DE102017215843A1 - Hand-held device for stain treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a handset for stain treatment with a controller (10), a transducer (15) operable with at least one variable operating parameter (19), wherein at least the amplitude and / or the frequency and / or the operating parameters (19) Application time are varied, and with a spectroscope (8), which is designed for a spectroscopic analysis of the nature of the stained material (3) and / or the nature and the spot (2) and / or the intensity level of the spot (2) the controller (10) of the hand-held device (1) prescribes or sets the operating parameter (s) (19) as a function of the spectroscopic analysis.

Description

The invention is in the field of stain treatment, in particular on textile materials such as e.g. Laundry. When cleaning or washing materials such as laundry, flat linen and molded articles (e.g., garments), it may happen that not all stains can be removed from the soiled materials.

The German Offenlegungsschrift DE 10 2015 006 045 A1 describes a method and apparatus for after-treatment of laundry using a sensor device and a stain remover. The sensor device may be a camera system or a sensor strip which has one or more individual sensors. The downstream spot removal device seen in the conveying direction of a laundry article to be treated can be formed by a spray nozzle which locally applies bleaches, cleaning agents or solvents such as alcohols, alkanes, acetates, enzymes, anionic and nonionic surfactants or other compounds or mixtures locally to the respective spot whose location coordinates have previously been determined by the sensor device. The stain remover may provide various amounts, concentrations or compositions of cleaning or treating agents. The known device is stationary and usually then arranged directly adjacent to a cleaning or washing device.

From the U.S. Patent 6,886,371 is a washing machine with an additional hand-operated cleaning device for the local treatment of particularly stubborn dirt with an ultrasonic head known. A cleaning agent applied to the material area to be treated locally is brought to effect particularly effectively by oscillatory movements of the ultrasound head. However, it is up to the user's experience and discretion to adjust the dosage and intensity of the ultrasonic waves on the one hand with regard to the (polluted) material to be treated and on the other hand with regard to the type of stain or the degree of staining. An overdose involves the risk of damage to the material or the tissue.

From the U.S. Patent 6,376,444 are known a hand-held device for stain treatment and a process practicable with this. The handset has a reservoir with a cleaning agent disposed at one end of a handle body. The other end of the grip body has a transducer which applies sound waves to spots of a textile to be treated. Again, it is up to the experience and sensitivity of the user to choose the treatment intensity and treatment time so that on the one hand or the stains are sufficiently removed and on the other hand avoid damage to the treated textile area by the application of the sound waves or the vibrations of the transducer is.

Against this background, an object of the present invention is to provide a hand-held device for stain treatment on materials, such as textiles or laundry, which is particularly effective and optimized in terms of resources (energy requirements and treatment means) and at the same time reduces the risk of damage to the treated material.

This object is achieved by a handset with the features of the independent claim. Preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims or will become apparent from the following description and the figures of the accompanying drawing, wherein individual elements disclosed therein may be applied alone or in conjunction with each other.

Accordingly, a handheld device for treating stains on materials in accordance with the present invention includes a controller, a transducer, and a spectroscope. The spectroscope is designed so that it is designed for a spectroscopic determination of the type of stained material and / or the type of spot to be treated and / or the degree of contamination. For this purpose, the spectroscope is aimed at a defined distance (for example, predetermined by a spacer) or almost directly at the (support) material and / or the spot, and performs spectroscopic analysis (spectroscopy). Spectroscopy is understood in a known and therefore not shown here in detail as the physical method to disperse a radiation according to certain properties, in particular according to the wavelength. The observed intensity distribution is also called spectrum and is characteristic of various substances - including the composition of different patches or the type or genus of the substrate - at least indicative.

The information supplied by the spectroscope and usually converted into electrical signals can be compared with reference information stored in the control of the handset. For this purpose, the controller may comprise an evaluation unit with a data memory. This can at least roughly the category or Determine the characteristic of each patch to be treated.

The spectrometer comprises at least one radiation source, which emits radiation in a predetermined wavelength range, which strikes the material or the spot to be treated. At least one radiation detector registers the radiation reflected by the material or the spot as a measurement signal (to be further processed), which is then transmitted to the controller (for example a microcomputer) and further processed therein in a manner known per se with an evaluation routine stored in the microcomputer.

Preferably, calibration spectra for different materials, treatment agents and standard or standard stains (e.g., blood stains, wine stains, etc.) may be deposited in the evaluation unit, most preferably also materials exposed to varying amounts of at least one treatment agent or at least one standard stain.

More preferably, the user can make a (additional) as needed calibration with known material and / or stain type and degree of contamination.

