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US 6,311,527 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for containing and agitating the contents of a container
AssigneeNotetry Limited
InventorsAndré Fraser Monteiro, Geoffrey Michael Burlington, Simon Paul Wells
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides an apparatus comprising a drum for containing and agitating an article, wherein the drum comprises at least two rotatable drum portions in rotatable connection with one another, a rotator member in connection with each rotatable drum portion for rotating the drum portion about an axis. The apparatus is preferably a washing machine, and the method of operating the apparatus comprises inserting at least one article, preferably a plurality of articles, into the drum; and rotating each rotatable drum portion independently of one another to agitate the article or articles.
Claims51
An apparatus comprising:
- a drum for containing and agitating an article, wherein the drum comprises at least two rotatable drum portions in rotatable connection with one another;
- a rotator member in connection with each rotatable drum portion for rotating the drum portion about an axis, with at least one of the rotatable drum portion having at least one port for intake or exhaust of a liquid to or from an area internal to the drum;
- and
- a drive in connection with each rotator member, wherein the drive is connected to a controller capable of controlling the rotatable drum portions to rotate at different speeds in the same direction.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a drum for containing and agitating an article, wherein the drum comprises at least two rotatable drum portions in rotatable connection with one another;
- a rotator member in connection with each rotatable drum portions for rotating the drum portion about an axis, with at least one of the rotatable drum portions having at least one port for intake or exhaust of a liquid to or from an area internal to the drum;
- and
- a drive in connection with each rotator member, wherein the drive is connected to a controller capable of controlling the rotatable drum portions to rotate at different speeds in opposite directions.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a drum for containing and agitating an article, wherein the drum comprises at least two rotatable drum portions in rotatable connection with one another;
- a rotator member in connection with each rotatable drum portion for rotating the drum portion about an axis, with at least one of the rotatable drum portions having at least one port for intake or exhaust of a liquid to or from an area internal to the drum;
- and
- a drive in connection with each rotator member, wherein the drive comprises a motor connected to a coupler, with a controller connected to the motor to control speed and directional rotation of the rotatable drum portions.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a drum for containing and agitating an article, wherein the drum comprises at least two rotatable drum portions in rotatable connection with one another, with a first of the rotatable drum portions being located inside a second rotatable drum portion;
- and
- a rotator member in connection with each rotatable drum portion for rotating the drum portion about an axis, with at least one of the rotatable drum portions having at least one port for intake or exhaust of a liquid to or from an area internal to the drum.
An apparatus comprising:
- a drum for containing and agitating an article, wherein the drum comprises at least two rotatable drum portions in rotatable connection with one another;
- and
- a rotator member in connection with each rotatable drum portion for rotating the drum portion about an axis, with at least one of the rotatable drum portions having at least one port for intake or exhaust of a liquid to or from an area internal to the drum, wherein at least one of the rotatable drum portions comprises a plurality of paddles within an interior area of the drum portion, with each paddle being shaped so that the height thereof decreases continuously over at least one third of the length of the paddle, measured in a direction parallel to the axis of the rotatable drum portion.
An apparatus comprising:
- a drum for containing and agitating an article, wherein the drum comprises at least two rotatable drum portions in rotatable connection with one another;
- and
- a rotator member in connection with each rotatable drum portion for rotating the drum portion about an axis, with at least one of the rotatable drum portions having at least one port for intake or exhaust of a liquid to or from an area internal to the drum, wherein at least one of the rotatable drum portions comprises a plurality of paddles within an interior area of the drum portion, with each paddle having a distal edge that is arcuate over at least one third of the length thereof, measured in a direction parallel to the axis of the rotatable drum portion.
A washing machine comprising:
- a drum for containing and agitating an article of clothing, wherein the drum comprises at least two rotatable drum portions in rotatable connection with one another;
- a rotator member in connection with each rotatable drum portion for rotating the drum portion about an axis;
- and
- a drive in connection with each rotator member, wherein the drive comprises a controller capable of controlling adjacent rotatable drum portions to rotate at different speeds in the same direction.
1 more element
A washing machine comprising:
- a drum for containing and agitating an article of clothing, wherein the drum comprises at least two rotatable drum portions in rotatable connection with one another;
- a rotator member in connection with each rotatable drum portion for rotating the drum portion about an axis;
- and
- a drive in connection with each rotator member, wherein the drive comprises a controller capable of controlling adjacent rotatable drum portions to rotate at different speeds in opposite directions.
1 more element
A washing machine comprising:
- a drum for containing and agitating an article of clothing, wherein the drum comprises at least two rotatable drum portions in rotatable connection with one another;
- a rotator member in connection with each rotatable drum portion for rotating the drum portion about an axis;
- and
- a drive in connection with each rotator member, wherein the drive comprises a motor connected to a coupler, and a controller connected to the motor to control speed and directional rotation of the rotatable drum portions.
1 more element
A washing machine comprising:
- a drum for containing and agitating an article of clothing, wherein the drum comprises at least two rotatable drum portions in rotatable connection with one another;
- and
- a rotator member in connection with each rotatable drum portion for rotating the drum portion about an axis, wherein a first of the rotatable drum portions is located inside a second rotatable drum portion.
A washing machine comprising:
- a drum for containing and agitating an article of clothing, wherein the drum comprises at least two rotatable drum portions in rotatable connection with one another;
- and
- a rotator member in connection with each rotatable drum portion for rotating the drum portion about an axis, with at least one of the rotatable drum portions comprising a plurality of paddles within an interior area of the drum portion, each paddle being shaped so that the height thereof decreases continuously over at least one third of the length of the paddle, measured in a direction parallel to the axis of the rotatable drum portion.
An apparatus comprising:
- a drum for containing and agitating an article, the drum comprising at least two rotatable drum portions in rotatable connection with one another, wherein one of the rotatable drum portions has an end wall attached thereto, another of the rotatable drum portions has an end wall with an opening therein for inserting the article into the drum, and one of the rotatable drum portions is located inside another rotatable drum portion;
- and
- a rotator member in connection with each rotatable drum portion for rotating the drum portion about an axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.