Washer-dryer apparatus for dairy towels and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method of washing dairy towels includes a horizontally-support drum, a side door on the drum facilitating top-down loading of towels, an outer enclosure for containing liquid, a drain below the bearings for setting a height of water in the outer enclosure, and fluid and electrical controls above a height of the drum for operation in a non-moist area. The washer can be placed in a dairy building and used to clean towels used to wipe and sanitize teats of milking cows. In one form, exhaust air from a vacuum air compressor of a milker is fed into the enclosure to dry the towels after washing them, thus providing efficient operation and a great energy savings. In another version, a drum access door pivots outwardly on a washing apparatus, and is held closed during drum rotation by sliding bearings on the enclosure.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for washing dairy towels comprising:
 a washer with drum supported by bearings for rotation on a horizontal axis, the drum including a side door for opening to facilitate top-down loading of towels into the drum;   an outer enclosure around the drum for containing liquid;   the door being pivoted to the drum for movement between an open position allowing access to the opening and a closed position where the door generally matches a cylindrical shape defined by the drum;   skid bearings positioned between the door and a flange on the outer enclosure that abuttingly support the door in the closed position at least during a time when the door is biased open by gravity or weight of the towels; and   electrical controls for controlling operation of the washer.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the skid bearings are blocks of lubricious plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the skid bearings comprise nylon. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the skid bearings are attached to the door. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the skid bearings include four blocks positioned generally at corners of the door. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the skid bearings are attached to the door. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the skid bearings include only four blocks, each being attached to the door and positioned generally at corners of the door. 
     
     
         8 . A method of washing dairy towels comprising:
 providing a washer with drum supported by bearings for rotation on a horizontal axis, a side door on the drum for opening to facilitate top-down loading of towels into the drum, an outer enclosure around the drum for containing liquid, a drain located proximate but below the bearings for setting a height of water in the outer enclosure, and electrical controls located above a height of the bearings for operation in a non-moist area on the washer;   placing the washer in a dairy building containing milking stalls and milking cows;   using towels to wipe and sanitize teats of milking cows;   washing the towels in the drum; and   repeating the steps of using and washing.   
     
     
         9 . The method defined in  claim 8 , wherein the drum includes an arcuately-shaped door pivoted to the drum and moveable between a closed position where the door generally matches a circulate shape of the drum and an open position where the door uncovers the opening, and including a step of moving the door between the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         10 . The method defined in  claim 9 , wherein the door is pivoted to open outwardly from the drum, and including a step of stopping the drum when the opening is in a top position before opening the door. 
     
     
         11 . The method defined in  claim 10 , wherein the outer enclosure includes slide bearings that abuttingly support the door in a closed position as the drum rotates, the bearings holding the door closed during rotation of the drum. 
     
     
         12 . The method as defined in  claim 8 , and wherein the step of providing includes providing a hot air inlet and hot air outlet in the outer enclosure, and further including a step of drying the towels after washing the towels. 
     
     
         13 . The method as defined in  claim 12 , and wherein the step of providing includes connecting an air compressor of a vacuum milker to the hot air inlet, and feeding exhaust air from the air compressor into the hot air inlet to dry the towels. 
     
     
         14 . A method of washing dairy towels comprising:
 providing a washer with drum supported by bearings for rotation on a horizontal axis, a side door on the drum for opening to facilitate top-down loading of towels into the drum, an outer enclosure around the drum for containing liquid, a drain for setting a height of water in the outer enclosure, and electrical controls for controlling operation of the washer;   pivotally opening the door outwardly to an open position away from the drum to provide access to input towels through the opening into the drum;   closing the door to a closed position where the door matches a cylindrical shape defined by the drum;   rotating the drum to wash the towels, including supporting the door in the closed position by slide bearings on the outer enclosure that slidingly contact the door at least during a time when the door is biased open by gravity or weight of the towels;   stopping the drum when the opening is in a general upward facing position;   moving the door to the open position to remove the towels; and   repeating the steps of pivotally opening the door, closing the door, rotating the drum, stopping the drum, and moving the door to the open position.   
     
     
         15 . The method defined in  claim 14 , wherein a cycle of pivotally opening the door, closing the door, rotating the drum, stopping the drum, and moving the door to the open position takes at most 20 minutes. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for washing dairy towels comprising:
 a washer with drum supported by bearings for rotation on a horizontal axis, and a side door on the drum for opening to facilitate top-down loading of towels into the drum;   an outer enclosure around the drum for containing liquid, the outer enclosure including a tub portion that defines a semi-cylindrical bottom under the drum;   a drain located proximate but below the bearings for setting a maximum height of water in the outer enclosure; and   electrical controls located above a height of the drum for operation in a non-moist area on the washer.