DRUMS

Technical Field of the Present Invention

The present invention relates to a washing machine that are used for the wet, dry, physical or chemical treatments which is generally called "chemical washing" and "stone washing" that applied to give textile garments a worn appearance, comprising a shaft positioned horizontally or having an angle with the horizontal axis, a bearing system, a perforated drum, an outer drum tank outside the inner drum wherein the water coming out of the drum is collected, movable parts placed inside or outside the drum in order to aid the working of the machine and/or increase the performance of the machine and/or provide economy of resources used by the washing machine such as water, energy, chemicals and time, mechanical motion systems placed inside or outside the drum that are connected to said movable parts for moving said movable parts in a controlled manner.

Background of the Present Invention

The appliances described by this invention are generally referred to as "washing machines" because they can be used for a variety of purposes and can have different capacities. Appliances of this kind having a capacity between 100 to 500 kg are used in industry. These appliances are most widely used in washing and stone washing. Even though they are mostly used for wet treatments, they can also be used for dry treatments in special applications such as abrasion. There are 3-4 lifter ribs on the perforated cylindrical surface of the drum to ensure that the material moves along with the rotation of the drum. The physical effect is realized by this movement caused by the rotation of the drum. One of the treatments requiring the physical effect is the "stone washing" treatment that was first used on denim jeans in the 1970s and became more widespread in the 1980s to impart an aged, used and worn appearance to textiles. Currently, stone washing utilizing different mechanical or chemical abrasive materials is still widely used for textile products. The first and most commonly used technique in mechanical wear out, aging treatments was pumice stone. Pumice stone is a natural volcanic stone and is light in addition to being abrasive so it is advantageous in abrasion treatments because it can float in water. However, it gets crumbled in the treatment water and loses its floating ability and causes serious pollution in the environment starting with the waste water system. Some of the problems caused by the utilization of pumice stone are as follows: transportation from volcanic mines where they are produced to areas where they are used, storage, environmental issues such as transportation and dusting in the production areas, emptying the machine after abrasion treatment to clear textile of pumice stone, clearing textile of pumice stone, reloading and rewashing of textile to clear away pumice dust and transport of pumice waste to safe waste areas where it won't cause environmental pollution. In order to eliminate issues arising from use of pumice, different materials were tested and different methods were evaluated for abrasion applications. All mechanical abrasive materials cause environmental pollution. Bleach, corroding and dye stripping chemicals are used along with mechanical abrasive materials or by themselves during washing. A natural material, "enzyme," is also commonly used by itself or along with stones during washing. As it is a natural material, it is accepted to be the least harmful chemical used in denim washing. Even though different materials, methods, techniques and chemicals have been used, very few changes have occurred in the past 30-40 years in terms of industrial type stone washing machines having perforated cylindrical drums. During the abrasion treatment, mechanical abrasive materials wear down areas they come in contact with such as the drum and the ribs and the chemicals used cause chemical corrosion. In order for the drum to be resistant to chemical corrosion, the inner surface of the drum is covered by stainless steel; however, no method has been able to provide a satisfactory solution to this problem.

One of the first solutions that was tried in order to replace pumice stone was placing materials having abrasive properties on the surface of the drum. For this purpose, Wadek has proposed in their 1981 application FR2514793 (1983-04-22) the most suitable solution possible which was covering the interior of the drum used for stone washing with abrasive grindstones. Afterwards, similar systems were proposed by Juergen in 1987 (DE3710723, 1988-09-29), Wasinger in 1994 (US5471692, 1995-12- 05) and Kingsford in 2001 (W003006728, 2003-01-23) wherein grindstones are placed in the drum. A different approach was proposed by Sights in 1996 (US5782111, 1998-07-21) wherein the object was to distress textiles using nails placed on the surface of the drum.

One of the machine having abrasive feature for grinding textile without pumice stone loading on to the drum, with adding abrasive pieces on the drum surface, that one of the proposals is described by §IM§EK, the owner of the inventions described in this file, in the patent application WO2017 / 151074A1 (08.09.2017) that title is "Emery Stone Washing Machine". The use of the abrasive grinding wheels as a grinding machine has been described in the aforementioned document by SIMSEK to form protrusions on the drum surface as described in EP-2 229 475 B1 (12.07.2017). Application studies were carried out with the system described by WO2017 / 151074A1. Although the desired results were achieved in these applications, the conditions for practical application could not be met.

However, none of the above mentioned suggestions were able to be utilized in practical applications. The reason for that is that the length of process time required to reach the desired results using these systems is 10 times longer than those using pumice stone. This means that in order to obtain the capacity of one pumice stoneusing machine, ten machines with abrasive drums need to be used. One of the reasons for that is that while grindstone can be produced to have higher abrasive characteristics than pumice stone, there is a big difference between the two in terms of the surface area that comes in contact with the textiles. When a sufficient amount of pumice stone is added in with the textile to undergo abrasion treatment, the pumice stone gets crumbled down to dust and spreads over the surface of the textile. Therefore, as the drum rotates and the textiles rub against each other, the textile is both abased and works as an abrasion agent. In contrast, when abrasive quality is imparted on the surface of the drum, the abrasion effect is only realized when the textiles that come in contact with the abrasive drum surface. If a drum having a diameter of 1500 mm and a depth of 1000 mm is used for abrasion 50 pairs of pants, and each pair of pants is assumed to have a surface area of 1 m ² ; while the abrasion surface using pumice stone is 50 m ² , the drum area is only 3 m ² . In addition, because as the abrasion strength of the drum surface increases it becomes more adhesive which prevents the slipping of the textile against the surface and decreases the abrasion effect. For this reason, abrasion treatments using abrasive drums take much longer than those using pumice stone and cannot be utilized despite all the other advantages. As it is not possible to increase the surface area of the drum, the solution is to increase the friction between the abrasive surface and the textile in the time when they are in contact. To achieve this, a dynamic movement needs to be created inside the drum aside from the rotation of the drum itself that will increase friction. This can be provided by movable parts placed within the drum. For example, grindstones in the shape of rollers rotating at 200-500 rpm would be able to increase the speed of abrasion imparted onto the textiles by hundreds of times. The textile will move across the abrasive movable parts during the rotation of the drum and therefore the desired abrasion result will be achieved hundreds of times faster. Parts that are movable in ways other than rotation will create a dynamic movement that will increase the physical effect obtained only by the rotation of the drum by tens and hundreds of times and decrease treatment time and as a result increase efficiency and decrease costs by providing savings in time, energy, manpower and resources and provide a more environmentally friendly process.

Movable parts placed within the drum will increase the physical effect provided by laundry washing appliances and therefore increase the quality of the treatment while reducing treatment time and chemical consumption. One of these effects is rubbing the laundry against each other. In 2001, Fraser (US2002029594, 2002-02-07) has proposed a system providing the rubbing effect within the drum and this system was also adapted for commercial use. This system had some issues due to its mechanical structure and coupled with its costs, it had limited application. Its mechanical structure makes it even more difficult to adapt to industrial size appliances than to household appliances.

Movable parts rotating or vibrating on the drum surface will increase the rubbing effect and the quality of washing. A machine having rotating brushes will be able to clean floor mats and other hard material much faster. Similarly, rollers having plastic protrusions will create rubbing effect on the laundry by rotating slowly.

