Washing method by a continuous washing machine

Abstract: A washing method by a continuous washing machine comprising a drum (51) having a charge port (58) of a wash at one end and a discharge port (76) thereof at the other end, partitions (30, 30′) for dividing the drum into a plurality of chambers, and a scoop (63) for scooping up the wash with the rotation of the drum (51) and sequentially transferring it from a chamber on the side of charge port (58) to a chamber on the side of discharge port (76), in which the normal rotation of the drum (51) without transfer in the transfer direction and the reverse rotation without transfer are repeated several times to oscillate the wash several times, and then by the reverse rotation of the drum (51) of one complete turn or more, the raising/dropping motion of the wash is performed by the scoop (63) at least once, whereby washing is carried out by the combination of several oscillating motions and at least one raising/dropping motion.

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT This invention relates to a washing method by means of a continuous washing machine which continuously handles objects being washed. FIG.5 shows a continuous washing machine proposed in the Japanese Utility Model Publication No.1903/1986. A wash, which is conveyed by a supply conveyor, is thrown into a drum 1 in a stationary first vessel through a chute or a hopper H. An appropriate amount of a detergent and other additives may be thrown into the first vessel together with the wash or may be thrown into a second vessel or any of subsequent vessels. The detergent and additives may be thrown into a vessel separately or simultaneously by installing an inlet port or a valve. Water enters through a washing water inlet port 17, flows in the bottoms of stationary vessels 2″, 2′, 2 as a continuous flow in the direction opposite to the wash 21, 21′, 21″, and enters a contaminated water tank 16. The washing operation is performed by charging a plurality of drums 1, 1′, 1″, which are connected in series to each other, with wash together with an appropriate amount of a detergent and other additives and by oscillating the drums 180° or over, preferably about 270°, as shown in FIG.7. In order to transfer the wash from the first drum 1 to the second drum 1′, the drums are rotated in one direction at least 270° as shown in FIG.7(b) and FIG.8. The oscillation and full rotation for transfer are performed by means of a gear 13 connected to motor with a reducer for driving drums (driving motor) 15 installed outside of the drum unit, a gear 13′ installed at the flange portion 10 of the drum 1, and a publicly known speed change clutch mechanism B. In the transfer operation of the wash from one vessel to the next vessel shown in FIG.7(b) and FIG.8, the wash is scooped up in each drum space, while the drum is rotated in one direction at least 270°, by means of a transfer scoop 4, 4′, 4″ installed in the drum as shown in FIG.6 so that the wash is transferred from the drum 1 to the drum 1′, 1″ in sequence through the flange portion 11, 12. At this time, washing water escapes from slits 3, 3′ between the scoop 4, 4′, 4″ and an auxiliary plate 5, 5′, 5″. Reference numeral 14 denotes a roller for supporting the drums 1, 1′, 1″. Washing may be performed by another method using the above constitution, in which the drum is rotated continuously in certain number of cycles in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation for transfer, instead of oscillation of 270° so that the wash 21 is raised on the back of the scoop 4 and dropped as shown in FIG.9. With this method, the wash 21 drops only once for one rotation of the drum. The above-described crumple washing operation by the oscillation of drums 1, 1′, 1″ has a disadvantage that a mechanical action given to the wash is weak, so that heavily soiled objects cannot be washed clean. With the washing method in which the wash is raised on the back of scoop and dropped repeatedly, the wash is twisted and tangled because the drum rotates in one direction. Therefore, disentangling operation is needed afterward, which requires much manpower. On the continuous washing machine described above, washing can be performed efficiently without stopping the drum 1 by throwing a new wash 21 into the drum at the same time when the wash 21 is transferred. However, there is a possibility of insufficient supply of wash 21 caused by the end face of scoop 4 blocking of part of charge opening for a certain rotation angle of drum 1. Particularly when the wash 21 is conveyed sequentially by a