US3306083A - Automatic dry-cleaning machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 28, 1967 F. c. L oRNnzo 3,306,083

AUTOMAT IC DRY- CLEANING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. F G. ffm/f c. Marzo AUTOMATIC DRY-CLEANING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 A FIG. 3

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INVENTOR. FFW/W C. @cw/720 Feb. 28, 1967 F. c. LoRNlTzo 3,306,083

AUTOMATIC DRY-CLEANING MACHINE Peb. 28, 1967 F. c. LoRNlTzo 3,306,083

AUTOMATIC DRY-CLEANING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 16, 1965 KUQURXN m I H M O M 2 m Tm N A RE L Ow Lm C D Fm.. T A M O w A Feb. 28, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April le, 1965 United States Patent O M Filed Apr. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 448,733 3 Claims. (Si. 68-12) The present invention relates generally to a dry-cleaning machine which is programmed for automatic operation in accordance with a machine cycle having a predetermined sequence of operations, and more particularly to improvement in the construction and mode of operation of said machine which contemplates the eicient recovery of cleaning iiuid during said machine cycle.

A dry-cleaning machine of the present invention is of the class having an automatic programmed operating cycle and employing a volatile cleaning fluid to achieve its cleaning function. The eiiicient operation of this class of machine necessitates the recovery of reusable cleaning fluid from the clothes cleaned by the machine. Although such cleaning fluid recovery techniques or procedures are now provided in such machines, they are not entirely satisfactory since in some cases they adversely effect the automatic operation of the machine, and in other instances they are not specifically related to the specic need for cleaning liuid recovery which is dictated by the particular clothes that are cleaned. In other words, depending on the character and the nature of the clothes cleaned, the cleaning fluid recovery period should be conducted on an extensive basis, or in other circumstances is best discontinued at an early stage because continued efforts at cleaning fluid recovery are not economical. lt is also desirable that the cleaning fluid recovery procedure or technique `be consistent with automatic programme-d operation of the dry-cleaning machine, and thus must be capable of being readily incorporated into an automated machine cycle.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dry-cleaning machine overcoming these and other shortcomings of the prior art. Specifically, it is an object to provide and incorporate an efficiently operating cleaning fluid recovery technique and procedure into the normal operation of a dry-cleaning machine, and one which further is capable of being regulated in duration for only as long as it is economical to conduct said cleaning iiuid recovery.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a dry-cleaning machine which has a programmed automatic operating cycle, and in which the cleaning uid recovery period is an integral part of said cycle and is automatically initiated and conducted for only as long as it is economical to attempt to recover reusable cleaning fluid.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a dry-cleaning machine in which the cleaning uid recovery procedure is also advantageously employed to purge the machine and the dry-cleaning drum of any residual cleaning fluid vapors which ordinarily presents a health hazard in the operation of such machines.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a damper control system having novel features of construction and a mode of operation permitting selective use of an air circulation system during the operation of said dry-cleaning machine for cleaning fluid recovery purposes and also to purge said machine of hazardous cleaning uid vapors.

A dry-cleaning machine demonstrating features of the present invention is one employing a cleaning fluid to achieve its primary cleaning function, and further includes an appropriate control means for causing automatic operation of said machine in accordance with a Bd Patented Feb. 28, 1957 ICC typical automated machine cycle including periods for washing the clothes with said cleaning liuid, draining and extracting said cleaning fluid from said clothes, a residual cleaning uid recovery period, and finally an aerate period during which said machine is purged of hazardous cleaning fumes. More particularly, to the end of recovering reusable cleaning fluid there is included suitable means defining a closed path having communication with the cleaning drum of said machine, and also means located in said path for driving a stream of heated air through said drum to cause flashing of cleaning uid into vapor within said drum, said air stream being also effective to carry said ashed vapor from said drum to a remote point where the vapor is converted back to a liquid state and returned to an appropriate storage compartment for reuse in subsequent cleaning operations. Further included as part of the cleaning fluid recovery means is a thermostat which is advantageously located in a position to sense the temperature level of the air stream exiting from the drum and which, at an appropriate elevated temperature level thereof which is indicative of minimal cleaning uid flashing, is effective to cause the discontinuation of the operation of said dry cleaning recovery means and to simultaneously change over the mode of operation of this means to the function of exhausting or purging hazardous dry-cleaning fumes from the dry-cleaning drum and said closed path. The foregoing functioning of the cleaning fluid recovery means and its subsequent conversion to aerate the cleaning drum of the diy-cleaning machine is automatically initiated and conducted as part of the programmed sequence of operations of the dry-cleaning machine, being readily achieved by conventional electrical circuitry and controls for the machine.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a front elevational View of a dry-cleaning machine demonstrating features of the present invention and having portions thereof broken away and in section to better illustrate the internal construction thereof;

