US3744325A

US3744325A - Agitating and spinning drive mechanism for a clothes washer

Info

Publication number: US3744325A
Application number: US00232175A
Authority: US
Inventors: B Brucken
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1969-02-11
Filing date: 1972-03-06
Publication date: 1973-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-10

Abstract

A dry-type roller drive mechanism for the agitator and spin tub of a washing machine has a reversible motor utilized to rotate a driven spin roller through a friction drive including a selfenergizing roller and to oscillate a slider crank drum through an improved slider crank drive, and wherein a clutch mechanism including the slider crank drum is utilized upon the direction of rotation of the reversible motor to selectively impart to the agitator the oscillatory motion of the slider crank drum during a washing cycle and to the spin tub through the self-energizing roller the rotary motion of the driven spin roller during a spin cycle.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 11 1 3,744,325 Brucken July 10, 1973 [54] AGITATING AND SPINNING DRIVE 2,810,295 10/1957 Voss 74/82 MECHANISM FOR A CLOTHES WASHER 2,826,056 3/1958 Bruckmanm. 192/18 R 3,490,569 l/l970 Reed l92/l8 R [75] Inventor: Byron L. Brucken, Dayton, Ohio FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assgnee' 5l4,406 12/1930 Germany 74/82 [22] Filed: Mar. 6, 1972 Primary Examiner-Charles .l. Myhre Assistant ExaminerWesley S. Ratliff, Jr. [21] Appl' 232475 Attorney-W. s. Pettigrew'and F. M. Ritchie Related US. Application Data [60] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 95,626, Dec. 7, 1970, [57] ABSTRACT abandoned, which is a division of Ser. No. 798,298, Feb 11, 1969 Pat. 3,584,482. A dry-type roller drive mechanism for the agitator and spin tub of a washing machine has a reversible motor 52 US. Cl 74/82 74/78 192/4 R utilized mate a drive" mile thmugh {92/18 68/237 drive including a self-energizing roller and to oscillate 51 1111. C1. F1611 21/90 Fl 6d 11/10 a slider crank drum thmugh impmved Slider crank [58] Field of Search 74/82 78 75- drive and wherein a Clutch mechanism including the 68/23. 192/4 8 slider crank drum is utilized upon the direction of rotation of the reversible motor to selectively impart to the [56] References Cited agitator the oscillatory motion of the slider crank drum UNITED STATES PATENTS during a washing cycle and to the spin tub through the self-energizing roller the rotary motion of the driven 68/23.7 Spin roller during a spin cycle 2,728,428 l2/l955 Cohen 192/4 R 20 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures Patented July 10, 1973 3,744,325

8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented July 10, 1973 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 10, 1973 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 10, 1973 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 10, 1973 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 k m.. (f /7 9 1% Patented July 10, 1973 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented July 10, 1973 3,744,325

8 Sheets-Sheet 8 AGITATING AND SPINNING DRIVE MECHANISM FOR A CLOTHES WASHER This is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application, Ser. No. 95,626, filed Dec. 7, 1970 now abandoned, which is a Division of my then co-pcnding application, Ser. No. 798,298, filed Feb. 11, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,482 patented June 15, 1971.

This invention relates to a domestic appliance and, more particularly, to an improved oscillating and spinning drive mechanism for a clothes washer.

In the clothes washing art, agitating and spinning mechanisms have become quite complex requiring the utilization of many parts and in many cases requiring a bulky lubrication system. As the number of parts increase, there is often a proportionate increase in weight, space requirements, and cost. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a simplified oscillating and spinning drive mechanism which will require fewer parts, eliminate the critical need for lubrication, and provide a savings in cost, weight, and space requirements. In the washing machine art, a reduction in weight and space requirements provides the potential of either an increase in load capacity or decrease in unit size.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an oscillating and spinning drive mechanism for a washing apparatus of the dry running type broadly taught in my US. Pat. No. 3,087,321, granted Apr. 30, 1963.

In keeping with the simplified oscillating and spinning drive mechanism, it is an object of this invention to provide a friction roller rotary drive and an automatically adjusted slider crnak oscillatory drive, both of which drives can be imparted to a single output drive shaft.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a simplified clutch mechanism which, dependent upon the direction of rotation of the reversible motor, selectively engages either the oscillatory drive or the rotary drive to impart the selected motion to the tub drive shaft.

It is a further object of this invention to proivde an improved self-retracting roller in the friction roller rotary drive to decrease scuffing wear during the washing cycle.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved roller drive mechanism having output shaft means at a single location drivable for producing oscillation and spin at one end thereof, a reversible motor for driving said shaft means, an improved slider crank mechanism between said motor and said shaft means for effecting said oscillation, a self-energizing roller mechanism between said motor and said shaft means for effecting said spin, and a clutch on the other end of said shaft means operable selectively in accordance with the direction of motor rotation to place one of said mechanisms in driving relationship with said shaft means.

An advantage of this invention lies in the fact that manufacturing tolerances are less critical than those in other washing machine drive mechanisms.

Another advantage of this invention lies in the economy of design wherein fewer components are required which results in cost savings, a weight savings, and a space requirement savings.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description,

reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical elevation with parts broken away of a clothes washing machine provided with one embodiment of the dry running oscillating and spinning drive mechanism of this invention adapted to oscillate and spin a unitary spin tub and agitator;

FIG. 2 is a vertical elevation with parts broken away of the oscillating and spinning drive mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 to show the oscillating and spinning drive mechanism with the slider crank arm in a plurality of operating positions;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary isometric view of the oscillating and spinning drive mechanism of one embodiment of this invention showing one form of cable arrangement with the slider crank arm;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a clutch mechanism utilized in the oscillating ad spinning drive mechansim of one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the clutch members of a cone-type of clutch mechanism suitable for use with said one form of the invention and with parts removed to show the clutch actuating cam surfaces;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the intermediate pulley belt tensioning device;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the slider crank and slider crank drum;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the roller retraction device shown in FIG. 3 and suitable for use with this invention;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the one embodiment of this invention with another form of belt tensioning device and cable arrangement;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the clutch members of a disc-type of clutch mechanism suitable for use with said one form of this invention;

FIG. 12 is a vertical elevation with parts broken away of a clothes washing machine provided with a second embodiment of the dry running oscillating and spinning drive mechanism of this invention adapted to oscillate and spin independently a separate spin tub and agitator;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of said second embodiment taken generally along lines 13-13 in FIG. 14;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of said second embodiment taken generally along lines l4l4 in FIG. 12 and showing the drive mechanism in a spinning mode;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary side elevational view partly in section taken along lines 15-15 in FIG. 14 to show a pin and socket type of clutch suitable for use with said second embodiment; and

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of said sec- 0nd embodiment taken generally along lines l6l6 in FIG. 12 and showing the drive mechanism in an oscillating mode.

GENERAL In accordance with this invention and with reference to the embdoiments of FIGS. 1 and 12 (primed reference numbers indicating counterparts), a clothes washer 2 is shown having an outer tub or water container 4. The outer tub 4 is mounted on a suspension system having a support plate 6 which is located by a plurality of support braces 8 extending upwardly from an upper convex plate 10. A lower convex plate 12 forms part of the clothes washer base. A snubber shuttle 14 is sandwiched between the upper convex plate 10 and the lower convex plate 12. The snubber shuttle 14 is free to move according to the forces applied by the upper and lower convex plates. The upper convex plate 10 and, therefore, the support braces 8, support plate 6, and outer tub 4 are centrally located with respect to the washing machine casing by a plurality of suspension springs 15. Frictional forces between the

plates

10 and 12 and the snubber shuttle 14 provide the dampening forces for the suspension system. The springs 15 not only provide a centering bias for the suspension system, but also provide a downward force which, along with the weight of the washing machine components and clothes load, help increase the dampening characteristics by increasing the frictional forces between the snubber shuttle l4 and the

plates

10 and 12. My US. Pat. No. 3,493,118, granted Feb. 3, 1970, described a suspension system of this type in detail.

Mounted within the outer tub 4 is an inner tub or spin tub 16. In one form of this invention, an agitator 18 is integrally molded with, and centrally located. within, the spin tub 16. It is also within the purview of this invention to attach an independent agitator to the spin tub 16 to form a unitary structure. Either way, and considering using a plastic such as polypropylene as the material for molding, a weight savings is obtained. In the FIG. 12 embodiment, the spin tub 16' is perforate and the agitator 18 is separate and independent from the spin tub.

. Supported beneath the support plate is the oscillating and spinning drive mechanism 20 of the clothes washer which is the subject of this invention (FIG. 1). Extending upwardly from the oscillating and spinning drive mechansim 20 is a single shaft means comprising a single shaft housing means 21 and a tub drive shaft 22 which has shaft portions adapted selectively for oscillation and rotation. The tub drive shaft 22 extends through the support plate 6 and the outer tub 4. The tub drive shaft 22 is rotatably mounted with respect to the support plate 6 by a sleeve bearing 23. Located on the upper end of the tub drive shaft 22 as a portion thereof is a vaned spin tub and agitator support 24 (FIG. 2). The agitator 18 is integrally molded with, and centrally located with respect to, the spin tub 16. The agitator portion 18 is slipped over the spin tub and agitator support 24 so as to provide through different faces of a support vanes a driving connection between the tub drive shaft 22 and the integral spin tub and agitator l6 and 18 for either oscillation or rotation. This driving connection may thus be maintained by the weight of the spin tub l6 and the weight of the load located therein. In the embodiment of FIG. 12 the agitator 18 is separate from the spin tub 16'. Thus, the single shaft means of FIG. 1 becomes in FIG. 12 the single shaft housing 21 enclosing concentric agitate and spin shaft portions 220 (agitate) and 22s (spin). The bearings required in this second embodiment of my invention are sleeve bearings 23a between the agitate and spin shaft portions and ball bearings 23s between the spin shaft portion and the shaft housing.

