EP2503042A2 - Method for treating clothes and washing track - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves washing clothes in a tunnel-type washing machine (10), and partially removing water from the clothes in a subsequent water-removal press (12), where the water is removed from the clothes selectively in the water-removal press and in a laundry centrifuge (13). A maximum pressing force is applied to the clothes in the water-removal press when water is removed from the clothes only in the water-removal press. The clothes are unloaded from the water-removal press, and the clothes are dried in a dryer (14) after the water is removed from the clothes. An independent claim is also included for an inline washing system comprising a washing machine.

Description

The invention relates to a method for treating, in particular washing, dewatering and optionally drying laundry, according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a washing line according to the preamble of claim 10.

Laundry is dewatered especially in commercial laundries after washing and then dried depending on their type, mangled, finished and / or folded. Garments are finished after dewatering. Flat linen is mangled after draining. Other laundry, such as terry towels, is only dried and then folded.

Dewatering of the garments takes place in different ways according to their nature. For example, garments are not dewatered in dewatering presses, but in laundry centrifuges - also called spin dryers. The washing of the different items of laundry can be done in the same washing machine. The laundry items must be dewatered after washing but either in the dewatering press or in the laundry centrifuge, depending on whether they are sensitive or less sensitive items of laundry. The dewatering presses and laundry centrifuges are usually assigned to a specific washing machine. This requires several washes, each with at least one washing machine, the a drainage press is associated and at least one further washing machine, which is associated with a laundry centrifuge. The items of laundry are then washed in that washing machine, which is arranged downstream of the suitable for the laundry items drainage device. However, this suffers from the flexibility in particular commercial laundries, if delicate and less sensitive laundry can not be washed in a balanced ratio.

The invention has for its object to provide a method for treating laundry and a car wash, which are flexible.

A method for achieving this object comprises the measures of claim 1. Accordingly, it is provided to dehydrate the laundry optionally only in the dewatering press or in the dewatering press and then in a laundry centrifuge. In this case, the laundry always passes through the dewatering press. Therefore, a washing machine with a fixed behind it laundry press for all types of laundry, especially clothing, can be used. Although delicate items of laundry may pass through the dewatering press, they are finally dewatered only in the laundry centrifuge. In the laundry centrifuge thus takes place the complete dewatering of delicate laundry. By "complete" dewatering in this context is meant dewatering to the maximum extent possible, although this does not remove all the liquid from the wash.

Preferably, when the laundry is dewatered in the dewatering press and in the laundry centrifuge, only pre-pressing or pre-dewatering of delicate laundry takes place in the dewatering press. This is exposed to mechanical stress only to such an extent that it is not damaged in the dewatering press.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the laundry items are subjected to dewatering only in the dewatering press in the same with maximum pressing force. If, on the other hand, the laundry is dewatered both in the dewatering press and in the laundry centrifuge, only dewatering with reduced press force takes place in the dewatering press. Preferably, the reduced pressing force is in the range of 2% to 15% of the maximum pressing force, more preferably in the range of 3% to 8% of the maximum pressing force. Then in the dewatering press on delicate laundry, in particular garments, exerted pressing force with the resulting resulting mechanical stress so low that this laundry is not affected or damaged during pre-pressing and pre-drainage in the dewatering press.

Furthermore, the method is advantageously designed such that the laundry in the laundry centrifuge is further dewatered after the pre-pressing in the dewatering press, preferably being dehydrated to a maximum or completely. It can be so gentle dehydrated with at least one laundry centrifuge as far as possible, as sensitive laundry. As a rule, delicate laundry items in the laundry centrifuge can be dewatered in the same way as less sensitive laundry items in a dewatering press.

Laundry items which are finally or completely dewatered in at least one laundry centrifuge are not first dried in a dryer, but are further processed directly. For garments, in particular workwear pieces, there is a finish treatment in a finisher, whereby the laundry items completely drained from the at least one laundry centrifuge, especially clothes, leave the finisher dry at the end of the finish treatment.

