US3744277A

US3744277A - Continuous laundering

Info

Publication number: US3744277A
Application number: US00090167A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Grantham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-12-16
Filing date: 1970-12-16
Publication date: 1973-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-10

Abstract

A continuous washing apparatus made up of one or more units, each unit including a flexible tube or bag through which the goods to be laundered are moved in a continuous operation, the flexible tube being flexed so as to agitate the water therein and the goods in the water, in the passage of the goods through the tube, so as to produce a washing action; when a plurality of such units are used, the goods are removed from one such unit to the next for successive and related steps in the laundering operation such as washing, rinsing etc.; it also includes a gripping means for removing the goods from the exit end of the unit, and when a plurality of units are used in succession, utilizing the gripping means for depositing the goods into the next unit.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Grantham CONTINUOUS LAUNDERING [76] Inventor: Paulette Grantham, 1830 White Oak Drive. Menlo Park. Calif. 94025 {22] Filed: Dec. 16, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 90,167

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 510,596, Nov. 30,

[111 3,744,277 [451 July 10,1973

822,836 11/1951 Germany 68/96 Primary ExaminerWilliam 1. Price Attorney-Paul H. Gallagher 5 7 ABSTRACT A continuous washing apparatus made up of one or more units, each unit including a flexible tube or bag through which the goods to be laundered are moved in a continuous operation, the flexible tube being flexed so as to agitate the water therein and the goods in the water, in the passage of the goods through the tube, so as to produce a washing action; when a plurality of such units are used, the goods are removed fromone such unit to the next for successive and related steps in the laundering operation such as washing, rinsing etc.; it also includes a gripping means for removing the goods from the exit end of the unit, and when a plurality of units are used in succession, utilizing the gripping means for depositing the goods into the next unit.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CONTINUOUS LAUNDERING The present invention is a continuation-in-part of my prior and co-pending, parent application, Ser. No. 5 l0,596, filed Nov. 30, 1965, for Continuous Laundering.

CROSS REFERENCES My co-pending application, Ser. No. 8l,70l, filed Oct. 19, 1970, for Continuous Laundering, also a continuation-in-part of the above mentioned parent application.

My co-pending application, Ser. No. 81,671, filed Oct. 19, 1970, for Laundry Towel Rolling Means, also a continuation-in-part of the above mentioned parent application.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A broad object of the invention is to provide a novel continuous laundering apparatus, and method of laundering.

Another object is to provide continuous laundering apparatus including one or more units, for continuous washing of goods, and in the case of a plurality of units, providing for a plurality of laundering phases, such as washing, rinsing, etc., including when desired, soaking, etc.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for and method of continuous laundering which is adaptable to both longand short pieces, wherein in laundering the long pieces, they progress linearly through the apparatus, and may even include securing the pieces together, although it may not be necessary to secure the pieces together, as in the case of short or small pieces which may be moved through the apparatus in mass or bulk form.

Still another object is to provide novel continuous washing apparatus which includes means for agitating the laundry pieces in the laundering liquid, such as in washing and rinsing steps.

An additional object is to provide novel continuous laundering apparatus having a flexible tubeor bag for containing the laundering liquids whereby to carry out the agitation of the character referred to, and in the use of which the agitation also effects agitation of the goods being laundered.

Still another object is to provide apparatus of the general character referred to which includes one or more individual units, and in which each unit can be of any desired length and particularly of a substantial length necessary for carrying out the various laundering steps, but in which because of the great length of the units which may be found necessary for effecting the laundering steps, it may be found difficult to lead long and continuous laundry pieces therethrough, and wherein the apparatus includes means for continuous feeding of long laundry pieces in linear fashion through the apparatus.

An additional operation is to provide novel apparatus for effectively performing a plurality of laundering steps which may include for example washing and rinsing, in the use of which the wash water and rinse water effectively penetrate the laundry pieces and perform the respective functions in an effective manner, i.e., the washing liquid thoroughly penetrates the laundry pieces and dissolves the soil therein and the rinse water penetrates fully through the laundry pieces for rinsing the wash water therefrom.

An additional object is to provide a novel method of continuous washing utilizing the steps associated with the use of the apparatus in the various phases thereof described above.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic indication of washing apparatus according to the present invention, including a plurality of individual units in a series;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, in large scale, of one whole unit and a portion of a second one, embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken at line 33 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the upper right hand corner of the unit of FIG. 2, and oriented according to the latter figure.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings, attention is directed first to FIG. 1 showing diagrammatically the apparatus according to the present invention including a plurality of units or components constituting a complete laundering apparatus according to my invention, and adapted for carrying out the method of the invention.

