Abstract: A clothes dryer has a thermal insulation pad placed in a confined space in the dryer cabinet between the blower fan housing and the dryer cabinet side wall closest to the blower fan housing. The thermal insulation pad is press fit into the space so as to take up much of the volume of the confined space preventing the accumulation of dust or lint over time in the confined space while also preventing the flow of oxygen to the confined space. Accordingly, the thermal insulation pad reduces the risk of a fire starting in the confined area of the dryer cabinet between the blower wheel housing and the adjacent side wall of the cabinet. A thermal insulation pad also acts as sound insulation.

Abstract: A modular lint collection system for a fabric dryer, comprising a lint collection frame having a plurality of lint screen retaining members associated therewith, and a plurality of lint collection screens connected to respective lint screen retaining members and arranged in a zigzag pattern. The lint collection screens are oriented in respective vertical planes with adjacent screens lying in intersecting relation to one another, such that the air flow being drawn through the dryer generally impinges the screens at an oblique angle.

Abstract: A clothes dryer which comprises a housing, a rotatable drum for receiving the clothes and a bearing for rotatably receiving the drum in the housing. In order to protect the bearing from overheating, a cooling air device for cooling the bearing is provided.

Abstract: A drying apparatus having a purpose of shortening a drying time of laundry, comprising an accommodating chamber in which the laundry is accommodated, and executing a washing operation of the laundry and a drying operation after end of the washing operation in the accommodating chamber, the machine comprising: a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a gas cooler, an expansion valve, and an evaporator are successively connected to one another in an annular form via a piping; an air circulation path for discharging air which has exchanged heat with the gas cooler into the accommodating chamber by a blower to exchange the heat of the air passed through the accommodating chamber with the evaporator; and a control device for operating the compressor and the blower to perform the drying operation, wherein the control device starts the operation of the compressor before entering the drying operation.

Abstract: A washer/dryer combination used for washing and drying articles such as clothing in the same machine. The washer/dryer combination includes a body having a treatment chamber defined within the body, a front side including an opening, and a door attached to the front side and selectively covering the opening. The door includes a front wall, a back wall, a cavity defined between the walls, and a pair of air ducts disposed within the cavity. A first air duct includes a hot air outlet and the second air duct includes an exhaust air inlet. The washer/dryer combination further includes a heater and blower unit for blowing hot air into the chamber of the body via the hot air outlet. A first air conduit has a first end matingly engaging the heater and blower unit and a second end matingly engaging the first air duct. A second air conduit has a first end and second end where the first end matingly engages the second air duct.

Abstract: Substantial amounts of particulate soils in garments can be removed by agitation in gas-jet in a solvent-free, low-pressure environment. The ability of the present gas-jet agitation system to remove particulate soils from garments and fabrics rivals that of conventional dry-cleaning processes which agitate the garments and fabrics while immersed in solvent. Thus, a dry-cleaning operation may consist of a solvent-immersion step for removing soluble soils and a gas-jet agitation step to remove particulates. Considerable savings in equipment and operating costs may be realized in the practice of the invention, since solvent flow rates need not be boosted to provide necessary agitation for particulate soil removal. The savings achievable by employing gas-jet agitation are even more pronounced in dense phase gas dry cleaning systems, which require pressurized environments to maintain a liquified solvent.

Abstract: A machine for washing and degreasing with solvents or for drying textile products or the like, including a container that accommodates a drum that can be rotated about its own axis. The container is closed by a door on one of its sides, which is directed towards an axial end of the drum, and a circuit is provided for conveying a stream of drying air, the circuit having a delivery duct leading into the container at the region of the door. The machine comprises a chamber for directing the stream of drying air, in the region where it enters the container, along a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of the drum.

Abstract: A apparatus for separating pieces of laundry, comprising a drum which is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and with an open front and an open rear, which drum is accommodated in a housing, in which the rear of the drum is almost closed off by a stationary wall, which is provided in the middle with an engaging opening in which engaging means for engaging and feeding through the pieces of laundry are arranged, and in that in the housing air conveying means are provided for transporting the pieces of laundry from the front to the rear of the drum. A method for separating pieces of laundry with the help of the apparatus according to the invention.

Abstract: An improved access laundry appliance is provided for a cabinet defining an enclosed compartment. A cylindrical drum is rotatably mounted within the compartment and forms a fabric enclosure for containing laundry therein. The drum has an uncovered drum access opening through which laundry may be placed into and removed from the fabric enclosure. The cabinet has exterior front and top cabinet surfaces formed by cabinet front and top walls and includes a cabinet access opening therein adjacent the drum access opening providing direct communication through the cabinet and the drum access opening into the fabric enclosure. The cabinet access opening is formed at least partially in the cabinet front wall and at least partially in the cabinet top wall and has a perimeter extending therearound. The perimeter extends between first and second substantially vertical planes which are spaced apart from one another.