Abstract: A commercial laundry machine having a loading hopper effective for substantially reducing loading time. The hopper has a relatively large effective passage area for communication with a front opening rotary drum of the laundry machine, and a splash door is pivotally mounted adjacent a front face of the machine housing for movement between a lowered closed position and an upwardly extending open position which neither reduces the effective passage of the hopper chute nor impedes the passage of launderable items directed through the chute. The laundry machine further includes an improved toggle actuated locking and sealing device for securing the hopper in sealed relation with the machine housing, and trunnion mounted hydraulic cylinders which are effective for more reliably and effectively pivoting the hopper unit through an arc greater than 90 degrees to its removed position.

Abstract: A door/lid for an appliance, such as a washer or dryer, includes a tempered glass panel upon an inner surface of which is applied one or two screen printed borders of fusible ceramic printing medium defining a substantially opaque peripheral border bounding a central viewing area through which clothing associated with a washer or dryer can be viewed when the door/lid is closed. An injection molded narrow encapsulation, border or rim surrounds an edge of the tempered glass panel and effects a water-tight seal therewith. Third ceramic printing means in the form of instructions or safety rules in applied to the first or second printing medium but is indiscernible from the outside when the door/lid is closed. When the door/lid is open, the instructions/safety rules are totally divisible, upright and readable.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine comprises: a cabinet forming an outer appearance of the washing machine; a tub fixed inside the cabinet for storing the washing water; a drum disposed in the tub and having both side surfaces supported by the cabinet to be rotatable and an inlet through which laundries come in/go out on a circumferential surface thereof; and a driving motor fixed on one side surface of the drum to rotate the drum. Therefore, washing capacity can be increased as maintaining entire size of the washing machine by increasing a diameter of the drum without increasing size of the cabinet, and entire size of the washing machine can be compacted by minimizing installation space of the driving motor.

Abstract: Door for a washing machine and dryer, and a washing machine and a dryer with the door, the door including a frame (31) or (32) having a system for opening/closing an opening (15) or (25) provided for introducing laundry into a washing machine or a dryer; and a hinge assembly (100) including a bracket (110) attached to an inside surface of a housing (11) or (21) of the washing machine or the dryer, and a hinge arm (120) having a first member (121) rotatably connected to the bracket (110), and a second member (122) extended in succession to the first member (121) and rotatably connected to the frame (31) and (32) for being drawn to an outside of the washing machine and the dryer, thereby enabling to be rotated relative to the bracket and the hinge arm respectively, so as to be opened at a great angle.

Abstract: Door including a hinge assembly, an inner frame and an outer frame joined together, at least one thereof connected to the hinge assembly (15), a transparent door glass (63) having an edge positioned between, and fixed to the inner frame (62) and the outer frame (64), and a handle (70) formed in a form of recess so that fingers are put into the outer frame from an exterior and pulling the outer frame, thereby forming the handle not projected from the outer frame, being useful to a drum type washing machine or clothes drier.

Abstract: A heating apparatus in a color test machine comprises a rotary tumbler seat, a rotating shaft for turning the rotary tumbler seat, a heater for heating the rotary tumbler seat, and tumbler recesses provided in the rotary tumbler. It is characterized in that solid micro particles are used as heat transfer media for heating and preserving the heat.

Abstract: The porthole door has a hinged frame (4) on the housing of the washing machine, consisting of a supporting ring (6) and a retaining ring (8). The supporting ring (6) supports an inspection glass (5) which is recessed in the form of a cup in the direction of the interior of the drum. Said inspection glass is protected by a cover (9) against access at the level of the external retaining ring (8) of the frame (4), the edge thereof being fixed to the frame (4). The cover (9) is made of flat glass cooled by means of a model mould. As a result, the porthole unit is aesthetic and easy to assemble.

