Clothes washing and drying machine

1. A cleaning apparatus comprising

a washing machine, a drying machine, a chute structure, and a control circuit;

wherein the washing machine, the drying machine, and the chute structure are interconnected to form a composite prism structure;

wherein the control circuit controls the operation of the washing machine, the drying machine, and the chute structure;

wherein the washing machine is configured for use in washing clothing;

wherein the drying machine is configured for use in drying clothing;

wherein the chute structure comprises a chute channel, a chute door, and a chute motor;

wherein the chute channel is a negative space that is formed through the chute structure;

wherein the chute door sets the chute structure into a position selected from the group consisting of an open position and a closed position;

wherein the chute motor controls the operation of the chute door;

wherein the chute door is a disk-shaped structure;

wherein the chute door forms a barrier that blocks passage through the chute channel of the chute structure;

wherein the chute door is a flexible structure;

wherein the chute door is a fluid impermeable structure;

wherein the chute door is formed as a kerf bending;

wherein the control circuit controls the position of the chute door;

wherein the control circuit positions the chute door such that passage through the chute channel is blocked when the chute structure is in the closed position;

wherein the control circuit positions the chute door such that passage through the chute channel is enabled when the chute structure is in the open position.

2. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1

wherein the washing machine is in a superior position relative to the chute structure and the drying machine;

wherein the drying machine is in an inferior position relative to the chute structure and the washing machine;

wherein the chute structure is in an intermediate position relative to the washing machine and the drying machine;

wherein the chute structure forms a channel that allows clothing to fall from the washing machine to the drying machine when: a) the washing machine has completed an operating cycle; while simultaneously, and b) the drying machine does not contain clothing.

3. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 2

wherein the washing machine has a rectangular block shape;

wherein the washing machine is a mechanical device;

wherein the washing machine is an electrically powered device;

wherein the control circuit controls the operation of the washing machine;

wherein the washing machine forms a connection with the chute structure such that the washing machine will enable the clothing contained in the washing machine to fall into the chute structure after the operating cycle is complete.

4. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 3

wherein the drying machine has a rectangular block shape;

wherein the drying machine is geometrically identical to the washing machine;

wherein the drying machine is an electrically powered device;

wherein the control circuit controls the operation of the drying machine;

wherein the drying machine is configured for use in drying clothing after they have been washed in the washing machine;

wherein the control circuit senses when a load of clothing is contained in the drying machine;

wherein the drying machine receives clothing from the chute structure when the control circuit determines that: a) the drying machine does not contain a load of clothing; and, b) the control circuit senses that the washing machine has completed the operating cycle for a load of clothing.

5. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 4

wherein the chute structure is a tubular structure;

wherein the chute structure has a rectangular block shape;

wherein the chute structure is an electrically powered device;

wherein the control circuit controls the operation of the chute structure;

wherein the chute structure attaches to the washing machine to form a composite structure;

wherein the chute structure attaches to the drying machine such that the washing machine, the drying machine, and the chute structure form a composite structure;

wherein the chute structure forms a channel between the washing machine and the drying machine;

wherein the channel of the chute structure transports the load of clothing contained in the washing machine to the drying machine;

wherein the chute structure uses gravity to transport the load of clothing contained in the washing machine to the drying machine;

wherein the control circuit puts the chute structure into the open position in preparation for transporting a load of clothing from the washing machine to the drying machine;

wherein the control circuit puts the chute structure back into the closed position after transferring the load of clothing from the washing machine to the drying machine.

6. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 5

wherein the control circuit is an electric circuit;

wherein the control circuit controls the operation of the washing machine;

wherein the control circuit controls the operation of the drying machine;

wherein the control circuit controls the operation of the chute structure;

wherein the control circuit coordinates the operation of the washing machine with the chute structure;

wherein the control circuit coordinates the operation of the drying machine with the chute structure;

wherein by coordinating the operation of the washing machine with the chute structure is meant that the control circuit: a) enables the washing machine to release its load of clothing into the chute structure; b) enables the chute structure to receive the load of clothing and to transport the load of clothing from the washing machine to the drying machine by setting the chute structure into the open position; and then subsequently, c) enables the washing machine to receive a new load of clothing;

wherein by coordinating the operation of the drying machine with the chute structure is meant that the control circuit: d) enables the drying machine to receive a load of clothing from the chute structure; e) resets the chute structure into the closed position after transferring the load of clothing into the drying machine; and, f) enables the drying machine to dry the newly received load of clothing.

7. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 6

wherein the drying machine further comprises a load sensor;

wherein the load sensor is a force sensor;

wherein the load sensor mounts in the drying machine such that the load sensor detects when a load of clothing is contained in the drying machine;

wherein the control circuit monitors the load sensor to determine if there is a load of clothing in the drying machine;

wherein the control circuit has an interlock in place that prevents the transfer of a load of clothing from the washing machine to the drying machine when the load sensor detects that a load of clothing is in the drying machine.

8. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 7

wherein the control circuit comprises a logic module, a washing machine communication link, a drying machine communication link, a chute motor controller, and an operating interface;

wherein the logic module, the washing machine communication link, the drying machine communication link, the chute motor controller, and the operating interface are electrically interconnected.

9. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 8

wherein the center axis of the chute channel aligns with the center axis formed by the composite structure formed by the washing machine, the drying machine, and the chute structure;

wherein the chute channel forms the physical chute that guides the load of clothing from the washing machine to the drying machine;

wherein the chute channel forms a passage with the washing machine that allows the chute channel to receive a new load of clothing from the washing machine;

wherein the chute channel forms a passage with the drying machine that allows the chute channel to deposit a new load of clothing into the drying machine.

10. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 9

wherein the chute motor is an electric motor;

wherein the control circuit controls the operation of the chute motor;

wherein the control circuit uses the chute motor to change the position of the chute door along a track;

wherein the control circuit uses the chute motor to deploy the chute door to form a barrier across the chute channel to put the chute structure into the closed position;

wherein the control circuit uses the chute motor to retract the chute door away from the chute channel to put the chute structure into the open position.

11. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 10

wherein the logic module is an electric circuit;

wherein the logic module is a programmable circuit;

wherein the logic module controls the operation of the washing machine;

wherein the logic module controls the operation of the drying machine;

wherein the logic module controls the operation of the chute structure;

wherein the logic module controls the operation of the chute motor controller;

wherein the logic module controls the operation of the operating interface;

wherein the logic module coordinates the operation of the washing machine with the chute structure;

wherein the logic module coordinates the operation of the drying machine with the chute structure;

wherein by coordinating the operation of the washing machine with the chute structure is meant that the logic module: a) enables the washing machine to release its load of clothing into the chute structure; b) enables the chute structure to receive the load of clothing and to transport the load of clothing from the washing machine to the drying machine by setting the chute structure into the open position; and then subsequently, c) enables the washing machine to receive a new load of clothing;

wherein by coordinating the operation of the drying machine with the chute structure is meant that the logic module: d) enables the drying machine to receive a load of clothing from the chute structure; e) resets the chute structure into the closed position after transferring the load of clothing into the drying machine; and, f) enables the drying machine to dry the newly received load of clothing.

12. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 11

wherein the washing machine communication link is a communication link between the logic module and the washing machine;

wherein the logic module uses the washing machine communication link to control and coordinate the operation of the washing machine;

wherein the drying machine communication link is a communication link between the logic module and the drying machine;

wherein the logic module uses the drying machine communication link to control and coordinate the operation of the drying machine.

13. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 12

wherein the chute motor controller is a motor controller;

wherein the chute motor controller controls the operation of the chute motor;

wherein by controlling the operation of the chute motor is meant that: a) the chute motor controller controls the direction of rotation of the chute motor; and, b) the chute motor controller controls the speed of rotation of the chute motor;

wherein the chute motor controller receives instructions regarding the direction and speed of rotation of the chute motor from the logic module.

14. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 13

wherein the operating interface is an interface structure of the control circuit;

wherein the operating interface visibly displays relevant information regarding the status and operation of the cleaning apparatus;

wherein the operating interface receives as input externally provided instructions regarding the operation of the cleaning apparatus.

15. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 14

wherein the operating interface comprises a display device and an input structure;

wherein the display device is an electrical device;

wherein the logic module controls the operation of the display device;

wherein the display device visibly displays relevant information regarding the status and operation of the cleaning apparatus;

wherein the input structure is an electrical device;

wherein the input structure controls the operation of the display device;

wherein the input structure receives as input externally provided instructions regarding the operation of the cleaning apparatus.