US3848437A

US3848437A - Precleaning a token-actuated laundry washing machine

Info

Publication number: US3848437A
Application number: US00335252A
Authority: US
Inventors: Q Rottering
Original assignee: Maytag Corp
Current assignee: Maytag Corp
Priority date: 1973-02-23
Filing date: 1973-02-23
Publication date: 1974-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-19
Also published as: CA1002333A

Abstract

An optional preliminary operation in a token-actuated laundry washing machine effects a precleaning or flushing of the fluid system including the fluid container, the pump, and the drain conduits to effectively remove residual vitiated fluid from the washing machine to avoid intermixing of the residual fluid with the washing fluid for a subsequent washing operation. The apparatus precleaning is optionally effected between the insertion of a proper token and selection of the desired cycle of operations.

Description

Elite States tat [191 ottering [111 3,84,437 [451 NW. 19, Wm

[ PRECLEANING A TOKEN-ACTUATED LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: The Maytag Company, Newtown,

Iowa

[22] Filed: Feb. 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 335,252

Quintin N. Rottering, Newton, Iowa [52] US. Cl. 68/12 R, 68/23.5, 68/208, 134/58 D [51] Int. Cl. D06f 33/02 [58] Field of Search 68/12 R, 13 R, 23.5, 184, 68/207, 208, 181 R; 134/57 D, 58 D, 186

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,021,863 2/1962 Low 134/57 D X 3,063,459 11/1962 Jacobs 134/168 X 3,604,220 9/1971 Taylor 613/12 R Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Homsby Assistant Examiner-Philip R. Coe

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-William G. Landwier; Richard L. Ward [57] ABSTRACT An optional preliminary operation in a token-actuated laundry washing machine effects a precleaning or flushing of the fluid system including the fluid container, the pump, and the drain conduits to effectively remove residual vitiated fluid from the washing machine to avoid intermixing of the residual fluid with the washing fluid for a subsequent washing operation. The apparatus precleaning is optionally effected between the insertion of a proper token and selection of the desired cycle of operations.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTELKJY 1 91914 I 3 ,848.43?

SHEET 1 [IF 2 NEW 1 91974 PATENTEL. SHE 2M 2 3.848.437

TIMER CAM CHART 7.23O SECOND INTERVAL SELECT, SWITCH /2 //3 //5 //6 //7 /2 //9 WHITE x o o x o x x x x COLOR x o 0 X o O x x x BRIGHT COLORS x o o x o o x o x F DELICATES o o x x o o x x x 1% WOOL o 0 x x 0 o x x x PERM PRESS x o o o x o x x x TUB RINSE o x o o x x o o 0 OFF 0 o o o x o o o o x swn'cn CLOSED OSWITCH OPEN PRECLEANING A TOKEN-ACTUATED LAUNDRY wAsm c MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to fabric washing machines and more particularly to an optionally selectable preliminary precleaning of a token-actuated fabric washing machine.

2. Description of the Prior Art Because the fabric washing machine per se is effectively cleaned .during the washing and rinsing operations occurring therein, there has been little attention. given to the specific cleaning of the apparatus over and above that inherent in the normal operation. One patent, U.S. Pat. No. 2,611,256 discloses the dispensing of a disinfectant into the fluid at the end of the cycle. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 2,3 22,559 suggests that the tub may be cleaned at the end of the washing operation by a washing machines is especially desirable and because of token actuation novel circuitry is required.

" s uMMA nv or THE INVENTION It is an object of the instant invention to provide an improved precleaning of a token-actuated fabric washing machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an optional flushing circuitry for a token-actuated fabric washing machine.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a token-actuated fabric washing machine selectively operable for effecting an optional flushing of the fluid system prior to initiation of the washing operation.

The instant invention achieves these objects in a token-actuated fabric washing machine having means for effecting fluid supply and fluid removal concurrently for a predetermined period preceding a washing operation to flush the container, pump, and drain conduit under control of a selectively actuatable apparatusflushing circuitry.