FIG. 2 is a top View projected from FIG. l, in which portions thereof are again broken away and in section for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is an isolated elevational view, on an enlarged scale, and in section, of an exhaust valve for the air circulation system of said dry-cleaning machine;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are sectional elevational views of la damper control for said air circulation system, in which more particularly the various operating positions of said control are depicted, namely, to wit:

FIG. 4 illustrates the damper control in its neutral operative position;

EG. 5 illustrates said damper control after movement of an actuating rod thereof to the right which uncovers an internal valve opening and permits air circulation Within an air circulation duct system of the dry-cleaning machine; and

FIG. 6 illustrates still another operative position of said damper control wherein in response to movement of said actuating rod to the left another valve member of said damper control uncovers an external opening of the air circulation duct system for purging said duct system of cleaning fluid fumes;

FIG. 7 is an isolated elevational View, in section and on an enlarged scale, of a cleaning fluid level control for said machine;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view substantially similar to FIG. l, but with more of the external structure broken away and with more of the remaining structure in section to better illustrate the internal construction of said machine;

FIG. 9 is a chart which graphically illustrates the various periods and the duration in minutes of said periods in a typical machine cycle; and v FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of the electrical circuitry for programming said dry-cleaning machine through a typical machine cycle.

Reference is made first to FIGS. l and 8 and the showing therein of a dry-cleaning machine demonstrating features of the present invention and therein generally designated 28. The machine 20 includes a main housing 22 enclosing a rotatable dry-cleaning drum 24, and also associated or auxiliary equipment, generally designated 26, for circulating cleaning fiuid F through said drum 24. The equipment 26 as is best illustrated in FIG. 8 is generally situated on a level with and to the right of the drum 24. The machine 20 also includes auxiliary equipment, generally designated 28, for circulating air through said drum 24 in a manner and for the purposes described in more detail subsequently herein, said auxiliary equipment 28 (still referring to FIG. 8) being generally situated above said drum 24.

The machine 26 may advantageously be compactly constructed on a hollow base 30 which additionally functions as a storage compartment 32 for `the cleaning fiuid F. Included in the equipment 26 for circulating said cleaning uid F is a pump 34 which has its suction end connected to a conventional pipe or liquid conduit 36 extended into the compartment 32 and normally below the level of the stored cleaning fluid F therein, and its high pressure end or outlet connected to a conduit 38 connected to a filter 40. The outlet of the filter 40 is connected via an L-shaped conduit 42 to a main fiow conduit 44, the connection into said main fiow conduit 44 being more particularly between two operatively associated valves 46, 48. At all times when valve 46 is open permitting flow past said valve the other valve 48 is closed, and vice-versa. At start up of the machine 20, it will be understood that valve 46 is closed and that valve 48 is open so that cleaning fluid F is withdrawn from the sump or compartment 32 only to be returned again through the valve 48 and through the return portion 44a of the main ow conduit 44.

The operating conditions of the valves 46, 48 are, however, easily reversed in a Well understood manner by actuation of a lever 50 mounted on a shaft 52 common to both valves and which shaft on rotation is effective to move the internal valve members thereof into an open or closed position within the conduit 44. From the up-position of the valve 50 as depicted in FIG. 8 and normally produced by the urgency of a spring 54, the lever 50 is adapted to be placed into a down-position by operation of a motor 56 having a driving gear 58 in meshing engagement with a rack 60 pivotally connected, as at 62, to said lever 50. In the down-position of the lever 50 the valve 46 is opened and the valve 48 is closed to thereby channel the cleaning fiuid F through the valve 46 and through the drum inlet portion 44h of the main flow con` duit 44 into the drum 24.

As is best shown in FIG. 8, the external drum housing 22 :at the base of the drum 24 is provided with an appropriate configuration 64 for channeling said cleaning said cleaning fluid F to a drum outlet conduit 66 which empties into a cleaning fluid level control device, generally designated 68, the details of operation of which are next described herein. It will sufce now only to note that the cleaning fluid F is permitted in the operation of said level control device 68 to flow out of said device through an outlet 70, through conduit 72 into a filter trap 74, and from thence through a lter 76 back into the cleaning iiuid storage compartment 32.

