Self-optimizing detergent controller

• Main Authors: JAMES L. COPELAND, DANIEL F. BRADY, CLYDE A BAILEY, JOHN E. MCCALL JR
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 01.07.1999
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: CLEANING; CLEANING IN GENERAL; COFFEE MILLS; CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; FURNITURE; HUMAN NECESSITIES; LAUNDERING; LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILEARTICLES; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL; REGULATING; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL; SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES; TEXTILES; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE

An apparatus and method for programming a controller to vary the concentration set-point of an additive as a function of time. The present invention insures that the additive is injected to the machine at proper times to allow for optimum efficiency and lowest cost. To vary the set-point according to the input parameters, the invention combines the features of a data entry device, a microprocessor, a clock, a controller, and sensors into one unit. The user may enter a time setting and set point into the controller, along with control parameters which allow the machine to control the additive injection based on different user-defined scenarios. The microprocessor then reads the settings and outputs an appropriate set-point value from the microprocessor to the controller. Thus, the user can manually or automatically change the response function if and when conditions change.