Dry cleaning machine

Claim 2

A cleaning machine comprising a drum; means journaling said drum at opposite ends thereof; means for rotating said drum about an axis extending through said journaled ends; door means for providing access to the interior of the drum through the wall thereof, between said ends; means for cyclically circulating a carrying air stream through said drum from one end to the other end and vice versa; and means to selectively open and close the ends of the drum to movement of the carrying stream therethrough.

Claim 3

A cleaning machine as in claim 1, further including means for continuously recirculating the carrying air stream.

Claim 4

A cleaning machine as in claim 2, wherein the means for cyclically circulating a carrying air stream includes a blower having an inlet and an outlet; first duct means leading froM the outlet of the blower to opposite ends of the drum; second duct means leading from the opposite ends of the drum to the inlet of the blower; first diverter valve means in the first duct means having firs and second limit positions for alternately directing flow through the first duct means to the opposite ends of the drum; control means for moving said first diverter valve between its first and second limit positions; second diverter valve means in the second duct means having first and second limit positions for alternately directing flow from the opposite ends of the drum through the second duct means; and control means for moving said second diverter valve between its first and second limit positions.

Claim 5

A cleaning machine as in claim 3, wherein the means to selectively open and close the ends of the drum to movement of the carrying stream therethrough comprises fixed end plates on the ends of the drum; spaced holes through the fixed end plates, said holes being circularly arranged; movable plates overlying the fixed plates, said movable plates having spaced holes therethrough; means for rotating said movable plates with respect to said fixed plates between a first position wherein the holes through the movable plates are aligned with the holes through the fixed end plates, and a second position whereby the holes through the movable plates are out of alignment with the holes through the fixed plates.

Claim 6

A cleaning machine as in claim 4, wherein the means for rotating the movable plates includes solenoids carried by the fixed plates and having solenoid rods; means connecting the solenoid rods to the movable plates; and means for supplying electrical power to said solenoids.

Claim 7

A cleaning machine as in claim 5, wherein the means for supplying electrical power to the solenoids includes ring means fixed exteriorly of said drum; electrical cord means electrically connected to said ring means; electrical brush means mounted to rotate with the drum and to engage said ring means; and electrical connections between said brush means and said solenoids.

Claim 8

A cleaning machine as in claim 3, further including filter means between the second diverter valve and the blower, whereby said carrying air stream is passed through said filter means.

Claim 9

A cleaning machine as in claim 3, further including heater means between the blower and the first diverter valve whereby said carrying air stream is passed through said heater means to be dried and warmed.

Claim 10

A cleaning machine as in claim 8, further including filter means between the second diverter valve and the blower, whereby said carrying air stream is passed through said filter means.

Claim 11

A cleaning machine as in claim 9, wherein the means to selectively open and close the ends of the drum to movement of the carrying stream therethrough comprises fixed end plates on the ends of the drum; spaced holes through the fixed end plates, said holes being circularly arranged; movable plates overlying the fixed plates, said movable plates having spaced holes therethrough; means for rotating said movable plates with respect to said fixed plates between a first position wherein the holes through the movable plates are aligned with the holes through the fixed end plates, and a second position whereby the holes through the movable plates are out of alignment with the holes through the fixed plates.

Claim 12

A cleaning machine as in claim 10, wherein the means for rotating the movable plates includes solenoids carried by the fixed plates and having solenoid rods; means connecting the solenoid rods to the movable plates; and means for supplying electrical power to said solenoids.

Claim 13

A cleaning machine as in claim 11, wherein the means for supplying electrical power to the solenoids includes ring means fixed exteriorly of said drum; electrical cord means electrically connected to said ring meAns; electrical brush means mounted to rotate with the drum and to engage said ring means; and electrical connections between said brush means and said solenoids.

Claim 14

A cleaning machine as in claim 7, wherein the filter means comprises a housing having separated upper, central and lower compartments; a drawer extending into the lower compartment; spaced sleeve-type fabric filters through which air can be passed interconnecting the upper and lower compartments and extending through the central compartment; and wherein the inlet to the blower is connected into the central compartment and the second duct means is connected into the upper compartment.

Claim 15

A cleaning machine as in claim 13, wherein the filter means further includes means for shaking the filters.

Claim 16

A cleaning machine as in claim 14, wherein the means for shaking the filters includes a motor; an eccentric rotated by the output shaft of the motor; a ring surrounding the eccentric; rings surrounding each of the filters; and means connecting the ring surrounding the eccentric and the rings surrounding the filters, whereby motion of the eccentric is transmitted to the filters.

Claim 17

A cleaning machine comprising a drum; means journaling said drum at opposite ends thereof; means for rotating said drum about an axis extending through said journaled ends; door means for providing access to the interior of the drum through the wall thereof, between said ends; means for circulating a carrying air stream through said drum from one end to the other, said means including a blower having an inlet and an outlet thereof connected to a duct means leading into said drum, a means to selectively open and close the ends of the drum to movement of the carrying stream therethrough; and second duct means leading from the drum; filter means receiving carrying air from said drum said filter means comprising a housing having separated upper, central and lower compartments, a drawer extending into the lower compartment, spaced sleeve-type fabric filters through which air can be passed, said filters interconnecting the upper and lower compartments and extending through the central compartment, and wherein the inlet to the blower is connected into the central compartment and the second duct means is connected into the upper compartment.

Claim 18

A cleaning machine comprising a drum; means journaling said drum at opposite ends thereof; means for rotating said drum about an axis extending through said journaled ends; door means for providing access to the interior of the drum through the wall thereof, between said ends; means for circulating a carrying air stream through said drum from one end to the other, said means including a blower having an inlet and an outlet thereof connected to a duct means leading into said drum, a means to selectively open and close the ends of the drum to movement of the carrying stream therethrough; and second duct means leading from the drum; filter means receiving carrying air from said drum said filter means comprising a housing having separated upper, central and lower compartments, a drawer extending into the lower compartment, spaced sleeve-type fabric filters through which air can be passed, said filters interconnecting the upper and lower compartments and extending through the central compartment, and wherein the inlet to the blower is connected into the central compartment and the second duct means is connected into the upper compartment.

Claim 19

A cleaning machine as in claim 16, wherein the filter means further includes means for shaking the filters.

Claim 20

A cleaning machine as in claim 17, wherein the means for shaking the filters includes a motor; an eccentric rotated by the output shaft of the motor; a ring surrounding the eccentric; rings surrounding each of the filters; and means connecting the ring surrounding the eccentric and the rings surrounding the filters, whereby motion of the eccentric is transmitted to the filters.