Patent ID: 6233980
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: D06F

Abstract:
A dry cleaning machine comprising a cleaning vessel having a chamber for containing a wash bath and items to be cleaned, said cleaning vessel having a removable door, a locking member for retaining said door in a closed position on said cleaning vessel, a cleaning liquid supply for selectively directing a cleaning liquid into said chamber when said door is in said closed position for use during a cleaning cycle, a door opening and closing apparatus for moving said door between said closed position and an open position for enabling items to be loaded into said chamber and removed therefrom said door opening and closing apparatus being operable for moving said door along an arced path away from said cleaning vessel and during return to said closed position, said door and locking member each having respective locking lugs, said locking member being selectively movable between a locking position in which the locking member lugs and door lugs are in aligned juxtaposed relation to each other for preventing movement of said door from said closed position and an unlocked position in which said door and locking member lugs are in offset relation to each other for permitting movement of said door from said closed position, and said locking lugs of at least one of said door and locking member being formed with conical outer side surfaces tapering inwardly in a closing direction for enabling movement of said door in said arced path into and out of said closed position and into and out of operative relation with said locking member.