conveyor, all the wash 21 cannot be thrown into the drum in one motion, but part of wash 21 is thrown into the first drum with part of the opening being blocked, so that the wash 21 is twisted or tangled by the scoop 4, which may result in tear of the wash. The US patent US-A-4 020 659 (Guy Michel BAVSAR) discloses a tunnel-type commercial duty washing machine which has a horizontally elongated housing subdivided by a succession of partitions into a succession of compartments each provided with a generally cylindrical foraminous drum. The drums may be oscillated back and forth to agitate clothing. However, this patent only teaches crumpling washing with reciprocating rotations of 360°. With reciprocating rotations of 360°, the laundry being washed is not raised and dropped within the drums. The US patent US-A-4 156 358 (Ernst HARRSCH) also discloses a tunnel-type machine similar to the above-mentioned apparatus. OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention was proposed to solve the above problems with the conventional washing method. Accordingly, the invention concerns a washing method by a continuous washing machine comprising a drum having a charge port of a wash at one end and a discharge port thereof at the other end, partitions for dividing said drum into a plurality of chambers, and a scoop for scooping up said wash with the rotation of said drum and sequentially transferring it from a chamber on the side of charge port to a chamber on the side of discharge port, in which the normal rotation of said drum without transfer in the transfer direction and the reverse rotation without transfer are repeated several times to oscillate said wash several times characterized in that said drum is rotated 270° to 450° without transfer in the transfer direction for crumbling washing and rotated 270° to 450° plus 360° or more in the non-transfer direction for beat washing effected by when said wash is raised by and dropped from the back side of the scoop, whereby washing is carried out by the combination of several oscillating motions and at least are raising/dropping motion within a chamber before said wash is transferred to a neighboring chamber. The present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, FIG.1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a drum for carrying out the first method of this invention, FIG.2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a drum which operates in a different manner from the drum in FIG.1, FIG.3 is a view for illustrating the phase change in the rotation of the drum shown in FIG.1, FIG.4 is a view for illustrating the phase change in the rotation of the drum shown in FIG.1, FIG.5 is a side sectional view of a conventional continuous washing machine, FIG.6 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a drum in FIG.5, FIG.7(a) is a view for illustrating the phase change in the oscillation of the drum shown in FIG.6, FIG.7(b) is a view for illustrating the phase change in the transfer operation of the drum shown in FIG.6, FIG.8 is a side sectional view at each phase of drum in FIG.7(b), FIG.9 is a view for illustrating the phase change of conventional raising/dropping motion of linen, FIG.10 is a diagram showing the relation between time and washing ratio for this invention and a conventional method, FIG.11 is a schematic view of a continuous washing machine for carrying out the second method of this invention, FIG.12 is a view for illustrating the motion of washing by oscillation, FIG.13 is a view for illustrating the motion of washing by raising/dropping, FIG.14 is a view for illustrating the motion of transfer, FIG.15 is a diagram for illustrating the motion in an example of washing method, FIG.16 is a graph showing the relation between washing mechanical force and the number of cycles of oscillation washing, FIG.17 is a perspective view showing the inside construction of a first vessel of continuous washing machine using the third method of this invention, FIG.18 is a view for illustrating the motion for transfer, FIG.19 is a schematic view of a continuous washing machine using the fourth method of this invention, FIG.20 is a diagram showing the oscillation angle of rotating body, FIG.21 is a view showing the position of wash in a drum, FIG.22 is a schematic view of a conventional continuous washing machine, FIG.23 is a side sectional view of a conventional drain box, FIG.24 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line B-B, FIG.25 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line C-C, FIG.26 is a diagram showing the oscillation