Movable parts can be moved using a wheel system placed outside of the drum. Movable parts placed outside of the drum can also eliminate the imbalance caused by the uneven distribution of the laundry within the drum during the spin cycle and the resulting vibration of the machine. As is known, front-loaded horizontal washing machines providing a spin cycle have a balance system that can be summed up by two principles. The most commonly used balance system utilizes ball that are free to move within a circular tube or channel placed at the rotation axis of the drum, wherein these marbles can be displaced to provide a counterweight to the imbalance. Many application options are suggested for this system and some of these have been applied to the front, the rear or the front and the rear of the drum. The system is based on the principle of the marbles being displaced by the eccentric motion of the drum in a manner to provide a counterweight to a possible imbalance in the drum. Another balancing system known and used in the art is addition of external weights to provide a counterweight. Obtaining a counterweight by adding a weight was first proposed by Kahn in 1945 (US2534267, 1950-12-19) and then developed further in 1946 and 1948 (US2534268 and US2534269). This technique was further developed by Starr in 1958 (US3117926, 1964-01-14 and US3214946, 1965-11-02) and by Pellerin in 1992 (US5250660, 1994-01-25). In 1998, the inventor of the present invention, Simsek, developed a water-balance system that presents an improvement over systems providing balance by adding water to three carrier ribs in the drum by adding water to water compartments placed in the front and the rear of the drum (US6510715, 2003-01-28). The proposed system provides a much more sensitive balance system because the imbalance is balanced from the front and the rear. From 2000 onwards, this system has been successfully utilized in high capacity industrial washing machines having spin cycles. Even though the water-based balance system proposed by Simsek is very successful in terms of providing balance, addition of water is required constantly because it is not possible to remove the water added during the spin cycle. Balance water is transferred to the balance cells by the opening and closing of the valves so the balancing process takes time. Another problem is water consumption. While the water used for balancing is very little compared to water used for washing, water is a scarce resource and must be used economically. Another weak point is the volume put aside for the water cells for providing balance in the front and the rear of the drum. While this isn't a problem for industrial size washing machines since they don't have constraints on their sizes, the sizes of household washing machines are limited by standards and so the space put aside for the balance cells is viewed as concession from the volume of the drum. The solution proposed by the present invention provides a system like ball system tahat applied on high capacity industrial washers where the balance weights are displaced. As this displacement happens very fast, the spinning process will be much faster compared to water-based balance systems, can be maintained at high sensitivity throughout the spin cycle, the volume required to put aside for the balance system will be much smaller and there will be no need for water consumption.

Summary of the Present Invention

The invention proposes machines that are generally known as front-load washing machines. The machines are designed to provide mechanical and/or chemical treatments in wet, and in some situations dry, conditions to the materials loaded into the drum. Generally, the physical effect provided by a drum rotating in a water tank to materials inside the drum such as mixing, dropping, rotating and rubbing aid in increasing the effect of the chemicals added to the water. Said machines can be produced for many purposes, starting from "small scale" machines having a drum volume of 40-100 L for household use and can go all the way up to industrial scale machines having drum volumes up to 5000 L. While they are generally referred to as washing machines, they are used as dry cleaning machines in applications where chemical solutions are used instead of water, as washing machines in household and industrial applications and can also be used to wash materials other than laundry in textile applications, mechanical applications such as abrasion of textiles and chemical applications such as dyeing. In washing machines that are defined as laundry machines, the perforated drum is placed in a water tank that is fully sealed against water leakage from the cover or around the drum shaft. While the drum is defined to be fully sealed, it is important to note that there are inlets to and outlets from the tank such as water and solid or liquid chemical inlets to the drum, an overflow system in case the water level in the drum rises excessively, and steam outlets.

The present invention comprises systems that are suitable for adapting to any type of laundry treatment appliance. Therefore, the phrase "washing machine" indicates all machines providing wet, dry, chemical or mechanical treatment in a perforated drum. However, the description and figures depict a medium-scale industrial machine in order to exemplify the applications. Unless specified otherwise, the figures depict a drum having a diameter of approximately 1600 mm and a depth of approximately 600 mm. Based on these measurements, a cylindrical drum would have a volume of 1200 L. For example depicting small scale machines for household use, the drum has a diameter of approximately 575 mm and a depth of approximately 4500 mm, having a gross volume of 110 L and net volume of 100 L. the difference between gross and net volumes is a feature of the invention and will be explained below. The aim of the invention is to increase the physical effect provided by the rotation of the drum and decrease the physical effect cause by uneven weight distribution during the spin cycle. For this purpose, movable parts that are movable inside and outside the drum have been added to the drum. Movable parts inside the drum increase the physical effect required by the treatment while the movable parts outside the drum prevent the oscillations and vibrations caused by the uneven weight distribution during the spin cycle. In this manner, the drum is no longer just a shaped canister, but gains the characteristics of a functional machine by itself.

The addition of movable parts inside and outside the drum also requires drive sources and drive transfer means (mechanical systems) to be added as well. It is clear that these systems are required to drive and control the mechanical systems. It can be deduced that, even though it is possible for said systems to operate between the drum and the water tub that also named as outer drum, i.e. in water, applications of this kind have associated problems. To overcome these problems, it must be ensured that outside volume of the drum where said systems are situated are as less water as possible.

This is possible by the system that described by the SIMSEK's patent EP- 2 229 475 B1 (12.07.2017) that by reducing water drain rate from the drum by decreasing water passage hole areas and pump this reduced draining water using the higher pumping capacity pump from the bottom of the water tub through circulation line into the drum. So the volume between inner and outer drum is wet but no full of water.

Movable parts inside the drum creates physical effects in addition to those created by the rotation of the drum and are used to increase the physical and chemical performance inside the drum. Said movable parts are placed inside the drum, which increase the desired physical effects on the materials placed within for treatments such as washing, dyeing, abrasion, polishing and brushing.

The proposed system of the invention provides rubbing in washing machines, brushing in machines where hard materials such as dust mats are washed, abrasion of textiles without the need to use environmentally harmful pumice stone. The system proposed by the invention makes possible the addition of parts that are capable of rotation, oscillation, vibration or eccentric movements and axial movements in horizontal and vertical directions when driven by a wheel movement system.

These wheel systems together with the pulley belt systems that are connected to the movable systems and parts in the drum are made by the water resistant material and also have water resistant physical conditions against chemicals in the tub water.

If the machine has a spin cycle, the addition of movable parts outside the drum provides a new solution to the problem of oscillations and vibrations caused by uneven load distribution during the spin cycle. In this method, movable parts can be moved in such a way to provide a counter weight to the imbalance in the drum. In this manner, the loss of balance during the spin cycle can be compensated consistently.

The moving parts inside the drum aid in the operation of the machine and improve the performance of the treatments done within as well as decreasing the use of resources such as water, energy, chemicals and time.

Drum (104) rotates 30-40 rpm during washing cycles. If the wheel (404) run on the wheel path (403) that placed on inner surface of the water tub (101) by turning almost 4-6 times more than drum rotate speed. This is good for washing conditions, but if same machine is also use for washing without abrasive conditions running of the rollers must be stopped. Also same conditions need during extraction. High spinning speed during extraction is not good for mechanical wheel system. It is also not good if textile still have contact with abrasive roller surface during extraction. So we have to stop movements in the drum. This is possible to move wheel path pieces (405) away from the wheels (404).

Depending on the treatment process happening in the drum (104), the water therein may also contain added chemicals, insoluble solid pieces and water soluble substances transferred to the water from the material inside the drum. Especially in industrial applications, as the use of highly acidic or basic bleaching substances leads to corrosive conditions, the use of devices and materials not produced from noncorrosive materials is undesirable. Even if a reduced water conditions be provided in the volume between the water tub and the drum, a sealed volume formed by noncorrosive materials need to be provided for said devices.

It is inescapable that movable systems inside the tank come in contact with the water containing chemicals and insoluble solid materials and that their operation be hindered due to the water. The invention in EP- 2 229 475 B1 proposes solutions to avoid submerging of the movable parts completely in the liquid and the movement system in a practical an economic manner so that the movement system operates smoothly.

If a portion of the water tub can be cleared of water permanently, it is understood that this portion has no practical function. For example, if water does not reach up to the wheel shaft within the tank, then there is no more need to use of conventional sealing systems, such as sealing elements and felts, to seal the bearings used for wheels.

The most important difference is the difference in size. Household washing machines that are designed for individual use having a drum diameter up to 600 mm and defined as "small scale", commercial washing machines that are designed for laundromats and other commercial uses having a diameter between 600 and 1000 mm and defined as "medium scale" and industrial washing machines designed for industrial use having a diameter between 1000 and 2000 mm and defined as "large scale" all provide treatment applications to materials having essentially the same features. When textiles undergo treatments in industrial washing machines, they are subjected much greater physical effects than in household washing machines.

As there is no limit on the outer size of industrial washing machines, any and all sizes required by the system of the invention may be applicable without limit. However, the outer sizes of household washing machines are fixed. Due to these restrictions, it may not be possible to utilize some feature of the system of the invention in household washing machines.

