Patent Description:
Recent years have seen a widespread service called "linen supply", which is a service of providing customers with linen products such as bed sheets, towels, and nightgowns. A linen supplier lends linen products that they have bought to customers such as hotels and hospitals, collects the linen products that the customers have used, washes the linen products, and then lends the linen products again to customers.

Linen products are known to be washed in, for example, a washing machine including a drum. Such a washing machine is configured to receive linen products in the drum and wash the linen products while rotating the drum in a single direction. Suppose a case where a long linen product such as a bed sheet is washed in such a washing machine, spin-dried through high-speed rotation of the drum, and then taken out of the drum. The linen product is, in this case, dried while it is entangled. This is because washing a long linen product such as a bed sheet in particular causes the linen product to become entangled in a complicated manner as a result of rolling in a single direction inside the washing compartment of the drum. This unfortunately makes it difficult to take the dried linen product out of the drum.

Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a washing machine that, in order to prevent linen products from becoming entangled during a washing operation, includes a cylindrical drum having a rotary shaft and containing a disk-shaped partition plate integral with the rotary shaft so that the drum and the partition plate are rotated together. The drum of the washing machine has an internal space divided by the partition plate into two washing compartments each configured to receive laundry. The drum is rotated in a single direction to wash the laundry.

Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a continuous washing machine including a plurality of washing drums and rinsing drums connected to one another. Each washing drum is configured to receive laundry and swing-wash the laundry, that is, repeat the following operation three times: the drum is rotated in a positive direction from <NUM>° to <NUM>° and then in a negative direction from <NUM>° to <NUM>°. The drum is then rotated from <NUM>° to <NUM>° to scoop up the laundry with use of a scoop member to a high position to let the laundry fall down and be thus beat-washed.

<CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> relate to prior Art washing machines.

Washing laundry in the washing machine disclosed in Patent Literature <NUM> allows the laundry to be less entangled than in a case of washing laundry in a drum containing no partition plate for dividing the internal space. This in turn allows dried laundry to be taken out of the drum relatively easily. The washing machine, however, still leaves laundry entangled, and fails to fully solve the issue of a long time period being required to take laundry out of the drum. The washing machine disclosed in Patent Literature <NUM> performs swing-washing and then beat-washing. The washing machine thus performs only a small number of beat-washing operations, and unfortunately fails to remove stains sufficiently.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention has an object of providing a washing machine including a drum for receiving laundry which washing machine not only prevents the laundry from becoming entangled in a complicated manner when the drum is rotated, but also beat-washes the laundry sufficiently.

A first aspect of the present invention includes:.

A second aspect of the present invention is based on the first aspect of the present invention and is further arranged such that
the partition plate is configured to be rotated further in the second direction to an angle that allows a second wash as a portion of the laundry in the second washing compartment to be scooped up from the cleaning fluid with use of the first end of the partition plate and slip down along the partition plate and then in the first direction to an angle that allows the second wash to be scooped up from the cleaning fluid with use of the second end of the partition plate again and slip down along the partition plate.

A third aspect of the present invention is based on the first or second aspect of the present invention and is further arranged such that
the partition plate is provided with a plurality of ribs parallel to a direction in which the laundry slips down.

The first aspect increases the rotation angle of the partition plate to an angle that allows a wash scooped up by the partition plate to slip down over the surface of the partition plate. The wash does not roll when slipping down over the surface of the partition plate. This prevents the wash from becoming much entangled, and thereby allows a dried wash to be taken out of the drum easily. The wash taken out can be disentangled easily. This improves the work efficiency of the worker. Further, the partition plate is rotated until a wash slips down. This allows the wash to fall from a high position, increasing the cleaning effect of the beat-washing.

The second aspect allows two washes in respective two washing compartments of the drum to alternately slip down over the surface of the partition plate. This allows the two washes to be beat-washed alternately without becoming entangled with each other.

The third aspect reduces the area of contact between a wash and the partition plate. This allows a wash to easily slip over the surface of the partition plate and be beat-washed with an increased cleaning effect. Further, the third aspect prevents a wash from easily rolling over the surface of the partition plate, and thereby prevents a wash from becoming entangled easily.

