EP0356427A1

EP0356427A1 - Process for the washing and/or rinsing of textile materials, and devices for said process

Info

Publication number: EP0356427A1
Application number: EP88902125A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alfred Meffert; Milan-Johann Schwuger; Andreas Syldatk; Johann Friedrich Fues; Michael Bergmann
Original assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Current assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Priority date: 1987-03-06
Filing date: 1988-02-27
Publication date: 1990-03-07
Also published as: EP0281041B1; YU40788A; YU69189A; EP0281041A1; ES1006937Y; JPH02502429A; ATE80422T1; WO1988006654A1; GR3006107T3; DE3874367D1; ES1006937U; YU47091B; ES2033957T3; YU46979B; KR890700711A; DE3707147A1

Abstract

Process for the washing and/or rinsing of textile materials at high temperatures in aqueous liquids which may contain ingredients of washing and cleaning agents. Said process enables savings in materials and time in the field of textile washing by means of methods which, when applied in conjunction with known textile washing processes, enable substantial improvements to be made. For this purpose, at least some parts of the washing and/or rinsing processes are carried out while high-frequency vibrations from the microwave region (microwaves) are applied to the wet textile material.

Description

"Process for washing and / or rinsing textile materials and devices suitable therefor"

The cleaning of soiled textile goods by treatment with liquors containing aqueous washing constituents can be conceptually divided into the stages of washing and rinsing. Both washing and rinsing are carried out in one or more stages according to current practice. The appliances that are common today in households and businesses allow a wide range of adaptations to the optimal washing conditions. Desired goals include - while maintaining the quality of the washing result - the saving of energy, water and washing aids. Despite the known significant Entwicklungsbemühun¬ the manufacturer gen of detergents and washing machines seems still a ^'beträchtl Icher investment of time, energy and basic chemicals used including the required water amount as inevitable. The machine-controlled Zeit¬ space L for the cozy, rinse 60 ° -HaushaItswäsche IEGT still in the period of about 40 to 50 minutes, ^'operates ge with prewash, so this time period may be extended considerably. The total amount of water required for washing and rinsing is a multiple of the amount of dry textile weight used.

The invention is based on the object to provide time and material ein¬ saving steps in laundry linen Availability checked ^¬ supply, substantiel le improvements can be achieved by the co-use within a conventional fabric laundering operations. This applies both to the level of washing Processes as well as for the stage of rinsing out the contaminated fleet from the washed textile. The use and summary of the new method measures shown according to the invention opens up the possibility of achieving substantial savings in time, energy, water and / or detergent ingredients, if desired.

The broadest definition of the invention is a method for washing and / or rinsing textile materials with aqueous, if desired, ingredients of detergents and / or cleaning agents containing liquids using elevated temperatures, the new method being characterized in that the washing and / or rinsing operations are carried out at least in sections under the action of high-frequency vibrations in the microwave range - hereinafter referred to simply as "microwaves" for simplicity - on the soaked textile material. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a soaked textile material is exposed to the action of microwaves, the total water content of which lies in the range of the natural retention capacity of the textile material for the aqueous phase or only exceeds this amount of water to a limited extent.

The invention thus makes use of two basic principles which, in this form and in particular in their combination, have not hitherto been used for the problem of textile washing.

The use of high-frequency electromagnetic vibrations in the upper megahertz range up to the middle gigahertz range has increasingly been put into practice in recent years. The example known for the household sector is the microwave oven, which is used for rapid, thorough heating and, where appropriate, prior defrosting of prefabricated dishes. The selected microwave radiation of the lower to middle gigahertz range - for example the Range of about 0.1 to 300 GHz and preferably of the range of about 0.1 to 30 GHz - excites the water molecules present in the material to be warmed up and thus causes the water-containing material to be heated from the inside. The penetration possibility of the radiation into the interior of the material to be heated is greater at lower frequencies in the specified range than at the higher frequencies, see, for example, "Mikro¬ wel len", Günter Nemitz, Munich 1 980, page 1 55.

It has already been proposed to use microwaves of the type mentioned for drying moist textiles. To the best of the knowledge of the applicant, their use to promote textile washing and / or rinsing processes has not been proposed to date. Here there seem to be basic starting conditions against which the textile washing and cleaning processes customary in practice are determined: Both in the washing stage and in the rinsing processes, such large quantities of liquid are used that a two-phase system soaked textile material / aqueous liquor is formed, in which the amount of the aqueous liquor generally makes up a multiple of the dry textile weight. The intervention by means of microwaves in such liquid / solid systems leads to heating of the entire system, which can be achieved in a conventional manner - for example by the known heating rods immersed in the washing liquor - at least as well.

The basis for the new use of microwaves of the type specified, which is advantageous according to the invention, in connection with the washing and / or rinsing of textile materials is the subsequent departure from the known washing and rinsing processes, as described below. This new conception is of general importance for improved textile washing and / or rinsing and is not necessarily linked to the use of microwaves in the sense of the teaching according to the invention. This one

^' In its broadest form, the present disclosure of the invention accordingly comprises the general new principle described below for improving both the washing and the rinsing steps on textile materials, in particular on soiled textile material.

At the heart of this aspect of the new teaching is the limitation of the aqueous phase in decisive sections of the overall process to such amounts as are determined, for example, by the natural water retention - the retention ability - of the textile material to be treated, with liquid quantities that also exceeding this slightly can be tolerated to a certain extent as a "serum phase". In no case, however, are these amounts of liquid to be compared with the amount of water usually used in large excess, which forms the usual washing liquor.

It is known that, depending on its structure and nature, dry textile materials can be increasingly moistened with varying amounts of water and finally wetted before a separate aqueous phase forms in addition to the soaked textile. According to the common notion of textile washing, an excess of detergent is required to remove soiled textiles, for example from oil or grease / pigment soiling, of a detergent active and other detergents, in particular detergents, builder substances and the like. The detergent substances dissolved in this wash liquor are brought into contact with the soiled textile oil phase by suitable measures, in particular by the action of temperature, and / or textile mechanics, where they loosen the incrustations of dirt and stabilize the loosened dirt in the wash liquor The washing process and the auxiliary washing agents used can be found, for example, in Ullmann "Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry", 4th edition, Volume 24, detergents, especially subchapter 2, "Theory of the washing process" loc. Cit., Page 68 ff.

