Laundry treating appliance with a rotating container having one or more lifters provided with an article holder device and method for treating laundry in said laundry treating appliance
The laundry treating appliance with a sliding article holder clamp device on lifters addresses accidental catching and opening issues, ensuring secure article handling and improved treatment efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-18
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-24
AI Technical Summary
Existing laundry treating appliances face issues with laundry articles being accidentally caught or damaged by article holder devices when not in use, and accidental opening of these devices during treatment processes, which affect washing and drying efficiency.
A laundry treating appliance with a rotatable container and lifters equipped with an article holder clamp device having a movable part that slides between closed and open positions, operated by an actuating device to securely hold or release articles, reducing the risk of accidental opening or catching.
The solution effectively prevents articles from being caught or damaged and ensures secure holding, enhancing the efficiency and safety of laundry treatment processes.
Smart Images
Figure IMGAF001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] The present invention concerns the field of laundry treating appliances provided with a rotating container and laundry lifters associated therewith.
[0002] In particular, the present invention refers to a laundry treating appliance provided with a rotating drum having laundry lifters associated therewith, at least one of the lifters being provided with an article holder device.BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Laundry treating appliances generally comprise an external casing, or cabinet, provided with a rotating container where the laundry is placed.
[0004] Laundry treating appliances may comprise laundry washing machines, i.e. machines that can carry out a washing process on laundry, laundry washing and drying machines, i.e. machines that can carry out a washing and a drying process on laundry and laundry drying machine, i.e. machines that can carry out a drying process on laundry but are not able to wash laundry.
[0005] In the present description, the term "laundry washing machine" will refer to both a simple laundry washing machine and a laundry washing-drying machine.
[0006] Laundry treating appliances, both laundry washing machines and laundry drying machines, are advantageously provided with lifters, or laundry lifters, protruding from the inner surface of the rotating container towards the rotation axis of the container and rotating together with the container. Lifters have the aim of causing laundry to raise from the inner surface of the rotating container and fall thereafter again on said inner surface. This mechanical action enhances the washing effect on laundry washing machines or the drying effect on dryers since laundry moves within the container and relative thereto.
[0007] It is known form the prior art providing the lifters with an article holder device. JPH222798U discloses a dryer comprising a rotating drum with one or more lifters provided with a first portion rotatably mounted on a second portion that is solidly mounted on the rotating drum. The first and the second portion form a clamp to hold a piece of laundry therebetween.
[0008] The first lifter portion is rotatable relative to the second portion between a first position wherein the first portion is lying on the second portion (closed clamp position) and a second position wherein the first and the second portions are spaced apart one another for the most of their extension (open clamp position).
[0009] The rotation of the first lifter portion relative to the second portion in one rotation direction is contrasted by a spring element that is arranged between the first and the second lifter portions to keep the first rotatable portion in said first position (closed clamp position).
[0010] When laundry articles are inserted within the drum to be dried in case the clamps provided on the lifters are not used, such lifter clamp arrangement is subject to possible undesired openings during a laundry drying course, especially in the initial phases thereof, due to wet laundry articles pushing the first lifter portion while the drum is rotating. The pushing action may cause the first portion to rotate, even partially, from the first position (closed clamp position) towards the second position (open clamp position), thereby accidentally clamping laundry articles present in the drum, which might even be very delicate articles, causing damages and possible tears.
[0011] Increasing the elastic resistance of the spring element arranged between the first and the second portion of the lifter is not a satisfactory solution to such problem because it would cause the user to apply a considerable amount of force to open the clamp when its use is desired.
[0012] Selecting different positions of the lifter clamp fulcrum may also cause the lifter to be accidentally opened by either a pulling or pressing action provided by laundry moving within the container during a laundry treatment process.
[0013] Furthermore, limiting the drum rotation to only one of its two possible rotational directions, i.e. the one not exposing the rotatable first lifter portion to a laundry mass to drag and lift it from the inner surface of the drum when the lifter is not required to clamp a laundry article, negatively impacts the drying course performances because laundry articles, rotating always in the same direction, would tend to progressively entangle without possibility to be unravelled by inverting the drum rotation periodically. Even periodical stops of the drum rotation would not improve an effective disentangling action compared to a reversed rotation of the drum rotation. In addition, the possibility for drying air to evenly reach all the laundry articles that always rotate in one direction only would be rather low.
[0014] US8281622 discloses a drum washing machine for washing articles without water and by using a cleaning member made of microfiber. The cleaning member is a tubular element that is detachably attached to the drum by means of holder devices, each device including a first portion to be connected to the drum by means of a guide portion formed on a lifter attached to the drum, and a second portion connected to said first portion. Said second portion comprises tweezers having a tip split into two pieces to hold the cleaning member.
[0015] A disadvantage of such arrangement is that in case the holder devices are maintained connected to the drum lifters and articles are treated in the washing machine without the cleaning member, there is the high risk that one or more of said articles can be caught by the tweezers and irremediably damaged by the drum rotation. A user would be therefore required to remove all the holder devices every time a washing course has to be performed without the need for using the cleaning member, which is rather annoying and impractical, especially because a place to store the holder devices has to be found.
[0016] EP1529875 discloses a washing apparatus for dry-cleaning laundry. In order to carry out such dry-cleaning process a wet pad cloth is provided to be fixed to a holder device provided in a lifter, such that, with the drum rotation, the wet pad cloth evenly comes into contact with the entire laundry articles present within the drum to enhance a dry-cleaning effect. The holder device is assembled to a loading recess provided in a lifter to fix the wet pad cloth thereto and to open / close the loading recess. The holder device has a first end hinged to a loading recess provided in a lifter and a second end provided with a hook for hooking into the loading recess. A hanging recess is provided to a corresponding portion of the loading recess to catch the hook. The holder device and the loading recess extend along the main direction of the lifter.
[0017] A disadvantage of such arrangement is that if the hook provided at one end of the holder device should accidentally be released during a treatment course carried out by the washing apparatus on laundry articles which does not require the use of the holder device, the latter would displace radially inwardly from the drum cylindrical wall causing laundry articles to be caught and definitively damaged.
[0018] The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks posed by the known technique.
[0019] It is an object of the invention to provide a laundry treating appliance having an article holder device avoiding laundry articles to be caught by the article holder device when the latter is not in use and / or avoiding accidental opening of an article holder device during a laundry treating course carried out on laundry articles.DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0020] The applicant has found that by providing a laundry treating appliance comprising a rotatable container apt to receive laundry to be treated and at least one lifter having a base portion resting on the inner surface of the container and by providing the lifter with an article holder clamp device having at least one movable part which is configured to slidingly move relative to said rotatable container, it is possible to overcome drawbacks of known techniques.
