CA1237623A - Packaged detergent composition with instructions for use in a laundering process - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention resides in providing a granular, paste, gel or liquid composition packaged in association with usage instructions, for use in a process for laundering a discrete wash load of textiles, in which the composition is adapted for combining with water to produce from just enough wash liquor to be substantially evenly and completely distributed onto a wash load of textiles to a quantity of wash liquor which is about 5 times the dry weight of the textiles, said wash liquor containing from about 5 grams to about 200 grams of detergent compositions per kilogram of wash load of textiles.

Description

~3'7~;~3 PACKAGED DETERGENT COMPOSITION
WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE IN A
LAUNDERING PROCESS

TECH N I CAL Fly END
The present invention has relation to novel apparatus and process for laundering of textiles using small amounts of water and energy without substantial soil redeposition. This results in a superior level of detergency performance.
The present invention has further relation to novel appear-tusk and process for laundering of mixed textile loads comprised of dissimilar fiber and color types without substantial dye transfer from one textile to another.
The present invention has still further relation to novel wash liquor and detergent composition for use in said apparatus and process .
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The conventional method of washing textiles in an automatic home-type washing machine in the United States is carried out in either a top loading or front loading machine. The difference between the two machines is that in a top loader the wash basket is rotatable around a substantially vertical axis and in a front loader the wash basket is rotatable around a substantially horn-zontal axis. Hump top loading machines are, by far, the most popular, comprising about 90% of the United States' automatic washing machine market.
The process for washing textiles in a home-type top loader begins by placing the textiles in the wash basket. In a normal capacity hom~-type top loader the wash basket can hold up to about 7 kilograms of textiles. Detergent composition is then added to the wash basket. Finally, water, which is typically heated, is added to the wash basket to form a water and deter-gent solution known as the wash liquor. Thus, formation of the wash liquor Is carried out in the wash basket in the presence of the textiles to be washed. The washing step is then completed by applying mechanical agitation to the system in order to loosen and remove the soil from the textiles.

, ;~, ~23~76~3 The temperature and little of water and level of detergent composition used in the wash step can vary. About 60% of the wash steps use warm water (typically around 35C,~, with the balance being evenly split between hot water (typically around 50C) and cold water (typically around 15C). The level of water and detergent composition used in this step typically ranges from about 40 titers to about 90 liters and from about 20 grams to about 145 grams, respectively, depending upon the wash basket size and load size. The resulting detergent composition concern-traction in the wash liquor is frump about 210 parts per million (Pam) to about 3,600 ppmO
The wash liquor is then removed and the teakettles are rinsed.
The rinse step normally comprises adding clear water to the wash basket. Mechanical agitation is normally applied during the rinse step to remove the detergent composition from the textiles.
Finally, the water is drained and the textiles are spun to mock-animally remove as much water as possible. A cold water r ins is used in about 60% of the rinse steps, with the balance being warm water rinses. The amount of water used in this step is typically the same as that used in the wash step. The rinse step is generally repeated one or more times.
The wash cycle of the home-type front loader it very similar to that of the home-type top loader. The temperature of the water and detergent composition concentration used in the wash-in step are very similar to a home-type top loader. The basic difference is that the amount of water used in each of the wash and rinse steps typically ranges from about 25 liters to about 35 liters and, thus, the level of detergent composition is from about 10 grams to about 70 grams.
The complete conventional automatic wash process in a home-type top odor typical Ivy uses from about 130 liters to about 265 liters of water. By way of contrast, a home-type front loader, though more efficient, typically uses about 95 liters of water.
l his too is a considerable water expenditure for one wash cycle.
Also, if the water is heated, there is a considerable energy expenditure. Roth water and energy are costly to the consumer.

~37~ 3 A known drawback normally exhibited by conventional auto-matte wash processes of the foregoing type is that soil redeposit lion occurs in both the wash and rinse steps. Soil redeposition is soil that Is detached from the textiles and goes into the wash 5 or rinse liquor and is then redeposited onto the textiles. Thus, soil redeposition sL3bstantlally limits the "new" cleaning par-pheromones.
Another known drawback normally exhibited by conventional automatic wash processes of the foregoing type is that dye trays-10 for can occur when dealing with toads of differently colored textiles. Dye transfer is the detachment of dye from a textile - into the wash. Icky and -its subsequent deposition onto another:
textile. To avoid dye transfer the consumer has found it nieces-spry to perform the additional step of presorting the textiles, not 15 only by textile type but also by color type.
US. Patent 4,31~4,19B issued to Aren't it at on August 17, 1982 claims a process for the washing of clothes through a wash and rinse cycle in a washing machine with a horizontal, purrer-axed, driven tub arranged inside a housing wherein the tub has 20 at its rotating periphery a tangential area, in which during the washing and rinsing cycle as the tub rotates, the clothes are repeatedly lifted up and then fall in a trajectory path onto the lower portion of the tub and are ho distributed without unbar-ante to the tub, as the tub velocity is gradually increased. The 25 clothes are then centrifuged 35 the velocity is increased further.
According to Aren't, his improvement comprises the steps of welting the clothes with an arnGunt of suds thaw gives a "doughy"
consistency to the clothes by filling the tub with suds until the level of suds does not significantly rise above the tangential area 30 of the tub by maintaining in the tub during washing an aqueous medium level of at least about I of the tub's diameter, whereby the dry clothes are loaded individually into the tub which rotates at a speed at which the centrifugal velocity at the tub case is about 0 . 3-0 . 8 9 . The tub speed is then increased to about 1 9 .

~7~;~3 then gradually changed to a spin speed and after the spinning, reduced to a velocity in keeping with the loading speed. The process is thereafter Phallus with a rinse cycle which is similar to the wassailing cycle. According to Aren't, the exchange 5 between "engaged" and "free" medium is achieved not so much by leaching but by the mechanical action of the tub. Finally, Aren't teaches that water is saved or the most part not by using smaller ratios of total media, but by reducing the number of wash and rinse cycles.
USE. Patent 4,118,189 issued to Ronald et at on October 3, 1978 discloses a wash process which consists of transforming a concentrated was liquor, by the introduction- of compressed air, into a foam which it thereafter applied to the soiled textiles. The textiles are mechanically agitated in the foam for at least thirty - seconds, then the foam is destroyed and removed from the lox-tiles by spinning the textiles in a rotary perforated drum. This cycle is repeated at least live times, followed by conventional rinsing. Ronald suggests that the dirt detached from the textile material and dispersed in a relatively highly concentrated 20 detergent solution is partially deposited again on the textile fiber during the subsequent rinsing due to a dilution of the wash liquor.
Still another attempt at using more concentrated wash liquor without encountering redeposition problems of the type discussed 25 in the aforementioned patent issued to Ronald is disclosed in US. Patent 3,65û,673 issued to Ehner on March 21, 1972. Ehner discloses a method and apparatus for washing textiles utilizing amount of water corresponding to about 50% to 150% of the dry weight of the text lies . The process consists of placing such 30 quantities of water, the textiles to be laundered and a trouncer agent, e.g., polyethylene foam having a large surface area per unit mass, in a rotatable enclosure similar to those employed in a front loader type washing machine and tumbling these materials together for a period of time. Soils retnoved from the textiles by 35 the tumbling action are distributed over the combined exposed ~7~i~3 surface areas of the textiles and the transfer agent, which is subsequently separated from the textiles. Thus, the textiles are cleansed of the soils distributed onto the transfer agent. Ehner admits that a quantity of soil will be left on the textiles, but 5 teaches that it will be substantially reciuced from the original quantity and will be distributed so as to leave no objectionable areas of soil concentration. Following separation of the soil carrying transfer agent from the textiles, the textiles are sub-sequently dried in the same rotatable enclosure in which they are 10 "washed" by tumbling them while circulating warm dry air there-through O
US. Patent 3,647,354 issued to Lob on March 7, 1972 suggests that a wash process such as that disclosed in the alone-mentioned Ehner patent be followed by a rinse process employing 15 a quantity of waxer sufficient only to bring the textiles to a condition of dampness. According to Lob, the textiles are tumbled in a rotations drum with a clean transfer agent which functions in a manner similar to the transfer agent used in the wash process to separate detergent and loosened soils from the 20 text lies .
Despite the advantages allegedly provided by wash processes of the foregoing type, they have not met with widespread come Marshall acceptance, particularly in the home laundry market.
Accordingly, an object of the present- invention is to provide 25 apparatus and process or laundering textiles using a small amount of water, yet minimizing sot l redeposition and dye trays-for, even without presorting of the textiles to be laundered.
Another object of the present invention is to provide appear-tusk and process for laundering textiles which makes extremely 30 efficient use of the detergent composition utilized and, if applied, extremely efficient use of heat energy.
Another object of the present invention is to provide pro-furred apparatus and process for laundering textiles using cold wale r .

A further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and process for laundering textiles which results in superior cleaning as well as preservation of the textiles' appear-ante over many laundering cycles.
A still further object in a preferred inspect of the present invention is to provide apparatus and process for laundering textiles wherein mechanical energy can bye applied to textiles which have been contacted with a concentrated wash liquor with-out creating a suds problem.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide wash liquor compositions and detergent compositions for use in said apparatus and process.
DISCLOSURE OF l HE INVENTION
The present invention comprises apparatus and process for laundering textiles based upon utilizing quantities of an aqueous liquid wash liquor in the wash step ranging from, at least, just enough to be substantially evenly and completely distributed onto all portions of the textiles to, at most, about 5 times the dry weight of the textiles to be laundered This results in an extremely efficient use of the detergent composition. Nearly all of the wash liquor, and therefore nearly all of the detergent composition contained in the wash liquor, will be in intimate contact with the textiles throughout the wash step of the present laundering process. Accordingly, the detergent composition is able to effectively and efficiently interact with the soil. This step is crucial to the process. Consequently, a superior level of gleaning performance is achieved. However, in order Jo obtain such performance for the entire wash load, especially with lower amounts of wash liquor, it is essential that the wash liquor be substantially evenly and completely distributed onto the textiles.
In a preferred embodiment the upper limit of the quantity of wash liquor is such that there is none or minimal amounts of wash ITquor in excess of the absorption capacity of the textiles and more preferably the wash liquor is not in excess of about I times the dry weight of the textiles. In the final step or steps of the process the textiles are rinsed with water to simultaneously 3'7~

remove both the sot l and the detergent composition O A convent tonal home-type top loader or front loader rinse cycle is effective for such a purpose, buy the rinse can be accomplished with reduced quantities of water. While the process is particularly 5 beneficial Ryan carried out on ~ami1y-type wash loads comprised of mixed fabric and color types, the process may also be utilized to advantage on an industrial laundry scale.
The present invention, therefore/ in one aspect, resides in laundering apparatus exhibiting increased detergent efficiency in removing soils from discrete loads of assorted soiled textiles, said apparatus comprising:
a a first compartment for retaining said soiled textiles during the laundering process;
b) mean for producing a quantity of concentrated aqueous wash liquor comprising from about 40% to about 99.9% water and at least about Lowe parts per million of a detergent composition;
c) non-immersing applicator means for distributing a quantity of said concentrated aqueous wash liquor not exceeding about 1-l/2 times the dry weight of said soiled textiles onto the surface of said soiled textiles while said textiles are retained in said first compartment and while said soiled textiles are in a substantially dry state, there being at most minimal amounts of free wash liquor in said first compartment after said wash liquor has been completely distributed;
d) means for delivering said concentrated aqueous wash liquor to said applicator means;
e) means for exposing the surfaces of substantially all of said soiled textiles to said applicator means while said concentrated aqueous liquid wash liquor is being distributed in said first compartment, whereby said wash liquor is substantially evenly and completely distributed onto the surfaces of said soiled textiles;

