Control circuit for automatic washing machine

Claim 2

In a coin-operated automatic washing machine of the type operable through a preset program of washing, draining and spinning periods through the control of a sequential control means, and having temperature selection means coordinated therewith, the improvement comprising means for modifying the preset program for treating permanent press materials including manually operable switching means including a plurality of switch contacts which are connected in circuit with said sequential control means and operable to interpose, between a first waterfill and agitation washing period at a first water temperature and a drain period, an intermediate drain period and an intermediate waterfill and agitation washing period at a lower temperature to prevent setting wrinkles in permanent press material during the first spin period.

Claim 3

A control circuit for controlling automatic laundry apparatus of the type having agitation means in a laundry treatment zone and a sequential control means for operation through a single programmed sequence of washing, draining, rinsing and drying periods, said control circuit comprising: a timer including a plurality of program contacts operable in accordance with said preset program, a timer motor connectable to an electrical supply by way of a first set of said program contacts, said timer being manually operable to initiate said preset program and operable by said timer motor through the remainder of said preset program; currency-receiving means latching said timer against manual operation and operable to unlatch said timer upon receipt of a predetermined amount of currency; a washing-liquid-level-sensitive switch; a motor for driving said agitation means, said motor connectable to an electrical supply by way of second and third sets of said program contacts and said washing-liquid-level-sensitive switch; means for engaginG said agitation means in driving engagement with said motor, said engaging means connectable to an electrical supply by way of fourth and fifth sets of said program contacts and said washing-liquid-level-sensitive switch; means for supplying washing liquids at different temperatures to said treatment zone and connectable to the electrical supply by way of a sixth set of said program contacts and by way of said washing-liquid-level-sensitive switch; and cycle switching means including a plurality of cycle selection contacts connected in circuit with said program contacts and their respective controlled elements, said cycle switching means being manually operable to operate said cycle selection contacts in a plurality of combinations to interpose into said single program between the programmed washing and draining cycles, a selected drain cycle followed by a washing cycle at a lower temperature than the programmed washing cycle.

Claim 4

A control circuit for controlling automatic laundry apparatus of the type having agitation means in a laundry treatment zone and a sequential control means for operation through a single programmed sequence of washing, draining, rinsing and drying periods, said control circuit comprising: a timer including a plurality of program contacts operable in accordance with said preset program, a timer motor connectable to an electrical supply by way of a first set of said program contacts, said timer being manually operable to initiate said preset program and operable by said timer motor through the remainder of said preset program; currency-receiving means latching said timer against manual operation and operable to unlatch said timer upon receipt of a predetermined amount of currency; a washing-liquid-level-sensitive switch; a motor for driving said agitation means, said motor connectable to an electrical supply by way of second and third sets of said program contacts and said washing-liquid-level-sensitive switch; means for engaginG said agitation means in driving engagement with said motor, said engaging means connectable to an electrical supply by way of fourth and fifth sets of said program contacts and said washing-liquid-level-sensitive switch; means for supplying washing liquids at different temperatures to said treatment zone and connectable to the electrical supply by way of a sixth set of said program contacts and by way of said washing-liquid-level-sensitive switch; and cycle switching means including a plurality of cycle selection contacts connected in circuit with said program contacts and their respective controlled elements, said cycle switching means being manually operable to operate said cycle selection contacts in a plurality of combinations to interpose into said single program between the programmed washing and draining cycles, a selected drain cycle followed by a washing cycle at a lower temperature than the programmed washing cycle.

Claim 5

The control circuit according to claim 2, comprising manually operable speed control means connected in circuit with the motor, said second and third sets of said program contacts and the corresponding cycle selection contacts to provide manual selection of motor speed within a washing cycle.

Claim 6

The control circuit according to claim 2, wherein said driving motor includes high- and low-speed windings and said plurality of cycle selection contacts includes a set of contacts which are operable to transfer electrical power from said second and third sets of said program contacts selectively between high-and low-speed windings of the motor.

Claim 7

The control circuit according to claim 2, wherein said fourth and fifth sets of program contacts includes a plurality of contacts which are individually operable at predetermined times during said program and wherein said plurality of cycle selection contacts includes a set of contacts which are operable to selectively control the connection of said plurality of control contacts of said fourth and fifth sets of program contacts to the engaging means for the agitating means.

Claim 8

The control circuit according to claim 2, wherein the liquid supply means is of the type which includes means for supplying hot water, means for supplying cold water, and means for preselecting water temperature by controlling the respective amounts of hot and cold water delivered to the receptacle, and in said control circuit said sixth set of program contacts includes contacts individually connected to the respective hot and cold water supply means, and said cycle selection contacts includes contacts connected in circuit with the program contacts associated with one of the water supply means for controlling the water supplied to the treatment zone in accordance with the selected cycle.