Abstract: A drum-type washing machine is equipped with a drying device, which increases condensing efficiency by increasing the contact of air flowing along a condensing duct with cooling water, and prevents water formed in a condensing duct from flowing into a fixed drum. The washing machine is equipped with a drying device, which includes a discharging duct to connect an outlet of a blowing fan with an air inlet of a fixed drum and provided with a heater therein, and a condensing duct to connect an air inlet of the fixed drum with an inlet of the blowing fan and provided with a condensing unit to remove moisture. The condensing unit includes a cooling water dispersion member disposed in the lower portion of the inside of the condensing duct and a cooling water supply pipe configured to supply cooling water to the cooling water dispersion member.

Abstract: Door on a laundry dryer/drum type washing machine including a door frame having a central opening, for opening/closing an opening in a front part of a cabinet for introduction/taking out of laundry, an outer window fixed to a front surface of the door frame, and an inner window fixed to a rear surface of the door frame, wherein the door frame has a front surface curved in left/right directions, and the outer window is curved the same with the door frame, thereby providing a good design of a door and improving washing and drying performance.

Abstract: Device for linking a door to a case in a drum type washing machine including a bracket having one end to be inserted in a pass through hole formed in the vicinity of the laundry opening in a washing machine case, and the other end fixed to an outside wall of the case, and a foldable link member having a first link rotatably fitted to the one end of the bracket, a second link exposed to an outside through the pass through hole and rotatably fitted to the door, and a hinge connecting the first link and the second link, thereby permitting an easy assembly, and improving convenience of a user.

Abstract: A sealing device is provided between a bullseye-shaped porthole of a loading door and a housing wall in washing machines or laundry dryers and includes a one-piece, substantially annular sealing collar. The porthole has an edge section, which extends substantially parallel to the plane of the loading door. The sealing device includes, at its end facing the porthole, a head section that is supported by a projection on an edge section of the housing wall limiting the door aperture. Furthermore, the sealing device includes a narrow, substantially annular sealing disk that, with the loading door closed, presses sealingly in the axial direction against the edge section of the porthole.

Abstract: A sealing sleeve seals joints in household appliances, especially the joints between the suds container and the front wall of the housing or the upper part of the suds container and the top frame in washing machines, and can be secured to the appliance by a substantially annular clamping element. The clamping element can be molded into the interior of the section (which can be a beading) of the sealing sleeve to be secured.

Abstract: A porthole window includes a circular base section being a viewing glass having a substantially planar inner surface and a border region, and a rigid plastic side-wall section of the bowl tapering in a direction of the base section. The viewing glass, over an entire border region of the base section, is curved in a direction of the side-wall section such that the border region of the base section forms a rounded glass shoulder. On the outer border of the glass shoulder, the viewing glass has an annular connecting section running obliquely in relation to the inner surface of the base section and, at its head end, firmly engages with the inner end of the side-wall section.

Abstract: An improved tunnel washer apparatus (20) is disclosed that includes a “ratio metric” water reuse system that features four water loops. The water loops include fresh water (24), reuse water (51), rinse water (49), and treated water (50). The tunnel washer (20) has five stages that include wet out (13), first wash zone (14), second wash zone (15), main rinse zone (16), and fine rinse/finishing zone (17). The water loops are designed to minimize the consumption of fresh water by blending the appropriate quantity of the four types of water. The blending formulation may vary based on the type of goods (for example linen) in the tunnel stage and the dynamic quality of each type of water.

Abstract: A laundry washing machine has a cabinet 2 and a drum 1 suspended within the cabinet for rotation about a horizontal axis. The drum 1 includes a pair of drum ends with a pair of vanes 110, 111 extending between the drum ends 11, 12 rigidly connecting the drum ends together. The drum 1 has a substantially cylindrical perforated skin 22 having a main section 34 and a hatch section 35. The main section 34 and hatch section 35 connect along the edges to form the complete drum skin. In an opening operation the drum 1 is opened by disconnecting the edges of the main section 34 and hatch section 35 of the drum skin 22, retaining the hatch section 35 in a fixed position relative to the cabinet 2 and rotating the drum 1 such that the main section 34 of the drum skin 22 moves apart from the hatch section 35 to provide an opening into the drum. The opening is provided in conjunction with an opening into the cabinet, normally closed by a lockable lid 4.

