Patent ID: 6792777
Filing Date: 2004-09-21
Classification: D06F

Abstract:
A laundry machine comprising:a housing, a drum rotatably mounted within said housing and having a front opening through which launderable items may be introduced and withdrawn said housing and drum being tiltable between a horizontal operating position and a loading position with the drum opening tilted upwardly and an unloading position with the drum opening tilted downwardly, a hopper unit having a chute that defines a passage for receiving and directing launderable items into said drum, an actuating device for moving said hopper unit between a first position adjacent a front face of said housing wherein said chute passage communicates with said drum opening through a rear opening of said chute such that launderable items deposited into said chute are directed into said drum through said front opening during a loading cycle and a second position in which said chute is located remote from said drum opening to permit removal of launderable items through said drum opening during an unloading cycle, said hopper unit including a chute closing device that is movable between a first position for permitting passage of items through said chute passage into said drum opening when said hopper unit in said first position and a second position in which said chute closing device at least partially closes said chute passage, said chute closing device being operably connected to said chute at a location adjacent a top side of said chute, and a chute closing device actuator for moving said chute closing device relative to said location the chute closing device is connected to said chute between said first and second positions.