[0021] The present invention relates, therefore, to a laundry treating appliance comprising: a rotatable container apt to receive laundry to be treated, said container being rotatable about a rotation axis and comprising a side wall that extends around said rotation axis and comprises an inner surface which delimits a laundry receiving space; at least one lifter having a base portion resting on said inner surface, said lifter extending from said inner surface of said side wall towards said rotation axis, said lifter being provided with an article holder clamp device having a clamp region comprising a first gripping surface and a second gripping surface to hold an article therebetween, said clamp device comprising at least one movable part comprising said first gripping surface, wherein each of said at least one movable part is movable relative to said rotatable container between a closed clamp position to hold said article and an open clamp position to release said article, said clamp device comprising an actuating device that is operable to move said at least one movable part between said closed clamp position and said open clamp position; wherein said at least one movable part is configured to slidingly move along a sliding axis between said closed clamp position and said open clamp position. Advantageously, the article is firmly kept in position by the clamp region of the clamp device and the risk of unwanted releasing of the article is therefore reduced or substantially annulled.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the sliding axis is contained in a right circular cone whose apex angle is ranging from 20° to 80° and its height is perpendicular to at least one straight line passing through the rotation axis and intersecting the base portion. In this way, a user can easily handle the clamp device during the preparatory steps made before starting the operations of the appliance.
[0023] In a further preferred embodiment, the sliding axis is contained in a right circular cone whose apex angle is ranging from 20° to 80° and its height is perpendicular to at least one straight line laying in a plane perpendicular to said rotation axis, said straight line passing through the rotation axis and intersecting the base portion. In a still further preferred embodiment, the sliding axis is an axis perpendicular to at least one straight line laying in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis, said straight line passing through the rotation axis and intersecting the base portion, said sliding axis laying in said plane.
[0024] In an alternative preferred embodiment, the sliding axis forms an angle ranging from 0° to 10° with at least one straight line laying in a plane perpendicular to said rotation axis, said straight line passing through the rotation axis and intersecting the base portion.
[0025] Preferably, the actuating device comprises an actuating member configured to slidingly move along a direction parallel to the sliding axis and to move said at least one movable part between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position. In this way, the efficiency of the user action on the clamp device can be enhanced.
[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, the actuating member comprises a pushing button which is stationary or movable relative to said at least one movable part. A pushing button is an intuitive means for a prompt user actuation of the clamp device.
[0027] According to another preferred embodiment, the actuating member comprises a pulling member, preferably formed or made as an aperture in said at least one movable part. A pulling member can further reduce an undesired interaction of laundry with the clamp device within the rotatable container
[0028] Preferably, the actuating device comprises an actuating member configured to move along an actuating axis which is transversal, preferably perpendicular, to the sliding axis to move said at least one movable part between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position. In this way an unwanted activation of the clamp device is advantageously avoided.
[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, the actuating device comprises a first inclined plane provided to said at least one movable part and a second inclined plane provided to the actuating member, the second inclined plane cooperating with the first inclined plane so that a movement of the actuating member along the actuating axis is converted into a movement of said at least one movable part along the sliding axis. Coupling inclined planes is effective to have a precise movement command imparted to the movable part of the clamp device.
[0030] According to a further preferred embodiment, the actuating device comprises an actuating member configured to rotate about a rotating axis, preferably the rotating axis being parallel to the sliding axis. In this way an unwanted activation of the clamp device is further advantageously avoided.
[0031] Preferably, the actuating device comprises a first cam surface associated to said at least one movable part and a second cam surface associated to the actuating member, the second cam surface cooperating with the first cam surface so that a rotation of the actuating member around the rotating axis is converted into a movement of said at least one movable part along the sliding axis. Advantageously, by means of a cam coupling it is possible to fine tune the action provided by the actuating member to the movable part.
[0032] According to a further preferred embodiment, the actuating device comprises a rack associated to said at least one movable part and a gear associated to the actuating member, the gear cooperating with the rack so that a rotation of the actuating member around the rotating axis is converted into a movement of said at least one movable part along the sliding axis. In this way, a user can drive the movable part in both directions between a clamp closed position and a clamp open position.
[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the actuating member is arranged in an end region of the lifter, in particular in an end region close to a laundry loading aperture provided in the rotatable container to access the laundry receiving space. In this manner, advantageously, the actuating member is easily reachable by the user from the laundry loading opening of the appliance.
[0034] Preferably, the actuating device comprises a biasing element configured for moving said at least one movable part towards the closed clamp position. Advantageously, the biasing element automatically moves the movable part from the open clamp position to the closed clamp position as the user stops actuating manually the actuating device.
[0035] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clamp device comprises one movable part and a fixed part which is stationary relative to the rotatable container, and which comprises the second gripping surface, wherein said one movable part cooperates with the fixed part for holding the article between the first and second gripping surfaces. Advantageously, the user is required to interact with one movable part of the clamp device only, thereby simplifying the clam device use.
[0036] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the clamp device comprises a first movable part comprising the first gripping surface and a second movable part comprising the second gripping surface, wherein the two movable parts are movable relative to the rotatable container along a respective sliding axis and are arranged to cooperate for holding the article between the first and second gripping surfaces. This arrangement may advantageously enhance the holding action of the article by the clamp device.
[0037] Preferably, the respective sliding axes of the two movable parts either coincide or are parallel. In this manner, the clamp device actuation is simplified.
[0038] According to a preferred embodiment, the first gripping surface and / or the second gripping surface comprises catching elements for the article.
[0039] Advantageously, the article is kept firmly in position by the clamp region. Preferably, the catching elements comprise teeth and holes.
[0040] Advantageously, the teeth pierce the article and keep it firmly in position. Preferably, the teeth and holes are arranged in horizontal lines by alternating a hole and a tooth along a horizontal and / or vertical line. This arrangement advantageously allows holding an article in an efficient manner.
[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the teeth are cones or pyramids or parallelepipeds or prisms having a base including 5 to 10 sides. This simplifies the teeth forming procedure and enhance the holding action of an article.
[0042] In a further aspect thereof, the present invention relates to a method for treating laundry in a laundry treating appliance realized as described above, wherein the method comprises the steps of: operating said actuating device to move said at least one movable part from the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position along a sliding axis; positioning said article in the form of sheet in said clamp region of said at least one movable part and operating said actuating device to drive said at least one movable part towards the closed clamp position to hold said article; loading laundry in the laundry receiving space; starting a laundry treating course.
[0043] According to a preferred embodiment, when the actuating device is provided with a biasing element as described above, the action of operating said actuating device to drive said at least one movable part towards the closed clamp position comprises a step of releasing the actuating device to allow the biasing element moving said at least one movable part towards the closed clamp position.
[0044] Advantageously, the actuating device automatically moves the movable part from the open clamp position to the closed clamp position as the user stops actuating manually the actuating device.
