Multi-drum washer/dryer

Abstract

A multi-drum washing/drying machine includes a main rotating housing supported within a cabinet. The housing supports multiple drums that are rotatable independent of the rotating housing. The rotating housing rotates about a main axis to increment each of the drums through a washing station and a drying station to provide washing of multiple different loads of laundry with only one initial loading operation.

1 . A washing/drying machine comprising:
 a rotating housing rotatable about a first axis;   a plurality of drums supported within the rotating housing, wherein each of the plurality of drums are rotatable separate and independent of the rotating housing;   a washing station including mating connections connectable to each one of the plurality of drums for communicating water for a washing cycle;   a drying station including mating connection connectable to each one of the plurality of drums for communicating heat for a drying cycle; and   a controller for governing incremental rotation of the housing to move each of the plurality of drums through the washing and drying stations.   
   
   
       2 . The washing/drying machine as recited in  claim 1 , including a loading station for loading laundry into the plurality of drums. 
   
   
       3 . The washing/drying machine as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of drums comprises four drums supported within the rotating housing, where each of the four drums are independently rotatable relative to and within the rotating housing. 
   
   
       4 . The washing/drying machine as recited in  claim 2 , including a housing drive motor for rotating the rotating housing about the first axis to move each of the plurality of drums between the washing station, the drying station and the loading station. 
   
   
       5 . The washing/drying machine as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the washing station includes a first motor for rotating the one of the plurality of drum located at a washing station during a washing operation. 
   
   
       6 . The washing/drying machine as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the drying station includes a second motor for rotating one of the plurality of drums located at the drying station. 
   
   
       7 . The washing/drying machine as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the rotating housing includes a central hub disposed along the first axis, the central hub including connections for supplying and draining water for the washing station and heat to the drying station. 
   
   
       8 . The washing/drying machine as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the washing station and the drying station are operable concurrently. 
   
   
       9 . The washing/drying machine as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the rotating housing and the plurality of drums are supported within a cabinet, the cabinet including an opening for accessing the plurality of drums disposed at the loading station. 
   
   
       10 . The washing/drying machine as recited in  claim 9 , including a door for covering the opening, wherein the door opens to position providing a shelf adjacent the opening to aid loading and unloading. 
   
   
       11 . The washing/drying machine as recited in  claim 2 , including a drain bypass for reusing rinse water from a drum at the washing station by diverting the rinse water to another of the drums that will next be cycled to the washing station. 
   
   
       12 . A method of washing and drying laundry comprising:
 loading multiple drums supported within a rotatable housing with laundry for cleaning;   rotating the rotatable housing to place one of the multiple drums proximate a washing station and another of the multiple drums proximate a drying station;   operating corresponding ones of the multiple drums separately and independently to perform washing and drying; and   rotating the rotatable housing to cycle each drum through the washing and drying stations until laundry within each drum are washed and dried.   
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , including the step of loading laundry into at least some of the multiple drums at a loading station. 
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the step of operating corresponding ones of the multiple drums includes connecting one of the multiple drums to water connections provided at a washing station and connection another of the multiple drums to a heat connection at a drying station. 
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , cycling each of the multiple drums from the washing station to the drying station. 
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the multiple drums comprises four drums disposed within a rotatable housing, and the method comprises the step of washing laundry in one of the four drums, and concurrently drying laundry in another of the four drums. 
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein cycling of the multiple of drums comprises rotating the rotatable housing to place a desired one of the multiple drums at each of a washing station and a drying station. 
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , including the step of engaging one of the drums to a water source at the washing station and engaging another of the drums to heat source at the drying station. 
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , including the step of reusing rinse water discharged from the drum at the washing station into another of the drums that is to be cycled to the washing station next by diverting water from the drum at the washing station to the next drum to be cycled to the washing station. 
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein laundry is washed and dried within the same one of the multiple drums.