Laundry machine with loading hopper

Abstract

A laundry machine includes a drum having an opening for receiving laundry to be laundered by the laundry machine, and a hopper mounted on the drum. The hopper includes a first open end for receiving laundry therethrough, and a second open end for communicating with an opening defined by the drum. The first and second open ends define a passage therebetween for the laundry, and the hopper is movable from a loading position in which the first open end is positioned substantially parallel to a ground surface supporting the machine and an unloading position in which the hopper is at least partially removed from the laundry machine drum to allow the laundry to be unloaded from the drum. The first open end can be substantially perpendicular to the second open end. The machine does not have to be tilted relative to the ground surface to receive laundry in the hopper.

1 . A hopper for use in a laundry machine comprising: 
 (a) a first open end for receiving launderable items therethrough;    (b) a second open end for communicating with an opening defined by a laundry machine drum, the first and second open ends defining a passage therebetween for the launderable items; and    (c) wherein the hopper is adapted for mounting on the laundry machine such that the first open end faces upwardly and is substantially parallel to a ground surface supporting the laundry machine.    
   
   
       2 . A hopper according to  claim 1 , wherein the first open end is substantially perpendicular to the second open end, and the second open end is substantially perpendicular to the ground surface when positioned on the laundry machine.  
   
   
       3 . A hopper according to  claim 1 , adapted for being movably mounted to the laundry machine drum, whereby the hopper is movable between a loading position wherein the first open end faces upwardly and is substantially parallel with a ground surface supporting the laundry machine and an unloading position wherein the second open end is at least partially removed from the laundry machine drum to allow the launderable items to be unloaded from the drum.  
   
   
       4 . A hopper according to  claim 1 , wherein the first open end is rectangular.  
   
   
       5 . A laundry machine comprising: 
 (a) a drum having an opening for receiving launderable items to be laundered by the laundry machine; and    (b) a hopper mounted on the drum and comprising a first open end for receiving the launderable items therethrough, and a second open end for communicating with an opening defined by the drum, the first and second open ends defining a passage therebetween for the launderable items, the hopper movable from a loading position wherein the first open end is positioned substantially parallel to a ground surface supporting the laundry machine and an unloading position wherein the hopper is at least partially removed from the laundry machine drum to allow the launderable items to be unloaded from the drum.    
   
   
       6 . A laundry machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the first open end is substantially perpendicular to the second open end, and the second open end and the drum opening are substantially perpendicular to the ground surface when the hopper is in the loading position.  
   
   
       7 . A laundry machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the drum is not tilted relative to the ground surface when the hopper is in the loading position.  
   
   
       8 . A laundry machine according to  claim 5 , further comprising means for tilting the drum opening downwardly relative to the ground surface when the hopper is in the unloading position.  
   
   
       9 . A laundry machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the drum opening is tilted downwardly approximately 21 degrees when in the unloading position.  
   
   
       10 . A laundry machine according to  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 (a) a base frame for positioning on the ground surface, the drum pivotally mounted on the base frame;    (b) at least one hydraulic cylinder connected to the base frame; and    (c) a rod positioned within the hydraulic cylinder and supporting the drum, whereby upward extension of the rod from the cylinder tilts the drum opening downward.    
   
   
       11 . A laundry machine according to  claim 5 , further comprising means for delivering a stream of liquid into the hopper for facilitating movement of launderable items from the hopper into the drum.  
   
   
       12 . A laundry machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the means for delivering a stream of liquid comprises tubing positioned on an internal surface of the hopper proximate the first open end, the tubing having at least one opening and wherein the tubing delivers a stream of liquid onto the internal surface that facilitates movement of the launderable items in the hopper into the drum.  
   
   
       13 . A laundry machine according to  claim 5 , further comprising at least one linear member rotatably mounted to the drum and connected to the hopper whereby rotation of the member moves the hopper between the loading and unloading positions.  
   
   
       14 . A laundry machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the hopper rotates about 87 degrees when moving from the loading position to the unloading position.  
   
   
       15 . A laundry machine according to  claim 5 , further comprising a closure member connected to the hopper and movable between a closed position wherein the passage defined by the first and second open ends is obstructed and an open position wherein the passage is unobstructed.  
   
   
       16 . A laundry machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the closure member includes a first segment pivotally connected to a second segment and slidably connected to the hopper proximate the first open end of the hopper, and further comprising means for sliding the first segment toward and away from the second segment whereby the closure member is moved between the open position and the closed position.  
   
   
       17 . A laundry machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the first open end of the hopper is rectangular and comprises a rear side proximate the drum, a front side opposite the rear side, and left and right sides connecting the rear and front sides.  
   
   
       18 . A laundry machine according to  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 (a) a first slide track mounted on an interior surface of the left side of the first open end;    (b) a second slide track mounted on an interior surface of the right side of the first open end;    (c) wherein the closure member comprises a first segment pivotally connected to a second segment connected to the front side of the first open end of the hopper; and    (d) first and second shafts mounted on opposing sides of the first segment of the closure member, the first shaft engaging the first slide track and the second shaft engaging the second slide track to facilitate sliding movement of the closure member toward and away from the rear side of the first open end of the hopper whereby the closure member is moved between the closed position and the open position.    
   
   
       19 . A laundry machine according to  claim 18 , wherein the first segment and the second segment extend upwardly from the hopper proximate the front side when in the closed position.  
   
   
       20 . A laundry machine according to  claim 18 , further comprising at least one linear actuator member connected to the hopper and the closure member for moving the closure member between the closed and open positions.  
   
   
       21 . A laundry machine according to  claim 20 , wherein the at least one linear actuator member comprises: 
 (a) a pneumatic cylinder mounted on the hopper proximate the rear side of the first open end; and    (b) a rod positioned within the pneumatic cylinder and connected to the second segment of the closure member, the rod cooperating with the pneumatic cylinder whereby extension of the rod from the cylinder moves the closure member away from the rear side of the first open end of the hopper and retraction of the rod into the cylinder moves the closure member toward the rear side.