EP1076127B1 - Method and device for wet treatment of laundry - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for the wet treatment of items of laundry according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a device for the wet treatment of items of laundry according to the preamble of claim 5.

In the wet treatment, in particular during washing with an optional adjoining finishing of laundry items, liquids are used which are essentially water, which contains additives, in particular for the after-treatment, for example for equipping the items of laundry. In various treatment sections, the unbound liquid (referred to in the jargon as "free liquor") is removed or separated from the laundry items. This liquid is partly reused, namely supplied to the substantially dry laundry before the start of the wet treatment, in particular for flooding the laundry in the washing zone.

In many cases, liquids that accumulate during the washing of laundry items have a temperature which is so high that it is unsuitable for the washing of sensitive items of laundry. On the other hand, at the end of the rinsing zone resulting liquid, namely relatively pure water, cooled to room temperature. If this liquid is used to leach the laundry, it must be reheated in the washing zone. The disadvantages mentioned affect the economy of the wet treatment of the laundry items.

From DE 196 45 664 A, a countercurrent washing machine is known in which rinsing water and aftertreatment water is collected in separate tanks. The water from the tanks can be used to lint even dry laundry. However, it is not clear from this document to mix the water from the tanks, so this has the temperature required for the flooding.

From EP-A-0 217 981 a method for washing clothes is known in which rinsing water and water obtained during dewatering of the laundry is collected in separate storage tanks. This water is used for flooding dry laundry. If the temperature of the water in a storage tank is too high, the water is first cooled in heat exchangers. These heat exchangers require additional effort. They increase the cost of a conventional washing machine.

From DE 44 22 631 A, a method for washing textiles and a washing machine serving for this purpose are known in which the clearwashing water and the rinsing water are transferred into intermediate containers. If necessary, the rinse water is returned to the pre-wash area. The use of collected in the storage tanks water for leaching laundry is not apparent from this document.

From US-A-4 879 887 a continuous washing machine is known in which rinsing water is temporarily stored in storage tanks. The rinse water is heated in the tanks to the clear wash temperature and fed to the final wash area as needed. The use of the collected in the storage tanks rinse water for targeted flooding of laundry is not apparent from the cited document.

From US-A-4 499 621 a continuous washing machine is known in which a plurality of storage containers are provided. The liquid from a storage container is used to leach the laundry items.

The invention is based on the object to provide a method and an apparatus for more economical wet treatment of laundry items.

A method for solving this problem has the measures of claim 1 Accordingly, be withdrawn at different positions of the treatment device liquids of different temperatures and passed into separate storage tanks; it is collected in a separate storage tank even during the wet treatment resulting liquid. This liquid usually has a higher temperature than the liquid obtained at the end of the wet treatment. According to the invention if necessary, the warmer liquid obtained in the course of the wet treatment is mixed with the colder liquid obtained at the end of the wet treatment so that the mixed liquid has a temperature which is within a temperature range suitable for being soaked in laundry items to be washed. In this way, the colder or cold liquid does not need to be heated at the end of the wet treatment, and an excessively high temperature liquid, if any, accumulated in the course of the wet treatment can be used by passing through the colder liquid which is at the end of the wet treatment After treatment is obtained, is cooled.

According to the method, the quantity and the temperature of the liquids in the storage containers are measured, in particular continuously, so that it is always known what quantity of liquid is present in the individual storage containers and what temperature the liquid currently has in the respective storage container. It can be formed preferably by computer or computer controlled liquid with a temperature which is suitable for flooding the laundry items in the washing zone.

If different quantities of liquid are present in one or the other storage container, then the temperature of the mixed liquid can be selected such that it is on the one hand in the temperature spectrum of the liquid to be flooded, and on the other hand out of that storage container containing more liquid, a corresponding larger quantity is withdrawn to liquid, so that always remains in each storage tank a certain minimum supply of liquid for flooding the laundry.

An apparatus for solving the above-mentioned problem has the features of claim 5 Accordingly, a storage container for receiving liquid, which is obtained at the end or behind the rinsing zone, and at least one further storage container for receiving warmer liquid, in the course or in the beginning of the Rinsing zone accumulates, provided. These storage tanks absorb liquids which accumulate at different points in the device and which have different temperatures because the temperature, in particular of the rinsing liquid, decreases towards the end of the device. From these storage containers, it is then possible to supply liquid at the desired temperature to the beginning of the device for washing in to laundry items to be washed. In particular, it is possible from two storage tanks to liquids of different temperatures in such quantities that the mixture of liquids originating from different storage tanks has a temperature which is within a temperature range of the laundry item to be introduced into the washing zone.

