Washer-extractor machine

Abstract

This invention is related to washer-extractor machines and in particular to drum type washing machines that provide saving from water, energy and time and at the same time increase washing and extraction efficiency. This invention is also related to a washing and rinsing process realized using this machine.

1 . A washer and extractor machine ( 1 ) comprising a liquid tub ( 10 ) positioned either horizontal or inclined with horizontal where a perforated drum ( 5 ) rotates in the liquid tub around a shaft-bearing system ( 11 );
 characterized in that a pump ( 16 ) is provided to be operated under control mounted onto the circulation line ( 40 ) while required level or amount of liquid for washing or rinsing is provided in the drum ( 5 ) enables to decrease the level of the tub liquid or to keep the level of the tub liquid at desired level or to evacuate the tub liquid completely when needed, tub liquid exists in the volume ( 39 ) between said drum ( 5 ) and tub ( 10 ) to suck the liquid from tub ( 10 ) that drains from the drum ( 5 ) into the tub in order to pump said liquid back to the drum.   
     
     
         2 . A machine as in  claim 1 , characterized in that said pump ( 16 ) has a higher flow-rate capacity than drain rate of liquid from said drum ( 5 ) into the tub ( 10 ). 
     
     
         3 . A machine as in  claim 1 , characterized in that said circulation line ( 40 ) is accessing into said drum ( 5 ) through a door ( 35 ) or a drum-tub mouth bellow ( 12 ) or a drum shaft ( 11 ). 
     
     
         4 . A machine as in  claim 1 , characterized in that chemicals are added to the washing liquid before the circulation line ( 40 ) and before the pump ( 16 ) is operated; tub liquid is heated be means of steam injector or a heat exchanger on the circulation line ( 40 ) and the particulates in the circulation liquid are filtered through a filter ( 18 ). 
     
     
         5 . A machine as in  claim 1 , characterized in that permeability of said drum ( 5 ) is restrained to enable the pump ( 16 ) to change the level or to keep the level of tub liquid in the volume ( 39 ) between the tub ( 10 ) and the drum ( 5 ) as desired or to evacuate said tub liquid completely when requested by the said pump ( 16 ). 
     
     
         6 . A machine as in  claim 5 , characterized in that in said drum ( 5 ) number and/or sizes of liquid passage perforations ( 20 ) of the drum ( 5 ) permeability of which is restrained, are reduced compared to conventional drums. 
     
     
         7 . A machine as in  claim 5 , characterized in that the quantities and sizes of said drum perforations ( 20 ) are provided in such a way that the drain rate of the liquid from said perforations is less than the flow rate of the pump ( 16 ) which is used to pump the liquid back into the drum ( 5 ). 
     
     
         8 . A machine as in  claim 5 , characterized in that in order to restrain the permeability of said drum ( 5 ), perforated surfaces ( 9 ) of said drum are coated with a permanent or detachable material to limit water flow and that shapes, quantities and sizes of said coating ( 22 ) perforations ( 21 ) are provided in a way to provide the drain rate of the liquid from said perforations is less than the flow rate of the pump ( 16 ) which is used to pump the liquid back into the drum ( 5 ). 
     
     
         9 . A machine as in  claim 8 , characterized in that said coating ( 22 ) is manufactured of various material like rubber, plastic, metal, woven or any other material having limited liquid permeability due to its porous structure. 
     
     
         10 . A machine as in  claim 9 , characterized in that said rubber, plastic or similar surface coating ( 22 - d ) comprises bulgy parts ( 27 ) of various shapes and sizes in between said perforations ( 21 ). 
     
     
         11 . A machine as in  claim 9 , characterized in that small slits ( 23 ) corresponding to drum perforations ( 8 ), without leaving any space there between are provided on the said rubber or plastic coating. 
     
     
         12 . A machine as in  claim 1 , characterized in that in order to restrict liquid permeability of said drum ( 5 ) the passage ( 37 ) around the drum mouth ( 14 ) to the tub ( 10 ) is covered with a suitable sealing gasket ( 34 ). 
     
     
         13 . A machine as in  claim 12 , characterized in that said gasket ( 34 ) is mounted onto the drum mouth ( 14 ) to rotate with said drum ( 5 ), and by touching either specific surface of the tub or the tub door ( 13 ) or a suitable surface ( 35 ) in order to restrain the liquid passage way and if desired said gasket ( 34 ) is provided with a weight protrusion ( 36 ) to decrease or totally eliminate pressure caused by centrifugal force exerted during extraction. 
     