The invention is based on the prerequisite discussed here, the fundamental finding that it is not necessary for the effective implementation of the crucial processes for dirt removal and removal of the textile fiber, an aqueous washing liquor separated from the damp textile. On the contrary, surprising increases in effectiveness, which manifest themselves in particular and also in a shortening of the time required to set a predetermined washing result, are achieved when the amount of water is essentially limited to the amount of the textile while setting a moist state can be taken up to the state of the soaked textile. It immediately lights up: If the washing ingredients usually used are no longer distributed in a large amount of water, but only about the amount of water that the textile can bind is available, cleaning-promoting conditions are set in several ways. For example, the concentration of detergent substances in the now greatly reduced amount of liquid is significantly increased and thus, for example, the activity of wetting surfactants is improved. Of decisive importance is above all the fact that the detergent active in this embodiment can naturally only be found in the immediate vicinity of the fiber - and not far from the fiber in the bath liquid. Surfactants, bleaches, activators, enzymes, builders, washing alkalis and any other detergent ingredients are - as stated preferably also in increased concentration - bound to the place where they have to fulfill their task. It has been shown that a subtask can be solved in an improved manner, which is of outstanding importance for the washing result. This is the displacement of microdispersed residual air from the microstructure of the fiber, which plays a considerable role in particular wherever such stubborn amounts of residual air have to be expected due to the fiber structure. This aspect has only recently attracted increased attention, see the earlier patent applications P 36 30 183.3 CD 7718), P 36 31 318.1 (D 7729), P 36 31 727.6 CD 7731).

It has surprisingly been found that the range of moisture according to the invention is limited to a maximum of about such amounts as can be absorbed by the textile without forming excessive amounts of serum phase, the various processes being particularly suitable for facilitating the acceleration ¬ nigen and 'to promote, with which the previous extensive theory of the washing process has dealt intensively - but so far always based on the framework of working in a conventional system with excess aqueous liquor. In the sense of the new action according to the invention, the use of such an aqueous excess of washing liquor can be dispensed with in the washing stages. The moist to soaked textile is subjected to known process elements, in particular to the mechanical and mechanical effects and / or heating, but these processes are now sufficient in the absence or practically in the absence of large amounts of excess aqueous liquor on the moistened or soaked textile intense conditions.

For the inventive concept of the use of microwaves to support the washing and / or rinsing of textile materials, there is an additional process simplification

ERSATΣS ATT and promotion: The penetrating energy attack of the microwaves in the GHz range mainly affects the water molecules in and in the immediate vicinity of the textile fiber structure. The water or the aqueous solution and / or slurry of washing constituents is therefore heated up where the effective temperature increase is desired in order to intensify the washing result. Excess and ultimately lost energy for heating a large amount of liquor is no longer necessary. In this embodiment, the use of microwaves to facilitate, shorten and improve textile washing becomes a decisive advantage.

The use of microwaves in the process according to the invention can be intermittent or continuous, based on the respective process step, and can sweep over a process step as a whole or only affect parts of such a process step.

Microwave irradiation of the damp or soaked textile material means the heating of the irradiated material. In the context of the method according to the invention, it may be desirable to set temperatures in the textile material from about 35 ° C. to the boiling point of the aqueous phase, it being frequently suitable to work at temperatures in the range from about 40 to 90 ° C. In this context, the general legal requirements for textile washing must be observed. In general, hot laundry can also be safely heated to correspondingly high temperatures under the process conditions according to the invention. Other temperature-sensitive textile materials, for example purely synthetic materials based on polyester or wool, are subject to the known restrictions regarding the use of washing temperatures. H ere is, however, to consider that the action period of elevated temperature - OF INVENTION ^¬ to the invention process can be greatly shortened,

ι "t"

ERSia down to the range of 1 minute and below, for example down to an exposure range of 10 seconds. Such a period of time is already sufficiently long for the promotion of washing-technical processes between detergent ingredients and fiber under the process conditions according to the invention, and therefore has a positive effect here, without, where appropriate, being associated with serious temperature damage to the textile material. This is an important difference to conventional washing processes, which work with comparatively long periods of time for heating up the entire fleet and the goods to be washed. The temperature to be set in the textile can be controlled by selecting the intensity and duration of the energy radiation. Intermittent irradiation with comparatively low powers - for example with a maximum of 1 00 to 200 watts per household washing machine - allows the setting of moderate temperatures if this is necessary. Such temperature control can be promoted by further measures known per se in connection with textile washing. So it may be preferred to subject the soaked textile in batches or continuously during and / or between the phases of the microwave action to the influence of textile mechanics. In particular, it is preferred in this embodiment to circulate the moist to wet textile material. This results in temperature compensation within _, the textile goods and with the surrounding container wall, so that practically any temperature range can be set. The process of, for example, wetting the soiled textile with the surfactant-containing aqueous phase absorbed by the textile can then also be selected for as long as desired at predetermined temperature ranges.

If, on the other hand, cook-resistant or largely cook-resistant laundry is subjected to this stage of the process, it is generally possible to use high output - for example with up to 1,000 watts per washing machine load - continuously or batch-free to be worked wisely. It is also preferred here to use additional textile mechanics in the sense described above. This movement of the textile material leads to an intensification of the wetting and cleaning processes which take place between the liquid phase in the textile containing the detergent substances and the fiber or the dirt present on the fiber.

In the washing stage of a textile wash under the conditions according to the invention, in the preferred embodiment, no more than about 15 minutes and in particular no more than about 10 minutes are required in order to effect the required sufficient reaction between the washing ingredients and dirt-laden fiber. This applies in particular to the processes of detaching and conditioning oil, fat and pigment soiling that take place under the influence of surfactant detergents. The term conditioning here means the creation of such a condition in the overall system that subsequent addition of washing liquid - for example also cold water - causes the conditioned dirt to be washed out of the textile.

