LAUNDRY TREATING APPLIANCE WITH A ROTATING CONTAINER HAVING ONE OR MORE LIFTERS PROVIDED WITH AN ARTICLE HOLDER DEVICE

Description

The present invention concerns the field of laundry treating appliances provided with a rotating container and laundry lifters associated therewith. In particular, the present invention refers to a laundry treating appliance provided with a rotating drum having laundry lifters associated therewith, at least one of the lifters being provided with an article holder device.

BACKGROUND ART

Laundry treating appliances generally comprise an external casing, or cabinet, provided with a rotating container where the laundry is placed.

Laundry treating appliances may comprise laundry washing machines, i.e. machines that can carry out a washing process on laundry, laundry washing and drying machines. i.e. machines that can carry out a washing and a drying process on laundry and laundry drying machine, i.e. machines that can carry out a drying process on laundry but are not able to wash laundry.

In the present description, the term “laundry washing machine” will refer to both a simple laundry washing machine and a laundry washing-drying machine.

Laundry treating appliances, both laundry washing machines and laundry drying machines, are advantageously provided with lifters, or laundry lifters, protruding from the inner surface of the rotating container towards the rotation axis of the container and rotating together with the container. Lifters have the aim of causing laundry to raise from the inner surface of the rotating container and fall thereafter again on said inner surface. This mechanical action enhances the washing effect on laundry washing machines or the drying effect on dryers since laundry moves within the container and relative thereto.

It is known form the prior art providing the lifters with an article holder device. JPH222798U discloses a dryer comprising a rotating drum with one or more lifters provided with a first portion rotatably mounted on a second portion that is solidly mounted on the rotating drum. The first and the second portion form a clamp to hold a piece of laundry therebetween.

The first lifter portion is rotatable relative to the second portion between a first position wherein the first portion is lying on the second portion (closed clamp position) and a second position wherein the first and the second portions are spaced apart one another for the most of their extension (open clamp position).

The rotation of the first lifter portion relative to the second portion in one rotation direction is contrasted by a spring element that is arranged between the first and the second lifter portions to keep the first rotatable portion in said first position (closed clamp position).

When laundry articles are inserted within the drum to be dried in case the clamps provided on the lifters are not used, such lifter clamp arrangement is subject to possible undesired openings during a laundry drying course, especially in the initial phases thereof, due to wet laundry articles pushing the first lifter portion while the drum is rotating. The pushing action may cause the first portion to rotate, even partially, from the first position (closed clamp position) towards the second position (open clamp position), thereby accidentally clamping laundry articles present in the drum, which might even be very delicate articles, causing damages and possible tears.

Increasing the elastic resistance of the spring element arranged between the first and the second portion of the lifter is not a satisfactory solution to such problem because it would cause the user to apply a considerable amount of force to open the clamp when its use is desired.

Selecting different positions of the lifter clamp fulcrum may also cause the lifter to be accidentally opened by either a pulling or pressing action provided by laundry moving within the container during a laundry treatment process.

Furthermore, limiting the drum rotation to only one of its two possible rotational directions, i.e. the one not exposing the rotatable first lifter portion to a laundry mass to drag and lift it from the inner surface of the drum when the lifter is not required to clamp a laundry article, negatively impacts the drying course performances because laundry articles, rotating always in the same direction, would tend to progressively entangle without possibility to be unravelled by inverting the drum rotation periodically. Even periodical stops of the drum rotation would not improve an effective disentangling action compared to a reversed rotation of the drum rotation. In addition, the possibility for drying air to evenly reach all the laundry articles that always rotate in one direction only would be rather low.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,281,622 discloses a drum washing machine for washing articles without water and by using a cleaning member made of microfiber. The cleaning member is a tubular element that is detachably attached to the drum by means of holder devices, each device including a first portion to be connected to the drum by means of a guide portion formed on a lifter attached to the drum, and a second portion connected to said first portion. Said second portion comprises tweezers having a tip split into two pieces to hold the cleaning member.

A disadvantage of such arrangement is that in case the holder devices are maintained connected to the drum lifters and articles are treated in the washing machine without the cleaning member, there is the high risk that one or more of said articles can be caught by the tweezers and irremediably damaged by the drum rotation. A user would be therefore required to remove all the holder devices every time a washing course has to be performed without the need for using the cleaning member, which is rather annoying and impractical, especially because a place to store the holder devices has to be found.

EP1529875 discloses a washing apparatus for dry-cleaning laundry. In order to carry out such dry-cleaning process a wet pad cloth is provided to be fixed to a holder device provided in a lifter, such that, with the drum rotation, the wet pad cloth evenly comes into contact with the entire laundry articles present within the drum to enhance a dry-cleaning effect. The holder device is assembled to a loading recess provided in a lifter to fix the wet pad cloth thereto and to open/close the loading recess. The holder device has a first end hinged to a loading recess provided in a lifter and a second end provided with a hook for hooking into the loading recess. A hanging recess is provided to a corresponding portion of the loading recess to catch the hook. The holder device and the loading recess extend along the main direction of the lifter.