The description below deals with an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

<FIG> is a vertical cross-sectional view of a washing machine <NUM> as an embodiment of the present invention, the view being taken along a front-back line extending through the center of the washing machine <NUM>. <FIG> provides front views of an outer barrel <NUM> and a drum <NUM> both included in the washing machine <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. More specifically, <FIG> is a view of the outer barrel <NUM> and the drum <NUM> as containing cleaning fluid <NUM> poured therein, and <FIG> is a view of the outer barrel <NUM> and the drum <NUM> with their respective lids <NUM> and <NUM> open.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the washing machine <NUM> includes a housing <NUM>, an outer barrel <NUM> present inside the housing <NUM> and having a cylindrical shape, and a drum <NUM> (inner barrel) present inside the outer barrel <NUM> and having a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical outer barrel <NUM> and drum <NUM> are oriented substantially horizontally inside the housing <NUM>. The washing machine <NUM> further includes suspension springs <NUM> attached to the upper surface of the outer barrel <NUM> and dampers <NUM> attached to the lower surface of the outer barrel <NUM>. The outer barrel <NUM> is supported by the housing <NUM> by means of the suspension springs <NUM> and the dampers <NUM> in a vibration-isolating manner. The washing machine <NUM> further includes a rotary shaft <NUM> extending from a back surface side of the washing machine <NUM> to the center of the back surface of the drum <NUM>. The rotary shaft <NUM> has a first end rotatably supported by a bearing <NUM> on the outer barrel <NUM> and a second end fixed to a central portion of the back surface of the drum <NUM>. With this configuration, rotating the rotary shaft <NUM> also rotates the drum <NUM>.

The drum <NUM> contains a rectangular partition plate <NUM> fitted therein and oriented along a line of the diameter of the drum <NUM> which line extends through the rotary shaft <NUM>. The partition plate <NUM> is not illustrated in <FIG> as it coincides with the cross section of the drum <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the partition plate <NUM> is oriented along a center line of the drum <NUM>, and has two lengthwise sides fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> in such a manner as to be in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the drum <NUM>. The partition plate <NUM> is thus rotated integrally with the drum <NUM>, and has a rotation angle constantly equal to that of the drum <NUM>. The partition plate <NUM> divides the internal space of the drum <NUM> into two equally sized washing compartments.

The washing machine <NUM> includes a motor <NUM> and a pump <NUM> outside the housing <NUM>. The motor <NUM> is connected to the first end of the rotary shaft <NUM> via a belt <NUM> attached to the first end. Rotation of the motor <NUM> also rotates the rotary shaft <NUM>. Controlling the direction of the rotation of the motor <NUM> allows the drum <NUM> and the partition plate <NUM> to be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise. Controlling the time period of the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the motor <NUM> controls the respective rotation angles of the drum <NUM> and the partition plate <NUM>. The washing machine <NUM> includes control circuitry <NUM> connected to the motor <NUM> and configured to control the rotation direction and rotation time period of the motor <NUM>.

The pump <NUM> is provided with (i) a pipe connected to a tank (not shown in the drawings) in which cleaning fluid <NUM> is stored and (ii) a pipe <NUM> configured to supply the cleaning fluid <NUM> into the outer barrel <NUM>. Activating the pump <NUM> causes the cleaning fluid <NUM> to be supplied from the tank through the pump <NUM> and the pipe <NUM> into the outer barrel <NUM>.

The side portion of the drum <NUM> and the partition plate <NUM> both have a larger number of small holes (not shown in the drawings). This allows cleaning fluid <NUM> supplied into the outer barrel <NUM> to (i) be supplied into the drum <NUM> as well through the small holes in the side portion of the drum <NUM> and (ii) flow from one washing compartment to the other through the small holes in the partition plate <NUM>. This in turn allows cleaning fluid <NUM> supplied into the outer barrel <NUM> to have a constant level not only while the drum <NUM> is at rest but also while the drum <NUM> is rotating.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the washing machine <NUM> includes a lid <NUM> attached to a front portion of the outer barrel <NUM> and a lid <NUM> attached to a front portion of the drum <NUM>. The lids <NUM> and <NUM> are each openable to allow laundry to be brought into and taken out of the drum <NUM>. To put laundry into the drum <NUM>, the user first opens the lid <NUM> of the outer barrel <NUM> and then opens the lid <NUM> of the drum <NUM> while the drum <NUM> is at rest with the partition plate <NUM> vertical as illustrated in <FIG>. Next, the user divides the laundry into two substantially equal amounts, and puts one into the left one of the washing compartments (separated by the partition plate <NUM>) and the other into the right washing compartment. The user then sequentially closes the lid <NUM> of the drum <NUM> and the lid <NUM> of the outer barrel <NUM>. To take the laundry out of the drum <NUM>, the user opens and closes the lids <NUM> and <NUM> similarly.