[0045] According to a preferred embodiment, the laundry treating course comprises at least a step wherein said article acts to perform a treatment on said laundry.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0046] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be highlighted in greater detail in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, provided with reference to the enclosed drawings. In the drawings, corresponding characteristics and / or components are identified by the same reference numbers. In such drawings: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a laundry drying machine provided with lifters according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a lifter of the laundry drying machine of Figure 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the lifter is in an operating position holding an article; Figure 3 shows the lifter of Figure 2 in a position suitable to release or receive an article; Figure 3A shows the lifter of Figure 2 from another point of view; Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 2 with the article removed therefrom; Figure 5 shows an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 3 with the article removed therefrom; Figure 5A shows an enlarged detail of Figure 5; Figure 6A shows an exploded view of Figure 4; Figure 6B shows the exploded view of Figure 6A from another point of view; Figure 7 shows the lifter of Figure 4 sectioned along line VII°-VII°; Figure 8 shows the lifter of Figure 5 sectioned along line VIII°-VIII°; Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a lifter according to a further embodiment of the invention, wherein the lifter is in an operating position holding an article; Figure 10 shows the lifter of Figure 9 in a position suitable to release or receive an article; Figure 11 shows an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 9 with the article removed therefrom; Figure 12 shows an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 10 with the article removed therefrom; Figure 13A shows an exploded view of Figure 11; Figure 13B shows the exploded view of Figure 13A from another point of view; Figure 14 shows the lifter of Figure 11 sectioned along line XIV°-XIV°; Figure 15 shows the lifter of Figure 12 sectioned along line XV°-XV°; Figure 16 shows the lifter of Figure 11 sectioned along line XVI°-XVI°; Figure 17 shows the lifter of Figure 12 sectioned along line XVII°-XVII°; Figure 18 shows a perspective view of a lifter according to a further embodiment of the invention, wherein the lifter is in an operating position holding an article; Figure 19 shows the lifter of Figure 18 in a position suitable to release or receive an article; Figure 20 shows an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 18 with the article removed therefrom; Figure 21 shows an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 19 with the article removed therefrom; Figure 22A shows an exploded view of Figure 20; Figure 22B shows the exploded view of Figure 22A from another point of view; Figure 23 shows the lifter of Figure 20 sectioned along line XXIII°-XXIII°; Figure 24 shows the lifter of Figure 21 sectioned along line XXIV°-XXIV°; Figure 25A shows a detail of a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 25B shows the detail of Figure 25A from another point of view; Figure 26 shows a schematic view of a lifter according to a further embodiment of the invention, wherein the lifter is in an operating position to hold an article; Figure 27 shows the lifter of Figure 26 in a position suitable to release or receive an article; Figure 28 shows a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 18; Figure 29 schematically shows a lifter according of an alternative embodiment of the invention in an operating position to hold an article; Figure 30 shows the lifter of Figure 29 in a position suitable to release or receive an article; Figure 31 schematically shows a lifter according of a further alternative embodiment of the invention in an operating position to hold an article; Figure 32 shows the lifter of Figure 31 in a position suitable to release or receive an article. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0047] The present invention has proved to be particularly advantageous when applied to laundry drying machines, i.e. laundry treating machines which are able to dry laundry but not to wash it, as described below.
[0048] It should in any case be underlined that the present invention is not limited to laundry drying machines. The present invention can be conveniently also applied to laundry washing machines, wherein the term "laundry washing machine" refers to both a simple laundry washing machine and a laundry washing-drying machine. The laundry drying machine 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 1.
[0049] The laundry drying machine 1, hereinafter also simply indicated with the term dryer 1, is a front-loading type dryer; it is however clear that the invention can be applied as well to a top-loading drying and / or washing machines having a laundry container rotatable around a substantially horizontal axis.
[0050] The dryer 1 comprises an external casing or cabinet 2 that encloses a rotatable container 4 wherein laundry can be loaded to be submitted to a drying process. The rotatable container 4 therefore defines a laundry drying drum 4, or, simply, a drum 4, which is located in axially rotating manner inside the cabinet 2 along a rotation axis X.
[0051] The drum 4 comprises a side wall 6 that extends around the rotation axis X and that comprises an inner surface 7 which delimits a laundry receiving space 9. The side wall 6 preferably has a substantially cylindrical shape.
[0052] The drum 4 is provided with a frontal laundry loading opening to access the laundry receiving space 9. On the opposite side of the laundry loading opening, a rear wall is provided to close the laundry receiving space 9 at the rear end of the drum 4. A door 16 is provided to close the front opening and to give access thereto. According to an aspect of the invention, there are provided one or more lifters 20 inside the drum 4. During rotation of the drum 4 at a speed lower than that required to stick laundry onto the drum inner surface 7 of the side wall 6, lifters 20 raise the laundry contained in the laundry receiving space 9 then release the laundry to cause the laundry to be dropped by gravity to the lower part of the laundry receiving space 9.
[0053] Each lifter 20 extends over the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6. Each lifter 20 preferably has an elongated form and is embodied to extend longitudinally along a main direction. The main direction of the lifter 20 is preferably parallel to the rotation axis X.
[0054] While the main direction of the lifter is parallel to the rotation axis of the drum, in further preferred embodiments the main direction may form an angle with respect to the rotation axis.
[0055] The lifters 20 are preferably evenly distributed on the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6, for example arranged at 120 degrees one to the other about the rotation axis X. In Figure 1 only two of said three lifters 20 are visible.
[0056] Hereinafter we will refer to one lifter 20, being clear that the description may be extended to the other lifters 20 that are preferably identical and placed on the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6 at preferred locations.
[0057] The lifter 20 extends from the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6 towards the rotation axis X. The lifter 20, which is illustrated and described herein, preferably has a substantially triangular cross-section shape, preferably with rounded corners, when a section plane perpendicular to the drum rotation axis X is considered. The cross-section shape of a lifter according to the invention can be different from a triangle. Such shape can be that of a polygon wherein its edges are rounded to gently interact with laundry received in the laundry receiving space defined by the drum.
[0058] The lifter 20 comprises a base portion 22 which rests on the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6. Preferably, the base portion 22 is connected to the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6, more preferably fixedly connected to the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6. The base portion 22 is preferably connected to the inner surface 7 through connecting means, not shown, such as screws, glue, snap-in devices or equivalent connecting means. The base portion 22 may be provided with coupling protrusions or slits that can engage or, respectively, be engaged, by corresponding apertures or protrusions provided in the side wall 6 of the drum 4.
[0059] According to an aspect of the invention, the lifter 20 is provided with an article holder clamp device 30. In Figures 1 to 3, an article A is illustrated and associated to the clamp device 30. The article A is preferably in the form of a sheet which is held by the clamp device 30 when the latter assumes a closed clamp position, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 3 the clamp device 30 is shown in an open clamp position and the article A is in a position ready to be clamped or to be removed. The article A may be any article that needs to be held by the clamp device 30 during functioning of the dryer 1. For example, the article A may be a perfumed sheet A for perfuming laundry articles subjected to a drying process or, when the present invention is carried out in a laundry washing machine, the article A may be a colour catcher sheet, for example the sheets typically used in a laundry washing machine to catch colours / pigments released by the laundry articles in the washing liquor.
[0060] An article A may be generally defined as an article having a chemical composition capable of treating the laundry under predetermined conditions. For example, a perfumed sheet is an article comprising a chemical perfume component that may be released by an air or a liquid flow that hits the sheet in a dryer or in a laundry washing machine. The perfume is thus advantageously transferred to the laundry to perform a perfume treatment.
[0061] Article A can further be a laundry conditioning sheet, i.e. a sheet able to release, upon reaching certain working conditions such as a predetermined sheet temperature and / or a predetermined time of immersion in water, a conditioning substance able to make laundry waterproof or enhancing stain removal.
[0062] Also, for example, a colour catcher sheet is an article comprising a chemical component that may hold pigments released by the laundry articles in a laundry washing machine. The sheet thus performs a colour catching treatment.
[0063] The clamp device 30 has a clamp region 32 comprising a first gripping surface 34 and a second gripping surface 36 to hold the article A therebetween. The first and second gripping surfaces 34, 36 preferably face each other and are preferably parallel.
