Device for extracting water from a load of washed articles

A device for extracting water from a load of articles which have been washed uses fluid pressure to exert a force on the load. A system controls the fluid pressure such that only low pressure is applied to the load for a predetermined period of time at the beginning of the water extracting operation. Subsequently, the load is subjected to a high pressure exerted by the fluid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a device for extracting water from clothes, etc. 
which have been washed. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
A typical device of this type known in the art is shown in FIG. 17. It is 
the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 25594/1964. It 
includes a main housing not shown, and has a base 1 installed on a floor. 
A pneumatic cylinder 2 is secured to the base 1 and includes a piston rod 
having a conical head. A bogie 3 has a plurality of wheels each equipped 
with a cushion. A cylindrical jacket 4 is open at both of its upper and 
lower ends and comprises a cylindrical wall having a multiplicity of 
apertures. extending therethrough. A hydraulic cylinder 5 is secured to 
the main housing above the jacket 4 and includes a piston rod carrying a 
pressing disk 6 at its lower end. A pneumatic cylinder 7 is suspended from 
the main housing by a pin 8 about which it is rotatable. Another pneumatic 
cylinder 9 is rotatably supported by a pin 10 on the main housing and 
includes a piston rod hinged to the cylinder 7 by a pin 11. The device 
further includes another pneumatic cylinder 12 secured to the main 
housing. 
The jacket 4 is placed on the bogie 3 and the clothes or similar articles 
13 which have been washed are put into the jacket 4. The bogie 3 is moved 
onto the base 1 until it engages a stopper not shown. The bogie 3 has a 
conical recess at its bottom. The pneumatic cylinder 2 is actuated to 
raise the piston rod and move its conical head into the conical recess of 
the bogie 3 to hold the bogie 3 in position. Then, the hydraulic cylinder 
5 is actuated to lower the pressing disk 6 into the jacket 4 to press the 
articles 13 against the bogie 3, so that water may be extracted from the 
articles 13. When the articles 13 are pressed against the bogie 3, the 
flexure of the cushions on the bogie 3 allows it to rest on the base 1. 
The piston rod of the cylinder 2 is also lowered, as it is pushed down by 
the bogie 3. 
Then, the pneumatic cylinder 9 is actuated to move the pneumatic cylnder 7 
to its vertical position and the cylinder 7 is actuated to lower its 
piston rod. The jacket 4 has a lug 4a projecting from its outer surface. 
The piston rod of the cylinder 7 which has been lowered is engaged with 
the lug 4a. Then, the hydraulic cylinder 5 is actuated to raise the 
pressing disk 6 slightly to facilitate the movement of the jacket 4 
relative to the articles 13. When the pressing disk 6 has been raised, the 
bogie 3 is moved away from the base 1 by the cushions. Then, the pneumatic 
cylinder 7 is actuated to raise the jacket 4 until its lower end reaches a 
level of height which is equal to, or slightly above, that of the pressing 
disk 6. 
Then, the pneumatic cylinder 12 is actuated to advance its piston rod and 
thereby push the articles 13 away from the bogie 3. After its piston rod 
has been retracted, the pneumatic cylinder 7 is actuated to lower the 
jacket 4 onto the bogie 3 and its piston rod is disengaged from the lug 4a 
on the jacket 4. After the cylinder 7 has been actuated to raise its 
piston rod, the cylinder 9 is actuated to return the cylinder 7 to its 
inclined position as shown in FIG. 17. At the same time, the hydraulic 
cylinder 5 is actuated to raise the pressing disk 6 to a level above the 
jacket 4. The device is now ready to receive another bogie and another 
jacket filled with new articles to be dried. 
FIG. 18 is a graph showing by way of example the relation between the 
length of time for which pressure is applied to the articles to be dried 
in the device as hereinabove described and the amount of pressure which 
the articles receive. A hydraulic fluid is supplied from a source not 
shown to the hydraulic cylinder 5 to cause the pressing disk 6 to press 
the articles 13. The articles which have been washed contain large amounts 
of water and air. In the absence of any sufficient preliminary 
compression, the water or air which the articles contain has a sudden rise 
in pressure and damages the articles. 
