Device and method for treating laundry

Abstract

An automatic laundry treatment machine for treating laundry. The automatic laundry treatment machine has a reservoir having a reservoir fill level and a reservoir liquid outlet having a reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter. A conveyance connects the reservoir liquid outlet to the stationary treatment chamber of the automatic laundry treatment machine. There is an in operation total head difference between the reservoir fill level and the stationary treatment chamber or an in operation total head difference across a portion of the conveyance and the total head difference divided by the cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter in consistent units of length is from about 0.3 to about 2200. The automatic laundry machine can be operated to use the liquid stored in the reservoir to rapidly supply liquid to the stationary treatment chamber, thereby shortening cycle time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automatic laundry treatment machine suitable for treating laundry with an aqueous treatment liquor, comprising:
 a reservoir having a reservoir liquid inlet and one or more reservoir liquid outlets downstream of said reservoir liquid inlet, said reservoir having a reservoir fill level above said one or more reservoir liquid outlets;   a stationary treatment chamber having a stationary treatment chamber inlet in fluid communication with said one or more reservoir liquid outlets, wherein said stationary treatment chamber contains a rotatable tub; and   a conveyance connecting said one or more reservoir liquid outlets and said stationary treatment chamber inlet;   wherein said one or more reservoir liquid outlets have a cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter;   wherein there is an in operation total head difference between said reservoir fill level and said stationary treatment chamber inlet or an in operation total head difference across a portion of said conveyance and said total head difference divided by said cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter in consistent units of length is from about 0.3 to about 2200.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic laundry treatment machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said stationary treatment chamber has a stationary treatment chamber volume and said reservoir has a reservoir volume at said reservoir fill level and said reservoir volume is from about 10% to about 40% of said stationary treatment chamber volume. 
     
     
         3 . The automatic laundry treatment machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said total head difference is provided by a source selected from the group consisting of elevation head difference between said reservoir fill level and said stationary treatment chamber inlet in operation, a pump between said reservoir liquid outlet and said stationary treatment chamber inlet, gas pressure applied at said reservoir fill level, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The automatic laundry treatment machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said automatic laundry treatment machine has a footprint and said stationary treatment chamber is above said footprint, wherein a majority of space occupied by said reservoir is positioned within a projection of said stationary treatment chamber orthogonally away from footprint. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic laundry treatment machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said reservoir and said stationary treatment chamber are together within a single cabinet. 
     
     
         6 . The automatic laundry treatment machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said automatic laundry treatment machine has a footprint and said stationary treatment chamber is above said footprint, wherein said rotatable tub is rotatable about a horizontal axis relative to said footprint. 
     
     
         7 . The automatic laundry treatment machine of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one station for dispensing at least one laundry treatment active composition, wherein said station comprises at least one compartment in fluid communication with said stationary treatment chamber for containing said at least one laundry treatment active composition. 
     
     
         8 . The automatic laundry treatment machine of  claim 7 , wherein said station is downstream of said reservoir. 
     
     
         9 . The automatic laundry treatment machine of  claim 7 , wherein said station is in fluid communication with said treatment chamber independent of a pathway connecting said one or more reservoir liquid outlets and said treatment chamber inlet. 
     
     
         10 . The automatic laundry treatment machine of  claim 1 , wherein said automatic laundry treatment machine further comprises a heater associated with said reservoir. 
     
     
         11 . The automatic laundry treatment machine of  claim 1  further comprising:
 one or more computer-readable media storing instructions; and 
 a computing device comprising a processor; 
 wherein said processor operates the laundry treatment machine of  claim 1  according to the steps of: 
 transferring a first liquid from said reservoir to said stationary treatment chamber; 
 then performing a laundry treatment sub-cycle employing said first liquid; and 
 during said laundry treatment sub-cycle, at least partially refilling said reservoir with a second liquid. 
 
     
     
         12 . A process of treating laundry using the automatic laundry treatment machine of  claim 1  comprising the steps of:
 draining a first liquid from said treatment chamber as part of or after a first laundry treatment sub-cycle; 
 then transferring a second liquid from said reservoir to said stationary treatment chamber; 
 then performing a second laundry treatment sub-cycle employing said second liquid; and 
 during said second laundry treatment sub-cycle, at least partially refilling said reservoir with a third liquid. 
 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 detecting an excess suds condition during said second laundry treatment sub-cycle;   at least partially draining said stationary treatment chamber in response to said excess suds condition; and   at least partially refilling said treatment chamber with said third liquid from said reservoir and resuming said second laundry treatment sub-cycle or initiating a revised second laundry treatment sub-cycle.   
     
     
         14 . A process of treating laundry using the automatic laundry treatment machine of  claim 1  comprising the steps of:
 detecting a laundry load initiation event; and 
 after said laundry load initiation event, triggering said automatic laundry treatment machine to fill said reservoir with a first liquid. 
 
     
     
         15 . The process of treating laundry according to  claim 14 , wherein said laundry load initiation event is selected from the group consisting of opening or moving of a door to said stationary treatment chamber, a control being activated by a user, laundry being placed into said rotatable tub, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The process of treating laundry according to  claim 14  further comprising the steps of:
 transferring said first liquid from said reservoir to said stationary treatment chamber; 
 then performing a laundry treatment cycle or sub-cycle employing said first liquid; and 
 during said laundry treatment cycle or sub-cycle, at least partially refilling said reservoir with a second liquid. 
 
     
     
         17 . One or more computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, causes the at least one processor to operate the laundry treatment machine of  claim 1  according to the steps of:
 transferring a first liquid from said reservoir to said stationary treatment chamber; 
 then performing a laundry treatment sub-cycle employing said first liquid; and 
 during said laundry treatment sub-cycle, at least partially refilling said reservoir with a second liquid. 
 
     
     
         18 . An automatic laundry treatment machine suitable for treating laundry with an aqueous treatment liquor, comprising:
 a reservoir having a reservoir liquid inlet and one or more reservoir liquid outlets downstream of said reservoir liquid inlet, said reservoir having a reservoir fill level above said one or more reservoir liquid outlets;   a stationary treatment chamber having a stationary treatment chamber inlet in fluid communication with said one or more reservoir liquid outlets, wherein said stationary treatment chamber contains a rotatable tub; and   a conveyance connecting said one or more reservoir liquid outlets and said stationary treatment chamber inlet;   wherein said one or more reservoir liquid outlets have a cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter;   wherein there is an in operation total head difference between said reservoir fill level and said stationary treatment chamber inlet and said total head difference divided by said cumulative reservoir liquid outlet hydraulic diameter