A disadvantage of such arrangement is that if the hook provided at one end of the holder device should accidentally be released during a treatment course carried out by the washing apparatus on laundry articles which does not require the use of the holder device, the latter would displace radially inwardly from the drum cylindrical wall causing laundry articles to be caught and definitively damaged.

The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks posed by the known technique.

It is an object of the invention to provide a laundry treating appliance having an article holder device avoiding laundry articles to be caught by the article holder device when the latter is not in use and/or avoiding accidental opening of an article holder device during a laundry treating course carried out on laundry articles.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The applicant has found that it is possible to overcome drawbacks of known techniques by providing a laundry treating appliance comprising a rotatable container apt to receive laundry to be treated and at least one lifter having a base portion resting on the inner surface of the container and by providing the lifter with an article holder clamp device having at least one movable part rotatable between a closed clamp position to hold said article and an open clamp position to release the article, the movable part comprising a push-to-open region provided with an actuating surface and by providing at least one rib which is stationary relative to the inner surface and received into a corresponding receiving aperture provided in the push-to-open region.

The present invention relates, therefore, to a laundry treating appliance comprising:

• • a rotatable container apt to receive laundry to be treated, said container being rotatable about a rotation axis and comprising a side wall that extends around said rotation axis and comprises an inner surface which delimits laundry receiving space;
  • at least one lifter having a base portion resting on said inner surface, said lifter extending from said inner surface of said side wall towards said rotation axis, said lifter being provided with an article holder clamp device to hold an article, said clamp device comprising at least one movable part, each of said at least one movable part being rotatable, relative to said base portion, around a respective pivot axis between a closed clamp position to hold said article, and an open clamp position to release said article, said at least one movable part comprising a push-to-open region provided with an actuating surface that is manually actuatable by a user to move said at least one movable part from the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position, said at least one movable part further comprising a clamp region provided for holding said article;
  • wherein said at least one lifter is provided with at least one rib that is stationary relative to said inner surface and received into a corresponding receiving aperture provided in the push-to-open region of said at least one movable part of said clamp device.

Advantageously, the at least one rib forms a barrier against the laundry articles moving inside the container during a laundry treatment course. The at least one rib counteracts the pressing force of the laundry articles and prevents such pressing force from acting, or continuing acting, against the actuating surface in a way suitable to largely open the article holder clamp device such that an article, held by the clamp device, is released therefrom or a laundry article placed inside the container is caught by the clamp device, and finally the at least one rib prevents a wide rotation of the movable part towards the open clamp position.

In a preferred embodiment, the push-to-open region extends from the pivot axis towards the base portion and the clamp region extends from the pivot axis away from the base portion.

Preferably, a plurality of ribs are arranged side by side in the direction of the pivot axis.

Advantageously, a plurality of ribs allows to enhance the counteracting effect of the ribs against the pressing force of the laundry articles.

According to a preferred embodiment, one rib and the next subsequent rib arranged side by side in the direction of the pivot axis are at a distance that allows a user finger to be placed therebetween. In this way, the user is facilitated in understanding how the article holder clamp device can be operated and the ribs are not interfering with the actuation of the article holder clamp device. The pushing action on the actuating surface to rotate the movable part is therefore facilitated. In a preferred embodiment, the push-to-open region extends from the pivot axis towards the base portion for a predetermined length and the at least one rib extends in the corresponding receiving aperture for a length ranging from 10% to 100% of the predetermined length of the push-to-open region, preferably for a length ranging from 40% to 100% of the predetermined length of the push-to-open region, more preferably for a length equal to 70% of the predetermined length of the push-to-open region.

Advantageously, said preferred ratios guarantee a sufficient counteraction exerted by the ribs against the pressing force of the laundry articles during the execution of a treating program.

Preferably, said at least one rib is integral with said base portion, preferably integrally formed in a single piece with the base portion.

In this way the resistance offered by the at least one rib is enhanced and, further advantageously, it is possible to simplify manufacturing of the lifter and/or reducing manufacturing time, in particular when the lifter is made through an injection moulding process.

According to a preferred embodiment, said at least one rib has a forward body at least partly protruding from the actuating surface of the push-to-open region when said at least one movable part is in the closed clamp position.

Advantageously, the forward body of each rib provides an effective counteracting effect against the pressing force of the laundry articles.

According to a further preferred embodiment, said at least one rib has a forward body at least partly flush with or recessed into the actuating surface of the push-to-open region when said at least one movable part is in the closed clamp position and the forward body protrudes from the actuating surface of the push-to-open region when said at least one movable part is rotated from the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position for an angle greater than 0° and less than 5°, preferably greater than 0° and less than 3°.

Such arrangement allows further improving to prevent the pressing force of the laundry articles from continuing acting against the actuating surface in a way suitable to largely open the article holder clamp device such that an article, held by the clamp device, is released therefrom or a laundry article placed inside the container is caught by the clamp device, and finally the at least one rib prevents a wide rotation of the movable part towards the open clamp position.