The device is used for drying a wide variety of articles, including 
clothes, bed sheets, towels and bathrobes, made of different materials, 
such as 100% cotton and a mixture of cotton and synthetic fibers. The life 
of the articles depends on the way in which pressure is applied thereto to 
extract water therefrom, and the optimum pressure application differs from 
one kind of article to another. This difference is, however, not taken 
into account by any conventional device. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to provide a device which can extract 
water from a load of wet wash under pressure without doing any damage 
thereto so that the washed articles may have a prolonged life. 
This object is attained by a device for extracting water from the load of 
wash by means of fluid pressure which is induced by means for controlling 
the fluid pressure so that the wash may receive a lower pressure for 
preliminary compression for a predetermined period of time during the 
beginning of the water extracting operation than thereafter. 
The flow of the hydraulic fluid which is supplied into a hydraulic cylinder 
through a pump is detected so that its pressure may not exceed a 
predetermined level for a predetermined period of time. Should its 
pressure exceed the predetermined level, the fluid is caused to flow into 
a fluid reservoir. 
Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become 
apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying 
drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the 
drawings. 
(1) First Embodiment: 
Reference is made to FIGS. 1 to 5. A substructure 36 is installed on a 
floor and includes a plurality of pillars 37. A lattice deck 38 is secured 
to the substructure 36. A perforated deck plate 39 is secured to the deck 
38. An endless belt 40 having a relatively large width extends between a 
pair of rolls 41 for conveying a load of washed articles. The belt 40 is 
perforated or is fabricated from a network so that water may pass 
therethrough. A basket 42 has a cylindrical lower portion formed from a 
perforated plate. The basket 42 has at its top an opening 43 through which 
a load of washed articles is introduced into the basket 42. A plurality of 
guide members 44 project from the basket 42 and engage the pillars 37. 
A mechanism for raising or lowering the basket 42 is secured to the 
substructure 36 and is connected to the basket 42 by a chain, etc. A 
hydraulic cylinder 47 is secured to the substructure 36 and includes a 
piston rod 51. A hydraulic system 48 includes a fluid reservoir and a 
hydraulic circuit for the hydraulic cylinder 47. A hydraulic pump 49 is 
provided for the hydraulic system 48 and is driven by a motor 50. The 
piston rod 51 carries a bowl-shaped member 52 at its lower end. An elastic 
membrane 53 closes the opening of the bowl-shaped member 52 so that the 
latter may hold water 56 therein. A member 54 for supplying water and a 
member 55 for discharging air are connected to the bowl-shaped member 52. 
The membrane 53 is secured to the bowl-shaped member 52 by a ring 57 which 
is bolted to the latter. 
A continuous washing machine is shown at 58. A conveyor 59 is provided for 
delivering a load of washed articles 60 to a drying machine, etc. after 
water has been extracted therefrom by the device of this invention. The 
load 60 consists of at least one article of clothing that has been washed 
by the washing machine 58. 
Referring to FIG. 1, a pressure controller 61 is provided for varying the 
pressure which is applied to the load of washed articles to extract water 
therefrom, progressively from one of a plurality of predetermined levels 
to another with the lapse of time set by a timer not shown so that a 
predetermined relation may be established between the pressure and the 
time. It may, for example, comprise a proportional solenoid valve or a 
control valve. A directional control valve 62 is provided for supplying 
hydraulic fluid 66 into the upper or lower end of the hydraulic cylinder 
47 through the pump 49 to lower or raise the piston rod 51. The valve 62 
has an upper portion 62A which when positioned in the fluid circuit is 
used to lower the piston rod 51 to apply pressure to the load of washed 
articles 60 to extract water therefrom. If the lower portion 62B of the 
valve 62 is positioned, the piston rod 51 is raised. 
A servo valve 63 is provided for bypassing the hydraulic fluid 66 from the 
pump 49 to a return line 64 leading to the fluid reservoir 65 in response 
to a signal from the pressure controller 61 to prevent the pressure being 
applied to the load of washed articles from rising above a predetermined 
level. A suction filter 67 is provided in the fluid reservoir 65 for 
removing foreign matter from the hydraulic fluid 66 reaching the pump 49. 