Referring now specifically to the detailed view of FIG. 7 as well as to FIG. 8, it will be better understood how the cleaning fluid level control device 68 functions to control the operating level of the cleaning fluid F within the drum 24. Changes in said operating level as are contemplated herein are more of a seasonal adjustment, wherein, for example, during the winter when heavy clothes are usually cleaned, it is desirable that the operating level of said fluid be raised to provide a greater quantity of said fluid within said drum, and conversely during the summer a lower operating level is desirable. To accomplish this objective, the device 68 includes a casing 77 in which there is disposed a hollow overflow pipe 78 provided with a slidable end section 80. Only the bottom portion of said section 80 is solid and thus up to the edge 82 thereof such section serves as an extension of the outlet opening 84 of the overow pipe 78 and requires a level of cleaning uid F in the annular clearance 86 between the pipe 78 and the casing 77 exceeding the height of the edge 82 before there can be an outflow of cleaning uid F from the device 68 through the overflow pipe 78. In a well understood manner, the cleaning fluid F will naturally seek and attain the same level in the drum 24 as it does in the device 68, said device 68 and drum 24 being in direct communication with each other through the conduit 66 and in side-by-side relationship to each other. To adjust the section 80 relative to the outlet opening 84, section 80 has extensions 88 going beyond the edge 82 and which extensions are connected by a cross-piece 90 to a member 92 threadably disposed on a threaded end 94 of a plunger 96 of a conventional solenoid device 98. An L-shaped frame member mounts the solenoid 98 on the casing head 182 through which said member and threaded end 92, 94 extend into the level control device 68. By threaded adjustment of the member 92 on the threaded end 94 of the plunger 96, it is thus a simple matter to either raise or lower section 80 on the overflow pipe 78 and thereby raise or lower the operating level of the cleaning fiuid F within the drum 24. During this adjustment, the overflow pipe 78 remains seated in said outlet opening 70. However, at the pipe outlet opening 84 there are machined extensions 104 fitted with a cross-4 piece 106 and connected to said plunger threaded end 94, so that upon operation of the solenoid 98 and the withdrawal of said plunger 96 within the body of said solenoid the overflow pipe 78 is lifted off of the opening 70 permitting direct fiow of cleaning fluid F from the conduit 66 into the sump return conduit 72.

Continuing with the description of the machine 20 with particular reference to FIGS. l, 2 and 8, and turning now specifically to the air circulation auxiliary equipment 28 thereof, it will be seen that said equipment 28 includes an air inlet duct 188 and an air outlet duct 110 suitably connected into opposite sides of the drum housing 22 and in communication with the interior 112 of the drum 24l These inlet and outlet ducts 108; 110 are further con-v nected end-to-end to each other as is best illustrated in FIG. 8 to form a closed air duct system, herein more specifically designated 114. In the operation of the machine 20 in accordance with the present invention, it is contemplated that the closed duct system 114 will be used during a portion of the machine operating cycle for the continuous circulation of air for the purpose of tiashing cleaning fluid as fumes from the cleaning fluid saturated clothes Within the drum 24, thereby permitting the subsequent condensation of said fumes and the recovery of said cleaning fiuid for re-use.

To achieve this objective of recovering re-usable cleaning fluid, there is provided in the closed duct system 114, proceeding in the direction of the air flow depicted by the arrows designated A in FIG. 8, a lter bag 116, a conventional condenser 118, a motor-operated flow control damper 128, an air-circulating blower 122, and finally a heater 123. More particularly, the suction end of said air-circulating blower 122 is connected via a length of duct 114:1 immediately downstream of the damper 120, and upon operation of the blower 122 and a first damper motor 121:1 moving the damper disc 124 from a position normally closing the duct opening 126 to a position opening the same (see FIG. 5), there is produced a continuous circulation or flow of air through the closed duct system 114 as depicted by the air flow arrows A.