angle of rotating body in the conventional method, FIG.27 is a view showing the position of wash in a drum, and FIG.28 is a graph showing the relation between water level in drum and raised height of linen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in drawings. FIGS.1-4 show an embodiment of this invention. In FIGS.1 and 2, reference numeral 11 denotes a drum, which is constructed by connecting drums which can be separated for each vessel (refer to FIG.1) or constructed so that two or more vessels composes one drum and the vessels are divided by partitions 30, 30′ (refer to FIG.2). Referenee numeral 14 denotes a scoop, which is fixedly secured to the drum 11 and the partitions 30, 30′. The scoop 14, which can transfer the wash 21 to the next vessel, is shaped so as to be able to scoop up the wash 21 in the normal rotation but not to transfer it to the other vessel. Reference numeral 31 denotes a beater, which is fixedly secured to the drum 11 and the partitions 30, 30′. In FIGS.1 and 2, four beaters 31 are installed on the opposite side of the scoop 14, but any number of beaters may be installed at any location. When the drum 11 rotates, the scoop 14 and beaters 31 rotate as a unit. At the bottom of the drum 11, a wash 21 lies together with washing water (not shown). As shown in FIG.3(I), when the drum 11 is rotated 360° from the condition (a), the wash 21 is scooped up by a scoop 14 and transferred into the next vessel [(a)-(b)-(c)]. Therefore, on a continuous washing machine with a scoop 14, oscillation in the normal and reverse directions is normally repeated for a certain period of time at a phase angle which does not allow the wash 21 to be transferred, and then the wash 21 is transferred into the next vessel by transfer operation. The phase angle which does not allow the wash 21 to be transferred may be 450° at maximum, as shown in FIG.4(II), when the wash 21 is on the back of scoop 14, but it is usually set to 270°-300°. The control of rotation and oscillation of drum in normal rotation of 300° and in reverse rotation of 660° in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.3(II) and 3(III). As described above with reference to FIG.3(I), after the wash 21 is transferred by the normal rotation of 360° of drum 11, the condition of drum is as shown in FIG.3(I) (c) or FIG.3(II) (a). As shown in FIG.3(III), when the drum 11 is rotated in the reverse direction in which the wash 21 is not transferred, the wash 21 is raised by the beaters 31 and rotated to perform crumple washing in the same manner as the conventional oscillation in the range of (a)-(e)-(f). In the range of (g)-(h), the wash 21 on the back side of scoop 14 is scooped up to a high position in the drum and is dropped to perform beat washing. In the range of (i)-(d), crumple washing is performed by the beaters 31. Thus, by the reverse rotation of 660° of drum in the sequence of (a)-(e-(f)-(g)-(h)-(i)-(d), the wash 21 is crumple washed, raised once, and dropped for beat washing. Next, the drum 11 is rotated 300° in the normal direction in the sequence of (d)-(j)-(a) as shown in FIG.3(II). In this process, the wash 21 is raised by the beater 31 and rotated to perform crumple washing, and at the same time the wash 21 is untwisted and untangled. Thus, the reverse rotation of 660° and normal rotation of 300° of drum 11 are repeated several times until the next transfer operation is performed to carry on washing. Although the oscillation angle of drum 11 in the normal direction may he below 450° as shown in FIG.4(II), the oscillation angle in the reverse direction should be the angle of normal rotation (300°) plus at least one complete rotation (360°). FIGS.4(I),4(II), and 4(III) show an embodiment of normal rotation of 450° and reverse rotation of 810°. In transfer [(a)-(b)-(c)], the wash 21 is scooped up by the scoop 14 by the normal rotation of 360° of drum 11 from the condition (a), and is transferred into the next vessel [FIG4(I)]. Next, the drum 11 is rotated in the reverse direction from the condition (a) immediately after the transfer, in which the wash 21 is not transferred. In the range of (a)-(e)-(f), the wash 21 is raised by the beaters 31 and rotated to perform crumple washing. In the range of (g)-(h)-(i), the wash 21 on the back side of scoop 14 is scooped up to a high position in the drum and is dropped to perform beat washing. In the range of (i)-(j), crumple washing is performed by the beaters 31. In the range of (i)-(d), the wash 21 is scooped by the back of scoop 14, but it does not drop. The drum stops at (d), and then is rotated