GB2067602A - Tunnel-type clothes washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A tunnel-type industrial clothes washing machine comprises a drum (4) which can be driven in rotation and which is provided with respective openings (8, 9) for introducing and removing the laundry and which is subdivided by internal dividing walls into various zones for treatment of the laundry. For the purpose of introducing the washing liquids into at least one treatment zone, a collecting means (27) is disposed laterally of the drum (4), at a position corresponding to at least one opening (for example opening 9), the collecting means being supplied by way of a pipe (28). A further pipe (30) connects said collecting means to the treatment zone in question. The washing liquids contained in the collecting means (27) are introduced into the drum (4) in given phases of the cycle, for example when the drum rotates in the direction of rotation which causes the laundry to be transferred from one treatment zone to the other. Connecting means (24), (25) are provided at the ends of the drum to enable it to be associated with a further drum, if required. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to tunnel-type clothes washing machines The invention relates to apparatus for introducing washing liquids for tunnel-type industrial clothes washing machines, which is capable in a simple manner of providing for the introduction of such liquids into a given zone of said machines only in some phases of the washing cycle.

Tunnel-type industrial clothes washing machines essentially comprise various modular elements which are connected together, each of which comprises a drum which can be driven in rotation by per se known means, and which is subdivided by internal walls into the various laundry treatment zones.

The drum may contain both the various washing liquids which are introduced separately into the laundry treatment zones, and the actual laundry to be washed, while the drum is also provided with suitable conveyor means for moving the laundry through all the treatment zones in which the laundry is to be processed in order to perform a complete washing cycle.

The machines of the above described construction further comprise conduits for introducing and discharging the washing liquids into and from each treatment zone as described above.

Every machine of this type can thus perform from time to time a given washing cycle depending on the characteristics of the laundry, under the control of per se known means.

In order to provide for the introduction of the respective washing liquids into such machines, both in the phases of the washing cycle in which the machines are stationary and in phases of the cycle in which the machines are driven in rotation, the respective supply arrangements must be capable of introducing such liquids from time to time into the respective treatment zones in question.

A clothes washing machine is known, in which the washing liquids are introduced by way of fixed conduits which are external to the machine and which are associated with the respective treatment zones.

Such conduits are introduced into an elongate pipe which is disposed within the machine, at a position corresponding to the relative central zone, and over the whole length thereof. The pipe is spaced from said conduits so that it can rotate freely around the conduits when the machine is driven in rotation.

At a position corresponding to each treatment zone of the machine, the pipe is also provided with a plurality of through-holes, by way of which the washing liquid which has been introduced into the pipe by means of the above-mentioned conduits, is introduced from time to time into the treatment zone in question.

In order to prevent losses of liquid to the outside, at the connecting zone between the fixed conduits and the pipe, the pipe and the conduits are connected together in a sealed manner by means of at least one seal.

For example, the seal may be applied around the fixed conduits in such a way that when the machine is driven in rotation, the seal rubs against the internal circumferential surface of the pipe.

Although the above-described machine makes it possible to wash the laundry in a satisfactory manner, it nonetheless suffers from the disadvantage that the seals in the connecting region as described above suffer from rapid wear because they operate under frictional conditions, and consequently have to be frequently replaced.

A clothes washing machine is also known, in which the washing liquids are introduced by way of a series of fixed conduits which are disposed around the machine and which are associated with the respective laundry treatment zones. Each conduit extends around the cylindrical casing of the machine and communicates with the interior thereof by way of through holes in the cylindrical casing in such a way that the connecting region between the conduit and the through holes is sealed to the exterior by at least one seal which is connected to said conduit and which rubs against the outside surface of the cylindrical casing.

In this way, the above-described connection makes it possible for the washing liquid from each conduit to be introduced directly into the respective treatment zone, without losses of said liquid to the exterior occurring.

This type of machine also suffers from the same disadvantages as the foregoing machine, that is to say, rapid wear in respect of the seals which are used to form the connecting region.

According to the present invention, there is provided a tunnel-type industrial clothes washing machine comprising at least one drum which is capable of containing the laundry and which is subdivided by means of internal dividing walls into respective laundry treatment zones, said drum being provided with an opening for introducing the laundry and an opening for unloading the laundry and being drivable in rotation by per se known means, and also comprising at least one conduit for introducing the various liquids required for the respective treatments and at least one conduit for discharging said liquids, said conduit for introducing said conduit being connected to at least one pipe which freely communicates with collecting means which are disposed in association with at least one opening in said drum, and the collecting means being connected to the first end of at least one further pipe which is preferably disposed within said drum, the second end of said pipe terminating at the treatment zone into which the respective washing liquids are to be introduced, which washing liquids are, in use, introduced by gravity into said treatment zone only when said drum is driven in rotation, in such a way that the first end of said further pipe is disposed at a horizontal level which is higher than the second end of said pipe.