The apparatus of FIG. 1 includes a plurality of

units

32, 34 all of which may be of the same construction, and each of which includes the features of the present invention. The representation of the plurality of units of FIG. 1 indicates various stages of laundering including, for example, washing, and rinsing, and they may provide for additional phases such as soaking or other conditioning. The goods may be of any of various kinds such as long individual towels 30 of FIGS. 1 and 2, or short or small pieces 31 as represented in FIG. 5 and referred to again hereinbelow. The goods 30 after leaving the final unit 34 may be directed to a subsequent processing step, as into an apparatus for that purpose indicated at 37 which may categorically represent any of a wide variety of apparatuses and methods.

In the case of long and continuous towels, successive ones may be temporarily secured together so that each acts as a leader to the next, and after the towels proceed throughthe entire sequence of apparatuses, they are then separated. If desired, driving members or wheels 44 may be utilized for pulling towels 30 through the apparatus.

Attention is now directed to FIGS. 2-5 showing the specific construction of one of the

units

32, 34, now identified in its entirety at 65. The unit 65 includesa suitable frame or stand 66. A flexible bag 67 is secured to a top closure member 69 incorporated in the frame 66 and together therewith serving as a tank, identified as a whole at 70. This top member 69 preferably is arcuate in cross-section (FIG. 3) to provide the desired strength and is supported by the legs of the stand in a suitable manner. The bag '67 may be secured to the member 69 in a suitable manner such as by extending the side flaps 68 over the member 69 and securing them together as by a zipper 73. A bead 71 fitted in a cooperating groove 72 at each end may be utilized for securing the end portions. An inlet opening 75 and an outlet opening 76 (see also FIG. 5) are provided in the top member 69 and preferably these openings are surrounded by upstanding

cylindrical members

77 and 79 to accommodate elevated levels of the water in the tank 70 in the agitation thereof as described hereinbelow. The beads 71 may surround the

cylindrical members

77 and 79. The tank 70 includes an inlet conduit 80 and an outlet conduit 81 for conveying wash water into and out of the tank in the laundering operation. If desired, the conduit 81 of the rinse unit 34 may be connected with the conduit 80 of the washer unit 32 to provide transfer of the rinse water from the rinsing unit to the washing unit to increase the efficiency of the overall operation.

In feeding the towel 30 through the unit it may be fed over one or more guide rollers 82, there being two shown in the present unit, according to practical considerations encountered in the individual installations.

The direction of conveying the towel 30 through the unit is assumed to be from left to right as represented by the arrows 84 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The wash water indicated at a level 85 in the tank is agitated by cylindrical drums 86 which in this case are two in number. The drums are provided with stub shafts 87 which are welded directly to a pair of endless chains 89 which ride on angle iron tracks 90 and 91 incorporated in the stand 66. Preferably the drums are rotatable on the stub shafts, and spaced apart evenly through the closed circuit linear length of the endless chains. The chains are mounted on suitable guide rollers 92 at least one of which is driven by a suitable power means which drives the chains, in the present instance, in clockwise direction as indicated by the arrows 94. These chains carry the drums in a corresponding path, and as the drums move along the upper track 90 they engage the flexible bag 67 and flex it substantially above its normal lowermost depending position, the upper track 90 being so located to accomplish that functiOn. The tracks 90 and 91 an: the flexible bag 67 are so dimensioned that each drum engages the flexible bag throughout the length of the latter, and as it does so, it flexes the bag to a position closely adjacent the top member 69. This produces a high degree of agitation of the wash water in the bag. The water flows or runs from the high point on the front side of the druM as the latter engages the bag, and as the drum moves along, the net effect is for the water to wash progressively over the drum and in reverse direction, i.e., to the left as viewed in FIG. 2. As each drum completes its course along the bag, it proceeds down the lower track 91, and the other drum is then raised into engagement with the bag and carried therealong, with nearly continuous agitation. In the case of two drums, the agitation is interrupted only by the intervals required for each drum to rise from its lower position to its upper position. However more than two drums may be used, and in that case, there is no interruption. This agitation produces an unusually effective washing action, the wash water being literally lifted and forced upwardly which causes the water to pass through the towel. As the water recedes downwardly, it again passes through the towel and produces additional washing action. The engagement by the drum with the bag may lift the level of water to a substantial height reaching into the

cylindrical members

77, 79, the latter also serving to prevent splashing of the water.

