Adaptive self clean cycle in a laundry appliance

Abstract

A laundry appliance includes a basket rotatably mounted within a tub, a motor assembly for selectively rotating the basket, and a wash fluid dispenser for selectively providing a flow of wash fluid into the tub. A controller is configured to receive a command to initiate a self-clean cycle, determine that a cycle adjustment condition exists based at least in part on historical data related to the performance of self-clean cycles, generate a set of adjusted self-clean cycle parameters by adjusting an operating parameter of the self-clean cycle, and perform the self-clean cycle in accordance with the adjusted self-clean cycle parameters.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a tub positioned within the cabinet;   a basket rotatably mounted within the tub and defining a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes; and   a controller configured to:
 receive a command to initiate a self-clean cycle; 
 determine that a cycle adjustment condition exists based at least in part on historical data related to the performance of self-clean cycles; 
 adjust at least one operating parameter of the self-clean cycle, based at least in part on determining that the cycle adjustment condition exists, to generate a set of adjusted self-clean cycle parameters; and 
 perform the self-clean cycle in accordance with the adjusted self-clean cycle parameters. 
   
     
     
         2 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the cycle adjustment condition exists comprises:
 determining that a number of operating cycles performed since a prior self-clean cycle exceeds a predetermined cycle count.   
     
     
         3 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the cycle adjustment condition exists comprises:
 determining that a predetermined amount of time has passed since a prior self-clean cycle.   
     
     
         4 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the cycle adjustment condition exists comprises:
 initiating a counter tracking an elapsed time or a number of operating cycles performed;   resetting the counter when a self-clean cycle is performed; and   determining that the cycle adjustment condition exists when the counter reaches a predetermined count threshold.   
     
     
         5 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the at least one operating parameter of the self-clean cycle comprises:
 obtaining standard operating parameters of the self-clean cycle; and   adjusting the at least one operating parameter of the standard operating parameters.   
     
     
         6 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor assembly operably coupled to the basket for selectively rotating the basket, wherein adjusting the at least one operating parameter of the self-clean cycle comprises:
 operating the motor assembly to adjust a spin profile or a spin speed of the basket.   
     
     
         7 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a wash fluid dispenser mounted within the cabinet for selectively providing a flow of wash fluid into the tub, wherein adjusting the at least one operating parameter of the self-clean cycle comprises:
 increasing a water temperature dispensed into the tub during the self-clean cycle.   
     
     
         8 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the at least one operating parameter of the self-clean cycle comprises:
 increasing a duration of the self-cleaning cycle.   
     
     
         9 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the at least one operating parameter of the self-clean cycle comprises:
 dispensing a cleaning agent into the tub.   
     
     
         10 . The laundry appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the cleaning agent is bleach or a sanitizing solution. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 provide a user notification to add a cleaning agent to the tub using either a user interface panel or a remote device.   
     
     
         12 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 provide a user notification regarding the commencement of the self-clean cycle or to seek user confirmation prior to performing the self-clean cycle.   
     
     
         13 . The laundry appliance of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a user interface panel, wherein the user notification is provided through the user interface panel.   
     
     
         14 . The laundry appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is in operative communication with a remote device through an external network, and wherein the user notification is provided through the remote device. 
     
     
         15 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the laundry appliance is a washing machine appliance, a dryer appliance, or a combination washer/dryer appliance. 
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a laundry appliance, the laundry appliance comprising a tub positioned within a cabinet and a basket rotatably mounted within the tub and defining a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes, the method comprising:
 receiving a command to initiate a self-clean cycle;   determining that a cycle adjustment condition exists based at least in part on historical data related to the performance of self-clean cycles;   adjusting at least one operating parameter of the self-clean cycle, based at least in part on determining that the cycle adjustment condition exists, to generate a set of adjusted self-clean cycle parameters; and   performing the self-clean cycle in accordance with the adjusted self-clean cycle parameters.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein determining that the cycle adjustment condition exists comprises:
 determining that a number of operating cycles performed since a prior self-clean cycle exceeds a predetermined cycle count.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein determining that the cycle adjustment condition exists comprises:
 determining that a predetermined amount of time has passed since a prior self-clean cycle.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein adjusting the at least one operating parameter of the self-clean cycle comprises:
 obtaining standard operating parameters of the self-clean cycle; and   adjusting the at least one operating parameter of the standard operating parameters.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein adjusting the at least one operating parameter of the self-clean cycle comprises at least one of adjusting a spin profile or a spin speed of the basket, increasing a water temperature dispensed into the tub during the self-clean cycle, increasing a duration of the self-cleaning cycle, or dispensing a cleaning agent into the tub.