-` 12~7~;~3 - pa -f) rinsing means for contacting said textiles with a quantity of an aqueous liquid rinse liquor after said wash liquor has been allowed to remain in contact with said soiled textiles for a period of time, said quantity of rinse liquor being sufficient to produce enough free water on the surface of the textiles to adequately suspend the soil and detergent composition; and g) means for separating said rinse liquor containing said wash liquor and said soils from said textiles.
This aspect of the invention is also disclosed, and it claimed, in Canadian Patent No. 1,207,159 of Wolfgang U. Spender, issued July 8, 1986, of which the present application is a divisional.
In another aspect, the present invention resides in a process for laundering a discrete wash load of assorted soiled textiles comprising the steps of:
a) producing a quantity of concentrated aqueous : wash liquor comprising from about 40% to about 99.9%
water and from about 1000 Pam to about 600,000 Pam of a detergent composition;
b) distributing substantially evenly and completely onto said textiles in their substantially dry state a quantity of said wash liquor ranging from about just enough to distribute said wash liquor substantially evenly and completely onto said textiles to a quantity of said wash liquor which is about 5 times ; 30 the dry weight of the textiles, said wash liquor containing from about 5 grams to about 20Q grams of said detergent composition per kilogram of said textiles;
c) allowing said wash liquor to remain in contact with said soiled textiles for a period of time during which, if there is more than a minimal amount of free liquor in excess of the adsorption capacity of said -~3~3 - 7b -textiles, only limited amounts of mechanical energy are applied to said textiles so as to prevent oversudsing;
d) rinsing said textiles with a quantity of a aqueous liquid, rinse liquor sufficient to produce enough free water on the surface of said textiles to adequately suspend the soil and the detergent composition; and e) separating said rinse liquor containing said wash liquor and said soil from said textiles.
This aspect of the invention is also disclosed, and is claimed, in Canadian Patent No. 1,211,907 ox Wolfgang U. Speedily, issued September 30, 1986.
The present invention, in still another aspect, resides in a granular, paste, gel or liquid detergent composition packaged in association with instructions for use in the aforedescribed process for laundering a discrete wash load of assorted soiled textiles, in which the composition, when combined with water, produces from just enough wash liquor to be substantially evenly and completely distributed onto a wash load of textiles to bout 5 kilograms of a wash liquor per kilogram of wash load of textiles which contains from about 5 grams to about 200 grams of detergent composition per kilogram of wash load of textiles.
Brief DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
.. . ..
While the Specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the present invention it it believes the present invention will be better understood from the 30 hollowing description in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective illustration of part-ocularly preferred apparatus for carrying out the present launder-in process;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional illustration of the embodiment 35 disclosed in Figure 1 taken along section line 2-2 of Figure 1 Figure PA is an inset of the drive pulley system shown in Figure 2 with the pulley actuating clutch assembly in its alter-Jo .

:lZ~3 I
-- 7c --native position;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional segment of the apparatus thus-treated in Figure 1 taken in a plane which passes through the center of the wash liquor applicator nozzle and the axis of rota-5 lion of the movable drum disclosed in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a simplified cross-sectional illustration of a particularly preread wash liquor applicator nozzle; and Figure 5 is an end view of the wash liquor applicator nozzle shown in Figure 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
.. .. _ ... _ A. PREFERRER:) APPARATUS
Disclosed ifs Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of part-ocularly preferred apparatus for carrying out a laundering process I

in accordance with the present invention. Figure 1 discloses a preferred embodiment of a washing machine 10 of the present invention. The apparatus in Figure 1 is particularly preferred when the quantity of wash liquor utilized is, at most, about I
5 times the dry weight of the textiles to be laundered. huh maximum quantity of wash liquor approaches the maximum absorb-lion capacity of an average wash toad. For purposes of clarity, none of the details of the cabinet nor the access door is Sheehan in Figure l, In the embodiment of Figure 1, the washing machine 10 comprises a stationary drum lo of generally cylindrical construe-lion and having a horizontal access operling 20~ The centerline of the cylindrical stationary drum 15 coincides with thy axis of rotation 300 of a movable drum 40 (sometirT@s referred to in the 15 prior art as a wash basket) mounted within stationary drum 15.
As is more clearly illustrated in the cross-sectional views of Figures 2 and 3, stationary drum 15 comprises a peripheral rvall lug, a back wall 17 secured to one edge of the peripheral wall, a front wall 18 secured to the opposite edge of the peripheral wall, 20 said front wall having a tubular-shaped extension 19 having an access opening 20 used to load and unload laundry from the - washing machine 10. Access opening 20 forms a seal with pliable sealing gasket 21 û which is secured about its outermost periphery to tube front wall 200 of the washing machine cabinet. When the 25 washing machine 10 is in operatiorl, the washing machine's access door 220 is in the closed position shown in Figure 2 and worms a watertight seal against the outermost portion of pliable sealing gasket 210, These latter elements are illustrated only in the cross-section of Figure 2 to ensure maximum clarity in the 30 remaining drawing figures. The lowermost portion of stationary drum 15 is provided with a drain connection 21 located in port-furl wall 16. The drain connection 21 is connected by means of a flexible connecting line 142 to the suction side of a rinse liquor discharge pump 1 4û which is secured by means of support 141 to g the base of the washing machine cabinet (not shown. Connect-in line 143 conveys rinse liquor discharged from the pump 140 to a sewer drain (not shown).
As can also be seen in Figures 1 and 2, stationary drum 15 5 is supported by means ox four suspension springs 66 which are connected at one end to anchor means 65 secured to the upper-most portion of the stationary drum 15 and at their other end to fixed anchor means 67 which are secured Jo the washing machine cabinet (not shown).
Extending from the lowermost portion of peripheral wall 16 are four support members 70, the lowermost ends of which are secured to motion limiting tamper pads 71. A vertical guide plate 72 passes between the two sets of motion limiting damper pads 71.
Sufficient clearance is provided between the motion limiting 15 damper pads 71 and the guide plate 72, which is secured to the base of the washing machine cabinet (not shown), so that the stationary drum 15 may undergo limited up-and-down and side-to-side movement while access opening 20 and tubular extension 19 remain in sealed engagement with pliable sealing gasket 210. The 20 resilient mounting of stationary drum 15 minimizes the transmit-soon of vibration which occurs during moments of imbalance loading to the washing machine cabinet (not shown).
Located inside stationary drum 15 is a movable drum 40 comprising a perforated peripheral wall 41, a substantially impel-25 forte back wall 42 secured to one edge of said peripheral wetland a substantially imperforate front wall 43 secured to the opposite edge thereof. Extending from the front wall 43 of the movably drum 40 is a tubular-shaped extension 44 which term-notes in an access opening 45 which is concentrically aligned with 3û the access opening 20 en stationary drum 15. Equally spaced on the inner circumference of peripheral wall 41 are three sifting vanes 47 of substantially triangular cross-section. The innermost edge of the side walls 48 of the triangular-shaped vanes 47 preferably terminate to Norm an innermost land area 49. In a 3~3~7~

particularly preferreicl embodiment, each of the vanes is symmetrically-shap*d about a radially extending lint originating at the axis of rotation 300 of movable drum 4Q and passing through its altitude. This permits rotation of movable drum 40 in opposite 5 directions with equal listing effect on the articles being lawn-dewed .
In an exemplary embodiment of a washing machine 10 of the present invention, gee movable drum lo measured approximately 21~" (54.6 cm. in diameter by approximately 12" (30.5 em. ) in 10 depth, while the triangular~slhaped lifting vanes 47 exhibited a base of approximately 2" (5.1 cm.) in width by 9" 122.9 cry.) in - depth, an overall altitude of approximately 3" (7.6 cm. -and a tend area 49 measuring approximately 1 " ~2.5 cm. ) in width by 7"
~17 . 8 cm. l in depth. The inner movable drum 40 exhibited approximately 750 uniformly spaced perforations 46, each perform-lion having a diameter of approximately 1/4" (0.635 cm. ) . The stationary drum 15 enclosing the aforementioned movable drum 40 measured approximately 24" (61 cm. in diameter.
As will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 2, movable 20 drum 4û is rotatable secured to stationary drum 15 by means of drive shaft 29. The innermost end of drive shaft 29 incorporates . an integral flange 30 which is secured by means of companion flange 31 and a multiplicity of fasteners, such as rivets 32, to the back stall 42 of movable drum 40. The shaft portion of 25 drive shaft 29 passes through a clearance hole 51 in the back wall 1~2 of movable drum 40 and is supported by means of a pair of bearings 25 secured to the back wall 17 of stationary drum I
Bearings 25 are secured in position by m ens of bearing retainers 22 which are joined to one another and to the back wall 17 by a 30 multiplicity of conventional fasteners, such as rivets 33. The shaft portion of drive shaft 29 passes through a clearance holy 26 in back wall 17 of stationary drum 15.
Power to rotate movable drum 40 is transmitted to the ester-net portion of drive shaft 29 either by moans of an eccentrically 35 mounted driven pulley 28 or by means of a concentrically mounted driven pulley 34 which are both secured in fixed relation to Lo 3 drive shaft 290 As wilt be explained in greater detail hereinafter, the eccentrically mounted driven pulley 28 is used to vary the speed of rotation of the movable drum 40 throughout each revolt-lion of the drum, while the concentrically mounted driven pulley 5 34 is used to drive the movable drum 40 at a constant speed of rotation throughout each revolution.
The drive system for the movable drum 40 preferably coy proses a variable speed drive motor 60 secured by means of support 61 to the peripheral wall 16 of stationary drum 15.
lo Ekes the drive motor 60 is secured to the stationary drum 15, any movement of the stationary drum 15 does not affect the speed of rotation of movable drum 4û. The output shaft 62 of drive motor 60 has secured thereto a concentrically mounted drive pulley 3& and a concentrically mounted drive pulley 36. A two-15 position, puliey-actuatiny clutch assembly 37 is positioned inter-mediate pulleys 36 and 38. Drive pulleys 36 and 38 are both of two-piece construction so as to permit engagement or disengage-mint of their respective drive belts by pulley-actuating clutch assembly 37. The housing of clutch assembly 37 thwart which 20 drive motor shaft 62 freely passes is preferably secured to the housing of drive motor 60 by means of a laterally extending support 63, as generally shown in Pharisee 1 and 2.
Concentrically mounted drive pulley 38 is connected to eccentrically mounted driven pulley 28 by means of a conventional 25 drive belt 27. Likewise, concentrically mounted drive pulley 36 is connected to concentrically mounted drive pulley 34 by means of a conventional drive belt 35. When clutch assembly 37 is in its first position, the distance between the opposing faces of drive pulley 36 is sufficiently great that drive bolt 35 is allowed to 30 Roy slip therebetw*en when drive shaft 29 revolves When clutch assembly 37 is actuated into its second position, the opposing faces of drive pow 36 era brought sufficiently close together that drive belt 35 is driven by pulley 36. Simultane-ouzel, the distance between the opposing faces of drive pulley 38 35 is increased to a distance which is sufficiently great that drive belt 27 is allowed to freely slip there between when drive shaft 29 ~23~ 3