In a preferred embodiment, the actuating surface is provided with one or more recessed portions. In this way user's fingers can well interact with the article holder clamp device when its movable part has to be caused to move towards the open clamp position.

Further advantageously, the exposed surface area of the actuating surface on which the laundry articles impinge is reduced. This further reduces the pressing force exerted by the laundry articles against the actuating surface.

Preferably, the pivot axis and the rotation axis lay in the same plane. This may facilitate the user operation of the article holder clamp device to intentionally move its movable part towards the open clamp position.

In a further preferred embodiment, the pivot axis and the rotation axis are skew. This arrangement allows reducing the possibility that a pressing force of the laundry articles causes an accidental opening of the article holder clamp device during a laundry treatment process.

According to a preferred embodiment, the lifter is embodied to have its main dimension extending longitudinally along a main direction, wherein the main direction is parallel to the rotation axis.

Preferably, the clamp device comprises a biasing element configured for moving said at least one movable part towards the closed clamp position.

Advantageously, the clamp device is automatically moved towards the closed clamp position.

According to a preferred embodiment, the biasing element comprises a spring wound around the pivot axis and the spring has an end region resting on said at least one movable part.

In a preferred embodiment, the clamp region of the clamp device comprises catching elements for the article.

Advantageously, the article is kept firmly in position by the clamp region.

Preferably, the catching elements comprise teeth and holes.

Advantageously, the teeth may pierce the article and keep it firmly in position. Teeth can avoid that a pulling force below a predetermined intensity can tear the article away from the article holder clamp device.

Preferably, the teeth and holes are arranged in horizontal lines by alternating a hole and a tooth along a horizontal and/or vertical line. In this way the article holding effect is enhanced.

In a preferred embodiment, the teeth are cones or pyramids or parallelepipeds or prisms having a base including 5 to 10 sides.

Preferably, the clamp device comprises two movable parts arranged to cooperate for holding the article therebetween.

Advantageously, the clamp device is configured as a spring clip easily actuatable by a user.

According to a preferred embodiment, the respective pivot axes of the two movable parts coincide.

In a further preferred embodiment, the respective pivot axes of the two movable parts are parallel.

In a further preferred embodiment, the respective pivot axes of the two movable parts are incident.

In a further aspect thereof, the present invention relates to a method for treating laundry in a laundry treating appliance realized as described above, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• • manually actuating said actuating surface to move said at least one movable part from the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position;
  • positioning said article in the form of sheet in said clamp region of said at least one movable part and releasing said actuating surface of said at least one movable part to let said at least one movable part to reach the closed clamp position to hold said article;
  • loading laundry in the laundry receiving space;
  • starting a laundry treating course.

According to a preferred embodiment, the laundry treating course comprises at least a step wherein said article acts to perform a treatment on said laundry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be highlighted in greater detail in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, provided with reference to the enclosed drawings. In the drawings, corresponding characteristics and/or components are identified by the same reference numbers. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a laundry drying machine provided with lifters according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a lifter of the laundry drying machine of FIG. 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the lifter is in an operating position holding an article;

FIG. 3 shows the lifter of FIG. 2 in a different operating position;

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 2 with the article removed therefrom;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 3 with the article removed therefrom;

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows a view of the lifter shown in FIG. 5 sectioned along line VIIIº-VIIIº;

FIG. 9 shows a view of the lifter shown in FIG. 4 sectioned along line IXº-IXº;

FIG. 10 shows the plan view of FIG. 9 in an operating condition;

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a detail of a lifter according to a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 shows a view of the lifter shown in FIG. 11 sectioned along line XIIº-XIIº;

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of a detail of a lifter according to a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 shows a view of the lifter shown in FIG. 13 sectioned along line XIVº-XIVº;

FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of a detail of a lifter according to a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 shows a view of the lifter shown in FIG. 15 sectioned along line XVIº-XVIº;

FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of a lifter according to another preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 18 shows the lifter of FIG. 17 in a different operating position;

FIG. 19 shows a view of the lifter shown in FIG. 18 sectioned along line XIXº-XIXº.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has proved to be particularly advantageous when applied to laundry drying machines, i.e. laundry treating machines which are able to dry laundry but not to wash it, as described below.

It should in any case be underlined that the present invention is not limited to laundry drying machines. The present invention can be conveniently also applied to laundry washing machines, wherein the term “laundry washing machine” refers to both a simple laundry washing machine and a laundry washing-drying machine. The laundry drying machine 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1.

The laundry drying machine 1, hereinafter also simply indicated with the term dryer 1, is a front-loading type dryer; it is however clear that the invention can be applied as well to a top-loading drying and/or washing machines having a laundry container rotatable around a substantially horizontal axis.

The dryer 1 comprises an external casing or cabinet 2 that encloses a rotatable container 4 wherein laundry can be loaded to be submitted to a drying process. The rotatable container 4 therefore defines a laundry drying drum 4, or, simply, a drum 4, which is located in axially rotating manner inside the cabinet 2 along a rotation axis X.

The drum 4 comprises a side wall 6 that extends around the rotation axis X and that comprises an inner surface 7 which delimits a laundry receiving space 9.

