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AssigneeDyson Technology Limited
InventorsMatthew Charles Edward Wilson, Simon Paul Wells, Geoffrey Michael Burlington
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An appliance having a driving mechanism is provided, the appliance (10) comprising two rotatable portions (32, 34) which are rotatable by the driving mechanism (50) about an axis (40). The driving mechanism (50) comprises a gearbox (60) having an input gear (116), two output gears (240, 304) and a locking mechanism (250, 252, 318) movable between a first position and a second position. The arrangement is such that, when the locking mechanism (250, 252, 318) is in the first position and the input gear (116) is driven, both output gears (240, 304) rotate in the same direction and, when the locking mechanism (250, 252, 318) is in the second position and the input gear (116) is driven, the output gears (240, 304) rotate in opposite directions. The arrangement of the axis (40) is horizontal or substantially horizontal. The invention is particularly suitable for use in a front-loading washing machine (10) having a drum (30) comprising two rotatable portions (32, 34). The driving mechanism (50) can be used to selectively cause rotation of the rotatable portions (32, 34) either in the same direction or in opposite directions.
An appliance comprising two rotatable portions and a driving mechanism for rotating the rotatable portions about a horizontal or substantially horizontal axis of rotation, the driving mechanism comprising a gearbox having an input gear, two output gears separate from the input gear each connected to respective rotatable portions and a locking mechanism movable between a first position and a second position, the arrangement of the input gear, the output gears and the locking mechanism being such that, when the locking mechanism is in the first position and the input gear is driven, the output gears each drive their respective rotatable portions to rotate in the same direction and, when the locking mechanism is in the second position and the input gear is driven, the output gears each drive their respective rotatable portions to rotate in opposite directions
A method of operating an appliance comprising two rotatable portions and a driving mechanism for rotating the rotatable portions about a horizontal or substantially horizontal axis of rotation, the driving mechanism comprising a gearbox having an input gear, two output gears separate from the input gear each connected to respective rotatable portions and a locking mechanism movable between a first position and a second position, the arrangement of the input gear, the output gears and the locking mechanism being such that, when the locking mechanism is in the first position and the input gear is driven, the output gears each drive their respective rotatable portions to rotate in the same direction and, when the locking mechanism is in the second position and the input gear is driven, the output gears each drive their respective rotatable portions to rotate in opposite directions, wherein the rotatable portions are portions of a cylindrical drum, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.