in the normal direction [FIG.4(II)]. As shown in FIG.4(II), the drum 11 is then rotated 450° in the normal direction in the sequence of (d)-(k)-(l)-(a). In this process, the wash 21 is raised by the beater 31 and rotated to perform crumple washing, and at the same time the wash 21 is untwisted and untangled. Then, the reverse rotation of 810° in FIG.4(III) and normal rotation of 450° in FIG.4(II) of drum 11 are repeated several times until the next transfer operation is performed to carry on washing. According to this invention, as described above, raising/dropping of the wash 21 by the scoop is combined with the oscillation to effectively perform both crumple washing and beat washing, which improves the washing property about 10% as compared with the conventional method as shown in FIG.5. This means that the washing time is shortened, resulting in higher productivity as compared with the conventional machine. When washing is performed by rotating in one direction, particularly a long wash such as sheets is twisted or tangled in the vessel, which requires much manpower for disentangling. This invention provides a method in which twisting and tangling do not occur and which has a high washing ratio. A continuous washing machine which carries out the second method of this invention will be described with reference to FIGS.11 through 14. FIG.11 is a schematic view of the continuous mashing machine, and FIGS.12 through 14 show the operation of the drum. The constitution of the continuous washing machine will be described with reference to FIG.11. In FIG.11, reference numeral 51 denotes a washing drum. The washing drum 51 is divided into four vessels (chambers) 53, 54, 55, 56 by partitions 52. At the first vessel 53, a charge port 58 for wash 57 is disposed. The first partition 52 between the first vessel 53 and the second vessel 54 is constructed so as to prevent water from flowing from the adjacent vessel. The first partitions between the second vessel 54 and the third vessel 55 and between the third vessel 55 and the fourth vessel 56 has many holes formed to allow water to flow. Prewashing is performed in the first vessel 53 in the washing drum 51, and regular washing is performed in the second vessel 54, the third vessel 55, and the fourth vessel 56. Reference numerals 60, 61, 62 denote fixed drums for supplying/discharging water, supplying a detergent, and heating the washing drum 51. Reference numeral 64 denotes a rinsing drum. This drum 64 is divided into three chambers (vessels) 66, 67, 68 by partitions 65. At the seventh vessel 68, a discharge port 70 for wash 57 is disposed. Reference numerals 71, 72 denote fixed drums for supplying water to and discharging water from the rinsing drum 64. The washing drum 51 and the rinsing drum 64 are formed as a unit and driven by a geared motor 74. A scoop 63 is installed in each vessels 53-56 and 66-68. The scoop 63 is so constructed that it scoops up the wash 57 and sends it to the next vessel toward the discharge port 70 when the washing drum 51 and the rinsing drum 64 rotate in the normal direction, and it scoops up the wash 57 but does not send it to the other vessel when the washing drum 51 and the rinsing drum 64 rotate in the reverse direction. In the figure, reference numeral 76 denotes a recycling tank, 77 denotes rinse water, 78 denotes a water recovery tank, and 79 denotes a water supply tank. The operation of a continuous washing machine constituted as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.12 through 14. FIG.12 shows the operation for oscillation washing, FIG.13 shows the operation for washing by raising/dropping of the wash, and FIG.14 shows the operation for transfer. As shown in FIG.12, when the washing drum 51 and the rinsing drum 64 are rotated in the normal direction from (a) to (b) to (c), and then in the reverse direction from (d) to (e) to (f), crumple washing of the wash 57 is performed by beaters (not shown) installed on the inner surfaces of drums 51, 64 (oscillation washing). In this process, a low mechanical force is applied to the wash 57 for washing. As shown in FIG.13, when the washing drum 51 and the rinsing drum 64 are rotated 360° in the reverse direction in the sequence of (g)-(h)-(i)-(j), the wash 57 on the back side of the scoop 63 is scooped up to a high position in the washing drum 51 and the rinsing drum 64 and then is dropped to perform beat washing (washing by raising/dropping). In this process, a high mechanical force is applied to the wash 57 for washing. As shown in FIG.14, when the washing drum 51 and the rinsing drum 64 are