Abstract: A door boot for an appliance is positioned within the access opening of the appliance. A door is movable to a closed position cooperating with the door boot to seal the interior of the appliance cabinet. A relief groove is provided in the door boot which provides flexibility when the door is moved to its open position, and thereby reduces the force necessary to break the seal during opening of the door. The relief groove forms a flexible hinge.

Abstract: In a drum type washing machine, a drum 23 is mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis extending in the lateral direction in a tub 20. A tub opening 20b with a tub door 20a is formed in the tub 20 under the throw-in opening 3 formed in the front part of the top of the housing. A drum opening 23a with a drum door composed of a double door opening frontward and backward is formed in the peripheral wall of the drum 23. The drum 23 is stopped so that the drum opening 23b coincides with the tub opening 20b. The drum door 23a, forced into its opening direction, is held in a closed position by an engagement of a claw 43 and an engagement hole 53. When a user rotates a operation lever 63b for latching or unlatching the tub door 20, the drum door open/close mechanism 65 functions to make two rods 65a and 65b project or withdraw, whereby the drum door 23a is brought into an engaged or unengaged state. By this mechanism, the drum door 23a opens or closes with the opening or closing operation of the tub door 20a.

Abstract: The invention concerns a washing machine door for a front-load washing machine that has a frontal frame hinged to the housing of the machine and that surrounds a loading opening, into which a transparent frontal door cover is inserted from the drum side and is held in by means of a mounted gallows frame. If according to the invention the provision is made that the frontal frame has bayonet hooks on the backside facing the frontal door cover that are inserted into receiving slots of the frontal door cover and held therein when the frontal door cover is rotated; that at least part of the bayonet hooks provide fashioned screw domes onto which receptacle domes of the gallows frame can be form locked; and that the gallows frame with bent rest tabs can be snapped into the rest slots of the frontal door covering, then a washing machine door-module for various washing machine doors is achieved with simple components without great expense for parts or assembly.

Abstract: A door boot for an appliance is positioned within the access opening of the appliance. A door is movable to a closed position cooperating with the door boot to seal the interior of the appliance cabinet. A relief groove is provided in the door boot which provides flexibility when the door is moved to its open position, and thereby reduces the force necessary to break the seal during opening of the door. The relief groove forms a flexible hinge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus which uses as operative fluid liquid and/or supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) or other dense-phase fluids such as ammonia or hydrocarbons. The apparatus may have various applications including the cleaning of garments and the degreasing of electronic or mechanical components; the apparatus comprises a cleaning chamber (1), basically formed by a pressurised container, and an installation for supplying the CO2 which includes a storage tank (30) and a distiller (31). Advantageously, in order to start a cleaning cycle, the chamber (1) is pressurised with gaseous CO2 taken from the tank and/or from the distiller which are then excluded from the path of the liquid CO2 used for the actual cleaning. The invention also comprises a special cleaning chamber (1) having a lid and a cylindrical jacket, that are provided with respective mating edges between which operates an improved seal suitable for preventing leakage of supercritical fluids.

Abstract: A method of operating a horizontal axis laundry machine through a drum opening operation is provided. The laundry machine includes a cabinet and a drum mounted in the cabinet. The drum has a drum skin including a cover section and a remainder. An edge of the cover section is connected to an edge of the remainder by an interengaging latch member. The method includes the steps of rotating the drum until the drum skin is in a first set position relative to the cabinet, engaging the cover section to retain the position thereof relative to the cabinet while engaged, sliding the latch member to release the cover section edge from the remaining drum section edge, rotating the drum to a second set position with the cover section engaged to leave an opening into the drum, and allowing opening of the cabinet to provide access to the opening.

Abstract: A gasket for a laundry washing machine door having a central opening provided with a glass (13). The gasket (15) includes first and second mainly U-shaped parts (15a, 15b) that are interconnected to one another. The first U-shaped part (15a) surrounds an edge of the door that borders on the opening. The second U-shaped part (15b) surrounding the edge of the glass (13). The second part has a tab (16) extending mainly perpendicular to a waist of the second part (15b) for abutting the door glass (13). An area between the waist and the tab supports a flange (17) extending toward an outer drum (18) of the laundry washing machine. An outer portion of the flange is provided with a sideways extending lip (20), as seen in a length direction of the flange (17) which, when the door is closed, seals against the drum (18).