The separate storage tanks for liquids of different temperatures are provided with a level gauge and a temperature gauge. As a result, both the amount of liquid present in each storage tank and the temperature thereof can be determined. It can then be formed by removing a targeted amount of liquid from each storage tank, a liquid mixture having the desired temperature. This temperature can be set in dependence on the amount of liquid present in the respective storage container so that the liquid present in the respective storage container can be used to form a liquid mixture having a temperature which is within or at the upper or lower limit of the temperature spectrum for flooding the respective items of laundry ,

Fig. 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer nicht erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, und

Fig. 2

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäß ausgebildeten Vorrichtung.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. In this show:

Fig. 1

a schematic side view of a device not according to the invention, and

Fig. 2

a schematic side view of an inventive device.

The device shown here is a continuous washing machine 10 with partially shown additional components. In the continuous washing machine 10 pieces of laundry, not shown, are washed in batches and optionally subsequently subjected to a post-treatment. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the aftertreatment is an item of laundry.

The continuous washing machine 10 has an elongated drum 11 which is rotatably drivable about a horizontal longitudinal central axis 12. The drum 11 of the continuous washing machine 10 is subdivided into different zones, namely a washing zone 13, a rinsing zone 14 and a finishing zone 15. The washing zone 13, rinsing zone 14 and finishing zone 15 are arranged consecutively in the treatment device 16 in the drum 11 of the continuous washing machine 10. The washing zone 13 and the rinsing zone 14 are formed of a plurality of longitudinally of the drum 11 successive wash chambers 17 and wash chambers 18, only a few of which are shown in the figures. The number of successive wash chambers 17 and wash chambers 18 of the wash zone 13 and wash zone 14 may vary depending on the size and performance of the continuous washing machine 10. The finishing zone 15 need only have a single finishing chamber 18 in the device according to the invention. If necessary, however, several consecutive equipment chambers 19 may be provided. Before the drum 11 of the continuous washing machine 10, an input hopper 20 is provided, over which the to be washed Laundry items in the washing zone 13 of the continuous washing machine 10 can be promoted. The conveyance (flooding) of the laundry items in the continuous washing machine 10 is carried out with the addition of liquids, especially water, whereby moistened in the area of the input hopper 20 still substantially dry items of laundry and conveyed together with a liquid flow in the continuous washing machine 10, namely be washed.

Behind the continuous washing machine 10, a drainage device is arranged, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is a drainage press 21. The finished washed and optionally equipped laundry items leave the continuous washing machine 10 via the finishing chamber 19 and are led by the latter via a short connecting chute 22 directly into the dewatering press 21. In the dewatering press 21, the liquid conveyed out with the items of laundry from the continuous washing machine 10 is separated from the items of laundry, in particular by squeezing the liquid out of the items of laundry which thereafter only have a relatively low residual moisture, so that only a small amount of liquid remains tied to the laundry items (bonded liquor). The separated from the laundry items in the dewatering press 21, in particular extruded liquid is collected in a collecting container 23 under the dewatering press 21.

In the apparatus according to FIG. 1, both the dewatering press 21 and the finishing chamber 19 are each assigned a storage tank 24 and 25. The two storage containers 24 and 25 are designed to receive liquids, preferably different liquids, separated from each other. As a result, the liquid in the storage container 24 can not mix with the liquid in the storage container 25. In the apparatus shown, the storage containers hang together, wherein the receiving chambers of the storage containers are separated from one another by a preferably central partition wall. These recording rooms can be the same size, but if required also different sized recording rooms exhibit. It is also conceivable to completely separate the storage containers 24 and 25 physically and / or spatially, so that separate receiving spaces for different liquids are formed by a total of separate receiving containers 24 and 25.

From the lowest point, in particular a swamp-like bulge 26 (connection box) in the bottom of the finishing chamber 19, a drain pipe 27 is led to the storage tank 24. The drain pipe 27 is, if necessary, shut off by a preferably automatically operable two-way valve 28th

From the dewatering press 21, namely the collecting container 23 of the same, a drain pipe 29 is guided to a preferably automatically actuated three-way valve 30. From the three-way valve 20, two drain piping strands 31 and 32 lead to each of the two storage tanks 24 and 25. In this way, coming from the dewatering press 21 liquid either the storage tank 24 or the storage tank 25 can be supplied by appropriate actuation of the three-way valve 30. In the embodiment shown is in the Drain pipe 29 between the collecting container 23 and the three-way valve 30, a pump 33 is provided. This can be omitted if the storage containers 24 and 25 are arranged so that the liquid coming from the collecting container 23 can drain into the storage container 24 and 25 due to gravity.

