GB2064596A

GB2064596A - Clothes washing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2064596A
Application number: GB8037278A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Zanussi Grandi Impianti SpA
Current assignee: Electrolux Zanussi Grandi Impianti SpA
Priority date: 1979-11-22
Filing date: 1980-11-20
Publication date: 1981-06-17
Also published as: DE3043657A1; GB2064596B; ES8202382A1; IT1166234B; FR2470180B1; IT7945730A0; FR2470180A1; ES496869A0; DE3043657C2

Abstract

A tunnel-type industrial clothes washing machine is formed by interconnecting individual modular elements 4, 5 and 6 which are identical to each other. Each modular element is formed by three separate internal chambers 18, 19, 35 which communicate with each other by way of holes 27, 28 formed in the respective dividing walls, of which the first two consecutive chambers 18, 19 perform separate phases of the wash cycle and the third chamber 35 is connected to the conduit for introducing the washing liquids. The chambers 18, 19 communicate with each other by way of 'spoon-type' laundry conveyor means 21, 22. In addition, each element is provided laterally with respective apertures 11, 12 for the introduction and discharge of the laundry, with respective frustoconical circular walls 29, 30 being removably fixed to the apertures, for sealingly connecting each element to two adjacent elements. Each modular element is sealingly connected to a discharge conduit by way of an annular collecting channel 40 which is provided around the chamber 18, to provide for discharge only in given phases of the cycle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Clothes washing machine The invention relates to a tunnel-type industrial clothes washing machine formed by individual modular elements which are removably connected together, for carrying out the respective phases of the laundry washing cycle.

Tunnel-type industrial clothes washing machines are known, which comprise a circular drum substantially of elongate shape, which is provided with an aperture for introducing the laundry and an aperture for removing laundry, and which is disposed within an external circular container which is larger in diameter than the drum and which is provided with suitable conduits for the intake and discharge of the various washing liquids, and with pumps and valves for the introduction, circulation and discharge of such washing liquids.

The drum is subdivided by means of intermediate diaphragms into a plurality of separate chambers which are mechanically connected together and which are suitable for performing the various phases of the laundry washing cycle, each of the chambers communicating with the following chamber by way of a mechanism for conveying the laundry (for example, a spoon-type conveyor, a screw-type conveyor, etc).

In turn, the external container is provided with vertical walls for subdividing it into the various laundry treatment regions (pre-wash, washing, etc) into which the respective washing liquids are successively introduced. The liquids thus pass into the various chambers of the internal drum by way of apertures formed in the respective diaphragms.

The laundry washing cycle is effected by rotating the circular drum, in the two directions of rotation thereof at given intervals, by per se known transmission means, thus causing the laundry progress progressively to advance through the various chambers of the drum and the various treatment regions of the external container.

Each chamber of such machines is bolted to the adjoining chamber and connected to the respective conduits for the intake and discharge of the washing liquid.

Machines of the above-described construction permit a given washing cycle to be performed and also, by means of suitable conversion operations, permit various washing cycles to be carried out.

For that purpose, when, in order to cause the machine to carry out a different washing cycle, it is necessary to add both an intermediate chamber and a respective section of external container, it is necessary firstly to disconnect all the chambers adjoining the chamber in question, with the respective conduits, and then to re-connect such chambers to the new chamber, and also to reconnect the section of external container to the remaining container which is already provided.

The above-described operations are also necessary when the machine has to be inspected for normal maintenance operations, for repairing any damage which may have occurred, or for replacing defective mechanical parts.

This means that the machines of this type, while producing satisfactory washing actions, are complicated in construction and any action thereon is accordingly difficult, so that, in the ultimate analysis, they do not afford satisfactory flexibility of use.

According to the present invention, there is provided a tunnel-type industrial clothes washing machine comprising a plurality of modular elements for treating the laundry, each being provided with an aperture for introducing the laundry and an aperture for discharge of the laundry and being separately rotatable, said elements being connectible together from time to time in accordance with a combination for performing a washing cycle of given characteristics, and also comprising conduits for introducing and discharging the various washing liquids required for the respective treatments, which are connectible to said modular elements by way of valves and pumps, wherein each modular element is connectible to two adjacent modular elements by way of respective releasable connecting means and is subdivided internally by means of first and second dividing walls, into three independent and intercommunicating chambers which respectively form first and second treatment chambers which are provided with respective means for conveying the laundry and a third chamber for intake of the washing liquid, the first chamber being connected to said discharge conduit by way of at least one collecting channel and the third chamber being connected to said intake conduit by way of at least one pipe.