The handset has a transducer for treating the patch. In the context of the present invention, the term "transducer" is understood to mean an element which can be set into motion at comparatively high frequency, preferably in the ultrasonic frequency range, and which can be oscillated in a manner known per se (see, for example, US Pat U.S. Patents 6,376,444 and 6,886,371 ) brings vibration energy supplied by a vibration generator in the material to be treated and / or the stain to be removed and so causes or supports the local cleaning or stain removal.

A particular aspect of the invention is that the controller or the operating parameters of the transducer, in particular the amplitude and / or the frequency and / or the application time of the transducer, depending on the spectroscopic analysis, so the determination of the nature of the stained material and / or specifies the type of stain and / or the degree of soiling, so that the user performs the cleaning process accordingly. It is preferable and convenient if the controller sets the operating parameters directly. Thus, control may be applied to particularly sensitive staining materials, such as e.g. Silk that minimizes mechanical stress on the material, i. For example, operate the transducer with higher amplitude, but shorter application duration.

A preferred embodiment of the invention for handling provides that the handset has a device body, at one end of the transducer and at the other end of the spectroscope is arranged.

A particularly convenient stain treatment can be realized in that the handset has a storage and metering device for treatment.

The term "treating agent" is to be construed broadly and includes any preparation which is capable of inducing a treatment result on objects to be treated, such as e.g. Washing or cleaning agents.

Particularly preferably, different treatment agents are stored in the hand-held device and / or supplied to the handset, so that according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the control depending on the spectroscopic analysis to be applied (it may be more than one component) treatment agent selects and / or dosed.

Particularly in the case of sensitive carrier materials or particularly stubborn stains, it is of particular advantage to design the invention such that the spectroscope analyzes or determines the dissolving behavior of the stain to be treated and the control system applies different treatment agents depending on the dissolving behavior of the stain. For this purpose, the stain to be removed can be particularly preferably analyzed and pretreated in advance, combined with a recommendation for a further treatment (for example in a subsequent wash cycle of a subsequent washing process). The hand-held device can be connected to a plurality of storage containers with different treatment agents or can have the storage containers integrally in which, for example, surfactants, enzymes or bleaches or mixtures and compositions of stain- and textile-differentiated cleaning agents and solvents are stored.

The dosage can be done manually or preferably automatically, in the simplest version continuously over the application time of the transducer. With particular preference in the case of a patch consisting of complex constituents, with knowledge of the (temporal) dissolution behavior of the stain, different treatment agents (for example enzymes) can be metered and applied correspondingly with a time offset.

This is illustrated by the example of a stain of egg yolk: Here, enzymes for the particularly effective dissolution of the yolk and then further, with regard to the resolution of the Protein components optimally acting enzymes are supplied.

In principle, the spectroscopic analysis in the context of the invention may already be sufficient if a cursory or functional stain group is determined (for example proteins, fat, pigments) by analyzing their specific spectra and making them usable. For this purpose, their spectra can be stored in the control as reference values as described, in order to compare the spectral distributions determined by the spectroscope with these reference values and to determine therefrom the functional speckle group.

It is particularly advantageous if data for the wavelength-dependent reflection behavior for standard contaminants are stored in the control device and / or an external server, which data can be used for the evaluation and material or spot assignment to at least one category.

In order to perform a quantitative evaluation of a spectrum, a spectrum is generally normalized to a standard. In this way, an adjustment of a recorded spectrum with, for example, a calibration spectrum is possible; It is also possible to compare several recorded spectra with one another, for example to track the decrease in a specific amount of a substance.

The user can also carry out a preliminary measurement or a determination of the (carrier) material. So, for example, in an already older and graying white cotton carrier material, a substantially systematic shift of the spectrum in comparison to the spectrum of a brand new cotton carrier material results, but which can be basically filtered out as an offset.

The invention provides a handheld device for targeted stain treatment with optimized use of mechanics, treatment time and treatment agents depending on the type of textile and stains to be treated. The spot-specific application of the energy consumption of the transducer is minimized, resulting in a battery-powered handset to a desirable for the user longer battery life.

• 1 schematisch eine Ausgestaltung eines Handgeräts,
• 2 eine Ausführungsvariante des Handgeräts aus 1,
• 3 die Behandlung eines Fleckens mit dem Handgerät aus 1,
• 4 Referenzspektren fleckenverursachender Medien und
• 5 in dreidimensionaler Darstellung spektrale Verteilungen fleckenbildender Medien.

The invention will be further explained with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• 1 schematically an embodiment of a hand-held device,
• 2 an embodiment of the handset 1 .
• 3 the treatment of a patch with the handset 1 .
• 4 Reference spectra of staining media and
• 5 in three-dimensional representation spectral distributions of stain-forming media.