[0064] According to an aspect of the invention, the clamp device 30 comprises a movable part 40, comprising said first gripping surface 34, which is movable relative to the container 4 between a closed clamp position to hold the article A (for example Figures 1, 2, 3A, 4 and 7) and an open clamp position to release the article A, or to allow positioning of the article A before being clamped (Figures 3, 5 and 8). According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, the clamp device 30 comprises a fixed part 80 which is stationary relative to the container 4. and which comprises said second gripping surface 36. The movable part 40 cooperates with said fixed part 80 for holding the article A between the first and second gripping surfaces 34, 36.
[0065] The fixed part 80 preferably extends from the base portion 22 toward the rotation axis X.
[0066] The movable part 40 and the fixed part 80 are opportunely shaped so that in the closed clamp position they define the substantially triangular cross-section shape of the lifter 20.
[0067] The article A is advantageously kept between the first gripping surface 34 and the second gripping surface 36 of the clamp region 32 when the movable part 40 is in the closed clamp position.
[0068] The first gripping surface 34 and / or the second gripping surface 36 of the clamp region 32 preferably comprise catching elements 38 for the article A. Preferably, when both the gripping surfaces 34, 36 comprise such catching elements 38, they are shaped so as to mate each other. For example, the catching elements 38 comprise teeth 38a and holes 38b (Figure 5A), wherein teeth 38a in the first gripping surface 34 engage respective holes 38b in the second gripping surface 36 and, vice versa, teeth 38a in the second gripping surface 36 engage respective holes 38b in the first gripping surface 34. The teeth 38a advantageously pierce the article A and keep it firmly between the gripping surfaces 34, 36.
[0069] In a preferred embodiment, teeth and holes are arranged in horizontal lines by alternating an opening and a tooth along a horizontal and / or a vertical line, as illustrated in Figure 5A. In further preferred embodiments, teeth and holes may be differently distributed over the clamp region and / or the gripping surface. According to the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, teeth are constituted of cones. In further preferred embodiments, the teeth may be differently shaped, for example constituted of pyramids or parallelepipeds or prisms having a base including 5 to 10 sides.
[0070] According to an aspect of the invention, the movable part 40 is configured to slidingly move along a sliding axis S between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position.
[0071] In the preferred embodiments described and illustrated herein, the sliding axis S is an axis perpendicular to at least one straight line L (partially shown in Figure 7) laying in a plane P perpendicular to the rotation axis X (in Figure 7 said plane P corresponding to the sheet plane), wherein the straight line L passes through the rotation axis X and intersects the base portion 22 and wherein said sliding axis S lays in said plane P. In Figure 7 the chosen straight line L preferably intersects centrally the base portion 22. In further preferred embodiments, nevertheless, the straight line and the sliding axis may be shifted (for example the straight line L' and the sliding axis S' shown in the same Figure 7).
[0072] More generally, as depicted in Figure 3A, the sliding axis S may be an axis which is contained in a right circular cone whose apex angle AX is ranging from 20° to 80° and its height H is perpendicular to at least one straight line L passing through the rotation axis X and intersecting the base portion 22. In a preferred embodiment, the straight line L lays in a plane P perpendicular to the rotation axis X. According to another aspect of the invention, the clamp device 30 comprises an actuating device 50 that is operable to move the movable part 40 between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position.
[0073] As better described later, the actuating device 50 preferably firstly operates to move the movable part 40 from the closed clamp position to the open clamp position. In the preferred embodiments illustrated and described hereinafter, the actuating device 50 is operable by a user to move the movable part 40 from the closed clamp position to the open clamp position.
[0074] The actuating device 50 then preferably operates to move the movable part 40 from the open clamp position to the closed clamp position.
[0075] In preferred embodiments, also illustrated and described hereinafter, the actuating device 50 is configured to automatically move the movable part 40 from the open clamp position to the closed clamp position as the user stops actuating manually the actuating device 50, i.e. releases his / her action on the actuating device 50.
[0076] In further preferred embodiments, instead, the actuating device is again operable by a user to move the movable part from the open clamp position to the closed clamp position (for example the embodiment shown in Figure 28 better described later).
[0077] According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, the actuating device 50 comprises an actuating member 52 configured to slidingly move along a direction parallel to the sliding axis S of the movable part 40 and to move the movable part 40 along the axis S from the closed clamp position to the open clamp position.
[0078] The actuating member 52 preferably comprises a push button 54 which is substantially stationary, or mounted, to the movable part 40.
[0079] The push button 54 preferably comprises a head 56 and a shank 58.
[0080] The push button 54 is received in a pass though aperture 82 realized in the fixed part 80 and, preferably, the head 56 of the push button 54 is flush with the outer surface 81 of the fixed part 80.
[0081] The movable part 40 preferably comprises a seat 42, more preferably a cylindrical seat 42, which receive the shank 58 of the push button 54. The shank 58 is preferably snapped in the seat 42 of the movable part 40.
[0082] The shank 58 preferably comprises two flexible elements 60a, 60b each having a respective protruding surface 62a, 62b and the seat 42 comprises two retaining surfaces 44a, 44b wherein, in the assembled configuration with the shank 58 inserted in the seat 42, the protruding surface 62a, 62b of the two flexible elements 60a, 60b engage the retaining surfaces 44a, 44b of the seat 42.
[0083] Therefore, the push button 54, mounted to the movable part 40, is rendered substantially stationary thereto and when the user acts pushing the head 56 of the push button 54 along the sliding axis S, the movable part 40 is moved from the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position.
[0084] According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, the actuating device 50 comprises a biasing element 70 configured for moving the movable part 40 towards the closed clamp position.
[0085] The biasing element 70 preferably comprises a coil spring 72 which is arranged to abut, at one side, with the head 56 of the push button 54 and, at the opposite side, with a stop surface 84 internally defined in the aperture 82 of the fixed part 80. When the movable part 40 is in the closed clamp position, the coil spring 72 is in a position having a low potential energy, (Figure 7) and generates an appropriate holding force to stably keep the movable part 40 in the closed clamp position through the said force exerted by the coil spring 72 against the head 56 of the push button 54 which is substantially stationary with the movable part 40. Said holding force can be designed to be easily won once a user operates the actuating member 52 to move the movable part 40 from the closed clam position to the open clamp position.
[0086] When the push button 54 is pushed along the sliding axis S to move the movable part 40 towards the open clamp position, the coil spring 72 is compressed and loaded with potential energy (Figure 8).
[0087] As the push button 54 is released, the biasing force exerted by the coil spring 72 against the head 56 of the push button 54 forces the push button 54 and the movable part 40 to return to the closed clamp position.
[0088] In different preferred embodiments, the biasing element may be arranged in any other positions between the movable part and the fixed part.
[0089] According to an aspect of the invention, the clamp device 30 is further provided with a guide device 90 for ensuring the guided movement of the movable part 40 along the sliding axis S between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position.
[0090] The guide device 90 preferably comprises four pins 92 projecting from the movable part 40 towards the fixed part 80 and respective four guide seats 94 projecting from the fixed part 80 towards the movable part 40. Pins 92 and guide seats 94 are preferably cylindrically shaped.
[0091] The pins 92 slide within the guide seats 94 as the movable part 40 slides between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position, and the movable part 40 is thus guided to move correctly and stably along the sliding axis S without undesired stops.
