Abstract: A method for washing laundry and a wash path for laundry in bath change and/or counterflow operation, in which the laundry to be washed when passing through said wash path moves through different treatment zones with chambers 1 to 16, wherein the individual baths are composed of fresh water and waste water of other baths, wherein the waste water of at least one bath without intermediate storage and directly is at least partly supplied to another bath, and wherein no waste water is intermediately stored in the water circulation during washing.

Abstract: A washing machine has a generally cylindrical drum extending along and centered on a horizontal drum axis and a helicoidal auger-like wall centered on an auger axis offset radially from and extending substantially parallel to the drum axis. At least one longitudinally extending rib on an inner surface of the drum is relatively closely spaced to a plane including the drum and auger axes and the rest of the drum inner surface is substantially free of such ribs. This construction allows the machine to operate with substantially higher capacity. During washing oscillation the ribs are lowermost and a much larger load can be accommodated since the drum axis lies between tbe auger axis and the ribs. Normally two such ribs are provided on the drum inner surface closely flanking the plane.

Abstract: In a batch washing machine which is divided by a screw conveyor into a plurality of wash chambers (I. . .IV) a bath level reduction can be provided in the final wash chamber by perforating the screw conveyor (and/or the wash trommel) in a region overlapping the reversing angle of 300.degree. for the wash motion of the wash trommel. One rotates the wash trommel as the need requires in the vicinity of the perforations. Water can escape in the desired amount in the final chamber in the sector with the perforations according to the extent of the rotation.

Abstract: When both colored and white wash are to be laundered together, one has the problem that pigment particles are transported from the colored pieces to the white pieces and the white pieces are discolored. This problem will be eliminated in a novel counterflow cycling washing machine by providing additional components besides the control components for the counterflow which produce a reversal of the usual counterflow to concurrent flow when a colored piece of wash is in the machine or the washing zone. For concurrent flow operation switchover of the valves permits the head of the washing liquid in the upstream compartment of the washing zone to cause the flow through this zone to the downstream compartment where the concurrent flow liquid is discharged.

Abstract: The press container of a wash press sits on a porous press plate. Because of the high press pressure of the press piston head the fabrics of the wash are partially forced into the holes of the press plate. In order to remove the pressed wash safely from the press plate, the pressed wash is raised somewhat from the press plate when the press container and press piston are simultaneously raised, first into a middle position in which the press piston head remains, while the press container is raised further. The wash loosened in this way can be safely slid laterally from the press plate.

Abstract: When both colored and white wash are to be laundered together, one has the problem that pigment particles are transported from the colored pieces to the white pieces and the white pieces are discolored. This problem will be eliminated in a novel counterflow cycling washing machine by providing additional components besides the control components for the counterflow which produce a reversal of the usual counterflow to concurrent flow when a colored piece of wash is in the machine or the washing zone. For the case of concurrent flow operation the counterflow pump is shut off and the counterflow discharge outlet valve and the counterflow input tube valve are closed, while the valve in the concurrent flow discharge outlet positioned near the counterflow input tube and the valve in the concurrent flow input tube positioned near the counterflow discharge outlet are opened.

Abstract: When both colored and white wash are to be laundered together, one has the problem that pigment particles are transported from the colored pieces to the white pieces and the white pieces are discolored. This problem will be eliminated in a novel counterflow cycling washing machine by providing additional components besides the control components for the counterflow which produce a reversal of the usual counterflow to concurrent flow when a colored piece of wash is in the machine or the washing zone. For the case of concurrent flow operation the counterflow pump is shut off and the counterflow discharge outlet valve and the counterflow input tube valve are closed, while the valve in the concurrent flow discharge outlet positioned near the counterflow input tube and the valve in the concurrent flow input tube positioned near the counterflow discharge outlet are opened.

Abstract: A tunnel-type batch washing machine has an outer tunnel-forming housing tube centered on a horizontal axis and provided internally with a helical wash screw rotatable in the tube about the axis and having a plurality of flights defining axially spaced compartments. A generally cylindrical sleeve is fixed to this screw and is coaxially received within the tube between the screw and the tube. A treatment liquid is flowed axially in one direction through the housing and respective batches of articles to be washed are held in the compartments between the flights. For washing the screw is oscillated back and forth about the axis through substantially more than 360.degree. to agitate the articles in the liquid. Periodically the screw is rotated about the axis through substantially more than 720.degree. in a rotation direction to advance the batches axially opposite the direction of liquid flow.

Abstract: A tunnel-type batch washing machine has an outer tunnel-forming housing tube centered on a horizontal axis and provided internally with a helical wash screw rotatable in the tube about the axis and having a plurality of flights defining axially spaced compartments. A generally cylindrical sleeve is fixed to this screw and is coaxially received within the tube between the screw and the tube. A treatment liquid is flowed axially in one direction through the housing and respective batches of articles to be washed are held in the compartments between the flights. For washing the screw is oscillated back and forth about the axis through substantially more than 360.degree. to agitate the articles in the liquid. Periodically the screw is rotated about the axis through substantially more than 720.degree. in a rotation direction to advance the batches axially opposite the direction of liquid flow.