The partition plate <NUM> preferably has a surface processed so that laundry impregnated with cleaning fluid <NUM> slips on it easily. The washing machine <NUM> is arranged to beat-wash laundry: when the drum <NUM> is rotated, the laundry slips down over the surface of the partition plate <NUM> to be slammed on the inner circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> or the liquid surface (detailed later). If the partition plate <NUM> has a slippery surface, the laundry will slip down at a higher speed. This allows laundry to be slammed strongly on the inner circumferential surface or the liquid surface for an increased cleaning effect.

<FIG> provides a plan view and cross-sectional view of a partition plate <NUM> provided with ribs <NUM>. The partition plate <NUM> is, as illustrated in <FIG>, provided with a plurality of ribs <NUM> extending parallel to one another from a first end of the partition plate <NUM> to a second end thereof in a direction in which laundry slips down when the drum <NUM> has been rotated. The ribs <NUM> each have, for example, a convex, trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. This causes laundry to be in contact with the partition plate <NUM> over a smaller area, and thereby allows the laundry to easily slip down over the surface of the partition plate <NUM>. This in turn allows laundry to slip down at a higher speed to be slammed strongly on the drum <NUM> or the liquid surface for an increased cleaning effect. Further, the above arrangement allows laundry to slip on the partition plate <NUM> along the ribs <NUM>, and prevents laundry from easily rolling down and from easily becoming entangled when slipping down. The ribs <NUM> also strengthen the partition plate <NUM>. The ribs <NUM> each have a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape. The ribs <NUM> are optional.

The washing machine <NUM> as the present embodiment is arranged such that rotating the drum <NUM> by an angle rotates the partition plate <NUM> (which is fixed to the drum <NUM>) by the same angle. The present specification refers to the angle formed by the partition plate <NUM> and the vertical direction to express the rotation angle of the partition plate <NUM>. <FIG> provides diagrams each illustrating the rotation angle of the drum <NUM> in terms of the position of the partition plate <NUM>. More specifically, <FIG> is a diagram illustrating where the partition plate <NUM> is positioned when the rotation angle is +<NUM>°, and <FIG> is a diagram illustrating where the partition plate <NUM> is positioned when the rotation angle is -<NUM>°. As illustrated in <FIG>, the present specification designates the position of the lowermost portion of the drum <NUM> as corresponding to a rotation angle of <NUM>° and the position of the uppermost portion of the drum <NUM> as corresponding to a rotation angle of ±<NUM>°. The present specification also designates the counterclockwise direction from the lowermost portion as a positive rotation direction with each rotation angle indicated with a plus sign and the clockwise direction from the lowermost portion as a negative rotation direction with each rotation angle indicated with a minus sign. In view of that, <FIG> shows a number for each angle at every <NUM> degrees from the lowermost portion to the uppermost portion with a plus (+) sign for each angle to the right of the position corresponding to <NUM>° and a minus (-) sign for each angle to the left of the position corresponding to <NUM>°. <FIG> illustrates the partition plate <NUM> as being oriented to have an end 40a (which is a predetermine one of the opposite ends 40a and 40b) at a position corresponding to +<NUM>°. The partition plate <NUM>, in this case, has a rotation angle of +<NUM>°. <FIG> illustrates the end 40a as being at a position corresponding to -<NUM>°. The partition plate <NUM>, in this case, has a rotation angle of -<NUM>° similarly.

When the end 40a of the partition plate <NUM> is at the position corresponding to +<NUM>° as illustrated in <FIG>, the partition plate <NUM> and the drum <NUM> are each regarded as having a rotation angle of +<NUM>°. When the end 40a is at the position corresponding to -<NUM>° as illustrated in <FIG>, the partition plate <NUM> and the drum <NUM> are each regarded as having a rotation angle of -<NUM>°.

