Washing Machine Appliance with on Demand Fluids

Abstract

A washing machine appliance includes a supply conduit having an exit positioned for directing water into a basket of the washing machine appliance. A door is positioned over the basket in a closed position. A water valve is coupled to the supply conduit. A controller opens the water valve in response to actuation of a water supply input and a signal from a sensor that the door is in the open position.

1 . A washing machine appliance, comprising:
 a tub;   a basket disposed within the tub so that the basket is rotatable within the tub;   a door adjustable between an open position and a closed position, the door positioned over the basket in the closed position;   a supply conduit having an exit positioned far directing water into the basket;   a water valve coupled to the supply conduit, the water valve actuatable to regulate a flow of water through the supply conduit into the basket;   a control panel positioned above the tub, the control panel comprising a plurality of user inputs including a water supply input;   a controller in operative communication with the water valve and the plurality of user inputs, the controller opening the water valve in response to actuation of the water supply input and a signal from a sensor that the door is in the open position; and   a rotatable knob mounted on the control panel and including the water supply input,   wherein the water valve is a cold water valve and the supply conduit is a cold water supply conduit, the washing machine appliance further comprising a hot water valve coupled to a hot water supply conduit, the hot water valve actuatable to regulate a flow of hot water through the hot water supply conduit into the basket, the rotatable knob rotatable between a hot water supply position and a cold water supply position, the controller opening the hot water valve in response to actuation of the rotatable knob to the hot water supply position and the signal from the sensor that the door is in the open position, the controller opening the cold water valve in response to actuation of the rotatable knob to the cold water supply position and the signal from the sensor that the door is in the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned proximate the door in order to detect When the door is in the open position. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor comprises a plunger switch, a reed switch, a pressure sensor or a Hall Effect sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a cabinet having a top panel and a backsplash, the tub positioned within the cabinet under the top panel, the backsplash positioned on the top panel at a back portion of the top panel, the control panel positioned on the backsplash. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the door is positioned over he control panel on the backsplash when the door is in the open position. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the rotatable knob is mounted on the backsplash. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 6 , further comprising a reservoir, a reservoir supply conduit, a Venturi pump, and a fluid additive valve, the reservoir disposed below the top panel, the reservoir supply conduit extending between the reservoir and the Venturi pump, an exit of the Venturi pump positioned proximate the tub, the Venturi pump coupled to the reservoir supply conduit such that the Venturi pump draws fluid additive from the reservoir when the fluid additive valve is open and water flows through the Venturi pump, the rotatable knob on the backsplash rotatable between the hot water supply position, the cold water supply position and a fluid additive supply position, the controller opening the fluid additive valve in response to actuation of the rotatable knob to the fluid additive supply position and the signal from the sensor that the door is in the open position. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller closes the water valve in response to a signal from the sensor that the door is in the closed position or after a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the water valve is a solenoid valve. 
     
     
         11 . A vertical axis washing machine appliance, comprising;
 a cabinet having a top panel and a backsplash, the backsplash positioned on the top panel at a back portion of the top panel;   a tub disposed within the cabinet below the top panel;   a basket rotatable about a vertical axis within the tub;   a door mounted to the cabinet at the top panel such that the door is adjustable between an open position and a dosed position, the door positioned over the basket in the closed position;   a supply conduit having an exit positioned over the basket;   a water valve coupled to the supply conduit, the water valve actuatable to regulate a flow of water through the supply conduit into the basket;   a control panel mounted to the backsplash of the cabinet, the control panel comprising a plurality of user inputs including rotatable knob comprising a water supply input; and   a controller in operative communication with the water valve and the plurality of user inputs, the controller opening the water valve in response to actuation of the water supply input and a signal from a sensor that the door is in the open position, the controller closing the water valve in response to a signal from the sensor that the door is in the closed position or after a predetermined amount of time,   wherein the water valve is a cold water valve and the supply conduit is a cold water supply conduit, the washing machine appliance further comprising a hot water valve coupled to a hot water supply conduit, the hot water valve actuatable to regulate a flow of hot water through the hot water supply conduit into the basket, the rotatable knob rotatable between a hot water supply position and a cold water supply position, the controller opening the hot water valve in response to actuation of the rotatable knob to the hot water supply position and the signal from the sensor that the door is in the open position, the controller opening the cold water valve in response to actuation of the rotatable knob to the cold water supply position and the signal from the sensor that the door is in the open position, and   wherein the door is positioned over the control panel on the backsplash when the door is in the open position.   
     
     
         12 . The vertical axis washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is positioned proximate the door in order to detect when the door is in the open position. 
     
     
         13 . The vertical axis washing machine appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises a plunger switch, a reed switch, a pressure sensor or a Hall Effect sensor. 
     
     
         14 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The vertical axis washing machine appliance of  claim 13 , further comprising a reservoir, a reservoir supply conduit and a Venturi pump and a fluid additive valve, the reservoir disposed below the top panel, the reservoir supply conduit extending between the reservoir and the Venturi pump, an exit of the Venturi pump positioned proximate the tub, the Venturi pump coupled to the reservoir supply conduit such that the Venturi pump draws fluid additive from the reservoir when the fluid additive valve is open and water flows through the Venturi pump, the rotatable knob on the backsplash rotatable between the hot water supply position, the cold water supply position and a fluid additive supply position, the controller opening the fluid additive valve in response to actuation of the rotatable knob to the fluid additive supply position and the signal from the sensor that the door is in the open position. 
     
     
         19 . The vertical axis washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the water valve is a solenoid valve.