveyance between the reservoir 30 and the stationary treatment chamber 40, or feeding the stationary treatment chamber 40. The combination of liquid from the reservoir 30 and water provided from the tap water service line can provide for reduced wait times for providing a sufficient volume of liquid to the stationary treatment chamber 40 as compared to a configuration in which the entirety or most of the volume of liquid is provided from the reservoir 30 alone.
The total head difference between the reservoir fill level 90 and the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110 can be provided by a source selected from the group consisting of elevation head difference between said reservoir fill level and said stationary treatment chamber inlet in operation, a pump between said reservoir liquid outlet and said stationary treatment chamber inlet, gas pressure applied at said reservoir fill level, bladder pressure applied at the reservoir fill level, gas pressure applied to a bladder within the reservoir 30, and combinations thereof. The total head difference between the reservoir fill level 90 and the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110 can be provided by a source selected from the group consisting of elevation head difference between said reservoir fill level and said stationary treatment chamber inlet in operation, a pump between said reservoir liquid outlet and said stationary treatment chamber inlet, gas pressure applied at said reservoir fill level, and combinations thereof. Total head is the sum of elevation head and pressure head. Elevation head can conveniently be provided by positioning the reservoir 30 above the stationary treatment chamber 40. During flow of water or liquid from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40, pressure head can be applied by gas pressure applied at the reservoir fill level, for instance by air pressure or a bladder applying pressure to a surface of the liquid in the reservoir. Optionally, pressure head can be applied by a pump between the reservoir liquid outlet 70 and the stationary treatment chamber 40. The pump can be a centrifugal pump.
The total head difference between the reservoir fill level 90 and the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110 can be provided by other apparatuses for increasing the total head driving flow of liquid.
The reservoir fill level 90 can be positioned above the horizontal axis A to provide for gravity driven flow from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40. For such gravity driven flow, the total head difference between the reservoir fill level 90 and the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110 is the minimum difference in elevation between the reservoir fill level 90 and the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110. The term minimum difference is used to account for irregularly shaped and or positioned stationary treatment chamber inlets 110.
For example, if the open cross section stationary treatment chamber inlet 110 is oriented perpendicular to or at an angle greater than zero degrees to the footprint 15 (e.g. the treatment chamber inlet 110 is at the side of the stationary treatment chamber 40) then obvert elevation (top of the interior) of the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110 is used as the datum.
Similarly, if the reservoir fill level 90 is positioned above the horizontal axis A and pressure is applied to a surface of the liquid in the reservoir 90, the elevation head difference between the reservoir fill level 90 and the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110 is the minimum difference in elevation between the reservoir fill level 90 and the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110. The term minimum difference is used as above.
The stationary treatment chamber 40 can have a stationary treatment chamber volume. The stationary treatment chamber volume can be from about 25 L to about 200 L, optionally from about 25 L to about 150 L, optionally from about 30 L to about 100 L, optionally about 40 L to about 60 L. These volumes for the stationary treatment chamber 40 can be practical for households of various sizes. The smaller the stationary treatment chamber 40, the faster a complete laundry treatment cycle can be. The reservoir 30 can have a reservoir volume at the reservoir fill level 90 of from about 5 L to about 70 L, optionally from about 5 L to about 150 L, optionally from about 5 L to about 100 L, optionally about 5 L to about 50 L. The reservoir volume can be more than about 20% of the stationary treatment chamber volume. For high efficiency automatic laundry treatment machines 10, the volume of liquid used during laundry treatment sub-cycles other than rinsing can be from about 10% to about 40% of the stationary treatment chamber volume, optionally from about 10% to about 30% of the stationary treatment chamber volume. Sized and dimensioned as such, the reservoir 30 can contain the entire volume, or most of the volume, or a majority of the volume of liquid needed to conduct a laundry treatment sub-cycle. The reservoir volume at the reservoir fill level 90 can contain from about 50% to about 100%, optionally from about 70% to about 100%, optionally from about 90% to about 100%, of the volume of liquid required to conduct the laundry treatment sub-cycle of the laundry treatment machine 10 that requires the greatest quantity of liquid. Maintaining such volumes of liquid in the reservoir 30 prior to transferring the liquid to the stationary treatment chamber 40 in combination with the constraints on total head difference and cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter promotes the rapid transfer into the stationary treatment chamber 40 of the volume of liquid, or much of the volume of liquid, required to conduct a laundry treatment sub-cycle.
