Washing machine

Abstract

The washing machine functions according to a new principle and contains the washable items, particularly washable textiles, in stacked layers in a mesh cage which is fixed in position at a drum rotatably mounted in a casing. Wash water as well as drying air flows through the preferably stationary or slowly rotating drum containing the washable items, is pumped off at an outlet of the casing, and returns again by way of a recirculation pipe to an inlet of the casing. Intermittent rotation of the drum, for example, by 180.degree., is also possible. In this manner, the wash water or drying air passes through the washable items first from one side and then from the opposite side. All switching procedures are electronically controlled according to a preselected program schedule. The washable items no longer can be damaged by catching on the drum, the wash cycle is more effective and thus shorter than before, and electric energy and chemicals are saved.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.