Program Controlled Washing Machine

Abstract

A process section which is adapted in such a way as to meet the requirements of a batch of washing, comprising textiles that are in danger of shrinking, moved during treatment in said process section in a washing drum that is rotatably arranged about a non-vertical axis while water and optionally detergent flows therethrough, wherein the amount of movement thereof corresponds to less than 5% of the possible drive time. As a result, it possible to treat shrink-endangered batches of washing despite mechanical loading by virtue of the small amount of movement of the washing drum, such that the washing can be evenly moistened with the optimum amount of water or lye, thereby optimizing the washing process for shrink-endangered batches of washing, wherein movement occurs exclusively in one direction of rotation of said drum.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . A program-controlled washing machine comprising:
 an outer tub;   a washing drum supported within the outer tub for rotation about a non-vertical axis;   a process section tailored to the requirements of washing shrink-prone textiles that are received within the washing drum while water and detergent flow into the outer tub, the process section including multiple rotational drive sections in which the washing drum is rotated with a movement ratio of less than 5% of the possible drive period, wherein the rotational movement of the washing drum only takes place in one direction in the process section.   
   
   
       8 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the washing drum includes multiple agitators on the inside of the washing drum, each agitator having a scooping facility for scooping water out of the lower region of the outer tub and apertures for discharging the scooped water down onto the washing while the washing drum rotates. 
   
   
       9 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the scooping facilities are formed to only scoop water in one rotation direction of the washing drum that corresponds to the rotation direction during the process section. 
   
   
       10 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the unidirectional drum movement tailored to the structural features of the outer tub and the washing drum can be executed at a rotational speed below the rotational speed at which the textiles lie against the inner wall of the washing drum. 
   
   
       11 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the unidirectional drum movement tailored to the structural features of the outer tub and the washing drum can be executed at a rotational speed in the region of about 15 to 35 rpm. 
   
   
       12 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the rotational drive sections are spaced at an interval of about 10 to 60 seconds from one another. 
   
   
       13 . A method for washing shrink-prone textiles in a program-controlled washing machine comprising an outer tub, a washing drum supported within the outer tub for rotation about a non-vertical axis, the method comprising the acts of:
 rotating the washing drum with respect to the outer tub in a rotational drive section with a movement ratio of less than 5% of the possible drive period;   stopping rotation of the washing drum with respect to the outer tub for an interval between rotational drive sections; and   rotating the washing drum with respect to the outer tub in an additional rotational drive section with a movement ratio of less than 5% of the possible drive period, wherein the rotational movement of the washing drum during the rotational drive sections only takes place in one direction.   
   
   
       14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising providing multiple agitators within the washing drum, each agitator having a scooping facility for scooping water out of the lower region of the outer tub and apertures for discharging the scooped water down onto the washing while the washing drum rotates, the scooping facilities being formed to only scoop water in one rotation direction of the washing drum that corresponds to the rotation direction during the rotational drive sections. 
   
   
       15 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the act of rotating the washing drum is executed at a rotational speed below the rotational speed at which the textiles lie against the inner wall of the washing drum. 
   
   
       16 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the act of rotating the washing drum is executed at a rotational speed in the region of about 15 to 35 rpm. 
   
   
       17 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the acts of stopping rotation of the washing drum with respect to the outer tub for an interval between rotational drive sections has a duration period of about 10 to 60 seconds.