In operation, the basket 42 staying in its lowered position receives the 
load of washed articles 60 from the continuous washing machine, while the 
belt 40 is out of operation and the piston rod 51 is in its raised 
position, as shown in FIG. 3. The hydraulic system 48 is started in 
response to a signal from the washing machine 58 which indicates that it 
has supplied the basket 42 with an appropriate amount of washed articles 
60. The piston rod 51 is lowered and the membrane 53 presses the load of 
washed articles 60, as a result of the positioning of the upper portion 
62A of the directional control valve 62 which causes the hydraulic fluid 
66 to flow into the upper end of the cylinder 47. 
When the piston rod 51 has been lowered, the load of washed articles 60 
first receives a first preliminary water extracting pressure which is as 
low as, say, a maximum of 0.5 kg/cm.sup.2, for a period of time T.sub.1 
of, say, at least five seconds. The pressure is gradually raised to a 
second preliminary pressure or a medium pressure of, say, a maximum of 7.0 
kg/cm.sup.2, as shown in FIG. 2. The medium pressure is applied for such a 
period of time T.sub.2 that T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 may be a total of at least 
10 seconds. This pressure application has been experimentally found 
important to protect the load of washed articles 60 against damage. 
If the delivery pressure of the pump were directly employed for extracting 
water from the load of washed articles 60 as is the case with the 
conventional device (FIG. 18), the load of washed articles 60 would 
suddenly receive a high pressure and the air and water which the load 60 
contains would produce a strong force which would tear it or make a 
circular hole or holes therein. Therefore, the preliminary extraction of 
water as hereinabove described is very important for protecting the 
articles. 
The supply of the hydraulic fluid 66 is continued to continue the 
application of pressure to the load 60 until the pressure reaches a 
predetermined maximum level. If the predetermined maximum pressure is 
reached, the pressure controller 61 transmits a signal to the servo valve 
63 to actuate it to bypass the hydraulic fluid 66 to cause it to flow back 
into the reservoir 65 through the return line 64 so that an appropriate 
level of pressure may be maintained throughout the water extracting 
operation. The pressure controller 61 can be set for actuation at 
different levels of maximum pressure which depend on the nature of the 
load of washed articles 60. 
The timer not shown is set for realizing a proper cycle of the water 
extracting operation. Upon expiration of the time set by the timer, the 
hydraulic system 48 is switched to a different circuit which causes the 
piston rod 51 to rise to some extent to its intermediate position as shown 
in FIG. 5, or to its uppermost position, whereupon the membrane 53 is 
separated from the washing 60. The basket raising and lowering mechanism 
46 is actuated to raise the basket 42 by the chain, etc., as shown in FIG. 
5. A limit switch or similar device not shown detects the upward movement 
of the basket 42 and transmits a signal which causes the driving roll 41 
to rotate in the direction of an arrow in FIG. 5. The rotating roll 41 
causes the belt 40 to move in the same direction to transfer the load 60, 
from which water has been extracted, onto the conveyor 59, so that it may 
be conveyed to a drying machine not shown. 
An appropriate device not shown, such as a timer or a photoelectric device, 
detects the complete transfer of the washing 60 onto the conveyor 59 and 
transmits a signal wich causes the roll 41 to stop its rotation. When the 
roll 41 has stopped its rotation, an appropriate signal is transmitted to 
lower the basket 42 onto the belt 40 and to raise the piston rod 51, 
whereby the device is returned to its initial position as shown in FIG. 3. 
A limit switch or similar device not shown detects the upward retraction 
of the piston rod 51 and outputs a signal which allows a new load 60 to be 
supplied from the washing machine 58 to the basket 42. The foregoing cycle 
of operation is thereafter repeated. 
(2) Second Embodiment: 
The second embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG. 6. It includes a 
number of features which differentiate it from the first embodiment shown 
in FIG. 1. Only the differences will hereinafter be described. An 
electromagnetic pressure control valve 68 is provided in place of the 
servo valve 63 in FIG. 1. The valve 68 has an upper portion 68A which can 
be positioned in the fluid circuit for supplying the hydraulic fluid 66 at 
a low pressure, and a lower portion 68B which can be positioned in the 
fluid circuit for supplying it at a medium pressure, whereby the 
preliminary extraction of water from the washing 60 can be accomplished. 
