Automatic drop washer/dryer

• US 7,404,303 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Domingos D. Barbosa, Maria F. Barbosa
• Original Assignee: Domingos D. Barbosa, Maria F. Barbosa
• Inventors: Barbosa, Maria F., Barbosa, Domingos D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson; Frankie L
• Application Number:
  US11/274,224
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 68/192, 68/20, 68/3.R
• US Class Current: 68/3.00R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/40 Opening or locking status of doors
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/44 Opening, closing or locking of doors
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 29/00 Combinations of a washing machine with other separate apparatus in a common frame or the like, e.g. with rinsing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 29/005 the other separate apparatus being a drying appliance
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/14 Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/04 adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/10 Doors; Securing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/04 Details controlling or regulating devices D06F34/00

Abstract

An automatic drop washer/dryer is disclosed. The automatic drop washer/dryer includes a dryer unit, a washer unit provided above the dryer unit and at least one gate provided between the dryer unit and the washer unit for closing the dryer unit from the washer unit during a washing cycle and allowing clothing to drop from the washer unit and into the dryer unit after the washing cycle.

Claims

1. An automatic drop washer/dryer comprising:

a dryer unit comprising a rotatable dryer drum having a circular inner wall, a circular outer wall and a circular gate space between said inner wall and said outer wall;

a pair of circular dryer gates slidably mounted in said circular gate space of said dryer drum;

a washer unit provided above said dryer unit and comprising a washer drum having a circular inner wall, a circular outer wall and a circular gate space between said inner wall and said outer wall; and

a pair of circular washer gates slidably mounted in said circular gate space of said washer drum.

2. The automatic drop washer/dryer of claim 1 further comprising a pair of main gates provided between said pair of circular dryer gates and said pair of circular washer gates.

3. The automatic drop washer/dryer of claim 1 further comprising a gate drive motor operably engaging said pair of circular dryer gates and said pair of circular washer gates for moving said pair of circular dryer gates and said pair of circular washer gates between open and closed positions.

4. The automatic drop washer/dryer of claim 3 further comprising a pair of dryer gate pinions and a pair of washer gate pinions drivingly engaged by said gate drive motor and a pair of dryer gate racks and a pair of washer gate racks carried by said pair of circular dryer gates and said pair of circular washer gates, respectively, and meshing with said pair of dryer gate pinions and said pair of washer gate pinions, respectively.

5. The automatic drop washer/dryer of claim 4 further comprising a drive belt connecting said gate drive motor to said pair of dryer gate pinions and said pair of washer gate pinions.

6. The automatic drop washer/dryer of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of pulleys engaging said drive belt.

7. An automatic drop washer/dryer comprising:

a dryer unit comprising a rotatable dryer drum having a circular inner wall, a circular outer wall and a circular gate space between said circular inner wall and said circular outer wall;

a pair of circular dryer gates slidably mounted in said gate space of said dryer drum;

a washer unit provided above said dryer unit and comprising a circular washer drum having a circular inner wall, a circular outer wall and a circular gate space between said circular inner wall and said circular outer wall;

a pair of circular washer gates slidably mounted in said circular gate space of said washer drum;

a drop slot between said pair of circular dryer gates and said pair of circular washer gates; and

a pair of main gates provided between said pair of circular dryer gates and said pair of circular washer gates for reversibly closing said drop slot.

8. The automatic drop washer/dryer of claim 7 further comprising a gate drive motor operably engaging said pair of circular dryer gates, said pair of circular washer gates and said pair of main gates for moving said pair of circular dryer gates, said pair of circular washer gates and said pair of main gates between open and closed positions.

9. The automatic drop washer/dryer of claim 8 further comprising a pair of dryer gate pinions and a pair of washer gate pinions drivingly engaged by said gate drive motor and a pair of circular dryer gate racks and a pair of circular washer gate racks carried by said pair of dryer gates and said pair of washer gates, respectively, and meshing with said pair of dryer gate pinions and said pair of washer gate pinions, respectively.

10. The automatic drop washer/dryer of claim 9 further comprising a pair of main gate pinions drivingly engaged by said gate drive motor and a pair of main gate racks carried by said pair of main gates, respectively, and meshing with said pair of main gate pinions, respectively.

11. The automatic drop washer/dryer of claim 10 further comprising a drive belt connecting said gate drive motor to said pair of dryer gate pinions, said pair of washer gate pinions and said pair of main gate pinions.

12. The automatic drop washer/dryer of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of pulleys engaging said drive belt.