In the illustrated embodiment decribed below with reference to the drawings, the abovementioned disadvantages are overcome by the industrial clothes washing machine being formed by a plurality of modular elements which can be interconnected in a simple manner, for the purpose of producing various combinations thereof and thus to perform different laundry washing cycles in dependence on the characteristics of the laundry.

Each of the modular elements may contain washing liquid and is formed by a drum which is rotatable in per se known manner, also acting as a container for the laundry.

In this way, in comparison with the prior art machines, the illustrated machine makes it possible to eliminate both the external container and any seals which may be provided between the container itself and the drum, whereby this machine is produced in a simpler manner and with a smaller consumption of material, in comparison with the prior machines.

The features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly apparent from the following description which is given by way of non-limiting and simplified example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view in partial longitudinal section of a clothes washing machine according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a detail of an element of the machine of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows another detail of an element of the machine of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, the industrial clothes washing machine according to the invention there shown comprises a series of identical modular elements, for example three modular elements 4, 5 and 6, which are connected together so as to form a machine of the 'tunnel' type.

The modular elements may also be connected to further identical elements, in various combinations, depending on the characteristics of the laundry to be washed, (type, quantity, etc) and according to the type of washing cycle required. In this way, each clothes washing machine is accordingly formed by modular elements which are adapted to provide the various laundry treatment regions (pre-wash, washing, rinsing, etc).

Each modular element is connected, as will be described hereinafter, to a conduit for the intake of the respective washing liquid and a conduit for discharge of such liquid; likewise, also connected to the conduits are any further modular elements which may be provided, for forming a given treatment region, in conjunction with that element.

Reference will now be made to a modular element of the machine in question, for example the element 5.

The element substantially comprises a metal casing 7 having a cylindrical casing wall 8 and two side walls 9 and 10 which are provided with apertures 1 1 and 12 which respectively permit the laundry to be introduced into and discharged from the modular element.

Two metal rings 13 and 14 are fixed on the outside surface of the cylindrical casing wall 8.

Respective drive rollers 15 and 16 which are disposed in positions below the modular element 5 and which are actuated in rotation by at least one per se known motor (not shown) are pressed against the surface of the metal rings 13 and 14.

In this way, the rollers 15 and 16 also rotate the modular element 5 by virtue of their frictional engagement with the respective metal rings 13 and 14.

It will be appreciated that the modular element may also be actuated in a different manner, for example by means of a toothed wheel mounted on a drive shaft, which is engaged with a circular toothed ring fixed on the outside surface of the cylindrical casing wall 8.

The modular element of the above-described construction is internally provided with a vertical dividing wall 17 which is arranged to subdivide the respective internal space in the modular element into two equal chambers 18 and 19 which communicate with each other by way of an aperture 20 provided in the central region of the dividing wall 17.

The above-described chambers are also provided with suitable means for conveying the laundry, comprising for example a respective spoon-type conveyor means 21 and 22 of per se known type.

The spoon-type conveyor means are respectively connected between the vertical walls 9, 1 7 and 1 7, 10 defining the respective chambers 18 and 19.

The vertical walls 17 and 10 are also each provided with a series of through holes (27 and 28 respectively) provided in a circular arrangement all around the respective aperture (20 and 12 respectively) for permitting the washing liquid to be introduced into each chamber of the modular element 5.

In practice, the holes 27 and 28 are provided along different circumferences In such a way that the maximum radius of the circumferences of the holes 27 is smaller than that of the circumferences of the holes 28, for the purpose of producing an intake of washing liquid up to a given level in the chamber 19 and at different levels in the chamber 18, and thus separately to perform separate laundry treatment phases in those chambers.

A respective circular wall 29 and 30 of frustoconical shape is releasably fixed in position, by nuts and bolts or similar means, at the external surface of each side wall 9 and 10 of the modular element 5. The walls 29 and 30 have a connecting diameter which is greater than or at least equal to that of the respective apertures 11 and 12.

In particular, the circular walls 29 and 30 of each modular element are so dimensioned as to permit the wall 30 of one modular element to be inserted within the wall 29 of the adjoining element, for the purposes of providing a releasable connection between all the modular elements of the present clothes washing machine.