At the bottom of both the storage tank 24 and the storage tank 25, a drain pipe 34 and 35 is provided, which is closed by a manually operated two-way valve 36, for example, and can be opened by a corresponding actuation of the two-way valve 36 as needed. The drain piping 34 and 35 lead to a sewer. Thus, superfluous or excessively contaminated or used liquid can be drained from the storage tank 24 or 25 as needed. It is also conceivable to additionally associate with each storage tank 24 and 25 an overflow, not shown, which ensures that excess liquid from the storage tanks 24 and 25 in the Drainage can drain before the storage tank 24 or 25 overflow.

From the storage tank 25 branches off a return pipe 37, which leads to the finishing chamber 19, preferably opens from above into the finishing chamber 19. The return pipe 37 is associated with a pump 38, can be pumped back through the liquid, in particular equipment liquid from the storage tank 25 in the circulation to the finishing chamber 19.

From the bottom of each storage tank 24 and 25, a return piping 39 or 40 goes out. The Rückldufrohrleitungsstränge 39 and 40 are guided to a common, preferably automatically operated three-way valve 41. Here, the return pipe lines 39 and 40 combine to connect to the three-way valve 41 return pipe 42. The return pipe 42 leads to the beginning of the continuous washing machine 10, namely the input hopper 20. Also the return pipe 42 is associated with a pump 43, which serves to liquid from the Storage tank 24 and optionally also 25 to the hopper 20 to promote.

The method is described in more detail below with reference to the device shown in FIG. 1:

The laundry to be treated is supplied via the input hopper 20 of the continuous washing machine 20. This is done with the addition of liquid, in particular water, which is fed to the input hopper 20 via the return pipe 42. It is thereby washed the laundry to be washed with liquid in the continuous washing machine 10. From the input hopper 20, the items of laundry with the liquid pass into the washing zone 13, where they are washed in successive washing chambers 17. Following the washing zone, the items of laundry pass into the rinsing zone 14, where they are rinsed in several rinsing chambers 18 one after the other.

In the following it is assumed that the washed laundry undergo a post-treatment in the form of equipment is. This equipment takes place in equipment zone 15, namely the single equipment chamber 19. The laundry items reach the equipment chamber 19 from the last rinsing chamber 18 together with rinsing liquid. The rinsing liquid (free liquor) not bound to the items of laundry is first removed from the finishing chamber 19 by supplying the rinsing liquid collecting in the recess 26 at the bottom of the finishing chamber 19 to the storage container 24 via the drain conduit 27 and the open two-way valve 28. Here, the rinse water is collected and stored.

If an equipment of the items to be washed in the continuous washing machine 10 or a laundry item in the finishing chamber 19 does not take place, this is operated as a rinsing chamber. In this case, the rinsing liquid reaching the finishing chamber 19 with the items of laundry from the rinsing chamber 18 is not directed out of the finishing chamber 19 via the discharge pipe 27 into the storage container 24. Instead, the items of laundry and the rinsing liquid are conducted via the connecting chute 22 to the dewatering press 21 and here the rinsing liquid is separated from the items of laundry, in particular bound rinsing liquid (bound liquor) is squeezed out. It then collects in the collecting container 23 incurred on the dewatering press 21 or pressed rinsing liquid, which is then passed through the appropriate position of the three-way valve 30 via the drain pipe 29 and the drain pipe line 32 to the storage container 24 for the rinsing liquid. In this case, the storage tank 25 is bypassed for the equipment liquid and the finishing liquid left in the storage tank 25 until again an equipment of the laundry is done.

The rinsing liquid accumulating in the storage tank 24 is also pumped, if the laundry items are not equipped, with the appropriate position of the three-way valve 41 via the return pipe line and the return pipe 42 before the continuous washing machine 10, namely the input hopper 20 thereof. Here, the pumped-back rinse water in turn serves to leach into washing laundry in the continuous washing machine 10th

The device according to the invention of FIG. 2 differs from the device described above essentially only in that an additional storage container 44 is provided. Incidentally, for matching components and parts, see Device of Fig. 1, the same reference numerals for explaining the device of Fig. 2 use. Unless otherwise mentioned below, the parts and components provided with the same reference numbers of the device of FIG. 2 are comparable to those of the device of FIG. 1, so that to that extent reference is made to the description in connection with the device of FIG , and also with regard to the function or the method.