The foregoing cleaning uid recovery process is started at a prescribed point during the normal operating cycle of the machine 2t), at which point all cleaning fluid F is also drained from the drum 24 by operation of the solenoid 93 and the circulation of said fluid through the drum 24 is discontinued and diverted instead through the bypass or return conduit 44:1. Air circulated by said blower 122 is forced through the inlet duct 1118 past the heater 123 and thus enters into the interior 112 of the drum 24, through the drum openings 139, in a heated condition. In a well understood manner, the heated air causes evaporation or flashing of the cleaning iiuid from the clothes being cleaned within the drum 24 and thus there is, at least initially, a heavy concentration of cleaning fluid fumes in the air flowing out of the drum 24 through the outlet duct 119. This current or body of air is cleaned in an obvious manner by passage through the filter bag 116, and then is cooled by heat exchange in its pass through the condenser coils 11%` continuously fed with a coolant through inlet and outlet pipes 132, 134. Beneath the condenser coils 11S the section of duct 114e of the closed duct system 114 is advantageously provided with a conguration 136 which channels the cleaning fluid F which is condensed from said circulating air flow into a separator 138. Operating in a well understood manner, the separator 138 is eiqective to separate the cleaning fluid and water from each other, and said cleaning Huid is then channeled through the conduit 140 into the lter trap 74, and from there flows through the filter 76 back into the sump or compartment 32 for re-use.

During the foregoing recovery process by air circulation, however, a point is eventually reached when the air exiting from the drum 24 contains so little cleaning iiuid vapor as to no longer economically warrant continuing with said air circulation. In accordance with the present invention, this point in the operation of the machine 29 is automatically detected by a thermostat 142 mounted in the outlet duct 11d and operating to discontinue said air circulation, all as is subsequently explained in greater detail, when the temperature of said exiting air attains a predetermined elevated level approximating the temperature of said air being fed into the drum 24. This it will be appreciated is indicative that the circulating air is losing little heat in heat exchange with the clothes within said drum 24, or in other words that said circulating air is causing very little flashing of cleaning fluid from said clothes which can be recovered. At this time, an exhaust blower 144 mounted on and in communication with the outlet duct 110 is operated in tandem with the air circulating blower 122 which is continued in operation. EX- haust blower 144 has its suction end connected via a duct 114b to said closed duct system 114 and its high pressure end exhausting to atmosphere via a duct 148 which will be understood to channel said cleaning uid contaminated air to a safe point for discharge. Mounted in a duct section 156 of the duct 14S is a conventional one-way air valve 152 including a disc centering piece 154, and a disc- 156 mounted thereon which on operation of the exhaust blower 144 is lifted off of the duct opening 158 for opening the exhaust duct 148 to air flow (see FIG. 3).

When operation of the exhaust blower 144 is started in aid of operation of the air circulating blower 122, the second damper motor 121b is operated to replace the damper disc 124 in its closed position in the internal duct opening 126 and to simultaneously open the closed system 114 to atmosphere by causing movement of the damper disc 159 uncovering the external duct opening 160 as depicted in FIG. 6. Thus, continuously flowing fresh air is forced through the duct 114:1, the air inlet duct 108, and through the drum interior 112 and air outlet duct 119 to the exhaust blower 144 for discharge through the exhaust duct 148. In this way the drum 24 and the closed duct system 114 of the machine 20 are purged of cleaning uid fumes preparatory to the next cleaning cycle, such purging being conducted eiiciently by tandem operation of the blowers 144, 122.

By reference to FIG. 8 and a comparison of FIGS. 4-6, it will be seen that the flow control damper 120 includes a disc mounting rod 161 which on one end has a sleeve 162 disposed in a guide bushing 164 mounted by a bracket 166 in a centered position just beyond the internal duct opening 126. On the opposite end of the rod 161 is a sleeve 16S connecting said rod to a rack 170 which is common to the damper motors 121:1, 121b carried on a platform 171 of the duct system 114. Rack 176 is selectively driven in opposite directions by a common driving gear 172 in meshing engagement with said rack and journalled on the single shaft 174 of the motors 121:1, 121b. The damper discs 124 and 159 are slidably disposed on the rod 161 entirely within the sectional length of duct 114:1 to the air circulating blower 122, being more particularly normally seated under the outward urgency of an interposed spring 176 against the radial tiange 126:1 of the opening 126 and the radial ange 16de of the opening 160, respectively, as is best illustrated in FIG. 4. However, upon operation of the motor 121:1 which occurs during operation of the air circulating blower 122, the rod 161 is thrust to the right as depicted in FIG. 5, and the damper disc 124 is carried by the sleeve 162 during said rod movement off of the internal damper opening flange 126:1 thereby unblocking the opening 126 for the passage of air therethrough as depicted by the air-flow i arrows A. Another operative position of the damper 12D is achieved by operation of the damper motor 12111 and rod movement in a reverse direction as depicted in FIG. 6 which occurs during operation of the exhaust biower 144. This results in movement of the disc 124 to its position closing the opening 126 and the carrying of the other disc 159, by the sleeve 168, off of the damper opening flange 166:1 thereby unblocking the opening 161i for the passage of air therethrough. Sleeve 169 maintains the spacing between the discs 124, 159.

