Cleaning sequence for an appliance

Abstract

A cleaning method includes sensing at least one trigger, where the at least one trigger is chosen from sensing a presence of a first liquid within a wash compartment of an appliance with a liquid sensor and sensing an elapsed time from activation of a faucet of the appliance with a timer. The cleaning method also includes draining the first liquid from the wash compartment of the appliance. Additionally, the cleaning method includes rinsing the wash compartment with a second liquid. The draining of the first liquid from the wash compartment of the appliance and the rinsing of the wash compartment with a second liquid are both performed prior to initiating a wash cycle of the appliance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cleaning method, the method comprising the steps of:
 sensing a presence of a first liquid within a wash compartment of an appliance with a liquid sensor;   draining the first liquid from the wash compartment of the appliance in response to the sensing of the presence of the first liquid within the wash compartment of the appliance; and   rinsing the wash compartment with a second liquid, wherein the step of draining the first liquid from the wash compartment of the appliance and the step of rinsing the wash compartment with the second liquid are both performed prior to initiating a wash cycle of the appliance.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of:
 sensing an elapsed time from activation of a faucet of the appliance with a timer.   
     
     
         3 . The cleaning method of  claim 2 , wherein the first liquid is deposited into the wash compartment by the faucet. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of:
 dispensing treating chemistry from a chemistry dispensing compartment into the wash compartment of the appliance.   
     
     
         5 . The cleaning method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of dispensing treating chemistry from a chemistry dispensing compartment into the wash compartment of the appliance further comprises:
 delivering the second liquid to the chemistry dispensing compartment prior to rinsing the wash compartment with the second liquid such that the second liquid delivers the treating chemistry to the wash compartment; and   sensing a temperature of the second liquid delivered to the chemistry dispensing compartment with a liquid temperature sensor.   
     
     
         6 . The cleaning method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of dispensing treating chemistry from a chemistry dispensing compartment into the wash compartment of the appliance further comprises:
 increasing the temperature of the second liquid delivered to the chemistry dispensing compartment when the temperature sensed by the liquid temperature sensor is below a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         7 . The cleaning method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of rinsing the wash compartment with a second liquid further comprises:
 sensing a temperature of the second liquid delivered to the wash compartment with a liquid temperature sensor.   
     
     
         8 . The cleaning method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of rinsing the wash compartment with a second liquid further comprises:
 increasing the temperature of the second liquid delivered to the wash compartment when the temperature sensed by the liquid temperature sensor is below a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         9 . The cleaning method of  claim 1 , wherein the faucet of the appliance is separate from a liquid inlet that is employed when operating the wash cycle. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of:
 activating a disintegrating device.   
     
     
         11 . A cleaning method, the method comprising the steps of:
 sensing an elapsed time from activation of a faucet of an appliance with a timer;   draining a first liquid from a wash compartment of the appliance in response to the sensing of an elapsed time from activation of a faucet of the appliance with a timer; and   rinsing the wash compartment with a second liquid, wherein the step of draining the first liquid from the wash compartment of the appliance and the step of rinsing the wash compartment with the second liquid are both performed prior to initiating a wash cycle of the appliance.   
     
     
         12 . The cleaning method of  claim 11 , further comprising a step of:
 sensing a presence of the first liquid within the wash compartment of the appliance with a liquid sensor.   
     
     
         13 . The cleaning method of  claim 12 , wherein the first liquid is deposited into the wash compartment by the faucet. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning method of  claim 11 , further comprising a step of:
 dispensing treating chemistry from a chemistry dispensing compartment into the wash compartment of the appliance.   
     
     
         15 . The cleaning method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of dispensing treating chemistry from a chemistry dispensing compartment into the wash compartment of the appliance further comprises:
 delivering the second liquid to the chemistry dispensing compartment prior to rinsing the wash compartment with the second liquid such that the second liquid delivers the treating chemistry to the wash compartment; and   sensing a temperature of the second liquid delivered to the chemistry dispensing compartment with a liquid temperature sensor.   
     
     
         16 . The cleaning method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of dispensing treating chemistry from a chemistry dispensing compartment into the wash compartment of the appliance further comprises:
 increasing the temperature of the second liquid delivered to the chemistry dispensing compartment when the temperature sensed by the liquid temperature sensor is below a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         17 . The cleaning method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of rinsing the wash compartment with a second liquid further comprises:
 sensing a temperature of the second liquid delivered to the wash compartment with a liquid temperature sensor.   
     
     
         18 . The cleaning method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of rinsing the wash compartment with a second liquid further comprises:
 increasing the temperature of the second liquid delivered to the wash compartment when the temperature sensed by the liquid temperature sensor is below a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         19 . The cleaning method of  claim 11 , wherein the faucet of the appliance is separate from a liquid inlet that is employed when operating the wash cycle. 
     
     
         20 . The cleaning method of  claim 11 , further comprising a step of:
 activating a disintegrating device that is in communication with the wash compartment.