The additional storage tank 44 is associated with a drain pipe 45, which starts from the bottom portion of the first washing chamber 18 of the rinse zone 14. However, it is also conceivable to divert the drain pipe 45 from a subsequent washing chamber 18, for example the second washing chamber 18. The drain pipe 45 can be shut off by an automatically operable two-way valve 46. From the bottom region of the storage container 44 is a drain pipe 47 goes out, leading to a sewer, not shown, and can be shut off by a manually operable two-way valve 48. Furthermore, from the bottom of the storage tank 44, a return pipe line 49, which leads to an automatically operable three-way valve 50. For this three-way valve 50 and the return pipe 42 is guided by the storage tank 24 and 25, respectively. At the three-way valve 50 so meet the return pipe line 49 from the storage tank 44 and the return pipe from the storage tank 24 and 25 to each other. From the three-way valve 50, a single connection pipe 51 goes out, leading to the input hopper 20 at the beginning of the continuous washing machine 10. In the connecting pipe 51, a pump 52 and a preferably inductively operating liquid meter 53 are arranged on the three-way valve 50 in the flow direction following.

Each storage container 24, 25 and 44 is associated with a temperature measuring device 54, 55 and 56 and a level measuring device 57, 58 and 59. Optionally, the fill level measuring device 58 and the temperature measuring device 55 can be dispensed with the storage tank 25 for equipment liquid. It is also conceivable to further rinsing chambers 18, in which rinsing liquid is discharged, a separate additional storage container assigned. It is likewise conceivable to supply the rinsing liquid to the single storage container 44 from all rinsing chambers 18, in which rinsing liquid is removed, via a correspondingly branched discharge pipe.

With the device of FIG. 2, the method according to the invention proceeds as follows:

The optionally resulting in the finishing chamber 19 finishing liquid is circulated as in the apparatus of Fig. 1 via the storage tank 25 for the equipment liquid, so pumped back to the equipment chamber 19, if necessary. Likewise, rinsing liquid, which is withdrawn from the finishing chamber 19 before the finishing process, is stored intermediately in the storage container 24 provided for this purpose.

Rinsing fluid from the first rinsing chamber 18 (or possibly also a subsequent rinsing chamber 18) is stored intermediately in the additional storage container 44.

The rinsing liquid obtained in the first rinsing chamber 18 has a higher temperature than the rinsing liquid deposited in the region of the finishing chamber 19. As a result, rinsing fluids of different high temperature are generally located in the storage containers 24 and 44. The rinsing liquid in the storage chamber 24 assigned to the finishing chamber 19 generally has approximately a room temperature. On the other hand, the rinsing liquid supplied to the storage container 44 from the first rinsing chamber 18 is significantly warmer.

For flooding the items of laundry at the input hopper 20 before the continuous washing machine 10, a liquid is required, the temperature of which can vary depending on the type of laundry items to be eingeswämmenden. In general, the temperature of the liquid for flooding the laundry within a depending on the respective laundry items einzuschwemmenden changing temperature spectrum with a temperature range between a minimum and a Maixmaltemperatur is. As a rule, the maximum infiltration temperature is below the temperature of the rinsing liquid obtained in the first rinsing chamber 18.

Based on the above-described requirements for the temperature of the liquid for flooding the laundry items in the washing zone 13 of the continuous washing machine 10, this liquid is formed from a mixture of colder rinsing liquid from the storage tank 24 and warmer rinsing liquid from the storage tank 44 according to the invention. Due to the temperature measuring devices 56 and 54 of the storage containers 24 and 44, the temperature of the rinsing water known herein is known. The desired temperature of the liquid serving for the impregnation results from removal of corresponding amounts of rinsing liquid from the storage containers 24 and 44. These proportions can be determined by a computer. By the liquid meter 53 in the connecting pipe 51, the accordingly from the storage tank 24 and 44 to be taken amounts of flushing water are determined with appropriate temperature. For this purpose, the three-way valve 50 is automatically controlled so that from the storage tank 44 warmer flushing liquid is withdrawn until the liquid meter 53 has determined the desired amount of liquid. The same applies to the removal of a corresponding amount of liquid from the storage tank 24th

By alternately removing small quantities of liquid from the storage containers 24 and 44 takes place a mixing of the liquid at different temperatures, which has then adjusted along the connecting pipe 51 so far that the liquid exits at the input hopper 20 with the desired average temperature. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to integrate an additional mixing section or a mixing container in the connecting pipe. Likewise, at the point of the pumps 43 and 52 dosing pumps can also be used which at the same time remove the desired quantities of warmer liquid from the storage tank 44 and colder rinsing liquid from the storage tank 24 and thereby mix. In this case, the liquid meter 53 and possibly also the three-way valve 50 can be omitted.