Operation of the device and further objects and advantages thereof will become evident as the description proceeds and from an examination of the accompanying two pages of drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention with similar numerals referring to similar parts throughout the several views wherein:

Fig. 1 is an overall view of a token-actuated automatic washing machine partially cut away and sectioned to more clearly show elements of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic electrical circuit showing operational and control components of the washing machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a chart showing the sequential switching of the cam-operated switches of the electrical circuit of FIG. 2; and

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown an automatic fabric washing machine including a base frame 10 supported on a plurality of adjustable legs 11 and mounting a cabinet comprising a sidewall portion 13 and a top cover portion 14. The top cover portion 14 includes a hinged door panel 15 normally covering a recessed loading opening 16 and further includes an upwardly extending housing 19 for accommodating various control members such as programmed sequence control means actuatable by action of the coin slide 20, for example, and cycle selection switches actuatable by the rotary selector 21.

Mounted within the cabinet is a tub assembly 24 nutationally supported on the base frame 10 by an inverted tripod arrangement including tub braces 25 which are connected at the lower end to a support member 26 positioned in turn on a spherical dome of the base frame 10. The tub braces 25 are connected at their upper ends to a generally imperforate liquid container or outer tub 29 including tub cover 28. The tub braces 25 are also resiliently connected to the base frame 10 by means of centering springs 30 which resist rotation of the support member 26 relative to the base frame 10 but permit nutational movement of the tub assembly 24 relative to the base frame 10.

Revolubly mounted in the imperforate outer tub 29 is a perforate clothes basket or inner tub 31 in which is positioned an oscillatable agitator 33 for effecting movement of fabrics and washing fluid within the tub assembly 24. The imperforate outer tub 29 and the perforate inner tub 31 are substantially aligned with the loading opening 16 in the top cover 14 for permitting the operator to place fabrics within the inner tub 31 and to remove them upon completion of the cycle.

The base frame 11 also supports, through a movable motor mount 34, a reversible drive motor 35 operable in a bidirectional drive system for selectively effecting oscillation of the agitator 33 or centrifugal rotation of the inner tub 31. The drive system for selectively effecting operation of the agitator 33 and rotation of the inner tub 31 includes a double groove pulley 36 fixed to the shaft of the motor 35 and drivingly engaged with a main drive belt 39 which in turn is drivingly engaged with the main drive pulley 40. The main drive pulley 40 is drivingly connected to either the agitator 33 through a drive shaft (not shown) and the gearing of a transmission 41 or to the inner tub 31 through the housing of the transmission 41 and a clutch (not shown).

Operation of the motor 35 in a first direction effects rotation of the main drive pulley 40 for effecting oscillation of the agitator 33 through the drive shaft (not shown) and transmission gearing. Operation of the motor 35 in the opposite direction effects rotation of the drive pulley 40 and the transmission 41 through the clutch (not shown) for rotating the inner tub 31 to effect centrifugal extraction of liquid from fabrics within the inner tub.

As will be more fully shown hereinbelow the washing machine is provided with controls for programming the machine through a sequence of operations including energization of the motor 35 for operation in a first direction to effect a washing and/or rinsing function followed, at a later point at a normal cycle of operations, by energization of the motor 35 in a second direction to effect a liquid extraction and liquid pumping function.

The construction and mounting of the tub assembly 24 and the operation of the inner tub 31 and agitator 33 are more clearly and specifically shown in the following patents, each of which is assigned to the assignee of the instant invention: Scott et al U.S. Pat. No. 2,854,297; Smith et al. US. Pat. No. 2,926,136; Burkland U.S. Reissue Pat. No. Re. 25,157; and Goodlaxson U.S. Pat. No. 3,013,645.

The base frame also supports a pump 43 that is driven by the bidirectional motor 35 through the motor mounted pulley 36, the pump drive belt 44, and the pump mounted pulley 45. The pump 43 communicates with the outer tub 29 through a drain conduit 46 and is operable for carrying liquids from the outer tub 29 and pumping them toward an external drain through a drain hose 49 and standpipe 50 when the motor 35 is operated in the direction for effecting centrifugal rotation of the inner tub 31. Since the pump 43 is drivingly connected to the bidirectional motor 35 and is operable in the first and second directions with the motor 35, the pump 43 will tend to pump liquids toward the outer tub 29 through the conduit 46 when the motor 35 is operating in the direction for effecting agitation of the fabrics during the washing portion of the cycle.

