Continuous washing machine
I UnIted States Patent [191 [111 3,878,699 Stei&#39;nort 5] Apr. 22, 1975 CONTINUOUS WASHING MACHINE 3.103.802 9/1963 Streich 68/58 x Inventor: Hans Seinort hZum/uber 3.330.139 7/1967 Schafer 68/58 Hildesheim, Germany [73] Assignee: Senkingwerk Gmbl-l, Hildesheim, Primary Bleutge 1 Germany ASSISIUH! Exammer-Phlhp R. C06 [22] F] d F b 7 1973 Attorney, Agent. or FirmMason. Mason &amp; Albright Ie e [21] Appl. No.: 330,249  
 [57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jul 79 197,) German I 2117465 A continuous washing machine comprises a drum dI- y 3 vided axially into a plurality of washing chambers. A helical feed passage is arranged on one side of the 68/145 83623 283 chambers and is arranged to feed batches of washing 58] 142 146 from one chamber to an adjacent chamber during ro- N 7 3? 1 6 3 4 tation of the drum in one direction. Rotation of the drum in the reverse direction causes the batches to re- 1 References Cited main in the respective chambers.  
 . UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures 2.337.137 12/]943 Thompson et a]. 68/]44 UX l I] at y PATENTEUAPR22|975 SHEET 2 BF 6 CONTINUOUS WASHING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to continuous washing machines.  
 2. Description of the Prior Art There have been proposed continuous washing machines comprising a rotatable washing drum which is subdivided by partitions having openings for the passage of washing through the separate washing chambers, and means which in one sense of rotation of the washing drum cause the wash to move within the washing chamber to effect washing. and which in the opposite sense of rotation cause a batch of washing to be conveyed from one washing chamber to the next.  
  In order to achieve optimum washing results with these machines. it is necessary to treat the washing in separate batches in the individual washing chambers and also to convey them in batches through the individual washing chambers. When the washing drum rotates in one direction. the washing should be well worked in the washing chambers without rolling up or becoming entangled and without individual item passing from one washing chamber to another washing chamber; when the rotation takes place in the opposite direction. the individual batches of the washing should be efficiently conveyed from one washing chamber to the next.  
  In German Offenlegungsschrift No. 1.949.045 it has been proposed to arrange in a helical inclined planes on the inner surface of the washing drum of a continuous washing machine. The inclined planes connect adjacent partitions which are provided with openings extending to the inner surface of the drum.  
  This washing machine has the disadvantage that some items of the wash can pass from one washing chamber into another washing chamber during a washing operation. Effective separation of the batches of washing is not ensured because items of the wash fall through the openings in the partitions during the washing operation.  
  In German Registered Design No. 1.894.718 it has been proposed to install helical partitions in a cylindrical washing drum; these partitions form a conveyor worm and subdivide the drum into several washing chambers; the feed of the washing from one chamber to the next is brought about by a complete revolution of the drum, whereas the drum performs a swinging motion for the washing operation. Due to this swinging motion of the washing drum. only a poor washing action is obtained.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention. there is provided a continuous washing machine having a washing drum including a helical transport passage with washing chambers arranged on one side. the transport passage comprising a conveyor worm partially surrounded by a jacket, or helical inclined transport surfaces which are partially surrounded by jacket surfaces.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described. by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. in which:  
  FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the conveyor worm of a washing machine in accordance with the invention;  
 LII  
 FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the worm of FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 3 is a side elevation showing the worm of FIG. I surrounded by a semi-cylindrical jacket;  
  FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the arrangement of FIG. 3:  
  FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a washing machine incorporating the worm of FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 6 is an end elevation of the machine shown in FIG. 5:  
  FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 5;  
  FIGS. 8 to 11 are end elevations showing the washing machine in different positions during a washing operation;  
  FIGS. 12 to 15 are end elevations showing the washing machine in different positions during a feeding operation;  
  FIG. 16 is a fragmentary side elevation of another embodiment of a washing machine in accordance with the invention;  
  FIG. 17 is an end elevation looking in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 16&#39;.  
  FIG. I8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the washing machine of FIG. 16 viewed from the other side thereof during the washing operation after the washing has been taken up by a lifting surface; and  
  FIGS. 19 to 21 are fragmentary perspective views of the washing machine during different stages of a feeding operation.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in the drawings the washing machine comprises a conveyor worm having a helical thread form 2 with outer edges 2a (FIGS. 1 and 2). The worm l is surrounded by a semi-cylindrical jacket 3 which closely fits on the outer edges 2a of the helical thread form 2 and has a through opening 4 extending in longitudinal direction of the jacket (FIGS. 3 and 4). The jacket 3 is firmly connected to the worm l.  