An advantageous embodiment of the method provides to transfer the laundry of at least one shuttle of the dewatering press either to at least one laundry centrifuge or to at least one dryer. The at least one shuttle serves as a link between the dewatering press and the laundry centrifuge or the dryer. Due to the shuttle, laundry from the dewatering press can either be supplied to the laundry centrifuge or to the dryer. The shuttle thus has the function of a switch.

Another advantageous embodiment of the method provides that the dewatering press is unloaded from the shuttle and the shuttle also takes over the optional loading of the laundry centrifuge or the dryer. The shuttle receives additional functions.

A washing line for solving the above-mentioned problem has the features of claim 10. In this washing the drainage press at least one laundry centrifuge and optionally at least one dryer downstream. As a result, the laundry from the dewatering press can optionally be further dehydrated in the laundry centrifuge. Laundry alone in the drainage press If desired, the dryer is then immediately dried, while delicate laundry, which is only pre-pressed in the dewatering press, is drained to completion in the laundry centrifuge.

A preferred development of the washing line provides, between the dewatering press and the at least one laundry centrifuge and, if appropriate, the at least one dryer, to provide one or possibly also several shuttles. Preferably, the shuttle is movable. It then serves as a means of transport and as a switch for the laundry leaving the dewatering press. The at least one shuttle can optionally deliver the laundry coming out of the dewatering press to the laundry centrifuge or the dryer and at the same time take over the loading and optionally also the discharge of the laundry centrifuge or of the dryer. For this purpose, preferably the at least one laundry centrifuge and the at least one dryer are arranged in series, in particular to the same sides facing loading and / or unloading. The at least one shuttle can be moved in front of the loading openings of the laundry centrifuge and the dryer in order to be able to optionally load a laundry centrifuge or a dryer with laundry from the dewatering press.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Waschstraße, und

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf die Waschstraße der Fig. 1.

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

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a car wash, and

Fig. 2

a plan view of the car wash the Fig. 1 ,

The Fig. 1 and 2 show a washing line for washing, dewatering and optionally drying laundry. The washing line has a continuous washing machine 10, followed by a dewatering press 12, a laundry centrifuge 13 and, in the exemplary embodiment shown, two driers 14 in the treatment direction 11.

The dewatering press 12 has a loading side 16 facing an unloading chute 15 at the end of the continuous washing machine 10 and an opposite unloading side 17. The laundry centrifuge 13 and the dryers 14 are arranged in a row preferably extending transversely to the longitudinal central axis 18 of the continuous washing machine 10, the loading sides 19 of the laundry centrifuge 13 and the dryer 14 pointing in the same direction, namely to the discharge side 17 of the dewatering press 12. The laundry centrifuge 13 and the dryers 14 preferably have the loading sides opposite discharge sides on. However, it is also conceivable that the loading sides 19 are at the same time the discharge sides of the laundry centrifuge 13 and the dryer 14.

The unloading 17 of the dewatering press 12 and the loading side 19 and discharge side of the laundry centrifuge 13 are directly opposite each other by far, in the illustrated embodiment, the centers of the loading side 16 and the discharge side 17 of the dewatering press 12 and the loading side 19 of the laundry centrifuge 13 on an extension of the Longitudinal axis 18 of the continuous washing machine 10 are. The centers of the loading sides 19 and optionally the discharge sides of the driers 14 follow with parallel spacing to the middle of the loading side of the laundry centrifuge 13, so that these centers are offset from the loading side 19 of the laundry centrifuge 13 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal central axis 18 of the continuous washing machine 10 (FIG. Fig. 2 ).

The car wash also has a shuttle formed in the illustrated embodiment as a lifting conveyor 20. The lifting conveyor 20 is movable on straight, parallel rails 21. The rails 21 extend transversely or perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis 18 of the continuous washing machine 10. The lifting conveyor 20 and the rails 21 are arranged between the discharge side 17 of the dewatering press 12 and the loading sides 19 and discharge sides of the laundry centrifuge 13 and the dryer 14 that between them the Hubfahrband 20 along the rails 21 is movable, whereby the Hubfahrband 20 is selectively movable in front of the loading side 19 of the laundry centrifuge 13 or a dryer 14. Here, the dewatering press 12 can be unloaded from the lift conveyor 20 and it can be loaded from the lift conveyor 20, if necessary, the laundry centrifuge 13 or one of the dryer 14 and preferably also be unloaded.