As will be apparent from the following description, may thus provide the invention an apparatus of simple type, which is suitable for introducing the necessary washing liquids into the interior of an industrial clothes washing machine, in such a way as to permit the washing liquids to be introduced directly into the required laundry treatment zones only in given phases of the cycle, and so as to eliminate the seals which were used hitherto.

The features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly apparent from the following description given solely by way of non-limiting example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a front view in longitudinal section of a clothes washing machine according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the machine of Figure 1, in a first operative position; and Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the machine of Figure 1, in a second operative position.

Referring to Figure 1, the tunnel-type industrial clothes washing machine according to the invention essentially comprises at least one elongate drum 4 which is hollow in the interior and which is formed by a cylindrical casing 5 and two side walls 6 and 7. The walls 6 and 7 are provided with openings 8 and 9 for respectively permitting the laundry to be introduced into and unloaded from the drum.

Fixed on the outside surface of the cylindrical casing 5 are metal rings 10 against the surface of which are pressed respective drive rollers 11 which are disposed in positions below the drum 4 and which are driven in rotation by at least one per se known motor (not shown).

In this manner, the rollers 11 also drive the drum in rotation, by virtue of their frictional engagement with the respective metal rings 10.

The interior of the drum 4 is divided by means of vertical dividing walls 12, 13, 14, 1 5 and 1 6 into a series of equal chambers 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 which are in communication with each other by way of respective openings 23 provided in the central region of each dividing wall.

The above-described chambers are also provided with suitable means for conveying the laundry, comprising for example respective spoon or bucket type conveyors of per se known type, which are suitable for providing a transfer movement of the laundry, which is loaded into the first chamber 1 7 by way of the opening 8, from each chamber to the next following chamber (in the direction indicated by arrow A), until it reaches the opening 9.

Each conveyor is connected between two successive vertical walls and is of such a configuration as not to cause transfer movement of the laundry between two successive chambers, while the drum 4 is actuated in both directions of rotation in the washing phases of the machine, through a given maximum angle of rotary movement, for example about 290 , with respect to the rest position of the drum.

For transferring the laundry from one chamber to the other, the drum 4 is driven in rotation only in one given direction, in the phases in which the machine is inactive, and over an angle of rotary movement which is greater than the abovementioned angle, for example comprising a further 2700 in the direction indicated by arrow B.

The present clothes washing machine is also provided with the usual conduits for introducing and discharging the liquids required for performing a complete washing cycle. Those conduits are connected to the drum 4 in per se known manner, by way of hydraulic valves and pumps (not shown) which may be provided. Such conduits permit the washing liquids to be respectively introduced into and discharged from the various chambers of the drum 4, in dependence on the preselected washing cycle and, ultimately, in dependence on the characteristics of the laundry to be washed.

If a washing cycle is required, which is different from that initially envisaged, involving for example a larger number of chambers of the machine, it is necessary to provide clothes washing machines of convertible type.

In this case, for example, the drum 4 is provided at its ends with suitable connecting means 24 and 25 which are each adapted to permit the drum to be associated with a further drum (not shown) provided with the required number of chambers.

In the present clothes washing machine, comprising a single drum 4 having a plurality of chambers (17 to 22), the laundry is subjected to the necessary treatments (pre-wash, wash, etc) provided by the respective washing cycle.

It is therefore necessary for the various chambers of the drum 4 to be suitably combined together in per se known manner so that the respective washing liquid can be introduced into and discharged from each group of chambers which forms a given laundry treatment zone.

In the example considered herein, the chambers of the drum 4 are combined together in such a way that the pre-wash zone comprises the chambers 17 and 18, the wash zone comprises chambers 19 and 20, and the rinsing zone comprises chambers 21 and 22.

Disposed at a position in association with the unloading opening 9 of the drum is a circular ring 26 of frustoconical shape, having the larger base of the cone configuration fixed against the outside surface of the end wall 7 so as to be disposed at a spacing around the unloading opening 9.

In this way, the circular surface defined by the ring 26 defines a collecting means 27, the function of which will be more clearly apparent hereinafter.

The end of a pipe 28 is freely introduced into the space between the collecting means 27 and the connecting means 25, in such a way as to permit the drum 4 to rotate, the pipe being connected at the other end to one of the abovementioned liquid-introduction conduits.

The pipe 28 can thus introduce a washing liquid into the collector 27, in given phases of the cycle, in accordance with a sequence which is established by per se known control means.

In the case in question, the washing liquid used is a liquid bleaching agent which is to be introduced into the washing zone of the machine as soon as the various laundry washing phases are concluded, in order to provide for bleaching.

For this purpose, the collecting means 27 is connected to the end 29 of a further pipe 30 which is preferably fixed within the drum 4 in association with a portion of the end wall 7 and a portion of the cylindrical casing 5, the other end 31 of the pipe 30 terminating within a chamber of the washing zone, for example the chamber 19.