Furthermore, in installations of the washing apparatus wherein a relatively long or elevated drain hose, such as 49, is provided or wherein a standpipe drain is utilized as in FIG. 1, the drain hose is capable of retaining a significant quantity of liquid at the termination of the pump-out or extraction period. This retained liquid, in the absence of provisions for effecting otherwise, tends to flow back toward the outer tub 29 as the liquid seeks a stabilized level after termination of the pumping. This backflow of liquid toward the outer tub is considered by some as undesirable since there may be intermixing of the residual vitiated washing liquid with the washing liquid for the succeeding cycle and it is therefore preferred that the intermixing be prevented as will be effected by the instant invention to be more fully described hereinafter.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is fluid supply means 51 for delivering fresh water to the washing apparatus. The fluid supply means 51 includes an electrically energized valve 53 disposed between the machine and the incoming water line 54. The valve 53 upon being energized permits water to flow to an air gap device 55 and through a flexible conduit 56 to the inlet 59 connected to the tub cover 28. The fresh water is thus directed into an upper portion of the fluid container or outer tub 29 upon energization of the water valve 53.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4 there is shown an electrical schematic circuit and related charts showing specific operation of switch members of the circuit. The circuit of FIG. 2 includes a plurality of contact pairs operable between open and closed positions by a set of cams under the control of atiming motor 89. The contact pairs function as switching means and are referred to as timer switches 91-105 whose opening and closing is shown by the cam chart of FIG. 3. The circuit Preselection switches 111-119 assume a predeter mined condition upon selection of a particular cycle of operation as shown in FIG. 4. In place of the rotary selector 21 shown in FIG. 1, the switches Ill-119 could instead be operated by a push button selector.

The circuit of FIG. 2 also includes the motor 35 comprising a start winding 123, run winding 124, centrifugal switch 125, and fuse 126. Also shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2 is the water valve 53 including a first solenoid 129 for effecting flow of cold water and a second solenoid 130 for effecting flow of hot water. The circuit still further includes a pressure switch 131 and a lidoperated switch 133. A line switch 134 is operated to the closed position by the action of the coin slide 20. The circuit may be connected to a conventional volt 60 hertz power supply by the

conductors

135 and 136.

As previously indicated the instant invention is directed to the object of providing a precleaning of a washing machine including a rinsing of the fluid container and a flushing of residual vitiated water from the fluid circuit. It is most desirable that this operation be prior to a washing operation and be optionally selectable by the operator.

In a token-actuated apparatus, however, the provision for an optional preliminary operation, such as the precleaning operation, requires novel circuitry to coordinate the token insertion and selection of the optional operation and to insure proper functioning of the apparatus, once a token is inserted, whether the optional operation is selected or not. The circuit must insure that when the machine is deenergized that it is in condition for reactuation by a token to provide a full cycle of operations regardless of whether or not the previous use included the optional operation.

Briefly, the instant invention permits operation of the washing apparatus in two general modes. The operator may insert the token, select a precleaning operation by setting the selector to Tub Rinse, and upon completion of the precleaning operation select the desired washing cycle of operations. Instead the operator may insert the token and immediately select the desired washing cycle of operations, thereby omitting the optional precleaning operation.

To more fully explain the invention, specific circuitry for each of the two modes of operation will be de scribed. First, operation will be described when the precleaning flush operation is selected in conjunction with a regular White cycle and secondly operation of the same cycle will be described when no precleaning operation is selected. The two alternatives will show the operability of the control circuit for providing a complete cycle of operations with and without the selection of a precleaning operation.

Initially, the operator places the proper token or tokens in the coin slide 20 and operates the slide to effect closing of the line switch 134. It is assumed that the timer cam stack is located in the first interval, having advanced into this increment at completion of a previous cycle of operation. An alternate to the closing of the line switch 134 by the .coin slide 20 would be the advancing of the cam stack into the first increment, for example, with the action of the coin slide.