The conveyance 35 can be sized and dimensioned to provide for a flow rate from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40 that is greater than or equal to about 0.5% of the stationary treatment chamber volume per second at the in operation total head difference between the reservoir fill level 90 and the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110. Such flow rates can tend to be faster than flow rates to the stationary treatment chamber 40 that can be provided by supply from the tap water service line. For example, if the stationary treatment chamber 40 has a volume of 50 L, the flow rate from the reservoir 30 can be greater than or equal to about 0.5%*50 L per second (0.25 L/s) at the in operation total head difference between the reservoir fill level 90 and the stationary treatment chamber 110. The conveyance 35 can be sized and dimensioned to provide for a flow rate from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40 that is greater than or equal to about 1%, or even about 2%, or even about 4%, or even about 8%, or even about 15% of the stationary treatment chamber volume per second at the in operation total head difference between the reservoir fill level 90 and the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110. A
greater percentage is associated with faster filling of the stationary treatment chamber 40 to the appropriate level. A greater percentage can be provided by increasing the height of the reservoir fill level 90 relative to the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110, providing a greater cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter, providing a pump to move liquid from the reservoir 30 towards the stationary treatment chamber 40, or combinations of these design variables. The reservoir fill level 90 can be positioned and the conveyance 35 can be sized and dimensioned to provide for a flow rate from about 0.5 L/s to about 40 L/s, optionally from about 0.5 L/s to about L/s, optionally from about 0.5 L/s to about 10 L/s, optionally from about 1 L/s to about 20 L/s.
A heater 120 can be associated with the reservoir 30. The heater 120 can heat the liquid stored in the reservoir 30. This can be practical for an automatic laundry treatment machine 10 20 that is connected to a cold tap water service line or tap. When called upon during or in between laundry treatment sub-cycles, the heated liquid can be transferred from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40. This can be a time efficient approach for heating the liquid employed during the laundry treatment sub-cycles since the liquid in the reservoir 30 can be heated while the liquid is waiting to be deployed in a laundry treatment sub-cycle or subsequent cycle.
The heater can be a ceramic heater that is sized and powered to sufficiently heat the reservoir volume of liquid to the desired temperature.
The laundry treatment machine can further comprise at least one station 130 for dispensing at least one laundry treatment active composition. The station 130 can comprise at least one compartment 135 in fluid communication with the stationary treatment chamber 40 for containing the laundry treatment active composition. The compartment 135 can be a drawer accessible from outside the automatic laundry treatment machine 10 into which the use can dispense a laundry treatment active composition. The compartment 135 can be a cartridge containing a laundry treatment active composition or a cartridge having multiple sub-compartments each of which contain a laundry treatment active composition.
The station 130 can optionally be in fluid communication with the treatment chamber independent of a pathway connecting the reservoir liquid outlet or outlets 70 and the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110. Liquid supplied from a station pump or the tap water service line can flush the contents of the compartment 135 into a conveyance routed to the stationary treatment chamber 40. Once in the stationary treatment chamber 40, the laundry treatment active composition can mix with the liquid transferred from the reservoir 30 to form the wash liquor. This approach may help to limit the potential for fouling of the interior of the reservoir 30. One or more electronically controlled valves can regulate flow of water from the tap water service line to the reservoir 30, for example the inlet valve 80, and also regulate flow of water from the tap water service line to or through the compartment 135 of the station 130. The inlet valve 80 can be a multiple pathway valve so that water from the tap water service line can be routed to the reservoir 30 and or station 130 independently or simultaneously. Optionally, multiple valves can be employed to route and control the flow of water from the tap water service line to one or both of the reservoir 30 and station 130.
The station 130 can be upstream of the reservoir 30 so that the laundry treatment active composition is introduced to water from the tap water service line before the water enters the reservoir 30. Optionally, the station 130 can be downstream of the reservoir 30 so that as water is transferred from the reservoir to the stationary treatment chamber 40, all or some of the water passes through the station 130 so that laundry treatment active composition is added to the water that ultimately flows into the stationary treatment chamber 40. Optionally, the station 130 can be downstream of the reservoir 30 and water or liquid supplied by a station pump or the tap water service line can flush the contents of the compartment 135 from the compartment 135 into the liquid being transferred from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40.
The reservoir 30 can be located below the stationary treatment chamber 40, by way of nonlimiting example as shown in Fig. 3. A pump 45 can provide the total head required to drive the liquid from the reservoir 30 up into the stationary treatment chamber 40.