DRIVE MECHANISM (UNITARY SPIN TUB AND AGITATOR) For a general understanding of my improved roller drive mechanism for driving a unitary tub and agitator, refer now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 10. The oscillating and spinning drive mechanism 20 is driven by a reversible prime mover which, in the preferred forms, is a reversible electric motor 28 which also drives a pump 26 (FIG. 2) in the water circulation system of the washing machine. The oscillaling and spinning drive mechanism 20 can be analyzed as having rotating drive train 30 and an oscillating or agitate drive means 80.

SPIN DRIVE The rotating drive train 30, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, includes a spin drive roller 32 which is made of a polyurethane sleeve surrounding and frictionally engaging a spindle 33 extending from the reversible motor 28. The spin drive roller 32 frictionally drives a spin idler roller 34 which frictionally drives a driven spin roller or drum 36 which is relatively rotatably mounted about the tub drive shaft 22.

The spin idler roller 34 is maintained in position by an idler roller retraction device 40 best shown in FIGS. 4 and 9. The idler roller retraction device 40 is similar to the roller retraction assembly described in detail in the US. Pat. No. 3,287,942, issued to Brackman et al. on Nov. 29,1966. The idler roller retraction device 40 has a U-shaped bracket 42 having arms 44 and 46 held apart by a spacer sleeve 48. Located between the arms 44 and 46 are a pair of

pivot links

50 and 52. A bushing 54 is located between and rotatably mounted by the pivot links 50 and 52. The bushing 54 is located concentrically with respect to the spacer sleeve 48 and has an internal diameter larger than the external diameter of the spacer sleeve so that the bushing 54 may move radially with respect to the spacer 48. An aluminum cast die insert 56 is press fit on the bushing 54. A polyurethane tire 58 is molded on the aluminum insert 56 so that the bushing 54, the insert 56,'and the tire 58 form as a unit the spin idler roller 34.

An improved biasing arrangement comprises a part of my roller retraction device. Tabs 60 and 62 are formed in the U-shaped bracket support arms 44 and 46, respectievely. Mounted on the tabs 60 and 62 are two small coil springs 64 and 66. The springs 64 and 66 also seat respectively in holes 68 and 70 formed in the pivot links 50 and 52, respectively. The two small coil springs bias the pivot links and bushing 54 away from the base of the U-shaped bracket 42. The idler roller retraction device is mounted on the washing machine support plate 6 by a bolt 72 extending through the spacer 48. A tab 74 extends outwardly from the bracket support arm 44 and is inserted in a hole located in the support plate 6 to limit the pivoting of the U- shaped bracket 42 around the bolt 72.

The idler roller retraction device 40 with the spin idler roller 34 is mounted so as to locate the spin idler roller 34 between the spin drive roller 32 and the driven spin roller 36 in a self-energizing manner as shown in FIG. 3 and earlier taught in my US. Pat. No. 3,087,321. The srpings 64 and 66 bias the spin idler roller 34 into engagement with the

rollers

32 and 36.

When the spin drive roller 32 is driven counterclockwise (FIG. 3), the spin idler roller 34 will be driven clockwise. The firctional forces between the rollers 32 and 34 along with the biasing forces of the springs 64 and 66 will help draw the spin idler roller 34 into engagement with the spin drive roller 32 and the driven spin roller 36. The driven spin roller 36, now being driven in a counterclockwise direction, will impart this motion to the spin tub 16 through the tub drive shaft 22 and a clutch 136 to be described hereinafter.

However, when the direction of rotation of the spin drive roller 32 is reversed, the frictional forces between the roller 32 and the spin idler roller 34 will work against the springs 64 and 66 so as to push the idler spin roller 34 toward the base of the U-shaped bracket 42, and thus reduce the frictional forces between rollers 34 and 36 in the rotating drive train 30. Thus, the idler roller retraction device 40 accomplishes its purpose of increasing the frictional driving forces of the rotating drive means 30 during the spin operation of the washing machine, and to reduce a rubbing or scuffing action between the spin rollers during an oscillating or washing action of the washing machine which is described in detail below.

AGITATE DRIVE The oscillating drive train 80 is best shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10. The reversible motor 28 directly drives an oscillator drive pulley 82 which is part of spindle 33. The first intermediate pulley 86 is driven by the oscillator drive pulley through a first belt 84. Extending from the first intermedaite pulley 86 is a second intermediate pulley 88 which drives another rotating memeber or driven oscillator pulley 92 by means of a second belt 90. This pulley drive system provides a speed reduction between the motor and the driven oscillator pulley. Extending downwardly from the driven oscillator pulley is a slider crank pin 94. An elongated member or slider crank arm 96 is rotatably mounted at one end on the slider crank pin 94. A flexible slider crank member or band 98 is connected to the slider crank arm 96 at both ends. The flexible slider crank member 98 forms a continuous bond in that there are no joints throughout its length and it extends or wraps around the outer periphery of a slider crank drum 100 as best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 10.

The flexible slider crank member is formed of a material having sufficient flexibility so as to wrap and unwrap repeatedly around the slider crank drum throughout an extended appliance life expectancy of 15 years and having limited stretch characteristics. Several materials have proven satisfactory for the flexible slider crank member; namely, stainless steel in several forms such as bands, or cables in various arrangements. However, in the preferred form, the flexible slider crank member comprises two pairs of continuous

flexible cable members

102 and 104. The cables are of multistranded l9 filament) steel wires twisted together and then covered with a plastic polyamide coating as shown in FIG. 5. The first pair of cables 102 (FIG. 5) may be located slightly above the second pair of cables 104 and is joined to the slider crank arm 96 at an adjustable connection or cable tensioner 106 (FIG. shows a preferred arrangement wherein cable pair 104 straddles cable pair 102). The first pair of dables 102 partially extends around the slider crank drum 100 and is joined to the drum 100 by a cable key 110 which fits in a drum indentation 108 (FIG. 8). The lower or second pair of cables 104 is joined to the slider crnak arm at the end opposite the adjustable connection 110 and also extends partially around the slider crank drum 64 so as to also be joined to the drum by the cable key at the drum identation 108.

CABLE TENSIONER The flexible slider crank member is fastened to the slider crank arm 96 by an automatic cable tensioning device as best shown in FIG. 8. The slider crank arm 96 is rotatably secured to the driven oscillator pulley 92 by the slider crank pin 94. At the end of the slidr crank arm 96 farthest from the slider crank pin 94 is a slider crank arm extension 114 having a notch 166. Located toward the slider crank pin end of the slider crank arm 96 is a section extension or projection 118. The extension 118 has a surface 120 which is slanted at a slight angle away from the pin 94. The two pair of

cables

102 and 104 are each embedded at one end thereof in the cable key 110 which, in turn, fits into the drum indentation 108. The free ends of the second pair of cables 104 are embedded in a cable end piece 121 which, in turn, is riveted to a flat connector piece 122 having an opening 124. Similarly, the free ends of the first pair of cables 102 are embedded in a cable end piece 124 which, in turn, is riveted to a connector piece 126 having an opening 128. The second pair of cables 104 is wrapped partially around the drum 100 from the cable key 110 and the connector piece 122 is slid over the end of extension 114 so that the opening 124 may catch in notch 116. The first pair of cables 102 is wrapped from the cable key 110 around the slider crank drum 100 in a direction opposite that of the second pair of cables 104. The free end of the first pair of cables 102 having the connector piece 126 is then positioned so that the opening 128 engages the slanted surface 120 of the slider crank arm extension 118. NOte from FIG. 8 that as the connector piece 126 is pushed on the slanted surface toward the base of the extension 118, greater tuension is put on the cables 102, thus tightening the pair of

cables

102 and 104 around the slider crank drum 100. A spring 130 is positioned in a hole 132 of the slider crank arm 96. The free end of spring 130 is pulled upwardly against a spring pin 134 extending through the slider crank arm 96 so that the free end of the spring 130 engages the connector piece 126 of the first pair of cables 102 so as to bias the connector 126 in a cable tensioning direction on the slanted surface 120. This adjustable connection provides an automatic tensioning on the cables and at the same time provides an automatic adjustment for any wear occurring in the slider crank mechanism. Furthermore, this tension, along with the wrapping of the cables around the slider crank drum, holds the cable key 1 10 in the drum indentation 108. When it is desired to remove the cables, the connector piece 126 is released from spring 130 and the cable key 110 drops out of the drum indentation 108 so that the whole cable assembly can be removed from the drum and slider crank arm.