Reference is now made to Figure 2 which shows the detail of the connection between the circular walls 29 and 30 of two adjoining modular elements. For this purpose, the free end of the wall 29 is bent outwardly so as to form a flat edge portion 31 to which a flexible sealing element 32 which is made of a suitable friction resistant material is fixed in a circumferential direction.

The free end of the flexible element 32 is bent so as to form a surface 33 arranged to bear against the outside surface of the wall 30 and to permit relative sliding movement as between the flexible element 32 and the wall 30, thus to form a sliding contact for sealing in respect of liquid and vapour.

It will be appreciated that the flexible element may also be connected to the outside surface of the circular wall 30, so that it slides against the edge portion 31.

The foregoing description clearly shows how this machine is of a simpler construction than the previously described machines, by virtue of the possibility of quickly effecting mutual assembly and disassembly of the individual modular elements which form the machine.

This machine may also be adapted in a simpler manner to different washing cycles, by the addition or removal of the modular elements required.

Finally, the above-described machine makes it possible easily to have access to a given modular element, without touching the other elements of the machine, whenever inspection of such an element is required, for example for maintenance or for repairing damage.

Referring again to Figure 1, it will be seen that the cylindrical casing wall 8 is extended beyond the side wall 10 and is joined in per se known manner to a further side wall 34 which is disposed parallel to and at a spacing from the side wall 10, thereby to define a cylindrical chamber 35.

The side wall 34 is provided with a central frontal aperture 36 which is larger in diameter than the circular walls 29 and 30, to permit the walls 29 and 30 to pass within the aperture 36.

In addition, the bent end of a pipe 37 is introduced into the aperture 36. The other end of the pipe 37 is connected to the conduit 38 for the intake of washing liquid, of the modular element 5. The bent end of the pipe 37 is spaced from the edge of the aperture 36 so as to permit rotary movement of the modular element 5, being disposed at a height which is greater than or at least equal to the maximum level to which the washing liquid is introduced into the element.

At the position of the chamber 18, the cylindrical casing wall 8 of the modular element 5 is provided with a series of through holes 39 which are distributed only over an arcuate portion of the circumference of the cylindrical casing wall.

In this way, as long as the modular element is rotated into positions in which the holes 39 are positioned towards the top, the chamber 18 may contain the washing liquid required, while when the modular element is moved into positions in which the holes 39 are positioned downwardly, the washing liquid in the chamber 18 is discharged. Provided on the cylindrical casing wall 8, in line with the through holes 39, is a channel 40 for collecting the washing liquid which is discharged. The channel 40 embraces the entire external circumferential surface of the casing wall 8 and is connected, at a position below the modular element 5, to the conduit 41 for discharge of the washing liquid from the chamber 18.

Above the modular element 5, the collecting channel 40 is provided with a pipe 42 for upwardly venting the vapours which are emitted from the chamber 18.

Figure 3 shows the design detail of the connection between the collecting channel 40 and the discharge conduit 41.

The collecting channel 40 comprises two circumferential rings 43 and 44 which are fixed to the cylindrical casing wall 8 at the sides of the through holes 39, for the purposes of guiding the liquid which is discharged from the chamber 18, and a collection chamber 45 of annular shape, which is provided with a hole 46 in its lower part, for connection of the discharge conduit 41.

The annular chamber 45 is of larger section than the discharge conduit 41 and in conjunction therewith serves to direct the discharge from the modular element.

A flexible sealing element 48 which is made of a suitable friction-resistant material is fixed at one of its ends along the entire peripheral surface of the chamber 45.

The free end of the flexible element 48 is then bent and pressed against the cylindrical casing wall 8 so as to permit relative movement between the two components and thus to provide a sliding contact which seals in respect of liquid and vapour.

The channel 40 is thus of a simple construction and also permits easy assembly and disassembly of the modular element 5.

Referring now also to the modular element 5 of the machine, the modular element 5 is supplied with cold water or with hot water or with water which has been previously mixed to give the desired temperature, the water being passed into the cylindrical chamber 35 by way of the intake conduit 38 and the pipe 37, such supply being provided by means of pumps and valves which are controlled by a prgrammer (these components are not shown). The prescribed amount of the type of detergent required by the respective laundry treatment region is also introduced into the chamber 35 in per se known manner.