Movable parts inside the drum and stone washing machine are described below. Movable parts (250) add a dynamic character to the drum. Addition of movable parts inside drum (104) to the inside of the drum in order to increase the mechanical and chemical effects onto the materials being treated will increase the performance of the treatment and decrease operation time. An example to the practical applications may be given methods for movable rollers wherein the movable small parts are cylindrical rollers (201) that can complete a full rotation around their axes. When rollers are placed as close to the surface as possible onto perforated cylindrical drum sheet (106) or cylindrical drum sheet protrusions (261), the dynamic character of the drum will be increased without giving up drum volume. When said rollers are abrasive for use in abrasion treatments they are referred to as abrasive rollers inside drum (202) and when they are used for rubbing, mixing and felting treatments they are referred to as eccentric rollers inside drum (204). The embodiment that will stand out the most will be industrial stone washing machines comprising abrasive grindstone rollers (206).

Another movable part system is vibrating abrasive stones (222) placed on inner drum surface. Abrasive stones attached on vibration platform (224) that fixed on drum surface via springs (223). These platforms (224) have extensions (225) pass through drum surface. Water tub has tooth (228) as sheet bars spread all around the inner water tub surface that high enough to get contact with said extensions (225). So during drum rotation extensions of the vibration platform (224) get in contact with said tooth (228) and tooth pull extension up to release. When extension released kinetic energy load with spring released to vibrate platform (224) with abrasive stones.

Circulation system with abrasive particles is explained below. One of the advantages of the invention is that when said machine is used as an industrial stone washing machine, it is possible to pump long-lasting abrasive particles (501) into drum (104) along with the water draining from the drum and collected in water collection tank and pumped back into the drum by pump (112). A large portion of long-lasting abrasive particles (501) that are pumped into drum (104) with water function as abrasion agents between the textiles being stone washed, while the rest exit drum (104) from drum holes (105) along with water. Accumulation of abrasive particles outside the drum will not cause any problems as the areas sensitive to the presence of abrasive particles. Long-lasting abrasive particles (501) draining from drum (104) with water will be passed through an abrasive particle separation system/cyclone (502) to be separated from water and collected in a particle collection tank (506). As the process of loading long-lasting abrasive particles (501) to the drum as long as the abrasion treatment continues, long-lasting abrasive particles (501) will be mixed into the water being pumped into the drum via particle feed screw (507). At the end of the operation of circulation system with abrasive particles (500), said abrasive materials will be collected in particle collection tank (506) to be used in the next washing. As the abrasive material does not leave the machine, it does not cause environmental issues. This particle collection system is also good for collect small pieces of pumice stones to use with or without abrasive particles. This is also useful to collect waste pumice stone particles and sand. Brief Description of the Technical Drawings

Figure 1 demonstrates a perspective view of rollers having a brush shape placed top rollers placed top of the drum protrusions mounted into roller housings and also balancing system that have movable pieces freely rotatable around drum according to the present invention.

Figure 2 demonstrates a perspective view of rollers in the shape of a round brush placed top of the drum protrusions mounted with shaped sheet stopper that placed under the rollers according to the present invention.

Figure 3 demonstrates a simplified perspective view of a stone washing machine comprising rollers respectively connected to and driven by wheels running on the inner drum surface, a drum being placed in a outer drum, a abrasive particle separation and injection system on a circulation line according to the present invention.

Figure 4 demonstrates a perspective view of the particle separation cyclone, particle feed screw in the particle collection tank together with the cyclone along with particle collection tank of an abrasive particle circulation system according to the present invention.

Figure 5 demonstrates a perspective view of the particle collection tank; particle feed screw of particle collection tank with full of abrasive particles according to the present invention.

Figure 6 demonstrates a perspective view of covering of the protrusive surface with abrasive sheets together with rear surface of the drum by (A) smooth and (B) protrusive abrasive sheets according to the present invention.

Figure 7-9 demonstrates a perspective view from a sectional front sheet with rollers and shaped sheet under the rollers of an indented drum having rollers having cylindrical grindstone pieces and that are attached to gear pulleys in groups of three rotated by wheels rotating by contacting the periphery of the outer drum with the rotation of said drum and fixed grindstones in-between said rollers according to the present invention.

Figure 10 demonstrates a detailed close-up perspective with roller bearing from a shaped sheet under the rollers of an protrusive drum having rollers top of the said protrusions having cylindrical grindstone pieces and fixed grindstones in-between said rollers according to the present invention.

Figure 11 demonstrates a perspective view of a three roller group wherein brush rollers are used, central roller is connected directly to a wheel and a roller bearing is show in sectional view according to the present invention.

Figure 12 demonstrates a perspective view of different roller structures and shapes wherein said rollers are driven along with neighboring rollers by a central roller with inflatable rubber wheels rotating by travelling along the periphery of the outer drum, with the details of roller with wheel directly connected to the central roller and with different grindstone or brush parts of the rollers according to the present invention.

Figure 13 demonstrates a perspective view from a sectional front sheet of an indented drum having rollers having buckled grindstone pieces and that are attached to gear pulleys in groups of three rotated by wheels rotating by contacting the periphery of the water tank with the rotation of said drum and coarse grindstones in- between said rollers according to the present invention.

Figure 14 demonstrates a perspective view of mounting of buckled grindstone pieces rotating with neighboring rollers driven by a central roller having a rubber wheel rotating by travelling on the periphery of the tank to a carrier part according to the present invention.

Figure 15-20 demonstrates a perspective view of the mounting of protrusive grindstone pieces placed on vibration platforms in communication with the teeth placed on outer drum surface via a spring mechanism with vibrating platform extensions according to the present invention.

Figure 21 demonstrates a detailed perspective view of three rollers and a rear perspective view of rubber wheels rotating by travelling on outer drum wherein gear pulleys connected to rollers also rotate neighboring rollers via attached belts according to the present invention.

Figure 22 demonstrates a rear perspective view of a drum and a detailed perspective view of movable pulleys along with gear pulleys wherein rubber wheels rotating by travelling on the periphery of a outer drum rotate gear pulleys attached to rollers and rollers grouped together by connected belts by travelling around a movable pulley according to the present invention.

Figure 23-24 demonstrates a rear perspective view of a drum inside an outer drum near its rear cover sheet and a rear perspective view outside of drum wherein said drum comprises rollers connected to gear pulleys in groups of three driven by wheels rotating by contacting the periphery of the outer drum with the rotation of said drum according to the present invention.

Figure 25-27 demonstrates a rear perspective view of a drum inside an outer drum wherein said drum comprises rollers connected to gear pulleys in groups of three driven by wheels rotating by contacting the wheel path pieces housing on periphery of the outer drum with two shafts and bearings moved by pneumatic piston according to the present invention. Figure 28-31 demonstrates a perspective view of balancing system from different views to show details of the balancing weight pieces that move in balancing path by weight wheels as shown roller bearings.

Detailed Description of the Present Invention

Movable parts (200) enhancing the physical effect within drum (104) according to the present invention is explained below. All of the treatments done in drum (104) require physical effect and dynamism in varying degrees. This is the reason for the rotation of the drum. Increasing the movement within drum (104) will increase the efficiency and decrease the operation time of wet and dry treatment operations such as washing, dyeing, abrasion, polishing and brushing.

The main function of movable parts inside drum (200) that are placed inside drum (104) is to increase the physical effect provided by the rotation of the drum. For example, in a front-load washing machine with drum (50) the rubbing effect obtained by the friction between the materials and dropping materials from the top of the drum during the rotation of the drum will be increased by placement of brush rollers (203) in the drum. In addition, it also becomes possible to obtain physical effects that cannot be obtained only by the rotation of drum (104). For example, while it is not possible to impart an abrasion effect to the material only by the rotation of drum (104) without adding abrasive materials into the drum of a stone washing machine, addition of movable abrasive parts in the drum will make this possible.

In this way, movable parts (200) added into drum (104) perform functions such as, mixing, shuffling, rubbing, fluffing, abrasion and brushing the materials undergoing treatment in the drum.

The physical effect that until today had been produced only by the rotation of drum (104) will increase significantly by the movement of parts suitable for the treatment in drum (104). Compared to treatments using pumice stone or similar abrasive materials in an industrial stone washing machine (153) providing abrasion on textile surfaces, abrasion treatments performed by rotating grindstones/abrasive rollers (202) or vibrating grindstones/abrasive parts inside the drum (104) will take a much shorter time. In this way one stone washing machine according to the invention will be able to perform the task of two or three conventional stone washing machines in the same time period.