2 -revolves. Figure 2 depicts drive pulley 36 in the engaged post-lion, while the inset of Figure PA depicts drive pulley 38 in the enga~3ecl position.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invent lion, drive motor 60 is not only variable speed, but is also reversible so that movable drum 40 may be rotated first in one direction and then in the opposite direction throughout the van-QUA portions of the laundering cycle. It is believed that fevers-in the direction of rum rotation several times during the laundering cycle will provide more uniform application of the wash liquor, more unarm agitation and more uniform heat transfer to the textiles being laundered, and hence more effective cleansing.
In the exemplary washing machine embodiment çlescribed earlier herein, the eccentrically mounted driven pulley 28 was use to provide rotation of the movable drum HO at a speed which varied from about 48 to about 58 revolutions per minute during each complete revolution of the drum, while the concentrically mounted pulley system comprising pulleys 36 and 34 was used to provide rotation of the movable drum at a constant speed of about 544 revolutions per minute.
Roaring again to the particularly preferred embodiment of Figure 1, there is shown an air circulating Blower 160, preferably of the centrifugal variety, secured by means of a support 162 to an upper portion of peripheral wail 16 of the stationary drum 15.
The air circulating blower 160 is preferably powered by variable speed drive motor 161. A connecting duct 163 conveys air prom the blower discharge to a heater 164. The heater 164 includes a heating element 165 over which the air must pass prior to enter-in connecting duct 166 which conveys heated air from the heater 164 to an inlet opening 180 located in the peripheral wall to of the stationary drum 15. In the embodiment disclosed in Figures 1-3, heated air is introduced intermediate the peripheral wall 16 of stationary drum 15 and the peripheral wall 41 of movable drum 110. The bulk of the heated air introduced in this area is forced to enter movable drum 40 via perforations 46 located in peripheral wall 41. As pointed out earlier herein, the movable drum 40 is -~3~7~3 caused to rotate it varying speed during the laundering portion of the cycle via the eccentrically Ivy mounted put icy 28 O Since the articles briny laundered are normally located at or adjacent the innermost surface of peripheral welt 41 of movable drum 40 during 5 the laundering cycle, the heated air introduced between the stationary and movable drums it caused to penetrate the textiles being laundered on its way to return opening 190 loc3~etl in tubular extension 19 of stationary drum 15.
Return opening 190 is connected to a diverter valve 168 by means of connecting duct 167 . Diverter valve f 68 has two post-lions. In its first position, connecting ducts 170 and 171 are blocked off and all of the humid air withdrawn from stationary drum 15 is returned to the suction side of air circulating blower 160 via connecting duct 172. As will be explained in greater detail in the ensuing preferred process description, diverter valve 168 remains in its first position during the laundering portion of the cycle described herein. The temperature of the returning air is sensed in connecting duct 167 by means of a sensing element 173 mounted in the duct The sensing element MU 173, which is preferably of the thermistor type, sends a signal to temperature controller 175 via signal transmission tine 174. The temperature controller 175, which is preferably a~justabie, trays mitt a signal via signal transmission line 176 to the heating element 165 in heater 16q to either raise, lower or maintain the temperature of the air being introduced into connecting duct 166.
Thus, the heated air employed during the laundering portion of the cycle is continually recirculated by means of the foremen-toned closed loop system, and its temperature is continuously monitored and maintained at a predetermined level.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invent lion, the washing machine 10 may also be employed as a clothes dryer. This is accomplished by manipulation of diverter valve 168. Advancing control fever 169 from the aforementioned first position of the diverter valve to a second position connects air duct 171 with return air duct 172 and air duct 170 with return air duct 167. Since air ducts 170 and 171 are both vented to :~3~7~;23 atmosphere, the effect of advancing the diverter valve 168 to its second position is to convert the closed loop recirclllal:ion system described earlier herein in conjunction with the laundering cycle to a non-recireulating vented system. in the vented mode of 5 operation, fresh sir it drawn into duct 171 and routed through the heater as before to provide warm dry air or drying the laundered textiles contained within movable drum 40. Similarly, the moist air withdrawn if ox stationary drum 15 is discharged to the atmosphere via connecting duct 7 70 rather than being recur-10 quilted to the suction side of the air circulating blower during the drying portion of the cycle, movable drum 40 is rotated, as during the laundering cycle, by drive motor 60 open-cling through the eccentrically mounted pulley and drive belt .. system described earlier herein. Temperature of the air used during the crying cycle is also monitored and controlled by Swenson element 173 and temperature controller 175. Hanover, the temperature selected during the drying cycle may doffer from that employed during the laundering Swahili. Accordingly, the temperature control for 175 pre~rably has two independently adjustable set points which may be preadjusted to different them-portray levels or the laundering and drying cycles.
As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, diverter valve control lever 169 may be automatically actuated rather than manually actuated, as disclosed in the present thus-tractions. This may be accomplished utilizing solenoids or similar control apparatus well known in the art and therefore not shown.
In the exemplary washing machine embodiment described earlier her in, the air circulating blower 160 utilized to recur-curate the humid elf during the laundering portion of the cycle had a rated capacity of 460 cubic feet (13.03 cubic meters) of air per minute at a pressure of 0.25" (Q.635 cm. ) Go water and the connecting ducts used to construct the recirculation loop were sized to permit recirculation of the air at rated flow. The heater 164 employed on the exemplary machine contained a heating eye-mint 165 comprising a 240 VQIt AC, S200 watt, spiral wound, 'Nichrcrne'* Kiwi . l he temperature sensing element 173 comprised a * Trademark for a series of nickel-chromium alloys containing by weight: from 54-80% nickel, 10-20%
chromium, 7-27% iron, 0-11% copper, 0-5% manganese, 0~3~4.6% silicon, and sometimes 1 percent molybc1enum, and 0.25~ titanium. They are used as electrical resistance alloys.

-- I o thermistor inserted into Return air duct 167~ Temperature con-troller 175 comprised a 0-200F ~-17.8 - 93.3C~ adjustable unit having a set point accuracy of 3% of range and a set point stability of 2% of span from the nominal setting. A high limit 5 snap disc-type thermostat (not shown having a range of 400 450F (204.4 - 23~.2C) was also utilized to protect the system .
Referring again to Figures 1 3, preferred wash liquor and rinse liquor addition systems are disco Ed In particular, the 10 wash liquor utilized during the laundering portion of the cycle is prepared in wash liquor reservoir 89 which is schematically thus-treated in Figure 1. In a particularly preferred Norm of the present invention, the cycle is initiated by introducing a predetermined amount of detergent composition, which may be in 15 granular, paste, gel or liquid in form, into the wash liquor reservoir 89. Water from supply line 80 passes through pressure regulator 81, connecting line 101 and control valves 82, 84 and 87, which are in the open position, into the side ox wash liquor reservoir 89 via connecting lines 96, I and 99. Control valves 20 85 and I are closed at this point in time to prevent the water from escaping via delivery lines 95 and 98. Located within wash liquor reservoir 89 is a level sensing probe I which is connected at its uppermost end to a level sensor 91. The level of the liquid introdlJced into the wash liquor reservoir rises along probe 92.
25 When the its: rid level within reservoir 89 reaches a predetermined point, level sensor 91 transmits a signal to level controller 93 via signal transmission line 105. Level controller 93 sends a signal via signal transmission line 106 to close off control valve 82.
After control valve 82 has been closed, pump 86 is started to 30 initiate recirculation, mixing and formation of a wash liquor within reservoir 89. Control valves 85 and 88 remain closed during the mixing cycle. Pump 86 withdraws liquid from the bottom of wash liquor reservoir 89 via connecting lines 99 and 97 and discharges the liquid withdrawn back into the reservoir via connecting lines 35 I and 96. Recirculation of the liquid is carried out until such time as the detergent composition is substantially dissolved or ~23t~ 3 dispensed in the water. The time required will of course very, depending upon such variables as the volubility characteristics of the particular detergent composition employed, the concentration of detergent composition, the temperature of the incoming water and like. To minimize the mixing time, it is generally preferred to design the liquid recirculation loop to maximize the turbulence of flow during recirculation.
As will be explained in greater detail in conjunction with the ensuing preferred process description, the present laundering process may be carried out without the addition of heat energy via heaving element 165. However, experience to date has demon-striated that it is generally preferable that wash liquor and-rinse liquor temperatures be in the range of about 25C. or higher to maximize the benefits afforded by the present process. To l S achieve this objective when the heat energy addition option is not employed during the laundering cycle, a water preheating unit (not shown may be utilized on the incoming water supply line to ensure that the temperature of the incoming water does not fall below about 25C, even during cold weather conditions.
As pointed out earlier herein a relatively small amount of wash liquor is utilized during the present laundering process when compared to prior art laundering processes. Accordingly, the method of applying the wash liquor to the textiles to be laundered must be highly effective in order TV provide sub Stan-tidally even and complete distribution, especially when very reduced quantities of wash liquor are utilized. One particularly preferred means of accomplishing this objective has been to apply the wash liquor by means of a high pressure spray nozzle 100 a the movably drum 40 rotates During the wash liquor application step control vows 82 and 88 are closed and control valves 84, 85 and 87 are opened. Wash liquor 230 is withdrawn from reservoir 89 by means of pump 86 and it conveyed via flexible delivery line 95 to high pressure spray nozzle 100 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is mounted in the tubular-shaped extension 19 of stationary drum 15. A small amount of wash liquor is also per-milted to flow through valve 84 and delivery line 96 back into -:~237~3 reservoir no to provide some recirculation and mussing during the wash liquor application cycle. As can be teen from Figure 3, which is a simplified diametral cross-section taken through spray nozzle 100 and the axis of rotation 300 of movable drum 40, high 5 pressure nozzle 100 is located at approximately the 8 o'clock position and a substantially flat, unshaped spray of wash liquor 230 is targeted to strike peripheral wall 41 and back wall 42 of the movable drum 40 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is rotating in a counterclockwise orien~3tion, a approximately the 2 10 o'clock position.
In order to distribute the textiles to be laundered sub Stan-tidally uniformly about the periphery of the movable. drum 40, the textiles are initially tumbled at low speed via eccentrically mounted driven pulley 28. Movable drum Ill it thereafter acceder-15 axed by concentrically mounted driven pulley 36 to a speed Wheaties sufficient to hold the substantially uniformly distributed articles against peripheral wall 41. The wash liquor application step is initiated while the articles are held against peripheral wall I However, after several revolutions of movable drum 40, the 20 speed of drum rotation is reduced by transferring the input driving force from concentrically mounted driven pulley 36 back to eccentrically mounted driven pulley 38. The slower speed of rotation, which varies throughout each revolution of movable drum 4û, causes the textiles within the drum to be carried by lifting 25 vanes 47 to approximately the 1 o'clock position, at which point they tend to fall away from peripheral wall 41 and pass through the substantially flat, fan-shaped spray of wash liquor 230 on their return to the bottom of the drum.
While in the illustrated embodiment, the drum rotation is 30 oriented in a counterclockwise direction it has also been learned that the drum may, if desired, be rotated in a clockwise direct lion. In the latter case the textiles which fall away from the peripheral wall 41 at approximately the 11 o'clock position still pass through the fan-shaped spray of wash liquor 230 on their 35 return to the bottom of the drtJm.