Such an arrangement may be practical because the mass of liquid in the reservoir 30 can stabilize the laundry treatment machine 10. At a portion in the conveyance 35 from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110, there can be an in operation total head difference, which is provided by the pump 45, divided by the cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter in consistent units of length greater than about 0.3, optionally greater than about 0.33, optionally greater than about 1, optionally greater than about 2, optionally greater than about 3. The greater the total head difference divided by the cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter in consistent units of length, the greater the flow rate of liquid from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber inlet 110. The in operation total head difference across a portion of the conveyance 35 is computed based on the liquid in the reservoir 30 being at the reservoir fill level 90 and is evaluated or measured between the inlet side of the pump 35 and the outlet side of the pump 35.
The laundry treatment machine 10 can provide for short program time since the acquisition of water from the tap water service line can be decoupled or at least partially decoupled from the laundry treatment sub-cycle by using the reservoir 30 to store the liquid required for a subsequent laundry treatment sub-cycle. The laundry treatment machine 10 can be operating a laundry treatment sub-cycle while the reservoir is being filled for the next laundry treatment sub-cycle or cycle. The liquid from the reservoir 30 can then be delivered rapidly to the stationary treatment chamber 40. This effectively subtracts out of the laundry treatment sub-cycle time or cycle time the time required for water or liquid to be provided to the stationary treatment chamber 40 from the tap water service line.
The process for treating laundry using the automatic laundry treatment machine 10 can comprise multiple steps, for example as shown in the flow diagram in Fig. 4.
As used herein, the ordinal terms first liquid, second liquid, and third liquid are used to indicate relative order of the respective liquid being referred to. The second liquid is introduced into the stationary treatment chamber 40 after the first liquid and before the third liquid. There may be one or more liquids transferred from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40, and optionally drained from the stationary treatment chamber 40, before the first liquid is transferred. For instance, a complete laundry treatment cycle on a single load of laundry 20 may employ four or more transfers of discrete quantities of liquid from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber and the second discrete quantity of liquid arriving in the stationary treatment chamber 40 can be denoted herein as the first liquid and the subsequently arriving liquid being the second liquid followed by the third liquid.
Moreover, the ordinal terms with respect to the laundry treatment cycles and sub-cycles are used to indicate relative order of the cycle or sub-cycle being referred.
There may be one or more cycles or sub-cycles before the first cycle or fist sub-cycle. And, the first cycle or sub-cycle and the second cycle or second sub-cycle may operate on different loads of laundry 20. For instance, the first sub-cycle can be draining a first liquid from the treatment chamber as part of the first laundry treatment sub-cycle that is the end of a complete laundry treatment cycle after which the laundry 20 is removed from the stationary treatment chamber and the second liquid that is transferred from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40 can be used to treat the next load of laundry 20 that will be treated.
The first step can be the step of draining a first liquid from the stationary treatment chamber 40 as part of or after a first laundry treatment sub-cycle. Then a second liquid can be transferred from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40. Then a second laundry treatment sub-cycle employing the second liquid can be performed. And during the second laundry treatment sub-cycle, the reservoir 30 can be at least partially refilled with a third liquid. The first laundry treatment sub-cycle and the second laundry treatment sub-cycle can be implemented upon a single load of laundry 20 or a series of two different loads of laundry 20. For instance, the first laundry treatment sub-cycle can be the end of laundry treatment cycle on a first load of laundry 20 and the second laundry treatment sub-cycle can be the start of a laundry treatment cycle on a second load of laundry 20. By operating in this manner, the sub-cycle time can be reduced since the liquid for the subsequent sub-cycle is already acquired and stored in the reservoir 30 before the subsequent sub-cycle is initiated and the laundry treatment machine 10 can acquire the liquid for the subsequent sub-cycle during an on-going cycle. The first laundry treatment sub-cycle can be the end of a complete laundry treatment cycle, during part of which or after which the first liquid is removed from the stationary treatment chamber 40. At the end of a complete laundry treatment cycle, the laundry 20 can be removed from the rotatable tub 50. Then the next complete laundry treatment cycle can be initiated on the next load of laundry. The second liquid needed to conduct the first sub-cycle of the next laundry treatment cycle on the next load of laundry can be rapidly transferred from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40.
While that first sub-cycle is in progress, the reservoir 30 can be at least partially refilled with the third liquid. In operation, the laundry treatment machine 10 can have the liquid on board in the reservoir 30 for next laundry treatment sub-cycle or is acquiring the liquid for a subsequent laundry treatment sub-cycle during an on-going laundry treatment sub-cycle.
Similarly, within laundry treatment cycle on a single load of laundry 20, during a laundry treatment sub-cycle in which a first liquid is being used in the stationary treatment chamber 40, the reservoir 30 can be at least partially refilled to store a second liquid for the subsequent laundry treatment sub-cycle. Then once the first liquid is drained from the stationary treatment chamber 40, the second liquid can be transferred from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40. And while the second liquid is being used in the stationary treatment chamber 40, the reservoir 30 can be at least partially refilled with the third liquid.

