Shuttle hopper system for loading and unloading commercial washing and drying machines
US6116849A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 30, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC D)Textiles; Paper
- CPC primaryD06F95/00
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A shuttle hopper system for loading and unloading commercial washers and dryers is provided. The shuttle hopper is equipped with a bucket for receiving laundry items and further includes lift and tilt assemblies which lift and rotate the bucket into a dumping position for discharging the laundry items into either a washer or a dryer. The shuttle hopper is adapted to move between at least one washer and one dryer such that the shuttle hopper can be utilized to transfer wet laundry items from the washer to the dryer. The shuttle hopper also may include a pulling fin assembly which selectively deploys a plurality of pulling fins in the shuttle bucket. The pulling fins are operable to move the laundry items contained within the shuttle bucket so as to facilitate the loading of items into the bucket and the discharge of items from the bucket.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.