[0092] In further preferred embodiments, not shown, pins may project from the fixed part and respective guide seats may project from the movable and / or the number of pins and respective guide seats may be different than that shown in the Figures. When a laundry treatment has to be carried out on laundry using an article A, the movable part 40 is operated by a user by pushing on the push button 54 to cause the movable part 40 to move along the sliding axis S so as to assume the open clamp position to insert / remove the article A, as illustrated, for example, in the open operating position of the clamp device 30 in Figure 3.
[0093] The push button 54 is then released and the movable part 40 automatically returns to the closed clamp position under the force of the spring 72.
[0094] Advantageously, the article A is firmly kept in position by the clamp region 40. The risk of unwanted releasing of the article A is therefore reduced or substantially annulled.
[0095] Furthermore, during a laundry treatment process, being the clamp region 32 substantially maintained in the closed clamp position with respect to the gripping surfaces 34, 36, the laundry articles are not caught therebetween, or caught by the teeth 38a, and a possible damage of laundry articles is therefore reduced or substantially annulled.
[0096] In the preferred embodiment described above, the push button 54 is substantially stationary to the movable part 40 being mounted thereto. In further preferred embodiments, not shown, the push button may be not stationary to the movable part but may move at least partially relative to the movable part before causing a movement thereof.
[0097] With reference to Figures 9 to 17, a further preferred embodiment of a holder clamp device 130 in a lifter 120 according to the invention is disclosed. In the drawings, corresponding characteristics and / or components compared to previous preferred embodiment are identified by the same reference numbers.
[0098] The holder clamp device 130 differs from the holder clamp device 30 previously described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 mainly in that the actuating member 152 of the actuating device 150 is configured to move along an actuating axis Y1 which is transversal, preferably perpendicular, to the sliding axis S along which the movable part 140 moves between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position.
[0099] The clamp device 130 has a clamp region 132 comprising a first gripping surface 34 and a second gripping surface 36 to hold the article A therebetween. The first and second gripping surfaces 34, 36 preferably face each other and are preferably parallel.
[0100] The clamp device 130 comprises a movable part 140, comprising said first gripping surface 34, which is movable relative to the container between the closed clamp position to hold the article A (for example Figures 9, 11, 14 and 16) and the open clamp position to release the article A, or to allow positioning of the article A before being clamped (Figures 10, 12, 15 and 17).
[0101] The clamp device 130 comprises a fixed part 180 which is stationary relative to the container, and which comprises the second gripping surface 36.
[0102] The first gripping surface 34 and / or the second gripping surface 36 of the clamp region 32 preferably comprise catching elements 38 for the article A, as described for the first preferred embodiment.
[0103] The movable part 140 is configured to slidingly move along the sliding axis S between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position.
[0104] The clamp device 130 then preferably comprises an actuating device 150 that is operable to move the movable part 140 between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position.
[0105] According to this preferred embodiment, the actuating device 150 comprises an actuating member 152 configured to slidingly move along an actuating axis Y1 which is transversal, preferably perpendicular, to the sliding axis S to move the movable part 140 between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position.
[0106] The actuating member 152 preferably comprises a push member 154 arranged in an aperture 182 of the fixed part 180 and having un upper actuating surface 156 for a finger of the user.
[0107] The actuating device 150 preferably comprises a first inclined plane 142 provided to the movable part 140 and a second inclined plane 158 provided to the push member 154, wherein the second inclined plane 158 cooperates with the first inclined plane 142 so that a movement of the push member 154 along the actuating axis Y1 is converted into a movement of the movable part 140 along the sliding axis S.
[0108] The clamp device 130 is then further provided with a guide device 190 for ensuring the guided movement of the movable part 140 along the sliding axis S between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position.
[0109] The guide device 190 preferably comprises four pins 192 projecting from the movable part 140 towards the fixed part 180 and respective four guide seats 194 projecting from the fixed part 180 towards the movable part 140. Pins 192 and guide seats 194 are preferably cylindrically shaped.
[0110] The pins 192 slide within the guide seats 194 as the movable part 140 slides between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position, and the movable part 140 is thus guided to move correctly and stably along the sliding axis S. The actuating device 150 comprises biasing elements 170 configured for moving the movable part 140 towards the closed clamp position.
[0111] Biasing elements 170 preferably comprise coil springs 172 which are preferably arranged in two of said guide seats 194: each spring 172 is arranged to abut, at one side, with a blocking head 156 of the pin 192 and, at the opposite side, with a stop surface 184 internally defined in the guide seat 194.
[0112] When the movable part 140 is in the closed clamp position, the coil springs 172 are in a position having a low potential energy (Figure 16) and generate an appropriate holding force to stably keep the movable part 140 in the closed clamp position through the said force exerted by the coil springs 172 against the blocking heads 156 which are mounted to the movable part 140 and move therewith. Said holding force can be designed to be easily won once a user operates the actuating member 152 to move the movable part 140 from the closed clam position to the open clamp position.
[0113] When the push member 154 is pushed along the actuating axis Y1 to move the movable part 140 towards the open clamp position, the coil springs 172 are compressed and loaded with potential energy (Figure 17).
[0114] As the push member 154 is released, the biasing force exerted by the coil springs 172 against the heads 156 of the pins 192 forces the push member 154 and the movable part 140 to return to the closed clamp position.
[0115] This embodiment allows to achieve the same advantages previously mentioned for the first embodiment described with refence to Figures 1 to 8.
[0116] In an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures the actuating member 152 can comprise a pull member instead of a push member as described above, wherein the movable part is moved from the closed clamp position to the open clamp position by a pulling action exerted by a user on the pull member.
[0117] With reference to Figures 18 to 24, a further preferred embodiment of a holder clamp device 230 in a lifter 220 according to the invention is disclosed. In the drawings, corresponding characteristics and / or components compared to previous preferred embodiments are identified by the same reference numbers.
[0118] The holder clamp device 230 differs from the holder clamp devices 30, 130 previously described mainly in that an actuating member 252 of the actuating device 250 is configured to rotate about a rotating axis Y2, to move the movable part 240 between the closed clamp position to the open clamp position.
[0119] The clamp device 230 has a clamp region 232 comprising a first gripping surface 34 and a second gripping surface 36 to hold the article A therebetween. The first and second gripping surfaces 34, 36 preferably face each other and are preferably parallel.
[0120] The clamp device 230 comprises a movable part 240, comprising said first gripping surface 34, which is movable relative to the container between the closed clamp position to hold the article A (for example Figures 18, 20 and 23) and the open clamp position to release the article A, or to allow positioning of the article A before being clamped (Figures 19, 21 and 24).
[0121] The clamp device 230 comprises a fixed part 280 which is stationary relative to the container, and which comprises the second gripping surface 36.
[0122] The first gripping surface 34 and / or the second gripping surface 36 of the clamp region 32 preferably comprise catching elements 38 for the article A, as described for the first preferred embodiment.
[0123] The movable part 240 is configured to slidingly move along the sliding axis S between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position.
[0124] The clamp device 230 then preferably comprises an actuating device 250 that is operable to move the movable part 240 between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position.
[0125] According to this preferred embodiment, the actuating device 250 comprises an actuating member 252 configured to rotate about a rotating axis Y2, preferably a rotating axis Y2 parallel to the sliding axis S, to move the movable part 240 between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position.