Having particular reference again to FIG. 1, the machine 20 as best shown therein includes both a slow and a fast driving motor 178 and 179, each having a belt 180, 182 trained about a common pulley 184 mounted on the shaft 186 of the drum 24 which will be understood to be appropriately journalled for rotation within the main housing 22. The slow rotational speed is employed during the cleaning portion of the main cycle since this produces more thorough saturation of the clothes with the cleaning tiuid F by tumbling of the clothes, while the faster rotational speed 4is employed during other periods of said cycle, as for example during the cleaning fluid recovery process when said fast speed is effective to remove or extract said cleaning fluid F from the clothes by centrifugal force. By employing a conventional overriding clutch the changeover from the slow motor 178 to the fast motor 179 is made without interrupting the operation of the machine 20.

Directing attention now to FIG. 9, in which ligure the time periods of various operations in a typical operating cycle are graphically illustrated, it will be seen that a variable time period, designated :z is included as an integral part of said cycle and is the time period during which cleaning fluid F is recovered for reuse. Said cleaning fluid recovery time period :1 differs from other cycle time periods in that it is for a duration which may differ from cycle to cycle and is dependent on the characteristics of the clothes being cleaned which in turn determines the point in time when the thermostat 142 is operated to signal the end of said time period :1. As previously stated,

it is at this point of time when it is no longer economical to continue the air circulation through the duct system 114 to purge the drum interior 112 of cleaning fluid F and cleaning uid vapors. Thus, while the wash period is set for a known duration which typically is five minutes, and the drain, extract and aerate periods are also for known periods of time, the cleaning fluid recovery period a is known only to start at approximately thirteen minutes after machine start-up, but otherwise the duration of this period lis not known beforehand and continues until terminated by the operation of the thermostat 142. After termination of the recovery period a the machine 20 has a typical conluding aerate period.

Reference is now made to FIG. 10 in which there is shown a diagrammatic representation of appropriate electrical circuitry for programming the machine through a typical machine cycle, said circuitry being generally designated 190 and including appropriate contacts, 190:1, 190i) for being connected across an appropriate electrical source. Circuitry 190 essentially includes fifteen subcircuits all connected in parallel to each other and herein designated 192A-1920, and a timer 194 which powers nine cams in rotation, each cam being designated with the numeral 196 followed by the suix of the subcircuit with which it is associated. It will be understood that the timer 194 is designed to operate for a duration of twenty minutes and thus on the cams 196A, 196B, etc., the start and termination of the cam rise is keyed to this twenty minute duration by appropriate references to the point in time during this twenty minute duration when said start and termination points are encountered. Thus, on cam 196C, the cam rise 198C thereof is first encountered ve minutes after the start-up of the timer 194 and is operational until ten minutes after the timer start-up. Additionally, there is associated with each of the subcircuits 192A-192O a normally open switch which disconnects the subcircuit from the energy source except when said normally open switch is actuated closed by a cam, each of these switches being herein designated by the reference numeral 200 followed by the letter-subscript of its associated cam.

Proceeding now with a description of the operation of the dry-cleaning machine 20 in connection with the circuit diagram of FIG. 10, let it be assumed that the door 202 of the drum 24 is closed as is shown in cross section at the left `of FIG. 10, and that said door 202 is maintained in its closed position by a plunger 204 of a solenoid 206 of the subcircuit 192A. To open the door 202 it is necessary to depress the switch 208 of the subcircuit 192A which completes said subcircuit when the cam 196A is in its illustrated FIG. l0 position closing the switch 200A. Thus, at this time, the solenoid 206 is energized through the completed subcircuit 192A thereby withdrawing the solenoid plunger 204 from its position preventing the opening of the door 202. It will be readily appreciated, however, that after machine start-up, and at a time when the cam 196A has rotated into a posiiton which results in the switch 200A assuming its normally open position, that at this time depressing the switch 208 will not have the desired effect of actuating the solenoid 206, which is as it should be since it is not desirable that the door 202 be opened during the machine cycle. Assuming that the door 202 of the drum 24 is closed, the machine cycle is initiated by depressing the timer start button 208a which starts rotation of the timer 194 including the cam 196FG, which by closing the switch 200FG, completes the subcircuit 192F for the timer 194 through a bypass circuit which is provided to maintain said timer 194 in operation even though the switch 208a is subsequently released. Thus, the timer 194 remains in operation until a notch 210 is encountered in the cam rise 198FG, of the cam 196FG, and which notch 210 is indexed to be encountered at thirteen minutes after the start-up of the machine to signal and cause the start of the recovery period of the machine cycle. It should be noted at this time that the opening and closing of the drum door 202 controls the actuation of four switches, one of which is the exhaust blower switch 212 which is closed by the opening of the drum door 202 and places in operation the exhaust 144 as a safety measure every time that the door 202 is opened. However, before the expiration of thirteen minutes of the machine cycle, the machine 20 is programmed through the wash, drain and extract periods.

