System and method for selecting a preprogrammed treatment cycle based on multiple laundry treatment products

Abstract

A laundry machine is provided with a user interface to receive a user input of a user selected preprogrammed laundry treatment cycle. A processor receives user provided product identity data for multiple laundry treatment products. The processor operates a specific preprogrammed laundry treatment cycle when a predetermined set of the product identity data is received. The processor operates the user selected preprogrammed laundry treatment cycle in absence of receiving the predetermined set of the product identity data. A method is also provided for laundering articles. The method includes inputting the user provided product identity data to form a user set of multiple laundry treatment products, comparing the user set to a predetermined set of multiple laundry treatment products. Upon detecting that the user set matches the predetermined set, laundering the articles according to a specific preprogrammed laundry treatment cycle associated with the predetermined set.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry machine comprising:
 a user interface configured to receive a user input of a user selected preprogrammed laundry treatment cycle;   a processor configured to receive user provided product identity data for multiple laundry treatment products, wherein said processor operates a specific preprogrammed laundry treatment cycle when a predetermined set of said product identity data is received and said processor operates said user selected preprogrammed laundry treatment cycle in absence of receiving said predetermined set of said product identity data.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said user interface is selected from the group of a touch screen on board said laundry machine, a mobile device in wireless communication with said laundry machine, a mechanical switch on board said laundry machine, and an electronic switch on board said laundry machine. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said product identity data comprises shapes of said multiple laundry treatment products. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said processor is configured to select amongst multiple specific preprogrammed laundry treatment cycles that differ from one another and are each uniquely associated with one unique predetermined set of said product identity data. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry machine according to  claim 4 , wherein said multiple specific preprogrammed laundry treatment cycles each comprise a wash sub-cycle and a rinse sub-cycle, wherein said wash sub-cycles differ from one another. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry machine according to  claim 5 , wherein said wash sub-cycles differ from one another in a manner selected from the group of wash water temperature, wash water volume, wash liquor concentration, timing of application of said laundry treatment products, applied mechanical energy, cycle duration, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry machine according to  claim 4 , wherein said multiple specific preprogrammed laundry treatment cycles each comprise a wash sub-cycle and a rinse sub-cycle, wherein said rinse sub-cycles differ from one another. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry machine according to  claim 7 , wherein said rinse sub-cycles differ from one another in a manner selected from the group of wash water temperature, wash water volume, wash liquor concentration, timing of application of said laundry treatment products, applied mechanical energy, cycle duration, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said product identity data is associated with presence of a laundry active ingredient selected from the group of surfactant, softening active, bleach, acid, perfume, a tracer, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said processor is configured to disseminate a user stimulus when a predetermined set of said product identity data is received. 
     
     
         11 . A process for laundering articles comprising steps of:
 inputting user provided product identity data to form a user set of multiple laundry treatment products into a processor;   comparing said user set to a predetermined set of multiple laundry treatment products to determine if said user set matches a predetermined set;   upon detecting that said user set matches said predetermined set, laundering said articles according to a specific preprogrammed laundry treatment cycle associated with said predetermined set;   in absence of detecting that said user set matches said predetermined set, laundering said articles according to a user selected preprogrammed laundry treatment cycle.   
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein said user provided product identity data is input using a user interface selected from the group of a touch screen on board said laundry machine, a mobile device in wireless communication with said laundry machine, a mechanical switch on board said laundry machine, and an electronic switch on board said laundry machine. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein said product identity data comprises shapes of said multiple laundry treatment products. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein said processor is configured to select amongst multiple specific preprogrammed laundry treatment cycles that differ from one another and are each uniquely associated with one unique predetermined set of said multiple laundry treatment products. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 14 , wherein said multiple specific preprogrammed laundry treatment cycles each comprise a wash sub-cycle and a rinse sub-cycle, wherein said wash sub-cycles differ from one another. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein said wash sub-cycles differ from one another in a manner selected from the group of wash water temperature, wash water volume, wash liquor concentration, timing of application of said laundry treatment products, applied mechanical energy, cycle duration, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The laundry machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said multiple specific preprogrammed laundry treatment cycles each comprise a wash sub-cycle and a rinse sub-cycle, wherein said rinse sub-cycles differ from one another. 
     
     
         18 . The laundry machine according to  claim 17 , wherein said rinse sub-cycles differ from one another in a manner selected from the group of wash water temperature, wash water volume, wash liquor concentration, timing of application of said laundry treatment products, applied mechanical energy, cycle duration, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein said product identity data is associated with presence of a laundry active ingredient selected from the group of surfactant, softening active, bleach, acid, perfume, a tracer, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein upon detecting that said user set matches said predetermined set, disseminating a user stimulus.