[0126] The actuating member 252 preferably comprises a knob 254 arranged in an aperture 282 of the fixed part 280 and having recesses 256 for fingers of the user. The actuating device 250 preferably comprises a first cam surface 242 associated to the movable part 240 (Figure 22A) and a second cam surface 258 associated to the knob 254 (Figure 22B), wherein the second cam surface 258 cooperates with the first cam surface 242 so that a rotation of the knob 254 around the rotating axis Y2 is converted into a movement of the movable part 240 along the sliding axis S. The movable part 240 preferably comprises a seat 42, more preferably a cylindrical seat 42, extending towards the fixed part 280.
[0127] The knob 254 is mounted to rotate around the cylindrical seat 42.
[0128] Further to the knob 254, the actuating device 250 also preferably comprises a push button 54 which is substantially stationary to the movable part 240 being mounted thereto.
[0129] The push button 54 is configured as the push button 54 described above with reference to the first preferred embodiment of Figures 1 to 8.
[0130] Here the push button 54 is received in an aperture 257 realized in the knob 254.
[0131] As described above, the push button 54 is substantially stationary to the movable part 240 and when the user acts pushing the head 56 of the push button 54 along the sliding axis S the movable part 240 is moved from the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position.
[0132] The actuating device 250 according to this referred embodiment, therefore, may be operated either through the knob 254, i.e. embodied as a rotating actuating device, or through the push button 54, i.e. embodied as a sliding actuating device. The actuating device 250 then preferably comprises a biasing element 70 configured for moving the movable part 240 towards the closed clamp position. The biasing element 70 preferably comprises a coil spring 72 which is arranged to abut, at one side, with the head 56 of the push button 54 and, at the opposite side, with a stop surface 284 internally defined in the aperture 257 of the knob 254. When the movable part 240 is in the closed clamp position, the coil spring 72 is in a position having a low potential energy (Figure 23) and generates an appropriate holding force to stably keep the movable part 240 in the closed clamp position through the said force exerted by the coil spring 72 against the head 56 of the push button 54 which is substantially stationary with the movable part 240. Said holding force can be designed to be easily won once a user operates the actuating member 252 to move the movable part 240 from the closed clamp position to the open clamp position.
[0133] When the movable part 240 is pushed along the sliding axis S towards the open clamp position, either through the knob 254 or through the push button 54, the coil spring 72 is compressed and loaded with potential energy (Figure 24).
[0134] As the push button 54 or the knob 254 is released, the biasing force exerted by the coil spring 72 against the head 56 of the push button 54 forces the push button 54 and the movable part 240 to return to the closed clamp position.
[0135] The clamp device 230 is then further provided with a guide device 90 for ensuring the guided movement of the movable part 240 along the sliding axis S between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position.
[0136] The guide device 90 is preferably embodied as previously described with reference to the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 8.
[0137] Again, this embodiment allows to achieve the same advantages previously mentioned for the first embodiment described with refence to Figures 1 to 8.
[0138] It should be noted that while in the preferred embodiment described here the actuating device 250 is configured as either a rotating actuating device (knob 254) or a sliding actuating device (push button 54), in further preferred embodiments the actuating device may be configured to have only a rotating actuating device. For example, the actuating device 250 described above may be configured such that only the knob 254 is operable by the user, while the push button 54 is prevented from being operated. For example, the clamp device 230 described above may be provided with a cap which closes the aperture 257 of the knob 254 so that the head 56 of the push button 54 is inaccessible to the user.
[0139] With reference to Figures 25A and 25B, a further preferred embodiment of a holder clamp device 330 in a lifter 320 according to the invention is disclosed. In the drawing, corresponding characteristics and / or components compared to the first preferred embodiment previously described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 are identified by the same reference numbers.
[0140] The holder clamp device 330 differs from the holder clamp device 30 previously described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 mainly in that the actuating device 350 is provided with an actuating member 352 that comprises a pulling member 354. The clamp device 330 has a clamp region 332 comprising a first gripping surface and a second gripping surface to hold the article A therebetween.
[0141] The clamp device 330 comprises a movable part 340, comprising said first gripping surface, which is movable relative to the container between the closed clamp position to hold the article A (as in the Figures 25A and 25B) and the open clamp position to release the article A, or to allow positioning of the article A before being clamped.
[0142] The clamp device 330 comprises a fixed part 380 which is stationary relative to the container, and which comprises the second gripping surface.
[0143] The first gripping surface and / or the second gripping surface of the clamp region 332 preferably comprise catching elements for the article A, as described for the first preferred embodiment.
[0144] The movable part 340 is configured to slidingly move along the sliding axis S between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position.
[0145] The clamp device 330 preferably comprises an actuating member 352 that comprises a pulling member 354. The pulling member 354 is formed as an aperture 356 realized in the movable part 340.
[0146] The aperture 356 preferably extends in the movable part 340 so that it defines a gripping wall 356a: the user may insert the finger in the aperture 356 and pulling the movable part 340 by exerting a pulling force on the gripping wall 356a. According to this preferred embodiment, therefore, the pulling member 354 allows the movable part 340 the be moved from the closed clamp position to the open clamp position along the sliding axis S.
[0147] The actuating device 350 comprises biasing elements 370 configured for moving the movable part 340 towards the closed clamp position. Biasing elements 370 preferably comprise coil springs 272, schematically shown in the Figures. When the movable part 340 is pulled along the sliding axis S towards the open clamp position, the coil springs 372 are loaded with potential energy.
[0148] As the user stops actuating manually the actuating device 350, i.e. releases his / her action on the actuating device 350, the movable part 340 returns to the closed clamp position.
[0149] The clamp device 330 is then further provided with a guide device, not shown and preferably of the type described in previous embodiments, so that the movable part 340 is guided to move correctly and stably along the sliding axis S without undesired stops.
[0150] This embodiment allows to achieve the same advantages previously mentioned for the first embodiment described with refence to Figures 1 to 8.
[0151] With reference to schematic Figures 26 and 27 a further preferred embodiment of a holder clamp device 430 in a lifter 420 according to the invention is disclosed. In the drawings, corresponding characteristics and / or components compared to previous preferred embodiments are identified by the same reference numbers.
[0152] The holder clamp device 430 differs from the holder clamp devices previously described mainly in that there are provided two movable parts 440, 480 instead of one movable part and a fixed part.
[0153] The clamp device 430 has a clamp region 432 comprising a first gripping surface 34 and a second gripping surface 36 to hold the article A therebetween.
[0154] The clamp device 430 comprises a first movable part 440, comprising said first gripping surface 34, which is movable relative to the container between a closed clamp position to hold the article A (Figure 26) and an open clamp position to release the article A, or to allow positioning of the article A before being clamped (Figure 27).
[0155] The clamp device 430 then further comprises a second movable part 480 which is movable relative to the container between a closed clamp position to hold the article A (Figure 26) and an open clamp position to release the article A, or to allow positioning of the article A before being clamped (Figure 27).
[0156] The movable parts 440, 480, therefore, cooperate for holding the article A between the first and second gripping surfaces 34, 36.