More particularly, and having particular reference to the second subcircuit 192B, it will be seen during the rst five minutes of the operation of the timer 194 that the cam rise 198B on the cam 196B is effective to close the switch 200B of said subscircuit 192B which will be understood to operate the valve motor 56 placing the lever 50 in its down-position which opens valve 46 and simultaneously closes valve 48 and thereby channels cleaning uid F into the drum 24. It will be noted that at this time the windings for the pump 34 which is part of the subcircuit 192N is appropriately energized by virtue of the switch 200NO being in a position at this time which completes the subcircuit 192N. In fact, the pump 34 continues in operation until the cam rise 198NO of the cam 196NO actuates the switch 200NO into a position which completes the subcircuit 1920 and places in operation the ilter agitator 41 (see FIG. 8) while simultaneously opening the pump subcircuit 192N and temporarily discontinuing the operation of the pump 34. The filter agitator 41 continues in operation from ten minutes to twelve and one-half minutes of the machine cycle.

As is shown in subcircuit 192C, after completion of the wash cycle which occurs after the first ive minutes of the operation of the machine 20, subcircuit 192C is completed by the closing of the switch 200C by the cam 195C from between iive minutes and ten minutes of the machine cycle which places in operation at this time the solenoid device 98 which is effective to open up the outlet 70 of the level control device 68 which drains cleaning uid F from the drum 24 into the storage compartment 32. Turning now to the subcircuits 192D and 192B, it will be seen by a comparison of said subcircuits that normally the slow motor 178 operates the drum 24 except when through the operation of a conventional overriding clutch a changeover is made to the fast motor 179 during the interval of the machine -cycle from six minutes to eleven minutes after machine start-up. This time period corresponds to the extract period of the machine cycle.

Assuming that thirteen minutes of the machine cycle has transpired, and that the cam notch 210 on the cam 196FG has been encountered, as previously indicated this will open the switch 200FG breaking the energizing subcircuit 192F for the timer 194 and thereby causing the discontinuation of the timer 194 at this point of time. More particularly, at this point of time the cam 196M is stationary in a position which has actuated the switch 200M into a position completing the subcircuit 192L for the circulation blower 122, thereby starting the operation of said circulation blower 122. Also at this time the cam 196HI is in a stationary position which has actuated the switch 200HI into a position which completes the subcircuit 192IJ and its individual branch subcircuits 1921 and 192], the switch 212D of course being closed at this time. Considering first the branch subcircuit 192], it will be seen that this causes operation of the condenser solenoid 214 (FIG. 8) which permits the circulation of cold water through the coils of the condenser 118. Simultaneously, the completion of the branch subcircuit 1921 places the damper motor 121a in operation which is effective to move the damper into its FIG. 5 position, which in turn results in air circulation through the closed duct system 114. The circulation blower 122 operates by itself (i.e. without the blower 144) for a period of time corresponding to the length of time of the recovery period a, which period is in turn determined by the thermostat 142 which has two operative positions, one of which is its cold position as illustrated in FIG. l0, and the other of which is its hot position which brings into operation the subcircuit 192K for energizing the timer 194 and again starting the operation of this device. More particularly, in the cold position of the thermostat 142, the heater 124 is effective to raise the temperature of the circulating air entering into the drum 24 which as previously described is in turn effective to cause flashing of residual cleaning uid F within the drum 24. As long as this flashing occurs to a reasonably substantial degree, it is deemed advisable to continue with the cleaning fluid recovery period. However, when substantial flashing does not occur, the temperature of the air exiting from the drum 24 is at an elevated temperature level which is effective to actuate the thermostat 142 into its hot position. In this position of the thermostat 142, an energizing circuit for the timer 194 is completed to again start the operaiton of this device. This energizing circuit may be traced from line contact 19th: through the closed switches 200M and ZliiHl, and through the hot position of the thermostat 142, and finally through the subcircuits 192K and 192i2 to the other line contact 1Min. The immediate erlect of the operation of the timer 194 is to rotate the notch 210 of the cam 1%FG from an operative position effecting the switch ZltiFG and thereby again resulting in the closing of this switch, and also simultaneously causing rotation of the cam 196Hl which breaks the just described energizing circuit for the timer 194 by permitting the switch 2li-@Hi to return to its position depicted in FlG. l0. ln this position of the switch 260111 and the FIG. l phantom perspective position of the switch Zilf'M, the exhaust blower 144 is placed in operation as is also the damper motor 121i; which places the damper 126 in its FIG. 6 position for exhausting the closed duct system 114 and drum 24 to atmosphere.