The side wall 6 preferably has a substantially cylindrical shape.

The drum 4 is provided with a frontal laundry loading opening to access the laundry receiving space 9. On the opposite side of the laundry loading opening, a rear wall is provided to close the laundry receiving space 9 at the rear end of the drum 4. A door 16 is provided to close the front opening and to give access thereto. According to an aspect of the invention, there are provided one or more lifters 20 inside the drum 4. During rotation of the drum 4 at a speed lower than that required to stick laundry onto the drum inner surface 7 of the side wall 6, lifters 20 raise the laundry contained in the laundry receiving space 9 then release the laundry to cause the laundry to be dropped by gravity to the lower part of the laundry receiving space 9.

Each lifter 20 extends over the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6. Each lifter 20 preferably has an elongated form and is embodied to extend longitudinally along a main direction. The main direction of the lifter 20 is preferably parallel to the rotation axis X.

While the main direction of the lifter is parallel to the rotation axis of the drum, in further preferred embodiments the main direction may form an angle with respect to the rotation axis.

The lifters 20 are preferably evenly distributed on the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6, for example arranged at 120 degrees one to the other about the rotation axis X. In FIG. 1 only two of said three lifters 20 are visible.

Hereinafter we will refer to one lifter 20, being clear that the description may be extended to the other lifters 20 that are preferably identical and placed on the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6 at preferred locations.

The lifter 20 extends from the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6 towards the rotation axis X. The lifter 20, which is illustrated and described herein, preferably has a substantially triangular cross-section shape, preferably with rounded corners, when a section plane perpendicular to the drum rotation axis X is considered.

The lifter 20 comprises a base portion 22 which rests on the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6. Preferably, the base portion 22 is connected to the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6, more preferably fixedly connected to the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6. The base portion 22 is preferably connected to the inner surface 7 through connecting means, not shown, such as screws, glue, snap-in devices or equivalent connecting means. The base portion 22 may be provided with coupling protrusions or slits that can engage or, respectively, be engaged, by corresponding apertures or protrusions provided in the side wall 6 of the drum 4.

According to an aspect of the invention, the lifter 20 is provided with an article holder clamp device 30. In FIGS. 1 to 3, an article A is illustrated and associated to the clamp device 30. The article A is preferably in the form of a sheet which is held by the clamp device 30 when the latter assumes a closed clamp position, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 3 the clamp device 30 is shown in an open clamp position and the article A is in a position ready to be clamped or to be removed. The article A may be any article that needs to be held by the clamp device 30 during functioning of the dryer 1. For example, the article A may be a perfumed sheet A for perfuming laundry articles subjected to a drying process or, when the present invention is carried out in a laundry washing machine, the article A may be a colour catcher sheet, for example the sheets typically used in a laundry washing machine to catch colours/pigments released by the laundry articles in the washing liquor.

An article A may be generally defined as an article having a chemical composition capable of treating the laundry under predetermined conditions. For example, a perfumed sheet is an article comprising a chemical perfume component that may be released by contact and/or by an air or a liquid flow that hits the sheet in a dryer or in a laundry washing machine. The perfume is thus advantageously transferred to the laundry to perform a perfume treatment.

Article A can further be a laundry conditioning sheet, i.e. a sheet able to release, upon reaching certain working conditions such as a predetermined sheet temperature and/or a predetermined time of immersion in water, a conditioning substance able to make laundry waterproof or enhancing stain removal.

Also, for example, a colour catcher sheet is an article comprising a chemical component that may catch and hold pigments released by the laundry articles in a laundry washing machine. The sheet thus performs a colour catching treatment.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 10, the clamp device 30 comprises a movable part 32 rotatable, relative to the base portion 22, around a pivot axis 34.

The movable part 32 may rotate around the pivot axis 34 to assume a closed clamp position apt to hold the article A (for example FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8) and at least one open clamp position to release the article A, or to allow positioning of the article A before being clamped (FIGS. 3 and 6).

In the preferred embodiments described and illustrated herein, the pivot axis 34 and the rotation axis X lay in the same plane. More preferably, the pivot axis 34 and the rotation axis X are parallel one to the other. In further preferred embodiments, nevertheless, the pivot axis and the rotation axis may lay in the same plane but forming an angle alpha therebetween, preferably an angle comprised between 0° and 90°.

In still further preferred embodiments, the pivot axis and the rotation axis may be skew.

The movable part 32 comprises a push-to-open region 36 provided with an actuating surface 38, manually actuatable by a user to move the movable part 32 from the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position.

The push-to-open region 36 preferably extends from the pivot axis 34 towards the base portion 22 for a predetermined length L1 (FIG. 5).

The movable part 32 comprises a clamp region 40, provided for holding the article A. The clamp region 40 preferably extends from the pivot axis 34 away from the base portion 22 and has a respective length L2 from the pivot axis 34.

The movable part 32 is therefore eventually configured as a first-class lever.