This period of preparatory conditioning of the soiled textile in the sense of such a washing process is often measured in minutes and can, for example, already be completed in a period of up to about 5 minutes. Depending on the loading of the machine and the intensity of the energy input, adequate conditioning effects for the subsequent rinsing out can possibly also be set up in seconds. Compared to previously known experiences in textile washing, there are completely new possibilities here.

For the purpose of rational energy absorption at the location of the desired action, as already stated, a soaked one is used Textile material exposed to the action of microwaves, the liquid core amount of which is largely limited to the amount retained in the textile. As a rule, the amount of liquid in the periods of energy irradiation does not exceed at most about twice the maximum retention capacity of the textile material for the liquid phase. The amount of the liquid phase is preferably so limited that this maximum retention capacity is not exceeded by more than about 0.5 times. In particular, a wide variety of embodiments are possible here for acting in accordance with the invention. In an important embodiment, amounts of liquid are used, for example in the range of the maximum retention capacity. This ensures that there is enough liquid phase in all parts of the textile material to ensure the desired penetrating wetting while displacing the microdisperse residual air. In another important embodiment, however, much smaller amounts of liquid can be used, at least at the beginning of the washing phase. Here, for example, a concentrated solution or slurry of the detergent auxiliaries is distributed as uniformly as possible on the textile surface, for example by spraying with simultaneous textile movement. The liquid phase can then be added until the maximum retention capacity of the textile material has been reached. From the beginning, or even subsequently, energy radiation by microwaves can be provided batchwise or continuously.

In practice, it has proven expedient to work with weight ratios of dry textile weight to aqueous liquid phase in the range from about 1: 1 to 1: 3, with amounts of liquid preferably in the range from about 1: 1 to 1: 3, 5 can be used. In the phase of the washing process, i.e. in the phase of conditioning the dirt for subsequent washing, the moisture content can not only can be shifted in the direction of increasing moisture, in particular by partial evaporation of water components due to energy radiation, a decrease in the moisture content can, if desired, be practically as far as dry textile. In this way, other desired effects can again be achieved, for example the intensified dirt conditioning by increasing concentration of the detergent ingredients on the fiber or the dirt.

The liquid phase containing the detergent ingredients can be applied to the dry textile material. On the other hand, in order to simplify the most uniform possible distribution of the detergent ingredients over the entire textile material, the textile material to be wetted can first be wetted with an aqueous liquid phase, for example pure water and are then freed from a portion of the liquid phase by a simple and customary mechanical process step, for example by centrifuging and / or pressing. The liquid phase containing detergent ingredients is then applied to such pre-wetted goods and uniformly distributed there. Even with such a sequence of process steps, the intermittent use of microwave radiation and thus the increase in temperature in the textile material can be advantageous. It can be seen that the combination of process measures chosen according to the invention enables a hitherto unknown degree of freedom in the control of the processes between fiber, dirt and detergent ingredients desired on the textile.

In the preferred embodiment of the washing processes according to the invention, the detergent ingredients and in particular surfactant components are used in such an amount that their concentration is higher than that of conventional textile washing, based on the limited amount of the liquid phase in the textile in an aqueous liquor - in each case based on the volume unit of the liquid phases to be compared with one another, overall, however, it may still be preferred to select the amount of detergent substances, and here in particular detergent surfactants in these network stages, approximately in such a way that - now based on textile dry goods - roughly corresponds to that of conventional textile laundry. The intensification of the work steps for dirt detachment and conditioning, which is possible according to the invention, also makes it possible, however, to reduce the amount of detergent ingredients in excess in comparison with the previously usual washing processes with aqueous liquor. The nature of the soiled textile goods and the dirt to be removed as well as the amount of dirt to be removed determine the amounts of detergent to be used in individual cases.

In an important embodiment of the invention, particularly intensive cleaning results are achieved with simultaneously shortened process periods in that multiple washing is provided. Conventional textile washing, for example in the household washing machine, also knows the prewash and the downstream main wash. The process according to the invention follows on from this principle, but has the advantage over the previously known technology of substantially shortening the successive washing steps, which if desired can be separated from one another by one or more rinsing stages of the type to be described below. Even with two or more washing stages in the sense of the method according to the invention, a comparison is made - with today's practice only a modest period of time is required.

In principle, the general laws of the textile washing process also apply to the implementation of the method according to the invention. Increasing the temperature leads to intensification and / or shortening of the washing process, the same applies to increasing the Concentration of detergent additives and for the use or the intensification of textile mechanics. The process according to the invention can be carried out in the washing stage described here with mixtures of detergent ingredients in the usual sense, for example with so-called textile detergents. Detergent ingredients and items to be washed are coordinated with one another in a manner known per se. Details can be found in the cited chapter "Detergents" in Ulmann, op. Cit. At this point, the individual detergent ingredients and their function are explained in detail.

However, within the framework of the action according to the invention is also a division of the textile treatment in this preliminary stage of the washing or conditioning processes for the soiling. For example, a distinction can be made between a first washing process, which is carried out essentially with detersive surfactants and auxiliaries suitable for them, and which leads to the conditioning and subsequent detachment of grease, oil and / or pigment stains. In a subsequent work step, a first group of problem stains can be tackled, for example bleachable stains. Working with peroxidic components and associated activators, for example the use of sodium perborate and associated activators such as TAED, requires the use of temperature to activate the bleaching component. Here again the advantages of the action according to the invention can be seen, which concentrates the peroxide-forming components in the immediate vicinity of the fiber or the pollution and specifically enables the temperature to be increased by microwave radiation. Finally, in a subsequent work step, another area of problem soiling can be tackled by using wash-active enzymes. Details of this can also be found in Ulmann, op. In one embodiment of the invention, an old suggestion can be taken up for bleaching which has not been able to prevail in practice up to now. This is the irradiation of pigment and fat or. Oil contamination removes textile goods with UV light. The action according to the invention brings particular advantages for such a mode of operation here because the textile is not suspended in excess aqueous phase, which absorbs substantial portions of the UV light.

Regardless of the elements described so far in the washing or power supply steps of a textile washing process, the working method according to the invention brings in the radiation of. Microwave energy with simultaneous limitation of the liquid phase to a maximum of the amount of the retention capacity of the textile material to be treated compared to the liquid phase, but also substantial advantages for the rinsing of the textile following the dirt detachment and conditioning. The way in which this dirt detachment and / or conditioning has been carried out is irrelevant. The following information on this part of the teaching according to the invention deals generally with an improved, preferably multi-stage, rinsing process for textile materials.