Abstract: An improved hood enclosure for isolating wood pulp washing equipment from the ambient environment. The hood has a pair of end members, a pair of skirts along each side to connect to the end member together, and an upper spine also connected at each end to the end members. A pair of clamshell style doors are mounted to the spine along longitudinal hinge lines and are opened vertically. A plurality of access doors are positioned within the skirts, and a plurality of spray or shower pipes penetrate the hood through an end panel to deliver wash liquid to the internal wash drums positioned within the wash vat. Several sealing methods are incorporated to provide sealable access for the access doors, the clamshell doors, and access to the interior of the washing vat for the shower pipes. The clamshell doors abut a peripheral neoprene sealing gasket and are held against the gasket by their own weight.

Abstract: An indication device for a laundry washing machine, which has a treatment chamber (12) for laundry that can be pressurized in order to treat the laundry with a cleaning agent. The treatment chamber is provided with an opening (13), which in the treatment position is covered by a door (16) fixed to a surrounding housing (11) and is sealed from the housing by means of a sealing arrangement. The sealing arrangement comprises at least two gaskets (19, 20) surrounding the opening and forming an intermediate space (23) that via a channel (24) is arranged to communicate with atmosphere.

Abstract: A laundry washing machine has a cabinet 2 and a drum 1 suspended within the cabinet for rotation about a horizontal axis. The drum 1 includes a pair of drum ends with a pair of vanes 110, 111 extending between the drum ends 11, 12 rigidly connecting the drum ends together. The drum 1 has a substantially cylindrical perforated skin 22 having a main section 34 and a hatch section 35. The main section 34 and hatch section 35 connect along the edges to form the complete drum skin. In an opening operation the drum 1 is opened by disconnecting the edges of the main section 34 and hatch section 35 of the drum skin 22, retaining the hatch section 35 in a fixed position relative to the cabinet 2 and rotating the drum 1 such that the main section 34 of the drum skin 22 moves apart from the hatch section 35 to provide an opening into the drum. The opening is provided in conjunction with an opening into the cabinet, normally closed by a lockable lid 4.

Abstract: A bellows (44) for a front loading washing machine (10) having a front panel (13) providing a first channel (46) having opposed sidewalls (50), an opening (19) and a door (20) carried thereby, and further carrying a stationary drum (25), providing a second channel (48), having opposed sidewalls (52) and a rotatable drum (30), the bellows comprising an annular body portion (45) terminating in first and second fastening means (54, 56); the first fastening means (54) provided an axially extending rib (65) having opposed first and second surfaces (66, 68) and engagable with one of the sidewalls of the first channel; and the second fastening means (56) provided an axially extending rib (70) having opposed first and second surfaces (74, 75) and engagable with one of the sidewalls of the second channel and a radially extending lip (80) engagable with the door; whereby the stationary drum is sealed to the front panel of the washing machine.

Abstract: A liquified gas dry-cleaning machine having a cleaning vessel with a chamber for containing a wash bath and items to be cleaned and a removable door for sealing the cleaning chamber during a dry-cleaning operation. The dry-cleaning machine has a door opening and closing apparatus which includes a pivot frame for moving the door outwardly from the cleaning vessel in an arced path of movement, and a slide for lowering the door on the pivot frame in a linear path of movement to a position below the level of the cleaning vessel. Reverse movement of the pivot frame thereupon positions the door in a tucked stored position at the same axial location with respect to the cleaning vessel as when the door is closed so as not to impede access to the cleaning chamber nor increase the axial reach of an operator necessary for removing items from the chamber.