The clamp region 40 of movable part 32 preferably cooperates with a gripping surface 42 formed in a part 43 of the lifter 20 which is stationary relative to the drum 4 and extends from the base portion 22 facing the movable part 32, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

The article A is advantageously kept between the gripping surface 42 and a gripping surface 41 of the clamp region 40 facing the gripping surface 42 when the movable part 32 is in the closed clamp position.

The gripping surface 42 of the stationary part 30 and/or the gripping surface 41 of the clamp region 40 preferably comprise catching elements 46 for the article A. Further preferably, when both the gripping surfaces 41, 42 comprise such catching elements 46, there are shaped so as to mate each other. For example, the catching elements 46 comprise teeth 46a and holes 46b (FIG. 7), wherein teeth 46a in the gripping surface 41 of the clamp region 40 or in the gripping surface 42 of the stationary part 30 engage respective holes 46b in the gripping surface 42 of the stationary part 30 or in the gripping surface 41 of the clamp region 40. The teeth 46a may pierce the article A and keep it firmly between the gripping surfaces 41, 42.

In a preferred embodiment, teeth and holes are arranged in horizontal lines by alternating an opening and a tooth along a horizontal and/or a vertical line, as illustrated in FIG. 7. In further preferred embodiments, teeth and holes may be differently distributed over the clamp region and/or the gripping surface.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated herein, teeth are constituted of cones. In further preferred embodiments, the teeth may be differently shaped, for example constituted of pyramids or parallelepipeds or prisms having a base including 5 to 10 sides.

A biasing element 44 is provided to move the movable part 32 towards the closed clamp position, so as to stably keep the movable part 32 in the closed clamped position when not in use and to generate an appropriate holding force to keep an article A stung between the gripping surfaces 41, 42.

The biasing element 44 preferably comprises a spring 44 wound around the pivot axis 34 and the spring 44 has a first region resting on the movable part 32 and a second region resting on a portion of the lifter 20 such as a part 43 thereof which is stationary relative to the drum 4. In another embodiment that will be described in the following, the second region of the spring 44 can rest on a further part of the lifter 20 that is movable relative to the drum 4.

According to an aspect of the invention, the lifter 20 is provided with at least one rib 50, 52 which is stationary relative to the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6 of the drum 4. The rib 50, 52 is received into a corresponding receiving aperture 70, 72 provided in the push-to-open region 36 of the movable part 32 of the clamp device 30.

In the preferred embodiment described and illustrated herein, there are preferably provided two ribs 50, 52 and two respective receiving apertures 70, 72 provided in the push-to-open region 36 of the movable part 32. In further preferred embodiments, nevertheless, the number of ribs and respective apertures may be different.

In the preferred embodiments described and illustrated herein, the ribs 50, 52 are stationary relative to the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6 being connected to the inner surface 7. Preferably, the ribs 50, 52 are connected to the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6 via the base portion 22: preferably the ribs 50, 52 are integral with the base portion 22, more preferably integrally formed in a single piece with the base portion 22, and extend therefrom, for example, towards the drum 4 rotation axis X.

Advantageously, it is possible to simplify manufacturing of the lifter 20 and/or reducing manufacturing time, in particular when the lifter 20 is made through an injection moulding process.

In further preferred embodiments, nevertheless, the one or more ribs may be provided in a first lifter piece that is connected to the inner surface of the side wall of the drum and said one or more ribs protrude from the first lifter piece and are received into a corresponding one or more receiving apertures provided in a second lifter piece, different from the first lifter piece, that is connected with the latter.

The ribs 50, 52 and the respective apertures 70, 72 are advantageously configured to allow the movable part 32 to be moved from the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position and vice versa or, in other words, the ribs 50, 52 and the apertures 70, 72 are configured to not impede the rotation of the movable part 32 about the rotation axis 34.

When a laundry treatment has to be carried out on laundry using an article A, the movable part 32 is actuated by a user by pushing on the actuating surface 38 of the push-to-open region 36 to cause the movable part 32 to rotate around the pivot axis 34 so as to assume the open clamp position to insert/remove the article A, as illustrated, for example, in the open operating position of the clamp device 30 in FIG. 3.

The ribs 50, 52 and the apertures 70, 72 are preferably arranged side by side in the direction of the pivot axis 34.

Preferably, a rib 50 and the next subsequent rib 52, arranged side by side in the direction of the pivot axis 34 are located at a distance that allows a user finger to be placed therebetween so that the pushing on the actuating surface 38 to rotate the movable part 32 is facilitated.

Ribs 50, 52 and apertures 70, 72 are opportunely arranged so that apertures 70, 72 are preferably uniformly distributed on the push-to-open region 36 along the rotation axis direction X.

As illustrated in the Figures, the actuating surface 38 of the push-to-open region 36 is preferably even, i.e. substantially smooth and free from variation, and flush with the surrounding outer surface of the lifter 20.

Preferably, when the movable part 32 is in the closed clamp position, each rib 50, 52 has a forward body 54, 56 at least partly protruding from the actuating surface 38 of the push-to-open region 36, as better visible in FIG. 9.