The continuous washing machine 10 has a cylindrical drum 22 which can be driven in rotation about a preferably horizontal axis of rotation. The axis of rotation of the drum 22 lies on the longitudinal central axis 18 of the continuous washing machine 10. In the drum 22, a plurality of chambers 23 succeeding one another in the treatment direction 11 are formed by transverse partitions. The continuous washing machine 10 shown here has thirteen consecutive chambers 23. However, the continuous washing machine 10 may also have a larger or smaller number of chambers 23. Provided in the drum 22 are a pre-wash zone, a final wash zone following in the treatment direction with a subsequent rinse zone and optionally a finishing zone. At least for the most part, the individual zones have a plurality of chambers 23, wherein the number of chambers 23 in the respective zone can be different.

The continuous washing machine 10 downstream drainage press 12 is formed in a conventional manner. It has a cylindrical press basket 24, in which a press ram 25 is moved in and out by a hydraulic cylinder, not shown. The press basket 24 rests on a preferably designed as a discharge belt 26 pad. To unload the dewatering press 12, the press basket 24 can be raised.

The laundry centrifuge 13 is provided in a manner known per se with a centrifugally drivable centrifugal drum 27. The rotatably drivable centrifugal drum 27 is mounted in a liquid-tight housing 28. The centrifugal drum 27 is drivable about an axis of rotation 29 which is pivotable, so that for discharging the axis of rotation 29 to the loading side 19 downwards, while for loading the axis of rotation 29 is inclined downwards from the loading side 19.

The same in the embodiment shown dryer 14 are formed in a conventional manner. As a dryer, such various known types can serve.

The lifting conveyor 20 has a conveyor belt 30 which can be moved up and down on an upright column 32. The conveying direction of the conveyor belt 30 extends in the direction of the longitudinal central axis 18 between the dewatering press 12 and the laundry centrifuge 13 or the respective dryer 14. Above the conveyor belt 30 is a channel 31 is provided, which is open to the discharge side 17 of the dewatering press 12 and the loading side 19 of the laundry centrifuge 13 or the dryer 14. The gutter 31 guides or supports the laundry pile or laundry cake coming from the dewatering press 12 on the conveyor belt 30. The lower end of the column 32 of the discharge belt 26 is fixedly connected to a chassis 33, whereby the unloading belt 26 is moved transversely along the two parallel rails 21 Longitudinal axis of the continuous washing machine 10 is movable to the dryers 14th

In the Fig. 1 and 2 For convenience of illustration, the opposite ends 34 of the reversibly reciprocally driven conveyor 30 of the lifting conveyor 20 are shown at greater distances from the unloading side 17 of the dewatering press 12 and the loading side 19 of the laundry centrifuge 13 and dryer 14 for greater visibility. In fact, the distances are smaller, so that laundry from the dewatering press 12 directly to the Conveyor belt 30 of Hubfahrbands 20 übergebbar and from the conveyor belt 30, the laundry centrifuge 13 or the dryer 14 can be loaded with the laundry or the laundry from the centrifuge 13 or the dryers 14 can be discharged onto the conveyor belt 30.

The method according to the invention is explained below with reference to the previously described washing line:

The washing line laundry items of various kinds, especially flat linen such as table linen, bed linen and towels, and all kinds of clothing, especially work clothes, washed, dewatered and optionally dried.

The laundry is first washed in the continuous washing machine 10, rinsed and optionally equipped. All of these treatments of the laundry performed in the continuous washing machine 10 are collectively referred to as "washing". Accordingly, when referring to "washing", it refers to all treatments taking place in the continuous washing machine 10.

The washed laundry leaves the continuous washing machine 10 via the unloading chute 15. The washed laundry of the dewatering press 12 is fed directly via its loading side 16. In the figures of the drawing, a distance between the continuous washing machine 10 and the dewatering press 12 is shown only for the purpose of better recognizability. In fact, however, both are arranged so close together that from the unloading chute 15 the laundry can get directly into the press basket 24 of the dewatering press 12.