Protection of movable parts system outside drum (141) and devices chosen for this system from water according to the present invention is explained below. Any type of device can be produced in a way that allows it to be operational under water and even under pressure. It is possible to apply isolated units (143) that are produced in this way and enclosed in closed volumes to prevent contact with water so that they are totally isolated from water to a conventional drum (104) operating in an outer drum (101) in order to drive said movable parts (250). It is possible to ensure that all parts of the system have been produced to have required protection to operate under water. In such an embodiment, the entire system is operational under water. However, their application is limited due to the difficulties associated with their use, maintenance and high costs.

In spite of this, it is not necessary for all movable parts systems (141) and movement transfer systems (400) to be placed water tub (101) of front-loading washer extractor with drum (50). If the area where these systems are most suited to be placed is not suitable to be, using isolated units (143) produced to be water resistant in these places will solve the problem in a more cost-effective way.

Prevention of movable parts system (141) and movement production and transfer systems (400) from contacting water according to the present invention is explained below. The most important reason why movable parts (250) are the subject of the present invention is that in conventional washing machines it was nearly impossible to apply mechanical movement transfer systems (400) placed outer drum (101) to a drum (104) rotating in an outer drum (101) normally fully filled with water. The present invention allows the operation of movement transfer systems (400) needed to move movable parts systems inside/outside the drum in a controlled manner.

The elements that should not be operating submerged in the washing water draining from drum (104) to outer drum (101) from among of movable parts system (141) and other parts belonging to movement transfer system (400) need to be placed in said volume (100).

Isolation applications for water-proofing may also be used to prevent damages to devices in volume where water be able to reach. There is a big difference between temporary contact with water for a short time and continuous contact with high water pressure and operating submerged under the water. An aim of the invention is to ensure that movable parts systems (400) outside drum are kept away from water as much as possible. This eliminates the possibility of getting affected by water. This is possible by applying the patented system that explained in EP-2 229 475. In this case, the water level in the water tab (101) can be controlled by the system described in said patent. Thus, water is saved and water inside the water tub is hard to reaching to cover the front and rear side surface of the drum. Thus, it will be possible to operate the mechanical moving systems of the drum the rear side surface of the drum without being affected from the water, although the drum is completely in the water tank.

Some parts like pneumatic cylinders that is not possible to get touch with water placed outside of the water tub.

Outer drum (101) placed outside drum (104) in currently available front-load horizontal washing machines serve the purpose of collecting water draining drum (104) as well as filling water into said drum. In order to limit water consumption, the distance between outer drum (101) and drum (104) is kept as small as possible. It is also important that the volume of outer drum (101) below drum (104) level is as small as possible in terms of water consumption.

However, since the water level in the outer drum becomes controllable by the Eco- Drum system that described in EP-2229475, the system proposed by the invention may allow the collect of some water under the drum (104) without completely cover the perforated surface of the drum. On the other hand the system of the present invention proposes a large storage volume under drum (104) where all the water in the machine can be stored without contacting the drum. As the water volume under drum (104) will be controlled by the system and can be drained by the pump, its size is irrelevant to the amount of water consumption. Additionally, it is not necessary for a structure that will only be used to collect water draining drum (104) to fully envelop said drum (104). A water collection tank (501) surrounding drum (104) only in the manner to collect water draining said drum (104). Until today, the main reason for the closed volume outside the drum to be referred to as outer drum (101) was that it was filled with water. However, in the system proposed by the present invention, the volume surrounding the drum should never be filled with water. Because these volumes are mostly empty and only serve the purpose of directing the water draining the drum towards the discharge outlet, it is more appropriate to refer to said volumes as water tub instead of outer drum (101) to avoid confusion.

Movable parts inside drum according to the present invention are explained below. The conditions and solutions for the operation of movement transfer system (400) placed outside of the drum to provide movement to movable parts inside drum (200) or movable parts outside drum (250) were discussed above. The conditions that need to be satisfied in order for movement transfer system (400) to be mounted outside drum (104) in a water-filled environment to operate within water in an outer drum (101) and the conditions for creating empty volumes on outer surface of the drum (104-s) for movement transfer system (400) so that they have to operate in contact with water but don't sink under water were disclosed above. It is clear that movable parts inside drum (200) and all types of related parts that will also be mounted inside the drum need to satisfy the conditions of operating under water. Also movable parts placed in the balancing system (300). It was mentioned above that systems mounted outside the drum (250, 300, 400) can operate under water when the necessary conditions are provided. The parts that are dangerous or not possible to operate under water are isolated against water using known techniques, or placed higher level from the water formed by methods proposed by the invention of the patent EP- 2229475. The object of mounting a movement transfer system (400) outside drum in water or in empty volume is to ensure the operation of movable parts inside and outside the drum that are aiding in the operation of the machine.

A preferred result of the invention is mounting movable parts (200) inside the drum that are driven by a movement transfer system (400) which is mounted outside the drum in order to create a physical effect and enhance the physical effect imparted by the movement of the drum on the materials being treated in the drum.

Rollers inside the drum according to the present invention are explained below. Movable parts (200) that are mounted inside drum (104) to change the physical effect provided inside the drum are rotating parts whose rotation speeds can be adjusted according to the treatment operation. To change the rollers rotating speed is possible by changing diameter of the wheels and pulleys. There are obvious technical advantages and practical application areas provided by choosing the rotating parts to be rollers (201) that are placed lengthwise inside the drum. Because rollers (201) which are placed onto cylindrical drum sheet (106) side by side covering the inside of the drum can be rotated at desired speeds or not at all as required, the provide the dynamism that is the object of the invention.

As such, one of the best examples of the application and results of the "movable parts inside the drum" system is choosing movable parts inside drum (200) as cylindrical or eccentrically-profiled rollers (201) rotating around an individual axis. Rollers (201) placed in-between roller bearings (205) located at rear drum cover plate (110) on the drum shaft (103) side and at front drum cover plate (109) on the drum opening side, parallel to the rotation axis of the drum can be rotated by movement transfer system (400) mounted on the front or rear face of the drum to create or enhance the physical effect required by the ongoing treatment operation within the drum. Rollers (201) do not need to be rotating in the same direction all the time. Depending on to the drum rotation direction rollers also rotate in different directions. In cases where it is dangerous for rollers (201) to rotate in only one direction due to technical reasons, they can periodically change direction by changing rotation direction of the drum.

A brushing machine according to the present invention is explained below. A good example for fully rotating movable parts are abrasive rollers (202) placed inside the drums of industrial stone washing machines (153). However, if brush rollers (203) are used as rotating parts inside drum as shown in Figures 1 and 2, new treatment operation applications that were not possible to achieve with conventional washing machines will become available. Round brush rollers (203) will provide different abrasion effects on the materials that are not possible to obtain by abrasive stones.

The surface of the cylindrical movable parts generally referred to as brushes may be covered by protrusions of different materials, shapes and sizes. Said protrusions may be anywhere between micron-sized steel fibers to plastic protrusions of 1-5 mm diameter and have different diameter, size and hardness.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, rollers inside drum (201) can be in the form of brushes made from materials used for producing brushes, such as fibers, steel, plastic etc., having different shapes, hardness and thickness to brush the materials in the drum in order to clean, wear down, felt, shine and/or shape them. The definition of brush used here is meant to be a general definition and indicates parts having protrusions made of any type of flexible or semi-flexible material on their surfaces.

Round brush rollers (203) shown in Figure 2 can be used for creating surface effects such as felting and wearing down on textile products, as well as for cleaning rubber mats or similar hard and semi-hard materials by brushing during washing. During rotating, rolls try to roll the laundry around. To avoid this rolling action pieces of stopper (209) have to place under the rollers. To prevent the materials being treated to get tangles in the rollers. Even simply placing a shaped sheet roller (209) under the roller to serve as roller housing will prevent textiles from going under the roller. Moreover, fixed grindstones (266) mounted next to the abrasive roller will block the material without needing a special buffer. For example, Figure 1 shows round brush rollers (203) mounted side by side in the drum. Fixed brushes (208) having a semi- cylindrical shape are mounted between the rotating rollers in the manner that the brush protrusions of the fixed brush go in-between the brushes of the brush round rollers. The purpose of said fixed brushes (208) is to prevent the materials from getting tangled with the brush rollers. For example, both the rotating and fixed brushes shown in Figure 1 are made from flexible-hard plastic material. When these brushes are used in a washing machine, they will speed up the effects of the chemicals and shorten the washing time. They also provide rubbing effect to the materials and allow the desired cleaning result to be obtained much more quickly.

