US5207764A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tumbler type washing/drying machine
Assignee: Sharp Corp
•
Filing: 1991-10-15
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Granted: 1993-05-04
•
Expires: 2011-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A washing/drying machine including a washtub, a feeding device for feeding water to the washtub, a draining device for draining water from the washtub, a tumbling drum, rotatably supported by a lateral axis in the washtub, having a plurality of holes through which air and water pass and an opening for introducing the washing, and a lid for closing the opening, a motor for rotating the drum at various speeds, a disc for agitating the washing, disposed in the drum adjacent to a flat end wall of the drum in parallel with the wall, a bearing device for rotatably bearing the disc, a fixing device for selectively fixing the disc, a device for supplying hot air to the drum, and a controller for controlling the fixing device to intermittently fix the disc against the rotation of the drum, and a controlling method thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Tatuo Akabane
- 👤 Susumu Kitamura
- 👤 Kazuhide Niinai
- 👤 Hiroaki Nagata
- 👤 Yoshiaki Kajita
- 👤 Koji Yamane
- 👤 Takeo Noguchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:18
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F35/00; D06F35/005; D06F37/00; D06F37/30; D06F37/40; D06F25/00; D06F37/304
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A washing/drying machine comprising: a washtub; means for feeding water to the washtub; means for draining water from the washtub; a tumbling drum, that includes a flat end wall, rotatably supported along a lateral axis in the washtub, the tumbling drum having a plurality of holes for the passage of air and water and an opening for introducing the washing, and a lid for closing the opening; means for rotating the tumbling drum at various speeds; a disc for agitating the washing, disposed in the drum adjacent to the flat end wall of the tumbling drum in parallel with the wall; means for rotatably supporting the disc; means for selectively fixing the disc; means for supplying hot air to the tumbling drum; and means for controlling the fixing means to intermittently fix the disc in a stationary position as the tumbling drum rotates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A washing/drying machine comprising: a washtub; means for feeding water to the washtub; means for draining water from the washtub; a tumbling drum, that includes a flat end wall, rotatably supported along a lateral axis in the washtub, the tumbling drum having a plurality of holes for the passage of air and water and an opening for introducing the washing, and a lid for closing the opening; means for rotating the tumbling drum at various speeds; a disc for agitating the washing, disposed in the drum adjacent to the flat end wall of the tumbling drum in parallel with the wall; means for rotatably supporting the disc; means for selectively fixing the disc; means for supplying hot air to the tumbling drum; and means for controlling the fixing means to intermittently fix the disc in a stationary position as the tumbling drum rotates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A washing/drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the disc supporting means comprises a bearing for rotatably supporting the disc along an axis and the fixing means comprises a clutch for mechanically engaging/disengaging the disc along an axis with/from the washtub.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A washing/drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the agitating disc includes a plurality of projections and a plurality of air holes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A washing/drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the drum has a circular side wall with an annular rib in the periphery of the circular side wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
A washing/drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the wash tub includes two flat end walls and the hot air supplying means includes a duct located outside the washtub, for communicating with both flat end walls of the washtub, a blower located in the duct for circulating the air in the washtub through the duct, and a heater located at an outlet end of the duct.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A washing/drying machine according to claim 5, wherein the heater is arched in shape and located on one of the end walls of the washtub and above the axis of the drum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A washing/drying machine according to claim 6, wherein the heater is accommodated in an arched concavity provided on a side wall of a washtub and covered with a cover.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A washing/drying machine according to claim 6, wherein the heater is accommodated in a heater case attached to the side wall of the washtub.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A washing/drying machine according to claim 5, wherein the hot air supplying means further includes cooling means for once cooling air that circulates in the duct to dehumidify it.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A washing/drying machine according to claim 9, wherein the cooling means includes a U-shaped air duct.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A washing/drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the drum rotating means is a DC brushless motor composed of a stator provided with a winding and a rotor including a permanent magnet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
A washing/drying machine according to claim 11, further including means for supplying an ON-OFF duty ratio of line voltage to the winding of the stator in a first washing condition, where the motor works at high speed, which is larger than an ON-OFF duty ratio of a line voltage applied to the winding of the stator in a second washing condition, where the motor works at low speed, so that revolutions of the motor are controlled in accordance with the first or second washing conditions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A washing/drying machine according to claim 12, wherein the line voltage applied to the winding of the stator of the motor is subjected to pulse width modulation in order to control the motor speed in a range of the washing conditions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
A washing/drying machine according to claim 1 wherein the means for controlling the fixing means includes a solenoid which when in an OFF condition, the disc will be stationary so that as the drum rotates, projections on the disc act so as to accomplish wash by friction and pressure caused by rubbing and crumpling.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A washing/drying machine according to claim 1 wherein the means for controlling the fixing means includes a solenoid which when in an ON condition, the disc will move independently of the drum in accordance with movement of the washing so that the washing is performed by beating.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-03 | 1996-11-02 | 1997-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-03 | 2000-11-02 | 2001-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-03 | 2004-11-02 | 2005-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |