Fluid emitting feature for a laundry appliance

Abstract

A laundry appliance includes a cabinet that defines an opening. A rotating drum is accessible via the opening and operably coupled to the cabinet. A fluid emitting feature is proximate the rotating drum. The fluid emitting feature is configured to dispense a fluid into the rotating drum. The fluid is configured to contact foreign particulates in the rotating drum. A housing is proximate the rotating drum and includes a foreign particulate filter configured to collect the foreign particulates. The fluid and rotation of the rotating drum direct the foreign particulates toward the foreign particulate filter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet that defines an opening;   a rotating drum accessible via the opening and operably coupled to the cabinet;   a fluid emitting feature proximate the rotating drum, wherein the fluid emitting feature is configured to dispense a fluid into the rotating drum, and wherein the fluid is configured to contact foreign particulates in the rotating drum; and   a housing proximate the rotating drum and including a foreign particulate filter configured to collect the foreign particulates, wherein the fluid and rotation of the rotating drum direct the foreign particulates toward the foreign particulate filter.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fluid container disposed within the cabinet, wherein the fluid is delivered into the rotating drum via the fluid emitting feature.   
     
     
         3 . The laundry appliance of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a fluid supply conduit that extends between the fluid container and the fluid emitting feature.   
     
     
         4 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller communicatively coupled to the fluid emitting feature, wherein the controller is configured to actuate the fluid emitting feature.   
     
     
         5 . The laundry appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the controller activates the fluid emitting feature to deliver the fluid at an initial phase of a selected drying cycle. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid container includes a plurality of reservoirs that each contain a dedicated fluid, and wherein the plurality of reservoirs each include a dedicated fluid supply conduit that is in communication with the fluid emitting feature. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid includes at least one of gas and an anti-static solution. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the anti-static solution is a water-vinegar mixture. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein operation of the fluid emitting feature occurs within a pre-programmed laundry cycle. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid emitting feature is activated upon selection through an interactive portion of a user interface. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid emitting feature includes an air emitting nozzle that directs bursts of gas into the rotating drum, wherein the bursts of gas are configured to dislodge the foreign particulates from clothing items contained within the rotating drum. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the bursts of gas are generally directed toward the foreign particulate filter for capturing foreign particulates. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the gas and the anti-static solution are delivered into the rotating drum via dedicated nozzles, and wherein the anti-static solution is dispensed into the rotating drum before the gas is dispensed into the rotating drum. 
     
     
         14 . The laundry appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the anti-static solution and the gas are delivered simultaneously as an anti-static mist. 
     
     
         15 . The laundry appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the anti-static solution is delivered to the rotating drum as steam. 
     
     
         16 . A method for removing foreign particulates from clothing items in a drying appliance, the method comprising steps of:
 activating a drying cycle;   initiating a particulate removal routine as an initial phase of the drying cycle;   delivering an anti-static solution to a drum;   directing bursts of air into the drum to dislodge the foreign particulates for the clothing items;   initiating a remainder of the drying cycle;   activating air emitting nozzles during the drying cycle to intermittently dislodge additional amounts of the foreign particulates;   completing the drying cycle; and   removing the captured foreign particulates from a foreign particulate filter.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the anti-static solution is a solution of water and vinegar. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the anti-static solution is delivered to the drum as steam. 
     
     
         19 . A particulate removal system for a laundry appliance, the particulate removal system comprising:
 a rotating drum that processes clothing items;   a fluid emitting feature positioned to direct a fluid into the drum, wherein the fluid is   configured to contact foreign particulates in the drum;   an air emitting nozzle of the fluid emitting feature that is configured to direct bursts of   gas into the drum; and   a foreign particulate filter configured to collect the foreign particulates, wherein the air emitting nozzle is positioned to direct the bursts of air toward the foreign particulate filter.   
     
     
         20 . The laundry appliance of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 wherein the fluid emitting feature is activated as an initial phase of a drying cycle to mitigate the presence of electrostatic charges during the drying cycle.