Assuming the precleaning operation is desired, the operator locates the selector 21 to Tub Rinse" so that, according to FIG. 4, preselection switches 112, and 116 are closed while

switches

111, 113, 114, 117,

l 18 and 119 are open. With the cam stack in the first increment, and referring to FIG. 3, timer switches 92, 93, 96, 98, 100, 101 and 105 are closed while

switches

91, 94, 95, 97, 99, 102, 103 and 104 are open. Thus upon the selection of the Tub Rinse the machine will be energized for initiating the precleaning operation. Specifically, the water valve 53 and drive motor 35 will be concurrently energized to effect injection of water into the outer tub 29, and to operate the pump 43 for effectively flushing the apparatus and removing residual vitiated fluid from the pump 43 and

drain conduits

46 and 49.

The circuit for energizing the water valve 53 extends from line 135 through conductor 141, the pressure switch 131 made to the empty contact 143, closed timer switch 100, and selection switch 116 to one side of the hot water solenoid 130. The other side of the hot water solenoid 130 is connected to line 136 through conductor 144, closed line switch 134, closed timer switch 93, and through closed lid switch 133. Concurrently with energization of the hot water valve 130, the drive motor 35 is energized by a circuit extending from line 135 through conductor 141, timer switch 101, conductor 145, timer switch 105, conductor 149, preselection switch 112, and conductor 150 to one side of the motor 35. A circuit will be completed through the motor 35 for energization thereof since timer switches 96 and 92 are closed and since the other side of the motor 35 is connected to line 135 through conductor 151, closed line switch 134, timer switch 93, and lid switch 133.

This concurrent energization of the valve 53 for injecting water into the container and energization of the motor 35 for operating the pump 43 to remove fluid from the apparatus will continue for a predetermined period. The cam chart of FIG. 3 provides one timer increment or approximately 30 seconds to effect a rinsing of the inner and

outer tubs

31 and 29 and a flushing of vitiated residual fluid from the pump 43 and

drain conduits

46 and 49.

During this precleaning increment, the timer motor 89 is energized by a circuit that extends from conductor 135 through conductor 141, timer switch 101, conductor 152, the timer motor 89, and conductor 153 connected to conductor 144. Upon advancing into the second increment, cam-operated switch 93 is opened for interrupting the circuit to power line 135 and for thus terminating the apparatus precleaning operation.

In the second increment the apparatus is deenergized but conditioned for selection and initiation of a conventional washing cycle. Furthermore, the advancement of the cam stack into the second increment establishes circuitry that functions effectively as a holding circuit to require selection and completion of a full washing cycle prior to selecting and initiating another precleaning operation.

Assuming selection now of a White cycle of operations, with the cam stack in the second increment, preselection switches 111, 114, 116, 117, 118 and 119 will be closed as will timer switches 94, 98, 100, 101 and 105. Thus the circuit is operable for proceeding into the selected White cycle of operations.

More specifically, a circuit is made to the water valve 53 as previously noted except that conductor 144 is connected to line 136 through selector switch 119 and timer switch 94. The motor 35 is deenergized and thus the pump 43 is not operating so that the container 29 will fill with washing fluid. During at least a portion of the filling operation, the timer motor 89 remains energized for advancing the cam stack through the fourth increment after which the timer switch 101 will open to deenergize the timer motor 89 for the balance of the filling operation which will be controlled by the pressure switch 131. The timer cam stack will remain in the fifth increment until the pressure switch 131 indicates that the proper water level is in the outer tub 29.

Upon operation of the pressure switch 131 from the empty contact 143 to the full contact 154 a circuit will be again completed to the timer motor 89 through

conductors

155 and 152 for energizing the timer motor. The circuit to the water valve 53 is interrupted by the operation of the pressure switch 131 from contact 143 to contact 154. The motor 35 is energized to initiate agitation of the fluid and fabrics within the outer tub 29. The motor circuit extends from conductor through conductor 141, pressure switch 131 made to contact 154, conductor 155, conductor 145, timer switch 104, selection switch 111 and conductor to one side of the motor 35. The other side of the motor 35 is connected to conductor 135 through conductor 151, selector switch 119, timer switch 94, and the lid switch 133. Beginning in the fifth increment, the apparatus will proceed through a generally conventional series of operations comprising a washing and rinsing function under control of the sequence control mechanism.

