Textiles: fluid treating apparatus – Machines – Loaders – unloaders – or dumpers
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-30
2001-07-17
Coe, Philip R. (Department: 1746)
Textiles: fluid treating apparatus
Machines
Loaders, unloaders, or dumpers
C034S058000, C034S236000, C068S025000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260391
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a laundry centrifuge, in particular for connecting to the end of an automated washing range or to a transfer system, with a spin driven drum that receives the laundry through an opening, it being possible to alter the position of the opening by a swiveling movement at least of the drum in such a way that the opening and thus the drum is directed sideways or downwards or in a position in between for unloading the laundry (unloading position) and that for loading the drum with laundry (loading position) the drum assumes a position different from the unloading position, in particular directed to the side or directed somewhat upwardly with respect to the sideways-directed position.
Centrifuges used for automated washing ranges receive the laundry in a position in which a plane formed by the opening is upwardly slanted from the vertical by approximately 8° to 12°. The laundry enters the opening of the drum along a slide. After load, the laundry is spun, specifically in the loading position of the drum. Since the opening is directed to the side it must be covered. Otherwise, there would be the risk that the next batch of laundry might slide into the spinning drum or that laundry could be spun out of the drum.
For unloading the laundry, the drum of known centrifuges is tipped upwards with its horizontal swivel axis located near an upper corner above the laundry opening, with the opening directed obliquely downwards after the tipping action. Unloading is done by rotating the drum at a low speed. The laundry falls out of the opening onto a transport system located below and is conveyed away under the drum. Due to the described pivoting action the known centrifuge requires a large and unobstructed height. The space under the centrifuge for conveying away the laundry is relatively narrow.
The problem of the present invention is to create a laundry centrifuge which is simple in design yet which offers added operational safety.
The laundry centrifuge according to the invention is characterized in that the drum assumes an approximately upright position for spin-drying (spin-drying position) with its opening pointing upwards. Thus, after being loaded the drum is brought into its spin-drying position. During spinning, the opening remains pointing upwards. A cover is therefore not absolutely necessary. The unbalanced forces arising during spinning are also more manageable.
In an advantageous development the unloading position and the loading position of the drum lie on different sides of the spin-drying position. After spinning, the drum is again pivoted or tilted until it attains the unloading position. The process of conveying away the laundry is also much simpler, since the laundry does not have to be conveyed under and past the centrifuge. The swivel axis of the drum is preferably horizontal, running near the bottom of the drum, approximately between the latter and one-third of the drum height. This results in a favorable disposal of space by the centrifuge for all necessary drum positions.
Also of significance is the mounting of the drum in the fashion of a pendulous hydroextractor, with a pendulum radius or up to 150 mm, preferably 30-40 mm. As a result the drum has a relatively high center of gravity. This results in an extremely low natural resonance of the drum of about 25-35 r.p.m, in particular of no more than 75 r.p.m. The low natural resonance facilitates the spreading of the laundry with the subsequent unbalance test. Usually the drum is accelerated slowly. The laundry first spreads out on the walls of the drum. The drum then approaches its natural resonance range. As soon as a major unbalance error occurs, the drum is braked until the laundry has loosened, whereupon the drum is accelerated once again. The low natural frequency diminishes the amount of time required for any second start of the drum if any unbalance error has been determined. Its design as a pendulous hydro-extractor with a relatively high center of gravity facilitates the means for the suspension and mounting of the drum. Special measures for the equalization of damping or unbalance are not required. Instead, there is an inherent tolerance for a certain degree of pendulum radius.
The drum exhibits a specific ratio of diameter to height, or the diameter to the distance between the swivel axis and drum opening. As a result, the drum diameter is greater than that of comparable known drums having the same holding capacity. The laundry cake is thereby thinner than that in known drums. As a result, residual moisture is equally distributed in the batches of laundry.
Provided on the inner surface of the drum shell is a fine-meshed covering, in particular a gauze. The drum shell is usually perforated. Frotté is pressed into the holes and is difficult to remove after spin-drying. The fine-meshed covering prevents such material from being pressed into the openings of the drum shell and makes it easier to loosen the drum shell and unload its contents.
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Coe Philip R.
Pharmagg Systemtechnik GmbH
Technoprop Colton LLC
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