American Laundry Machinery Inc.

Charles W Hendren

A laundry machine includes a drum having an opening through which launderable items may be delivered into and withdrawn from and a hopper unit that defines an internal passage between first and second open ends thereof. The hopper unit is pivotally attached to the laundry machine between an in-use position in which the second open end of the hopper unit is aligned with the drum opening for loading the machine and a non-use position in which the hopper unit is positioned remote from the drum opening to permit unloading of the drum. The hopper unit includes a closure member, mounted within the internal passage, that is movable between an open position wherein launderable items can freely pass through the internal passage and a closed position wherein the closure member closes the internal passage. With this arrangement, the hopper unit remains in its in-use position during both loading and laundering stages of operation of the machine and functions to reduce cycle time, increase machine capacity, improve safety and enhance machine efficiency.

Method of laundering items in a laundry machine with a combination drum

Laundry machine with combination drum door/loading hopper

A drum type agitating and mixing machine for treating garments or fabric in liquid such as in washing or dyeing wherein a rotatable drum partially submerged in liquid along one side includes inwardly projecting hollow ribs arranged to contain air when the rib is outside the liquid in the machine. Each rib defines a pumping chamber having an inlet opening arrangement for liquid and an outlet arrangement for air trapped within the rib and the liquid that fills the rib so that liquid enters each rib from at one area of the rib and pumps air trapped within the rib out through an outlet arrangement which is axially spaced from the inlet. Flow of air out the outlet openings is slower than inflow of liquid into the chamber. Liquid contained within the rib drains therefrom through the outlet openings as each rib moves over the surface of liquid in the drum and is inverted. A one-way valve admits liquid into the rib chamber but does not let it flow in the reverse direction to ensure that liquid will drain from the outlet openings only. Pumping of air while the ribs are immersed causes air bubbles to be generated beneath the surface of the liquid in which the drum is rotated to promote intimate mixing of the liquid. The axial spacing of inlet and outlet transfers liquid axially within the drum.

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West Chester, OH, United States of America

Charles W Hendren