~37~3 The wash liquor application step is carried out until all or a predetermined amount of the wash liquor contained in reservoir 89 has been applied to the textiles being laundered. The quantity of wash liquor applied for a given laundering cycle will vary, depending upon such factors as the quantity of textiles being laundered, their materials of construction, and the soil type and level of soil loading, as more fully described in the accompanying detailed process description. When the wish liquor application step has been completed, even with the smallest quantities of lo wash liquor within the invention, the wash liquor is substantially evenly and completely distributed onto the textiles . briny sub-jetted to the present laundering process.
To further enhance distribution, wash liquor application may be carried out in several stages, with the movable drum 40 being momentarily stopped and restarted between each stag to allow the articles to completely redistribute themselves prior to each stage of wash liquor application. Similarly, multiple spray nozzles may be employed.
Figures 4 and 5 disclose the internal configuration of the spray nozzle 100 employed in the exemplary washing machine embodiment described earlier herein. In particular, an irregularly-shaped orifice 40Q is formed by intersection of a V-shaped groove 410 having an included angle of approximately 45 extending across the nozzle's race 430 and a cylindrical passageway ~20 oozing through its longitudinal axis. A cross-sectional view of this exemplary nozzle 100 is generally disclosed in Figure 4, and an end view taken along view line 5-5 it shown in Figure 5. The maximum width W of the aforementioned groove 41û was approximately 0.075" (0,19 cm. I, a measured at the race 430 so the nozzle. The diameter Do of the nozzle face 430 was approximately 0.40" (1.02 cm. ) . The diameter Do of passageway 420 was approximately 0.125" ~0.32 cm. ) along its length, con-verging at an inducted angle of approximately 120~ adjacent the nozzle ice 430. Intersection of groove 410 and passageway 420 produced the irregularly shaped orifice 400 generally shown in Figure 5. Wash liquor was Ted by means of a pump 86 having a rated capacity of 500 gallons per hour at 7 psi connected to nozzle 100 via a 1/4" (0.635 cm.) diameter flexible delivery line 95. The nozzle 100 was installed In tubular shaped extension 19 at approximately the 8 o'clock position with its spray oriented so S as to strike peripheral wall 41 and back Wow 2 of movable drum 40, as generally shown in Figure 3. Drum rotation was oriented cloclcwise when viewed from its front wall side.
While spraying has been wound to be a particularly preferred method of wash liquor application, other application moans, e.g., 10 atomizers, which wilt produce a similar distribution of wash liquor throughout the textiles to be laundered, as described in the - accompanying detailed process description, may be employed with equal success After the wash liquor application has been completed, pro-15 fireball mechanical energy Is applied to the textiles by rotating movable drum 40 at relatively tow speed such that the textiles being laundered are continually lifted by vanes 47 secured within the movable drum and caused to mechanically tumble back toward the bottom of the drum. As pointed out earlier herein, the 20 tumbling action is accentuated by varying the speed of rotation of the movable drum 40 throughout each revolution of the drum.
This is accomplished in the machine embodiment disclosed in Figure 1 by driving the movable drum 40 via eccentrically mounted driven pulley 28. In a particularly preferred embodiment 25 of the invention, the direction of rotation of movable drum 40 is reversed several times throughout the laundering cycle. This provides more thorough mechanical agitation of the textiles being laundered and, hence, more uniform heat transfer throughout the textiles. In addition,- it minimizes the tendency of textiles, 30 particularly long and thin appendages on textiles, ego, sleeves on shirts, from becoming knotted up.
Heat energy is preferably supplied to the textiles being laundered during the aforementioned mechanical agitation process.
In the machine embodiment-disclosed in Figure 1 this is assume-35 polished by recirculating moist humid air through heater 164 using air handling blower 160. Preferred air temperature ranges and cycle times are specified in the accompanying detailed process description .
Following the mechanical and/or heat energy application phase of the present laundering process, the textiles contained 5 within the movable drum 40 are rinsed with an aqueous rinse liquor 240, which in a particularly prel~rred embodiment come proses water. This i supplied from water supply line 80 via control valve 83 which is opened to permit delivery of rinse water to movable drum 40 via flexible delivery line 110 and applicator nozzle 120. Applicator noble 120 is also pre~rably mounted in . the tubular shaped extension 19 of stationary drown 15. Ape-actor nozzle 120 need not, however, be a high pressure spray .
nozzle such as that utilized to apply wash liquor. Because free standing liquor is employed in movable drum 4û during the rinse 15 portion of the present laundering cycle, it is believed that the particular manner of applying the rinse liquor to the laundered textiles is much less critical than the manner of applying the wash liquor. Accordingly, the rinse liquor may be added by any of several means well known in the art, e.g., directly into 20 stationary drum I via an orifice in peripheral wall 16.
The textiles bring laundered are preferably subjected to mechanical agitation during both the rinse liquor addition and the rinse cycles. This is preferably done by rotating movable drum 40 at relatively low speed via eccentrically mounted driven pulley 25 28. As with the mechanical energy and heat energy application phase of the laundering cycle, the direction of rotation of movable drum 40 is preferably changed several times during the rinse cycle to ensure more uniform rinsing.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, several relatively 30 short rinse cycles are employed to remove the loosened soil and detergent from the textiles being laundered.
It is believed preferable to remove the rinse water from movable drum 40 Turing the initial rinse cycles without resorting to high speed centrifugation, i.e., thigh speed rotation of movable 35 dun 40. While not wish to be bound by theory, it is believed that avoidance of centrifugation during the early rinse cycles minimizes ~3'7~3 the chance of redepositing suspended soils onto the textiles being laundered, since the rinse liquor is not forced through the lox-totes being laundered on its way to the perforations 46 in port-furl wall 41 of movable drum 40. Accordingly, centrifugation S to remove a much moisture as possible from the laundered and rinsed textiles is preferably diehard until the last rinse cycle.
As will be clear from an inspection of Figures 1 and 2, rinse water which is removed from movable drum 40 either by gravity or by centri~ugation is ultimately removed from stationary drum 15 10 through drain connection I by means of discharge pump 140 from Chinese it is preferably conveyed to the sewer.
If desired, laundry additives of various types, e.g., -fabric softeners, may be employed in conjunction with the laundering process described herein. If desired, such additives may be 15 applied to the articles being laundered by conventional gravity addition snot shown) or via pressure spray nozzle 100. In the latter instance, one or more secondary reservoirs 90 may be employed. The discharge of these secondary reservoirs may be connected, as my delivery line 98 and control valve 88, to the 20 wash liqlJor mixing system.
Depending upon the nature of the additive, it may be desire - able to flush the wash liquor reservoir 89 with water prior to introducing the additive into the reservoir. This may be clone by refilling the reservoir with water and recirculating the solution 25 via pump 86 prior to discharging it into one of the rinse cycles.
After wash liquor reservoir 89 has been flushed, control valve 88 may be opened to permit delivery of an additive from reservoir 90 to the wash liquor reservoir via pump 86. When a predetermined quantity of the additive has been transferred to wash liquor 30 reservoir 89, a water dilution cycle may, if desired, be carried out in a manner similar to that employed for mixing the wash liquor, i.e., water from the supply line is added to reservoir 89, control valves 82, 85 and 38 are closed, and the additive solution is recirculated via pump 86 to the wash liquor reservoir 89 until 85 such time as the additive is ready or application to the articles being launderer.'. Application of the mixed additive solution may Lo thereafter be carried out during one or more of the rinse cycles employed in the present process in a manner generally similar to that employed or the application of the wash liquor.
Following centrifugation by high speed rotation of movable 5 drum 40 to mechanical Ivy remove as much rinse liquor as is feasible, the washing machine 10 may be operated as a convent tonal clothes drying apparatus by actuating diverter valve 168 from its first position to its second position. In its second position, diverter valve 1 6Z permits fresh air to be drawn into connecting duct 171 via suction from blower 160, heated to a predetermined temperature by heater 164, circulated through the laundered and rinsed textiles contained in rotating drum 40 and vented from stationary drum 15 to the atmosphere via connecting duct 1700 As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, movable drum pa is preferably operated at low speed via eccentric gaily mounted driven pulley 23 throughout the drying cycle to provide more uniform air flow and heat transfer throLJgh the laundered and rinsed textiles contained therein.
PREFERRED PROCESS
Another aspect of this invention comprises a process or laundering textiles, hereinafter referred to as the "concentrated laundering process". The process utilizes quantities of an aqueous liquid wash liquor in the wash step ranging from, at least, about just enough to be substantially evenly and completely distributed onto all portions of the textiles to, at most, about 5 times the dry weight of the textiles to be laundered. The qua-lilies of wash liquor are applied to the textiles during the wash step. It is essential that the wash liquor be substantially evenly and completely distributed onto the textiles. In the final step or stops of the process the textiles are rinsed with water to remove both the soil and detergent composition.
The quantities of wash liquor that can be used in the wash step range from, at least, about just enough to be substantially evenly and completely distributed onto all portions of the textiles to, at most, abosJt 5 times the dry weight of the textiles to be laundered. The quantities of wash liquor in the range of the 31 ;~3~7b~;~3 lower limit approach what is equivalent to directly applying a conventional level of a typical commercially available heavy duty liquid detergent composition to the textiles. Surprisingly, the addition of more wash liquor, i.e., adding both water and deter-gent composition to the wash liquor such that the wash liquor concentration remains constant, so that the upper limit is exceeded results in essentially no additional soil removal and no less soil redeposition. It should be noted that depending on the nature of the textiles, soil types, soil levels, detergent combo-session levels and detergent composition formulations that the upper limit can vary slightly. When quantities of wash liquor exceeding the absorption capacity of the textiles are utilized, only limited amounts of mechanical energy should be applied to the textiles during the wash step in order to prevent oversudsing. But, surprisingly, a good level of cleaning performance is achieved nonetheless. Also, with quantities of wash liquor exceeding the absorption capacity of the textiles, though possible, it is not essential that the preferred apparatus be utilized.
MORE PREFERRED QUANTITIES OF NASH LIQUOR
Therefore, in a more preferred embodiment the quantity of wash lucre that can be used in the wash step ranges from about - just enough to be substantially evenly and completely distributed onto ail portions of the textiles to, at most, none or minimal amounts of wash liquor in excess of the absorption capacity of the textiles. With such quantities there is at most mini net amounts of "free" wash liquor. Thus, essentially all of the wash liquor and, therefore, essentially all of the detergent composition contained in the wash liquor, will be in intimate contact with the textiles throughout the wash step. This permits the application of a substantial amount of mechanical agitation to the textiles during the wash step, as discussed below, without any oversudsing.
Surprisingly, numerous other benefits are obtained when the quantities of wash liquor of this more preferred embodiment are utilized. For example, since essentially all of the detergent composition is in intimate contact with the textiles, the detergent composition is being utilized extremely efficiently. Also, there is ~3~23 essentially no wash liquor for the dye of the textiles to be released into and subsequently deposited onto another textile.
Thus, dye transfer during the wash step is minimized and, therefore, it is generally not necessary for the consumer to 5 presort the textiles. This is particularly significant i f the laundry load contains the type of textile commonly known as a dye bleeder, i.e., one that contains excessive amounts of highly soluble dyes. Another benefit is that the addition of more wash liquor, i.e., adding both water and detergent composition to the lo wash liquor such that the wash liquor concentration remains constant, to approach the upper limit of about 5 times the dry weight of the textiles to be laundered provides minimal additional soil removal in view of the cost ox the additional detergent come posit ion Utah I i Zen .
In a more preferred embodiment, the quantity of wash liquor that can be used in the wash step is from about just enough to be substantially evenly and completely distributed onto the lox-tiles to about I times the dry weight of the textiles and preferably from about 3/4 to about I times the dry weight of the textiles These ranges provide the most efficient use of a deter-gent composition. That is to say, in these ranges, for a given quantity of detergent composition, there is the most soil removal and least soil redeposition. Surprisingly, the addition of more water to the wash liquor, i.e., diluting the wash liquor, SO as to exceed this upper limit, results in less soil removal from the textiles and more soil redeposition. Also, with this preferred limit, contact dyeing is minimized. Contact dyeing is the transfer of dye from the surface of one textile directly to that of another.
These preferred ranges can also vary depending on the nature of the textiles, soil types, soil levels, detergent composition levels and detergent composition formulations.
THE WASH LIQUOR
The wash liquor contains from about 40~ to about 99.9%, preferably from about 85~ to ablate 99.5% and most preferably from about 95% to about 98 . 7% of water and prom about 1, owe Pam to about 600,000 Pam, preferably from about 5,00û Pam to about 37~;23 150,000 pun and most preferably from about 13,000 Pam to about 50,300 Pam of a detergent composition. Wash liquor concentra-lions of detergent composition below about 1,000 Pam result in substantially less soil roomful from the textiles and above 600,00û
Pam do not provide sufficient additional benefit to justify the addition of more detergent composition. I Louvre, in absolute terms, the wash liquor should contain from about five grams of detergent composition to about 200 grams per kilogram of wash load. As utilized herein the wash load refers to the dry weight of the textiles, unless otherwise specified. Preferably, the absolute amount of detergent composition in the wash liquor is from about 10 grams to about 60 grams per kilogram of wash load.
However, the most preferable detergent composition levels are heavily dependent on the detergent composition formulation. It should be noted that the wash liquor of the present invention is much more concentrated than the wash liquor utilized in the conventional automatic home-type top loader washing machines, although similar quantities of detergent composition are used.
The detergent composition can contain all of the standard ingredients of detergent compositions, i.e., detergent surfactants and detergency builders. Suitable ingredients include those set forth in US. Patents 3,936,53~ askerville et at, February 3, 1976; 3,664,961, Norris, May 23, 1972; 3,~19,678, Laughlin et at, December 30, 1975: guy, Cockrell, September 16, 1980; and 4,239,659, Murphy, December 16, 1980t The wash liquor should preferably contain from about 400 Pam to about 150,û00 Pam, more preferably from about 1,50C Pam to about owe Pam of detergent surfactant and, in absolute 30 terms, preferably from about 1 gram to about 45 grams per kilogram of wash load. Thy wash liquor should also contain preferably from 0 Pam to about 100, 000 Pam, more preferably from 1,000 Pam to about 50,000 Pam of a detergency builder and, in absolute terms, preferably from about 10 grams to about 50 35 grams per kilogram of wash load. It should be noted that another benefit of the concentrated laundering process is that, due to the ~37~3 I --small quantities of water utilized, water hardness control is not as critical as in a conventional wash process. Suitable detergent sur~actants and detergency builders for use herein are disclosed in the IT . S. patents cited immediately hereinbe~ore. The wash liquor can also contain inorganic salts other than detergency builders, enzymes and bleaches. The level of inorganic salts in the wash liquor it from about 0 Pam to about 150,000 Pam and preferably from about 1,500 Pam to about 50,000 Pam. The preferred enzymes for use herein are selected from the group consisting of pro teases, amylases and mixtures thereof. The level of enzymes present in the wash liquor is from 0 Pam to about