In this way, the water mixed with detergent gradually passes into the chamber 19 by way of the through holes 28 in the side wall 10 and the level that the water may reach in that chamber is controlled by a pressurestat (not shown) or by other suitable level control means, which is connected to the chamber 35.

The pressurestat permits the washing liquid to be introduced firstly into the chamber 19 and then possibly also into the chamber 18, in accordance with the methods described hereinafter.

In fact, the liquid is initially introduced into the chamber 19, to a level such as not to reach the through holes 27 of the dividing wall 17 and not to pass into the chamber 18, therefore permitting a given phase of the washing cycle of the machine to be performed in the chamber 19.

Subsequently, that liquid is passed in the chamber 19 to another level which is different from the previous level, possibly by introducing further liquid through the pipe 37, to perform another phase of the washing cycle in the chamber 18.

Partial rotation of the modular element 5 in a given direction, which is effected in the manner described hereinbefore, permits the respective treatment phases of the cycle to be performed, while partial rotation of the element 5 in the other direction produces forward feed movement of the laundry by means of the respective spoon-type conveyor means 21 and 22, from the chamber 18 to the chamber 19 and from the chamber 19 into the following chamber 18 of the adjoining modular element 6.

In this way, only the modular element containing the laundry to be washed is driven in rotation, for the period of time required to complete the respective phases of the cycle.

Consequently, the movement of the laundry from one modular element to the other is facilitated, by virtue of the mutual interconnection of such elements, which is produced in the abovedescribed manner.

Claims

1. A tunnel-type industrial clothes washing machine comprising a plurality of modular elements for treating the laundry, each being provided with an aperture for introducing the laundry and an aperture for discharge of the laundry and being separately rotatable, said elements being connectible together from time to time in accordance with a combination for performing a washing cycle of given characteristics, and also comprising conduits for introducing and discharging the various washing liquids required for the respective treatments, which are connectible to said modular elements by way of valves and pumps, wherein each modular element is connectible to two adjacent modular elements by way of respective releasable connecting means and is subdivided internally by means of first and second dividing walls, into three independent and intercommunicating chambers which respectively form first and second treatment chambers which are provided with respective means for conveying the laundry and a third chamber for intake of the washing liquid, the first chamber being connected to said discharge conduit by way of at least one collecting channel and the third chamber being connected to said intake conduit by way of at least one pipe.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the connecting means comprise a first circular wall of frustoconical shape, which is releasably connected at the discharge opening of said second dividing wall of the preceding modular element, and a second circular wall which can be adapted to the previous wall and which is releasably connected at the intake aperture in the side wall of the following modular element.

3. A machine according to claim 2 wherein the second circular wall is provided with a flange edge portion in which the end of a flexible sealing element is fixed, the flexible sealing element being made of a suitable anti-friction material and the other end of the flexible element co-operating with the outside surface of the first circular wall thereby to provide a sliding sealing contact between said first and second circular walls.

4. A machine according to claim 1,2 or 3 wherein the first dividing wall is provided with a central aperture for the laundry to pass therethrough and a plurality of through holes disposed along different circumferences around said central aperture.

5. A machine according to claim 4 wherein the second dividing wall is provided with a plurality of through holes which are disposed around the associated laundry outlet aperture, along different circumferences, the maximum radius of which is greater than that of the circumferences formed by the through holes of said first dividing wall.

6. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wheerin the collecting channel comprises at least two circumferential guide rings which are fixed externally to the cylindrical wall of the modular element at the position of the firstchamber, thereby to delimit a series of through holes provided in the cylindrical wall only over an arcuate portion of the circumference thereof, and an annular collection chamber connectible to said discharge conduit, and a flexible sealing element made of suitable anti-friction material, which is connected around the entire peripheral section of said chamber, thereby to provide a sliding sealing contact with the outside surface of said cylindrical wall, the collecting channel also being connected in its upper portion to a pipe for venting the vapours produced in the chambers of the modular element.

7. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the pipe is introduced into said third chamber through the associated frontal aperture thereof, in such a position as to be spaced from the edge of the aperture, the pipe being provided with an upper end which is disposed at a height which is at least equal to that of the maximum level of filling of the washing liquid in the modular element.

8. A tunnel-type clothes washing machine constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.