Method for operating a laundry washing machine using a unit dose package and laundry washing machine implementing the method

Abstract

A laundry washing machine equipped with a treating agents dispenser comprising a drawer having a compartment suitable to receive a unit dose package comprising a pre-measured amount of treating agent incorporated into a water-soluble pouch. The laundry washing machine has a control unit configured to convey a first amount of water to the compartment to wet the unit dose package, pause, then convey a second amount of water to the compartment for breaking the water-soluble pouch of the unit dose package.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A laundry washing machine comprising:
 a casing;   a washing tub mounted inside the casing;   a drum rotatably mounted inside the washing tub and configured to receive laundry therein;   a treating agents dispenser comprising one or more compartments including a first compartment configured to receive a unit dose package comprising a pre-measured amount of treating agent incorporated into a water-soluble pouch, the first compartment having an outlet in fluid communication with the washing tub;   one or more water conveying lines for conveying water to the one or more compartments of the treating agents dispenser;   a control unit configured to:
 supply a first amount of water to the first compartment during a first period of time from at least one of the one or more water conveying lines, the first amount of water being suitable to wet the unit dose package; 
 pause the supply of water for a second period of time; 
 supply a second amount of water to the first compartment, the second amount of water being suitable to break the water-soluble pouch of the unit dose package inside the first compartment so that the pre-measured amount of treating agent is released. 
   
     
     
         22 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a supply line fluidly connecting the treating agents dispenser to the washing tub.   
     
     
         23 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 21 , wherein:
 each of the one or more water conveying lines includes at least one outlet.   
     
     
         24 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the at least one outlet is configured to generate a laminar-flow water jet.   
     
     
         25 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the first period of time comprises between 1 second and 10 seconds.   
     
     
         26 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the second period of time comprises between 5 seconds and 150 seconds.   
     
     
         27 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the second amount of water comprises between 1 litre and 7 litres.   
     
     
         28 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the control unit is further configured to, following the second period of time, supply a third amount of water to the treating agents dispenser, the third amount of water being selected to clean the first compartment and/or to flush out the released pre-measured amount of treating agent from the first compartment and to convey it into the washing tub.   
     
     
         29 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 28 , wherein:
 the third amount of water comprises between 1 liter and 12 liters.   
     
     
         30 . A laundry washing machine comprising:
 a casing;   a washing tub mounted inside the casing;   a drum rotatably mounted inside the washing tub and configured to receive laundry therein;   a treating agents dispenser comprising one or more compartments including a first compartment configured to receive a unit dose package comprising a pre-measured amount of treating agent incorporated into a water-soluble pouch, the first compartment having an outlet in fluid communication with the washing tub;   at least one water conveying line for conveying water to the one or more compartments of the treating agents dispenser;   a control unit configured to:
 during a first period of time, wet the unit dose package in the first compartment by conveying a first amount of water to the first compartment through the at least one water conveying line; 
 during a second period of time, occurring, at least in part, after the first period of time, break the unit dose package in the first compartment by conveying a second amount of water to the first compartment through the at least one water conveying line; and 
 during a third period of time, occurring, at least in part, after the first period of time, flush the released treating agent from the first compartment to the washing tub, by conveying a third amount of water through the at least one water conveying line to the first compartment. 
   
     
     
         31 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 30 , wherein:
 wherein the third period of time overlaps the second period of time.   
     
     
         32 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 30 , wherein:
 the third period of time is after the second period of time.   
     
     
         33 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 30 , wherein:
 conveying the third amount of water to the first compartment comprises conveying at least a portion of the third amount of water through an unpressurized water conveying line.   
     
     
         34 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 33 , wherein:
 conveying the third amount of water to the first compartment comprises conveying at least a portion of the third amount of water through a pressurized water conveying line.   
     
     
         35 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 30 , wherein:
 conveying the second amount of water to the first compartment comprises conveying the second amount of water through at least one pressurized water conveying line to cause the second amount of water to form a water jet in the first compartment, the water jet being directed towards the unit dose package.   
     
     
         36 . A laundry washing machine comprising:
 a casing;   a washing tub mounted inside the casing;   a drum rotatably mounted inside the washing tub and configured to receive laundry therein;   a treating agents dispenser comprising one or more compartments including a first compartment configured to receive a unit dose package comprising a pre-measured amount of treating agent incorporated into a water-soluble pouch, the first compartment having an outlet in fluid communication with the washing tub;   at least one water conveying line for conveying water to the one or more compartments of the treating agents dispenser;   a control unit configured to:
 during a first period of time, wet the unit dose package in the first compartment by conveying a first amount of water to the first compartment through the at least one water conveying line to contact the unit dose package with a first velocity; 
 during a second period of time, occurring, at least in part, after the first period of time, break the unit dose package in the first compartment by conveying a second amount of water to the first compartment through the at least one water conveying line to contact the unit dose package with a second velocity, the second velocity being greater than the first velocity, so that the treating agent is released; and 
 during a third period of time, occurring, at least in part, after the first period of time, flush the released treating agent from the first compartment to the washing tub, by conveying a third amount of water through the at least one water conveying line to the first compartment. 
   
     
     
         37 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the at least one water conveying line includes one or more one or more unpressurized water conveying lines configured to convey water by gravity to the one or more compartments and one or more pressurized water conveying lines configured to convey pressurized water to the one or more compartments.   
     
     
         38 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 37 , wherein:
 at least one of the one or more pressurized water conveying lines terminates at one or more respective pressurized outlets located above a central portion of the first compartment;   at least one of the one or more unpressurized water conveying lines terminates at one or more respective unpressurized outlets located above a peripheral portion of the first compartment; and   the peripheral portion surrounds the central portion.   
     
     
         39 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the outlet of the first compartment is configured to prevent an intact unit dose package from passing through the outlet.   
     
     
         40 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the control unit is further configured to detect a presence of the unit dose package in the first compartment as a predicate to conveying the second amount of water.