3,000 Pam, preferably from 0 Pam to about 1,500 Pam. The level of pro teases present in the wash liquor is from o Arson IJnits per liter Lyle to about 1.0 ALLAH. and preferably from 0.03 ALLAH. to about 0.7 ALLAH. The level of amylases present in the wash liquor is from about 0 Aimless Units/liter of wash liquor to about 26,000 Aimless Unitslliter of wash liquor and preferably from about 2Q0 Aimless Units/liter of wash liquor to about 13,000 Aimless Units/liter of wash liquor wherein Aimless Units are as defined in US Patent 1,275,301 Desforges (Published May 24, lg72 ) . Bleach level in the wash liquor are From 0 Pam to about 6,Q00 Pam and preferably from about 500 Pam to about 2,000 Pam. Also, bleach levels in the wash liquor are from 0 Pam to about 2,000 Pam, preferably from about 20 Pam to about 1,000 Pam and most pre~rably from about 50 Pam to about 750 Pam of available chlorine when a chlorine bleach is utilized and from about 0 Pam to about 1,500 Pam, preferably from about 50 Pam to about 750 Pam end most preferably from about 100 Pam to about 500 Pam when an oxygen bleach is utilized.
Other parameters of the wash liquor are phi viscosity, oil/water interracial tension and particle size. The pi range for the wash liquor is from about 5 to about I preferably from about 7 to about 10 . 5 and most preferably from about 9 to about 10.5. it has been generally observed that superior cleaning can be achieved in the concentrated laundering process without the ~23~

use of highly alkaline detergent compositions. The viscosity of the wash liquor can range preferably from about the viscosity of water to about 250 centipoise and more pre~rably from about the viscosity of water to about 50 centipoise. Also, it is preferred 5 that the oil/water interracial tension is no greater than about 1û
years and more preferably no greater than about 5 dynes and preferably that no solicit ingredient is larger than about 50 microns and more preferably no larger than about 10 microns.
Typically, the quantity of wash liquor utilized in the concentrated lo laundering process when utilized or home-type laundry loads will range from about 1 titer Jo about 20 titers and preferably from about 2 liters to about 5 liters. --The detergent compositions utilized in the concentrated laundering process can be in any Norm, such as granules, pastes, 15 gels or liquids. However, based upon ease of preparation of the wash liqlJor, liquid detergent compositions and rapidly dissolving granular detergent compositions are desirable.
Thy conditions and detergent compositions for the present concentrated laundering process can be mild and safe for the most 20 delicate fabrics cleaned by the least experienced consumer without unduly sacrificing cleaning.
WASH LIQUOR APPLICATION STEP
The wash liquor for the present process can be prepared by mixing the detergent composition and water. In the case of 25 granular detergent compositions, the granules must be dissolved and/or dispersed before the resulting wash liquor can be applied to the textiles. In the illustrated embodiment, such predissolu-lion anchor predispe! soon occurs by placing a predetermined quantity of granules in wash liquor reservoir 89 which is then 30 filled from the water supply line 80 via control valve 87 and delivery line 96. If a highly concentrated liquid detergent come position is used, then a flow-throu~h mixing cell, e.g., a static mixer, can be used as an alternative to the wash liquor reservoir to mix the detergent composition and water. However, in ranges 35 of the minimal quantity of water, an appropriate concentrated aqueous liquid detergent composition can be applied "as is" with--out further dilution.

~'7~23 The wash liquor is applied as an aqueous liquid directly onto the textiles. Preferably, the textiles are dry when the wash liquor is applied. It is also desirable that the application of the wash liquor, especially when there is no free wash liquor, is such 5 that it is substantially completely and evenly distributed onto the textiles. That is to say, that if the wash liquor is not evenly distributed over substantially all of the textiles, thin the untreated portions will not be cleaned as well and/or those pro lions of the textiles which are treated with more than their pro-10 portion ate share of the wash liquor may appear as "clean" spots after the concentrated laundering process has been carried out.
It showed be noted that with the larger quantities of wash liquor within the invention it is easier to make Sue a distribution.
This is especial Ivy true with quantities of wash liquor exceeding 15 the absorption capacity of the textiles.
The foregoing detailed description of a preferred machine embodiment to accomplish such an application where there is no free wash liquor will be used in the following discussion.
In a home-type front loading automatic washing machine of 20 the type described herein before and illustrated in Figures 1-5, the wash liquor is pumped from either the wash liquor reservoir - 89 or mixing cell (not shown through a delivery line 95 which has a high pressure spray nozzle lo attached at the end of it.
The nozzle should be situated inside of the machine in such 3 25 position so as to optima the even and complete application of the wash liquor onto the textiles. This can be accomplished by attacking the nozzle lo in the tubular shaped extension lo of the stationary drum IS, as generally shown in Figure 1. As an option, more than one Roy can be used. Such multiple nozzles 30 may be positioned so they will effectively increase the area of the drum that would be sprayed by the nozzles and, therefore, ensure a more complete application of the wash liquor onto the textiles. As an alternative to a nozzle, an atomizer (not shown) can be used. An atomizer is believed to be particularly desirable 35 when minimal quantities of water are used because the wash liquor must be extremely finely divided to ensure uniform distribution.

~2~3'7~

It should be noted that with quantities of wash liquor exceeding the absorption capacity of the textiles, but within the inventiorl, less sophisticated means may be utilized to ensure good disturb-lion of the wash liquor onto the textiles.
As generally described in the foregoing apparatus descrip-lion, before the wash liquor is pumped through the delivery line 95 and out the nozzle lo, the movable drum 40 is preferably rotated. The purpose of the rotation is to clear the textiles from the center of the drum so that they are not blocking the field of spray of the nozzle lo, to distribute them substantially urliformly along the peripheral wall 40, and to expose as much of their surface area to the initial spray as is feasible. . This is pro-fireball accomplished by initially driving movable drum 40 via concentrically mounted driven pulley 34 at a eons ant speed which is sufficient to force the textiles against the peripheral wall 41 of the movable drum 40 and thereafter driving movable drum 40 via eccentrically mounted driven pulley 28 at a reduced varying speed which allows the textiles to tumble continuously through the spray .
The pressure in the delivery line 95 should be high enough to produce a substantial Ivy flat unshaped spray of the wash liquor 230 through the nozzle lo, said spray preferably covering the entire depth of the movable drum 40, as generally shown in Figure 3.
This particularly preferred method of wash liquor application permits the textiles to be substantially completely and evenly con-tatted by the wash liquor. This permits the very effective detergent/soil interaction of the concentrated laundering process TV QCeur. Additionally such a method of wash liquor application is extremely efficient because when the quantity of wash liquor utilizes does not exceed the absorption capacity of the textiles essentially all of the wash liquor is on the textiles.
A benefit t of the concentrated laundering process Is that effective cleaning result is can be obtained over . a wide range of wash liqLIDr temperatures. The temperature of the wash liquor can range from about 2C to about 90C, preferably from about ~3r7~;~z3 15C to about 70C end most preferably from about 25~C to about 50~C. surprisingly, tile cleaning performance achieved at them-portrays from about 25C: to about 50C is as good as that achieved at temperatures above about 50C. Also, such low temperatures are especially save for dyed and/or synthetic lox-tiles. Dye transfer is minimized at slick temperature, especially when there is no free wash liquor. If it is desired to perform the wash liquor application step at temperatures above arnbien~
temperature, either the wash liquor or the incoming water from supply line 8Q can be heated before the wash liquor is applied to the textiles However, it is preferred that the temperature of the textiles not exceed about 7ûC, as this may result in excess size wrinkling and shrinkage. Furthermore, temperature-sensitive synthetic textiles should not be heated above their manufacturer-recommended washing temperatures.
APPLICATION OF Energy AFTER TEXTILES
IVY ENNUI Canticle ED WITH WASH LIQUOR
In a preferred embodiment, energy can be applied to the textiles after they have been contacted by the wash liquor. It may be in the form of heat energy and/or mechanical energy, albeit they are not completely interchangeable, or a period ranging from about 1 to about 30 minutes, preferably from about 5 to about 15 minutes.
The application of heat energy permits the consumer to obtain excellent bleaching performance from bleaches such as sodium perbora~e, sodium per carbonate and hydrogen peroxide which are generally more effective at higher temperatures. This is not economical in a conventional home-type automatic wash process due to the cost of heating such large quantities of wash liquor. Further, since small quantities of water are used in the concentrated laLIndering process, conventional levels of bleach will have a higher effective concentration. This too contributes to the effective and/or efficient use of bleach in the concentrated laundering process.
In a preferred embodiment, heat energy Is applied by recur quilting moist air which is heated via heating element 165 to raise ~2~7~:3 the temperature of the textiles to about 60C, the temperature at which hydrogen peroxide based bleaches become particularly reactive. In addition to the closed loop moist air recirculation system disclosed in Figure 1, numerous other methods may be 5 used for the application of heat energy. Non limiting examples en microwaves, steam and solar energy.
As an alternative to the application of heat energy to anti-Yale the bleach, inorganic peroxide salt activators or low them-portray active bleaches such as peroxyacids can be used. Such 10 activated bleaches are effective below about 50C. Organic peroxide salt activators are well known it the art and are described extensively in the literature. For example, see US.
Patents 4,248,92~, Spading et at, issued February 3, 7981, and

4,220,56~, Spading et at, issued September 12, 1980, 15Active bleaches such as organic peroxyacids and waxer soluble salts thereof are well known in the art. For a more detailed description of such bleaches see US. Patents 4,126,$73, Johnston, issued November 21, 1978 and 4 ,100, 095, Hutchins et at, issued June 11, 1978 Other benefits of the application of heat energy are the assistance in the distribution of wash lucre onto the textiles and - lipid/oily soil removal. If during the wash liquor application step the wash liquor was not substantially evenly and completely 25 distributed onto the textiles, then the application of heat energy does provide Rome additional distribution. Also, experimental evidence indicates that heat energy does assist somewhat in the removal of lipidloily soil. Some other potential benefits of the application of heat energy are the effective use of enzymes and 30 the creation of desirable detergent surfact3nt phases. Different enwomb s are most effective at different temperatures. Therefore, the textiles could be heated through certain temperature ranges to maximize enzyme effectiveness. However, as discussed herein-before, heat energy does not provide a major performance bone-35 fit, except as discussed herein before with respect to bleaches, to the concentrated laundering process. It is preferred that heat ~237&~3 energy be applied such that the temperature of the textiles is preferably from about 15C to about 70C: and more preferably from about 25C to about 50C.
The application of mechanical energy provides numerous benefits. Mechanical energy helps to distribute the wash liquor so that it is more evenly and completely distributed onto the textiles. Thus, if during eke wash liquor application step the wash liquor was not substantially evenly and completely duster-butted onto the textiles, then the input of mechanical energy will enhance such distribution. Mechanical energy also minimizes the period of- time that the same textiles will remain in intimate con-tact with each other. Consequently, contact dyeing is minimized.
Also, it is believed that mechanical energy contributes to improved cleaning eMicacy. However, with quantities of wash liquor exceeding the absorption capacity of the textiles, only a limited amount of mechanical energy should be applied in order to prevent oversudsing. But, this is dependent on the concentra-lion and nature of the detergent composition in the wash liquor.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-5, mechanical energy can be applied by continuing rotation of the movable drum 40 at the last speed at which the wash liquor was applied. This creates a tumbling action by the textiles in movable drum 40 and results in the textiles being mechanically agitated.
THY Al NOSE
After the foregoing steps have been completed, the text lies are rinsed in a rinse liquor which preferably comprises clear water. Unlike a conventional automatic wash process wherein the goal of the rinse is to remove primarily the residual detergent composition, the goal of the present rinse is to remove the entire detergent composition and the soil. Thus, the present rinse step simultaneously performs the soil and detergent composition trays-port functions normally performed sequentially in conventional washing and conventional rinsing steps. Surprisingly, it has been observed that, during the rinse step, soil redeposition and dye transfer are minimal. Also, It has been observed that the rinse liquor contains stable emulsion particles whereas the rinse ~3~7~2~

liquor in a conventional automatic wash process does not contain such emulsion particles.
In the preferred laundering apparatus illustrated in Figures 1-5 " ins liquor is introduced to the interior of movable drum 40