In order better to appreciate the operating modes of the above-described machine, reference will now be made to Figure 2 which shows the drum 4 which, during the various phases of the washing operation, can be driven in rotation alternately in the directions indicated by arrows B and C.

It will also be seen from Figure 2 that the portion of the pipe 30 which is fixed to the cylindrical casing 5 follows a helicoidal path in a clockwise direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the drum 4, and that the two ends 29 and 31 of the pipe terminate at different horizontal levels.

Under these operative conditions, the drum 4 is driven in rotation through a maximum angle of about 2900 with respect to the rest position of the drum (as indicated by R).

It should also be considered that the liquid bleaching agent has already been previously introduced into the collecting means 27, in the above-specified manner.

During the rotary movement of the drum 4 in both of its directions of rotation and over a circumferential arc which is between points D and E, the bleaching agent contained in the collecting means 27 flows through a portion of the pipe 30, by way of the end 29 thereof, but without reaching the other end 31 of the pipe and thus the chamber 19.

In fact, between the above-mentioned positions D and E in respect of rotary movement of the drum 4, the end 31 of the pipe 30 is always at a horizontal level which is higher than the level of the end 29 thereof and thus, when the drum 4 is driven in the opposite direction, the bleaching agent returns to the collecting means 27.

Furthermore, as already stated above, laundry is not transferred from one chamber to the next following chamber, in these operating phases of the machine.

Reference will now be made to Figure 3 which shows the drum 4 driven in rotation only in the direction indicated by the arrow B, when all the phases of the washing operation are terminated.

In this case, as already described hereinbefore, the drum can provide for transfer of the laundry between two successive chambers when the drum is driven in rotation over an angle of rotary movement which is greater than the abovementioned angle, the larger angle in the present example reaching a maximum value of about 5600.

During the rotary movement of the drum, to a position corresponding to point E, the bleaching agent passes through a portion of the pipe 30 in the same manner as described above. However, as soon as the drum passes beyond the point E, the end 31 of the pipe 30 is at a horizontal level which is lower than the level of the end 29 of the pipe, whereby the bleaching agent flows by gravity through the whole length of the pipe 30 and thus flows into the chamber 19.

In this way, the bleaching agent is introduced gradually as the drum rotates, and introduction of the bleaching agent stops when the drum reaches a position corresponding to the maximum angle of rotary movement envisaged (point F).

The drum is then actuated again in alternative directions, so as to perform the various phases of the cycle.

The foregoing description clearly shows how the pipe 30 affords the advantage of being able to provide, in a simple manner, for introduction of the respective washing liquids (or detergents mixed with water) into the various chambers of the drum 4, thereby making it possible to eliminate the seals mounted in the complicated apparatuses described hereinbefore. In addition, the machine according to the invention is provided with an introduction apparatus which is formed by a smaller number of components, relative to the prior machines, and therefore provides a substantial saving in respect of the amount of material used, while still ensuring reliability of operation.

In conclusion, it should be stated that the present invention also provides the possibility of mounting the pipe 30 in a different manner with respect to the drum 4.

In fact, the pipe 30 may also be connected between the collecting means 27 and another chamber, for example the chamber 17, for the purpose of permitting the pre-wash detergent, mixed with water to be introduced into that chamber, when the drum 4 is driven in rotation in direction C over a maximum angle of about 5600.

In addition, it is possible to provide a plurality of pipes 30, each connected to a respective chamber of the drum 4 for introducing the respective washing liquids in the corresponding phases of the cycle. These pipes may communicate with the same collecting means 27 or with a similar collecting means which is disposed around the other opening 8 in the drum 4.

Claims (4)

1. A tunnel-type industrial clothes washing machine comprising at least one drum which is capable of containing the laundry and which is subdivided by means of internal dividing walls into respective laundry treatment zones, said drum being provided with an opening for introducing the laundry and an opening for unloading the laundry and being drivable in rotation by per se known means, and also comprising at least one conduit for introducing the various liquids required for the respective treatments and at least one conduit for discharging said liquids, said conduit for introducing said liquids being connected to at least one pipe which freely communicates with collecting means which are disposed in association with at least one opening in said drum, and the collecting means being connected to the first end of at least one further pipe which is preferably disposed within said drum, the second end of said pipe terminating at the treatment zone into which the respective washing liquids are to be introduced, which washing liquids are, in use, introduced by gravity into said treatment zone only when said drum is driven in rotation, in such a way that the first end of said further pipe is disposed at a horizontal level which is higher than the second end of said pipe.

2. A clothes washing machine according to claim 1 wherein said collecting means comprise a circular ring of frustoconical shape, the larger base of the frustoconical shape being fixed to the outside surface of the respective end wall of said drum, around said opening, the circular surface of said ring being capable of containing the washing liquids which are introduced by means of said pipe.

3. A clothes washing machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said further pipe is fixed to said drum at said end wall and at the cylindrical casing around the drum, and in the casing follows a helicoidal path.

4. A clothes washing machine constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings and for the purposes set forth.