The upper portion 68A is first energized. If it is energized, the pressure 
of the hydraulic fluid 66 which is delivered by the pump 49 rises to a 
level set by a low pressure relief valve 70. If its pressure further 
increases, the fluid 66 is returned into the reservoir 65 through the 
relief valve 70 and the return line 64, so that the pressure applied to 
the load of washed articles 60 by the piston rod 51 may be maintained at a 
predetermined low level. 
Then, if the lower portion 68B of the valve 68 is positioned in the fluid 
circuit, the pressure of the fluid 66 rises to a medium level set by a 
medium pressure relief valve 71. If its pressure further increases, the 
fluid 66 is returned into the reservoir 65 through the relief valve 71 and 
the return line 64, so that the pressure applied to the load of washed 
articles 60 by the piston rod 51 may be maintained at a predetermined 
medium level. 
A high pressure relief valve 69 is provided for setting a maximum level of 
pressure which the fluid 66 being supplied from the pump 49 to the 
cylinder 47 can reach after the preliminary extraction of water from the 
load of washed articles 60. If the maximum pressure is reached, the relief 
valve 69 functions to return the fluid 66 into the reservoir 65 through 
the return line 64 to prevent any fluid having a higher pressure from 
being supplied into the cylinder 47. 
The low pressure portion 68A of the valve 68 is energized when the 
application of pressure to the load of washed articles 60 is started. It 
remains energized for a certain period of time set by a timer not shown. 
The low pressure relief valve 70 remains open as long as the low pressure 
portion 68A remains energized. Upon lapse of the time set by the timer, 
the low pressure portion 68A is deenergized and the medium pressure 
portion 68B of the valve 68 is energized. The medium pressure relief valve 
71 is now opened, while the low pressure relief valve 70 is closed. The 
medium pressure portion 68B remains energized for a certain period of time 
set by a timer not shown. If it is thereafter deenergized, the valve 68 is 
brought to its neutral position and the low and medium pressure relief 
valves 70 and 71 are both closed. The pressure of the fluid 66 flowing 
into the cylinder 47 rises again until it reaches the maximum level set by 
the high pressure relief valve 69. Thus, the control valve 68 and the 
relief valves 69 to 71 define a mechanism which corrrespond to the 
pressure controller 61 and the servo valve 63 in FIG. 1. 
The low pressure to which the fluid is controlled by the low pressure 
portion 68A of the valve 68 is preferably not higher than 0.5 kg/cm.sup.2, 
and is preferably maintained for a period of at least five seconds. The 
medium pressure to which the fluid is controlled by the medium pressure 
portion 68B is preferably not higher than 7.0 kg/cm.sup.2, and is 
preferably maintained for a period of at least five seconds, too. The 
maximum pressure set by the high pressure relief valve 69 is, for example, 
35 kg/cm.sup.2. 
The maximum pressure, however, has to be set to a level of, say, 10 to 20 
kg/cm.sup.2, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 2, if the load is a mixture 
of cotton and polyester, or of hemp articles. The same is true of the 
device according to the first embodiment of this invention. This control 
of the maximum pressure can be easily attained by means of the pressure 
controller 61 in the device according to the first embodiment, or if an 
appropriate combination of a relief valve and an electromagnetic valve is 
added to the device according to the second embodiment. 
(3) Third Embodiment: 
The third embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGS. 7 to 9. A 
substructure 135 is mounted on a floor. A superstructure 136 is connected 
to the substructure 135 by a plurality of pillars 137. A lattice deck 138 
is secured to the substructure 135 and carries a perforated deck plate 
139. An endless belt 140 having a relatively large width extends between a 
pair of rolls 141, of which one is a driving roll. The belt 140 is 
perforated or is fabricated from a to allow water to pass therethrough. 
A basket 142 is made of a perforated plate and has a cylindrical lower 
portion adapted to hold a load of washed articles therein. The basket 142 
has a top opening 143 through which articles can be introduced into its 
lower portion. A plurality of guide members 144 project from the basket 
142 and engage the pillars 137. A skirt 145 is provided about the lower 
portion of the basket 142. A device 146 for raising and lowering the 
basket 142 is secured to the superstructure 136 and is connected to the 
basket 142 by a chain or the like. A hydraulic cylinder 147 is secured to 
the superstructure 136 and includes a piston rod 151. A hydraulic system 
148 includes a fluid reservoir and a hydraulic circuit for supplying a 
hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder 147. A hydraulic pump 149 is 
provided for the hydraulic system 148 and a motor 150 is provided for 
driving the pump 149. 