5 from water supply line 80 via control valve 83, delivery line to and applicator nozzle 120. Movable drum 40 is preferably rotated at varying speed via eccentrically mounted driven pulley 28 so that the textiles being rinsed are caused to tumble in a manner similar to the wash liquor application step. For more complete 10 agitation of the articles being rinsed movable drum 40 may be stopped and its direction of rotation reversed several limes throughout the rinse cycle. After the initial rinse has been completed, the rinse liquor is preferably removed from movable drum 40 by pumping it out via pump 140 without accelerating the 15 rotation of the movable drum. This procedure can be repeated several times until the detergent composition and soil are removed. However, the textiles need not be spun out by high speed rotation of movable drum 40 between rinses. This mini-mixes the potential for wrinkling if the textiles are warm and also 20 minimizes the potential for soil redeposition due to the rinse water being "filtered" through the textiles. If desired, adjutants such as outtake brighteners, fabric softeners and perfumes can be added to the rinse or applied, via the applicator nozzle 120, after the last rinse and distributed by tumbling. Bodying agents, 25 such as starch, can also be added by spraying after the last rinse. Following the last rinse the textiles can be spun out by high speed rotation of movable drum 40.
An effective rinse can be accomplished in accordance with the present invention with reduced water consumption and, there-30 fore, if heated water is used, reduced energy consummation. The amount of rinse liquor per kilogram of wash load is from about 11 liters to about 32 liters, preferably from about 5 liters to about 10 liters per rinse cycle. Rinse liquor levels below this amount would not produce enough free water on the surface of the lox-35 tiles to adequately suspend the soil and detergent composition Generally more than one rinse cycle is necessary to remove all of the soil and detergent composition from the textiles The use of ugh small quantities of rinse liquor permits the consumer to perform an entire laundering cycle of the present inventiorl with about 25 liters or less of water per Icilogram of wash load. The 5 rinse liquor temperature is from about 151'C to about ~5C and preferably from about 25C to about 45C.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invent lion carried out in the apparatus of Figures 1-5, the complete rinse comprises two or three cycles which can be carried out in 1û either gold or warm clear water. Each cycle can be from about 1 to about 10 minutes with each cycle not necessarily being the same length of- time.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invent - lion, the Nat of the dry wash load is determined by an auto-15 matte weight sensor (not shown) and the quantities of wash liquor, detergent composition, and rinse liquor are automatically regulated thereafter by control moans known in the art and therefore not shown.
After the final rinsing step the laundered textiles can, if 20 desired, be dried in the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1-5.
This is done by positioning diverter valve 168 so that atmospheric air it drawn into connecting duct 171 by blower 160, heaved by heating clement 165, circulated through the tumbling textiles contained in the moving drum 40, withdrawn from drum 40 in a 25 humid condition via connecting duct 167 and vented to atmosphere via connecting duct 170. Exercising this option enables the consumer to purrer,? the entire laundering and drying process in a single apparatus and in continuous fashion.
The present concentrated laundering process can be 30 employed to clean up even the dingiest of textiles and especially synthetic textiles in a number of laundering cycles. When an effective bleach is employed, the number of laundering cycles required for such purposes is reduced. This is believed to be due to the combination of excellent isle removal and substantial 35 avoidance of excessive dye transfer and soil redeposition. Also, it has been observed that the present concentrated laundering ~23~3 process extends the useful "life" of textiles. This is believed to be due to the wash liquor lubricating the textile fibers.
Another aspect of the present invention is a granular paste, got or liquid detergent composition packaged in association with 5 instructions for use in the concentrated laundering process.
When such detergent composition is combined with water it pro-dupes from just enough wash likelier to be substantially evenly and completely distributed onto a wash load of textiles to about 5 kilo-grams of a wash liquor per kilogram of vouch load of textiles, said 1 D wash liquor containing from about 10 gram to about 60 grams of . the detergent composition per kilogram of wash load of textiles.
The process of this invention is primarily directed to house-hold laundry which consists of wash loads essentially made up of textiles, i.e., the process it a small batch process, that typically I cleans less Han about 10 kilograms of soiled textiles which are a mixture of textile types and/or colors. While the present concern-treated laundry process has been described in detail in conjunction with a preferred home laundering apparatus, it will be apple-elated by those skilled in the art that the process can also be 20 carried out on an industrial scale if provision is made for proper distribution of the wash liquor over the textiles and avoidance of appreciable amounts of free wash liquor in contact with the lox-it lo .
The following examples are illustrative of the invention.
EXAMPLE I
Three sets of polyester and polycotton swatches containing the following soil types were prepared: artificial serum, trillion, CRISC0 oil and a mixture of inorganic particulate soil and lipid soil. The three sets of swatches, with three lean swatches used 30 to measure soil redeposition, were then sprayed with wash liquor containing 1.92 grams of ARIES (a commercial cietergent compost--lion containing about 10% surfactant, about 454 sodium Tripoli-phosphate detergent builder, about 129~ sodium perorate bleach, and about 1/4% of an enzyme composition) in a miniatLIre launder-35 in apparels which mimics the action ox the exemplary laundering apparatus disclosed in the preferred apparatus description. This * Trademark for a vegetable owl.
** Trademark ~37~3 quantity of ARIES corresponds to about 32 grams of detergent composition per kilogram of wash load. The movable drum in the miniature laundering apparatus had a nine inch diameter an a nine inch depth. The swatches were then mechanically agitated 5 at room temperature or seven minutes by rotating the movable drum. The swatches were then rinsed in another miniature laundering apparatus having a six inch diameter and four inch depth movable drum with . 462 liters tap water or two minutes.
(The size of the movable drum used for the rinse was selected to 10 be proportional to the textile load although the size of the move able drum used for the wash liquor application was larger because spray-on was not ~asible in the small six-inch drum. ) Tile rinse step was performed three times. The above procedure was repeated with wash liquors comprising various quantities of voter 15 and 1.92 grams of ARIES. The swatches were then measured to obtain the difference in Hunter Whiteness Units Filtered (WIFE).
This measurement corresponds to the amount of soil removed from the swatches, with the higher number signifying greater soil removal. HOFF measurements exclude the effect of brightener, 20 thereby measuring only soil removal. The results were as lot lows:
WOW F
Weight ratio of wash liquor to swatches 1:1 2.5:1 I
Artificial serum polyester . 4 6 . 9 4 . 6 Artificial Siberian polycotton 20 .1 14 . 7 12 . O
CRISCO polyester 6.1 3.7 2.5 CRISCO polycotton 8.7 6.2 .9 Trillion polyester 8.9 5.1 5.3 Trillion polycotton 16.3 i5.6 6.4 Soiled polyester 27.4 20.5 12.0 Sot ted polycotton 33 .1 28 . 8 19 . 4 Polyester redeposition-9 . 0 -11 . 5 -17 . 2 Polycotton redeposition -2 . 7 -4 . 0 -7 . 3 ~237~3 The data indicate that as the quantity of voter in the wash liquor is increased above the wash liquor Jo swatches ratio of about 2.5:1, there is less soil removal and more soil redeposition.
EXAMPLE I I
A wash load was prepared in the miniature laundering appear-tusk of Example I consisting of the following textiles: 20 I x I white polycotton swatches, IS 4" x 4" white polyester swatches, four 6" x 6" white terry cloth vowels. One 6" x 6" red terry cloth towel, which is an excessive dye bleeder, was used as a dye source. The dry weight of the textiles was as follows:
Dry wright of textiles rams ) 4 white terries 36 1 red terry I
15 white polyester swatches 32 . 2 20 white polycotton swatches 26.4 Total ~103. 6 The wash liquor was prepared by dissolving 3 . 3 grams of ARIES in 200 ml. of tap water. The movable drum was then 20 rotated and the Yvash liquor was sprayed onto the textiles until contact dyeing was first visually observed. The weight of the wash liquor absorbed onto the textiles was calculated. The results were as follows:
Weight of wet Weight of wash textiles grams liquor absorbed by textiles (grams) 4 white terries 108,3 72.3 1 red terry ~27.1 ~18.1 15 white polyester swatches 82.2 50.0 3020 white polycotton swatches 50 . 824 . 4 Total ~268.8 ~165.2 Then the ratio of the weight of wash liquor absorbed by the textiles to the dry weight of the textiles was calculated.

~.~3~7~

Ratio of weight of wash liquor absorbed to dry weight of textiles 4 white terries 2.0 1 red terry ~2.û
15 white polyester swatches 1.6 20 white polycottons . 9 Tote I I . 6 These data indicate thaw when excessive dye blesd~rs are 10 included in a typical wash load, contact dyeing occurs when the weight of the wash liquor exceeds about I times the total weight of-the textiles.
EXAMPLE l l I
Two sets of cotton swatches were prepared with each swatch 15 containing one of the following off stains: brown gravy, coffee, grape and tea. Two sets of polyester and polycotton swatches were prepared with each swatch containing one of the felon soil types: artificial serum, artificial serum plus particulate soil and trillion. Then 24 dingy swatches were prepared in which 20 half were made from a cotton T-shirt and half were made from a palatine sheet. All ox the alcove swatches were pinned to two cotton towels for a combined weight of 1/2 pound. A 5-1/2 pound "dummy" load consisting of glean temperature-sensitive synthetic textiles and the swatches were placed in an apparatus similar to 25 that shown in Figure i. The textiles were then rotated and a wash liquor consisting of 96 grams of ARIES dissolved in 2.84 liters of tap water which was sprayed onto the textiles. The textiles were then rotated at room temperature or 10 minutes and then subsequently rinsed in about 20 liters old water. The rinse 30 step was repeated twice. Lowe above procedure was repeated three more times with only the temperature of the wash load during the 10 minute rotation period being varied.
The data were obtained in YE units and WIFE units. YE
units are a measurement of eke change In color of the swatch 35 resulting from the wash cycle. Change in color is proportional to the amount of soil removal, with a higher YE value corresponding I

to greater isle removal. The above prsceclure was repeated and the average of the results of the two replicates is as follows:
YE
45* Rum 120 150 180 (Temperature I
(7.2C) t4gC) (65.5C~ (~2.2C) Brown gravy 2.2 4.9 4.9 8.6 7.6 Coffee 3.8 5.8 6.5 I 6.3 Grape 3.î 6.4 7.9 10.6 10.6 Tea 2.û 5.5 7.2 8.9 8.4 Artificial serum polyester 6.4. 13.1 11.l~14.S 12;4 Artificial bum polycotton 6.511.2 11.0 10.6 10.3 Trillion polyester 4.7 5.0 7.0 6.0 7.3 Trillion polyco~ton 6.3 7.6 8.6 7.5 8.5 ~HlNU F
Soiled polyester 27.3 42.9 43.9 44.1 40.3 Sot foci polycotton 35 . 2 48 . 6 48 . 6 48 . 1~8 . 5 *Same laundry load as in Example V and only one replicate.
The data indicate that the concentrated laundering process is only slightly temperature dependent. Higher temperatures were significant for stain removal, but that is primarily due to the breach in ARIES which becomes more effective a higher tempera-lures.
it was visually observed that at temperatures of 150F
(65.5C) and 180F (8202C) what the sensitive synthetic textiles suffers much wrinkling and shrinkage. It is surprising that the level of cleaning at "cool" temperatlJres, e.g., Tess than about 40C, is extremely good. Prior Jo this invention it wow believed impossible to obtain this level of cleaning at these temperatures.
EXAMPLE IV
Twelve old dingy T-shirts an pillow cases were washed along with a family bundle according to the same procedure as outlined in Example ill. The temperature of the wash load during the ten minute rotation period was 145F. ~62.8C1. The ~31~23 T-shirts and pillowcases were used normally in between wash cycles. Hunter Whiteness Units were measured before and after the indicated number of wash cycles to obtain the difference in Hunter Whiteness Units Tao The results were as follows:
Pillowcase Ann. of wash cycles 26.1 15 2 37.0 16 3 ~8.Ç 6 4 55.1 6 51.0 G

6 49.0 - - 7 13.9 7 8 12.8 7 9 11.3 3 10.0 3 11 39.6 9 12 41.6 9 r skirt Winnie. of wash cycles 14.2 17 2 13.9 17 3 34.2 if 4 27,8 11 ~7.6 12 6 17.5 I

7 18.3 15

8 14.2 15

9 19.5 14.9 7 if 16.3 6 12 17.5 5 The data indicate that there urns considerable soil removal from the pillowcases and T-shirts and their clean condition was maintained. This level of perfsrmancc cannot be achieved with a conventional automatic wash process.