In this rinsing, according to the invention, at least 1 rinsing stage is carried out under the action of microwaves. One can proceed in such a way that the rinsing process is activated in the defined textile moisture range according to the invention by the action of microwaves, whereupon the mixture is subsequently further diluted with rinsing liquid without additional radiation energy being introduced. The decisive factor is the activation - that is, the temperature increase - in the 1st Section of such a rinsing step, which takes place in the liquid phase in the immediate vicinity of the textile fiber. If flushing is then to be carried out in several stages, repeated activation by single-jet Microwaves are designed as follows: Rinsing liquid is added to the wetted material until a separating, contaminated liquid phase is formed. This separated portion of the dirt-laden liquid phase is separated from the soaked textile material. This separation can only take place until the maximum retention capacity for the liquid phase is set, but if desired a further reduction in the liquid phase content can also be achieved by simple mechanical action such as spinning and / or pressing. At least in the first rinse stages, it may be expedient to dispense with such a further mechanical separation of the liquid phase and instead to expose the well-soaked textile material - preferably with simultaneous textile mechanics - to the action of microwaves. This triggers a kind of after-wash in the textile material with the liquid phase, which is diluted but still contains washing constituents, which leads to the intensive absorption of remaining conditioned dirt particles into the liquid phase. Subsequently, it is then expediently diluted with washing liquid, expediently again without the action of microwave energy, until a dirty liquid phase can again be separated from the textile material. This cycle of "post-washing" with a decreasing content of washing constituents can be repeated several times, if this appears desirable. In practice, it has been shown that intensive cleaning of the textile material can be achieved with a few stages of this type, for example with 2 to 5 post-rinse stages. At the same time, however, only very small amounts of excess liquid phase are required in these rinsing stages. Ultimately, a saving of liquid phase over the entire process can be achieved, which was previously not considered practically possible. For example, even if the liquid phases are discarded - i.e. without recycling, as is common in commercial laundries - 1 kg of dirty laundry can be 5 to 7 times as much Amount of liquid to be washed and rinsed. It is of particular advantage that, if desired, each rinsing phase can be initiated by irradiation of microwave energy with hot rinsing liquid, which can then be completed in an energy-saving manner by dilution with cold rinsing water.

It has also been shown that the above-described intensive wetting of soiled textile material is particularly suitable under the conditions according to the invention to bring about the optimal conditions for a subsequent immediate cleaning by the action of ultrasound on the textile material. For this purpose, the textile conditioned according to the invention under the action of microwaves in the wet stage is taken up in an aqueous liquor and then exposed to the action of ultrasound transmitters, in particular in the range from about 20 to 100 kHz, preferably in the range from about 20 to 40 kHz. Due to the optimal wetting and apparently complete displacement of the microdisperse residual air in the textile preconditioned according to the invention, an almost sudden detachment of the dirt load from the textile material takes place under the influence of ultrasound reference is made to the older applications mentioned P 36 30 183 .3 CD 7718), P 36 31 318.1 (D 7729) and P 36 31 727.6 (D 7731).

A further embodiment of the invention, which has proven to be particularly advantageous for many applications, provides that the treated material is also dried with at least partial exposure to microwaves. For example, the drying of textile goods washed in the sense of the invention can be carried out in the same device with batch or continuous exposure to microwaves. For this purpose, on the one hand, the text mechanics provided in the preferred embodiment anyway - that is, that

E REPLACEMENT LEAF Circulation of the material to be dried - are used, but on the other hand, alternatively or additionally, further process aids can be used. It has proven to be particularly expedient to promote the drying process with at least partial action of the microwaves by simultaneously flowing through the possibly circulated material with an air stream which carries the air laden with moisture out of the washing device. Compared to the usual laundry drying in a hot air stream, there are considerable process advantages here. The air to be used does not need to be heated as such; under the influence of the microwaves, the moisture evaporates in the textile, it is absorbed by the air flow passing through the washing device and discharged from the cleaning chamber. By loading the air stream with moisture, the heating of this moisture-laden air stream in the area of microwave radiation is ensured at the same time, so that the undesired condensation of moisture components in the gas phase inside the cleaning chamber can be prevented.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to devices which are suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention and are described below in their essential elements.

The device according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, for example. This shows in

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment according to

Kind of a tub washing machine, Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment in the manner of a drum washing machine and in FIG. 3 In a schematic rear view, an embodiment according to

Kind of a drum washing machine.

1 shows a cavity resonator 2 designed as a metal tub 1, which is closed on all sides, with walls reflecting microwaves towards the cavity interior 3, and an energy conductor 4 designed as a waveguide opens into the upper region of the cavity resonator 2. In the region of its confluence with the cavity resonator 2, the cross section of the energy conductor 4 is reduced to form a coupling hole 5. The energy conductor 4 is connected to a microwave transmitter or generator designed as a magnetron 6, the area of which projects into the waveguide 4 has the usual distance from lambda / 4 to the inner surfaces of the waveguide 4. In the area of the coupling hole 5, a movable closure 7 is arranged, with which the energy conductor can be sealed against the ingress of water. The movable closure 7 can consist of metal, plastic, rubber or the like.

In its floor area, the cavity resonator 2 has a glass plate 8 which, as a so-called base load, prevents microwaves from being returned to the magnetron when the device is in use is operated without load. Furthermore, a metal propeller 9 is arranged as a field distributor in the cavity resonator 2 at the level of the coupling hole 5.

Axial to its central longitudinal axis, the cavity resonator 2 has in its interior 3 a vane element 10, the drive shaft 11 of which is guided centrally through the bottom 12 of the cavity resonator 2. The passage area of the drive shaft 1 1 through the floor 1 2 is sealed, for example, by a labyrinth seal 29 with appropriate shielding in a microwave and water-tight manner against the cavity resonator interior 3. Outside the cavity resonator interior 3, the drive shaft 11 1 is fastened to a reversing gear 13, by means of which the rotational movement which can be picked up on an electric motor 14 is transmitted to the drive shaft 11 1.