The piston rod 151 carries a bowl-shaped member 152 at its lower end. An 
elastic membrane 153 closes the opening of the bowl-shaped member 152 so 
that the latter may hold water 156 or other liquid therein. A member 154 
for supplying water and a member 155 for discharging air are connected to 
the bowl-shaped member 152. The membrane 153 is secured to the bowl-shaped 
member 152 by a ring 157 which is bolted to the latter. A continuous 
washing machine is shown at 158. A conveyor 159 is provided for delivering 
to a drying machine, etc. washing 160 from which water has been extracted 
by the device of this invention. A fluid receptacle 161 is secured to the 
piston rod 151 and provided on the bowl-shaped member 152. A nozzle 162 is 
secured to the superstructure 136 for drawing a hydraulic fluid and water 
from the fluid receptacle 161. 
A filter 163 is secured to the substructure 135 for separating the liquid 
and gas flowing from the nozzle 162 through a hose 164. A bottle 165 is 
removably attached to the filter 163 for collecting the liquid which has 
been separated from the gas. The gas is drawn by a vacuum pump 166 
attached to the filter 163 and is discharged to the atmosphere through a 
muffler 167 attached to the vacuum pump 166. 
In operation, the basket 142 staying in its lowered position receives the 
load of washed articles 160 from the washing machine 158, while the belt 
140 is out of operation and the piston rod 151 is in its raised position, 
as shown in FIG. 7. The skirt 145 prevents the scattering of water flowing 
out of the basket 142 or even the outflow of water therefrom which is 
likely to cause the displacement of the load 160 to one side of the basket 
142. 
The hydraulic system 148 is actuated in response to a signal from the 
washing machine 158 indicating that it has supplied the basket 142 with an 
appropriate amount of washed articles 160. The piston rod 151 is lowered 
and causes the membrane 153 to press the load of washed articles 160. FIG. 
8 shows the position of the device in which the piston rod 151 has ceased 
to be lowered when a balance of pressure has been reached between the 
piston rod 151 and the load 160. The application of pressure is started 
slowly to discharge air from the load of washed articles 160 and thereby 
protect it against damage. The piston rod 151 continues the application of 
pressure for as long a time as is required for extracting water from the 
load. 
A timer not shown is set for achieving a proper cycle of the water 
extracting operation. Upon expiration of the time set by the timer, the 
hydraulic system 148 is switched to establish a different circuit 
connection to raise the piston rod 151 to some extent to its intermediate 
position as shown in FIG. 9, or to its uppermost position, whereupon the 
membrane 153 is separated from the load 160. In response to a signal from 
a timer or similar device not shown, the basket raising and lowering 
mechanism 146 is actuated to raise the basket 142 by the chain, etc. as 
shown in FIG. 9. A limit switch or similar device not shown detects the 
upward movement of the basket 142 and outputs a signal to cause the 
driving roll 141 to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 9. 
The belt 140 is moved in the same direction and transfers the load 160 
onto the conveyor 159 which will in turn carry it to a drying machine of 
other device not shown. 
An appropriate device not shown, such as a timer or photoelectric device, 
detects the complete transfer of the load 160 to the conveyor 159 and 
transmits a signal which causes the driving roll 141 to stop its rotation. 
Then, the basket 142 is lowered onto the belt 140 and the piston rod 151 
is raised to its uppermost position, as shown in FIG. 7. A limit switch or 
similar device not shown detects the upward retraction of the piston rod 
151 and transmits a signal which allows the washing machine 158 to supply 
a new load of washed articles 160 into the basket 142. The foregoing cycle 
of operation is, thereafter, repeated. Each cycle of operation has a 
period of 1.5 to 2 minutes. 