  A washing drum 5 (FIGS. 5 to 7) is subdivided into individual chambers or treatment zones 17 by partitions 6. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the partitions 6 are sickle-shaped to accommodate the worm l and the semi-cylindrical jacket 3 surrounding the latter. The longitudinal axis 7 of the worm I is eccentrically mounted in relation to the longitudinal axis 8 of the drum 5. The jacket 3 is also rigidly connected to the partitions 6 and hence is rigid with the drum 5.  
  The pitch 5 of the worm thread form approximately corresponds to the width b of the individual treatment zones have different widths. the pitch s of the worm varies correspondingly from one treatment zone to the next.  
  Between two adjacent partitions 6 there is provided a lifting surface 9 which is bounded on one side by the cylindrical jacket 3 and on the other side by the drum 5.  
  A helical feed passage 10 is formed which is partially defined by the helical thread form 2 of the worm l and the semi-cylindrical jacket 3. The feed passage 10 extends through the partitions 6 and interconnects the individual treatment zones 17.  
  The washing machine described above operates as follows;  
  FIGS. 8 to 11 show the washing machine during a washing operation. As can be seen from FIG. 8, the  
 washing lies in the lower part of the washing drum due to the rotation of the latter in the direction indicated in the drawing, the lifting surface 9 engages the washing lying at the bottom of the washing drum 5 and lifts it in the direction of the arrow into the position shown in FIG. 11.  
  During further rotation of the washing drum 5 in the direction of the arrow. the washing slides along the surface of the jacket 3 and falls back into the lower part of the washing drum 5 to occupy the position shown in FIG. 8. This process is then repeated and it will be noted that during the washing operation the washing always remains in one and the same treatment zone. passage into the next treatment zone being prevented. Consequently, the washing cannot penetrate sufficiently far into the feed passage constituting the connection between the individual treatment zones to fall into another treatment zone.  
  When the washing is to be conveyed from one treatment zone into the next, the direction of rotation of the washing drum 5 is reversed. As can be seen from FIG. 12, the washing lies again in the lower part of the washing drum 5. Rotation of the washing drum 5 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGS. 12 to causes it to pass into the feed passage 10 and after entering the feed passage, it accumulates between the helical thread form 2 and the jacket 3 (as shown in FIG. 14).  
  By continuing the rotary motion of the washing drum 5 in the stated direction, the washing is caused to leave the feed passage and is discharged via the opening 4 into the next treatment zone of the washing drum 5. The washing drum is then in the position shown in FIG. 12. Feeding of the washing from one treatment zone to the next is therefore carried out by approximately one revolution of the washing drum 5.  
  By means of perforations in the jacket 3 the water flow within the washing drum can be so regulated that during washing and feeding, the water flows back into the treatment zone or flows on into the next treatment zone according to the position of the perforations. In this way it is possible to control the flow of water through the washing drum whereby the water flows through the drum in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the washing through the drum.  
  In an alternative arrangement several washing chambers are connected to a helical feed passage 10.  
  In the&#39;embodiment shown in FIGS. 16 to 21, the washing drum 5 is divided by partitions 6 into individual treatment zones. The partitions 6 differ from those of the previous embodiment in respect of their inner outline.  
  The helical feed passage 10 is partially formed by bending a portion of the partitions 6 over about half the width b of a treatment zone 17 at an obtuse angle a. about half the pitch 5&#39; of the helical passage being obtained in this way. The surface of the partition 6 which is inclined by the bending constitutes a feed surface 11, the remaining part 12 of the bent portion extends parallel to the unbent portion of the partition.  
  From the part 12 a feed surface 13 which is inclined in relation to the longitudinal axis 8 of the washing drum 5 leads to the adjacent partition 6; the whole pitch s of a helical passage is thus produced.  
  Between the partitions 6 there are arranged lifting surfaces 14 and sliding surfaces 15 which extend in the longitudinal direction of the washing drum 5. The lifting surface 14 is connected at a longitudinal edge 14a to the inner surface of the washing drum, its other longitudinal edge 14b being followed by a sliding surface 15 inclined thereto at an obtuse angle [3 (FIGS. 17 and 18).  
  As can be seen from FIG. 17, the feed passage 10 is surrounded within the washing drum by the lifting surfaces 14 and the sliding surfaces 15 and externally by part of the drum 5. In order to regulate the flow of the water through the individual treatment zones, the lifting surfaces 14 and the sliding surfaces 15 can be perforated.  
  Guide faces 16 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis 8 of the washing drum 5 connect the partitions 6 and constitute the central axis of the feed passage 10; the faces 16 serve to prevent the washing from sliding back along the feeding surfaces 13 into the original treatment zone, during a feeding operation.  
  The embodiment of the washing machine operates as follows:  
  To carry out a washing process, the washing drum 5 and hence also the parts which are directly or indirectly connected thereto is rotated in the direction indicated in FIG. 18. The washing in the lower part of the washing drum 5 is lifted by the lifting surface 14 and during continuing rotation the sliding surface 15 moves beyond its horizontal position into an inclined position so that the part of the washing lying on this sliding surface 15 begins to slide downwards and falls into the lower part of the washing drum 5.  
  This process is repeated when the rotation of the washing drum 5 is continued in the same sense; again, the washing always remains in one and the same treatment zone during such rotation of the drum. Undesirable passage of the washing as well as of the free water into the next treatment zone is this prevented.  
  In order to convey the washing from one treatment zone into the next, the direction of rotation of the washing drum 5 is reversed (FIG. 19). The washing lying in the lower part of the washing drum 5 is moved by the inclined feed surfaces 11 of the partitions 6, which form part of the feed passage 10, by half the width b of a treatment zone in axial direction.  
  When the rotation of the washing drum is continued, the washing is taken up by the lifting surfaces 14 and rests against the transport surfaces 13, as can be seen from FIG. 20.  
  When the washing drum is rotated still further (FIG. 21), the washing slides from the lifting faces 14 via the sliding surfaces 15 downwards and is guided by the feed surface 13 into the following washing chamber. During this operation the washing is moved axially across the second half of the treatment zone.  
  Consequently, the batches of washing are conveyed from the individual treatment zones into the following zones during approximately one revolution of the washing drum 5.  
  If the free water is not to be carried along with the washing but is to flow back into the same treatment zone, the lifting faces 14 and the sliding faces 15 can be perforated.  
  The washing machine particularly described provides an optimum, but gentle. washing action and is relatively inexpensive to produce.  
 What is claimed is:  
 1. In a continuous washing machine,  
 a rotatable washing drum,  
 means dividing the interior of the drum into a plurality of separate washing chambers. means for moving washing within the respective washing chambers during rotation of the washing drum in one sense. and means for feeding batches of washing from one chamber to an adjacent chamber during rotation of the drum in the reverse sense. said feed means comprising means defining a separate helical feed passage for each of the plurality of separate chambers arranged on one side of each chamber. said passage-defining means comprising means defining helically inclined feed surfaces. and means defining surfaces partially surrounding the helical surface-defining means. said dividing means being in the form of partitions. and the helical surface-defining means comprising portions of the said partitions, said portions being bent to extend across about half of the width of each chamber. 2. A washing machine according to claim I wherein the helical surface-defining means further comprise inclined surfaces connecting the said portion of a partition to an adjacent partition. 7  
  3. A washing machine according to claim 1 wherein the said surfaces partially surrounding the helical feed surface are formed by the inner surface of the drum which surface externally surrounds the helical feed surface. a lifting surface. and a sliding surface. said lifting surface forming said moving means.  
  4. A washing machine according to claim 3 wherein said passage-defining means further comprise guide surface means extending parallel to the axis of the washing drum. said guide surface means connecting adjacent said partitions.  
 5. A washing machine according to claim 3 wherein 5 each said lifting surface is inclined at an obtuse angle to a following said sliding surface.  
 6. In a continuous washing machine a washing drum having a surface and a longitudinal axis. said drum being rotatable about said longitudinal axis.  
 partition means dividing the interior of the drum into a plurality of separate chambers.  
 means for moving washing within the respective chambers during rotation of the washing drum in one sense. and  
 means for feeding batches of washing from one chamber to an adjacent chamber during rotation of the drum in the reverse sense. said feed means comprising means defining a helical feed passage for each of the plurality of separate chambers. the passages being located in the drum eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drum. and  
 means defining a respective aperture connecting each passage laterally with the respective chamber. each of said apertures having edges transverse to the longitudinal axis of the drum. and first and second opposed edges extending longitudinally of the drum. said first edge lying adjacent the surface of the drum, and said second edge being spaced from the surface of the drum.