Furthermore, the cavity resonator 2 has an outlet 15 in the region of its base 1 2 for discharging liquid from the cavity resonator interior 3. The mouth opening 16 into the cavity resonator interior 3 can be covered by a movable closure 17 made of metal 1 and can be shielded against the passage of microwaves. The drain 15 is connected to a pump 18, by means of which liquid 6 is sucked out of the cavity 3 when the orifice is not closed and is fed to a drain line 19 or return line 20. The pump 1 8 is designed in terms of its performance and design such that it can generate a slight negative pressure in the cavity 3, for which purpose the cavity 3 is advantageously sealed off from the outside environment. The return line 20 opens into the inlet 21, through which the aqueous liquid required for washing and / or rinsing is supplied to the cavity resonator interior 3. The inlet 21, like the outlet 15, is closed with a movable closure 22. bar . Instead of the closures 17 and 22, valves, for example solenoid valves, can be provided in the outlet 15 and the inlet 21 directly adjacent to the wall areas of the cavity resonator 2. Furthermore, a lye reservoir 23 and a further pump 24 are arranged in the return line 20. Furthermore, a detergent dispenser 25 with fresh water inlet 26 opens into the return line 20 or the inlet 21. The liquid flow within the return line 20 and to the inlet 21 can be regulated with valves 27 and 28.

For the filling of the cavity resonator 2 with goods intended for washing and / or rinsing, the cavity resonator 2 has an opening 31 in its upper region, which can be closed with a door or flap 30 in a microwave and waterproof manner. The treated material is also removed again from the cavity resonator 2 through the opening 31.

To monitor the temperature in the cavity resonator interior 3 during the washing or rinsing process, a temperature sensor 32 and a moisture sensor 33 are attached to the inner wall of the cavity resonator 2, which are effectively connected to the microwave generator 6 in a manner not shown here and when one is reached desired temperature to prevent the generation of further microwaves.

The above-described components of the device according to the invention are preferably arranged in or on a housing 34, which is designed and can be handled similarly to known tub washing machines.

To carry out the procedure described above ^'proceedings of the cavity 2 through the opening 31 to be washed well, for example textiles, filled with the. After closing the opening 31 with the flap 30, the cavity

REPLACEMENT BLADE resonator interior 3 fed through the inlet 21 aqueous washing liquid. This aqueous washing liquid gets onto the textiles and wets them. During this process, the textiles are moved by the rotating wing element 1 0. Excess washing liquid, or one not yet taken up by the textiles, is suctioned off in the outlet 15 and fed back via the return line 20 in the inlet 21 or, if desired, pumped into the drain line 19. This process is carried out until the textiles in the cavity resonator are adequately wetted, in particular up to their maximum retention capacity, with the washing liquid. Thereupon the liquid which may still be present in excess in the textiles and which may still be present in the cavity resonator interior 3 is pumped out of this, possibly with the formation of a slight negative pressure in the cavity resonator 2, and into the drain line 19 or the suds storage container 23 headed. The actual washing process described further above is then started. The wing element 10 is also kept rotating in the washing process. To act upon the cavity resonator interior 3 with microwaves, the inlet 21 and the outlet 15 are covered with the closures 22 and 17, and the closure 7 is removed from the coupling hole 5. The microwave radiation now starting can be timed, intermittent or even, and can take place with constant or different power. If necessary, microwave irradiation can also take place when the aqueous liquid enters the cavity interior. This has the advantage that water vapor forms during the wetting process, which can penetrate particularly well into the pores of the textiles. The individual processes of supplying and optionally discharging aqueous liquid and microwave radiation can be carried out alternately several times in succession, as already described above. After finishing the washing and / or Washing treatment of the textiles can also be dried in the device according to the invention, for which purpose the cavity resonator 2 is to be provided with air supply and steam removal in the manner of conventional exhaust air or condensate dryers, which is not described in more detail in the present figures.

The sequence of one or more washing and / or washing programs can be controlled and regulated by an automatic program (not shown here) and associated switching elements, as is customary in modern washing machines of a known type.

Figures 2 and 3 show a device according to the invention in the manner of conventional drum washing machines. In this case, the cavity resonator 35 is designed as a metal lye container which is closed on all sides. The cavity resonator 35 is resiliently suspended in a housing 36. This resilient suspension consists of spring elements 37 engaging the cavity resonator 35 in its upper region on the outside and shock absorbers 38 engaging the cavity resonator 35 in its lower region on the outside, which spring elements 37 and shock absorbers 38 with their respective other ends on the Housing 36 are hinged. The cavity resonator interior 39 has a horizontally arranged drum 40 made of plastic, which is provided in its radial side wall with sieve-like openings 41 and inner driver ribs 42. A drive shaft 43 is axially attached to the drum 40, which is led out of the cavity resonator through a wall of the cavity resonator 35 and ends in a further bearing in the region of an outer wall of the housing 36. A rotary movement that can be generated by means of an electric motor 44 is transmitted to the drive shaft 43 with a V-belt 45. Various speeds can be generated with the electric motor 44, in particular slow speeds which set the drum 40 in the usual washing rotation and faster speeds which set the drum 40 in the usual spin rotation. With their front area is the drum 40 is mounted in a groove 46 of a sheet metal wall 47 forming a side wall of the cavity resonator 35. Starting from the groove 46 delimiting a central opening 71 in the sheet metal wall 47, a rubber or plastic seal 48 seals the space 49 between the housing front wall 50 and sheet metal wall 47 in a watertight manner. The housing front wall 50 is made of metal l and has in the area of the drum 40 a door 51 for filling the drum 40 with items to be washed. The intermediate space 49 and the door 51 are sealed against the emergence of microwaves, in particular out of the housing 36, and each have a high frequency or. microwave-proof shielding. The door 51 can have a glass viewing window with an inserted wire mesh for shielding the microwaves.