If, however, the operator desires to omit the apparatus prewashing operation, the desired cycle of operations is selected after inserting the proper token. The selector is set to White," for example, instead of Tub Rinse. With any selection other than Tub Rinse, switch 112 will be open and since timer switches 102, 103 and 104 are open in the first increment, no circuit can be completed to the motor. The water valve 53, however, will be energized in the first increment for injecting fluid into the container 29. The timer motor 89 will also be energized but will be deenergized by the opening of the timer switch 101 in the fifth increment. The water valve 53 will remain energized until the pressure switch 131 indicates that the apparatus has reached the desired liquid level. If the machine becomes filled to the desired level prior to expiration of the four increments of time, the water valve 53 will be deenergized by operation of the pressure switch 131 from the empty contact 143 to the full" contact 154 and the apparatus will pause until advancement of the sequence control mechanism into the fifth increment for energizing the motor 35 and continuing through the cycle of operations as previously explained.

An alternate token-actuating circuit includes a token verification circuit of the type described in US. Pat. No. 3,165,187 issued Jan. 12, 1965 to T. R. Smith and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention. The system uses a special ticket-like token with a printed conductive pattern thereon and verifies at least one of the characteristics of token size, token material, and electrical conductivity.

While the circuit described hereinabove requires insertion of a proper token before initiating the precleaning operation, an alternate circuit is available to permit the precleaning prior to token insertion but requiring token insertion before initiation of the primary cycle of operations.

This application thus describes a system for achieving a precleaning of a token-actuated washing machine apparatus to remove residual vitiated fluid from the machine, on an optional basis as needed or as desired by the operator. The system obviates both the addition of circuitry for resetting the sequence control mechanism to the beginning increment when the optional precleaning is selected and the addition of rapid advance systems to skip the precleaning operation when not selected.

In the drawings and specification there is set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and though specific terms are employed these are used in a generic and descriptive sens only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in form and the proportion of parts as Wen 155m; substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

I. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus, the combination comprising: container means for receiving and containing washing fluid and fabrics to be washed therein; means for washing fabrics in said container means; pump means communicating with said container means and operable for pumping vitiated washing fluid therefrom; pump drive means energizable for operating said pump means; conduit means effectively connected to said container means and communicating withsaid pump means for conducting said vitiated fluid from said container means; fluid supply means for directing water into said container means; a sequence control circuit for programming said apparatus through a plurality of operations including an optional preliminary apparatus flushing operation and other operations selectable as a group to comprise a primary cycle of operations excluding said flushing operation; energizing circuit means including token-actuated circuit means responsive to receipt of a proper token and further including cycle selection means responsive to selection of a desired primary cycle of operations, said energizing circuit means being operable for energizing said sequence control circuit to initiate operation of said apparatus through said primary cycle of operations upon actuation of both of said token-actuated circuit means and said cycle selection means; optional flushing circuit means selectively actuatable by selection of said flushing operation after actuation of said token-actuated circuit means and prior to actuation of said cycle selection means for energizing said sequence control circuit to initate operation of said fluid supply means and said pump drive means to effect flow of water into said container means and through said pump means and said conduit means to flush said container means, said pump means, and said conduit means prior to initiation of said primary cycle of operations; and holding circuit means responsive to completion of said flushing operation for maintaining said laundry apparatus conditioned for selection and initiation of said primary cycle of operations.

2. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said flushing circuit means is inoperable prior to operation of said token-actuated circuit means and inoperable after operation of said cycle selection means whereby said flushing operation may be initiated only after insertion of said token and prior to selection and initiation of said primary cycle of operations.

3. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus, the combination comprising: container means for receiving and containing washing fluid and fabrics to be washed therein; means for washing fabrics in said container means; pump means communicating with said container means and operable for pumping vitiated washing fluid therefrom; pump drive means energizable for operating said pump means; conduit means effectively connected to said container means and communicating with said pump means for conducting said vitiated fluid from said container means; fluid supply means for directing water into said container means; a sequence control circuit for programming said apparatus through a plurality of operations including an optional preliminary apparatus flushing operation and other operations selectable as a group to comprise a primary cycle of operations excluding said flushing operations; energizing circuit means including token-actuated circuit means responsive to receipt of a proper token and further including cycle selection means responsive to selection of a desired primary cycle of operations, said energizing circuit means being operable for energizing said sequence control circuit to initiate operation of said apparatus through said primary cycle of operations upon actuation of both of said token-actuated circuit means and said cycle selection means; optional flushing circuit means selectively actuatable by selection of said flushing operation after operation of said token-actuated circuit means and prior to actuation of said cycle selection means for by passing said energizing circuit means to energize said fluid supply means and said pump drive means for effecting flow of water into said container means and through said pump means and said conduit means to flush said container means, said pump means, and said conduit means prior to initiation of said primary cycle of operations; and holding circuit means responsive to completion of said flushing operation for maintaining said laundry apparatus semi-energized and conditioned for selection and initiationof said primary cycle of operations.

4. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said flushing circuit means includes a switch manually actuatable by an operator of said apparatus for effecting completion of said flushing operation prior to selection and initiation of said primary cycle of operations.

5. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said holding circuit means effectively requires completion of one of said primary cycles of operations before reactuation of said flushing circuit means.

6. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said token-actuated circuit means must be activated with a proper token prior to selection and initiation of said flushing operation and wherein said flushing operation may be omitted by selecting a primary cycle of operations following insertion of a proper token.

7. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus, the combination comprising: a container for receiving and containing washing fluid; a perforate fabric basket disposed within said container; means for washing fabrics in said basket; pump means communicating with said container and operable for pumping vitiated washing fluid from said container; pump drive means energizable for operating said pump means; conduit means effectively connected to said container and communicating with said pump means for conducting said vitiated fluid from said container; fluid supply means for directing water into said container; a sequence control circuit for programming said apparatus through a plurality of operations including an optional preliminary apparatus flushing operation and other operations selectable as a group to comprise a primary cycle of operations excluding said flushing operation, said sequence control circuit including a timing mechanism having an increment representing the first increment of said flushing operation and also the first increment of said primary cycle of operations; energizing circuit means including token-actuated circuit means responsive to receipt of a proper token and further including cycle selection means responsive to selection of a desired primary cycle of operations, said energizing circuit means being operable for energizing said sequence control circuit to initiate in said first increment operation of said apparatus through said primary cycle of operations upon actuation of both of said token-actuated circuit means and said cycle selection means; optional flushing circuit means selectively actuatable only by selection of said flushing operation after operation of said tokenactuated circuit means and prior to operation of said cycle selection means for energizing said sequence control circuit to initiate in said first increment operation of said fluid supply means and said pump drive means to effect flow of water into said container and through said pump means and said conduit means to flush said container, said pump means, and said conduit means prior to initiation of said primary cycle of operations; and holding circuit means responsive to completion of said flushing operation for maintaining said laundry apparatus semi-energized and conditioned for selection of and operation through said primary cycle of operations.

8. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said flushing circuit means includes switch means for effecting energization of said pump drive means responsive to selection of said flushing operation and prevents for a timed period energization of said pump drive means responsive to selection of said primary cycle of operations.

9. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said switch means includes a selection switch operable between a first posture in which said pump drive means is energized under control of a cam-operated switch of said sequence control circuit and a second posture wherein energization of said pump drive means is prevented for a timed period after selection of a primary cycle of operations.