Aside from being round, the brushes may be egg-shaped, indented or elliptical. Brush rollers having eccentric surfaces will impart a stronger physical effect to the materials. Even if the brush rollers have indented surfaces, the indentations of the fixed brushes will be placed in-between the indentations of the brush rollers to prevent the materials from getting tangled.

If the indentations of brush rollers that are mounted side by side pass in-between each other, there will be no need to use fixed brushes. A washing/dyeing machine according to the present invention is explained below. Brush rollers (203) will be especially useful for washing heavily stained and dirty materials such as work uniforms and table cloths. Using brushes having a special surface structure along with chemicals will provide faster and more effective cleaning.

Another feature of rollers (201) is that said rollers can be mounted to and dismounted from roller bearings (205). Therefore, the changes required by different types of treatments can be realized quickly.

When the rotation axis of rollers (201) is offset from the central axis of the cylinder, the rotation of said roller (201) will be eccentric. Rotation of eccentric rollers (204) will provide a beating effect to the materials in addition to the friction effect. The same effect may be obtained by elliptical rollers as well. In conclusion, when eccentric rollers (204) whose surfaces rotate eccentrically are used in washing machines, they will provide a rubbing effect on the laundry.

A stone washing machine according to the present invention is explained below. Stone washing treatments constitute a significant portion of treatments performed in industrial washing machines. And industrial stone washing machines are the most widely sold type of industrial washing machines. Generally pumice stone is used as the abrasive material in stone-washing, which is known to be the most problematic type of washing. The reasons for that can be summarized as: the problems associated with obtaining, transporting, storing, loading and disposal of pumice stone residuals and environmental issues caused by waste water containing pumice stone sand; and health issues caused by dust and debris buildup in the facility. The present invention eliminates these downsides of stone-washing. In the patent EP-2229475, the abrasion process using the pumice stone in the protruding drums in which the Poly-Rib system is applied is significantly increased. As the protrusions placed on the surface of the drum increase the mechanical effect, both the abrasion time is shortened and the consumption decreases as the pumice stones are kept inside the drum even if they are crushed. However, there are some difficulties in the application of the Eco-Drum system described by the same patent and required for the application of these inventions. As is known, pumice stone and pumice sand has a abrasive effect. To reduce water level in the volume of the outer drum is possible with the circulation pump system described by the Eco-Drum system. Since it can be transported with water, pumice stones in size that will pass through the drum holes and the pumice sand will be pumped through the same circulation system and pumped back to the drum by means of the pump. In this case, the pumice particles also wear the pump propeller while passing through the pump. In addition, pumice particles tend to accumulate in areas where water flow is weak and tend to over time. To solve these problems cyclone separation and circulation system (500) that explained later have to be applied. So all that abrasive particles separate before pump and inject circulation water after pump.

Another disadvantage of stone-washing using conventional abrasive materials is that the abrasive materials also abrade the surfaces they come in contact with and in time render some of the parts unusable. Abrasive materials used in the drum will render the drum sheet unusable in 2 to 3 years. The present invention eliminates this problem. If the surfaces of the movable parts placed in the drum contain the required abrasiveness, it will be possible impart the desired abrasion effect to the textiles being treated.

A stone washing machine having additional abrasive particles according to the present invention is explained below. It is possible to use different types of abrasive materials in stone washings. When abrasive particles comprised of different sizes such as granules, pieces, particles and dust are rotated in the drum along with textiles, they will wear down the surface of the textiles and create the desired abrasion effect. However, as with pumice stone, these abrasive materials cause cleaning and environmental issues after being discharged from the machine along with water.

While the present invention does not fully eliminate these issues, it does significantly decrease their impact. If long-lasting and durable abrasive particles (501) are used as abrasive materials in circulation system with abrasive particles (500) of the present invention and said long-lasting and durable abrasive particles (501) are reused multiple times until they become small enough to be discharged from the machine along with water, said system will achieve its purpose. This system makes use of the features of water tub (500) and water circulation line (113).

Figure 3 demonstrates a schematic view of a stone-washing machine wherein abrasive particles (501) enter the drum along with water and mix in-between the textiles and function as abrasive agent while a fraction of abrasive particles (501) is drained from the drum (104). Both the drum and water tub (101) should be designed to prevent long-lasting and durable abrasive particles (501) from settling at certain spots. Long-lasting and durable abrasive particles (501) tend to settle and collect at spots where water flow is slow. When sedimentation starts at a certain spot, the amount of settled material increases rapidly and hardens over time to form a structure that is very hard to clean. For this reason, it is not possible to use systems utilizing long-lasting and durable abrasive particles (501) with conventional washing machines comprising outer drums (101). So first of all high pressure washing system have to be placed on the inner surface of the water tub to wash all corners periodically. Pumice stone, which is used as abrasive material in these conventional washing machines, has a porous structure which allows it to be easily float by water and does not cause this problem. However, due to its structure, pumice stone crumbles quickly and is taken out of the machine by water and forms sediments in infrastructures such as water channels where water flowrate is slow. In a structure where the system is implemented, fast water flow must be ensured at every surface water comes in contact with. To achieve this, it will be beneficial to use a high pressure washing system wherein water contact with drum (104).

Abrasive particles (501) in sizes of granules, pieces, particles or dust that can be carried by water in the circulation system are transferred to water tub (101) via the drum holes along with water. Water needs to be cleared of long-lasting and durable abrasive particles (501) before it is pumped back into the drum from tub (101). It is possible for long-lasting and durable abrasive particles (501) to be pumped back into the drum along with water; however, this has two drawbacks. When long-lasting and durable abrasive particles (501) pass through the pump, they will quickly wear down the pump propellers and therefore it will be inevitable that pump problems arise frequently. Additionally, the abrasive quality of long-lasting and durable abrasive particles (501) will decrease due to their contact with pump propellers.

Separation of abrasive particles according to the present invention is explained below. As shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, it will be beneficial to place an abrasive particle separation system/cyclone (502) after the tub (101) and water accumulation tank outlet and before the pump (112) inlet in order to separate abrasive particles (501) from water.

One of the most practical among the conventional methods of separating particles of a size float by a fluid from said fluid is a cyclone system (500). One or multiple abrasive particle separation cyclones (502) placed in parallel will be suitable for continuous and low-maintenance separation.

Water draining from water collection tank (501) will enter said abrasive particle separation system (502) before being pumped back into the drum. Pump (112) draws water out of cyclone water outlet (503) and helps clear the water of abrasive particles in the cyclone. Long-lasting and durable abrasive particles (501) exit the cyclone from cyclone particle outlet (504) under the cyclone and water exits from cyclone water outlet (503) connected to pump inlet largely free of solid particles. Long-lasting and durable abrasive particles (501) separated from water in the cyclone are collected in particle collection tank (506) to be reused. As long as stonewashing operation continues in drum (104), long-lasting and durable abrasive particles (501) will need to be returned to said drum for reuse. There needs to be a particle injection-feed screw (507) system for mixing said long-lasting and durable abrasive particles (501) collected in particle collection tank (506) to the water on circulation line (113) that is directed to drum (104) at the pump (112) outlet throughout the stone-washing treatment. While mixing long-lasting and durable abrasive particles (501) into the water, as the water will be at high pressure at the pump (112) outlet, a unidirectional check valve needs to be used at the entrance to fully prevent or at least control high pressure water entering the particle inlet. For this reason, it is possible to add long-lasting and durable abrasive particles (501) to the high pressure circulation line (113) at the pump outlet via a star feeder valve or a particle injection-feed screw (507) system. As shown in the Figures, a particle injection-feed screw (507) system placed under particle collection tank (506) will enter circulation line (113) at the pump (112) outlet from particle inlet to circulation line (508) to mix the particles into water and injects abrasive particles (501) into the pipeline at the pump (112) outlet with the rotation of the feed screw driven by screw motor (505). In this way, abrasive particles (501) are returned to the drum along with water. After stone-washing treatment is over, said long-lasting and durable abrasive particles (501) are collected in particle collection tank (506) to be used in the next stone-washing treatment. After injection of abrasive particles (501) into drum (104) is over, the water circulation is continued to collect the particles remaining in the drum and ensuring that the drum and the materials undergoing treatment are completely cleared of abrasive materials. While abrasive particles (501) are being cleared, the required chemical washing will also be performed. Therefore, the time needed for the drum and textiles to be cleared of particles will not be wasted.

