Washing machine appliance and a method for operating the same

Abstract

A washing machine appliance and a method for operating a washing machine appliance are provided. The method includes directing a volume of liquid into a chamber of a basket, spinning the basket within a tub, and establishing a load type of articles within the chamber of the basket. The established load type is confirmed or controverted based at least in part on a height of liquid on a wall of the tub while the basket is spinning within the tub.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance having a tub and a basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the basket defining a chamber for receipt of articles for washing, the method comprising:
 directing a volume of liquid into the chamber of the basket;   spinning the basket within the tub;   establishing a load type of articles within the chamber of the basket; and   confirming or controverting the load type articles within the chamber of the basket from said step of establishing based at least in part on a height of liquid on a wall of the tub during said step of spinning.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the load type of articles within the chamber of the basket comprises one of a cotton load type, a blended load type, and a synthetic load type. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring the height of liquid on the wall of the tub during said step of spinning. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said step of measuring comprises measuring the height of liquid on the wall of the tub with a pressure transducer of the washing machine appliance during said step of spinning. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of spinning the basket within the tub comprises spinning the basket within the tub at a predetermined speed. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined speed is about one-hundred and twenty revolutions per minute. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the basket defines a plurality of openings, the plurality of openings permitting fluid flow between from the chamber of the basket and the tub, wherein the predetermined speed is selected such that substantially all liquid within articles in the chamber of the basket is not wrung out of the articles during said step of spinning. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of directing the volume of liquid into the chamber of the basket comprises spraying the volume of liquid into the chamber of the basket such that the volume of liquid is directed towards a center of the chamber of the basket. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising estimating a mass of articles within the chamber of the basket with a fill method or an inertial method based at least in part whether the load type articles within the chamber of the basket from said step of estimating is confirmed or controverted at said step of confirming or controverting. 
     
     
         10 . A washing machine appliance, comprising:
 a tub;   a drum rotatably mounted within the tub, the drum defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing;   a valve;   a spout configured directing liquid from the valve into the tub;   a motor in mechanical communication with the drum, the motor configured for selectively rotating the drum within the tub; and   a controller in operative communication with the valve and the motor, the controller configured for
 opening the valve in order to direct a flow of liquid into the wash chamber of the drum; 
 closing the valve in order to terminate the flow of liquid into the wash chamber of the drum after a volume of liquid has flowed into the wash chamber of the drum; 
 operating the motor in order to rotate the drum; and 
 establishing a load type of articles within the wash chamber of the drum; and 
 confirming or controverting the load type articles within the wash chamber of the drum from said step of establishing based at least in part on a height of liquid on a wall of the tub during said step of operating. 
   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the load type of articles within the wash chamber of the drum comprises one of a cotton load type, a blended load type, and a synthetic load type. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure transducer configured for measuring the height of liquid on the wall of the tub, wherein the controller is further configured for measuring the height of liquid on the wall of the tub during said step of spinning with the pressure transducer. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured for spinning the basket within the tub at a predetermined speed during said step of spinning. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined speed is about one-hundred and twenty revolutions per minute. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the drum defines a plurality of openings, the plurality of openings permitting fluid flow between the chamber of the drum and the tub, wherein the predetermined speed is selected such that substantially all liquid within articles in the chamber of the drum is not wrung out of the articles during said step of spinning. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the spout is positioned such that liquid exiting the spout is directed towards a central axis of the chamber of the drum. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the spout is positioned above the drum along a vertical direction. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 17 , wherein the spout is positioned adjacent the central axis of the chamber of the drum. 
     
     
         19 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured for estimating a mass of articles within the wash chamber of the drum with a fill method or an inertial method based at least in part whether the load type articles within the wash chamber of the drum from said step of estimating is confirmed or controverted at said step of confirming or controverting.