Abstract: A liquified gas dry-cleaning machine having a cleaning vessel with a chamber for containing a wash bath and items to be cleaned, a removable door for sealing the cleaning chamber during a dry-cleaning operation, and a locking ring for retaining the door in closed position. A door opening and closing apparatus is provided which includes a pivot frame for moving the door in an arced path of movement into and out of closed position with the cleaning vessel. The door and locking ring have respective locking lugs with a specifically designed geometry for enabling arced movement of the door into and out of the closed position and for centering the door in aligned relation to the cleaning chamber as an incident to such movement. The locking lugs further have mating locking surfaces designed for point contact in a manner that minimizes stress concentrations at n the roots of the locking ring lugs.

Abstract: An apparatus for opening and closing a door of a pressure cleaning vessel for a dry cleaning system which requires minimal clearance to operate is provided. The apparatus includes a frame slidably attached to the cleaning vessel and having a base member with a pair of attached upstanding side arms which carry the door of the cleaning vessel. The apparatus further includes a first horizontal actuator carried by the cleaning vessel and operatively connected to the frame for moving the frame in a substantially horizontal direction relative to the cleaning vessel such that the door of the cleaning vessel moves between a closed position and an intermediate position wherein the door is substantially in front of the cleaning vessel. A second vertical actuator carried by at least one of the side arms and operatively connected to the door moves the door in a substantially vertical direction relative to the cleaning vessel and the frame between the intermediate position and an open position.

Abstract: An improved hood enclosure for isolating wood pulp washing equipment from the ambient environment. The hood has a pair of end members, a pair of skirts along each side to connect to the end member together, and an upper spine also connected at each end to the end members. A pair of clamshell style doors are mounted to the spine along longitudinal hinge lines and are opened vertically. A plurality of access doors are positioned within the skirts, and a plurality of spray or shower pipes penetrate the hood through an end panel to deliver wash liquid to the internal wash drums positioned within the wash vat. Several sealing methods are incorporated to provide sealable access for the access doors, the clamshell doors, and access to the interior of the washing vat for the shower pipes. The clamshell doors abut a peripheral neoprene sealing gasket and are held against the gasket by their own weight.

Abstract: The door vent of the present invention includes an elongated tube mounted in a lower wall of the door of a horizontal axis washing machine, providing fluid communication between the interior chamber of the door and the interior of the tub, when the door is in a closed position. The tube projects upwardly within the door to form a standpipe, to prevent water from entering and becoming trapped within the door. A fine mesh screen is mounted in the vent to prevent suds from entering the door. A fan may be mounted to a compartment on the detergent receptacle on the washing machine housing, to draw air through the fluid dispensing system and out into the housing of the washing machine.

Abstract: A sealing device is provided to bridge a gap defined between open frontal portions of inner and outer tubs of a horizontal axis washing machine in order to prevent foreign objects from getting into the outer tub from the inner tub through the gap and potentially clogging a pumping system of the machine. In the preferred form of the invention, the sealing device includes a first seal portion fixedly secured to a lower, inner wall portion of a cover attached to the outer tub and a flexible, second seal portion which extends toward and preferably slidably contacts a balance ring provided about the open frontal portion of the inner tub. In accordance with one embodiment, the sealing device is constituted by a brush member, with the second seal portion being defined by bristles of the brush member. In another embodiment, the sealing device is constituted by a plastic film having one longitudinal side secured to the outer tub cover and another longitudinal side in sliding contact with the balance ring.

Abstract: A system and method for cleaning an article with cleaning fluid comprising a liquified gas, preferably carbon dioxide, maintained at a pressure elevated above atmospheric pressure in the wash chamber of a pressure vessel. A basket holding the article is rotated in the wash chamber by a drive shaft passing through a wall of the pressure vessel, and a seal mechanism for this passage prevents escape of the cleaning fluid. The seal mechanism includes a first seal component adjacent to the wash chamber and a second seal component outboard of the first seal component to provide a sealant chamber in which a pressurized sealant fluid is provided such that a pressure differential across the first seal component is substantially less than the pressure differential between the wash chamber and atmospheric pressure The sealant fluid may be a gaseous component or a liquid component of the cleaning fluid. Fluid and control systems are provided for automating washing, rinsing and sealing operations.