It is known that in a cyclone system, the size of particles that can be separated is determined by the design of the system. Small particles will remain to be carried by water. The discharge water needs to be passed through a filter if no particle exit from the machine is desired.

A stone-washing machine comprising a drum covered with abrasive sheets (264) according to the present invention is explained below. A drum wherein stone washing operation is performed with abrasive particles (501) may have inner surfaces having abrasive character. To achieve this, the inner surfaces of the drum are covered with abrasive materials (264). When the inner surfaces of the drum are covered with abrasive sheets (264), the drum will wear down the material that is being stone-washed therein by its rotation.

There are two advantages to covering the inner surfaces of the drum with abrasive sheets (264). Abrasive materials are produced to be resistant to abrasion due their function and production methods. While abrasion treatment with abrasive particles (501) is ongoing within the drum, said abrasive particles (501) together with the materials undergoing treatment will come in contact with drum interior (104-n) and wear down the surface of said drum interior (104-n). Whereas, if the inner surfaces of the drum are already covered with abrasive material (264), the material constituting the drum sheet will not be worn down and it will take a long time for the abrasive covering to be worn down and said covering can be replaced when needed.

While not as effective as abrasive hard particles (265), abrasive sheets (264) placed on drum interior (104-n) will also provide abrasive effect to the textile coming in contact with said surfaces and therefore will shorten the time needed for the treatment operation. In conclusion, covering drum interior (104-n) surfaces with abrasive materials will be an advantageous embodiment. Figure 6 shows covering of the drum surface in a reversible manner, using different types of covering materials. Said embodiment may be applied along with other stone-washing features of the invention. A drum having abrasive movable parts mounted within may also be covered with abrasive material as discussed above. All embodiments having abrasive features disclosed herein may be used together, simultaneously.

Abrasive movable parts according to the present invention are explained below. Movable parts inside drum (200) having abrasive character make the systems described by the present invention most suitable for stone-washing applications.

The desired abrasion effect on the textile can be achieved even if there are no additional abrasive materials inside the drum by covering the surface of movable abrasive parts (260) mounted on drum interior (104-n) with abrasive materials, mechanically or chemically treating the material constituting the surface of said movable abrasive parts (260) to impart abrasive character or choosing an abrasive material such as grindstone as surface material for said movable abrasive parts (260). Mechanical abraders added to drum (104) along with textiles will provide wearing down of textiles by the friction created by the textiles rubbing against each other with the rotation of the drum. In the case where movable parts are abrasive, abrasion by friction will take place between the textiles and said movable parts inside the drum.

Rollers (201) having grindstone pieces (207) mounted thereon according to the present invention are explained below. One of the most important embodiments of the invention is having movable abrasive parts (260) mounted on drum interior (104- n) be in the form of abrasive rollers (202).

It is also advantageous for the material constituting the surface of abrasive rollers (202) to be grindstone pieces (207).

When the surface of roller (201) is covered by an abrasive material to obtain abrasive rollers (202), both the material undergoing treatment and the abrasive material will be worn down in time. The sharp corners of abrasive hard pieces (265) used as abrasive agent that are attached to the surface by adhesives will get rounded out and lose its abrasive quality. While this problem can be ameliorated by applying multiple layers of covering, having a new and sharp part coming out from under an abrasive hard part (265) that has broken off as in the case of grindstone is not comparable to the number of cycles.

Conventionally, stone-washing of denim jeans is done in multiple steps. The first step is stone-washing with abrasive materials to impart a base design onto the jeans. Afterwards, the pants are dry-treated to impart the desired shapes thereon to. One of these treatments is an application where fold marks are created on desired sections of the pants. This treatment application may entail creation of lines or marks on the jeans using laser technology or small grindstones rotating at high speeds. Abrasive grindstone rollers (206) rotating inside the drum will have the same effect on the jeans.

One of the most important embodiments of the movable parts inside drum system is abrasive grindstone rollers (206). Figures 7-10, 13-18 and 20 show different examples of abrasive rollers (202) mounted on drums (104) of industrial stone washing machines (153). It is preferable for abrasive rollers (202) to have a grindstone surface; however, it is not required. It is also possible to use abrasive rollers (202) produced by methods to obtain abrasive materials known in the art, such as covering by an abrasive material other than grindstone and shaping metal to have an abrasive surface. Either way, using abrasive rollers (202) mounted inside the drum that can rotate at hundreds of revolutions per minute for providing fast and homogeneous stone-washing of textiles without need for pumice stone will solve a very important problem in the textile industry. Rollers (201) may be produced from solid grindstone (206). Cylindrical abrasive grindstone rollers (206) having support materials added during the production stage to make them more durable may be mounted in the drum. Rollers (201) do not have to be produced from solid grindstone. Rollers (201) may comprise cylindrical (210) or spherical/buckled (211) grindstone pieces (207) mounted on a mechanical structure. Spherical/buckled grindstones (211) may be preferred in order to prevent formation of different levels of abrasion at the folds of the textiles contacting the rollers and to impart different designs to the textile. Spherical/buckled grindstones (211) may be preferred even though treatment time increases because abrasion in desired shapes can be obtained. Figure 12-14 shows cylindrical abrasive grindstone rollers (206), rollers comprising cylindrical grindstone pieces (210), rollers comprising spherical/buckled grindstone pieces (211) and abrasive rollers (202) covered by protrusions such as brushes (203) for use as abrasion agent. Figure 12 also exemplifies different abrasive pieces that can be used on the rollers.

Mounting cylindrical abrasive rollers (202) that are bed housing from two ends by roller bearings (205) and that can rotate around its axis into the drums of stonewashing machines will speed up the stone-washing process and provide many advantages to the textile industry. Factors such as the number of rollers (201) inside the drum, the degree of abrasiveness of the abrasive material on the surface of the rollers and the surface speed depend on the wheel pulley and roller diameters provide a wide variety of options that allow for customization of the treatment based on the type of material being treated, the stone-washing effect desired and the target quality of the end product. An embodiment of an industrial stone washing machine comprising abrasive grindstone roller (206), abrasive and felting brush rollers (203), fixed grindstone pieces (216) mounted on drum interior (104-n) and a circulation system with abrasive particles (500) along with smooth or indented abrasive sheets (264) covering the drum surface will provide the user with many options with which to customize treatment formulas compared to treatments performed using pumice stone only.

An exemplary embodiment of a stone washing machine of the invention as shown in detail in Figure 14 comprises abrasive rollers (202) comprising cornered grindstone carriers (212) serving as a shaft between roller frontal bearing (205-f) and roller rear bearing (205-r) having abrasive grindstone rollers (206) of measurement and shape suitable for said grindstone carriers (212) mounted thereon to or covered by grindstone pieces mounted side by side to cover the surface of said shaft. The reason why grindstone carriers (212) carrying and realizing the rotation of the grindstones have a cornered structure is to facilitate the rotation of the grindstones. Quadrangular grindstone carriers (212-4) and hexagonal grindstone carriers are preferable due their suitability for grindstone production methods and their ability to function as a wedge. However, it should be understood that any known techniques for facilitating the rotation of grindstones along with said carriers may be utilized.

While it is possible for the grindstone mounted onto said carriers through the central hole therein to be a single piece, it is preferable that they be in multiple parts. As the different sections of grindstones covering the drum interior (104-n) surface from rear to front will be worn down at different rates, the whole part will need to be replaced based on the most worn down section. However, if pieces of grindstone are used, it is possible to only change the most worn down grindstones. As abrasive grindstone rollers (206) are made of long single pieces, they are not durable against bending and have high risk of breaking which requires them to be produced using special techniques. Additionally, a single piece of grindstone will be harder to mount that multiple grindstone pieces (207). For these and similar reasons, it is preferable to use multiple grindstone pieces (207) to form abrasive grindstone rollers (206).

The features and montage of the rollers according to the present invention are explained below. Grindstone carriers (212) may be quadrangular grindstone carriers (212-4) as shown in Figures 12 and 14 or hexagonal grindstone carriers as well as any polygonal shape acting as a wedge for the holes in the grindstones.

Movable parts in the form of rollers (201) are reversibly mounted on roller bearings (205) located at drum rear section (110) on the drum shaft (103) side and at drum frontal section (109) on the cover side in the drum, parallel to the drum axis where they can rotate around the axis of said bearings. It is advantageous for the rollers to be mounted and dismounted by a practical mechanism. Therefore, it is possible to use any mechanism known in the art for practically mounting and dismounting rollers from two roller bearings (205).