AGITATE DRIVE OPERATION As the driven oscillator pulley 92 rotates, the slider crank arm 96 will move through a series of

phantom positions

96, 96A, 96B and 96C as shown in FIG. 3 due to the pivotal connection with slider crank pin 94 and the engagement of the flexible slider crank member 98 with the slider crank drum 100. It is readily seen that, as the slider crank arm 96 is moved, the flexible slider crank member 98 will reciprocate tangentially with respect to the slider crank drum 100. Since the flexible slider crank member 98 wraps around slider crank drum 100 and since the flexible slider crank member both fixedly and frictionally engages the slider crank drum 100, the reciprocating tangential motion of the flexible slider crank member 98 will impart an oscillatory motion to the slider crank drum 100. Regardless of the direction of rotation of the driven oscillator pulley 92, the slider crank arm 96 and flexible slider crank member 98 will reciprocate tangentially with respect to the slider crank drum 100 and thus create the oscillatory motion.

As shown in FIGS. and 8, the slider crank drum 100 is positioned so as to oscillate around the tub drive shaft 22. In the preferred form, while the slider crank drum 100 is cylindrical in form, it is mounted slightly offset from the center of the tub drive shaft 22, thus giving an eccentric mounting for the slider crank drum 100 with respect to the tub drive shaft 22. There is a slightly longer moment arm between the slider crank arm and the tub drive shaft 22 when the slider crank arm 96 is at the beginning and end of each stroke, which is when acceleration is highest. Thus, when the slider crank arm is in

positions

96 and 968, as shown in FIG. 3, the slider crank drum will be at a higher eccentricity and thus the pseed of changing direction in the socillation of the slider crank drum 100 is reduced. When the slider crank arm is in mid-stroke, such as that shown in

positions

96A and 96C in FIG. 3, which is where acceleration is lowest and velocity is highest, the point of tangency of the flexible member 98 with the slider crank drum 100 is of lowest eccentricity with respect to the tub drive shaft 22 a point diametrically opposite the drum indentation 108. While the slider crank drum need not be mounted off center with respect to the shaft 22, such a mounting will provide reduced acceleration rates of the slider crank drum when the slider crank drum is changing direction of oscillation.

In the preferred practice of this invention, there will be a speed reduction of approximately 25 to 1 between the oscillator drive pulley 82 and driven oscillator pulley 92. Thus, a motor speed of 1,750 rpm will give a driven oscillator pulley rotation of 70 rpm. The radial distance between the center of the driven oscillator pulley 92 and the center of the slider crank pin 94 is approximately 3.14 inches, thus giving a slider crank arm movement of 70 strokes a minute at approximately 6.28 inches per stroke. With the slider crank drum 100 having a radius of 1.466 inches offset approximately 0.20 inches from the center of the tub drive shaft, there will be an oscillation of approximately a 246 degrees per stroke at 70 strokes a minute.

DRIVE CLUTCH AND OPERATION FIGS. 5 and 6 show a simplified cone-type. clutch member 135 which is utilized in one form of this invention. A drive clutch member or first portion of the clutch 136 is press fit through an inner stem or agitate clutch cam 144 on the tub drive shaft 22 as a lower portion thereof and is further fastened to the shaft 22 by a bolt 138 so that any motion imparted to the clutch 136 is imparted to the tub drive shaft 22. The driven spin roller 36 includes a roller inner sleeve or spin clutch cam 156 which forms the second portion of the clutch. The inner sleeve 156 is located above the first portion 136 of the clutch and is biased downwardly by an agitate clutch coil spring 150 which seats against a bearing 152. The driven spin roller 36 with the inner sleeve 156 can move axially and rotate with respect to the shaft 22 to condition the first portion 136 of the clutch for either oscillation or rotation. Upward motion of the bearing 152 is prevented by a tub drive shaft pin 154 and the bearing 152 through the spring 150 limits upward axial motion of the driven spin roller 36. The

clutch first portion 136 has a tapered outer periphery 140. A sleeve bearing 142 is positioned around the inner stem 144 of the clutch member 136. The slider crank drum which is also the third portion of the clutch, rides on the bearing 142 and has a tapered inner periphery 146. The sleeve bearing 142 has an outwardly extending bearing flange 148 which provides a bearing surface between the slider crank drum 100 and the driven spin roller 36.

The bottom surface of the inner sleeve 156 of the driven spin roller 36 is provided with a cam surface having two vertical portions 160 and two helical portions 162 as shown in FIG. 6. The inner upper surface of the clutch inner stern 144 is also provided with a clutch cam surface having complementary vertical portions 164 and helical portions 166. When the driven spin roller 36 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the cam

vertical portions

160 and 164 abut and the driven spin roller 36 with inner sleeve 156 may move axially with respect to the clutch member 136. The coil spring 150 can now bias the inner sleeve 156 of the driven soin roller 36 downwardly against the bearing flange 148 which, in turn, forces downwardly against the slider crank drum 100. When the slider crank drum 100 is thus biased downwardly, the drum tapered inner periphery 146 engages the clutch tapered outer periphery 140. The two tapered peripheries form a frustoconical friction clutch interface and, thus, the oscillation motion of the slider crank dram 100 is imparted to the clutch member 136. Since the clutch member 136 is press fit to the tub drive shaft 22, this oscillatory motion will be imparted to the spin tub l6 and agitator 18 to provide an oscillatory agitating or washing motion during the wash cycle of the washing machine. The bolt 138 is utilized to prevent any downward motion of the clutch member 136 and to help secure the press fit of the clutch member 136 to tub drive shaft 22. The driven spin roller 36 oscillates wih the clutch 136 and overrides the lightly touching engagement of idler roller 34 in order to effect a non-driving engagement.

When the reversible motor 28 is reversed for a spin operation, and thus the driven spin roller 36 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the cam

helical portions

162 and 166 will engage and thus bias the inner sleeve 156 of the driven spin roller 36 upwardly against the coil spring 150 since the clutch member 136 is fixed relative to the tub drive shaft 22' and cannot more downwardly. As the coil spring 150 is compressed, the downward spring biasing force on the slider crank drum 100, through the sleeve bearing flange 148, is relieved and the normal force between the tapered peripheries and 146 is reduced to a point such that the oscillating slider crank drum 100 will slip relative to the clutch 136 in order to effect a non-driving engagement. Thus, the oscillatory motion of the slider crank drum 100, which continues throughout the spin, will cease to be imparted to the clutch member 136 and the tub drive shaft 22.

During this counterlockwise rotation of both the reversible motor 28 and the driven spin roller 36, the spin idler roller 34 will be self-energized into a wedging or power transmitting engagement with the driven spin roller 36 by the roller retraction device 40, as explained above. The upward motion of the driven spin roller 36 is limited by the bearing'152'and the tub drive shaft roll pin 154, shown in FIG. 5. This limiting of the upward motion of the driven spin roller 36 insures a continuous engagement of the

helical cam portions

162 and 166 when the driven spin roller 36 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 and 6. Therefore, the counterclockwise rotary motion of the driven spin roller 36 is imparted to the clutch member 136 through the inner sleeve 156 and the

helical cam portions

162 and 166. Since the spin idler roller 34 is in a wedging or power transmitting engagement with the driven spin roller 36 and since the slider crank drum 100 may now slip with respect to the clutch member 136, the counterclockwise rotary motion of the driven spin member 36 overrides any oscillatory motion of the slider crank drum 100 and thus a rotary motion is imparted to the clutch member 136 and tub drive shaft 22. This provides a rotary or spin motion for the spin tub and agitator 16.

FIG. 11 shows a disc-type clutch 135" suitable for use with this invention in place of the cone-type clutch 135. The agitate or slider crank drum 100" is held to the tub support shaft 22 by means fo the clutch 135" with pressure from the agitate spring 150 in the driven spin roller 36. This spring during agitate presses the pressure plate 137 and the stack-up of clutch plates 139 and the linings 141 together against the bottom of the slider crank drum 100". The drum is held secure to the agitate clutch hub 143 by means of a clutch retaining plate 145. The agitate clutch hub is secured to the shaft by means of a taper in the end of shaft 22 and a bolt 138".

To initiate the spinning action, the agitate clutch 135" must be free to slip between the linings and clutch plates. As the motor shaft driver 32 starts to rotate (FIG. the toggle action of the spin roller 34 in its mount wedges into a positive driving contact between the surfaces of the driver 32, spin roller 34 and driven spin roller 36 with attached clutch 135". As the spin roller 36 rotates counterclockwise, it carries the spin clutch plate 202" and spin clutch cam 156 with it. The two are interlocked. This forceful movement causes the spin clutch cam 156" to ride up the camming surface 166" of the agitate clutch cam 144". This camming action causes the spin clutch plate (as well as the rest of the spin roller and enclosed secondary clutch assembly 200" to be described next following) to move up. When the spin clutch plate moves up (partially. compressing the agitate spring 150"), it also releases the pressure plate 137 allowing slippage betweenthe agitate clutch plates 139 and linings 141. These parts are separated by the force of the bow in each clutch plate. These results in a minimum drag on the clutch surfaces during slippage in spin. The tub support shaft 22 and component portions thereof are now free to spin while the slider crank drum 100" continues to be oscillated by the drive cables as in agitate.