Liquid can be drained from the stationary treatment chamber 40 by gravity feed to a drain pump 45. The drain pump 45 can pump the spent liquid to a drain connect to a sewage system.
For laundry treatment cycles and sub-cycles in which there is the potential for an excess suds event to occur, the aforesaid process can result in considerable time savings since wait time for acquiring liquid is reduced. The process can further comprise the steps of detecting an excess suds condition during the second laundry treatment sub-cycle. In response to the excess suds condition, the stationary treatment chamber 40 can be drained or at least partially drained. The stationary treatment chamber 40 can be at least partially refilled with the third liquid from the reservoir 30. The excess suds can be diluted down by the third liquid or optionally a suds reducing composition can be added to the stationary treatment chamber 40. The suds reducing composition can be selected from the group consisting of silicone, silica, salt, fatty acid, alcohol, polyol, and combinations thereof. Then the second laundry treatment sub-cycle can be resumed or a revised second laundry treatment sub-cycle can be initiated. Optionally, after resuming the second laundry treatment sub-cycle or initiating a revised second laundry treatment sub-cycle the reservoir 30 can be at least partially refilled with a fourth liquid while the second laundry treatment sub-cycle or revised second laundry treatment sub-cycle is in progress.
If liquid is stored in the reservoir 30 for extended periods of time, for example more than about 12 hours, there is potential for fouling of the liquid stored in in the reservoir 30 or for biological growth to occur in or on the interior surface of the reservoir 30.
Thus, it may be desirable .. to avoid storing liquid in the reservoir 30 for extended periods of time between uses. The time saving features of the laundry treatment machine 10 can still be taken advantage of by providing the laundry treatment machine 10 with a sensor to detect a laundry load initiation event. After the laundry load initiation event is detected, the automatic laundry treatment machine 10 can be triggered to fill the reservoir 30 with a first liquid. A possible flow diagram of the process is shown in Fig. 5.
The last use of liquid from the reservoir 30 can drain the reservoir 30 and the reservoir 30.
The user may remove the treated laundry 20 from the rotatable drum 50. The laundry treatment machine 10 may then be idle for some period of time. This can reduce problems that might be associated with storing liquid in the reservoir. After some period of time, the user may use the laundry treatment machine 10 again and the laundry treatment machine 10 may detect a laundry load initiation event. The laundry load initiation event can trigger filling of the reservoir 30 with liquid.

