Normally, a front-load washing machine for domestic use is placed on a floor which means that the front access opening will be situated so that a user has to bend his back in order to load or unload the machine. In case of a washing machine for professional use there are two different types in use, namely one type which is bolted to a rigid support of concrete or the like and another type which is placed on the floor. For a machine placed on a support the access opening will be positioned at a convenient height whereas the machine placed on the floor will involve the same disadvantage as the machine for domestic use referred to.

The patent publication DE 197 16 825 Al discloses a mobile support for a washing machine comprising a supporting plate and legs which can be placed on the floor to support a washing machine so that the access opening of the machine is disposed at a convenient height for loading and unloading the machine. An advantage with this kind of support is that no rigid base of concrete or the like has to be set up so that the machine can be placed on any supporting floor in a building, not only at the basement level.

An object of the invention is to provide a different solution, according to which a machine or apparatus having an access opening at a side surface thereof is normally disposed at a level similar to that of a machine placed on a floor. However, for loading and unloading purposes the machine can be raised to a level which may be convenient for a user.

The object is achieved in a machine which has obtained the characterizing features indicated in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are included in associated sub-claims.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description of a few embodiments of the invention with reference to the enclosed drawings. The embodiments relate to washing machines of the front-load type having an access opening disposed at a front surface thereof. However, the invention is equally applicable to any machine or apparatus having an access opening provided on a side surface thereof.

Fig. la shows a first embodiment in which a laundry washing machine is placed on a support in a lower-most position; Fig. Ib shows the machine of Fig. la in a higher-most position, and Fig. Ic shows the machine in a tilted-back position; Fig. 2a is a side view of the support in the position shown in Fig. la ; Fig. 2b is a side view of the support in the position shown in Fig. lb ; Fig. 2c is a side view of the support in the position shown in Fig. lc ; Fig. 3a is a side view of a different support in the position shown in Fig. la ; Fig. 3b is a side view of the support of Fig. 3a in the position shown in Fig. 1 b ; Fig. 3c is a side view of the support of Fig. 3a in the position shown in Fig. I c, and Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of a support including a jack type lifting device.

Fig. 5a shows a second embodiment in which the washing machine of Fig. la is mounted in a box-like covering and shown in a lower-most position; Fig. 5b shows the washing machine of Fig. 5a in a higher-most position, and Fig. 5c shows the washing machine of Fig. 5b in a tilted position.

In the drawings there is shown a laundry washing machine 10 having a front wall 12 in which an access opening is formed closed by a door 14. The machine is mounted on a support 16 comprising a bottom plate 18 intended to be resting on a floor or the like and a supporting plate 20 intended to support the machine 10. A lifting device 22 is provided for raising and lowering the supporting plate 20. Fig. 4 shows one embodiment of the lifting device which makes use of two scissor type jacks 24,26 driven by electric motors 28,29.

The jacks 24,26 can be operated separately to place the supporting plate 20 with the machine 10 in the positions shown in Figs. la-lc. The loading and unloading procedure will be greatly facilitated in the position shown in fig. Ib and even more in the position shown in fig. 1 c in which the machine 10 and the access opening is tilted backwards.

The side views of Figs. 2a-c show the support 16 in the positions shown in Figs. la-c.

In order to cover the space between the bottom plate 18 and the supporting plate 20 in the various positions taken by the supporting plate 20 a number of telescopic socket plates can be provided. In one embodiment shown in Figs. la-c and 2a-c an upper socket plate 28 is formed integral with the supporting plate 20 and a lower socket plate 30 is likewise formed integral with the bottom plate 18. An intermediate socket plate 32 is formed so as to interact with the upper and lower socket plates 28,30, respectively, to form a complete

cover enclosing the space between the supporting plate 20 and the bottom plate 18. If required several socket plates 32 can be provided.

Figs 3a-c show an alternative housing enclosing the space between the supporting plate 20 and the bottom plate 18. In this embodiment a bellows cover 34 is used which is made of rubber or reinforced rubber. A suitable plastics material would also be possible.

As already indicated above, the lifting device 16, shown in fig. 4, comprises two scissor type jacks 24,26. Each jack comprises a first joint 34 fixed to the supporting plate 20 and a second joint 36 secured to the bottom plate 18. The scissor type jack also comprises a third and a fourth joint, 38,40, respectively, and to joint 38 is fixed a nut, not shown, cooperating with a screw 42 rotated by an electric motor 28,29. When the screw 42 rotates the supporting plate 20 is raised or lowered depending on the direction of rotation of the screw. In order to adapt the motor 28,29 to the associated screw 42 a suitable transmission 31,33 is disposed between the motor and the screw. As a result a motor with reduced power and size can be chosen.

With reference to Fig. la-c both jacks 24,26 are operated in order for the machine 10 to take the position shown in Fig. lb. If jack 24 is operated while jack 26 remains at rest the machine 10 will take the position shown in Fig. lc. Other desired positions may be taken by the machine 10 by operation of the jacks 24,26 differently.

Alternatively, the supporting plate 20 may be a scissor lifting table operated in a similar way as the jacks 24,26 by an electric motor. The scissor lifting table is preferably adapted to be tiltable in a forward or backward direction, for example for the machine to take the position shown in Fig. 2 c. It is also possible to replace a single scissor lifting table by two smaller ones which support the washing machine in a similar way as the jacks 24,26, i. e. a forward table supports the front part of the machine and a rear table supports the rear part of the machine 10.

In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, shown in Figs. 5a-5c, the washing machine 10 is mounted in a box-like covering 40 surrounding the lower part of the machine up to a height just below the door 14. The washing machine itself is mounted on the mounting plate 20 of the support 16 as shown in Fig. 4. In fig. 5a the washing machine is shown in its lower-most position and in Fig. 5b the washing machine has been raised to

its uppermost position. In Fig. 5c, finally, the washing machine has been tilted backwards in order to facilitate loading and unloading of the machine.

In all embodiments of the invention the washing machine 10 is raised to its uppermost position and eventually tilted for loading and unloading purposes. However, before a working process in the washing machine is initiated the machine is tilted back and lowered to its lowermost position wherein it is locked to remain in a stable condition during the duration of the working process. Arrangements for locking and unlocking the washing machine have not been shown in detail.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described herein and shown in the drawings but modifications can be made within the scope defined by the appending claims.

Accordingly, even if the embodiments shown refer to laundry washing machines the invention is likewise applicable to laundry drying machines of the front-load type.