123t7~

"j EXPEL V
A six pound wash load was prepared that consisted of a So pound load of actual household laundry and pound load made up of cotton, polyester, polycotton swatches pinned to two cotton 5 towels. Etch cotton watch contained one of the following stains:
brown gravy, coffee, grape and tea. Each polyester and polecat-ton swatch contained one of the following soils: artificial serum, trillion and a mixture of inorganic particulate soft and lipid soil.
The wash load was then washed according to the same procedure

10 as outlined in Example ill. The temperature of the wash load during the ten minute rotation period was about 145F. ~62.8C).
The above procedure was repeated two more times with reduced quantities of ARIES.
The above wash procedure was repeated with the following 15 detergent compositions: TOP to commercial detergent composition containing enzymes) and ZAP (a built commercial detergent come position containing enzymes). This procedure was also repeated with reduced quantities of detergent compositions.
The data were obtained in YE units and WIFE units. The 20 results were as follows:
a ARIES

(Crams of detergent) Brown gravy 14.5 7.0 5.0 Coffee 12 . 6 5 . 6 6 . 2 Grape 14~8 2.8 5.3 Tea 14.3 5.7 2.5 Artificial serum polyester 9 . 0 8 . 0 3 . 9 Artificial serum polycotton 8.2 6.9 4.3 Triune polyester 7 . 6 5 . 3 3 . 8 Trillion potycotton10.8 7.2 3.7 aHWUF
Sot led polyester 40 . 2 17 . 2 4 . 0 Sot led polycotton 51, 3 34, 8 21 . 7 * Trademark ~3~7~3 ye TOP
go ( Grams of detergent Brown gravy 8.8 6.2 Coffee 8.1 5.1 Croup 7.8 2.3 Tea 4.4 2.9 .
Artificial Siberian polyester 9.3 5.
lo Artificial serum polycotton T0.5 8.2 Trillion polyester 5, 7 Il. o Trillion polycotton10 . S - 8 . 2 WOW F
Soiled polyester 38.3 21.0 15 Sot led polycotton 43 . ? 34 . 2 YE
ZAP

(Grams of detergent composition]
20 Brown gravy 9.5 6.1 Coffey 8 . 4 5 . 3 Grape 5.8 2.1 Tea 5.2 2.7 Artificial serum polyester 6 2 4 O 0 25 Artificial serum polycotton 7.7 I
Trillion polyester 8 . 3 4 .1 Trillion polycotton 10.2 6.7 Allah F
Sot led polyester 34 . 7 19 . 8 30 Soiled polycotton ~1.3 30.9 The data indicate that as the quantity of detergent in the wash liquor is reduced, the amount of soil removal from the swatches was also reduced.
EXAMPLE Al The following typical granular detergent composition was prepared:

~L237~'~3 Sodium Of 6-18 ally MU a Sodium C~2 linear alkylb~nzene sulfonate 3.5 C14_16 alkyd poly~thoxylate 5.5 Sodium tripolyphosphate 24.4 Zec-lite A 17.6 Sodium carbonate 10.5 Sodium silicate (2.0 r) 1.9 Sodium sulfate 21.0 Water 8 . 9 Miss igneous 1 . 2 Two sets of polyester and polycotton swatches containing thy following soil types were prepared: artificial serum, reloan, CP~iSCO oil beef tallow and a mixture of inorganic particulate soil 15 and lipid soil. The two sets of swatches, with two clean polyp ester swatches and two clean polycotton swatches used to measure soil redeposition, and 14 polyester and 15 polycotton clean swatches which constitute a "dummy" load were then placed in a miniature laundering apparatus which mimics the action of the 2û exemplary laundering apparatus disclosed in the preferred appear-anus description. The swatches were then sprayed with wash liquor containing 2.29 grams of the above granular detergent composition. The quantity of wash liquor corresponded to about twice the dry weight of all of the swatches and the quantity of 25 detergent composition corresponded to about 17.6 grams per kilogram of swatches. The movable drum in the miniature lawn-during apparatus had a nine inch diameter and a nine inch depth.
The swatches were then mechanically agitated at room temperature for ten minutes by rotations the movable drum. The swatches 30 were then rinsed in one liter of tap water for two minutes and then dried in a conventional automatic dryer. This procedure was repeated three times. The aHWUF was calculated.
The above procedure was repeated with increased quantities of wash liquor, but constant wash liquor concentration. How 35 ever, with weight ratios of wash liquor to swatches of 5 and 7, the movable drum was rotated gently during the ten minute ~37~

mechanical agitation period so as Jo prevent oversudsing. The results were as follows:
Wright Ratio of Wash Liquor to Dry Swatches WIFE Breakout Artificial serum polyester 2 15.51 B C
3 14.24 C
S 16.93 A B
7 17.~7 Artificial swum polycotton 2 12 . I B
3 12.97 B
16.2~ A
7 18.07 A
CRISCO polyester 2 8.53 A
3 6.52 A
8.û1 A
7 9.48 A
CRISCO pGlycotton 2 10.70 B
3 10.36 B
13.94 A
7 15.57 A
Trillion polyester 2 12.41 B
3 13.08 B
15.58 A
7 14.34 A B
Trillion polycotton 2 13 . û2 B
3 13.24 En 16.48 A
7 î8.30 A
Beef tallow polyester 2 10.84 B
3 10.99 En 14.12 A
7 . 15.02 A

Beef tallow polycotton 2 9.41 B
3 ~.77 En 7 T5.31 A
Soiled polyester 2 24.1l3 B
3 25 . 40 B
28.51 A
7 29.99 A
Sot led polycotton 2 29 . 83 B
3 32~5 A B
5 35 . 97 A
7 35 . 48 A
Polyester redeposition 2 -1.21 B
3 -1 . 35 B
.49 A
7 ~92 A
Polycotton redeposition 2 -1 . 99 B
3 -1 . 97 B
- .93 A
7 -1 . 09 A B
*The Breakout was determined by an analysis of variance with the letters A, B and C representing a significant difference at a 95% confidence level. For example, with the artificial serum polyester swatches there was a significant difference between the weight ratios of 2 and 7, 3 and 5, 3 and 7, buy no significant difference between weight ratios of 2 and 3, 2 and 5 and 5 and 7.
These data indicate that as the weight ratio it increased from 5 to 7 there is no significant increase in soil removal, albeit 40% more detergent composition is applied to the swatches. Also, there appears to be not much increase in soil removal as the weight ratio is increased from 2 to 3 and, then, to 5 in view of the quantity of the increase of detergent composition applied to the textiles.
Vowel particular embociimen~s of the present invent30n have been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled ~237~

in the art that various modifications can be made without depart-in from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the wash liqlJor can be applied to the textiles by 3 brush, r oilers, a wash liquor permeable structure mounted on the inner surface of 5 the movable drum to allow contact of the textiles with thy wash liquor that passes through the permeable structure, a gravity feed system which allows the wash liquor to drop onto the moving textiles, or any other means which applies the required amount of wash liquor evenly and completely to the textiles: other detergent t 0 compositions can be substituted or the specific detergent come positions described herein, etc.
- Another aspect of this invention is that the concentrated laundering process permits the effective use of detergent compost-lions comprising bleaches and enzymes at levels in such detergent 15 compositions that would provide essentially no benefit when such detergent compositions are utilized at normal usage levels in conventional automatic wash processes. "Normal usage levels in conventional automatic processes" are generally (a) the use of 96 grams of detergent composition in 64 liters of water at 40C for 20 the United States of America: (b) the use of 146 grams of deter-gent composition in 20 liters of water at 75C or Europe; and (c) the use of 40 grams ox detergent composition in 30 liters of water at 25C for Japan.
The bleaches thaw can be utilized in the deterrent compost-25 lions are per oxygen bleaching compounds capable ox yielding hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution. These compounds are well known in the art and include hydrogen peroxicie and the alkali metal peroxides, organic peroxide bleaching compounds such as urea peroxide, and inorganic per salt bleaching compounds, 30 such as the alkali metal perorates, per carbonates, purifies-plates, and the like. Mixtures of two or more such bleaching compounds can also be used, if desired. Preread per oxygen bleaching compounds include sodium perorate, commercially available in the form of moo- and tetrahydrat~s, sodium carbon-35 ate peroxyhydrate, sodium pyrophosphate peroxyhydrate, ureaperoxyhydrate, and sodium peroxide. The level of such bleaches in the detergent compositions is from 0 . 01% to about 0 . I and preferably from about 0.1% to about 0.5% of volubly oxygen.
Other bleaches that can be utilized are activated bleaches such as persuades or per oxygen bleaching compounds capable of 5 yielding hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution plus a bleach activator that swan react to generate a pursued. Such persuades and bleach activators are well known in the art. For example, sex US. Patents 4,126,573, Johnston November 21, 1g78) and 4,100,095, Hutchins et at (Junk 11, 197B) which deal with per-10 acids end US. Patents 4,248,928, Spading et at (February 3, 1981 ) and 4,220,562, Spading et at (September 12, 19803, which Duluth bleach activators. The preferred pursued is magnesium monoperoxy phthalate hexahydrate as disclosed in published European Patent Application No.
15 0,027,693. The detergent compositions can contain from about 0.03~ to about 0.3% and preferably from about 0.1% to about 0.25%
of available oxygen that can potentially be generated by pursued.
As another alternative, the detergent compositions can contain a chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleaches are well known in 20 the art. The preferred chlorine bleach it sodium dichlorocyanur-ate dehydrate. Other suitable chlorine bleaches are sodium and potassium dichlorocyanurates, dichlorocyanuric acid; 1,3-dichloro-5,5-dimethyl hydantoin; N,N'-dichlorobenzoylene urea; paratoluene sulfondichloroamide; trichloromelamine; N-chloroammeline;
25 N-chlorosuccinimide; N,N'-dichloroazodicarbonamide; N-chloro-acutely urea; N,N'-dichlorobiuret; chlorinated dicyandiamide;
sodium hypochlorite; calcium hypochlorite; and lithium hype-chlorite . The detergent compositions contain from about 0 . 03~ to about 1.2% and preferably from about 0.1% to about 0.6% of avail-30 able chlorine.
The enzymes that can be utilized in the detergent compost-lions are protozoa, amylases and mixtures thereof. The level of pro teases present in the detergent evmposition is from about 0 . 01 Arson Units AYE.) per 100 grams to about 0.27 AYE. per 100 35 grams and preferably from about 0.06 Appear 100 grams to about 0.25 A. U. per 100 grams. The level of aimless present in the ~7~3 -- I --detergent composition is from about l So Arnylase Units per 100 grams of detergent composition to about 24,000 Aimless Units per 100 grams of detergent composition and pre~rably from about 1200 Aimless Units per 190 grams of detergent composition to about 6000 Aimless Units per 100 grams of detergent composition.
Aimless Units are defined in US Patent 1,275,301 Desforges (published May 24, 19723.
The concentrated laundering process also permits the effect live use of novel detergent compositions comprising other desire able aux11iary ingredients at levels that would privily essentially no consumer noticeable benefit at normal usage levels in convent tonal automatic wash processes.. Such ingredients include optical brighteners, soil release agents, antistatic agents, dyes, per-fumes, pi adjusting agents, detergency builders, antibacterial 15 agents, antifungal agents, an~itarnish and anti corrosion agents, etc. Preferably, these ingredients are used at levels in a deter-gent composition that provide no consumer noticeable benefit when the detergent composition is used in conventional automatic home-type washing machine processes at normal usage levels.
A "consumer noticeable benefit" is based upon a represent-live number of consumers, the benefit being such that it can be recognized by a majority of the consumers at the 95~ confidence level. More preferably these ingredients are used at less than 3 to of the level at which a consumer benefit is seen, most prey-25 drably at less than 1/2 of said level.
It is intended to cover in the appended Claims all such modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims (31)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS.