1 shows a handset 1 for the treatment of a stain 2 which is on a carrier material, for example a piece of laundry 3 , is located. The handset 1 has a device body 4 on, in one end area 6 a spectroscope 8th is arranged. The spectroscope 8th includes a radiation source not shown in detail 8a and a non-detailed detector 8b that from the spot 2 outgoing reflected radiation 9 Spectrally analyzed with regard to the respective wavelengths. The detector generates due to the incident radiation 9 for further processing in a controller 10 of the handset 1 suitable electrical, symbolized by an arrow output signals 11 , which, for example, in digital form, the recorded spectrum of the spot 2 represent.

In the in 1 shown orientation of the handset 1 is located in the direction of the longitudinal axis seen at the other end 12 a transducer 15 who is in the forefront in a known manner 16 a through a vibration generator 17 vibrational element 18 having. The oscillation frequency, which is preferably in the ultrasonic range, but may also be in the audible sound range, the oscillation amplitude and / or the operating time (application time) are symbolized by arrows, variable operating parameters 19 , The control 10 can - as illustrated in this embodiment - the generator 17 apply directly to these operating parameters. The operating parameters may additionally or alternatively be presented to the user on a display 20 be displayed so that it can perform the stain treatment according to the displayed specifications.

2 shows an embodiment of the handset 1 in which a conveying and metering device 21 (hereinafter referred to as metering device) is provided in a preferably interchangeable cartridge 22 contained treatment agent 23 over a line 24 in the area of the top 16 and thus of (only in 1 shown) vibrating element 18 promotes the transducer. The bullet 22 may preferably be in one of a lid 26 lockable recording 28 be used. Preferably, several cartridges of the same kind are in introduced according to several shots, wherein the metering device 21 as through several supply lines 29 indicated with the respective cartridges in selective flow communication. This allows the metering device 21 - controlled by the controller 10 - If necessary, different, contained in the individual cartridges treatment agent 23 - For example, solvents, enzymes or bleach - for each required treatment of the stain 2 ( 1 ) and apply.

In 3 is to further clarify the treatment of the stain 2 only the end area 12 represented by the handset; the handset 1 is so opposite to in 1 shown situation rotated 180 degrees. drops 34 a treatment agent 36 that is related to 2 described selected from a corresponding cartridge and through the metering device via the line 24 in the end area 12 to the vibrating element 18 is promoted, there on the spot 2 applied and then or simultaneously through the transducer 15 by means of sound wave energy mechanically in effect with the stain 2 brought.

The controller chooses 10 depending on the spectroscope 8th supplied output signals 11 (Information on the type and, where applicable, the intensity of the spot 2 or of the carrier material (laundry item 3 )) the most suitable treatment agent 23 and accordingly controls the metering device 21 in terms of dosage, delivery time and delivery time. This control data is thereby provided or selected (for example, from one in the controller 10 deposited reference database) by recording in advance corresponding spectral analyzes of typical staining media, so that by comparing the spectrum of the stain 2 this stain can be assigned to at least one stain class or speckle type. Additionally or alternatively, the spectroscope may also contain information about the carrier material (item of laundry) 3 ) representing output signals 11 be delivered by a spectral analysis of the garment 3 takes place and the spectral values obtained in the control 10 stored reference values of typical carrier materials.

For particularly stubborn or complex stains can with the help of the spectroscope 8th the Fleckauflösecharakteristik or the dissolution behavior of the spot determined and, if necessary, also be stored. For this purpose, for example, the referencing of the stain can serve (for example, as an egg yolk and protein existing stain). The dissolution behavior of the spot to be treated can also be achieved by multiple spectroscopic analyzes during the cleaning or treatment process. For this purpose, a design of the hand-held device is conceivable in that both the transducer and the spectroscope are arranged so that they can simultaneously treat the spot or investigate it spectroscopically. In doing so, the controller 10 various treatment agents - for example, a first enzyme from a first cartridge 22 ( 2 ), which is optimized for the solution of egg yolk, and then another enzyme from another cartridge 22 , which is optimized with regard to the solution of protein - depending on the dissolving behavior apply.

In the manner described above, the user can preferably determine in advance the material or at least the material class of the unsupported carrier material by spectroscopically analyzing a normal, ie non-stained, region of the material from the handheld device. In this case, the handset compares the recorded spectrum of the material as above in the context of the stain 2 described with previously recorded or stored in a database and possibly retrievable reference spectra.