Removing the spin force applied to the spin roller and secondary clutch assembly by deenergizing the motor 28 allows the spin clutch cam 156" to back down from its pressure contact on the slipping surface of the agitate clutch arm 144". This results In an immediate response of spring tension to the agitate pressure plate 137, producing braking torque from the agitate clutch This creates a positive brake for the spin cycle capable of bringing an empty tub to a full stop in approximately 3 seconds. v

DRIVEN SPIN ROLLER CLUTCH A secondary clutch 200 may be provided within the driven spin roller 36 (FIG. 5). The main purpose of this secondary clutch 200 is to increase the life of the mechanism by providing another surface where slippage can occur during the peak moments of acceleration and deceleration or change of direction of drive of the agitate and spin drive mechanism 20. The secondary clutch indludes a clutch plate 202 extending radially from the spin roller inner stem 156 of the spin clutch cam so that motion imparted to the clutch plate 202 is imparted to the inner stem and vice versa. A top clutch lining 204 and a bottom clutch lining 206 are positioned parallel and adjacent the clutch plate 202. Each

clutch lining

204 and 206 has an undulating peripheral edge which extends into the complementarily undulating inner surface of the drive spin roller 36 to form a rather splinelike connection therewith so that motion of the driven spin roller is imparted to the clutch linings and vice versa. The bottom clutch lining 206 rides on washer 208 which, in turn, rides against the bottom cover 210 of the driven spin roller 36. Located directly above the top clutch lining 204 is a clutch spring guide 212. A clutch spring retainer 214 is located near the top of the inside of the driven spin roller 36 and is positioned in one of the plurality of internal grooves 216. A clutch spring 218 is positioned between the clutch spring retainer 214 and the clutch spring guide 212 so as to bias the

clutch linings

204 and 206 into a tight sandwich against the clutch brake 202. The plurality of internal grooves are provided so that the clutch spring retainer 214 may be adjusted vertically so as to vary the biasing force of the clutch spring 218 and' thus provide a method to adjust the point of slippage of the clutch inner spaces between the

clutch linings

204 and 206 with the clutch plate 202.

Rotary motion of the driven spin roller 36 is imparted to the inner sleeve 156 through the

clutch linings

204 and 206 and the clutch plate 202. Thus, a clockwise rotation of the driven spin roller 36 as shown in FIG. 6 will impart a clockwise rotation of the inner sleeve 156 so that the vertical cam portion 160 of the inner sleeve 156 can engage the vertical cam portion 164 of the clutch inner stern 144. At this time the spring causes a downward motion of the inner sleeve 156 so as to force the engagement of the slider crank drum 100 with the clutch 136 as described above. When the driven spin roller 36 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, this counterclockwise rotation will be imparted to the inner sleeve 156 again through the

clutch linings

204 and 206 and clutch plate 202. This causes the

helical cam portions

162 and 166 to engage so as to force the inner sleeve 156 upwardly against spring 150 as described above. The compression of the spring 218 is sufficient to eliminate slippage between the clutch linings and the clutch plate 202 during normal mode of operation of the drive mechanism. I-Iowever, limited slippage may occur at the point when the mode of operation of the drive mechanism is changed if excessive torque might be applied such as during a change from oscillation to spinning or vice versa or during braking. This reduces wear and tear on the mechanism and thus increases the life. It is thus seen that, except when excess torque might be applied, the driven spin roller 36, the clutch 200 and the inner sleeve 156 act as a single unit and thus rotate together.

BRAKING The clutch 136 and slider crank drum 100 of this arrangement also provide a unique braking system of the spin tub 16 (FIG. 2). At the end of the spin cycle, the power to the reversible motor 28 si shut off causing the motor to stop. The friction between the elements of the rotating drive means 30 resits the rotation of the driven spin roller 36. Similarly, the friction in the oscillating drive means 80 resists the oscillation of the slider crank drum 100. However, even after the motor 28 is shut off, the spin tub 16 continues to rotate due to the inertia of the combined mass of the spin tub 16 and the clothes load located therein. It is desirable to stop the rotation of the spin tub 16 as quickly as possible after the end of the spin cycle. Since the clutch member 136 is joined to the single spin tub shaft 22, the clutch member 136 also continues to rotate in a counterclckwise direction, as shown in FIG. 3. Since the clutch member 136 continues to rotate and the driven spin roller 36 has stopped rotating, there is a relative rotation between the helical cam portion 162 of the driven spin roller and the helical cam portion 166 of the clutch member (FIG. 6). This relative rotation causes the vertical cam surfaces 160 and 164 to again abut, again making possible axial movement of the driven spin roller 36 with respect to the shaft 22. Since axial movement is possible, the coil spring 150 again biases the inner sleeve 156 and, thus, the driven spin roller 36 downwardly against the bearing flange 148. This downwardly biasing force is then transmitted to the slider crank drum 100 causing the drum inner periphery 146 of the slider crank drum 100 to come into contact with the outer tapered periphery 140 of the clutch 136. The slider crank drum 100 and the clutch 136 are now in the same relative position as occurs during the oscillation drive except that now the slider crank drum 100 is stationary and the clutch 136 is rotating. The rotary motion of the clutch 136 is now imparted to the stationary crank drum 100. As the slider crank drum 100 is rotated, a tangential linear motion is imparted to the slider crank arm 96 through the flexible slider crank member 98. The motion of the slider crank arm 96 is imparted to the driven oscillator pulley 92 against the friction of the oscillating drive means 80. Since the motion imparted to the slider crank drum 100 by the clutch 136 is rotary and not oscillatory, the motion imparted to the slider crank arm 96 is limited by the amount of rotation possible of the driven oscillator pulley 92. i

Returning to FIG. 3, it is seen that as the spin tub overruns the rotation imparted to the slider crank drum 100 is in a counterclockwise direction of rotation. If the slider crank 96 is in the position 96A, there is a rotary motion imparted to the driven oscillator pulley 92 that will be ina counterclockwise direction. Similarly, if the slider crank arm 96 is in the 96C position, the motion imparted to the driven oscillator pulley 92 will be in the clockwise direction. However, once the slider crank arm 96 has reached the position 96B, the forced rotation of the driven oscillator pulley 92 will cause the slider crank arm 96 to move in a direction opposite the tangential linear force being applied by the counterclockwise rotation of the slider crank drum 100. Since the rotation of the slider crank drum prevents the kickback motion of the slider crank arm 96, the slider crank arm 96 will stop in the 96B position, This prevents the slider crank drum 100 from further rotation. Since the slider crank drum 100 is now again stationary, there is relative slippage between the clutch 136 and the slider crank drum 100 (FIG. 5). This slippage creates a frictional braking force on this clutch 136 and, thus a braking force on the shaft 22 and the spin tub 16. Due to the use of the slider crank drum 100 as a brake for the drive clutch 136, in one form of this invention, the slider crank drum 100 is made of a friction brake material. During the initial braking action, part of the initial shock of the braking forces is absorbed by the friction of the oscillating drive means 80 by way of the reaction imparted to the slider crank 96. The remainder of the braking reaction forces not absorbed causes a rotation of the total suspended mass in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3. This counterclockwise direction rotation of the suspended mass is then absorbed by the springs 15 of the suspension system (FIG. 1) so that the total shock or jerk of the braking reaction is not absorbed by the flexible slider crank member 98 in the one for of this invention.

BELT TENSIONER A belt tensioner assembly (FIG. 7) is used in the one form of this invention to provide the proper tension for the belts utilized in the pulley drive system of the oscillating drive means 80. The driven oscillator pulley 92 is rotatably mounted on the support plate 6 by means of a bolt 172 and sleeve bearing 174. The support plate 6 is also provided with an enlarged opening 176. The belt tensioner assembly 170 is provided with an angle bracket 178 mounted below the enlarged opening 176. Located above the opening 176 is a washer 180 having a diameter larger than the internal diameter of the opening. A spacer washer 182 having a thickness slightly larger than the thickness of the support plate 6 is located between the angle bracket 178 and the washer 180. The spacer washer 182 has an outer diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the enlarged opening 176. Positioned below the angle bracket is the combination first intermediate pulley 86 and second intermediate pulley 88 on the sleeve bearing 174. The bolt 172 is utilized to holdthe belt tensioner assembly 170 together and also mount the assembly on the support plate 6. Since the spacer washer 182 is slightly thicker than the support plate 6, and since the outer diameter of the pacer washer 182 is smaller than the internal diameter of the opening 176, the belt tensioner assembly 170 is relatively free to move radially with respect to the center of the opening 176. The lower end of the angle bracket 178 has an opening 188. One hooked end of a coil spring is inserted through the opening 188 while the other hooked end at the other end of the spring is secured to a bracket 192. The coil spring 190 biases the belt tensioner assembly 170 so as to provide a tension for both the first belt 84 in the first intermediate pulley 86 and the second belt 90 in the second intermediate pulley 88. As noted before, the second belt 90 drives the driven oscillating pulley 92 while the first belt 84 is driven by the oscillator drive pulley 82. The coil spring 190 and, thus, the bracket 192 are located at an angle so as to provide a tension of approximately 20 pounds on the first belt 84 and sixty pounds on the second belt 90 through the belt tensioner assembly 170. The assembly 170 is shown in FIG. 3 at a position which will give approximately the proper tensioning for the pulley system in the oscillator drive means 80.

Another belt tensioner assembly 170" is shown in FIG. 10. The sheave or driver 82" on the motor shaft drives a pair of belts 84" that rotate the intermediate pulley 86 clockwise. A second pair of belts 90" is used to transfer this motion to the drive pulley 92. Belt tension for the two pairs of drive belts is provided by a belt tension spring 190", a balancing spring 191, and arm 193 carrying stud 195. The stud acts as the free-floating shaft for intermediate pulley 86, thus producing tension on both belt pairs. The balancing spring 191 biases the tension between both belt pairs.

