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: 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: 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.