There is additionally provided in the circuit 19e a subcircuit 192M including a solenoid device 216 (see FIG. 8) which during the first ten minutes of the machine cycle holds a plunger 216a in a raised position in a conduit 218 connected between the cleaning fluid storage compartment 32 and the interior 112 of the drum 24 for the purpose of equalizing the pressure of said cleaning fluid F in said compartment 32 and drum 24. During the last ten minutes of the machine cycle, however, the cam 196M actuates the switch ZiltM to prevent operation of this solenoid 216 and thus the plunger Zien at this time as again effective to close off the storage compartment 32.

Completing the electrical circuitry 1% for the drycleaning machine 20, is an auxiliary timer 22@ which is integrated in the subcircuit 192F of the timer 194. The auxiliary timer 220 includes a normally closed switch 22a and a timing mechanism 22615. As is generally understood, the mode of operation of the auxiliary timer 22) contemplates opening the normally closed switch 22ila for a length of time which can `be set by the timing mechanism 223b, after which said switch 22061 closes to cornplete whatever circuit said auxiliary timer 22d is incorporated in, which in FIG. 10 is the subcircuit 1921: for the timer 194. Thus, whenever the auxiliary timer 229 is operated, it has the effect of discontinuing the operation of the timer 194 for whatever length of time is set in the timing mechanism 220b of said auxiliary timer 22). Thus, for example, if it is desired to extend the wash period for an additional length of time, this is done by merely operating the auxiliary timer for this additional length of time during this period of the `machine cycle.

A lattitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What is claimed is: v I

1. A dry-cleaning machine including a dry-cleaning drum for dry-cleaning clothes therein in association with cleaning fluid, a control means for said dry-cleaning machine effective to operate said machine in accordance with a machine cycle having a predetermined sequence of operations, a cleaning fluid supply means operatively connected to a source of cleaning fluid and to said dry-cleaning drum for conducting cleaning fluid into and out of said dry-cleaning drum during a cleaning period of said machine cycle, and a cleaning fluid recovery means operatively connected to and operated by said control means after said cleaning period to remove any residual cleaning uid from said dry-cleaning drum, said cleaning fluid recovery means comprising means defining a closed path having communication with said drum, a first blower means located in said closed path and operatively connected to and operated by said control means to drive heated air through said dry-cleaning drum to cause flashing of cleaning fluid into vapor therein and to carry said vapor from said dry-cleaning drum, a second blower means located in said closed path and operatively connected to and operated by said control means to exhaust said drum and said closed path to atmosphere, and temperature sensing means located in said closed path and operatively connected to and operated by said control means and effective in response to an elevated temperature in said heated air exiting from said drum and in- -dicative of minimal cleaning fluid flashing in said drum to cause the operation of said second blower means simultaneously with operation of said first blower means.

2. A dry-cleaning machine including a dry-cleaning drum for dry-cleaning clothes therein in association with cleaning fluid, a control means for said dry-cleaning machine effective to operate said machine in acordanoe with a machine cycle having a predetermined sequence of operations, a cleaning fluid supply means operatively connected to a source of cleaning fluid and to said drycleaning drum for conducting cleaning fluid into and out of said dry-cleaning drum during a cleaning period of said machine cycle, and a cleaning fluid recovery means operatively connected to and operated by said control means after said cleaning period to remove any residual cleaning fluid from said dry-cleaning drum, said cleaning fluid recovery means comprising a normally closed duct system having communication with said drum and means including at least two blowers located in said duct system and operatively connected to and operated by said control means to first drive heated air through said dry-cleaning drum to cause flashing of cleaning fluid into vapor therein and to carry said vapor from said drycleaning drum and thereafter to exhaust said drum and said duct system to atmosphere, temperature sensing means located in said duct system and operatively connected to said control means and effective in response to an elevated temperature in said heated air exiting from said drum and indicative of minimal cleaning fluid flashing in said dry-cleaning drum to cause the simultaneous operation of said blows, in tandem, to purge said drum and duct system of cleaning fluid, a valve means located in said duct system and operatively connected to and operated by said control means to open said duct system to atmosphere when said temperature sensing means senses minimal cleaning fluid flashing.