Said forward bodies 54, 56 substantially correspond to the front edges of the ribs 50, 52 which protrude, preferably slightly protrude, outwardly from the actuating surface 38. The forward bodies 54, 56 may preferably protrude from the actuating surface 38 for a limited height, for example 1 mm.

According to an aspect of the invention, the ribs 50, 52 substantially form a barrier against the laundry articles R moving inside the drum 4 during a laundry treatment course. When the laundry articles R strike the lifter 20, as schematically shown in FIG. 10, the ribs 50, 52 counteract the pressing force of the laundry articles R and prevent the pressing force of the laundry articles R from acting against the actuating surface 38 and finally prevent an accidental rotation of the movable part 32 towards the open clamp position.

In particular, the forward bodies 54, 56 of the ribs 50, 52 protruding from the actuating surface 38 protect the actuating surface 38 by stopping the laundry articles R, thereby reducing the pressing force against it.

Thanks to the action of the ribs 50, 52 an accidental rotation of the movable part 32 is therefore reduced or even annulled so that the clamp region 40 is substantially maintained in the closed clamp position with respect to the gripping surface 42 during a laundry treatment process.

Advantageously, the article A is firmly kept in position by the clamp region 40. The risk of unwanted releasing of the article A is therefore reduced or substantially annulled.

Furthermore, during a laundry treatment process, being the clamp region 40 substantially maintained in the closed clamp position with respect to the gripping surfaces 41, 42, the laundry articles R are not caught therebetween, or caught by the teeth 46a, and a possible damage of laundry articles is therefore reduced or substantially annulled.

Still advantageously, since the pressing force caused by the laundry articles R to act against the actuating surface 38 is reduced due to the presence of the ribs 50, 52, the required closing force exerted by the biasing element 44 to maintain the movable part 32 in the closed clamp position may be reduced compared to the known devices. This firstly facilitates the dimensioning of the biasing element 44. Secondly, the force required by the user to voluntarily open the clamp device 30, by acting against the force generated by the biasing element 44, is reduced thus facilitating its opening.

The ribs 50, 52 preferably protrude from the base portion 22 towards the rotation axis X and extend in the corresponding apertures 70, 72 for a predetermined length L3 (FIG. 5).

The apertures 70, 72 preferably have an upside-down U-shape, in other words, the apertures 70, 72 are shaped as a slit having an open end towards the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6 of the drum 4, and a closed end on the opposite side, i.e. towards the drum rotation axis X. The apertures 70, 72 are preferably slightly taller than the ribs 50, 52, i.e. their length in a radial direction of the drum is greater than the length L3 of the corresponding rib 50, 52 received therein. The length of the aperture can be greater than the length of the rib received therein of a size ranging from 0.1 mm to 2 cm.

According to an aspect of the invention, the ribs 50, 52 extend in the corresponding apertures 70, 72 for the predetermined length L3 ranging from 10% to 100% of the length L1 of the push-to-open region 36.

Said ratios guarantee a sufficient protection exerted by the ribs 50, 52 against laundry articles R.

In the preferred embodiments described and illustrated herein, the ribs 50, 52 extend in the corresponding apertures 70, 72 for a predetermined length L3 that is 70% of the length L1 of the push-to-open region 36.

It has been found that when the ribs 50, 52 extend in the corresponding apertures 70, 72 for a predetermined length L3 ranging from 40% to 100% of the length L1 of the push-to-open region 36, the accidental rotation of the movable part 32 is annulled and the clamp region 40 is firmly maintained in the closed clamp position with respect to the gripping surfaces 41, 42 and the drum 4 during a laundry treatment process.

As described above, the ribs 50, 52 have forward bodies 54, 56 preferably protruding from the actuating surface 38 of the push-to-open region 36 when the movable part 32 is in the closed clamp position.

In further preferred embodiments according to the present invention and as described below, the ribs 150, 152. 250, 252 may have forward bodies 154, 156, 254, 256 differently arranged with respect to the actuating surface 38 of the push-to-open region 36 when said movable part 32 is in said closed clamp position.

FIGS. 11 and 12 represent a first further preferred embodiment wherein the ribs 150, 152 have forward bodies 154, 156 that are flush with the actuating surface 38 of the push-to-open region 36 when the movable part 32 is in the closed clamp position. In the drawings, corresponding characteristics and/or components of the first embodiment described above are identified by the same reference numbers. The ribs 150, 152 according to this embodiment exert substantially the same protection function against the laundry articles as described above for the previous embodiment but by means of a different operation, as described here below.

According to this embodiment, the forward bodies 154, 156 protrude from the actuating surface 38 of the push-to-open region 36 as soon as the movable part 32 is rotated from the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position. In this embodiment, if an article R should accidentally push the movable part 32 causing an opening movement, the forward bodies 154, 156 will protrude from the actuating surface 38 of the push-to-open region 36 interposing themselves between the laundry article R and the actuating surface 38 thereby reducing the force acting on the movable part 32. In this way the movable part 32 will tend to return quickly to the closed clamp position avoiding either an article A to be released or a laundry article R to be caught between the gripping surfaces 41, 42.