<FIG> each provide diagrams illustrating a change in the relationship between the position of the end 40a of the partition plate <NUM> and the respective positions of a wash (laundry) 80a and a wash 80b. The user first divides laundry into two equal amounts (washes 80a and 80b), and opens the respective lids <NUM> and <NUM> of the outer barrel <NUM> and the drum <NUM>. The user then puts the washes 80a and 80b respectively into the two washing compartments separated by the partition plate <NUM>, and selects conditions such as a washing time period. Next, the user activates the pump <NUM> to pour cleaning fluid <NUM> into the outer barrel <NUM>. The cleaning fluid <NUM> poured therein flows into the drum <NUM> as well through small holes. The washing machine <NUM> automatically stops cleaning fluid <NUM> from being poured when the cleaning fluid <NUM> in the outer barrel <NUM> and the drum <NUM> has reached a predetermined level.

The washes 80a and 80b in the respective washing compartments are immersed in the cleaning fluid <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, as the partition plate <NUM> is oriented at the angle of <NUM>° whenever a washing operation ends and the drum <NUM> stops its rotation.

The washing machine <NUM> then rotates the partition plate <NUM> counterclockwise so that its rotation angle changes from <NUM>° to +<NUM>° as illustrated in <FIG>. As mentioned above with reference to <FIG>, the description below expresses a rotation angle in terms of the position of the end 40a of the partition plate <NUM>. When the partition plate <NUM> starts counterclockwise rotation, the end 40a of the partition plate <NUM> starts to move upward, whereas the other end 40b starts to move downward. This causes the wash 80a to be scooped up from the cleaning fluid <NUM> by the end 40a of the partition plate <NUM>. As the rotation angle becomes close to <NUM>° as illustrated in <FIG>, the wash 80a slips down over the surface of the partition plate <NUM> from the end 40a toward the end 40b, and is slammed on the inner circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> or the liquid surface of the cleaning fluid <NUM>. This allows the wash 80a to be beat-washed.

After the rotation angle of the partition plate <NUM> reaches +<NUM>°, the drum <NUM> reverses the direction of its rotation from counterclockwise to clockwise as illustrated in <FIG>. When the drum <NUM> starts clockwise rotation, the end 40b starts to move upward, whereas the end 40a starts to move downward. This causes the wash 80a beat-washed as above to be scooped up again by the end 40b as illustrated in <FIG>. As the rotation angle of the partition plate <NUM> becomes close to +<NUM>° as illustrated in <FIG>, the wash 80a slips down over the surface of the partition plate <NUM> from the end 40b toward the end 40a, and is slammed on the inner circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> or the liquid surface of the cleaning fluid <NUM>. This allows the wash 80a to be beat-washed again. While the wash 80a is repeatedly scooped up and beat-washed as described above, the wash 80b remains immersed in the cleaning fluid <NUM>, so that stains thereon are decomposed through action of an enzyme(s) contained in the cleaning fluid <NUM>.

The partition plate <NUM> continues its clockwise rotation as illustrated in <FIG>. The end 40a moves past the position corresponding to <NUM>°, and starts to move upward whereas the end 40b starts to move downward. This causes the wash 80b to be scooped up by the end 40a as illustrated in <FIG>. As the rotation angle of the partition plate <NUM> becomes close to -<NUM>° as illustrated in <FIG>, the wash 80b slips down over the surface of the partition plate <NUM> from the end 40a toward the end 40b, and is slammed on the inner circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> or the liquid surface of the cleaning fluid <NUM>. This allows the wash 80b to be beat-washed.

The partition plate <NUM> reverses the direction of its rotation from clockwise to counterclockwise as illustrated in <FIG>. The end 40a starts to move downward, whereas the end 40b starts to move upward as illustrated in <FIG>. This causes the wash 80b beat-washed as above to be scooped up again by the end 40b. As the rotation angle of the partition plate <NUM> becomes close to -<NUM>° as illustrated in <FIG>, the wash 80b slips down over the surface of the partition plate <NUM> from the end 40b toward the end 40a, and is slammed on the inner circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> or the liquid surface of the cleaning fluid <NUM>. This allows the wash 80b to be beat-washed again. While the wash 80b is repeatedly scooped up and beat-washed as described above, the wash 80a remains immersed in the cleaning fluid <NUM>, so that stains thereon are decomposed through action of an enzyme(s) contained in the cleaning fluid <NUM>.

