Washing Machine Appliances and Methods for Washing Articles Therein

Abstract

Washing machine appliances and methods are provided. A washing machine appliance has a drum positioned within a tub, the drum defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing, and an ozone generation system for directing ozonized water into tub. A method includes flowing ozonized water into the tub. The method further includes rotating the drum in a first gentle cycle including rotating the drum for a first predetermined rotation period and holding the drum generally stationary for a first predetermined exposure period. The method further includes rotating the drum in a second agitation cycle including rotating the drum for a second predetermined rotation period, the second predetermined rotation period longer than the first predetermined rotation period. The method further includes draining ozonized water from the tub of the washing machine appliance, and rotating the drum to extract ozonized water from the articles within the wash chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for washing articles in a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance having a drum positioned within a tub, the drum defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing, and an ozone generation system for directing ozonized water into tub, the method comprising:
 flowing ozonized water into the tub;   rotating the drum in a first gentle cycle comprising rotating the drum for a first predetermined rotation period and holding the drum generally stationary for a first predetermined exposure period;   rotating the drum in a second agitation cycle comprising rotating the drum for a second predetermined rotation period, the second predetermined rotation period longer than the first predetermined rotation period;   draining ozonized water from the tub of the washing machine appliance; and   rotating the drum to extract ozonized water from the articles within the wash chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein rotating the drum in the second agitation cycle further comprises holding the drum generally stationary for a second predetermined exposure period, the second predetermined exposure period shorter than the first predetermined exposure period. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of flowing ozonized water, rotating the drum in a first gentle cycle, rotating the drum in a second agitation cycle, draining ozonized water, and rotating the drum to extract ozonized water comprise performing a first ozonized rinse cycle, and further comprising performing a second ozonized rinse cycle after the first ozonized rinse cycle, wherein performing the second ozonized rinse cycle comprises:
 flowing ozonized water into the tub;   rotating the drum in a third gentle cycle comprising rotating the drum for a third predetermined rotation period and holding the drum generally stationary for a third predetermined exposure period;   rotating the drum in a fourth agitation cycle comprising rotating the drum for a fourth predetermined rotation period, the fourth predetermined rotation period longer than the fourth predetermined rotation period;   draining ozonized water from the tub of the washing machine appliance; and   rotating the drum to extract ozonized water from the articles within the wash chamber,   wherein a second overall rinse period of the second ozonized rinse cycle is longer than a first overall rinse period of the first ozonized rinse cycle.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined exposure period is based on an ozone concentration of the ozonized water. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring an ozone concentration of the ozonized water. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ozonized water has an ozone concentration of between approximately 0.3 and approximately 1.0 parts per million. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing a main wash cycle, the main wash cycle comprising:
 flowing water into the tub;   rotating the drum in a main agitation cycle;   draining water from the tub of the washing machine appliance; and   rotating the drum to extract water from the articles within the wash chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein performing the main wash cycle occurs before flowing ozonized water into the tub. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the water is at a hot temperature and the ozonized water is at a first cold temperature less than the hot temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein water is flowed into the tub to a main wash level, and wherein ozonized water is flowed into the tub to a first level greater than the main wash level. 
     
     
         11 . A method for washing articles in a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance having a drum positioned within a tub, the drum defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing, and an ozone generation system for directing ozonized water into tub, the method comprising:
 performing a main wash cycle using water at a hot temperature;   performing a first ozonized rinse cycle using ozonized water at a first cold temperature less than the hot temperature, wherein performing the first ozonized rinse cycle comprises:
 flowing ozonized water into the tub; 
 rotating the drum in a first gentle cycle comprising rotating the drum for a first predetermined rotation period and holding the drum generally stationary for a first predetermined exposure period; and 
 rotating the drum in a second agitation cycle comprising rotating the drum for a second predetermined rotation period, the second predetermined rotation period longer than the first predetermined rotation period; and 
   performing a second ozonized rinse cycle using ozonized water at a second cold temperature less than the hot temperature, wherein performing the second ozonized rinse cycle comprises:
 flowing ozonized water into the tub; 
 rotating the drum in a third gentle cycle comprising rotating the drum for a third predetermined rotation period and holding the drum generally stationary for a third predetermined exposure period; and 
 rotating the drum in a fourth agitation cycle comprising rotating the drum for a fourth predetermined rotation period, the fourth predetermined rotation period longer than the fourth predetermined rotation period. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a second overall rinse period of the second ozonized rinse cycle is longer than a first overall rinse period of the first ozonized rinse cycle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first predetermined exposure period and the third predetermined exposure periods are based on an ozone concentration of the ozonized water. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ozonized water has an ozone concentration of between approximately 0.3 and approximately 1.0 parts per million. 
     
     
         15 . A washing machine appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a tub positioned within the cabinet;   a drum rotatably mounted within the tub, the drum defining a chamber for receipt of items for washing;   a motor in mechanical communication with the drum in order to selectively rotate the drum;   an ozone generation system comprising:
 a water inlet; 
 a water conduit extending between the water inlet and the tub, the water conduit being in fluid communication with the water inlet and the tub in order to direct water from the water inlet into the tub; and 
 an ozone generator for supplying ozone to water within water conduit; 
   an exhaust conduit extending between the tub and the cabinet, the exhaust conduit being in fluid communication with the tub in order to direct gas out of the tub;   an ozone sensor for measuring an amount of ozone; and   a controller in communication with the motor, the water inlet, the ozone generator, and the ozone sensor, the controller configured for:
 flowing ozonized water into the tub; 
 rotating the drum in a first gentle cycle comprising rotating the drum for a first predetermined rotation period and holding the drum generally stationary for a first predetermined exposure period; 
 rotating the drum in a second agitation cycle comprising rotating the drum for a second predetermined rotation period, the second predetermined rotation period longer than the first predetermined rotation period; 
 draining ozonized water from the tub of the washing machine appliance; and 
 rotating the drum to extract ozonized water from the articles within the wash chamber. 
   
     
     
         16 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 15 , wherein rotating the drum in the second agitation cycle further comprises holding the drum generally stationary for a second predetermined exposure period, the second predetermined exposure period shorter than the first predetermined exposure period. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 15 , wherein flowing ozonized water, rotating the drum in a first gentle cycle, rotating the drum in a second agitation cycle, draining ozonized water, and rotating the drum to extract ozonized water comprise performing a first ozonized rinse cycle, and wherein the controller is further configured for performing a second ozonized rinse cycle after the first ozonized rinse cycle, where performing the second ozonized rinse cycle comprises:
 flowing ozonized water into the tub;   rotating the drum in a third gentle cycle comprising rotating the drum for a third predetermined rotation period and holding the drum generally stationary for a third predetermined exposure period;   rotating the drum in a fourth agitation cycle comprising rotating the drum for a fourth predetermined rotation period, the fourth predetermined rotation period longer than the fourth predetermined rotation period;   draining ozonized water from the tub of the washing machine appliance; and   rotating the drum to extract ozonized water from the articles within the wash chamber,   wherein a second overall rinse period of the second ozonized rinse cycle is longer than a first overall rinse period of the first ozonized rinse cycle.   
     
     
         18 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured for measuring an ozone concentration of the ozonized water. 
     
     
         19 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured for performing a main wash cycle, the main wash cycle comprising:
 flowing water into the tub;   rotating the drum in a main agitation cycle;   draining water from the tub of the washing machine appliance; and   rotating the drum to extract water from the articles within the wash chamber.   
     
     
         20 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the water is at a hot temperature and the ozonized water is at a first cold temperature less than the hot temperature.