DRIVE MECHANISM (INDEPENDENT SPIN TUB AND AGITATOR) For a general understanding of my improved roller drive mechanism 20' for driving a spin tub and agitator separately, refer now to FIGS. 12, 13, l4, l5 and 16. Components with similar functions to those in embodiments described hereinbefore will be given the same reference numbers primed. Refer also to the GEN- ERAL description hereinbefore for the clothes washing machine environment for roller drive mechanism In the clothes washer environment of FIG. 12, the

separation of agitator 18 from perforate spin tub 16' requires that the output of the roller drive mechanism 20 from the single shaft housing 21 be divided between an agitate shaft portion 22a (agitate) and a spin shaft portion 22s (spin) concentric therewith. Agitate shaft portion 22a supports agitator 18' and is fastened thereto at agitator support 24a. Spin shaft 22s is fastened as by nut 302 to the spin tub support 24s. Conventional water seals 304 and 306 are provided to prevent water from leaking into the drive mechanism. Shaft housing 21 surrounds agitate and spin shaft portions 22a and 22s and locates the drive mechanism 20 beneath the outer tub or water container 4'. Three brackets 310 are welded to the underside of the water container. Each serves as a connecting point for the support means 6 of the mechanism 20'.

SPIN DRIVE The rotating drive train 30 during spin, as shown in FIGS. l2, l3 and 14, includes a spin and agitage drive pulley 316 laterally displaced from drive pulley 312 on the power shaft of motor 28. Pulleys 312 and 316 are connected by a drive belt 318. Shaft housing 21' is part of a casting which includes the mechanism support 6' and a journal box 320 for the shaft 33' of spin and agitate drive pulley 316, At the other end of shaft 33 is a spin drive roller 32'. Spaced laterally from the pin drive roller is a spin and brake assembly or spin driven frum 36 below the shaft housing 21 and in axial alignment with output drive shaft portions 22a, 22s. lnterposed between the spin drive roller 32' and the spin driven drum 36' is a self-energizing spin idler roller 34' of a type taught in the aforementioned US. Pat. NO. 3,287,942.

Forthe purposes of this description, the spin and brake assembly need not be detailed but such details are here incorporated by reference to the spin wheel nection between the spin drive roller 32 and spin driven drum 36' thereby rotating the spin drum clock wise. Thus, spin drum 36' which is drivingly connected to spin shaft portion 22s operates to rotate spin tub 16.

AGITATE DRIVE The oscillating drive train is best shown in FIGS. 12, 13, 15 and 16. With particular reference to FIG. 16, drive belt 318 is shown to drivingly include drain pump 26' and recirculating pump 326. Both pumps are driven through a pulley 328 in a common plane with pulleys 312 and 316. A driven agitate drum 92 is formed as an annular die-cast wheel or roller mounted for rotation on shaft 330 which is journaled in support 6'. The sidewall 331 of driven agitate drum 92' surrounds a selfenergizing agitate idler roller 332 of the type described in the aforementioned US. Pat. NO. 3,287,942. Drive shaft 33' has a depending extension forming an agitate drive roller 336 adjacent the surface of agitate idler roller 332.

The slider crank portion of drive mechanism 20' includes a slider crank arm 96' pivotally connected to shaft 94' journaled on agitate drum 92 and offset from the axis of rotation of the agitate drum.

A clutch is provided at the lower end of agitate shaft portion 22a. The clutch includes a first portion 136' axially shiftable along the agitate shaft and oscillatingly drivingly keyed thereto through a guide disc 337 having three holes. Clutch portion 136' includes three pins 338 adapted to be journaled in the holes of disc 337 as the clutchportion is raised and lowered by a solenoid actauted linkage 340 pivotally carried in a bracket 342 on support 6'. A slider crank drum 100' is relatively rotatably mounted on the lower end of the agitate shaft portion 22a by bolt 138' and washer Holes 146' in the slider crank drum align with pins 338. When solenoid 341 is energized, linkage 340 will be moved in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 15) so that pins 338 are moved into interlocking engagement with the holes 146 in the slider crank drum. With pins 338 in holes 146, the agitate shaft affixed disc 337 is interlocked for oscillation with slider crank drum 100'. Solenoid 341 will be energized during agitate and deenergized during spin. Completing the slider crank mechanism is a flexible continuous bond comprising cable 98'. The cable in two halves has one end thereof connected at 344 to one end of the slider crank arm 96', the other end thereof connected at 346 to the other end of the slider crank arm, and an intermediate portion including the inner ends of each cable half wrapped in a driving connection about the slider crank drum 100'. The driving connection is formed by keying the inner end of each cable half to the slider crank drum in a manner similar to FIG. 8. As in roller drive mechanism 20, the slider crank drum 100' is eccentrically offset with respect to the agitate shaft portion 22a. Such eccentricity in a slider crank mechanism gives a smoother, more uniform agitate action by approximating harmonic motion of the slider crank drum.. The equal velocity or acceleration thus produced at both ends of the stroke smooths out the distored velocity curve which would otherwise result from rotation of the slider crank arm at offset shaft 94' by the agitate drum 92'.

In operation motor 28' will .rotate drive pulley 316 through belt 318 which, in turn, rotates'agitate drive roller 336. The rotation of agitate drive roller 336 counterclockwise (FIG. 16) causes the agitate idler roller 332 to self-energizingly wedge into a clockwise driving or power transmitting connection between the agitate drive roller 336 and the sidewall 331 of the driven agitate drum 92 thereby rotating the driven agitate drum clockwise. As agitate drum 92' rotates, slider crank arm 96 reciprocates back and forth through the various phantom line positions (FIG. 16) to wrap and unwrap the cable 98' on the slider crank drum 100'. During agitate, pins 338 are engaged in holes 146 in the slider crank drum. This locks guide disc 337 and slider crank drum 100 together. Thus, the wrapping and unwrapping of the cable will oscillate drum 100, pins 338 engaged therewith and, through the guide disc portion of clutch member 136', the agitate shaft 22a. The oscillating motion of the agitate shaft extends through the spin tub t the agitator 18' therein for oscillation thereof.

It should, therefore be seen that an improved oscillating and spinning roller drive mechanism has been devised including a single shaft drive system for either a lightweight combination spin tub and agitator or independent spin tub and agitator. This simplified drive system eliminates the need for an oil bath lubrication system and is provided with tensioning systems so as to keep the drive mechanism in proper adjustment. The roller drive mechanism also utilizes a slider crank mechanism together with simplified clutch mechanisms to impart either an oscillatory washing motion or a rotary spin motion to shaft portions dependent upon the direction of rotation of a drive motor. The present invention provides a simplified roller drive mechanism for a washer which is easily manufactured, relatively inexpensive, light in weight, and having good life characteristics due to a combination of self-adjustment features utilizing less critical manufacturing tolerances than those found in other washing machine drive mechanisms.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed constitute the preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

I claim? 1. An agitating and spinning mechanism comprising single shaft means adapted at one end thereof for oscillating and rotating a clothes washing tub, a reversible motor rotatable for driving said shaft means, support means for said motor and said shaft means, clutch means on the other end of said shaft means for selectively oscillating and rotating said shaft means, said clutch means having a first portion connected to said shaft means, said clutch means having a second portion movable in response to motor rotation selectively to condition said first portion for oscillation or rotation, said cluch means having a third portion between said first and said second portions operable in response to movement of the second portion of said clutch means to engage said first portion for oscillation, and operating means for oscillating said third portion in response to motor rotation, said operating means including aslider crank mechanism having a rotatable pulley,

means drivably connecting said motor to said pulley, a slider crank arm having one end rotatably mounted on said pulley remote from the axis of rotation of said pulley and extending tangentially to said third portion of said clutch means, and a flexible continuous bond having one end thereof connected to said one end of said slider crank arm and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said slider crank arm and having an intermediate portion wrapped in a driving connection about said third portion of said clutch means, whereby rotation of said pulley by said motor cuases said slider crank arm to reciprocate back and forth to wrap and unwrap said flexible continuous bond on said third portion thereby to oscillate said shaft means when said first portion of said clutch means is conditioned for oscillation by the movement of said second portion of said clutch means in response to motor rotation in one direction only.

2. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 1 wherein said first portion and said third portion of said clutch means have means providing a frustro-condical frictional interface between said first and third portion when said third portion is operated so as to engage said first portion.

3. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 1 including spring means biasing said second portion of said clutch means toward said third portion of said clutch means, first cam means on said first portion of said clutch means, second cam means on said second portion of said clutch means complementary to said first cam means, said first and second cam means cooperating upon motor rotation in said one direction to permit said spring means to bias said third portion of said clutch means into driving engagement with said first portion of said clutch means to condition said first portion for oscillation, and said first and second cam means cooperating upon motor rotation in an apposite direction to remove the bias of said spring means from said third portion of said clutch means, to interrupt said driving engagement, whereby said second earn means drives said first cam means upon motor rotation in said opposite direction to rotate said first portion of said clutch means and said single shaft means.

4. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 1 wherein said flexible bond includes a first pair of multi-stranded steel wire cables having one end of said first pair connected to said slider crank arm adjacent the rotatable connection of said slider crank arm with said pulley and the other end thereof fastened to said oscillating means, and a second pair of multi-stranded steel wire cables having one end of said second pair connected to the other end of said slider crank arm and the other end of said second pair fastened to said oscillating means.

5. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 4 wherein each cable in each pair is covered with a plastic polyamide coating.

6. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 4 including a slot in said third portion of said clutch means, automatic tensioning means between said one end of said first pair and said slider crank arm to provide a tensioning bias to said first and second pairs of cables to compensate for wear, and a key joining said other ends of said first and second pairs of cables, and said key being retained in said slot by said tensioning bias.

7. An agitating and spinning mechanism comprising single shaft means adapted at one end thereof for oscillating and rotating a clothes washing tub, a reversible motor rotatable for driving said shaft means, support means for said motor and said shaft means, clutch means on the other end of said shaft means for selectively oscillating and rotating said shaft means, said clutch means having a first portion connected to said shaft means, a rotating means rotatably mounted concentric to and axially movable with respect to said single shaft means, said clutch means having a second portion drivably connected to said rotating means, said rotating means and said second prtion of said clutch means rotating in a first direction upon motor rotation in said first direction and axially movable to condition said first portion of said clutch means for oscillation, said rotating means and said second portion of said clutch means rotating in an opposite direction to said first direction upon motor rotation in said opposite direction and axially movable to condition said first portion of said clutch means for rotation, said clutch means having a third portion between said first and said second portions operable in response to the axial movement of said rotating means and said second portion of said clutch means when rotated in said first direction to engage said first portion of said clutch means, and operating means for oscillating said third portion of said clutch means in response to motor rotation in either direction, said operating means including a slider crank mechanism having a rotatable pulley, means drivably connecting said motor to said pulley, a slider crank arm having one end rotatably mounted to said pulley remote from the axis of rotation of said pulley and extending tangentially to said third portion of said clutch means, and a flexible continuous bond having one end thereof connected to said one end of said slider crank arm and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said slider crank arm and having an intermediate portion wrapped in a driving connection about said third portion of said clutch means, whereby rotation of said pulley by said-motor causes said slider crank arm to reciprocate back and forth to wrap and unwrap said flexible continuous bond on said third portion of said clutch means thereby to oscillate said shaft means when said first portion of said clutch means is conditioned for oscillation by the engagement of said third portion of said clutch means with said first portion of said clutch means due to axial movement of said second portion of said clutch means in response to motor rotation in said first direction, and said rotating means drivingly operating said first portion of said clutch means through said second portion of said clutch means to rotate said shaft means when said first portion of said clutch means is conditioned for rotation by axial movement of said second portion of said clutch means in response to motor rotation in said opposite direction.

8. A brake for an agitating and spinning mechanism comprising a single shaft means adapted at one end thereof for oscillating and rotating a clothes washing tub, a reversible motor rotatable for driving said shaft means, support means for said motor in said shaft means, clutch means on the other end of said shaft means for selectively oscillating and rotating said sahft means, said clutch means having a first portion connected to said shaft means, said clutch means having a second portion movable in response to motor rotation selectively to condition said first portion for oscillation or rotation, said clutch means having a third portion between said first and second portions operable in response to movement of said second portion of the said clutch means to engage said first portion for oscillation, operating means for oscillating said third portion in response to motor rotation in either direction, said operating means including a slider crank mechanism driven by said motor,- spring means biasing said second portion of said clutch means toward said third portion of said clutch means, first cam means on said first portion of said clutch means, and second cam means on said second portion of said clutch means complementary to said first cam means, said first and second cam means cooperating upon motor rotation in a first direction to permit said spring means to bias said third portion of said clutch means into driving engagement with said first portion of said clutch means to condition said first portion for oscillation, said first and second cam means cooperating upon motor rotation in an opposite direc tion to remove the bias of said spring means from said third portion of said clutch means to interrupt said driving engagement, said first and second cam means also cating as drive members upon motor rotation in said opposite direction to rotate said first portion of said clutch means, said second portion and third portion of said clutch means tending to become stationary upon a stop of rotation of said motor, whereupon further rotation of said shaft means and said first portion of said clutch means with respet to said second portion of said clutch means will cause said first and second cam means to cooperate to permit said spring means to bias said third portion of said clutch means into engagement with said first portion of said clutch means so as to provide a frictional braking force n said first portion of said clutch means to decelerate the rotation of said shaft means.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said clutch means comprises a first portion rigidly secured to said other end of said shaft means, a second portion driven by said rotatable means, and said oscillatable means being a third portion of said clutch means located between said first portion and said second portion of said clutch means, said first portion of said clutch means having a first cam means, said second portion of said clutch means having a second cam means complementary with said first cam means, wherein said first and second cam means cooperate to provide axial move ment of said second portion to selectively condition said first portion of said clutch means for oscillation upon rotation of said motor in a first direction and to rotate said first portion upon rotation of said motor in an opposite direction.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said oscillatable means tends to become stationary upon a stop of rotation of said motor and said first and second cam means cooperate to permit said third portion to move into a braking engagement withsaid first portion.

11. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 2 wherein said third portion of said clutch means is made of a friction brake material.

12. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 1 wherein said third portion of said clutch means has a cylindrical outer surface eccentrically mounted with respect to said shaft means so as to reduce the acceleration imparted to said shaft means by said slider crank arm at the beginning and end of said reciprocation of said slider crank arm.

13. An agiating and spinning mechanism for a domestic clothes washing machine comprising single shaft housing means adapted at one end thereof through shaft portions for oscillation and rotation in said clothes washing machine, a reversibke motor means rotatable selectively for driving said shaft portions in agitating or spinning operations, support means for said motor means and said shaft housing means, clutch means and a spin drum at th other end of said shaft housing means for sleectively conditioning said shaft portions for o'scillation and rotation, said clutch means having a first clutch portion drivably connected to said shaft portion for oscillation, said clutch means having a second clutch portion relatively rotatably connected to said shaft portion for oscillation and movable relative to said first clutch portion to provide engagement between said first and second clutch portions when said motor means is rotating in one direction selectively to condition said first clutch portion for oscillation, said clutch means having a third clutch portion relatively rotatably carried on said shaft portion for oscillation and drivably operable in response to the relative movement of said second clutch portion into engagement with said first clutch portion for oscillating said first clutch portion, and operating means for oscillating said third clutch portion in accordance with said one direction of motor means rotation, said operating means including a slider crank mechanism having a rotatable agitate drum, means drivably connecting said motor means to said agitate drum, a slider crank arm having one end rotatably mounted on said agitate drum remote from the axis of rotation of said agitate drum and extending tangentially to said third clutch portion, and means including a flexible continuous bond having one end thereof connected to said one end of said slider crank arm and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said slider crank arm and having an intermediate portion wrapped in a driving connection about said third clutch portion, whereby rotation of said agitate drum by said motor means causes said slider crank arm to reciprocate back and forth to wrap and unwrap said flexible continuous bond on said third clutch portio thereby to oscillate said shaft portion for oscillation when sais first and second clutch portions are engaged and said motor means is rotating in said one direction, said spin drum drivably connected to said shaft portion for rotation, and self-energizing roller means between said motor means and said spin drum, said roller means self-energizingly pulling into a wedging power transmitting connection between said motor means and said spin drum thereby to rotate said shaft portion for rotation only when said motor means is rotating opposite to said one direction.

14. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 13 wherein said flexible continuous bond includes a firsJ multi-stranded steel wire cable having one end connected to said slider crank arm adjacent the rotatable connection of said slider crank arm wtih said agitate drum and the other end thereof fastened to the third clutch portion and a second multi-stranded steel wire cable having one end connected to the other end of said slider crank arm and the other end thereof fastened to said third clutch portion.

15. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 14 wherein each cable is covered with plastic polyamide coating,

16. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 13 wherein said third clutch portion has a generally cylindrical outer surface eccentrically mounted with respect to the shaft portion for oscillation so as to approximate harmoic motion of said third clutch portion.

17. An agitating and spinning mechanism comprising single shaft housing means adapted at one end thereof through concentric agitate and spin shaft portions for oscillation and rotation in a clothes washing machine, a reversible motor means rotatable selectively for driving said shaft portions in agitating or spinning operations, support means for said motor means and said shaft housing means, clutch means on the other end of said shaft housing means for selectively conditioning said shaft portions for oscillation and rotation, said clutch means having a first portion drivably connected to said agitate shaft portion, said clutch means having a second portion relatively rotatably connected to said agitate shaft portion and movable relative to said first portion into engagement therewith when said motor means is rotating in one direction selectively to condition said first portion for oscillation, said clutch means having a third portion relatively rotatably carried on said agitate shaft portion and drivably operable in response to the relative movement of said second portion of said clutch means into engagmeent with said first portion for oscillating said first portion, and operting means for oscillating said third portion in accordance with said one direction of motor means rotation, said operating means including a slider crank mechanism having a rotatable drum, means including a selfenergizing roller drivably connecting said motor means to said drum, a slider crank arm having one end rotatably mounted on said drum remote from the axis of rotation of said drum and extending tangentially to said third portion of said clutch means, and means including a flexible continuous bond having one end thereof connected to said one end of said slider crank arm and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said slider crank arm and having an intermediate portion wrapped in a driving connection about said third portion of said clutch means, whereby rotation of said drum by said motor means through said self-energizing roller causes said slider crank arm to reciprocate back and forth to wrap and unwrap said flexible continuous bond on said third portion of said clutch means thereby to oscillate said agitate shaft portion when said first and second portions of said clutch means are engaged and said motor means is rotating in said one direction only.