Roller frontal bearing shafts (213) providing the connection between roller bearings (205) located at drum rear section (110) drum frontal section (109) can be mounted into roller bearings (205) by the force extended by roller frontal bearing pressure springs (215) in roller frontal bearing shaft housing (214) and rotatable lock abrasive grindstone rollers (206) between the bearings.

Grindstone pieces on roller (207) may be cylindrical, spherical, buckled, conical, eccentric or indented.

Fixed grindstone pieces (216) located inside the drum according to the present invention are explained below. Abrasive character can be imparted to the inner surface of the drum by methods other than covering said drum with abrasive sheets (264). One such method is covering the drum with fixed grindstone pieces (216). As shown in Figures 7-10 and 13 covering the area of the drum in-between abrasive grindstone rollers (206) with fixed grindstone pieces (216) instead of abrasive sheets (264) as shown in Figures 6 will have different advantages. Fixed grindstone pieces (216) having an indented structure possess a larger abrasive surface area to come in contact with the textile than abrasive sheets (264). Also, it is possible to only change the parts that have been too worn down to function.

It was explained above that while it is possible to use a machine wherein the drum only comprises fixed grindstone pieces (216) mounted thereon for stone-washing, it would not be very efficient. However, mounting fixed grindstone pieces (216) onto the drum interior (104-n) surface in a drum comprising a circulation system with abrasive particles (500) and/or abrasive rollers (202) will aid the stone washing treatment process. If the embodiment comprises a circulation system with abrasive particles (500), abrasive hard parts (265) that have broken off from the grindstone covering of the inner surface of the drum will join abrasive particles (501) and join said system. When grindstones have been worn down, they can be replaced with new ones.

Stone washing treatment in the drum may be performed dry or generally with the addition of water and chemicals. Abrasive rollers (202) may be placed on the cylindrical surface of the drum side by side in the manner that no space is left between them. This way the whole area of cylindrical drum sheet (106) will be movable and abrasive and it will be possible to decrease the time needed for the stone washing treatment by adjusting the speed of the rollers. In order for abrasive rollers (202) to wear down the surface of the material, there needs to be friction between said material and rollers. If abrasive rollers (202) placed side by side are all rotated in the same direction, the materials sitting thereon would be carried by the rollers in the direction of rotation. In this case, wearing down of materials decreases significantly. This problem may be saved by rotating abrasive rollers (202) placed side by side in opposite directions. Because abrasive rollers (202) placed side by side and rotating towards each other will move in a way to trap the textile between them, they may cause harm to the textile. To apply this different pulley-belt configuration must be applied as shown on Figures 22. For this example, wheels (404) placed on a rib may be connected to the adjacent geared pulleys for transferring movement to rollers (414) on two sides as shown in Figures 22. If connected in this manner, the belt will zig zag between the pulleys which will increase the number of gears in contact with the pulley and the pressure exerted on the pulley by the belt. The non- geared side of the belt moves along a movable idler pulley (416) that is movable on the shaft via movable idler pulley bearings (415) to prevent said belt from affecting the rotation of the following pulley while rotating a pulley. The wheel rotates half of the rollers on both sides while the other half are rotated by a wheel placed in the other drum rib space. Therefore, rotating adjacent rollers in opposite directions, the advantages of which were explained above, will be possible.

Placement of abrasive rollers (202) side by side in the manner that no space is left between them will also cause movement transfer parts (401) placed outside the drum to drive said rollers, such as gears, racks and pinions, timing belt pulleys, poly- V belt pulleys, smooth belt pulleys and V belt pulleys, to have a crowded mechanical structure. In order to free up space in movement transfer system (400) and to prevent the materials to be dragged on the rollers, material holding parts (218) are mounted in-between the rollers. Said material holding parts (218) may be made of any indented material but are preferably made of abrasive materials such as fixed grindstone pieces (216) or fixed brushes between rollers (208).

Fixed grindstone pieces (216) placed between abrasive rollers (202) will function to wear down the materials being treated as well as prevent said materials from being dragged and rolled by the rollers and aid said materials in rotating along with the drum.

Fixed grindstone pieces (216) placed between abrasive rollers (202) may be of different sizes depending on the space between said abrasive rollers (202). When abrasive rollers are placed close together, only a fixed grindstone rod (217) can fit between them. But when abrasive rollers are placed farther apart, larger fixed grindstone pieces (216) can fit there between. Like the grindstones on the abrasive rollers, fixed grindstone pieces (216) are mounted to be replaceable. If they are large in size, it would be advantageous for them to have coarse fixed grindstone (219) structure.

The textile need not be wet for stone washing treatment. However, as the weight of the textile will increase when it is wet, the contact-friction force between the textile and fixed grindstone pieces (216) and movable abrasive parts (260) will increase and therefore the wearing down effect will increase. The harder the materials press down on movable abrasive parts (260) especially, the more the abrasiveness will increase. For this reason, wet stone washing is more efficient than dry stone washing. By that logic, as the total load inside drum (104) increases, the amount of contact the material has with the abrasive surface decreases while the wearing down effect on the material will increase. However, when the amount of water increases above optimum level, the excess water will cause the weight of the textile to decrease due to buoyancy and in addition will serve as a buffer zone between the textile and the abrasive surface when the textile is carried up by drum (104) and dropped down onto said abrasive surface and decrease the wearing down effect caused by the friction between textile and abrasive surface with force of dropping. Placing water channels (220) in large fixed grindstone pieces (216) so that excess water can be discharged during impact of textile to decrease the buffer effect of water will provide faster and stronger contact between the textile and the abrasive surface and therefore increases the wearing down effect. While wetting the material that is desired to be stone washed, i.e. worn down, and even presence of a small amount of water in drum (104) along with the textile is beneficial for the efficiency of stone washing, excess water will have an adverse effect on the efficiency of the treatment. Therefore, the presence of water accumulation tank is very important. The amount of water in drum (104) may be adjusted using said water accumulation tank and therefore the wearing down of the material can be controlled.

After the stone washing treatment, the textile will need to be washed with the addition of chemicals. It is beneficial for the stone washing and chemical washing treatments to be completed in the same machine, one after the other without delay. When it is determined that the desired effect on the textile has been achieved during the stone washing treatment, movable abrasive parts (260) are stopped and the amount of water within drum (104) is increased to decrease the abrasiveness of the inner surface of the drum so that chemical washing treatment can proceed without changing the abrasion effect on the textile. The ability to continue washing operation in the same machine as the stone washing operation will be advantageous in terms of cost, manpower and time.

Vibrating movable parts according to the present invention are explained below. Movable parts inside drum (200) may be in the form of vibrating parts (222) vibrating on a linear plane. The movement of grindstones mounted on drum interior (104-n) surface instead of fixed grindstone pieces (216) will contribute to the dynamism desired to be created inside drum (104).

In this way, vibrating parts (226-260) having abrasive quality placed between abrasive rollers (202) will contribute to the stone washing treatment process. It is known that eccentric movements are not as efficient as rotating systems in terms of mechanism and energy consumption. In spite of this, providing different abrasive movements inside drum (104) will provide many options to achieve the desired effect on the material.

If the surfaces of said vibrating parts (222) are abrasive, they will also function to wear down the material like the abrasive rollers that are rotating axially. Using vibrating parts (222) in the form of grindstones attached to vibrating part platforms (224) mounted onto drum (104) via vibrating part connection springs (223) as shown in Figure 15-20 instead of grindstones affixed onto drum (104) of industrial stone washing machine (153) and having said platforms (224) and extensions (225) that pass through drum surface. An elastic glove (226) attached in the said extension hole around said extension to block water draining from this extension holes (227). Water tub has extension sheet bars (228) like tooth that spread all around the inner water tub surface that high enough to get contact with said extensions. So during drum rotation extensions of the vibration platform (224) get in contact with said tooth and tooth pull extension backwards up to release. When extension released kinetic energy load with spring in order to vibrate platform with abrasive stones. Said vibrating parts (222) can be used along with abrasive rollers in the drum or by themselves without any additional movable part. The structural features and protrusive structure of drum (104) according to the present invention are explained below. In order to increase the activity obtained from movable abrasive parts (260) mounted on drum interior (104-n) surface in drum (104), especially for stone-washing machines, it will be necessary to increase the surface area of the movable part, to mount more movable abrasive parts (260) on drum interior (104-n) surface, and in order to do that, increase the surface are of drum (104) where movable parts are mountable. As exemplified in Figures 1-3, 6-11, 13, and 15-21, adding structures such as cylindrical drum sheet protrutions (261) and/or cylindrical drum sheet recesses (262) on cylindrical drum sheet (106) will increase drum interior (104-n) surface area in contact with the material and the surface area of the movable parts that can be mounted thereon. On the other hand these protrusive structure also have the advantages of the Poly-Rib system described by the patent EP- 2 229 475. The height of the said protrusions formed by the drum sheet is shorter than 6% of the drum diameter as indicated by the said patent. Since this protruding structure created inside the drum prevents the drum holes from clogging by the material, there will be no unexpected major changes in the drain water discharge from the drum. In this way, the flow rate out of the drum will flow from the drum to the water tank and pumping system.