According to the invention, the laundry is dewatered either only in the dewatering press 12 or both in the dewatering press 12 and in the laundry centrifuge 13. The type of drainage chosen depends on the type of items to be drained, in particular whether delicate or less delicate items are to be drained.

The laundry items which are insensitive to the mechanical loads exerted on the laundry in the dewatering press 12 are completely dehydrated in the dewatering press 12. By "completely" drained, it is meant that the laundry in the dewatering press 12 is dewatered as much as possible. In fact, the Laundry after leaving the dewatering press 12 still a low residual moisture, which usually requires a subsequent drying. When the laundry has been completely dewatered by the dewatering press 12, that is, as far as possible, the dewatered laundry is discharged to the following lift conveyor 20 via the discharge side 17 of the dewatering press 12. For this purpose, the conveyor belt 30 of the Hubfahrbands 20 on the column 32 is shut down far enough that the end 34 of the conveyor belt 30 of Hubfahrbands 20 is located in front of the corresponding end of the unloading belt 26 of the dewatering press 12. The dewatered laundry can then be transferred from the dewatering press 12 directly to the lift conveyor 20.

Because the dehydration of the laundry in the dewatering press 12 further dehydration of the laundry in the laundry centrifuge 13 is no longer required, the Hubfahrband 20 moves the laundry dehydrated laundry along the rails 21 in front of the loading side 19 of the dryer 14. About that to the respective Dryer 14 facing end 35 of the conveyor belt 30 of Hubfahrbands 20 is now loaded on the loading side 19 of the respective dryer 14 with the dehydrated alone in the dewatering press 12 laundry.

The unloading of the respective dryer 14 can take place in various ways, for example by means of transport systems customary in a laundry. However, it is also conceivable to feed the dried laundry from the respective dryer 14 via the loading side 19 back to the lifting conveyor 20 by the conveyor belt 30 of Hubfahrbands 20 is lowered to unload the respective dryer 14 relative to the loading position of the dryer 14 in a deeper unloading, in the dried laundry from the dryer 14 can reach the conveyor belt 30 of the lifting conveyor 20 solely by gravity. From the lift conveyor 20, the dried laundry is then supplied to the further processing within the laundry, for example, an input submission to a defect, a storage conveyor or the like.

Also conceivable is a variant of the method in which the laundry cake unloaded from the dewatering press 12 is fed to the lift conveyor 20 by a lifting device 20, not shown, if drying of the laundry completely drained by the dewatering press 12 is not required or no longer required.

Delicate laundry, such as clothing and in particular work clothes, is not completely dehydrated in the dewatering press 12, but only partially. Delicate laundry is only pre-pressed or pre-dewatered in the dewatering press 12. This pre-pressing or pre-dewatering takes place in such a way that only a pressing force corresponding to 2% to 15%, in particular 3% to 8%, of the pressing force to be completely drained from the dewatering press 12 is exerted on the sensitive items in the dewatering press 12 Laundry is exercised. The only pre-pressed laundry is discharged via the discharge side 17 of the dewatering press 12 on the conveyor belt 30 of the Hubfahrbands 20. After loading the Hubfahrbands 20 with a laundry item is a boot-up of the conveyor belt 30 of the Hubfahrbands 20 on the same column 32. The conveyor belt 30 is raised to the column 32 until the laundry centrifuge 13 can be loaded by gravity with only pre-pressed and pre-dewatered laundry. To this end, the conveyor belt 30 conveys the laundry item via the end 35 facing the loading side 19 of the laundry centrifuge 13 into the centrifugal drum 27 of the laundry centrifuge 13.

In de laundry centrifuge 13, the laundry is now completely drained by spinning. As soon as this has happened, the laundry from the laundry centrifuge 13 is also unloaded by the lifting conveyor 20. For this purpose, the conveyor belt 30 is moved down to the column 32 so far that from the loading side 19 obliquely downwardly inclined centrifugal drum 27 of the laundry centrifuge 13, the laundry can be discharged by gravity on the conveyor belt 30 of Hubfahrbands 20. From movable on the rails 21 Hubfahrband 20 the laundry completely drained in the laundry centrifuge 13 is now transported to a laundry device (not shown) for further processing. This may be a finisher in the case of garments.

Alternatively, it is also conceivable not to unload the laundry centrifuge 13 with the aid of the lifting conveyor 20, but to supply the laundry items to other means of transport present in a laundry. This is especially true if, as an alternative, it is intended to unload the items of laundry at a discharge side opposite the loading side 19.

Due to the above-described optional dewatering of the laundry items in only the dewatering press 12 or both in the dewatering press 12 and in the laundry centrifuge 13, the dewatering press 12 can remain behind the continuous washing machine 10 in all of the laundry items to be washed in the continuous washing machine 10, in particular sensitive and insensitive laundry items because always the laundry, and even delicate laundry, the dewatering press 12 goes through or happens. Only sensitive laundry items in the dewatering press 12 are acted upon only with relatively low pressing force, so that they are only pre-pressed or pre-dewatered in the dewatering press 12. The final dewatering of delicate laundry items takes place in the dewatering press 12 subsequent laundry centrifuge 13. The Hubfahrband 20 serves as a link, in particular as a connecting conveyor between the dewatering press 12 and the subsequent laundry centrifuge 13. The lift conveyor 20 but also has a switch function by coming out of the dewatering press 12 laundry depending on whether they have been completely dehydrated or only pre-dewatering is, the laundry centrifuge 13 or the respective dryer 14 supplied.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Tunnel washer

11

treatment direction

12

dewatering press

13

laundry centrifuge

14

dryer

15

discharge chute

16

loading side

17

unloading

18

Longitudinal central axis

19

loading side

20

Hubfahrband

21

rail

22

drum

23

chamber

24

Press basket

25

press die

26

unloading

27

centrifugal drum

28

casing

29

axis of rotation

30

conveyor belt

31

gutter

32

pillar

33

landing gear

34

The End

35

The End

Claims (12)

A method for treating laundry, wherein the laundry is at least washed in a washing machine and at least partially dewatered in a subsequent dewatering press (12), characterized in that the laundry optionally only in the dewatering press (12) or in the dewatering press (12) and then is drained in a laundry centrifuge (13). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that in the case of dehydration of the laundry both in the dewatering press (12) and in the laundry centrifuge (13) the laundry in the dewatering press (12) is only pre-pressed or pre-dewatered. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when dewatering the laundry only in the dewatering press (12), the laundry in the dewatering press (12) is acted upon with maximum pressing force, while dewatering the laundry both in the dewatering press (12) and in the laundry centrifuge (13) the laundry in the dewatering press (12) is acted upon only with reduced pressing force for pre-pressing or pre-dewatering of the laundry. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the case of dewatering of the laundry in the dewatering press (12) and the laundry centrifuge (13) the laundry in the dewatering press (12) with only 2% to 15%, preferably 3% to 8%, of the maximum pressing force is dewatered. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry in the laundry centrifuge (13) is further dehydrated, preferably a maximum of dehydration. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry is further processed after dehydration in the laundry centrifuge (13) without drying in a dryer (14). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry is dried after dewatering only in the dewatering press (12) in a dryer (14). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry of at least one shuttle of the dewatering press (12) is selectively transferred to the laundry centrifuge (13) or at least one dryer (14). A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the laundry from the dewatering press (12) is discharged into the shuttle and the shuttle optionally the laundry centrifuge (13) or a dryer (14) is loaded. Washing line with a washing machine and a downstream of this dewatering press (12), characterized in that the dewatering press (12) at least one laundry centrifuge (13) is arranged downstream. A washing line according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one shuttle is arranged between the dewatering press (12) and the at least one laundry centrifuge (13) and preferably at least one dryer (14). A washing line according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the at least one laundry centrifuge (13) and the at least one dryer (14) are arranged in series with loading and / or unloading openings pointing to the same side and / or the shuttle is closed before loading. and unloading the at least one washing centrifuge (13) and the at least one dryer (14) is movable.

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