Abstract: An improved door boot is provided for a laundry appliance. The door boot has a varying angle lip seal. The angle of the lip seal varies between .+-.15.degree. from top to bottom relative to the planar orientation of the door boot. The varying angle of the lip seal ensures optimal sealing engagement with the door plug when the door is closed, particularly for an appliance having a tub tilted at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane.

Abstract: The invention is an appliance, such as an automatic washer, having a tub in which a wash basket is mounted. The tub comprises an upper and a lower tub member, which are connected by an interference connection. The interference connection is formed by one of the tub members being provided with a peripheral channel and the other tub member being provided with a flange adapted to be received within the channel. Multiple protrusions can extend from one or both of the flange or channel side walls to abut and deflect the flange to form the interference connection.

Abstract: A front loading laundry washing machine, whereby the group constituted by the tub, the basket and by the balancing masses of the machine is suspended within the cabinet in a position being substantially higher than that of normal front loading washing machines, so as that at least the aperture of the frontal wall of the cabinet can be found at a height substantially higher than that of normal front loading washing machines.

Abstract: A system for automatically opening basket doors of an automatic washer. The automatic washer includes an enclosure having an opening provided with a lid hingedly connected to the enclosure for selectively covering the enclosure opening. An imperforate tub disposed within the enclosure surrounds a rotatable perforate wash basket having an opening for accessing the interior of the basket. A first door flap having an engagement opening and a second door flap having a catch portion extending therefrom are provided being hingedly mounted on opposite rims of the basket opening and being biased toward their open position and further being adapted to partially overlap one another in a closed position such that the catch portion engages the engagement opening for locking the first door flap and the second door flap in a closed position. A tab extends from the second door flap generally opposite the main portion of the second door flap beyond the hinged connection with the basket.

Abstract: An improved door for a horizontal axis fabric treatment machine. The door is designed to removably cover an access opening in a perforated inner drum and includes a series of interwoven elongated fabric strips which are attached at each end to the drum by a series of buckles. The buckles include a frame portion attached to the drum and a tongue portion attached to an end of the elongated fabric strip. The fabric strips define living hinges adjacent each end thereof, allowing the door to open in a number of directions. The access opening is revealed by opening the buckles on three sides of the door, and pivoting the door about the living hinge provided on the fourth side. The buckles allow the door to be completely removed and replaced without tools. The door exploits membrane stiffness to retain, support, and transfer the weight or load from the door to the surrounding drum.

Abstract: A conventional tunnel-type continuous batch washer is modified for use as a commercial bleaching machine by (1) lowering the rotational oscillation angle and speed of the machine's inner drum structure relative to its normal washing settings; (2) altering the water counterflow positioning and characteristics; (3) maintaining the water in the various inner drum section modules at essentially identical, relatively high levels; and (4) modifying the bath temperature characteristics of the machine. When utilized as a commercial bleaching machine the modified tunnel washer has a bleach zone disposed at its inlet end and into which a hydrogen peroxide bleaching solution is injected, a finish zone disposed at its outlet end and into which a softening agent is injected, and a water-only rinse zone positioned between the bleach and finish zones. Each of these three zones is defined by one or more inner drum structure modules which may be tandem or single batch modules.

Abstract: This invention provides a combined washing machine in which pulsator type and drum type washing machine features are united such that they can be selectively utilized depending upon a desired washing condition, thereby executing optimal washing operation. The combined washing machine comprises a washing drum having both of a plurality of lifters, as in a drum type machine, and a pulsator, as in a pulsator type machine, and being rotatable through 90.degree. between vertical and horizontal positions by means of a driving device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing machine which comprises a bubble generator operable to supply a predetermined amount of air bubbles into the washer tub in a batchwise manner at such a time interval as to allow said amount of air bubbles supplied in a preceding batch to be substantially collapsed before a next supply of said air bubbles commences.