The laundry load initiation event can be selected from the group consisting of opening or moving the door 25 to the stationary treatment chamber 40, laundry being placed into the rotatable tub 50, a user activating a control, and combinations thereof. The door 25 and or stationary treatment chamber 40 can be provided with a sensor that detects movement of the door 25. The sensor can be any sensor that can detect relative movement of the door 25 and stationary treatment chamber 40, for example an optical sensor or mechanical sensor. The rotatable tub 50 can be instrumented with an accelerometer to detect when laundry is place into the rotatable tub 50. A
user activated control, such as a dial, push button, touch pad, or the like, can be activated by the user and perform as the laundry load initiation event.
Once a laundry load initiation event is detected, the automatic laundry treatment machine 10 can be triggered to fill the reservoir 30 with liquid. This step can be performed while the user places laundry 20 into the rotatable tub 50, places laundry treatment active composition to the compartment 135, places laundry treatment active composition into the rotatable tub, pre-treats the laundry 20, chooses the laundry treatment cycle, or other activity that users commonly conduct in preparation for treating a load of laundry. Once the door 25 is closed for the final time before a laundry treatment cycle or sub-cycle initiated, liquid from the reservoir 30 can be rapidly transferred into the stationary treatment chamber 40. This process of operation makes an efficient use of time in that user activities towards preparing the laundry treatment machine 10 and laundry for treatment and filling of the reservoir 30 occur in parallel, unlike the laundry treatment 20 machines 10 in which user activities and then partial filling of the stationary treatment chamber 40 occur in series.
After the reservoir is filled or partially filled with the first liquid, the process can further comprise the steps transferring the first liquid from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40, then performing a laundry treatment cycle or sub-cycle employing the first liquid, and during the laundry treatment cycle or sub-cycle, at least partially refilling the reservoir with a second liquid. In this process of operation, filling of the reservoir 30 with the second liquid occurs at the same time that the first liquid is being employed in the stationary laundry treatment chamber 40 to treat the laundry. This can result in considerable savings in time since liquid for subsequent cycles or sub-cycles is being delivered to the reservoir 30 while the laundry is undergoing treatment with the first liquid.
The automatic laundry treatment machine 10 can further comprise one or more computer-readable media storing instructions and a computing device 19 comprising a processor 18. The processor 18 can operate the laundry treatment machine 10 according to processes described herein. The steps can include transferring a first liquid from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40. Then performing a laundry treatment sub-cycle employing the first liquid.
And during the laundry treatment sub-cycle, at least partially refilling the reservoir 30 with a second liquid.
The laundry treatment machine 10 as described herein can be caused to operate by one or more computer-readable media storing instructions according to the steps of transferring a first liquid from the reservoir 30 to the stationary treatment chamber 40, then performing a laundry treatment sub-cycle employing the first liquid, and during the laundry treatment sub-cycle at least partially refilling the reservoir 30 with a second liquid.
A cross section of a reservoir 30 is shown in Fig. 6. The reservoir 30 can have a sensor 32 capable of sensing the level of liquid in the reservoir. The sensor can be any sensor capable of detecting liquid level, such as those referred to above or other sensors for detecting, measuring, or acting based on a liquid level. The sensor 30 can be interior or exterior to the reservoir 30. The sensor 30 can be configured to act or provide a signal when the liquid in the reservoir is at the fill level 90. And the sensor can be configured to act or provide a signal when the liquid level in the reservoir 90 drops below a predetermined level, for example after the contents of the reservoir 90 are released to the stationary treatment chamber 40. The sensor 30 can be configured to turn on or off supply of liquid or water to the reservoir 30 or signal other control devices within the laundry treatment machine 10 to perform predetermined functions. The reservoir 30 can have a reservoir inlet 60 through which liquid or water can enter into the reservoir 30. The reservoir inlet 33 is in fluid communication with the tap water service line in operation.