rotated in the normal direction from (k) to (l) to (m), the wash 57 is scooped up by the scoop 63 (k), slides down on the sloping surface of the scoop 63 (l), and is transferred to the next vessel (m) (transfer). On the above-described continuous washing machine, a wash 57, which is thrown into the drum through the charge port 58, is washed in sequence (washing, rinsing) and sent to a dehydrator (not shown) through the discharge port 70 by repeating oscillation washing, washing by raising/dropping, and transfer. FIG.15 is a diagram showing an example of one cycle of the washing process of this invention. First, the oscillation washing shown in FIG.12 (the normal and reverse rotation of 300° of the washing drum 51 and the rinsing drum 64) is repeated three times. Then, the washing by raising/dropping shown in FIG.13 (the reverse rotation of 360° of the washing drum 51 and the rinsing drum 64) is performed once. Then, the oscillation washing shown in FIG.12 is again repeated three times. In one vessel, three cycles of oscillation washing and on cycle of washing by raising/dropping are repeated for a certain washing time. The number of cycles of oscillation washing N is selected appropriately in accordance with the soiled condition, type, etc. of the wash 57. For example, when the wash 57 is heavily soiled, the number of cycles of oscillation washing N is decreased, and the number of cycles of washing by raising/dropping for a certain washing time is increased to remove the soil of wash 57 by means of a high mechanical force. When a wash 57 is made of a weak material, the number of cycles of oscillation washing N is increased, and the number of cycles of washing by raising/dropping for a certain washing time is decreased so that the soil of wash 57 is removed by means of a low mechanical force to reduce the damage to the wash 57. By appropriately determining, as the parameters of washing, the rotating angle of the washing drum 51 and the rinsing drum 64, their rotational speed, and the number of cycles of oscillation washing N, the washing pattern, that is, how many cycles of oscillation washing are performed and then how many cycles of raising/dropping washing are performed in one vessel for a certain washing time, can be set arbitrarily. The washing pattern can be easily changed by changing the parameters. As the number of cycles of oscillation washing N increases, the number of cycles of raising/dropping washing for a certain washing time decreases. Therefore, the mechanical washing force applied to the wash 57 decreases with the increase in the number of cycles of oscillation washing N as shown in FIG.16. Thus, by using the above-described washing method, the mechanical washing force can be selected arbitrarily in accordance with the soiled condition and the material of a wash 57; for example, a heavily soiled wash can be washed by a strong mechanical force, while a wash which may be easily damaged can be washed in such a manner as to prevent the damage. In the above-described washing method, the oscillation washing is performed several times, and then the raising/dropping washing is performed at least once, so that the mechanical washing force can be selected arbitrarily. As a result, washing can be carried out by the optimum mechanical washing force in accordance with the soiled condition and the material of a wash 57. A continuous washing machine which carries out the third method of this invention is the same as that shown in FIG.11, except that the first vessel 53 has an opening 101 connecting to the charge port 58 (charge chute) and part of the opening 101 is blocked by the end face of the scoop 63. The rotation of drum rotates the opening 101, so that the opening area of charge port 58 changes. As shown in FIG.17, the opening area of charge port 58 becomes the maximum where the inclined surface of scoop 63 is approximately at the largest inclined angle. The washing operation of a continuous washing machine constituted as described above will be described with reference to FIG.12. As shown in FIG.12, when the washing drum 51 and the rinsing drum 64 are rotated in the normal direction from (a) to (b) to (c), and then in the reverse direction from (d) to (e) to (f), crumple washing of the wash 57 is performed by beaters (not shown) installed on the inner surfaces of drums 51, 64 (oscillation washing). FIG.18 shows the operation of the drum in transfer. As shown in FIG.18, when the washing drum 51 and the rinsing drum 64 are rotated in the normal direction from (a) to (b), the wash 57 is scooped up by the scoop 63, slides