Abstract: A drum-type washing machine includes a horizontal shaft type drum which is rotatably supported by a supporting shaft within a frame and rotated by a motor, and a reduction mechanism transmits a rotation of a rotation shaft of the motor to a rotation shaft of the drum. The reduction mechanism includes a small pulley with gear secured to the rotation shaft of the motor, an intermediate large pulley, a V belt wound on the small pulley with gear and the intermediate large pulley, an intermediate small pulley secured to the intermediate large pulley to be rotated together with the intermediate large pulley, a large pulley secured to the rotation shaft of the drum, and a V belt wound on the intermediate small pulley and the large pulley. In the vicinity of the small pulley with gear, a claw which is normally biased toward a direction that the same is kept away from the gear is arranged. A solenoid or a torque motor engages the claw with a root of the gear against the spring when the drum is to be locked.

Abstract: In the machine of this invention, a rotation-support member is provided in an outer tub for containing water so that the rotation-support member can rotate about a vertical axis. The rotation-support member supports a perforated inner tub rotatable about a horizontal axis. When the laundry is washed or rinsed, the laundry is loaded in the inner tub, water is supplied to the outer tub until the water reaches inside the inner tub, and the inner tub is rotated about the horizontal axis. When the washed or rinsed laundry is dehydrated, water is drained from the outer tub, the rotation-support member and the inner tub are rotated together about the vertical axis in the same direction at the same high speed. Consequently, the machine is simply constructed and inexpensively manufacture.

Abstract: A washing machine has a rotatable drum for holding items being washed and water for washing the items. The number of items in the drum and the amount of water in the drum may vary. Power is supplied from an inverter to a motor which rotates the rotatable drum. A speed control responsive to the inverter current regulates the drum rotating speed within a selected range.

Abstract: A preferred drum-type washing machine includes a housing having an interior and a housing lid which is placed in an open position for access to the interior. A detergent container is disposed within the interior of the housing and includes a detergent container lid which is aligned with the housing lid. The detergent container lid is for access to an interior of the detergent container when in an open position when the housing lid is in the open position. A wash drum is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis within the interior of the detergent container. The wash drum includes a drum lid which is for alignment with the detergent container lid and, when in the open position, allows access to the interior of the drum. The drum lid is in a closed position for rotation of the wash drum. There is included a positioning device for positioning the drum in a loading position at which the drum lid is aligned with the detergent container lid.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention allows for efficient and safe decolorizing or dyeing of cloth articles using bleach or dye-impregnated stones or granules. The apparatus includes a cylindrical drum with longitudinal baffles along its inner surface. Liner sheets are attached to adjacent baffles, thereby lining the entire drum. The sheets flex inwardly due to gravity as the drum is rotated, thereby dislodging any residual materials layered thereon. The apparatus also provides for separation of treated articles from stones and re-impregnation of the stones with a bleaching agent or a dyestuff solution or dispersion.

Abstract: The seal has particular use as a seal in vats having a rotatable drum. The seal prevents material from getting between the ends of the drum and adjacent vat inside surface.

Abstract: A drum-type machine for the treatment of batchwise textile material, especially a washing machine, with at least one drive drum rotatably supported in an approximately horizontal position having a central opening in one end wall for loading purposes and a central opening in the other wall for unloading purposes, as well as a conveying paddle in the interior for moving the batch of material about within the drum during rotation of the drum in a first direction and for the axial transporting of the batch of material through the unloading aperture in the other direction of rotation of the drum is provided with a sensor having a feeler oriented into the loading and/or unloading aperture, wherein the feeler is effected by the batch of material moving through the loading and/or unloading opening and acts to generate a signal if a part of the batch of material remains in the zone of the aperture after unloading.

Abstract: A clothes-washing machine comparable to those of the automatic type, which incorporates a device for the formation and circulation of an induced airflow in order to effectuate the drying of clothes which are present in the drum of the machine. The device comprises a single resistor for carrying out the functions of heating the washing water and heating the air for drying, so as to result in a simplification in the structure and composition of the machine. Similarly, a motor which actuates a turbine for producing the induced flow of drying air is the same motor which, at the appropriate operating stage drives the water-circulating pump, also in this manner, to simplify the structure of the machine.