Patent ID: 7481005
Filing Date: 2009-01-27
Classification: D06F

Abstract:
1. An arrangement for removing moisture from items of clothing, comprising: a plurality of absorbent bodies; means forming a contact path along which an absorbent body and a first item of clothing are in contact with one another during a moisture transfer run, the contact path having an entry, an exit, and an extent extending between the contact path entry and the contact path exit; means for disengaging a respective absorbent body and the first item of clothing from contact with one another at the contact path exit, the respective absorbent body absorbing moisture from the first item of clothing as the respective absorbent body and the first item of clothing are in contact with one another along the contact path extent such that the level of moisture retained by the respective absorbent body is greater at the contact path exit than at the contact path entry; means for reducing the level of moisture retained by a respective absorbent body to dispose the respective absorbent body at a level of moisture at the contact path entry that is lower than the level of moisture retained by the respective absorbent body at the contact path exit; and means for advancing each respective absorbent body and the first item of clothing along the contact path such that the first instance at which each respective absorbent body is in moisture absorbing contact with the first item of clothing occurs at the contact path entry, the respective absorbent body and the first item of clothing are advanced along the contact path to permit the respective absorbent body to absorb moisture from the first item of clothing, thereby leading to an increase in the level of moisture retained by the respective absorbent body as the respective absorbent body and the first item of clothing reach the contact path exit, and the respective absorbent body and the first item of clothing are advanced out of moisture transferring contact with one another at the contact path exit, the means for advancing being operable to dispose each respective absorbent body at the contact path entry for a subsequent advancing movement of the absorbent body in contact with a second item of clothing during a subsequent moisture transfer run along the contact path, the means for advancing and the means forming a contact path being configured such that the level of moisture retained by each respective absorbent body increases in correspondence with the advancement of the respective absorbent body and the respective item of clothing along the contact path extent, the means for advancing and the means forming a contact path operating in coordination with one another such that the plurality of absorbent bodies are successively advanced one after another into contact with a respective item of clothing along the contact path extent, whereupon, during each moisture transfer run, one of the absorbent bodies will eventually be advanced out of moisture transferring contact with the respective item of clothing at the contact path exit at a time that another one of the absorbent bodies following behind the one absorbent body has not yet completed its advancing movement in contact with the respective item of clothing.