down on the sloping surface of the scoop 63, and is transferred to the next vessel (transfer). From the condition (a), the first vessel 53 begins to be charged with a new wash 57. Since the opening area of the opening 101 and the charge port 58 of the first vessel 53 becomes the maximum between the conditions (a) and (b), the washing drum 51 and the rinsing drum 64 oscillate in a small range (for example, 60°-90°) two or three times in the conditions (c) and (d). During this time, a prewashing fluid from a water supply tank (not shown) flows over the charge port 58 (charge chute). After the small oscillation, the drums rotates in the reverse direction until the condition (e) to become ready for next washing. By the small oscillation of the washing drum 51 and the rinsing drum 64 performed two or three times after the start of charging of wash 57, the condition in which the opening area of the opening 101 and the charge port 58 of the first vessel 53 is the maximum is repeated. Therefore, a wash can surely be thrown into the first vessel 53 even when a wash is sent sequentially irrespective of its bulk shape, type, size, etc. Also, there is no need for stopping the rotation of the washing drum 51 and the rinsing drum 64 when a wash is thrown into the vessel, which prevents the decrease in the efficiency of washing. It is also possible to automatically continue the small oscillation until a not-thrown wash is absent by installing a sensor for detecting the presence of a not-thrown wash using a photoelectric tube or the like at the inlet of charge chute to the first vessel 53. When the small oscillation is continued for a long period of time, an alarm tells the operator that a wash is not thrown in. On the above-described continuous washing machine, a wash 57 thrown through the charge port 58 is washed sequentially (washing, rinsing) by repeating the oscillation washing and the transfer including the charge of wash 57, and sent to a dehydrator (not shown) through the discharge port 70. By using the above-described transfer method, the condition in which the opening area of the opening 101 and the charge port 58 of the first vessel 53 becomes the maximum is repeated when a wash is thrown into the vessel, so that the wash can be surely thrown into the vessel irrespective of its bulk shape, type, size, etc. With this method, the condition in which the opening area of the opening 101 and the charge port 58 of the first vessel 53 becomes the maximum is repeated when a wash is thrown into the vessel, since the drums are oscillated several times immediately after the rotation of drum accompanying with the transfer of wash. As a result, a wash sent sequentially can be surely thrown into the first vessel irrespective of its bulk shape, type, size, etc., and the wash is not twisted, tangled or torn by the scoop. The fourth method of this invention will be described below. A continuous washing machine used in this method is shown in FIG.19. On this washing machine, a drain discharge pipe 125 and an air cylinder 127 are disposed at a drain box 105 in addition to a drain box 102, whereas on the publicly known washing machine as shown in FIG.22, they are disposed at the drain box 102 only. The conventional continuous washing machine will be described with reference to FIGS.22 through 26. Reference numeral 101 denotes a drum. The drum is a cylindrical rotating vessel for washing a wash 110. At each end of the drum, an inlet port for supplying a wash 110 and an outlet port for discharging the wash 110, respectively. On the outside of the drum 101, a drain box 105 at the boundary between a rinsing zone and a regular washing zone, a drain box 102 at the boundary between the regular washing zone and a prewashing zone, and heating boxes 103, 104 are fixed to a not illustrated frame. Reference numerals 106, 107 are partitions. The partition 106 is welded to the inside of the drum 101 in a spiral form. The prewashing zone X, the boundary vessel between the prewashing zone and the regular washing zone Y, and the boundary vessel between the regular washing zone Y and the rinsing zone Z are formed by a partition 106 constructed so that water is prevented from flowing to the adjacent vessel. The partition 107 disposed in other vessels has many holes 108 for washing water to pass through as shown in FIG.23. A washing fluid 109 in the drum 101 flows in the direction opposite to or same as the direction of the wash 110 through these holes 108. In FIG.23, reference numeral 111 denotes a lip seal, which is installed to provide sealing between the drum 