FIGS. 13 and 14 represent a second further preferred embodiment wherein the ribs 250, 252 have forward bodies 254, 256 that are recessed into the actuating surface 38 of the push-to-open region 36 when the movable part 32 is in the closed clamp position. In the drawings, corresponding characteristics and/or components of the first embodiment described above are identified by the same reference numbers.

The forward bodies 254, 256 preferably recess into the actuating surface 38 for an extent so that when the movable part 32 is rotated from the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position for an angle greater than 0° and less than 5°, the forward bodies 254, 256 protrude from the actuating surface 38 of the push-to-open region 36. More preferably, the forward bodies 254, 256 recess into the actuating surface 38 for an extent so that when the movable part 32 is rotated from the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position for an angle greater than 0° and less than 3°, the forward bodies 254, 256 protrude from the actuating surface 38 of the push-to-open region 36.

The ribs 250, 252 according to this embodiment start to exert the protection function against the laundry articles R accidentally pushing against the movable part 32 when the latter is rotated from the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position for an angle preferably less than 5° or more preferably less than 3°, i.e. when the forward bodies 254, 256 start protruding from the actuating surface 38 of the push-to-open region 36. Since the forward bodies 254, 256 interpose between the laundry article R and the actuating surface 38 thereby reducing the force acting on the movable part 32, the latter will tend to return quickly to the closed clamp position avoiding either an article A to be released or a laundry article R to be caught between the gripping surfaces 41, 42.

A rotation of the movable part 32 for an angle less than 5° causes the gripping surface 42 of the clamp region 40 to move slightly away from the gripping surface 42 of the stationary part 30.

However, in this slightly opened operating position, the article A is still held between the clamp region 40 and the gripping surface 42 and the holding clamp device 30 therefore continues to perform its holding function. Furthermore, the gap between the gripping surfaces 41, 42 that is formed when the movable part 32 rotates of an angle less than 5° is not sufficiently wide to catch a laundry article R therein, and, in addition, its existence before the movable part 32 returns to the closed clamp position is very limited in time, thereby reducing the overall likelihood that a laundry article R may be caught between the gripping surfaces 41, 42.

With reference to FIGS. 15 and 16, a further preferred embodiment of a holder clamp device 330 in a lifter 320 according to the invention is disclosed. In the drawings, corresponding characteristics and/or components compared to previous preferred embodiments are identified by the same reference numbers.

The holder clamp device 330 differs from the holder clamp device 30 previously described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 in that the actuating surface 338 of the push-to-open region 336 is provided with one or more recessed portions 340, 342, 344.

The recessed portions 340, 342, 344 are preferably realized laterally to the receiving apertures 70, 72, considering the direction defined by the rotation axis 34.

A first main recessed part 340 is realized between the receiving apertures 70, 72, a second recessed part 342 is realized between the first receiving aperture 70 and a first side end 32a of the movable part 32 and a third recessed part 344 is realized between the second receiving aperture 72 and a second side end 32b of the movable part 32.

The effect of the recessed parts 340, 342, 344 is to reduce the exposed surface area of the actuating surface 338 on which the laundry articles R impinge.

This arrangement advantageously further reduces the pressing force exerted by the laundry articles R against the actuating surface 338.

In this embodiment, the spatial relation between the forward bodies 54, 56 and the actuating surface 38 of the push-to-open region 36 when the movable part 32 is in the closed clamp position may be one of those described with reference to the FIGS. 9 to 14. In FIG. 16, the forward bodies 54, 56 are shown as being flush with the actuating surface 38 of the push-to-open region 36 that surrounds them. However, the forward bodies 54, 56 can also protrude or being recessed relative to the actuating surface 38 of the push-to-open region 36 that surrounds them.

In all the embodiments of the invention described above, two different forward bodies 54, 56; 154, 156; 254, 256 can have a different spatial relation with the actuating surface 38 of the push-to-open region 36 that surrounds them. In other words, not all the forward bodies 54, 56; 154, 156; 254, 256 need to be all recessed, protruding or flush with the actuating surface 38 of the push-to-open region 36 that surrounds them.

With reference to FIGS. 17 to 19 a further preferred embodiment of a holder clamp device 430 in a lifter 420 according to the invention is disclosed. In the drawings, corresponding characteristics and/or components compared to previous preferred embodiments are identified by the same reference numbers.

According to this embodiment, the holder clamp device 430 comprises a second movable part 432 rotatable, relative to the base portion 22, around a pivot axis 34. The first and the second movable parts 32, 432 cooperate therebetween for holding the article A.

In the preferred embodiment described and illustrated herein, the pivot axis 34 of the second movable part 432 preferably coincides with the pivot axis 34 of the first movable part 32.

In further preferred embodiments, nevertheless, the pivot axis of the second movable part may not coincide with the pivot axis of the first movable part. For example, the pivot axis of the second movable part may be parallel to the pivot axis of the first movable part.