18. An agitating and spinning mechanism comprising single shaft housing means adapted at one end thereof through concentric agitate and spin shaft portions for oscillation and rotation in a clothes washing machine, a reversible motor means rotatable selectively for driv ing said shaft portions in agitating or spinning operations, support means for said motor means including said shaft housing means, clutch means and a spin drum on the other end of said shaft housing means for selectivelyconditioning said shaft portionsfor oscillation and rotation, said clutch means having a first clutch portion drivably connected to said agitate shaft portion, .said clutch means having a second clutch portion relatively rotatably connected to said agitate shaft portion and movable relative to said first clutch portion into engagement therewith when said motor means is rotating in one direction selectively to condition said first clutch portion for oscillation, said clutch means having a third clutch portion relatively rotatably carried on said agitate shaft portion and drivably operable in response to the relative movement of said second clutch portion of said clutch means into engagement with said first clutch portion for oscillating said first clutch portion, said third clutch portion having a generally cylindrical outer surface eccentrically mounted with respect to the axis of said agitate shaft portion so that oscillating movement of said third clutch portion approximates harmonic motion, and operating means for oscillating said third clutch portion in accordance with said one direction of motor means rotation, said operating means including a slider crank mechanism having a rotatable agitate drum, means including a first self-energizing roller drivably connected said motor means to said agitate drum by self-energizingly pulling into a wedging power transmitting connection between said motor means and said agitate drum when said motor means is rotating in said one direction, a slider crank arm having one end rotatably mounted on said agitate drum remote from the axis of rotation of said agitate drum and extending tangentially to said third clutch portion of said clutch means, and means including a flexible continuous cable having one end thereof connected to said one end of said slider crank arm and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said slider crank arm and having an intermediate portion wrapped in a driving connection about the cylindrical outer surface of said third clutch portion of said clutch means, whereby rotation of said agitate drum by said motor means through said first self-energizing roller causes said slider crank arm to reciprocate back and forth to wrap and unwrap said flexible continuous cable on said cylindrical outer surface of said third clutch portion of said clutch means thereby to oscillate said agitate shaft portion when said first and second clutch portions of said clutch means are engaged and said motor means is rotating in said one direction, said spin drum drivably connected to said spin shaft portion, and means including a second self-energizing roller drivably connecting said motor means to said spin drum, said last named roller self-energizingly pulling into a wedging power transmitting connection between said motor means and said spin drum thereby to rotate said spin shaft portion only when said motor means is rotating opposite to said one direction.

19. An agitating and spinning mechanism comprising, two shaft means concentrically arranged, support means for said shaft means, spin drum means drivably connected to one of said shaft means for rotating said one of said shaft means to produce spinning, slider crank means drivably connected to the other of said shaft means for oscillating said other of said shaft means to produce agitating, agitate drum means rotatably carried by said support means for driving said slider crank means, reversible power shaft means, and self-energizing roller drive means laterally movable with respect to said spin drum means, agitate drum means and power shaft means for selectively motion transmittingly connecting said power shaft means with said spin drum means or said agitate drum means in response to the direction of said power shaft means for inducing agitating or spinning, said slider crank means comprising a slider crank arm having one end rotatably mounted on said agitate drum means remote from the axis of rotation thereof and extending tangentially to said other of said shaft means and a flexible continuous bond having one end thereof connected to said one end of said slider crank arm and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said slider crank arm and having an intermediate portion wrapped in a driving connection about said other of said shaft means, whereby rotation of said agitate drum means by said power shaft means causes said slider crank am to reciprocate back and forth to wrap and unwrap said flexible continuous bond on said other of said shaft means for oscillation thereof.

20. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 13 wherein said flexible continuous bond has the undesirable characteristic of stretching throughout the life of said mechanism and said means including said bond includes cam means on said slider crank arm between an end of said bond and its connection with said arm for taking up the slack in said bond as it stretches.

Claims

1. An agitating and spinning mechanism comprising single shaft means adapted at one end thereof for oscillating and rotating a clothes washing tub, a reversible motor rotatable for driving said shaft means, support means for said motor and said shaft means, clutch means on the other end of said shaft means for selectively oscillating and rotating said shaft means, said clutch means having a first portion connected to said shaft means, said clutch means having a second portion movable in response to motor rotation selectively to condition said first portion for oscillation or rotation, said cluch means having a third portion between said first and said second portions operable in response to movement of the second portion of said clutch means to engage said first portion for oscillation, and operating means for oscillating said third portion in response to motor rotation, said operating means including a slider crank mechanism having a rotatable pulley, means drivably connecting said motor to said pulley, a slider crank arm having one end rotatably mounted on said pulley remote from the axis of rotation of said pulley and extending tangentially to said third portion of said clutch means, and a flexible continuous bond having one end thereof connected to said one end of said slider crank arm and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said slider crank arm and having an intermediate portion wrapped in a driving connection about said third portion of said clutch means, whereby rotation of said pulley by said motor causes said slider crank arm to reciprocate back and forth to wrap and unwrap said flexible continuous bond on said third portion thereby to oscillate said shaft means when said first portion of said clutch means is conditioned for oscillation by the movement of said second portion of said clutch means in response to motor rotation in one direction only.

3. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 1 including spring means biasing said second portion of said clutch means toward said third portion of said clutch means, first cam means on said first portion of said clutch means, second cam means on said second portion of said clutch means complementary to said first cam means, said first and second cam means cooperating upon motor rotation in said one direction to permit said spring means to bias said third portion of said clutch means into driving engagement with said first portion of said clutch means to condition said first portion for oscillation, and said first and second cam means cooperating upon motor rotation in an opposite direction to remove the bias of said spring means from said third portion of said clutch means, to interrupt said driving engagement, whereby said second cam means drives said first cam means upon motor rotation in said opposite direction to rotate said first portion of said clutch means and said single shaft means.

7. An agitating and spinning mechanism comprising single shaft means adapted at one end thereof for oscillating and rotating a clothes washing tub, a reversible motor rotatable for driving said shaft means, support means for said motor and said shaft means, clutch means on the other end of said shaft means for selectively oscillating and rotating said shaft means, said clutch means having a first portion connected to said shaft means, a rotating means rotatably mounted concentric to and axially movable with respect to said single shaft means, said clutch means having a second portion drivably connected to said rotating means, said rotating means and said second portion of said clutch means rotating in a first direction upon motor rotation in said first direction and axially movable to condition said first portion of said clutch means for oscillation, said rotating means and said second portion of said clutch means rotating in an opposite direction to said first direction upon motor rotation in said opposite direction and axially movable to condition said first portion of said clutch means for rotation, said clutch means having a third portion between said first and said second portions operable in response to the axial movement of said rotating means and said second portion of said clutch means when rotated in said first direction to engage said first portion of said clutch means, and operating means for oscillating said third portion of said clutch means in response to motor rotation in either direction, said operating means including a slider crank mechanism having a rotatable pulley, means drivably connecting said motor to said pulley, a slider crank arm having one end rotatably mounted to said pulley remote from the axis of rotation of said pulley and extending tangentially to said third portion of said clutch means, and a flexible continuous bond having one end thereof connected to said one end of said slider crank arm and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said slider crank arm and having an intermediate portion wrapped in a driving connection about said third portion of said clutch means, whereby rotation of said pulley by said motor causes said slider crank arm to reciprocate back and forth to wrap and unwrap said flexible continuous bond on said third portion of said clutch means thereby to oscillate said shaft means when said first portion of said clutch means is conditioned for oscillation by the engagement of said third portion of said clutch means with said first portion of said clutch means due to axial movement of said second portion of said clutch means in response to motor rotation in said first direction, and said rotating means drivingly operating said first portion of said clutch means through said second portion of said clutch means to rotate said shaft means when said first portion of said clutch means is conditioned for rotation by axial movement of said second portion of said clutch means in response to motor rotation in said opposite direction.