[0157] The movable parts 440, 480 are preferably configured to slidingly move along respective sliding axes between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position. In the preferred embodiment described and illustrated herein, the sliding axis S of the first movable part 440 coincides with the sliding axis S of the second movable part 480. In further preferred embodiments, nevertheless, the pivot axes may not coincide, for example, the pivot axes may be parallel.
[0158] The clamp device 430 then comprises an actuating device 450 that is operable to move the movable parts 440, 480 between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position.
[0159] The actuating device 450 preferably operates to move both the movable parts 440, 480 from the closed clamp position to the open clamp position. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 26 and 27, the actuating device 450 is operable by a user to move the movable parts 440, 480 from the closed clamp position to the open clamp position and the actuating device 450 is configured to automatically move the movable parts 440, 480 from the open clamp position to the closed clamp position as the user stops actuating the actuating device 450, i.e. releases the actuating device 450.
[0160] The actuating device 450 comprises an actuating member 452 operable by the user that acts to slidingly move the movable parts 440, 480 along the sliding axis S. The actuating member 452 preferably comprises a gear 452 and the actuating device 450 then preferably comprises a first rack 454 fixed to the first movable part 440 and a second rack 456 fixed to the second movable part 480.
[0161] The gear 452 engages both the racks 454, 456.
[0162] Rotation of the gear 452 by the user is converted into linear motion along the sliding axis S of the racks 454, 456 and the movable parts 440, 480.
[0163] The gear 452 is preferably provided with a driving shaft 452a which is opportunely arranged in the lifter 420 so that it is reachable by the user, for example in an end region of the lifter 420 located preferably close to the frontal laundry loading opening. The user thus advantageously rotates the gear 452 through the driving shaft 452a.
[0164] According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 26 and 27, the actuating device 450 comprises a biasing element 470 configured for moving the movable parts 440, 480 towards the closed clamp position.
[0165] The biasing element 470 preferably comprises a coil spring 472 which is connected at its opposite sides to the movable parts 440, 480 and acts to pull them towards the closed clamped position.
[0166] The biasing element 470 is thus configured to generate an appropriate holding force to keep an article A pierced between the gripping surfaces 34, 36 and also acts on the movable parts 440, 480 to return them in the closed clamp position as the driving shaft 452a is released during actuation by the user.
[0167] In different preferred embodiments, the biasing element may be arranged in any other positions between the movable parts than shown.
[0168] The clamp device 430 may then be further provided with a guide device, not shown, for ensuring the guided movement of the movable parts 440, 480 along the sliding axis S.
[0169] This embodiment allows to achieve the same advantages previously mentioned for the first embodiment described with refence to Figures 1 to 8.
[0170] Figure 28 illustrates a variant embodiment of the lifter 420 previously described with reference to Figures 26 and 27. In the drawings, corresponding characteristics and / or components compared to previous preferred embodiment are identified by the same reference numbers.
[0171] The lifter 520 according to this embodiment differs from the lifter 420 previously described in that the biasing element is omitted.
[0172] Differently form the embodiment described above with reference to Figures 26 and 27, in the embodiment of Figure 28 the actuating device 450 is operable by a user to move the movable parts 440, 480 from the closed clamp position to the open clamp position and the actuating device 450 is again operable to move the movable parts 440, 480 from the open clamp position to the closed clamp position.
[0173] In the embodiment of Figure 28, the holding force to keep the article A between the gripping surfaces 34, 36 when the clamp device 530 is in the closed position is preferably obtained by the action of the actuating device 450, for example by the frictional force between the gear 452 and the racks 454, 456 which ensures that the movable parts 440, 480 do not move away one from each other.
[0174] Furthermore, the movable parts 440, 480 are moved from the closed clamp position to the open clamp position by rotating the driving shaft 452a in a first rotation direction and the movable parts 440, 480 are moved from the open clamp position to the closed position by rotating the driving shaft 452a in a second rotation direction opposite the first rotation direction.
[0175] This embodiment allows to achieve the same advantages previously mentioned for the first embodiment described with refence to Figures 1 to 8.
[0176] According to the above description, the lifter 20, 120, 220, 320, 420, 520 according to the invention is easily used by a user to place an article A in the form of sheet inside the drum 4 of the dryer 1.
[0177] In a first step, the user operates the actuating device to move the movable part, or the movable parts in case the clamp device has two movable parts, from the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position.
[0178] The user then positions the article A between the gripping surfaces of the clamp region of the clamp device.
[0179] The user then operates the actuating device to move the part / s up to the closed clamp position to hold the article A. As disclosed above, such operation can be made by simply removing any user action on the actuating device, or to actively actuating it in a way opposite to that made to move the part / s to the open clamp position. The article A is thus advantageously kept firmly in position in the clamp region of the clamp device.
[0180] The laundry is then loaded in the laundry receiving space 9 and the user may start a laundry treating course, preferably a dedicated drying course through a user interface provided on the front of the machine 1.
[0181] According to the preferred embodiments previously illustrated, the movable part of the clamp device is configured to slidingly move along a sliding axis which is contained in a right circular cone whose apex angle is ranging from 20° to 80° and its height H is perpendicular to at least one straight line L passing through the rotation axis X and intersecting the base portion 22.
[0182] In further alternative embodiments, exemplary illustrated in Figures 29 to 32, the movable part of the clamp device is preferably configured to slidingly move along a sliding axis having different orientation.
[0183] Preferably, the movable part 40 of the clamp device 30 is configured to slidingly move along a sliding axis which form an angle ranging from 0° to 10° with at least one straight line laying in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis, said straight line passing through the rotation axis and intersecting the base portion 22.
[0184] Figures 29 and 30 show a clamp device 30 in a lifter 20 wherein the movable part 40 is configured to slidingly move along a sliding axis S" which form an angle of 0° (i.e. parallel) with respect to a straight line L laying in a plane P perpendicular to the rotation axis X, said straight line L passing through the rotation axis X and intersecting the base portion 22 (in said Figures, plane P corresponding to the sheet plane),
[0185] Figures 31 and 32 show a clamp device 30 in a lifter 20 wherein the movable part 40 is configured to slidingly move along a sliding axis S‴ which form an angle of 5° with respect to a straight line L laying in a plane P perpendicular to the rotation axis X, said straight line L passing through the rotation axis X and intersecting the base portion 22 (in Figures said plane P corresponding to the sheet plane),
[0186] It has thus been shown that the present invention allows all the set objects to be achieved. In particular, the lifter according to the invention and the article holder clamp device associated therewith avoids opening of the article holder itself during a laundry treating course.
[0187] It has to be noted that, once the article has been attached to the clamp device and a laundry treating course has been started, the treatment exerted by the article to the laundry is performed together with the treatment provided by the course that a user has selected and started in the appliance, for example once a drying course has been started in a drier or once a laundry washing course has been started in a laundry washing machine, the appliance will run such course and will perform a treatment on laundry as provided by the article A at the same time.
[0188] In a further preferred embodiment, the machine may be configured to perform a dedicated treating course wherein exclusively the treatment exerted by the article is carried out, for example by selecting a dedicated treating course through a user interface provided on the front of the machine, for example acting on a selecting knob or on a touchscreen. In this way, the treatment performed by the article A is enhanced without the need of executing all the steps provided in a known drying and / or washing course.