1. A detergent composition for use in a process for laundering a discrete wash load of assorted soiled textiles comprising the steps of:

(a) producing a quantity of concentrated aqueous wash liquor comprising from about 40% to about 99.9% water and from about 5000 ppm to about 150,000 ppm of a detergent composition which provides from about 1,500 ppm to about 10,000 ppm of a detergent surfactant, from 0 ppm to about 50,000 ppm detergent builder, and from 0 ppm to about 50,000 ppm of inorganic salt which is not a detergent builder;
(b) distributing substantially evenly and completely onto said textiles in their substantially dry state a quantity of said wash liquor ranging from about just enough to distribute said wash liquor substantially evenly and completely onto said textiles to a quantity of said wash liquor which is about 5 times the dry weight of the textiles, said wash liquor containing from about 5 grams to about 200 grams of said detergent composition per kilogram of said textiles;
(c) allowing said wash liquor to remain in contact with said soiled textiles for a period of time during which, if there is more than a minimal amount of free liquor in excess of the absorption capacity of said textiles, only limited amounts of mechanical energy are applied to said textiles so as to prevent oversudsing;

(d) rinsing said textiles with a quantity of an aqueous liquid, rinse liquor sufficient to produce enough free water on the surface of said textiles to adequately suspend the solid and the detergent composition; and (e) separating said rinse liquor containing said wash liquor and said soil from said textiles, said composition comprising detergent auxiliary ingredients at levels in said composition that would provide no con-sumer noticeable benefit when said detergent composition is used at conventional concentrations in a conventional home-type automatic wash process.

2. The detergent composition of Claim 1 wherein the auxiliary ingredient is selected from the group consisting of bleaches enzymes, optical brighteners, dyes, anti-tarnishing agents, anticorrosion agents, perfumes, bright-eners, soil release agents, antistatic agents, pH-adjusting agents, detergency builders, antibacterial agents, anti-fungal agents and mixtures thereof.

3. The detergent composition of Claim 2 wherein the auxiliary ingredient is selected from the group consisting of bleaches, enzymes and mixtures thereof.

4. A detergent composition for use in a process for laundering a discrete wash load of assorted soiled textiles comprising the steps of:
(a) producing a quantity of concentrated aqueous wash liquor comprising from about 40% to about 99.9% water and from about 5000 ppm to about 150,000 ppm of a detergent composition which provides from about 1,500 ppm to about 10,000 ppm of a detergent surfactant, from 0 ppm to about 50,000 ppm detergent builder, and from 0 ppm to about 50,000 ppm of inorganic salt which is not a detergent builder;

(b) distributing substantially evenly and completely onto said textiles in their substantially dry state a quantity of said wash liquor ranging from about just enough to distribute said wash liquor substantially evenly and completely onto said textiles to a quantity of said wash liquor which is about 5 times the dry weight of the textiles, said wash liquor containing from about 5 grams to about 200 grams of said detergent composition per kilogram of said textiles;
(c) allowing said wash liquor to remain in contact with said soiled textiles for a period of time during which, if there is more than a minimal amount of free liquor in excess of the absorption capacity of said textiles, only limited amounts of mechanical energy are applied to said textiles so as to prevent oversudsing;
(d) rinsing said textiles with a quantity of an aqueous liquid, rinse liquor sufficient to produce enough free water on the surface of said textiles to adequately suspend the solid and the detergent composition; and (e) separating said rinse liquor containing said wash liquor and said soil from said textiles, said composition comprising from about 0.01% to about 0.5% of available oxygen from a peroxygen bleaching compound capable of yielding hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution.

5. The detergent composition of Claim 4 wherein the peroxygen bleaching compounds capable of yielding hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution is from about 0.1% to about 0.5% of available oxygen and selected from the group consisting of sodium perborate, sodium carbonate peroxy-hydrate, sodium pyrophosphate peroxyhydrate, urea peroxy-hydrate and sodium peroxide.

6. A detergent composition for use in a process for laundering a discrete wash load of assorted soiled textiles comprising the steps of:
(a) producing a quantity of concentrated aqueous wash liquor comprising from about 40% to about 99.9% water and from about 5000 ppm to about 150,000 ppm of a detergent composition which provides from about 1,500 ppm to about 10,000 ppm of a detergent surfactant, from 0 ppm to about 50,000 ppm detergent builder, and from 0 ppm to about 50,000 ppm of inorganic salt which is not a detergent builder;
(b) distributing substantially evenly and completely onto said textiles in their substantially dry state a quantity of said wash liquor ranging from about just enough to distribute said wash liquor substantially evenly and completely onto said textiles to a quantity of said wash liquor which is about 5 times the dry weight of the textiles, said wash liquor containing from about 5 grams to about 200 grams of said detergent composition per kilogram of said textiles;
(c) allowing said wash liquor to remain in contact with said soiled textiles for a period of time during which, if there is more than a minimal amount of free liquor in excess of the absorption capacity of said textiles, only limited amounts of mechanical energy are applied to said textiles so as to prevent oversudsing;
(d) rinsing said textiles with a quantity of an aqueous liquid, rinse liquor sufficient to produce enough free water on the surface of said textiles to adequately suspend the solid and the detergent composition; and (e) separating said rinse liquor containing said wash liquor and said soil from said textiles, said composition comprising from about 0.03% to about 0.3%
of available oxygen that can potentially be generated by peracid from an activated bleach.

7. The detergent composition of Claim 6 wherein there is from about 0.1% to about 0.25% of available oxygen that can potentially be generated by peracid from an activated bleach.

8. A detergent composition for use in a process for laundering a discrete wash load of assorted soiled textiles comprising the steps of:
(a) producing a quantity of concentrated aqueous wash liquor comprising from about 40% to about 99.9% water and from about 5000 ppm to about 150,000 ppm of a detergent composition which provides from about 1,500 ppm to about 10,000 ppm of a detergent surfactant, from 0 ppm to about 50,000 ppm detergent builder, and from 0 ppm to about 50,000 ppm of inorganic salt which is not a detergent builder;
(b) distributing substantially evenly and completely onto said textiles in their substantially dry state a quantity of said wash liquor ranging from about just enough to distribute said wash liquor substantially evenly and completely onto said textiles to a quantity of said wash liquor which is about 5 times the dry weight of the textiles, said wash liquor containing from about 5 grams to about 200 grams of said detergent composition per kilogram of said textiles;
(c) allowing said wash liquor to remain in contact with said soiled textiles for a period of time during which, if there is more than a minimal amount of free liquor in excess of the absorption capacity of said textiles, only limited amounts of mechanical energy are applied to said textiles so as to prevent oversudsing;

(d) rinsing said textiles with a quantity of an aqueous liquid, rinse liquor sufficient to produce enough free water on the surface of said textiles to adequately suspend the solid and the detergent composition; and (e) separating said rinse liquor containing said wash liquor and said soil from said textiles, said composition comprising from about 0.03% to about 1.2%
of available chlorine from a chlorine bleach.

9. The detergent composition of Claim 8 wherein there is from about 0.1% to about 0.6% of available chlorine from a chlorine bleach.

10. A detergent composition for use in a process for laundering a discrete wash load of assorted soiled textiles comprising the steps of:
(a) producing a quantity of concentrated aqueous wash liquor comprising from about 40% to about 99.9% water and from about 5000 ppm to about 150,000 ppm of a detergent composition which provides from about 1,500 ppm to about 10,000 ppm of a detergent surfactant, from 0 ppm to about 50,000 ppm detergent builder, and from 0 ppm to about 50,000 ppm of inorganic salt which is not a detergent builder;
(b) distributing substantially evenly and completely onto said textiles in their substantially dry state a quantity of said wash liquor ranging from about just enough to distribute said wash liquor substantially evenly and completely onto said textiles to a quantity of said wash liquor which is about 5 times the dry weight of the textiles, said wash liquor containing from about 5 grams to about 200 grams of said detergent composition per kilogram of said textiles;

(c) allowing said wash liquor to remain in contact with said soiled textiles for a period of time during which, if there is more than a minimal amount of free liquor in excess of the adsorption capacity of said textiles, only limited amounts of mechanical energy are applied to said textiles so as to prevent oversudsing;
(d) rinsing said textiles with a quantity of an aqueous liquid, rinse liquor sufficient to produce enough free water on the surface of said textiles to adequately suspend the solid and the detergent composition; and (e) separating said rinse liquor containing said wash liquor and said soil from said textiles, said composition comprising from about 0.01 Anson Units (A.U.) per 100 grams to about 0.27 A.U. per 100 grams protease enzyme.

11. The detergent composition of Claim 10 wherein there is from about 0.06 A.U. per 100 grams to about 0.25 A.U.
per 100 grams of protease enzyme.

12. A detergent composition for use in a process for laundering a discrete wash load of assorted soiled textiles comprising the steps of:
(a) producing a quantity of concentrated aqueous wash liquor comprising from about 40% to about 99.9% water and from about 5000 ppm to about 150,000 ppm of a detergent composition which provides from about 1,500 ppm to about 10,000 ppm of a detergent surfactant, from 0 ppm to about 50,000 ppm detergent builder, and from 0 ppm to about 50,000 ppm of inorganic salt which is not a detergent builder;
(b) distributing sustantially evenly and completely onto said textiles in their substantially dry state a quantity of said wash liquor ranging from about just enough to distribute said wash liquor substantially evenly and completely onto said textiles to a quantity of said wash liquor which is about 5 times the dry weight of the textiles, said wash liquor containing from about 5 grams to about 200 grams of said detergent composition per kilogram of said textiles;
(c) allowing said wash liquor to remain in contact with said soiled textiles for a period of time during which, if there is more than a minimal amount of free liquor in excess of the absorption capacity of said textiles, only limited amounts of mechanical energy are applied to said textiles so as to prevent oversudsing;
(d) rinsing said textiles with a quantity of an aqueous liquid, rinse liquor sufficient to produce enough free water on the surface of said textiles to adequately suspend the solid and the detergent composition; and (e) separating said rinse liquor containing said wash liquor and said soil from said textiles, said composition comprising from about 150 Amylase Units per 100 grams to about 24,000 Amylase Units per 100 grams of amylase enzyme.

13. The detergent composition of Claim 12 wherein there is from about 1200 Amylase Units per 100 grams to about 6000 Amylase Units per 100 grams of amylase enzyme.

14. The composition of Claim 1 wherein said detergent composition provides at least 1000 ppm of said detergent builder and at least 1,500 ppm of said inorganic salt.

15. The composition of Claim 4 wherein said detergent composition provides at least 1000 ppm of said detergent builder and at least 1,500 ppm of said inorganic salt.

16. The composition of Claim 6 wherein said detergent composition provides at least 1000 ppm of said detergent builder and at least 1,500 ppm of said inorganic salt.

17. The composition of Claim 8 wherein said detergent composition provides at least 1000 ppm of said detergent builder and at least 1,500 ppm of said inorganic salt.

18. The composition of Claim 10 wherein said detergent composition provides at least 1000 ppm of said detergent builder and at least 1,500 ppm of said inorganic salt.

19. The composition of Claim 12 wherein said detergent composition provides at least 1000 ppm of said detergent builder and at least 1,500 ppm of said inorganic salt.

20. The detergent composition of Claim 1 wherein said detergent auxiliary ingredients are used at less than 3/4 the level at which a consumer benefit is seen.

21. The detergent composition of Claim 20 wherein said detergent auxiliary ingredients are used at less than 1/2 of the level at which a consumer benefit is seen.

22. The composition of Claim 4 wherein the available oxygen is less than about 0.38%.

23. The composition of Claim 22 wherein the available oxygen is less than about 0.25%.

24. The composition of Claim 6 wherein said available oxygen is less than about .23%.

25. The composition of Claim 24 wherein said available oxygen is less than about 0.15%.

26. The composition of Claim 8 wherein the available chlorine is less than about 0.9%.

27. The composition of Claim 26 wherein the available chlorine is less than about 0.6%.

28. The composition of Claim 10 wherein the protease enzyme is present at a level of less than about 0.2 A.U.
per 100 grams.

29, The composition of Claim 28 wherein the protease is present at a level of less than about 0.14 A.U. per 100 grams.

30. The composition of Claim 11 wherein the protease enzyme is present at a level of less than about 18,000 amylase units per 100 grams.

31. The composition of Claim 30 wherein the protease enzyme is present at a level of less than about 12,000 amylase units per 100 grams.