101, which rotates, and the drain box 102, 105, and the heating box 103, 104. Normally, the lip seal 111 is fixed to the fixed side of drain box 102, 105 and the heating box 103, 104 with bolts. The lip seal 111 is made of India rubber, whose elastic force prevents the leakage of washing fluid 109. In FIG.22, reference numeral 115 denotes an immersion water tank. At the same time when a wash 110 is supplied into the drum 101, immersion water is supplied from the immersion water tank 115 and wets a wash 110 in a short period of time to facilitate the removal of soil. Reference numeral 116 denotes a recycling tank. Rinse water 120 is supplied into the drum through a rotary joint 118. The rinse water, after rinsing the wash 110, overflows from a water level regulating pipe 121, which is attached to the drain box 105 and whose height is adjustable, to keep the water level in the rotating drum 101 constant. The rinse water is stored in the recycling tank 116. Reference numeral 117 denotes a water recovery tank. This tank stores the washing fluid 109 discharged from the rotating drum 101 together with the wash 110 which has been washed. From this tank, a certain amount of washing fluid is supplied to the immersion water tank 115 via a pump 171. At the same time, a certain amount of washing fluid 109 is supplied from the recycling tank 116 by means of a pump 161. Reference numeral 122 is a regular washing water supply pipe. Normally, a certain amount of washing fluid 109 is supplied from the recycling tank 116 to the heating box 104 through this supply pipe 122 by means of a pump 162. At this time, a valve 124 is closed which is installed to the water level regulating pipe 123, whose height is adjustable and which is attached to the heating box 104 (refer to FIG.22). The washing fluid 109 supplied through the supply pipe 122 flows in the direction opposite to the wash 110 and drained to the outside of drum 101 through a water level regulating pipe 126, whose height is adjustable and which is attached to the drain box 102. Normally, a valve 128 is open, so that the washing fluid 109 supplied to the heating box 104 is drained. Reference numeral 125 denotes a drain water discharge pipe, which is fixed to the drain box 102 and discharges the soil deposited at the bottom of the drain box 102 by the operation of air cylinder 127. The air cylinder 127 is constructed so as to close the passage after it is operated for a certain time by a not illustrated timer (refer to FIG.24). Reference numeral 131 denotes a washing fluid supply pipe, which supplies a washing fluid according to the information from the drain box 102. The washing fluid is supplied in a certain amount normally from the recovery tank 117 or from a not illustrated warm water tank by means of a not illustrated pump. Reference numeral 135 denotes a recycling tank drain water valve, which is used to drain the water in the recycling tank after a wash whose color easily comes off has been treated. Reference numeral 136 denotes a fresh water supply pipe for regular washing, which is a water source used when the water in the recycling tank 116 cannot be used. Reference numeral 140 denotes a charge port of a wash. The operation of the machine constituted as described above is performed as follows: After a wash is thrown into the drum through the charge port, a rotating body 114 oscillates about 450° in the normal and reverse directions for a certain period of time, and then rotates 360° to transfer the wash to the next rotating vessel. After the rotation, washing is performed by transferring the wash from the prewashing zone X to the regular washing zone Y to rinsing zone Z while being oscillated about 450° in the normal and reverse directions as described above (refer to FUG.26). In the drain box 102, the drain water in the box is discharged, and washing water is supplied again to enhance the washing property and the rinsing property. As described above, when the water in the drain box is discharged, the water level lowers. As a result, the wash is raised high when the water level is low as shown in FIG.28 which shows the relation between water level and raised height of the wash. As shown in FIG.27, a wash 110 is raised up to a higher position in the drum than the case with the normal water level, and then drops in the drum with low water level h. Therefore, the wash is subjected to a strong shock, resulting in ease of damage. The present invention provides a washing method by a continuous washing machine which solves the above problem. On a washing machine shown in FIG.19, a drain