The partition plate <NUM> continues its counterclockwise rotation as illustrated in <FIG>. When the rotation angle of the partition plate <NUM> starts to become larger than <NUM>°, the end 40a starts to move upward, whereas the end 40b starts to move downward. This causes the wash 80a to be scooped up by the end 40a as illustrated in <FIG>. As the rotation angle of the partition plate <NUM> becomes close to +<NUM>° as illustrated in <FIG>, the wash 80a slips down over the surface of the partition plate <NUM> from the end 40a toward the end 40b, and is slammed on the inner circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> or the liquid surface of the cleaning fluid <NUM>. This allows the wash 80b to be beat-washed. After that, the partition plate <NUM> will reverse the direction of its rotation from counterclockwise to clockwise. This state is identical to the above-described state illustrated in <FIG>. The washing machine <NUM> will then repeat the operations illustrated in <FIG>. Overall, the partition plate <NUM> is rotated clockwise once and counterclockwise once to transition from the state illustrated in <FIG> to the state illustrated in <FIG> to allows each of the washes 80a and 80b to be beat-washed twice.

<FIG> is a graph that shows how the rotation angle of the partition plate <NUM> changes over time. The partition plate <NUM> is rotated as shown in <FIG>. Specifically, the partition plate <NUM>, which is first at rest, starts rotation. The partition plate <NUM> is first rotated counterclockwise so that its rotation angle changes from <NUM>° to +<NUM>°, and is then rotated clockwise so that its rotation angle returns to <NUM>°. This allows a wash 80a to be beat-washed twice. Further, the partition plate <NUM> is rotated clockwise so that its rotation angle changes from <NUM>° to -<NUM>°, and is then rotated counterclockwise so that its rotation angle returns to <NUM>°. This allows a wash 80b to be beat-washed twice. The washing machine <NUM> subsequently repeats operations similar to the above, that is, alternately beat-washes the wash 80a twice and beat-washes the wash 80b twice, until a preset time point. The partition plate <NUM> (drum <NUM>) ends its rotation with the rotation angle of <NUM>°. The partition plate <NUM> stops its rotation for a time period of, for example, several seconds when the partition plate <NUM> reverses the direction of its rotation from clockwise to counterclockwise and counterclockwise to clockwise, that is, when the partition plate <NUM> is in each of the respective states illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. This allows each wash having slipped down over the surface of the partition plate <NUM> to be sufficiently immersed in the cleaning fluid <NUM>, and thereby allows stains thereon to be decomposed further through action of an enzyme(s) in the cleaning fluid <NUM>.

The partition plate <NUM> is described above as being rotated counterclockwise first and then clockwise. The partition plate <NUM> may, however, alternatively be rotated clockwise first and then counterclockwise.

The washing machine <NUM> is arranged to rotate the drum <NUM> counterclockwise by <NUM>°, return the drum <NUM> to <NUM>°, and then rotate the drum <NUM> clockwise by <NUM>°. This allows the following operation to be performed twice: scoop up a wash by the partition plate <NUM> and then let the wash slip down along the partition plate <NUM>. Reversing the direction of the rotation of the drum <NUM> causes a wash to slip down along the partition plate <NUM>. This can prevent the wash from becoming much entangled during a washing operation. This in turn allows a dried wash to be easily taken out of the drum <NUM>. The wash taken out of the drum <NUM> is not much entangled, and can thus be disentangled easily, improving the work efficiency of the worker. Further, the washing machine <NUM> is arranged to rotate the drum <NUM> until a wash slips down along the partition plate <NUM>. This allows the wash to slip down from a high position, increasing the cleaning effect of the beat-washing.