     
         14 . A washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) comprising a liquid tub ( 10 ) positioned either horizontal or inclined with horizontal where a perforated drum ( 5 ) rotates in the liquid tub around a shaft-bearing system ( 11 ), wherein the cylindrical surface ( 9 ) of a drum is provided with a ribbed constitution in order to obtain a surface with protrusions ( 45 ) and hollows ( 46 ) in various shapes and sizes and wherein said protrusions are in a greater number, smaller and lower than usual ribs ( 50 ) employed in horizontal drums ( 5 ) of conventional drum washing machines 
     
     
         15 . A machine as in  claim 14 , characterized in that the height of said protrusions ( 45 ) is less than 6% of the diameter of said drum ( 5 ) and/or the number of said protrusions ( 45 ) are more than eight. 
     
     
         16 . A machine as claimed in  claim 14 , characterized in that said protrusions ( 45 ) are solely sufficient enough to move the materials being washed along with the drum ( 5 ). 
     
     
         17 . A machine as in  claim 14 , characterized in that a metal sheet which constitutes the cylindrical surface ( 9 ) of said drum ( 5 ) is undulated ( 33 - a ) with corrugated indents and protrusions ( 45 - g ). 
     
     
         18 . A machine as in  claim 14 , characterized in that the cylindrical surface ( 9 ) of said drum ( 5 ) is manufactured of a plastic material ( 33 - b ) having undulated shape with indents and protrusions ( 45 ). 
     
     
         19 . A machine as in  claim 14 , characterized in that the protrusions ( 45 ) on the cylindrical surface of said drum ( 5 ) are placed side by side to constitute hollows ( 46 ) in between thereof by known techniques. 
     
     
         20 . A machine as in  claim 14 , characterized in that a coating ( 31 ) formed undulated on the cylindrical surface ( 9 ) of said drum ( 5 ) comprises of a single piece ( 31 - a, b, c ) or several pieces ( 31 - b ) fixed permanently or detachably on the surface. 
     
     
         21 . A machine as in  claims 14  to  20 , characterized in that said protrusions ( 45 ) are provided on the cylindrical surface of said drum ( 5 ) either solely in lieu of normal size ribs ( 50 ) or in addition to conventional normal size ribs ( 50 ). 
     
     
         22 . A machine as in  claims 14  to  21 , characterized in that said protrusions ( 45 ) are arranged over the entire interior surface of said drum ( 5 ) in the form of small ribs ( 45 - a d, e, g, h, i, j ). 
     
     
         23 . A machine as in  claim 22 , characterized in that said small size ribs ( 45 ) are placed onto the said drum ( 5 ) surface with an angle with rotation axis or in helical form to move laundry in the same direction of rotation axis, either from back to front or reverse, during drum rotation. 
     
     
         24 . A machine as in  claim 22 , characterized in that said small size ribs ( 45 ) are placed over the surface of said drum ( 5 ) to completely cover the drum perforations ( 8  or  20 - b ) however to allow the flow of liquid underneath gap to reach the drum perforations. 
     
     
         25 . A machine as in  claim 22 , characterized in that said protrusions ( 45 ) are regionally elevated in various heights to form non-homogeneous surface shape that helps to lift up the material up. 
     
     
         26 . A machine as in  claims 14  to  25 , characterized in that the drum perforations ( 21 ) provided on the cylindrical surface ( 9 ) of said drum ( 5 ) are arranged in the hollows ( 46 ) between said protrusions ( 45 ). 
     
     
         27 . A machine as in  claim 26 , characterized in that wherein drum perforations ( 21 ) are sized so as to allow the large dirt pieces or pellets leave the drum. 
     
     
         28 . A machine as in  claim 26 , characterized in that wherein drum perforations ( 21 ) are sized small enough to reduce liquid permeability of the drum. 
     
     
         29 . A machine as claimed in above claims, characterized in that the parts ( 51 - a ) used over the perforated surface ( 9 ) of said drum are configured to constitute a profile ( 45 - e ) including protrusions ( 45 ) and also the hollow zone ( 46 ), said profile covering drum perforations ( 8 ) as well; and bores ( 21 ) in the hollow zone ( 46 ) matching with drum perforations, in less numbers and/or smaller in diameters than perforations of conventional drums for reducing liquid permeability of the drum. 
     
     
         30 . A washing and rinsing process in a washing machine as claimed in  claims 14  to  29 , characterized in that in order to prevent any harm to delicate materials; while the drum rotates faster than its distribution speed, circulation liquid is transmitted throughout the textile which is spread onto the protrusions placed on the drum surface.