Washer-extractor machine

Abstract

A washer-extractor machine, in particular a drum type washing machine that provides savings of water, energy and time and at the same time increases washing and extraction efficiency. A washing and rinsing process realized using this machine is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) comprising:
 a tub ( 10 ), the tub positioned on a shaft bearing ( 11 ), the shaft bearing ( 11 ) adapted to selectively orient the tub ( 10 ) either along a horizontal plane or inclined at an angle relative to the horizontal plane; and   a perforated drum ( 5 ) adapted to rotate in the tub ( 10 ),   wherein the perforated drum ( 5 ) has a cylindrical surface ( 9 ), the cylindrical surface ( 9 ) comprising a plurality of protrusions ( 45 ) of various shapes and sizes,   wherein the height of the protrusions ( 45 ) is less than 6% of the diameter of the drum ( 5 ), and the number of protrusions ( 45 ) is more than thirty,   wherein the protrusions ( 45 ) on the cylindrical surface ( 9 ) of the drum ( 5 ) are located side-by-side to provide a plurality hollows ( 46 ) in between, and to provide a protrusive structure ( 31 ,  32 ,  33 ) on the cylindrical surface ( 9 ), and   wherein a plurality of drum perforations ( 21 ) are provided on the cylindrical surface ( 9 ) of the drum ( 5 ), the perforations ( 21 ) being arranged in the hollows ( 46 ) between the protrusions ( 45 ).   
     
     
         2 . The washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said perforated drum surface ( 9 ) is covered with the protrusions ( 45 ) spread around drain holes for providing the protrusive structure ( 31 , 32 , 33 ) to create a physical impact on laundry items ( 48 ), to provide a rubbing effect during washing and rinsing cycles. 
     
     
         3 . The washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said protrusions ( 45 ) are sufficiently close to each other to hold laundry items ( 48 ) over protrusions ( 45 ) and away from the surface of the drum ( 5 ) during stretching of the laundry items ( 48 ) towards the hollows ( 46 ) in between the protrusions ( 45 ) without the laundry items ( 48 ) reaching the perforations ( 21 ) and blocking the perforations ( 21 ). 
     
     
         4 . The washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions ( 45 ) comprise many small ribs scattered in very short intervals and homogeneously over the perforated cylindrical surface ( 9 ) of the drum ( 5 ) to prevent harm of laundry items ( 48 ) by spreading and holding the laundry items ( 48 ) over the protrusions ( 45 ) to prevent contact of the laundry items ( 48 ) with the perforations ( 21 ) during all washing and extraction cycles. 
     
     
         5 . The washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions ( 45 ) are placed around the perforations ( 21 ) to create the hollows ( 46 ) in between to increase extraction efficiency by spreading textiles ( 48 ) over protrusions and holding stretched fabrics towards spaces in between the protrusions ( 45 ) to draw apart for facilitating water flow-through during extraction. 
     
     
         6 . The washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said protrusions ( 45 ) are sufficiently close to each other to keep the perforations ( 21 ) open by holding textiles ( 48 ) away from the perforations ( 21 ) to provide continuous draining from the drum ( 5 ) even when permeability of the drum ( 5 ) is restrained by reducing the number and/or diameter of the perforations ( 21 ). 
     
     
         7 . A washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) comprising:
 a tub ( 10 ), the tub positioned on a shaft bearing ( 11 ), the shaft bearing ( 11 ) adapted to selectively orient the tub ( 10 ) either along a horizontal plane or inclined at an angle relative to the horizontal plane; and   a perforated drum ( 5 ) adapted to rotate in the tub ( 10 ),   wherein the perforated drum ( 5 ) has a cylindrical surface ( 9 ), wherein the cylindrical surface ( 9 ) comprises a metal sheet, the metal sheet being undulated ( 33 - a ) with corrugated indents and protrusions ( 45 - g ).   
     
     
         8 . A washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) comprising:
 a tub ( 10 ), the tub positioned on a shaft bearing ( 11 ), the shaft bearing ( 11 ) adapted to selectively orient the tub ( 10 ) either along a horizontal plane or inclined at an angle relative to the horizontal plane; and   a perforated drum ( 5 ) adapted to rotate in the tub ( 10 ),   wherein the perforated drum ( 5 ) has a cylindrical surface ( 9 ), wherein the cylindrical surface ( 9 ) of said drum ( 5 ) is manufactured of a plastic material ( 33 - b ) having undulated shape with indents and protrusions ( 45 ).   
     
     
         9 . The washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising a protrusive coating ( 31 ) formed on the cylindrical surface ( 9 ) of the drum ( 5 ), the protrusive coating ( 31 ) further comprising a component selected from the group consisting of a single piece ( 31 - a, d, c ) and several pieces ( 31 - b ) fixed permanently or detachably on the cylindrical surface. 
     
     
         10 . The washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions ( 45 ) are arranged over the entire interior cylindrical surface ( 9 ) in a form selected from the group consisting of rib shaped protrusions ( 45 - a ), pyramidal protrusions ( 45 - b ), profiled protrusions ( 45 - e ), shaped protrusions ( 45 - g, h ), ribs ( 45 - i ), protrusions having water flow gaps underneath ( 45 - k ) and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions ( 45 ) are sheet piece ribs ( 45 - d, j ) scattered homogenously in short intervals. 
     
     
         12 . The washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the protrusions ( 45 ) are arranged so as to cover the drum perforations ( 8  or  20 - b ) however to allow the flow of liquid underneath gap to reach the drum perforations. 
     
     
         13 . The washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the protrusions ( 45 ) are regionally elevated to various heights to effect a non-homogeneous surface shape. 
     
     
         14 . The washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pump ( 16 ) adapted to be operated under control, mounted to a circulation line ( 40 ), the pump adapted to selectively decrease or maintain a level of liquid in the tub ( 10 ),
 wherein the tub ( 10 ), drum ( 5 ), and pump ( 16 ) are adapted and oriented such that that a volume ( 39 ) that drains from the drum ( 5 ) into the tub ( 10 ) is sucked by the pump ( 16 ) from a bottom area of the tub ( 10 ) and pumped back to the drum ( 5 ),   wherein the pump ( 16 ) has a higher flow-rate capacity than a drain rate of liquid from the drum ( 5 ) into the tub ( 10 ), and   wherein the quantity and size of the drum perforations ( 21 ) are selected to achieve a drain rate of liquid from the perforations ( 21 ) that is less than the flow-rate of the pump ( 16 ).   
     
     
         15 . The washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 14 , wherein the machine is adapted to deliver chemicals to a washing liquid through the circulation line ( 40 ) and before the pump ( 16 ) is operated. 
     
     
         16 . The washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) of  claim 1 , further comprising means for heating liquid in the tub ( 10 ) selected from the group consisting of a steam injector and a heat exchanger, the means for heating being located on the circulation line ( 40 ), the washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) further comprising a filter ( 18 ) located on the circulation line ( 40 ). 
     
     
         17 . The washing-extraction machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein a 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.