The description above has dealt with an example case in which the drum <NUM> (partition plate <NUM>) is rotated within the rotation angle range of +<NUM>° to -<NUM>°. As described above, once a wash has been scooped up by the partition plate <NUM>, the wash slips down over the surface of the partition plate <NUM>, and is slammed on the inner circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> or the liquid surface of the cleaning fluid <NUM>. This allows the wash to be beat-washed. Such beat-washing requires causing the wash scooped up to slip over the surface of the partition plate <NUM>. This in turn requires rotating the partition plate <NUM> past the horizontal direction to have a rotation angle of at least larger than <NUM>° or smaller than -<NUM>°. Rotating the partition plate <NUM> to a rotation angle of larger than +<NUM>° or smaller than -<NUM>° will cause the wash to roll in the drum <NUM> as it slips down over the surface of the partition plate <NUM>, with the result of an entangled wash. In view of that, the washing machine <NUM> as the present embodiment is preferably arranged to rotate the partition plate <NUM> counterclockwise to at least an angle within the range of larger than +<NUM>° and smaller than +<NUM>° and clockwise to at least an angle within the range of smaller than -<NUM>° and larger than -<NUM>° in order to cause a wash to slip down over the surface of the partition plate <NUM>.

Rotating the partition plate <NUM> to a rotation angle of close to +<NUM>° or -<NUM>° within the above range causes a wash to slip down slowly over the surface of the partition plate <NUM> due to the gentle inclination. This prevents the wash from being beat-washed sufficiently. Rotating the partition plate <NUM> to a rotation angle of close to +<NUM>° or -<NUM>° is not exactly efficient because the wash will have already slipped down over the surface of the partition plate <NUM> before the partition plate <NUM> reaches such a rotation angle. Such rotation unfortunately wastes the washing time period and electricity cost.

In view of the above, the washing machine <NUM> is preferably arranged to rotate the partition plate <NUM> counterclockwise to at least (i) an angle within the range of not smaller than +<NUM>° and not larger than +<NUM>° or (ii) an angle within the range of not smaller than -<NUM>° and not larger than -<NUM>° (if based on the position of the end 40b of the partition plate <NUM>, an angle within the range of not smaller than +<NUM>° and not larger than +<NUM>°) and clockwise to at least (i) an angle within the range of not smaller than +<NUM>° and not larger than +<NUM>° (if based on the position of the end 40b of the partition plate <NUM>, an angle within the range of not smaller than -<NUM>° and not larger than -<NUM>°) or (ii) an angle within the range of not smaller than -<NUM>° and not larger than -<NUM>°. This allows a wash scooped up to slip down along the partition plate <NUM> efficiently.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of apparatuses necessary for a linen supplier, the apparatuses including the washing machine described as the present embodiment. As illustrated in <FIG>, the arrangement includes a drying machine <NUM> and a bundling machine <NUM> in addition to the washing machine <NUM>. Linen suppliers have used a continuous washing machine to wash a large amount of laundry in a short time period. A continuous washing machine, which is a large apparatus including two or more washing tubs, requires a large installation area. Linen suppliers have also used an oil hydraulic press to dry washed laundry in a short time period. Thus, washed laundry, which has been compressed through a drying operation in the washing machine, needs to be disentangled before being put into the drying machine. Linen suppliers have needed an apparatus for such disentanglement. Installing a continuous washing machine requires a large area for not only the continuous washing machine itself but also other apparatuses for use around the continuous washing machine as described above. Such installation thus requires a large facility.

The washing machine <NUM> as the present embodiment, in contrast, includes only one drum <NUM>, and is arranged to rotate the drum <NUM> at a high speed to dry laundry. Further, the washing machine <NUM> is, as described above, arranged to wash laundry in such a manner that the laundry does not become entangled easily, and eliminates the need for an apparatus for disentangling dried laundry. These arrangements allow the washing machine <NUM> as the present embodiment to be small in size. In addition, the washing machine <NUM> requires only a small installation area even if installed together with a drying machine <NUM> such as a roller iron and a bundling machine <NUM> configured to fold laundry and bundle a predetermined number of sheets together. There is no need for a dedicated facility: the above apparatuses may be installed in a part of an existing building. The present embodiment thus allows apparatuses necessary for a series of steps ranging from washing to bundling and an area for installation of such apparatuses to be prepared more inexpensively than conventional.

The washing machine <NUM>, the drying machine <NUM>, and the bundling machine <NUM> may be arranged in a U-shape so that workers can be present at the center as illustrated in <FIG>. This allows a series of tasks ranging from washing to bundling to be performed efficiently by fewer workers.