Combinations and Examples An example is below.
A. An automatic laundry treatment machine (10) suitable for treating laundry (20) with an aqueous treatment liquor, comprising:
a reservoir (30) having a reservoir liquid inlet (60) and one or more reservoir liquid outlets (70) downstream of said reservoir liquid inlet, said reservoir having a reservoir fill level (90) above said one or more reservoir liquid outlets;
a stationary treatment chamber (40) having a stationary treatment chamber inlet (110) in fluid communication with said one or more reservoir liquid outlets, wherein said stationary treatment chamber contains a rotatable tub (50); and a conveyance (35) connecting said one or more reservoir liquid outlets and said stationary treatment chamber inlet;
wherein said one or more reservoir liquid outlets have a cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter;
wherein there is an in operation total head difference between said reservoir fill level and said stationary treatment chamber inlet or an in operation total head difference across a portion of said conveyance and said total head difference divided by said cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter in consistent units of length is from about 0.3 to about 2200, optionally from about 0.5 to about 2200, optionally from about 1 to about 2200, optionally from about 2 to about 2200, optionally from about 3 to about 2200, optionally from about 0.5 to 1500, optionally about 1 to about 2000.
B. The automatic laundry treatment machine according to Paragraph A, wherein said stationary treatment chamber has a stationary treatment chamber volume and said reservoir has a reservoir volume at said reservoir fill level and said reservoir volume is from about 10% to about 40% of said stationary treatment chamber volume.
C. The automatic laundry treatment machine according to Paragraph A or B, wherein said total head difference is provided by a source selected from the group consisting of elevation head difference between said reservoir fill level and said stationary treatment chamber inlet in operation, a pump between said reservoir liquid outlet and said stationary treatment chamber inlet, gas pressure applied at said reservoir fill level, and combinations thereof.
D. The automatic laundry treatment machine according to any of Paragraphs A
to C, wherein said automatic laundry treatment machine has a footprint (15) and said stationary treatment chamber is above said footprint, wherein a majority of space occupied by said reservoir is positioned within a projection of said stationary treatment chamber orthogonally away from footprint.
E. The automatic laundry treatment machine according to any of Paragraphs A
to D, wherein said reservoir and said stationary treatment chamber are together within a single cabinet (55).
F. The automatic laundry treatment machine according to any of Paragraphs A
to E, wherein said automatic laundry treatment machine has a footprint and said stationary treatment chamber is above said footprint, wherein said rotatable tub is rotatable about a horizontal axis (A) relative to said footprint.
G. The automatic laundry treatment machine according to any of Paragraphs A
to F, further comprising at least one station (130) for dispensing at least one laundry treatment active composition, wherein said station comprises at least one compartment (135) in fluid communication with said stationary treatment chamber for containing said at least one laundry treatment active composition.
H. The automatic laundry treatment machine of Paragraph G, wherein said station is downstream of said reservoir.
I. The automatic laundry treatment machine of Paragraph G, wherein said station is in fluid communication with said treatment chamber independent of a pathway connecting said one or more reservoir liquid outlets and said treatment chamber inlet.
J. The automatic laundry treatment machine according to any of Paragraphs A