The hydraulic fluid adhering to the piston rod 151 as a result of the 
repeated operation drops and gradually gathers in the fluid receptacle 
161. When the piston rod 151 is in its lowered position as shown in FIG. 
8, the water scattering from the washing machine 158 is likely to adhere 
to the piston rod 151 and drop into the receptacle 161. Thus, a mixture of 
the hydraulic fluid and water is likely to collect in the receptacle 161. 
When the piston rod 151 has been raised as shown in FIG. 7, the limit 
switch or similar device not shown detects it and transmits a signal to 
start the vacuum pump 166. 
As a result, a negative pressure is produced in the filter 163, bottle 165, 
hose 164 and nozzle 162. The negative pressure draws the mixed liquid from 
the fluid receptacle 161 through the nozzle 162 having its lower end 
dipped in the mixed liquid as shown in FIG. 7. The liquid is caused to 
flow through the hose 164 and the filter 163 into the bottle 165. The 
operation of the vacuum pump 166 is stopped when the piston rod 151 has 
been lowered to start the application of pressure to the load of washed 
articles 160. 
The device of this invention protects the load from contamination by the 
hydraulic fluid. Its maintenance is very easy, as the mixed liquid is 
automatically discharged from the fluid receptacle. 
(4) Fourth Embodiment: 
The fourth embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGS. 10 to 15. The 
device of this invention is connected to a continuous washing machine 201 
as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The device is supported on a substructure 236 
mounted on a floor. The substructure 236 is provided with a plurality of 
pillars 237. A lattice deck 238 is secured to the substructure 236 and 
carries a perforated deck plate 239. An endless belt 240 having a 
relatively large width extends between a pair of rolls 241, of which one 
is a driving roll. The belt 240 is perforated or is fabricated from a 
network to allow water to pass therethrough. 
A basket 242 is made of a perforated plate and has a cylindrical lower 
portion. The basket 242 has a top opening 243 through which a load of 
washed articles 202 can be introduced into its lower portion. A plurality 
of guide members 244 project from the basket 242 and engage the pillars 
237. A skirt 245 is provided about the lower portion of the basket 242. A 
mechanism 246 for raising or lowering the basket 242 is secured to the 
substructure 236 and connected to the basket 242 by a chain, etc. A 
hydraulic cylinder 247 is secured to the substructure 236 and includes a 
piston rod 251. A hydraulic system 248 includes a fluid reservoir and a 
hydraulic circuit for supplying a hydraulic fluid to the cylinder 247. A 
hydraulic pump 249 is provided for the hydraulic system 248. A motor 250 
is provided for driving the pump 249. 
The piston rod 251 carries a bowl-shaped member 252 at its lower end. An 
elastic membrane 253 closes the opening of the bowl-shaped member 252 so 
that the latter may hold water therein. A member 254 for supplying water 
and a member 255 for discharging air are connected to the bowl-shaped 
member 252. The membrane 253 is secured to the bowl-shaped member 252 by a 
ring 257 which is bolted to the latter. The water 256 is held between the 
bowl-shaped member 252 and the membrane 253. 
A motor 258 is connected to the driving roll 241 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 
11. The motor 258 is rotatable in two opposite directions for rotating the 
endless belt 240 in the direction of arrows B or C in FIG. 10. 
A conveyor 223 is provided in front of the entrance of the washing machine 
201. An operation control unit 260 is operationally connected to the 
washing machine 201, conveyor 223 and motor 258, as shown in FIG. 11. 
Various data are inputted to the control unit 260 so that it may determine 
the direction of rotation of the motor 258 to cause the endless belt 240 
to rotate in the direction of the arrow B or C. The data include the kinds 
or articles 202 to be introduced into the washing machine 201, the order 
in which they are introduced, and the rotating angle and frequency of a 
drum in the washing machine 201. 
In operation, the articles 202 to be washed are classified into different 
kinds, such as bed sheets, towels and bathrobes and placed on the conveyor 
223. The kinds of articles 202 and the order in which they lie on the 
conveyor 223 are inputted to the operation control unit 260 by an enter 
key not shown. The articles 202 are progressively supplied from the 
conveyor 223 into the washing machine 201 through its entrance 224, washed 
for a predetermined length of time and delivered from the exit of the 
washing machine 201 into the basket 242 staying in its lowered position, 
while the belt 240 is out of operation and the piston rod 251 is in its 
raised position, as shown in FIG. 13. When the articles 202 are supplied 
into the basket 242, the skirt 245 prevents the scattering of water 
flowing out of the basket 242 and even the outflow of water from the 
basket 242 which would cause the undesirable displacement of the articles 
202 to one side of the basket 242. 