The advantages of mounting additional abrasive parts in-between abrasive grindstone rollers (206) mounted on drum interior (104-n) surface in an exemplary stone-washing machine were explained previously. Said additional abrasive parts can be fixed grindstone parts (216) or vibrating parts (222) wherein grindstones can move in a vibrating motion. In such an embodiment, the advantage of increasing drum interior (104-n) surface by indentations is making space for movable parts and additional parts to be used with them.

This way, cylindrical drum sheet protrusions (261) will ensure that the textile is spread evenly across drum interior (104-n) surface and that the textile moves along with drum (104) and will also result in an increase in the contact surface area between movable abrasive parts (260) and/or fixed abrasive parts (266) due to increase in surface area thereof.

Water channels (220) on the indented surface of the grindstones according to the present invention are explained below. Stone-washing is a treatment done in the presence of water. Increasing the weight of the textile by wetting will increase the friction between the textile and the abrasive material and lead to an increase in efficiency. However, water may be present even when it is not needed. When the textile falls on a fixed grindstone part having a flat surface, the water between the textile and the grindstone will act as a buffer and reduce the friction between them, causing a decrease in wearing down of the textile.

Therefore, in order to prevent water from acting as a buffer during the contact of textiles and fixed grindstones reducing the wearing down effect of the grindstone, it would be advantageous to use grindstones having an indented structure (219), namely using grindstones comprising water channels (220) through which excess water can be drained from the surface of the grindstone.

Having water channels (220) on the grindstones will also increase their textile gripping ability. Therefore, fixed grindstone pieces (216) or vibrating grindstone parts (222) placed in-between abrasive rollers (202) will prevent the textile from being dragged by said abrasive rollers (202) and ensure that the effect of friction is fully realized.

The structure described has a similar function to water channels in the tires of vehicles. Similar to how the road grip of a tire decreases as the tire gets worn down and the risk of the vehicle slipping on a wet road increases; the grip of grindstones will decrease as they are worn down.

Water channels (220) on the grindstones forming water channels (524) on the drum surface according to the present invention are explained below. Drum holes in hollows (262) in between protrusions (261) in drum (104) being located only in a designated region of the drum and methods to ensure that water from other regions of the drum can flow to said holes without coming up against any obstacles was explained above. When fixed grindstone pieces (216) having water channels (220) are placed side by side on the drum so that said water channels (220) are connected to each other they will form water flow path (262) on the drum surface. Water channels (262) on the drum surface were previously disclosed to be formed by grates; however, they are also possible to be formed by water channels (220) on grindstone pieces. When grindstones having water channels (220) are placed side by side in such a way that said water channels (220) correspond to each other, they will form water channels (524) covering drum (104) from one end to another.

Drum peripheral movement transfer wheel (404), drum peripheral wheel connection belt/chain (407) and drum peripheral wheel connection pulley/gear (406) structures according to the present invention are explained below. Figures 11, 12, 17, 18, 25-29 show exemplary embodiments of driving movable parts using the main motion drive system providing rotation of drum (104). Moving system proposed by the invention comprises a drum peripheral movement transfer wheel (404) connected to movable parts placed inside and/or outside the drum (200, 250) directly or via a movement transfer system, wherein said wheel (404) rotates along with drum (104) and contacts the inner surface of water tank (500) inner surrounding surface of the drum or a water tank peripheral movement transfer wheel path (403) connected to the water tank. Wheel path (403) can be in a split structure. 4 or more wheel path parts (405) are together form complete circle as shown in Figure 25, 26, 27-A, 27-B. Wheel path parts (405) assemble on the water tank with movable bedding system

(409) that move said parts towards to wheel to get contact and move to water tub (101) inner surface to release wheel in the beddings via motion shafts. This movement can do with a motion system such as pneumatic piston or motor systems

(410) that placed outside of the water tank. This chassis and transfers the rotation of drum (104) to movable parts inside drum (200) to provide motion thereto. Moving path parts (405) come together to form complete circle path (403) to rotate wheel during stone washing. However, chemical washing and extraction should be carried out after stone washing. We don't need abrasive effect during chemical washing and also extraction. So movements inside the drum have to be stopped. On the other hand during extraction speed of the drum is too high for this mechanical moving system. If the wheel (404) diameter ratio to diameter of the wheel path (403) is 6 times and spinning speed of the drum is 500 rpm means wheel spinning with 3.000 rpm. So this speed will harm the textile. By pulling the wheel-path parts (405) backwards, the wheel (404) and the wheel path (403) are separated from each other so that the moving parts in the drum with the wheels (404) are stopped. To move wheel path parts (405) has at least two shaft (408) placed in holder bedding (409). To pull the wheel path pieces backward pneumatic piston (410) placed outside of the outer drum have to connect with wheel path pieces (405).

Said wheels may be made of a material such as rubber or plastic and may be connected to movable parts directly or via a movement transfer system. In order for the wheels to move within cylindrical water tank (500) sharing the same rotation axis with drum (104), said wheels may press against the inner wall of water tank (500) or the wheel path by a spring system. In an embodiment where wheels are connected to drum (104) inside water tank (500) and move along the periphery of said water tank (500), when a movement transfer system such as a drum peripheral wheel connection pulley/gear (406) is used to connect movable parts with the wheel, the rotation motion obtained by the wheel is transferred to the roller via a suitable drum peripheral wheel connection belt/chain (407), and it possible to speed up or slow down the rotation by adjusting the pulley/belt ratio. The rotation obtained by the wheel may be converted to linear motion using a system such as an eccentric rack and pinion movement system (408).

Traveling, carrying and guiding apparatus for the movable parts of the balancing system according to the present invention are explained below. The systems applied to industrial washing machines and household washing machines will differ in terms of scale. This balancing system is very well known system as pendulum system or balls system mostly applied on small scale free standing washer extractors. There are too many patents and patent applications for this system. The difference that explained here is only application method to placed and move balancing pieces around the drum. Mostly all other applications movable parts placed outside of the rear or front drum sheet. Because space around the inner drum and outer drum have to be limited by two reason. First one is water consumption. If volume between inner and outer drum is more than what mechanical condition need machine needs more washing water and more chemical and also more energy. And second important reason is limited outer dimensions for household washing machine to have maximum capacity within minimum machine volume. But because of the system described by the patent EP- 2 229 475 volume between inner and outer drum will not important for concerning of water consumption. Because said patent describe how to empty outer volume of the drum. If the outer volume is empty volume of the outer drum will be bigger. Outer dimensions of the industrial washing machines are not that much important as household washing machines. So said balancing system placed around drum cylinder instead of front and rear. In fact the system is extremely simple. If machine need totally 40 Kg counter balance weight each balancing system that placed front and rear side have to have 20 Kg weight. If each weight pieces (301) are 0.5 Kg that means each system has 20 weight pieces.

Balancing system as shown in Figure 28-32 each weight pieces have 4 wheel (303) such as bearings at each corner and placed in between two cannel type circular wheel path (305) to guide said pieces to turn around the drum. Each weight move freely in the same path. So during drum turning by the earth gravity all of them collect together at the bottom of the drum. Each weight piece has rubber or similar elastic bumper or spring (304) to avoid knock to each other. During spinning, drum starts to oscillate around an eccentric rotation center. So this means cylindrical drum center and drum rotation center are different. Than weight pieces move in the circular part to overlap rotation center and drum center. If some of them create counter load in the required position, the others are equally divided on the circular path for their balance so that they do not distort the balance.

List of Parts

The following numerals are referred to in the detailed description of the present invention: