PRECLEANING A TOKEN-ACTUATED LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE

• US 3,848,437 A
• Filed: 02/23/1973
• Issued: 11/19/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Quintin N. Rottering
• Original Assignee: Quintin N. Rottering
• Inventors: Rottering, Quintin N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hornsby, Harvey C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US05/335,252
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 68/12R,13R,23.5,184,207,208,181R 134/57D,58D,186
• US Class Current: 68/12.23
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/00 User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/06 Timing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/08 Control circuits or arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/006 for washing or rinsing only

Abstract

An optional preliminary operation in a token-actuated laundry washing machine effects a precleaning or flushing of the fluid system including the fluid container, the pump, and the drain conduits to effectively remove residual vitiated fluid from the washing machine to avoid intermixing of the residual fluid with the washing fluid for a subsequent washing operation. The apparatus precleaning is optionally effected between the insertion of a proper token and selection of the desired cycle of operations.

Claims

1. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus, the combination comprising:

container means for receiving and containing washing fluid and fabrics to be washed therein;

means for washing fabrics in said container means;

pump means communicating with said container means and operable for pumping vitiated washing fluid therefrom;

pump drive means energizable for operating said pump means;

conduit means effectively connected to said container means and communicating with said pump means for conducting said vitiated fluid from said container means;

fluid supply means for directing water into said container means;

a sequence control circuit for programming said apparatus through a plurality of operations including an optional preliminary apparatus flushing operation and other operations selectable as a group to comprise a primary cycle of operations excluding said flushing operation;

energizing circuit means including token-actuated circuit means responsive to receipt of a proper token and further including cycle selection means responsive to selection of a desired primary cycle of operations, said energizing circuit means being operable for energizing said sequence control circuit to initiate operation of said apparatus through said primary cycle of operations upon actuation of both of said token-actuated circuit means and said cycle selection means;

optional flushing circuit means selectively actuatable by selection of said flushing operation after actuation of said token-actuated circuit means and prior to actuatIon of said cycle selection means for energizing said sequence control circuit to initate operation of said fluid supply means and said pump drive means to effect flow of water into said container means and through said pump means and said conduit means to flush said container means, said pump means, and said conduit means prior to initiation of said primary cycle of operations; and

holding circuit means responsive to completion of said flushing operation for maintaining said laundry apparatus conditioned for selection and initiation of said primary cycle of operations.

2. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said flushing circuit means is inoperable prior to operation of said token-actuated circuit means and inoperable after operation of said cycle selection means whereby said flushing operation may be initiated only after insertion of said token and prior to selection and initiation of said primary cycle of operations.

3. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus, the combination comprising:

container means for receiving and containing washing fluid and fabrics to be washed therein;

means for washing fabrics in said container means;

pump means communicating with said container means and operable for pumping vitiated washing fluid therefrom;

pump drive means energizable for operating said pump means;

conduit means effectively connected to said container means and communicating with said pump means for conducting said vitiated fluid from said container means;

fluid supply means for directing water into said container means;

a sequence control circuit for programming said apparatus through a plurality of operations including an optional preliminary apparatus flushing operation and other operations selectable as a group to comprise a primary cycle of operations excluding said flushing operations;

energizing circuit means including token-actuated circuit means responsive to receipt of a proper token and further including cycle selection means responsive to selection of a desired primary cycle of operations, said energizing circuit means being operable for energizing said sequence control circuit to initiate operation of said apparatus through said primary cycle of operations upon actuation of both of said token-actuated circuit means and said cycle selection means;

optional flushing circuit means selectively actuatable by selection of said flushing operation after operation of said token-actuated circuit means and prior to actuation of said cycle selection means for by passing said energizing circuit means to energize said fluid supply means and said pump drive means for effecting flow of water into said container means and through said pump means and said conduit means to flush said container means, said pump means, and said conduit means prior to initiation of said primary cycle of operations; and

holding circuit means responsive to completion of said flushing operation for maintaining said laundry apparatus semi-energized and conditioned for selection and initiation of said primary cycle of operations.

4. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said flushing circuit means includes a switch manually actuatable by an operator of said apparatus for effecting completion of said flushing operation prior to selection and initiation of said primary cycle of operations.

5. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said holding circuit means effectively requires completion of one of said primary cycles of operations before reactuation of said flushing circuit means.

6. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said token-actuated circuit means must be activated with a proper token prior to selection and initiation of said flushing operation and wherein said flushing operation may be omitted by selecting a primary cycle of operations following insertion of a proper token.

7. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus, the combination comprising:

a container foR receiving and containing washing fluid;

a perforate fabric basket disposed within said container;

means for washing fabrics in said basket;

pump means communicating with said container and operable for pumping vitiated washing fluid from said container;

pump drive means energizable for operating said pump means;

conduit means effectively connected to said container and communicating with said pump means for conducting said vitiated fluid from said container;

fluid supply means for directing water into said container;

a sequence control circuit for programming said apparatus through a plurality of operations including an optional preliminary apparatus flushing operation and other operations selectable as a group to comprise a primary cycle of operations excluding said flushing operation, said sequence control circuit including a timing mechanism having an increment representing the first increment of said flushing operation and also the first increment of said primary cycle of operations;

energizing circuit means including token-actuated circuit means responsive to receipt of a proper token and further including cycle selection means responsive to selection of a desired primary cycle of operations, said energizing circuit means being operable for energizing said sequence control circuit to initiate in said first increment operation of said apparatus through said primary cycle of operations upon actuation of both of said token-actuated circuit means and said cycle selection means;

optional flushing circuit means selectively actuatable only by selection of said flushing operation after operation of said token-actuated circuit means and prior to operation of said cycle selection means for energizing said sequence control circuit to initiate in said first increment operation of said fluid supply means and said pump drive means to effect flow of water into said container and through said pump means and said conduit means to flush said container, said pump means, and said conduit means prior to initiation of said primary cycle of operations; and

holding circuit means responsive to completion of said flushing operation for maintaining said laundry apparatus semi-energized and conditioned for selection of and operation through said primary cycle of operations.

8. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said flushing circuit means includes switch means for effecting energization of said pump drive means responsive to selection of said flushing operation and prevents for a timed period energization of said pump drive means responsive to selection of said primary cycle of operations.

9. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said switch means includes a selection switch operable between a first posture in which said pump drive means is energized under control of a cam-operated switch of said sequence control circuit and a second posture wherein energization of said pump drive means is prevented for a timed period after selection of a primary cycle of operations.