Analogous to the device according to FIG. 1, a waveguide 52 opens into the cavity resonator interior 39 and has a coupling hole 53 in the mouth region. In the waveguide 52, microwaves can be generated by means of a magnetron 54, as also described for FIG. 1. Field distributors 55 and a base load 56 are arranged in the cavity resonator interior 39. Furthermore, an inlet 57 and an outlet 58 open into the cavity resonator interior 39. The coupling hole 53, the inlet 57 and the outlet 58 are as described for FIG. 1 by movable closures 59, 60 and 61 microwave or. watertight lockable. The drain 58 is connected to a pump 63 by means of a line 62. A fluff filter 64 is arranged upstream of the pump 63 in the line 62. Liquid pumped out of the cavity resonator interior 39 can be supplied from the pump 63 to a drain line 65 or a return line 66. The return line 66 opens into the inlet 57. Likewise, a fresh water supply line 67 opens into the return line 66 in the area of the inlet 57. A detergent dispenser 68 is arranged in line 67. To regulate the liquid flows in the lines 65, 66 and 67 in the return line

REPLACEMENT BLA ^" device 66 valves 69 and 70 provided.

The area where the drive shaft 43 passes through the cavity resonator 35 is sealed in a microwave and water-tight manner by a bearing 72 in the manner of a labyrinth seal.

The washing process in the devices according to FIGS. 2 and 3 is analogous to that described for a device according to FIG. Only here, of course, instead of the wing element 10, the drum 40 moves. The pressing and removal of excess water or washing liquid in the wetted material in the sense of the method according to the invention takes place in the device according to FIGS. 2 and 3 in that the rotational speed ¬ the drum 40 increases briefly to spin speed and the liquid is pumped out by means of the pump 63. It is not necessary here for a slight negative pressure to be generated in the cavity resonator interior 39.

Both the drum and the wing element 10 can be set in rotation continuously or discontinuously, if desired by changing the direction of rotation.

A thermocouple 73 extending into the interior of the drum 40 is arranged coaxially to the axis of the drive shaft 43. The thermocouple 73 is plastic-coated and its measuring tip 74 ends in the interior of the plastic cylinder 75 surrounding the thermocouple.

All in the cavity 2 or. 35 arranged elements made of plastic, in particular the wing element 10 and the drum 40, consist of a high-temperature-resistant plastic, for example polycarbonate or poly sulfone.

The microwave transmitter or generator 6 or. 54 has one

ER ~ T "'J" ~ - Power between 1 00 watts and 1.5 kilowatts. The microwave generator used in each case, as is known, for example, from technology for microwave ovens, can be regulated to different power outputs. Likewise, the microwave generation can be constant, timed or intermittent. Of course, the device according to the invention is not limited to the use of a magnetron for microwave generation. Depending on the desired performance, a reflex klystron, a traveling wave tube, Gunn oscillators, avalanche delay diodes, microwave transistors or the like can also be used.

In a further embodiment, the devices according to FIGS. 1 to 3 can have a security element arranged on the door 51 or the flap 30, which is effectively connected to the microwave generator and / or the devices regulating the liquid inlet and / or outlet, so that the microwave generation or the liquid supply is interrupted by means of the safety element.

Furthermore, the inlets 21 and 57 to the interior of the cavity resonator 2 and. 35 be designed as spray heads or nozzles.

Finally, I can in or on the cavity resonator 2 or. 35, but in particular in the cavity resonator 2 designed as a metal tub, ultrasonic generators for generating ultrasonic vibrations and / or devices emitting UV radiation can be arranged.

Selbstverständl I are individual elements, such as the humidity sensor 33 or the lint filter 64 and the equipment of the Hohlraumreso¬ nators with air supply and steam discharge for drying incorporated of Good, each of which is described only for one of the devices according erfindungs¬ ^', at the jewei ls other Device attachable.

Further elements, such as electrical lines and modules for an automatic washing machine, which are, however, already necessary for the operation of conventional washing machines and are familiar to the person skilled in the art, are not shown in detail in FIGS. These correspond to the elements known from the usual washing machine technology.

Of course, the described exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention can be modified in many ways without departing from the basic idea of the invention. Thus, of course, commercial washing machines can also be operated using the method according to the invention and can be provided with corresponding cavity resonators for micro-elf reflection. For example, in the case of discontinuous processes following the wetting or soaking process which has been customary to date, a device is conceivable in which the items to be washed are introduced into a plastic drum which can be subjected to microwaves and which is arranged in a metal housing. Likewise, to carry out a continuous process, an ^" elongated drum of the rotary tube type is conceivable, which has a double drum section with an inner drum made of plastic, which can be exposed to microwaves, while the outer drum in this area and the subsequent ones, optionally as single-drum sections formed drum areas made of metal l, the single drum areas on the drum inner side optionally being provided with microwave-absorbing material to form a reflection-free closure.

T Examples

A commercially available microwave oven of the "Siemens HF 0650" brand is used as the microwave device, which provides for a time-controlled power input in the following stages: 90 W, 180 W, 360 W or 600 W. The radiated energy has a frequency of 2.45 GHz.

The washing tests are carried out with tissue samples which are soiled with standard dirt and which come from the applicant's in-house production.

The initial contamination values of the contaminated test fabrics used, determined by measuring the reflectance with the Elrephomat DFC 5 (Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany), are as follows:

Polyester-cotton blend fabric, refined

(Dust / skin fat soiling) 30.0 (% remission) cotton finished (tea stain) 33 (% remission)

example 1

With a commercially available heavy-duty liquid detergent, a stock liquor is prepared which contains the heavy-duty liquid detergent in a 6-fold concentration compared to the detergent concentration used in conventional textile washing.

Soiled with dust / sebum polyester / cotton blend refined (SH-PBV) is added a quantity of the stock liquor, which is just sufficient to soak the textile material without forming sub ^¬ stantielle amounts of additional serum phase. The soaked textile is placed in a glass vessel in the microwave oven and then treated as follows:

REPLACEMENT LEAF 1 0 sec irradiation with a power input of 180 watts

Removal of the textile from the stove and intensive circulation of the soaked textile oil sample. Renewed irradiation of the soaked textile in the microwave oven for 10 seconds

Repetition of the intensive circulation of the irradiated, soaked textile sample

Repetition of the previously described two-stage work cycle, however, the irradiation time is only 5 seconds each.