Claims

1. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus, the combination comprising: container means for receiving and containing washing fluid and fabrics to be washed therein; means for washing fabrics in said container means; pump means communicating with said container means and operable for pumping vitiated washing fluid therefrom; pump drive means energizable for operating said pump means; conduit means effectively connected to said container means and communicating with said pump means for conducting said vitiated fluid from said container means; fluid supply means for directing water into said container means; a sequence control circuit for programming said apparatus through a plurality of operations including an optional preliminary apparatus flushing operation and other operations selectable as a group to comprise a primary cycle of operations excluding said flushing operation; energizing circuit means including token-actuated circuit means responsive to receipt of a proper token and further including cycle selection means responsive to selection of a desired primary cycle of operations, said energizing circuit means being operable for energizing said sequence control circuit to initiate operation of said apparatus through said primary cycle of operations upon actuation of both of said token-actuated circuit means and said cycle selection means; optional flushing circuit means selectively actuatable by selection of said flushing operation after actuation of said token-actuated circuit means and prior to actuatIon of said cycle selection means for energizing said sequence control circuit to initate operation of said fluid supply means and said pump drive means to effect flow of water into said container means and through said pump means and said conduit means to flush said container means, said pump means, and said conduit means prior to initiation of said primary cycle of operations; and holding circuit means responsive to completion of said flushing operation for maintaining said laundry apparatus conditioned for selection and initiation of said primary cycle of operations.

3. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus, the combination comprising: container means for receiving and containing washing fluid and fabrics to be washed therein; means for washing fabrics in said container means; pump means communicating with said container means and operable for pumping vitiated washing fluid therefrom; pump drive means energizable for operating said pump means; conduit means effectively connected to said container means and communicating with said pump means for conducting said vitiated fluid from said container means; fluid supply means for directing water into said container means; a sequence control circuit for programming said apparatus through a plurality of operations including an optional preliminary apparatus flushing operation and other operations selectable as a group to comprise a primary cycle of operations excluding said flushing operations; energizing circuit means including token-actuated circuit means responsive to receipt of a proper token and further including cycle selection means responsive to selection of a desired primary cycle of operations, said energizing circuit means being operable for energizing said sequence control circuit to initiate operation of said apparatus through said primary cycle of operations upon actuation of both of said token-actuated circuit means and said cycle selection means; optional flushing circuit means selectively actuatable by selection of said flushing operation after operation of said token-actuated circuit means and prior to actuation of said cycle selection means for by passing said energizing circuit means to energize said fluid supply means and said pump drive means for effecting flow of water into said container means and through said pump means and said conduit means to flush said container means, said pump means, and said conduit means prior to initiation of said primary cycle of operations; and holding circuit means responsive to completion of said flushing operation for maintaining said laundry apparatus semi-energized and conditioned for selection and initiation of said primary cycle of operations.

7. In a token-actuated laundry apparatus, the combination comprising: a container foR receiving and containing washing fluid; a perforate fabric basket disposed within said container; means for washing fabrics in said basket; pump means communicating with said container and operable for pumping vitiated washing fluid from said container; pump drive means energizable for operating said pump means; conduit means effectively connected to said container and communicating with said pump means for conducting said vitiated fluid from said container; fluid supply means for directing water into said container; a sequence control circuit for programming said apparatus through a plurality of operations including an optional preliminary apparatus flushing operation and other operations selectable as a group to comprise a primary cycle of operations excluding said flushing operation, said sequence control circuit including a timing mechanism having an increment representing the first increment of said flushing operation and also the first increment of said primary cycle of operations; energizing circuit means including token-actuated circuit means responsive to receipt of a proper token and further including cycle selection means responsive to selection of a desired primary cycle of operations, said energizing circuit means being operable for energizing said sequence control circuit to initiate in said first increment operation of said apparatus through said primary cycle of operations upon actuation of both of said token-actuated circuit means and said cycle selection means; optional flushing circuit means selectively actuatable only by selection of said flushing operation after operation of said token-actuated circuit means and prior to operation of said cycle selection means for energizing said sequence control circuit to initiate in said first increment operation of said fluid supply means and said pump drive means to effect flow of water into said container and through said pump means and said conduit means to flush said container, said pump means, and said conduit means prior to initiation of said primary cycle of operations; and holding circuit means responsive to completion of said flushing operation for maintaining said laundry apparatus semi-energized and conditioned for selection of and operation through said primary cycle of operations.