[0189] While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiments shown in the figures, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described herein. For example, the embodiments described with reference to the Figures 1 to 25 can be arranged to include more than one movable part that is actuated according to the principles disclosed in the above description of such Figures. Similarly, also the embodiments described with reference to Figures 26 to 28 can be adapted to provide for a single movable part actuated as disclosed in the relative description. Further variants of the embodiments described herein fall within the scope of the present invention, which is defined in the claims.
Examples
Embodiment Construction
[0047]The present invention has proved to be particularly advantageous when applied to laundry drying machines, i.e. laundry treating machines which are able to dry laundry but not to wash it, as described below.
[0048]It should in any case be underlined that the present invention is not limited to laundry drying machines. The present invention can be conveniently also applied to laundry washing machines, wherein the term "laundry washing machine" refers to both a simple laundry washing machine and a laundry washing-drying machine. The laundry drying machine 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 1.
[0049]The laundry drying machine 1, hereinafter also simply indicated with the term dryer 1, is a front-loading type dryer; it is however clear that the invention can be applied as well to a top-loading drying and / or washing machines having a laundry container rotatable around a substantially horizontal axis.
[0050]The dryer 1 comprises an external c...
Claims
1. A laundry treating appliance (1) comprising: - a rotatable container (4) apt to receive laundry to be treated, said container (4) being rotatable about a rotation axis (X) and comprising a side wall (6) that extends around said rotation axis (X) and comprises an inner surface (7) which delimits a laundry receiving space (9); - at least one lifter (20; 120; 220; 320; 420; 520) having a base portion (22) resting on said inner surface (7), said lifter (20; 120; 220; 320; 420; 520) extending from said inner surface (7) of said side wall (6) towards said rotation axis (X), said lifter (20; 120; 220; 320; 420; 520) being provided with an article holder clamp device (30; 130; 230; 330; 430; 530) having a clamp region (32; 132; 232; 332; 432) comprising a first gripping surface (34) and a second gripping surface (36) to hold an article (A) therebetween, said clamp device (30; 130; 230; 330; 430; 530) comprising at least one movable part (40; 140; 240; 340; 440, 480) comprising said first gripping surface (34), wherein each of said at least one movable part (40; 140; 240; 340; 440, 480) is movable relative to said rotatable container (4) between a closed clamp position to hold said article (A) and an open clamp position to release said article (A), said clamp device (30; 130; 230; 330; 430; 530) comprising an actuating device (50; 150; 250; 350; 450) that is operable to move said at least one movable part (40; 140; 240; 340; 440, 480) between said closed clamp position and said open clamp position; characterized in that said at least one movable part (40; 140; 240; 340; 440, 480) is configured to slidingly move along a sliding axis (S; S'; S"; S‴) between said closed clamp position and said open clamp position.
2. Appliance (1) according to claim 1, wherein said sliding axis (S; S') is contained in a right circular cone whose apex angle is ranging from 20° to 80° and its height (H) is perpendicular to at least one straight line (L) passing through said rotation axis (X) and intersecting said base portion (22).
3. Appliance (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said actuating device (50; 350) comprises an actuating member (52; 352) configured to slidingly move along a direction parallel to said sliding axis (S; S'; S"; S‴) and to move said at least one movable part (40; 340) between said closed clamp position and said open clamp position.
4. Appliance (1) according to claim 3, wherein said actuating member (52) comprises a push button (54) which is stationary or movable relative to said at least one movable part (40; 240).
5. Appliance (1) according to claim 3, wherein said actuating member (352) comprises a pulling member (354), preferably formed or made as an aperture in said at least one movable part (340).
6. Appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said actuating device (150) comprises an actuating member (152) configured to move along an actuating axis (Y1) which is transversal, preferably perpendicular, to said sliding axis (S; S') to move said at least one movable part (140) between said closed clamp position and said open clamp position.
7. Appliance (1) according to claim 6, wherein said actuating device (150) comprises a first inclined plane (142) provided to said at least one movable part (140) and a second inclined plane (158) provided to said actuating member (152), said second inclined plane (158) cooperating with said first inclined plane (142) so that a movement of said actuating member (152) along said actuating axis (Y1) is converted into a movement of said at least one movable part (140) along said sliding axis (S; S').
8. Appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said actuating device (250; 450) comprises an actuating member (252; 452) configured to rotate about a rotating axis (Y2), preferably said rotating axis (Y2) being parallel to said sliding axis (S; S'; S"; S‴)9. Appliance (1) according to claim 8, wherein said actuating device (250) comprises a first cam surface (242) associated to said at least one movable part (240) and a second cam surface (258) associated to said actuating member (252), said second cam surface (258) cooperating with said first cam surface (242) so that a rotation of said actuating member (252) around said rotating axis (Y2) is converted into a movement of said at least one movable part (240) along said sliding axis (S; S'; S"; S‴).
10. Appliance (1) according to claim 8, wherein said actuating device (450) comprises a rack (454, 456) associated to said at least one movable part (440, 480) and a gear (452) associated to said actuating member (452), said gear (452) cooperating with said rack (454, 456) so that a rotation of said actuating member (452) around said rotating axis is converted into a movement of said at least one movable part (440, 480) along said sliding axis (S; S'; S"; S‴).
11. Appliance (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said actuating device (50; 150; 250; 350; 450) comprises a biasing element (70; 170; 370; 470) configured for moving said at least one movable part (40; 140; 240; 340; 440, 480) towards said closed clamp position.
12. Appliance (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said clamp device (30; 130; 230; 330) comprises one movable part (40; 140; 240; 340) and a fixed part (80; 180; 280; 380) which is stationary relative to said rotatable container (4) and which comprises said second gripping surface (36), said one movable part (40; 140; 240; 340) cooperating with said fixed part (80; 180; 280; 380) for holding said article (A) between said first and second gripping surfaces (34, 36).
13. Appliance (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 11, wherein said at least one movable part (440, 480) comprises a first movable part (440) comprising said first gripping surface (34) and a second movable part (480) comprising said second gripping surface (36), said two movable parts (440, 480) being movable relative to the rotatable container (4) along a respective sliding axis (S; S'; S"; S‴) and being arranged to cooperate for holding said article (A) between said first and second gripping surfaces (34, 36).
14. A method for treating laundry in a laundry treating appliance (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said method comprises the steps of: - operating said actuating device (50; 150; 250; 350; 450) to move said at least one movable part (40; 140; 240; 340; 440, 480) from the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position along a sliding axis (S; S'; S"; S‴); - positioning said article (A) in the form of sheet in said clamp region (32; 132; 232; 332; 432) of said at least one movable part (40; 140; 240; 340; 440, 480) and operating said actuating device (50; 150; 250; 350; 450) to drive said at least one movable part (40; 140; 240; 340; 440, 480) towards the closed clamp position to hold said article (A); - loading laundry in the laundry receiving space (9); - starting a laundry treating course.
15. Method according to claim 14 when depending on claim 11, wherein operating said actuating device (50; 150; 250; 350; 450) to drive said at least one movable part (40; 140; 240; 340; 440, 480) towards the closed clamp position comprises a step of releasing said actuating device (50; 150; 250; 350; 450) to allow said biasing element (70; 170; 370; 470) moving said at least one movable part (40; 140; 240; 340; 440, 480) towards said closed clamp position.