discharge pipe 125 and an air cylinder 127 are disposed at a drain box 105 in addition to a drain box 102, whereas on the publicly known washing machine as shown in FIG.22, they are disposed at the drain box 102 only. In FIG.19, the sectional view of the drain box and the sectional views taken along the plane of line B-B and line C-C are the same as FIGS.23, 24, and 25. Next, the operation of the above-described constitution will be described. The rotating body transfers a wash from the inlet port to the outlet port while repeating the oscillation in the normal and reverse directions at an angle shown in FIG.20. In FIG.20, the rotating body rotates 450° in the normal direction [(1) in the figure], and then rotates by the same angle in the reverse direction [(2) in the figure]. This motion is repeated. Next, the rotating body rotates 450° in the normal direction and further rotates 360° [(3) in the figure] to trnasfer the wash to the next rotating vessel. Then, the air cylinder 127 is operated to discharge the washing water in the drain box 102, 105 via the drain water discharge pipe 125. The rotating body rotates 450° in the reverse direction as indicated (4) in the figure and further rotates 100° in the normal direction. This normal rotation of 100° is performed to adjust the position of holes 108 made in the rotating body 114 and the partition 107 to let washing water to flow. Until the drain water in the drain boxes 102, 105 is discharged and a specified amount of washing water is supplied via the washing water supply pipe 131, the rotating body is oscillated by an angle determined from the relation with the water level shown in FIG.21, 90° in this embodiment, [(5) in the figure] in the normal and reverse directions. By this oscillation angle, the wash drops at a smaller angle than usual as shown in FIG.21. Needless to say, the oscillation angle differs depending on the type, charge amount, etc. of the wash. Even if washing is performed with a small oscillation angle for a specified time, proper selection of the temperature of washing fluid, the concentration of detergent, etc. does not reduce the washing effect and prevents the wash from being damaged. Although a connect-type washing machine having a spiral-shaped partition has been described in this embodiment, the present invention can be applied to a machine in which vessels are divided individually, and the wash is transferred with a scoop. With the washing method of this invention, the oscillation angle is smaller than the usual angle until the drain water in the drain box is discharged and fresh washing water is supplied. This decreases the distance through which a wash drops in the drum, preventing the wash from being damaged.

Claims: A washing method by a continuous washing machine comprising a drum (11) having a charge port (58) of a wash at one end and a discharge port (76) thereof at the other end, partitions (30, 30') for dividing said drum into a plurality of chambers, and a scoop (14) for scooping up said wash with the rotation of said drum and sequentially transferring it from a chamber on the side of charge port (58) to a chamber on the side of discharge port (76), in which the normal rotation of said drum without transfer in the transfer direction and the reverse rotation without transfer are repeated several times to oscillate said wash several times characterized in that said drum (11) is rotated 270° to 450° without transfer in the transfer direction for crumbling washing and rotated 270° to 450° plus 360° or more in the non-transfer direction for beat washing effected by when said wash is raised by and dropped from the back side of the scoop (14), whereby washing is carried out by the combination of several oscillating motions and at least are raising/dropping motion within a chamber before said wash (21) is transferred to a neighboring chamber.

Inventors: ASAOKA HIROYUKI, HAGIWARA HARUO, HATTORI TOSHIO, HAYASHI SHOICHI, ISHIHARA HIDETOSHI, UEDA ATSUSHI, ASAOKA, HIROYUKI, HAGIWARA, HARUO, HATTORI, TOSHIO, HAYASHI, SHOICHI, ISHIHARA, HIDETOSHI, UEDA, ATSUSHI, ASAOKA, HIROYUKI, NAGOYA MACH.WORKS MITSUBISHI, HAGIWARA, HARUO, NAGOYA MACH.WORKS MITSUBISHI, HATTORI, TOSHIO, NAGOYA TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, HAYASHI, SHOICHI, NAGOYA MACH.WORKS MITSUBISHI, ISHIHARA, HIDETOSHI, NAGOYA MACH.WORKS MITSUBISHI, UEDA, ATSUSHI, NAGOYA MACH.WORKS MITSUBISHI
Applicants: MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD, MITSUBISHI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1992
Main classification: D06F31
IPC codes: D06F31