to I, wherein said automatic laundry treatment machine further comprises a heater (120) associated with said reservoir.
K. The automatic laundry treatment machine according to any of Paragraphs A
to J further comprising:
one or more computer-readable media storing instructions; and a computing device (19) comprising a processor (18);
wherein said processor operates the laundry treatment machine of Claim 1 according to the steps of:
transferring a first liquid from said reservoir to said stationary treatment chamber;
then performing a laundry treatment sub-cycle employing said first liquid; and during said laundry treatment sub-cycle, at least partially refilling said reservoir with a second liquid.
L. A process of treating laundry using the automatic laundry treatment machine according to any of Paragraphs A to K comprising the steps of:
draining a first liquid from said treatment chamber as part of or after a first laundry treatment sub-cycle;
then transferring a second liquid from said reservoir to said stationary treatment chamber;
then performing a second laundry treatment sub-cycle employing said second liquid; and during said second laundry treatment sub-cycle, at least partially refilling said reservoir with a third liquid.
M. The process according to Paragraph L, further comprising the steps of:
detecting an excess suds condition during said second laundry treatment sub-cycle;
at least partially draining said stationary treatment chamber in response to said excess suds condition; and at least partially refilling said treatment chamber with said third liquid from said reservoir and resuming said second laundry treatment sub-cycle or initiating a revised second laundry treatment sub-cycle.
N. A process of treating laundry using the automatic laundry treatment machine according to Paragraphs A to J comprising the steps of:
detecting a laundry load initiation event; and after said laundry load initiation event, triggering said automatic laundry treatment machine to fill said reservoir with a first liquid.
0. The process of treating laundry according to Paragraph N, wherein said laundry load initiation event is selected from the group consisting of opening or moving of a door to said stationary treatment chamber, a control being activated by a user, laundry being placed into said rotatable tub, and combinations thereof.
P. The process of treating laundry according to Paragraph N further comprising the steps of:
transferring said first liquid from said reservoir to said stationary treatment chamber;
then performing a laundry treatment cycle or sub-cycle employing said first liquid; and during said laundry treatment cycle or sub-cycle, at least partially refilling said reservoir with a second liquid.
Q. One or more computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by at least one processor (18) of a computing device (19), causes the at least one processor to operate the laundry treatment machine of Paragraphs A to J according to the steps of:
transferring a first liquid from said reservoir to said stationary treatment chamber;
then performing a laundry treatment sub-cycle employing said first liquid; and during said laundry treatment sub-cycle, at least partially refilling said reservoir with a second liquid.
R. An automatic laundry treatment machine suitable for treating laundry with an aqueous treatment liquor, comprising:
a reservoir having a reservoir liquid inlet and one or more reservoir liquid outlets downstream of said reservoir liquid inlet, said reservoir having a reservoir fill level above said one or more reservoir liquid outlets;
a stationary treatment chamber having a stationary treatment chamber inlet in fluid communication with said one or more reservoir liquid outlets, wherein said stationary treatment chamber contains a rotatable tub; and a conveyance connecting said one or more reservoir liquid outlets and said stationary treatment chamber inlet;
wherein said one or more reservoir liquid outlets have a cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter;
wherein there is an in operation total head difference between said reservoir fill level and said stationary treatment chamber inlet and said total head difference divided by said cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter in consistent units of length from about 0.3 to about 2200.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm."

