Laundry treating appliance with biofilm treating cycle

Abstract

A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable treating chamber and configured to determine the presence of an over-sudsing condition.

1 . A laundry treating appliance configured to automatically execute at least one cycle of operation, comprising:
 a rotatable treating chamber for receiving laundry for treatment according to the at least one cycle of operation;   a treating chemistry dispenser coupled to the treating chamber to dispense the treating chemistry according to the at least one cycle of operation;   a suds sensor providing a signal indicative of an over-sudsing condition during the at least one cycle of operation; and   a controller operably coupled to and controlling the rotatable treating chamber and treating chemistry dispenser to execute the at least one cycle of operation, and operably coupled to the at least one sensor to receive the signal and initiate a biofilm treating cycle in response to a receipt of the signal.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 1  wherein the suds sensor senses suds above an operational water level for the at least one cycle of operation. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 1  wherein the suds sensor senses suds exteriorly of the rotatable treating chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 3  further comprising a tub and the rotatable treating chamber comprises a rotatable drum located within the tub, and the suds sensor is located in the tub. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 4  wherein the suds sensor is located above an operational water level for the at least one cycle of operation. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 5  wherein the signal provided by the suds sensor is indicative of a presence of suds above the operational water level. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 1  further comprising a motor operably coupled to the treating chamber to effect a rotation of the treating chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 7  wherein the suds sensor is physically separate from the motor. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 1  wherein the signal provided by the suds sensor is indicative of a presence of suds. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 1  wherein the suds sensor comprises at least one of a surfactant and turbidity sensor. 
     
     
         11 . A laundry treating appliance configured to automatically execute at least one cycle of operation, comprising:
 a tub defining an interior for holding liquid;   a rotatable drum located within the interior of the tub and defining a treating chamber for receiving laundry for treatment according to the at least one cycle of operation;   a motor operably coupled to the rotatable drum to rotate the drum within the treating chamber; and   a suds sensor physically separate from the motor and located within the tub and exteriorly of the drum and providing a signal indicative of an over-sudsing condition during the at least one cycle of operation.   
     
     
         12 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 11  wherein the suds sensor is located above an operational water level of liquid in the tub during the execution of the at least one cycle of operation. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 12  wherein the suds sensor is located above a horizontal plane passing through an axis of rotation for the drum. 
     
     
         14 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 12  wherein the signal provided by the suds sensor is indicative of a presence of suds above the operational water level. 
     
     
         15 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 11  wherein the suds sensor is located above a horizontal plane passing through an axis of rotation for the drum. 
     
     
         16 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 11  wherein the signal provided by the suds sensor is indicative of a presence of suds. 
     
     
         17 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 16  wherein the suds sensor is located where the presence of suds are not expected during the execution of the at least one cycle of operation. 
     
     
         18 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 17  wherein the suds sensor comprises at least one of a surfactant and turbidity sensor.