The action of the drums in moving along the bag tends to carry the towel in the same direction, as indicated by the dotted-line arrow 84. This is the direction of travel of the towel through the apparatus, in the assumed example, and because of the relatively great length of the tank required for effective washing action, it is difficult to thread or lead the towel through. This action by the drum tends to so thread or lead the towel therethrough so that there is no absolute requirement for a leader to be utilized, although it is desirable to use such leader. However, this action of working the towels through the unit may be utilized in the case of small pieces which are not interconnected. In feeding the first towel into the unit, the leading end thereof, and in the case of a small piece, the whole piece, would tend to bunch up at the end of the tank as indicated at 96 in FIG. 5. In the case of long towel, the leading end may be picked up manually from the outlet opening 76 of the tank of a unit 32 and then fed into the inlet opening of the next unit 34, or rinsing unit. In the case of small pieces, the pieces may be lifted out manually, but preferably they are withdrawn by suitable mechanical means such as a grapple fork type of instrument 95, whereupon they are then fed into the next unit, i.e., the rinsing unit.

For use with mall pieces, it may be desired to locate the pulleys 92 to provide a return run 98 of the chains 89 (FIG. 5) at a position spaced from the terminal end of the bag 67 to provide a pocket 100 beyond the range of movement of the drums, into which the small pieces drop. This pocket or dead area enables the small pieces to accumulate there without disturbance and possible backward movement thereof from the agitation by the drums.

If it should be desired, additional guide rollers 82 may be provided in the tank adjacent the ends thereof as shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 2 to guide the long towels into and from the tank, when the towels are being drawn through the apparatus by the driving wheels 44.

Preferably reverse flow of both the wash water and rinse wateR is provided for more efficient operation and in the case assumed and represented in FIG. 2, the flow of both of those waters is from niGht to left, or counter the direction of movement of the towels.

I claim:

1. Laundering apparatus comprising a flexible container for wash water haVing an entrance end opening and an exit end opening, and means for flexing the flexible container, and thereby agitating the water and the goods therein and also thereby moving goods introduced into the container through the entrance end opening continuously to the exit end opening to a position from which they can be removed through the exit end opening.

2. Laundering apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flexible container is a tube open at both ends, and the means for agitating the water and goods includes means for engaging the tube on the exterior thereof and flexing the tube and thereby agitating the water and the goods therein.

3. Laundering apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means engaging the flexible tube for agitating the water therein so engages it at one end and moves along the length of the tube, progressively agitating the water therein throughout the length of the tube.

4. Laundering apparatus for continuous laundering, including a frame, a flexible tube mounted in the upper portion of the frame and having an entrance opening and an exit opening, the frame including vertical tubular means connected with the openings of the flexible tube and extending upwardly therefrom, the flexible tube being adapted for containing water, and for the introduction of goods to be laundered through the entrance opening and moved through the tube and removed therefrom through the exit opening, continuous chains mounted in the frame below the flexible tube and movable in an endless path about transverse axes and defining an upper run and lower run, a drum mounted on the chains, the relation and positioning of the parts being such that when the drum is on the upper member and is supported thereby.

Claims

4. Laundering apparatus for continuous laundering, including a frame, a flexible tube mounted in the upper portion of the frame and having an entrance opening and an exit opening, the frame including vertical tubular means connected with the openings of the flexible tube and extending upwardly therefrom, the flexible tube being adapted for containing water, and for the introduction of goods to be laundered through the entrance opening and moved through the tube and removed therefrOm through the exit opening, continuous chains mounted in the frame below the flexible tube and movable in an endless path about transverse axes and defining an upper run and lower run, a drum mounted on the chains, the relation and positionIng of the parts being such that when the drum is on the upper run of the chains, it extends upwardly beyond the bottom edge of the flexible tube, and in the progress of the chains it moves along the flexible tube while in continuous engagement therewith and agitates the water and goods in the water in the flexible tube, throughout substantially the length of the tube.

5. Laundering apparatus according to claim 4 in which the frame includes a longitudinal supporting piece, and the flexible tube, substantially throughout its length between said openings, surrounds the supporting member and is supported thereby.