Automatic loading extractor

Abstract

The present invention provides an industrial extractor ( 10 ) comprising a chassis ( 12 ) to which a cylindrical drum ( 14 ) is rotatably mounted. A pair of sliding doors ( 24, 26 ) are incorporated into the drum's ( 14 ) cylindrical structure thereby providing access to the drum ( 14 ) through its periphery. To load the extractor ( 10 ) with laundry, the sliding doors ( 24, 26 ) am actuated to provide an opening at the top of the drum ( 14 ). The doors ( 24, 26 ) are actuated via in interconnected series of levers ( 36, 38 ), plates ( 28, 30 ) and linkages ( 48, 50 ). The laundry is then dropped from a conveyor or chute into the drum ( 14 ) without having to tilt or pivot the drum ( 14 ). Once loaded, the doors ( 24, 26 ) are automatically closed and a locking assembly ( 60 ) engages the door ( 24, 26 ) to prevent them from inadvertently opening. Once the items are laundered and the drum ( 14 ) stops rotating, the drum ( 14 ) is pivotally rotated in a forward direction such that its axis (x) of rotation extends diagonally as opposed to horizontally. An unloading door ( 18 ) positioned on the front of the extractor ( 10 ) is then automatically opened and the items are permitted to fall out of the drum ( 14 ) via gravity and manual assistance. Once emptied, the drum ( 14 ) is pivotally rotated back to its operating position where it may then be re-loaded and run through another cleaning cycle.

1 . An industrial extractor, comprising: 
 a. a chassis;    b. a drum interconnected to said chassis for rotation about a first longitudinal axis; and    c. a door for providing access to said drum, extending in a first plane that is parallel to said first longitudinal axis.    
   
   
       2 . The industrial extractor of  claim 1 , further comprising means for moving said door between open and closed positions.  
   
   
       3 . The industrial extractor of  claim 2 , wherein said means for moving said door comprises: 
 a. a first plate attached to said door and extending in a second plane that is perpendicular to said first plane in which said door extends;    b. a first rod extending along a second longitudinal axis that is parallel to said first longitudinal axis and having first and second ends, and attached at said first end to said first plate and extending perpendicularly outward therefrom;    c. a lever attached to said second end of said first rod; and    d. means for pivotally moving said lever about said second longitudinal axis.    
   
   
       4 . The industrial extractor of  claim 3 , wherein said means for pivotally moving said lever comprises: 
 a. a second plate extending in a third plane that is parallel to said second plane;    b. a second rod extending along a third longitudinal axis and interconnecting said second plate to said lever;    c. first and second knobs attached to said second plate and extending perpendicularly outward therefrom and positioned in straddling relation to said lever;    d. a piston and cylinder member, said cylinder being selectively, longitudinally movable along a fourth longitudinal axis and interconnected to said second plate, whereby said selective longitudinal movement of said cylinder effects rotational movement of said second plate about said third longitudinal axis, thereby causing either of said first and second knobs to engage and rotate said lever about said second longitudinal axis, thereby effecting rotation of said first rod about its second longitudinal axis and movement of said door in a corresponding rotational direction.    
   
   
       5 . The industrial extractor of  claim 1 , further comprising means for locking said door in a closed position.  
   
   
       6 . The industrial extractor of  claim 5 , wherein said means for locking said door comprise: 
 a. a pin extending along a second longitudinal axis that is parallel to said first longitudinal axis, and selectively moveable into and out of engagement with said door; and    b. a piston and cylinder member interconnected to said pin and being selectively actuable to move said pin into and out of engagement with said door.    
   
   
       7 . A method for loading an industrial extractor having a chassis and a drum that is rotatable about a first longitudinal axis, comprising the steps of: 
 a. positioning said extractor in its operating position, wherein said first longitudinal axis extends horizontally;    b. opening a first door in a plane that extends parallel to said first longitudinal axis; and    c. dropping items to be laundered through the opening created by the opening of said door.