The laundry treating apparatus includes a door to open and close the introduction port about a first rotational or a second rotational axis which is different from first rotational axis A first switching unit is provided in the door to allow rotation of door about the first rotational axis, and a second switching unit is provided in the door to allow rotation of the door about the second rotational axis A lock fixes a position of at least one of the first switching unit or second switching unit when the door opens the introduction port As can be appreciated, the mechanism used for the laundry apparatus may be applicable to other home appliances or non-home appliances where two different rotational axes may be needed to open and close a door

Laundry treating apparatus

This invention relates to a washer / dryer (1) incorporating a connection which prevents the microwave energy routed to the interior of the tub (2) from leaking to the outside of the tub (2), and also allows the fluids to pass without being choked.

A washer / dryer

The invention relates to a washing machine, having a detergent dispensing unit (3) disposed in the upper machine space, comprising a drawer (5) accessible from the front having at least one chamber (8 to 10) for a hand-metered addition of a detergent or liquid detergent portion. A storage unit (18) for liquid or gel-like washing aids, and a unit (21, 22) each for the automatic metering of each of the stored washing aids is disposed in the upper machine space. In order to provide a customer with the choice for manual metering or automatic metering with such a washing machine, but to also provide ways for an automatically metered washing aid that are as short as possible, and low maintenance for the storage unit while avoiding further disadvantages, the storage unit (18) according to the invention is configured of a receptacle unit (27) for transportable storage containers (28), which can have a fluid connection to the unit (21) for the automatic metering of the washing aid located in the storage container (28), the outlet opening (31) of the unit ending in a stationary chamber (13) of the detergent dispensing unit (3).

Automatically controlled washing machine

A controllable medium device (20) for resisting movement (rotary, linear, or sliding) between two relatively moveable members includes a first member (22) and a second member (24) coupled for relative movement having a working space (26) between them, and a controllable medium retaining structure (30), for example, and absorbent matrix, to hold a controllable medium (28) only in the working space. A field generating coil is mounted to one of the first and second members to generate a field acting on the first and second members and the controllable medium in the working space. The rheology change in the medium produced by the field results in resistance to relative movement of the first and second members. A device according to the invention may be used in apparatus, such as washing machines, exercise equipement, air supported tables, and a range of other apparatuses that would benefit from controlled damping or braking.

Controllable medium device and apparatus utilizing same

An apparatus and method for operating a dispensing system as a non-bulk dispensing system or a bulk dispensing system in a household cleaning appliance.

Household cleaning appliance with a dispensing system operable between a single use dispensing system and a bulk dispensing system

A shock absorber damps the vibrations that are generated in a washing assembly of a horizontal axis washer. The shock absorber is of the type containing a magnetorheological fluid. A method carried out in a real-time mode throughout the duration of the operation cycles of the machine varies at least one of the rheological properties of the medium and, in due proportion, the vibration damping power of the shock absorber. The method is based on the monitoring of a physical quantity that is representative of the variations in the balance conditions of the washing assembly. The invention provides effective and immediate damping of the vibrations caused by an unbalanced washload in the rotating drum, without any interruption or modification of the washing cycle selected and set by the user.

Method for providing active damping of the vibrations generated by the washing assembly of washing machines and washing machine implementing said method

A dispenser (6) for dispensing detergent products or similar in a laundry washing machine (1), wherein the dispenser (6) has a drawer (7) housed in a front wall (4) of the machine (1) and divided into a front section (10) used for dispensing products manually and for housing single amounts of products, and a rear section (11) used for dispensing products automatically and for housing at least one container (12) containing a sufficient quantity of a relative product for a given number of washes.

Laundry washing machine dispenser for detergent products

A clothes washing machine, or a similar appliance such as a washer/dryer, includes a flexible duct, such as a bellows, arranged between the opening (5) of a door (4), intended for loading and unloading the clothes, and an associated opening (8) provided on an inner washing tub (10). Peripheral folds (16), the outer end (13) and a cylindrical band (15) of the bellows (12), are made with a material having elastomeric properties and a hardness of about Shore A 20 to 30. The inner end (15) of the bellows is made with a synthetic material having a hardness of about Shore A 40 to 50. The machine is low noise. A greater unbalanced load of clothes can be tolerated since the improved bellows minimize the vibrations, generated by the inner washing tub when the machine is operated, which are transmitted to the outer cabinet of the machine. The bellows have a low manufacturing cost and are interchangeable with those of conventional construction, namely those entirely made with a material of the same hardness (Shore A 33-35 or above).

Clothes washing machine or a similar appliance having improved loading duct

The filter (3) comprises transversal walls (11) forming a labyrinth-like path with the inner surface of a hollow body (6) that is part of the water outlet circuit of the machine On the peripheral edge of said transversal walls (11) there are provided serrations (12) adapted to retain foreign bodies and break down the air bubbles that are present in the liquor taken in by the drain pump (4)

Washing machine with clog proof lint filter

Ballasted tub for washing machines, particularly clothes washing machines or combined clothes washing and drying machines, comprising two circular shells (9, 10) of plastic material which are adapted to be fitted and connected with each other along their periphery and are shaped in such a way as to be adapted to accomodate a plurality of ballast blocks (8) made of concrete or other suitable heavy material. Said ballast blocks (8) are pre-formed and applied against the corresponding front and rear surfaces of the shells (9, 10) by means of removable fixing means (22,23,24,25,27,31,32) of a per se known type, thereby implementing a ballasted tub with a modular structure, wherein both the disposition and the combination of the ballast blocks (8) can be varied at will in view of the ability of balancing differently shaped and sized tubs therewith.

Lucio Valent

Papers

Method for providing active damping of the vibrations generated by the washing assembly of washing machines and washing machine implementing said method

Laundry washing machine dispenser for detergent products

Clothes washing machine or a similar appliance having improved loading duct

Washing machine with clog proof lint filter

Ballasted tub for washing machines