The textile material pretreated in this way is then washed out with lukewarm water, dried and subjected to the determination of the remission value. Determined remission value: 71 C% remission).

Example 2

Under the operating conditions of Example 1, SH-PBV soiled test material is again subjected to the wetting under the action of microwaves with subsequent rinsing. However, the wetting is now carried out as follows:

Power input 180 watts, irradiation time 10 seconds Intensive textile mechanics by hand circulation again Power input 1 80 watts for 10 seconds. Single rinsing of the thus washed material with lukewarm water and pressing off the rinsed textile material in a dry cloth.

Saturation of the prewashed textile goods with new concentrated wash water, again until the saturation value of the textile goods compared to the wash water is reached.

.J-ibA and DLA: I Subsequent repetition of the irradiation and intermediate textile mechanics as in the wetting processes before the fresh addition of fresh wash liquor.

The fabric subjected to double washing in this way is carefully rinsed out with lukewarm water and dried, and its remission value is then determined to be 79.8 (% remission).

Example 3

A piece of textile (SH-PBV) soaked through with the concentrated washing solution is wrapped in a dry terry cloth. The package is placed in the microwave oven and here in 2 process steps for 30 seconds each. irradiated with a power input of 600 watts.

The packet-like textile mass is removed from the microwave oven and opened. The dry wrapping of the terry towel shows no tangible warming up. The interior and, in particular, the soaked soiled test fabric are, however, highly heated. The soiled test fabric has given off deeply colored stains to the adjacent dry terry material.

The textile material to be washed is again thoroughly penetrated with the concentrated wash liquor and again wrapped in the dry terry towel. Subsequently, the textile package is again for a period of 30 seconds. exposed to 600 watts of power.

The hot was withdrawn flap is rinsed intensively ge with cold water, dried and determining causes of Remmissionswertes added ^¬. Measured value: 76.8 (% -Remissfon).

REPLACEMENT LEAF Example 4

Example 3 is repeated, but now instead of a dry covering with terry cloth, the test fabric to be cleaned is covered with a wet terry cloth. The degree of saturation of the textile test material to be cleaned corresponds to the maximum retention capacity of this sample, the terry cloth is first completely wetted with pure water, but then squeezed out by hand and used in this form as a covering.

The working conditions of Example 3 are repeated.

Compared to the experiment in Example 3, the outer terry cloth is also strongly heated in this experiment, and when the package is opened, it becomes apparent that the temperature inside the package is obviously higher than it can be felt on the outer surface of the package.

The pre-wetted soiled test material is washed in lukewarm water and dried. The reflectance value of the washed and dried material is 80.7.

Example 5

Test fabric containing bleachable tea stain is impregnated with a concentrated wash liquor which contains a commercially available powdered heavy-duty detergent in a 5 to 6-fold concentration compared to a conventional textile wash.

The impregnated textile material is initially in three irradiation sections, each with a power irradiation of 180 watts, for 20 seconds. and then treated 2 x 1 0 sec. Between these periods of microwave radiation, the well-wetted textile is subjected to intensive manual circulation.

REPLACEMENT LEAF The pre-wet material is washed out intensively with water. The color of the tea contamination has decreased or brightened overall. However, the following picture emerges in detail: There is an irregular recovery in such a way that the overall sample is interspersed with punctiform areas which are almost pure white, while the areas in between still have clear residual stocks of if brightened up - show brown tea stains.

This phenomenon is evidently due to the following process: the sodium perborate tetrahydrate present as a bleach in the heavy-duty detergent used is difficult to dissolve in water and did not completely dissolve when the highly concentrated washing liquor was prepared. Crystals of this bleaching agent have been applied to the test textile together with the liquor, so that punctually high bleaching potential is available. In the subsequent thermal treatment by the action of microwaves, the uneven distribution of the bleaching agent becomes visible.

I saw nsgesamt the bleaching result is with a cooking ^¬ laundry detergents with equal roughly comparable.

Claims

P a t e n t a n s r u c h e

1 . Process for washing and / or rinsing textile materials with aqueous liquids, if desired containing ingredients of washing and / or cleaning agents, using elevated temperatures, characterized in that the washing and / or rinsing processes at least in sections under the action of high-frequency vibrations in the microwave range ( Microwaves) on the soaked textile.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a soaked textile material is subjected to the action of microwaves, the total water content of which is in the range of the natural retention capacity of the textile material for the aqueous phase or only to a limited extent.

3. The method according to claims 1 and 2, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the soaked textile with intermittent or continuous action of microwaves on temperatures in the range of about 35 ° C to. To the boiling point of the aqueous phase, in particular to temperatures in the range of about 40 to 90 ° C is heated.

4. The method according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the drenched textile goods in batches or continuously during and / or between the phases of microwave action additionally subjected to the influence of textile mechanics, for example is circulated.

5. The method according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a soaked textile material is exposed to the action of microwaves, whose amount of liquid is not about is twice the maximum retention capacity of the textile material and preferably does not exceed this maximum value by more than approximately 0.5 times.

6. The method according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that with weight ratios of dry textile weight / - aqueous liquid phase in the range from 1: 1 to 1 ^" : 3, preferably in the range from about 1: 1 to 1: 2, 5, is worked.

7. The method according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that is wetted with a detergent and in particular surfactant-containing liquid phase, the content of these ingredients - based on the volumetric unit of the liquid phase - is higher than in conventional textile washing in an aqueous liquor.

8. The method according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the content of washing ingredients, in particular detergent surfactants, in the network stage - based on dry fabric - about that of the usual textile laundry in

^• aqueous liquor corresponds.

9. The method according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the duration of the wetting under the action of microwaves is not more than about 15 minutes, preferably not more than about 1 0 minutes, and in particular does not exceed about 5 minutes.

0. The method according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the duration of the wetting in intermittent or konti¬ nuierl icher microwaves len-tion is controlled temperature-dependent such that the shorter the wetting time, the higher the temperature in the soaked textile material is set.

- 1 1. Process according to Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that washing ingredients are used to remove problem soils, in particular bleaches and, if desired, activators therefor and / or detergent-active enzymes in the presence or absence of further textile washing aids.