3. A dry-cleaning machine including a dry-cleaning drum for dry-cleaning clothes therein in association with cleaning fluid, a control means for said dry-cleaning machine effective to operate said machine in accordance with a machine cycle having a predetermined sequence of operations, a cleaning fluid supply means operatively connected to a source of cleaning fluid and to said dry-cleaning drum for conducting cleaning fluid into and out of said dry-cleaning drum during a cleaning period of said machine cycle, and a cleaning fluid recovery means operatively connected to and operated by said control means after said cleaning period to remove any residual cleaning Huid from said dry-cleaning drum, said cleaning fluid recovery means comprising a normally closed duct system having communication with said drum and means including at least -two blowers located in said duct system and operatively connected to and operated by said control means to first drive heated air through said drycleaning drum to cause flashing of cleaning fluid into vapor therein and to carry said vapor from said drycleaning drum and thereafter to exhaust said drum and said duct system to atmosphere, temperature sensing means located in said duct system and operatively connected to said control means and effective in response to an elevated temperature in said heated air exiting from said drum and indicative of minimal cleaning uid ashing in said dry-cleaning drum to cause the operation of the one of said blowers simultaneously with the operation of the other of said blowers to purge said duct system of cleaning fluid, a valve means located in said duct system and operable to selectively permit continuous circulation of said heated air through said duct system when the temperature of said heated air as sensed by said temperature sensing means is below a predetermined level and to exhaust said heated air to atmosphere when said temperature is above said predetermined level, said valve means including a first valve member controlling ow through said duct system and a second valve member opening said duct system to atmosphere, and means selectively operating said valve members operatively connected to and operated by said control means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,064,084 12/1936 Sando 34-77 2,114,776 4/1938 Davis 68-18 3,002,287 10/1961 Smith 68-18 3,134,652 5/1964 DAn-gelo et al 34-77 3,206,950 9/1965 Xeros 68-18 X 3,236,073 2/1966 Davison et al 68-12 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,097,216 2/ 1955 France.

WILLIAM I. PRICE, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A DRY-CLEANING MACHINE INCLUDING A DRY-CLEANING DRUM FOR DRY-CLEANING CLOTHES THEREIN IN ASSOCIATION WITH CLEANING FLUID, A CONTROL MEANS FOR SAID DRY-CLEANING MACHINE EFFECTIVE TO OPERATE SAID MACHINE IN ACCORDANCE WITH A MACHINE CYCLE HAVING A PREDETERMINED SEQUENCE OF OPERATIONS, A CLEANING FLUID SUPPLY MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF CLEANING FLUID AND TO SAID DRY-CLEANING DRUM FOR CONDUCTING CLEANING FLUID INTO AND OUT OF SAID DRY-CLEANING DRUM DURING A CLEANING PERIOD OF SAID MACHINE CYCLE, AND A CLEANING FLUID RECOVERY MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO AND OPERATED BY SAID CONTROL MEANS AFTER SAID CLEANING PERIOD TO REMOVE ANY RESIDUAL CLEANING FLUID FROM SAID DRY-CLEANING DRUM, SAID CLEANING FLUID RECOVERY MEANS COMPRISING MEANS DEFINING A CLOSED PATH HAVING COMMUNICATION WITH SAID DRUM, A FIRST BLOWER MEANS LOCATED IN SAID CLOSED PATH AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO AND OPERATED BY SAID CONTROL MEANS TO DRIVE HEATED AIR THROUGH SAID DRY-CLEANING DRUM TO CAUSE FLASHING OF CLEANING FLUID INTO VAPOR THEREIN AND TO CARRY SAID VAPOR FROM SAID DRY-CLEANING DRUM, A SECOND BLOWER MEANS LOCATED IN SAID CLOSED PATH AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO AND OPERATED BY SAID CONTROL MEANS TO EXHAUST SAID DRUM AND SAID CLOSED PATH TO ATMOSPHERE, AND TEMPERATURE SENSING MEANS LOCATED IN SAID CLOSED PATH AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO AND OPERATED BY SAID CONTROL MEANS AND EFFECTIVE IN RESPONSE TO AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE IN SAID HEATED AIR EXITING FROM SAID DRUM AND IN-

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