The second movable part 432 is identical, or substantially identical, to the first movable part 32. The two movable parts 32, 432 are arranged symmetrically and the holder clamp device 430 is therefore substantially configured as a spring clip. Features of the second movable part 432 are the same of those described above with reference to the first movable part 32.

The second movable part 432 may rotate around the pivot axis 34 to assume a closed clamp position apt to hold the article A and at least one open clamp position to release the article A, or to allow positioning of the article A before being clamped.

The second movable part 432 comprises a push-to-open region 436 provided with an actuating surface 438, which is manually actuatable by a user to move the second movable part 432 from the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position. The push-to-open region 436 preferably extends from the pivot axis 34 towards the base portion 22 and has a respective length.

The second movable part 432 comprises a clamp region 440, provided for holding the article A. The clamp region 440 preferably extends from the pivot axis 34 away from the base portion 22 and has a respective length from its respective pivot axis. The clamp region 440 of the second movable part 432 cooperates with the clamp region 40 of first movable part 32. According to this embodiment, the article A is advantageously kept between the clamp regions 40, 440 of the two movable parts 32, 432.

The clamp region 440 of the second movable part 432 preferably comprise catching elements 446 for the article A, preferably of the type previously described for the first movable part 32.

A biasing element 444 pushes each of the first and second movable parts 32, 432 towards the closed clamp position.

In the preferred embodiment described and illustrated herein, the biasing element 444 has the same function described with reference to the biasing element 44 associated to the first movable part 32.

When the pivot axis 34 of the second movable part 432 coincides with the pivot axis 34 of the first movable part 32, the biasing element 444 preferably comprises a spring 44 wound around the pivot axis 34 and the spring 44 has a first region resting on the movable part 32 and a second region resting on a portion of second movable part 432. In another embodiment wherein the pivot axis 34 of the second movable part 432 does not coincide with the pivot axis 34 of the first movable part 32, two biasing elements have to be provided, one for every movable part.

According to the invention, and by analogy with the above detailed description of the first movable part 32, there is provided at least one rib 50, 52 which is stationary relative to the inner surface 7 of the side wall 6 of the drum 4. The rib 50, 52 is received in a corresponding receiving aperture 70, 72 provided in the push-to-open region 436 of the second movable part 432.

In the preferred embodiment described and illustrated herein, there are preferably provided two ribs 50, 52 and two respective receiving apertures 70, 72 provided in the push-to-open region 36 of the second movable part 432.

The ribs and corresponding receiving apertures associated with the second movable part 432 are not clearly visible in the figure: just a rib 50 is depicted in FIG. 19, but they are embodied as the ribs 50, 52 and the apertures 70, 72 described with reference to the first movable part 32, in all the embodiments described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 16.

The embodiment depicted in FIGS. 17 and 18 allows to achieve the same advantages previously mentioned with reference to the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1 to 16.

According to the above description, the lifter 20, 320, 420 according to the invention is easily used by a user to place an article A, in the form of sheet, inside the drum 4 of the dryer 1.

In a first step, a user manually actuates the actuating surface 38 to move the movable part 32 of the clamp device 30, or the actuating surfaces 38 of the movable parts 32, 432 in case the clamp device 430 has two movable parts 32, 432, from the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position.

The user then positions the article A in the clamp region 40 of the movable part 32, or in the clamp regions 40, 440 of the movable parts 32, 432 in case the clamp device 430 has two movable parts 32, 432.

The user then releases the actuating surface 38 of the movable part 32, or the actuating surfaces 38 of the movable parts 32, 432 in case the clamp device 430 has two movable parts 32, 432, to let said the movable part(s) 38 to reach the closed clamp position to hold the article A. The latest is thus advantageously kept firmly in position by the clamp region/s 40, 440.

The laundry is loaded in the laundry receiving space 9 and the user may start a laundry treating course, preferably a treating course having at least a step wherein the article A acts to perform a treatment on said laundry. Laundry can be loaded in the laundry receiving space 9 before or after the article A is positioned in the clamp region 40 of the movable part 32, or in the clamp regions 40, 440 of the movable parts 32, 432 in case the clamp device 430 has two movable parts 32, 432. Preferably the treating course is a laundry drying course. A treating course that the machine can perform can be selected, adjusted, started, paused, and/or stopped through a user interface provided on the front of the machine 1 or wireless connected to the machine 1.

It has thus been shown that the present invention allows all the set objects to be achieved. In particular, the lifter according to the invention and the article holder clamp device associated therewith avoids opening of the article holder itself during a laundry treating course.

It has to be noted that the treatment exerted by the article is preferably performed automatically once the article has been attached to the clamp device and a laundry treating course has been started, for example once a drying course has been started in a drier or once a laundry washing course has been started in a laundry washing machine.

In a further preferred embodiment, the machine may be configured to perform a dedicated treating course wherein exclusively the treatment exerted by the article is carried out, for example by selecting a dedicated treating course through a user interface provided on the front of the machine, for example acting on a selecting knob or on a touchscreen.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiments shown in the figures, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described herein; on the contrary, further variants of the embodiments described herein fall within the scope of the present invention, which is defined in the claims.