1 2. The method according to claims 1 to 11, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that dry and / or pre-wetted textile material is used in the wetting under at least batch exposure to microwaves.

13. The method according to claims 1 to 12, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the washing and / or rinsing is carried out under the action of microwaves in the moisture range of the textile goods, which approximately by the maximum Retentϊonsvermö- of the textile for the liquid phase upwards and is limited by the residual moisture after a customary mechanical separation of the liquid phase - for example by spinning and / or pressing off.

14. The method according to claims 1 to 13, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that in the treatment of the soiled textile material with wetting and / or cleaning components in other ways conventional textile detergent compositions, for example Texti [-Washing detergent, or that Cleaning process is divided into a plurality of successive sub-steps, for example removal of pigment / grease soiling and subsequent treatment of problem soiling.

15. The method according to claims 1 to 14, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that a multi-stage rinsing - in particular with a non-preheated aqueous phase - is carried out. that in at least 1 rinse stage, preferably in at least 2, in particular in 2 to 5 such rinse stages, under the action of microwaves.

16. The method according to claims 1 to 15, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the rinsing process is activated in at least one of the rinsing stages in the specified textile moisture range with microwaves and then further diluted without microwave action with rinsing liquid.

17. The method according to claims 1 to 16, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that a microwave-activated rinsing stage is configured as follows:

Addition of rinsing liquid to the soaked material until the formation of a dirt-laden liquid phase in addition to the soaked textile material, separation of this liquid phase, treatment of the remaining soaked textile material with microwaves and subsequent addition of rinsing liquid.

18. The method according to claims 1 to 17, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the rinsing of the textile pollution by the action of ultrasound - in particular the frequency range of about 20 to 100 kHz - is accelerated on the textile material slurried in the rinsing bath »

19. The method according to claims 1 to 18, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that as microwaves high-frequency electromechanical vibrations of the upper megahertz to the middle gigahertz range, in particular the range from about 0.1 to 300 GHz, preferably about 0.1 to 30 GHz , are used.

20. The method according to claims 1 to 19, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that in the wetting step, the fiber microstructure of Textile goods, including its soiled areas, are thoroughly wetted and ventilated by displacing microdϊspers distributed residual air.

21. Method according to claims 1 to 20, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the drying of the treated material is carried out under at least partial exposure to microwaves.

22. Device for washing and / or rinsing fibrous materials, skins, textile material or the like, in particular for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 21, characterized by a cavity resonator (2, 35) in which an energy conductor (4, 52) can be introduced using a microwave transmitter or generator (6, 54), and a device (10, 40) arranged in the cavity resonator (2, 35) for receiving and / or moving the device for washing and / or Rinsing the introduced goods, as well as at least one inlet (21, 57) for introducing aqueous liquid into the cavity resonator (2, 35) and at least one outlet (15, 58) for removing liquid from the cavity resonator (2, 35).

23. The device according to claim 22, characterized in that the cavity resonator (2, 35) consists of metal, the energy conductor (4, 52) is designed as a waveguide and the microwave generator (6, 54) is a magnetron.

24. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the cavity resonator (2, 35) in the region of the coupling hole (5, 53) of the energy conductor (4, 52) at least a field distributor, in particular a metal propeller (9, 55), is arranged.

25. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the cavity resonator (2, 35), in particular a glass plate (8, 56) formed, base load is arranged.

26. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy conductor (4, 52), the inlet (21, 57) and the outlet (15, 58) to the cavity resonator interior (3, 39) against the passage of microwaves and / or water, in particular by means of these (4, 15, 21, 52, 57, 58) covering, movable (7, 17, 22, 59, 60, 61) closures made of metal or plastic, can be partitioned off.

27. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device arranged in the cavity resonator (2, 35) for receiving and / or moving the material introduced is a wing element (10) or a wave wheel made of metal or plastic or a , in particular with a sieve-like openings (41) and internal driver ribs (42) provided drum (40) made of plastic.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, characterized in that the wing element (10), the shaft wheel or the drum (40) consist of high temperature resistant plastic.

29. The device according to claim 27 or 28, characterized in that the wing element (10), the shaft wheel or the drum

3 Δ ^" (40) can be moved by means of an electric motor (14, 44), optionally with an intermediate gear, in particular a reversing gear (13).

30. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the washing or rinsing liquid can be pumped out of the cavity interior (3, 39) by means of a pump (18, 63) and, if appropriate with flow through a reservoir (23), back into this is traceable.

31. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cavity resonator (2, 35) through openings (31, 71) can be loaded with items to be washed and the openings (31, 71) by means of high-frequency shielding door (51) or Flap (30) can be closed in a microwave and watertight manner.

32. Apparatus according to claim 31, characterized in that the door (51) or flap (30) has a security element that is effectively connected to the microwave generator (6, 54) and / or the devices regulating the liquid inlet and / or outlet is.

33. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the cavity resonator interior (3) by means of a pump (18), a negative pressure is adjustable.

34. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cavity resonator (2) is designed as a metal tub (1) in the manner of conventional tub washing machines. 35. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cavity resonator (35) is formed as a resiliently suspended Lagen container made of metal with a drum (40) made of plastic in the manner of conventional drum washing machines.

36. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the cavity resonator (2, 35) or in the drum (40) temperature (32, 73) and / or moisture sensor (33), in particular a plastic-coated thermocouple (73) with a measuring tip (74) located inside a plastic cylinder (75).

37. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet (21, 57) to the cavity resonator interior (3, 39) is designed as a spray head or nozzle.

38. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a fluff filter (64) is arranged in the region of the drain (15, 58).

39. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power of the microwave generator (6, 54) can be regulated and microwaves can be generated intermittently by the generator.

40. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plastic parts arranged in the cavity interior (3, 39), in particular the wing element (10), the Wave wheel or drum (40), made of plastics from the group of pofycarbonates or polysulfones.

41. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that ultrasound generators are arranged in the cavity resonator (2, 35), in particular the ultrasound generator designed as a metal tub (1).

42. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the cavity resonator (2, 35) UV radiation emitting devices are arranged.

43. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cavity resonator interior (3, 39) is provided for drying the introduced material with air supply and steam removal in the manner of conventional exhaust air or condensation dryers.