The method described above is for the case that in the storage containers 24 and 44 enough rinsing liquid is present to form a mixture of the desired temperature. Otherwise, if there is no sufficient amount of flushing liquid in a storage tank 24 or 44, respectively.

The level measuring devices 57 and 59 determine what amount of rinse water is present in the storage containers 24 and 44. If this measurement of the measurements shows that relatively little rinsing liquid is present in a storage container 24 or 44, the temperature spectrum in which the liquid for washing in to washing items is allowed to lie is selected so that it lies at the upper or lower limit of the temperature spectrum.

For example, if the storage container 44 contains a relatively small amount of warmer rinse liquid, the computer for controlling the mixing of the rinse liquids from the storage containers 24 and 44 selects a temperature for the liquid to be swamped which is at the lower end of the temperature spectrum. It is then mixed only a minimal amount of warmer rinsing liquid from the storage tank 44 with a maximum amount of colder rinsing liquid from the storage tank 24, in such a way that the serving for flooding liquid has a temperature at the lower end of the required for the laundry Temperature spectrum is, namely, has only a minimum temperature. Conversely, the procedure is when the amount of warmer rinsing liquid in the storage tank 44 is greater than the amount of colder rinsing liquid in the storage tank 24th

If also equipment liquid is to be used for immersion, the temperature of the same determined by the temperature measuring device 55 and the fill level of the finishing temperature determined by the level measuring device 58 Storage tank 25 measured and used for mixing the liquids. It can then be used to fill the serving liquid from the finishing liquid of the storage container 25 and the rinsing liquid in the storage tank 44; but also a mixture of liquids in all three storage tanks 24, 25 and 44.

Claims (6)

1. Method for the wet treatment of items of laundry, in which the items of laundry, with at least one liquid being fed, are transferred into a washing zone (13) of a treatment arrangement and washed in the washing zone (13), then the items of laundry are rinsed in a rinsing zone (14) and, if appropriate, after-treated in an after-treatment zone, it being the case that, at different locations such as the rinsing zone (14) and the after-treatment zone, or just the rinsing zone (14), of the treatment arrangement, liquids at different temperatures are drawn off and directed into separate storage tanks (24, 44) and, as required, the liquid for transferring the items of laundry is formed from a mixture of the different-temperature liquids from different storage tanks (24, 44), characterized in that the quantities and temperatures of the liquids in the storage tanks (24, 44 and/or 25) are measured, and the liquid serving for transfer purposes has a temperature range from which is selected, for the liquid serving for transfer purposes, a temperature which can be formed from the different-temperature liquids in the storage tanks (24, 44 and/or 25).
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the quantities and the temperatures of the liquids in the storage tanks (24, 44 and/or 25) are measured continuously.
3. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the temperature selected within the temperature range for the liquid used for transfer purposes is one which can be formed from the different-temperature liquids in the storage tanks (24, 44; 25) and which, as far as possible, compensates for the quantity of liquids remaining in the storage tanks (24, 44; 25).
4. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that, at least in dependence on the filling level measured and on the temperatures of the liquids in the storage tanks (24, 44 and/or 25), the temperature selected from the temperature range for the liquid serving for transfer purposes is one which can be formed from the quantity of liquids which are located in the storage tanks (24, 44 and/or 25).
5. Apparatus for the wet treatment of items of laundry, having a washing zone (13), a rinsing zone (14) and, if appropriate, an after-treatment zone, these being arranged in a common drum (11) which is subdivided into a plurality of chambers (17, 18, 19), and preferably having a drainage arrangement, it being the case that at least one storage tank (24) is provided for accommodating liquid which accumulates at the end, or downstream, of the rinsing zone (14) and at least one further storage tank (44) is provided for accommodating liquid which accumulates at the start of, or throughout, the rinsing zone (14), and that conduits (42, 49, 51) are provided in order to transport the liquids out of the storage tanks (24, 44) upstream of the washing zone (13), characterized in that at least the storage tanks (24, 44) are assigned a respective temperature-measuring arrangement (54, 56) and a filling-level-measuring arrangement (57, 59).
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterized in that return pipe runs (40, 49) of the storage tanks (24, 44) are brought together at a valve and, from there, are led, via a common connecting pipe (51), upstream of the washing zone, in particular to an inlet hopper (20) upstream of the washing zone (13), a liquid meter preferably being arranged in the common connecting pipe (51) of the two storage tanks (24, 44).

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