To further illustrate the described referencing of typical stain-forming substances are in 4 schematically shown by way of example the characteristic spectral characteristics of blood, cocoa, red wine, soot and sebum. In the diagram, the so-called extinction (according to the absorption) in so-called standard norm variant (SNV) is plotted against the wavelength. The Standard Norm variant is a standardization method for taking into account the measuring distance of the spectrometer; the curves would shift vertically depending on the measuring distance with essentially unchanged characteristic curve course. In the present example the reference spectrum was 100% of clean cotton material (eg a T-shirt) based on reflected radiation ("referenced on clean cotton"). The curves were also filtered or smoothed using a suitable algorithm or filter - here the so-called Savitzky-Golay filter 3-11). 3-11 means the use of a 3rd order polynomial with a sliding window, which uses 5 measuring points before and 5 measuring points after the value considered for smoothing.

Absorption values above "0" indicate a particularly strong attenuation of the reflected light in the respective wavelength, for blood one recognizes, for example, a wave peak (maximum) of the individual measurement curves at approximately 1730 nm wavelength, while a wave trough (minimum) - ie, relatively strong reflection - is observed at light of wavelength 1650 nm. So you get with this reference spectrum, so to speak, a "fingerprint" for blood and in a similar way - with other striking Maxima or minima spectra for the other stain-forming substances. Due to the characteristic courses, the controller assigns the specific spot currently to be treated to a spot type or spot class and accordingly sets the use of the treatment agent used or the type and duration of the operating parameters of the transducer, as described above. The required control variables can be determined beforehand by appropriate tests with the respective types of stains.

Correspondingly, reference spectra (not shown in detail) for (carrier) materials such as e.g. Silk, cotton, etc. recorded and stored so that the user receives a classification of the carrier material to a material class by spectroscopic examination and thus the intensity, duration, etc. of the oscillating head application and treatment is determined.

5 shows in three-dimensional representation the relevant reference values for those already in 4 described spectra of typical staining materials, namely blood, cocoa, red wine, soot and sebum, after so-called multivariant analysis. These can be stored in the evaluation unit of the handheld device, but also externally in a storage connected via WLAN, for example, or a cloud.

5 shows a 3-main component analysis, which already for most common stain-forming substances speckcharakteristische distributions of the three components PC (Principal Components), namely PC-1 . PC-2 and PC 3 , having. The percentages of the principal components (eg PC-1 (45%)) mean the variation of the spectrum and thus the weighting. For example, a cocoa stain essentially has the coefficients (components) [+ 4 * PC-1; -4 * PC-2; 0 * PC-3].

Already in the illustrated three dimensions, the patches consisting of different substances differ significantly, the values of which virtually define a spatial area (accumulation space of the individual recorded reference values). If the spectrum (after appropriate evaluation) of a spot or carrier material currently being analyzed by the hand-held instrument falls into one of the spatial regions, it is basically possible to reliably determine into which spot category or material category the analyzed substance falls and accordingly control the oscillating head. One recognizes in 5 however, also that the spatial ranges of the reference values for sebum and soot are relatively close to each other, so that an even more accurate analysis is preferably carried out here (for example using multivariate analyzes of higher order or dimension) and / or a coarse preselection by the User can be entered into the control of the handset.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

handset

2

spot

3

laundry

4

device body

6

end

8th

spectroscope

8a

radiation source

8b

detector

9

radiation

10

control

11

output signals

12

end

15

transducer

16

top

17

generator

18

element

19

operating parameters

20

display

21

Conveying / metering

22

cartridge

23

treatment agents

24

management

24

display

26

cover

28

admission

30

supply

34

drops

36

treatment agents

PC-1

Component (Principal Component)

PC-2

Component (Principal Component)

PC-3

Component (Principal Component)

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102015006045 A1 [0002]
• US 6886371 [0003, 0012]
• US 6376444 [0004, 0012]

Claims (5)

Hand-held device for stain treatment a controller (10), a transducer (15) which is operable with at least one variable operating parameter (19), wherein at least the amplitude and / or the frequency and / or the application duration can be changed as the operating parameter (19), and a spectroscope (8) designed for a spectroscopic analysis of the nature of the stained material (3) and / or the nature and spot (2) and / or the intensity of the stain (2), - Wherein the controller (10) of the handset (1) presets or sets the operating parameters (19) in dependence on the spectroscopic analysis. Handset after Claim 1 , - wherein the handset (1) comprises a device body (4), at one end region (12) of the transducer (15) and at the other end region (6), the spectroscope (8) are arranged. Handset after Claim 1 or 2 , - wherein the handset (1) has a storage and metering device (21) for treatment agent (23). Handset after Claim 3 , - wherein the controller (10) depending on the spectroscopic analysis to be applied treatment agent (23) selects and / or metered. Hand-held device according to at least one of the preceding claims, - wherein the spectroscope (8) determines the dissolving behavior of the spot to be treated (2) and - The controller (10) a plurality of different treatment agents (23) depending on the dissolving behavior of the spot (2) applied.

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