Claims

23What is claimed is:

1. An automatic laundry treatment machine (10) suitable for treating laundry (20) with an aqueous treatment liquor, comprising:
a reservoir (30) having a reservoir liquid inlet (60) and one or more reservoir liquid outlets (70) downstream of said reservoir liquid inlet, said reservoir having a reservoir fill level (90) above said one or more reservoir liquid outlets;
a stationary treatment chamber (40) having a stationary treatment chamber inlet (110) in fluid communication with said one or more reservoir liquid outlets, wherein said stationary treatment chamber contains a rotatable tub (50); and a conveyance (35) connecting said one or more reservoir liquid outlets and said stationary treatment chamber inlet;
wherein said one or more reservoir liquid outlets have a cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter;
wherein there is an in operation total head difference between said reservoir fill level and said stationary treatment chamber inlet or an in operation total head difference across a portion of said conveyance and said total head difference divided by said cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter in consistent units of length is from 0.3 to 2200.

2. The automatic laundry treatment machine according to Claim 1, wherein said stationary treatment chamber has a stationary treatment chamber volume and said reservoir has a reservoir volume at said reservoir fill level and said reservoir volume is from 10% to 40%
of said stationary treatment chamber volume.

3. The automatic laundry treatment machine according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said total head difference is provided by a source selected from the group consisting of elevation head difference between said reservoir fill level and said stationary treatment chamber inlet in operation, a pump between said reservoir liquid outlet and said stationary treatment chamber inlet, gas pressure applied at said reservoir fill level, and combinations thereof.

4. The automatic laundry treatment machine according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said automatic laundry treatment machine has a footprint (15) and said stationary treatment chamber is above said footprint, wherein a majority of space occupied by said reservoir is positioned within a projection of said stationary treatment chamber orthogonally away from footprint.

5. The automatic laundry treatment machine according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said reservoir and said stationary treatment chamber are together within a single cabinet (55).

6. The automatic laundry treatment machine according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein said automatic laundry treatment machine has a footprint and said stationary treatment chamber is above said footprint, wherein said rotatable tub is rotatable about a horizontal axis (A) relative to said footprint.

7. The automatic laundry treatment machine according to any of Claims 1 to 6, further comprising at least one station (130) for dispensing at least one laundry treatment active composition, wherein said station comprises at least one compartment (135) in fluid communication with said stationary treatment chamber for containing said at least one laundry treatment active composition.

8. The automatic laundry treatment machine according to Claim 7, wherein said station is downstream of said reservoir.

9. The automatic laundry treatment machine according to Claim 7, wherein said station is in fluid communication with said treatment chamber independent of a pathway connecting said one or more reservoir liquid outlets and said treatment chamber inlet.

10. The automatic laundry treatment machine according to any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein said automatic laundry treatment machine further comprises a heater (120) associated with said reservoir.

11. A process of treating laundry using the automatic laundry treatment machine according to any of Claims 1 to 10 comprising the steps of:
draining a first liquid from said treatment chamber as part of or after a first laundry treatment sub-cycle;
then transferring a second liquid from said reservoir to said stationary treatment chamber;
then performing a second laundry treatment sub-cycle employing said second liquid; and during said second laundry treatment sub-cycle, at least partially refilling said reservoir with a third liquid.

12. The process according to Claim 11, further comprising the steps of:
detecting an excess suds condition during said second laundry treatment sub-cycle;
at least partially draining said stationary treatment chamber in response to said excess suds condition; and at least partially refilling said treatment chamber with said third liquid from said reservoir and resuming said second laundry treatment sub-cycle or initiating a revised second laundry treatment sub-cycle.

13. A process of treating laundry using the automatic laundry treatment machine according to Claims 1 to 10 comprising the steps of:
detecting a laundry load initiation event; and after said laundry load initiation event, triggering said automatic laundry treatment machine to fill said reservoir with a first liquid.

14. The process of treating laundry according to Claim 13, wherein said laundry load initiation event is selected from the group consisting of opening or moving of a door to said stationary treatment chamber, a control being activated by a user, laundry being placed into said rotatable tub, and combinations thereof.

15. The process of treating laundry according to Claim 13 further comprising the steps of:
transferring said first liquid from said reservoir to said stationary treatment chamber;
then performing a laundry treatment cycle or sub-cycle employing said first liquid; and during said laundry treatment cycle or sub-cycle, at least partially refilling said reservoir with a second liquid.