The washing machine <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a drum <NUM> provided with a partition plate <NUM> fixed thereto, the partition plate <NUM> having a rotation angle controlled through control of the time period of the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the motor <NUM> as described above. The rotation angle of the partition plate <NUM> may alternatively be measured and controlled with use of a different device and method as follows: <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of a ring magnet <NUM> and a magnetism detecting element <NUM> both for measuring the rotation angle of the rotary shaft <NUM> of the drum <NUM>. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating, for example, control circuitry <NUM> configured to control the motor <NUM> on the basis of the rotation angle measured by the magnetism detecting element <NUM>. For instance, the ring magnet <NUM> is attached to the outer surface of the rotary shaft <NUM>, whereas the magnetism detecting element <NUM>, which includes a magnetic resistive element (magnetic resistive sensor), is positioned near the ring magnet <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. When the rotation of the rotary shaft <NUM> also rotates the ring magnet <NUM>, the magnetism detecting element <NUM> detects the intensity of the magnetic field by a well-known method, converts the intensity into a voltage value θv, and outputs the voltage value θv to the control circuitry <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>.

The control circuitry <NUM> includes a comparator circuit <NUM> and a motor driving circuit <NUM>. The comparator circuit <NUM> is a well-known comparator, and compares the voltage value θv outputted from the magnetism detecting element <NUM> with a maximum voltage value θmax, which indicates the maximum value of the rotation angle, and with a minimum voltage value θmin, which indicates the minimum value of the rotation angle. If the voltage value θv reaches the maximum voltage value θmax or the minimum voltage value θmin, the comparator circuit <NUM> switches a binary signal and outputs the resulting signal to the motor driving circuit <NUM> to reverse the direction of the rotation of the motor. The motor driving circuit <NUM>, in response, starts rotating the motor <NUM> in the opposite direction on the basis of the binary signal as switched. The maximum voltage value θmax (which corresponds to the maximum value of the rotation angle) is indicated with a voltage generated by a maximum value voltage generating circuit <NUM>, which transmits a signal indicative of the voltage to the comparator circuit <NUM>. The minimum voltage value θmin (which corresponds to the minimum value of the rotation angle) is indicated with a voltage generated by a minimum value voltage generating circuit <NUM>, which transmits a signal indicative of the voltage to the comparator circuit <NUM>. The maximum value voltage generating circuit <NUM> and the minimum value voltage generating circuit <NUM> may alternatively be configured to change the maximum voltage value θmax and the minimum voltage value θmin as necessary. An alternative, publicly known method may be used to measure the rotation angle. Further, alternative, publicly known device and method may be used to detect whether the measured rotation angle has reached the maximum value or the minimum value and reverse the rotation direction.

Claim 1:
A washing machine (<NUM>), comprising:
an outer barrel (<NUM>) having a cylindrical shape and oriented substantially horizontally;
a drum (<NUM>) present inside the outer barrel (<NUM>), having a cylindrical shape, and configured to receive laundry (80a,80b);
cleaning fluid (<NUM>) present in the outer barrel (<NUM>) and the drum (<NUM>);
a rotary shaft (<NUM>) connected to a side surface of the drum (<NUM>) and configured to rotate the drum; and
a partition plate (<NUM>) that is fixed to an inner circumferential surface of the drum (<NUM>) in such a manner as to be in close contact with the inner circumferential surface and that divides an internal space of the drum into a first washing compartment and a second washing compartment, wherein
the washing machine (<NUM>) is configured to rotate the rotary shaft (<NUM>) in such a manner as to rotate the partition plate (<NUM>) alternately in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction to beat-wash the laundry (80a,80b) after the laundry becomes immersed in the cleaning fluid (<NUM>), and
the partition plate (<NUM>) is configured to be rotated in the first direction to an angle that allows a first wash (80a) as a portion of the laundry (80a,80b) in the first washing compartment to be scooped up from the cleaning fluid (<NUM>) with use of a first end (40a) of the partition plate (<NUM>) and slip down along the partition plate and then in the second direction to an angle that allows the first wash (80a) to be scooped up from the cleaning fluid (<NUM>) with use of a second end (40b) of the partition plate (<NUM>) and slip down along the partition plate.