In response to a signal from the washing machine 201 indicating its 
delivery of the load of washed articles 202 into the basket 242, the 
operation control unit 260 actuates the hydraulic system 248 to lower the 
piston rod 251 and cause the membrane 253 to press the load 202. FIG. 14 
shows the position of the device in which the piston rod 251 has ceased to 
be lowered when a balance of pressure has been reached between the load 
202 and the piston rod 251. The application of pressure is started slowly 
to discharge air from the load of washed articles 202 to protect is 
against damage. The piston rod 251 continues the application of pressure 
for as long a time as is required for extracting water from the load of 
washed articles 202. 
A timer not shown is set for achieving a proper cycle of the water 
extracting operation. Upon expiration of the time set by the timer, the 
hydraulic system 248 is switched to establish a different circuit 
connection to raise the piston rod 251 to some extent to its intermediate 
position as shown in FIG. 15, or to its uppermost position, whereupon the 
membrane 253 is separated from the load 202. This is effected by a timer 
or similar device not shown and in response to a signal therefrom, the 
basket raising and lowering mechanism 246 is actuated to raise the basket 
242 by the chain, etc. as shown in FIG. 15. A limit switch or similar 
device not shown outputs a signal indicating that the basket 242 has been 
raised. This signal and a signal from the operation control unit 260 are 
transmitted to the motor 258 to cause the driving roll 241 to rotate in 
either direction to carry the load of washed articles 202 in the direction 
of either arrow B or C. The load 202 is, then, transferred to a drying 
machine or other device. 
An appropriate device not shown, such as a timer or photoelectric device, 
detects the transfer of the load 202 from the belt 240 and outputs a 
signal which causes the driving roll 241 to stop its rotation. When the 
rotation of the roll 241 has been stopped, the basket 242 is lowered onto 
the belt 240 and the piston rod 251 is raised, as shown in FIG. 13. A 
limit switch or similar device not shown detects the upward retraction of 
the piston rod 251 and outputs a signal which allows the washing machine 
201 to supply the basket 242 with another load of washed articles 202. The 
foregoing sequence of operation is thereafter repeated. 
Attention is directed to FIG. 16 showing a different arrangement for 
conveying the load 202. It includes a supporting plate 262 which replaces 
the deck 238 and the deck plate 239. The supporting plate 262 is secured 
to the substructure 236 and has a plurality of apertures 263 through which 
water can be discharged. A discharge plate 264 replaces the endless belt 
240 and the rolls 241. It is located above the supporting plate 262 and is 
reciprocatively movable along the supporting plate 262 by a driving unit 
not shown. The driving unit is responsive to a signal from the operation 
control unit 260 to move the discharge plate 264 in either direction to 
discharge the load from the supporting plate 262 in the direction of 
either arrow B or C. 
Although the load has been described as being discharged in either of the 
two directions B and C perpendicularly to the machine, it is also possible 
to discharge it in another direction longitudinally of the machine as 
shown by arrow A in FIGS. 13 and 15. A discharge plate 265 is, therefore, 
provided reciprocatively movable by a driving unit not shown 
longitudinally of the washing machine 201, as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 13 
to 15. The driving unit is responsive to a signal from the operation 
control unit 260 to enable the transfer of the load by the discharge plate 
265 in the direction of the arrow A, while the belt 240 driven by the 
motor 258 conveys the load in either of the two directions B and C. The 
discharge plate 265 can, of course, be incorporated into the arrangement 
of FIG. 16, too. 
The device of this invention as hereinabove described eliminates the 
necessity of employing an expensive conveyor having a turning device for 
delivering the load in a plurality of directions. It is compact in 
construction and requires only a small space for installation. It can be 
installed even in a small washing factory. The direction in which the load 
is delivered from the device of this invention can be automatically 
controlled in accordance with the kinds of articles to be introduced into 
the washing machine and the order in which they are washed therein, as 
hereinabove described. This feature contributes to reducing the amount of 
labor required for the operation of the device.