8. A brake for an agitating and spinning mechanism comprising a single shaft means adapted at one end thereof For oscillating and rotating a clothes washing tub, a reversible motor rotatable for driving said shaft means, support means for said motor in said shaft means, clutch means on the other end of said shaft means for selectively oscillating and rotating said shaft means, said clutch means having a first portion connected to said shaft means, said clutch means having a second portion movable in response to motor rotation selectively to condition said first portion for oscillation or rotation, said clutch means having a third portion between said first and second portions operable in response to movement of said second portion of the said clutch means to engage said first portion for oscillation, operating means for oscillating said third portion in response to motor rotation in either direction, said operating means including a slider crank mechanism driven by said motor, spring means biasing said second portion of said clutch means toward said third portion of said clutch means, first cam means on said first portion of said clutch means, and second cam means on said second portion of said clutch means complementary to said first cam means, said first and second cam means cooperating upon motor rotation in a first direction to permit said spring means to bias said third portion of said clutch means into driving engagement with said first portion of said clutch means to condition said first portion for oscillation, said first and second cam means cooperating upon motor rotation in an opposite direction to remove the bias of said spring means from said third portion of said clutch means to interrupt said driving engagement, said first and second cam means also acting as drive members upon motor rotation in said opposite direction to rotate said first portion of said clutch means, said second portion and third portion of said clutch means tending to become stationary upon a stop of rotation of said motor, whereupon further rotation of said shaft means and said first portion of said clutch means with respect to said second portion of said clutch means will cause said first and second cam means to cooperate to permit said spring means to bias said third portion of said clutch means into engagement with said first portion of said clutch means so as to provide a frictional braking force on said first portion of said clutch means to decelerate the rotation of said shaft means.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said clutch means comprises a first portion rigidly secured to said other end of said shaft means, a second portion driven by said rotatable means, and said oscillatable means being a third portion of said clutch means located between said first portion and said second portion of said clutch means, said first portion of said clutch means having a first cam means, said second portion of said clutch means having a second cam means complementary with said first cam means, wherein said first and second cam means cooperate to provide axial movement of said second portion to selectively condition said first portion of said clutch means for oscillation upon rotation of said motor in a first direction and to rotate said first portion upon rotation of said motor in an opposite direction.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said oscillatable means tends to become stationary upon a stop of rotation of said motor and said first and second cam means cooperate to permit said third portion to move into a braking engagement with said first portion.

12. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 1 wherein said third portion of said clutch means has a cylindrical outer surface eccentrically mounted with respect to said shaft means so as to reduce the acceleration imparted to said shaft means by said slider crank arm at the beginning and end of each reciprocation of said slider crank arm.

13. An agitating and spinning mechanism for a domeStic clothes washing machine comprising single shaft housing means adapted at one end thereof through shaft portions for oscillation and rotation in said clothes washing machine, a reversible motor means rotatable selectively for driving said shaft portions in agitating or spinning operations, support means for said motor means and said shaft housing means, clutch means and a spin drum at the other end of said shaft housing means for selectively conditioning said shaft portions for oscillation and rotation, said clutch means having a first clutch portion drivably connected to said shaft portion for oscillation, said clutch means having a second clutch portion relatively rotatably connected to said shaft portion for oscillation and movable relative to said first clutch portion to provide engagement between said first and second clutch portions when said motor means is rotating in one direction selectively to condition said first clutch portion for oscillation, said clutch means having a third clutch portion relatively rotatably carried on said shaft portion for oscillation and drivably operable in response to the relative movement of said second clutch portion into engagement with said first clutch portion for oscillating said first clutch portion, and operating means for oscillating said third clutch portion in accordance with said one direction of motor means rotation, said operating means including a slider crank mechanism having a rotatable agitate drum, means drivably connecting said motor means to said agitate drum, a slider crank arm having one end rotatably mounted on said agitate drum remote from the axis of rotation of said agitate drum and extending tangentially to said third clutch portion, and means including a flexible continuous bond having one end thereof connected to said one end of said slider crank arm and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said slider crank arm and having an intermediate portion wrapped in a driving connection about said third clutch portion, whereby rotation of said agitate drum by said motor means causes said slider crank arm to reciprocate back and forth to wrap and unwrap said flexible continuous bond on said third clutch portion thereby to oscillate said shaft portion for oscillation when said first and second clutch portions are engaged and said motor means is rotating in said one direction, said spin drum drivably connected to said shaft portion for rotation, and self-energizing roller means between said motor means and said spin drum, said roller means self-energizingly pulling into a wedging power transmitting connection between said motor means and said spin drum thereby to rotate said shaft portion for rotation only when said motor means is rotating opposite to said one direction.

14. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 13 wherein said flexible continuous bond includes a first multi-stranded steel wire cable having one end connected to said slider crank arm adjacent the rotatable connection of said slider crank arm with said agitate drum and the other end thereof fastened to the third clutch portion and a second multi-stranded steel wire cable having one end connected to the other end of said slider crank arm and the other end thereof fastened to said third clutch portion.

15. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 14 wherein each cable is covered with a plastic polyamide coating.

16. The agitating and spinning mechanism of claim 13 wherein said third clutch portion has a generally cylindrical outer surface eccentrically mounted with respect to the shaft portion for oscillation so as to approximate harmonic motion of said third clutch portion.

17. An agitating and spinning mechanism comprising single shaft housing means adapted at one end thereof through concentric agitate and spin shaft portions for oscillation and rotation in a clothes washing machine, a reversible motor means rotatable selectively for driving said shaft portions in agitating or spinning operations, support means fOr said motor means and said shaft housing means, clutch means on the other end of said shaft housing means for selectively conditioning said shaft portions for oscillation and rotation, said clutch means having a first portion drivably connected to said agitate shaft portion, said clutch means having a second portion relatively rotatably connected to said agitate shaft portion and movable relative to said first portion into engagement therewith when said motor means is rotating in one direction selectively to condition said first portion for oscillation, said clutch means having a third portion relatively rotatably carried on said agitate shaft portion and drivably operable in response to the relative movement of said second portion of said clutch means into engagement with said first portion for oscillating said first portion, and operating means for oscillating said third portion in accordance with said one direction of motor means rotation, said operating means including a slider crank mechanism having a rotatable drum, means including a self-energizing roller drivably connecting said motor means to said drum, a slider crank arm having one end rotatably mounted on said drum remote from the axis of rotation of said drum and extending tangentially to said third portion of said clutch means, and means including a flexible continuous bond having one end thereof connected to said one end of said slider crank arm and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said slider crank arm and having an intermediate portion wrapped in a driving connection about said third portion of said clutch means, whereby rotation of said drum by said motor means through said self-energizing roller causes said slider crank arm to reciprocate back and forth to wrap and unwrap said flexible continuous bond on said third portion of said clutch means thereby to oscillate said agitate shaft portion when said first and second portions of said clutch means are engaged and said motor means is rotating in said one direction only.

18. An agitating and spinning mechanism comprising single shaft housing means adapted at one end thereof through concentric agitate and spin shaft portions for oscillation and rotation in a clothes washing machine, a reversible motor means rotatable selectively for driving said shaft portions in agitating or spinning operations, support means for said motor means including said shaft housing means, clutch means and a spin drum on the other end of said shaft housing means for selectively conditioning said shaft portions for oscillation and rotation, said clutch means having a first clutch portion drivably connected to said agitate shaft portion, said clutch means having a second clutch portion relatively rotatably connected to said agitate shaft portion and movable relative to said first clutch portion into engagement therewith when said motor means is rotating in one direction selectively to condition said first clutch portion for oscillation, said clutch means having a third clutch portion relatively rotatably carried on said agitate shaft portion and drivably operable in response to the relative movement of said second clutch portion of said clutch means into engagement with said first clutch portion for oscillating said first clutch portion, said third clutch portion having a generally cylindrical outer surface eccentrically mounted with respect to the axis of said agitate shaft portion so that oscillating movement of said third clutch portion approximates harmonic motion, and operating means for oscillating said third clutch portion in accordance with said one direction of motor means rotation, said operating means including a slider crank mechanism having a rotatable agitate drum, means including a first self-energizing roller drivably connecting said motor means to said agitate drum by self-energizingly pulling into a wedging power transmitting connection between said motor means and said agitate drum when said motor means is rotating in said one direction, a slider cranK arm having one end rotatably mounted on said agitate drum remote from the axis of rotation of said agitate drum and extending tangentially to said third clutch portion of said clutch means, and means including a flexible continuous cable having one end thereof connected to said one end of said slider crank arm and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said slider crank arm and having an intermediate portion wrapped in a driving connection about the cylindrical outer surface of said third clutch portion of said clutch means, whereby rotation of said agitate drum by said motor means through said first self-energizing roller causes said slider crank arm to reciprocate back and forth to wrap and unwrap said flexible continuous cable on said cylindrical outer surface of said third clutch portion of said clutch means thereby to oscillate said agitate shaft portion when said first and second clutch portions of said clutch means are engaged and said motor means is rotating in said one direction, said spin drum drivably connected to said spin shaft portion, and means including a second self-energizing roller drivably connecting said motor means to said spin drum, said last named roller self-energizingly pulling into a wedging power transmitting connection between said motor means and said spin drum thereby to rotate said spin shaft portion only when said motor means is rotating opposite to said one direction.

19. An agitating and spinning mechanism comprising, two shaft means concentrically arranged, support means for said shaft means, spin drum means drivably connected to one of said shaft means for rotating said one of said shaft means to produce spinning, slider crank means drivably connected to the other of said shaft means for oscillating said other of said shaft means to produce agitating, agitate drum means rotatably carried by said support means for driving said slider crank means, reversible power shaft means, and self-energizing roller drive means laterally movable with respect to said spin drum means, agitate drum means and power shaft means for selectively motion transmittingly connecting said power shaft means with said spin drum means or said agitate drum means in response to the direction of said power shaft means for inducing agitating or spinning, said slider crank means comprising a slider crank arm having one end rotatably mounted on said agitate drum means remote from the axis of rotation thereof and extending tangentially to said other of said shaft means and a flexible continuous bond having one end thereof connected to said one end of said slider crank arm and the other end thereof connected to the other end of said slider crank arm and having an intermediate portion wrapped in a driving connection about said other of said shaft means, whereby rotation of said agitate drum means by said power shaft means causes said slider crank arm to reciprocate back and forth to wrap and unwrap said flexible continuous bond on said other of said shaft means for oscillation thereof.