Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents

Definitions

• the invention relates to cleaning or wet cleaning (water based) of delicate textiles or other items.
• the term "delicate textiles” refers to items which have a tendency to lose dye or color, crease, felt or shrink when cleaned or washed in water. In order to avoid damages many of the delicate textiles are conventionally dry cleaned.
• Dry cleaning that relates to methods and apparatuses using non aqueous solvents ; and wet cleaning using water as main component of the cleaning .
• dry cleaning relates to methods and systems that use non aqueous solvents whereas wet cleaning uses water as solvent.
• Dry cleaning is thus based on the use of chemical compositions as solvents, most commonly perchloroethylene wh ich has been identified as a hazardous air and ground water pollutant (listed as such under the Clean Air Act by the U.S.
• perchloroethylene-based cleaning including cleaning systems based on hydrocarbons, glycol ethers or cyclic siloxane. While these alternatives may have lower toxicity levels than perchloroethylene-based cleaning, they are still comparatively more toxic and have lower cleaning power than water-based cleaning. They are thus preferably avoided.
• non-aqueous solvent-based cleaning systems may be effective for removing oily soils and oily stains, they are not optimal for removing particulates such as clay soils or the more common water-soluble stains such as sugars, starch , protein etc. They al so req u ire specia l p re-treatment, mostly done manually, (pre-spotting), to remove stains.
• Wet cleaning is a comparatively non-toxic, environmentally safe alternative to dry cleaning. It uses water as solvent as well as biodegradable soaps/detergents, conditioners and other compositions.
• the process of wet cleaning in a professional wet cleaning operation is similar to washing garments in a modern household washing machine, albeit in a controlled environment with regard to drum rpm (revolution per mn), temperature and water volume.
• drum rpm revolution per mn
• professional wet clean ing operations requ ire specially designed wet cleaning machines and dryers able to process high volumes and a greater variety of textiles.
• Document EP 0 548 035 discloses a method and a apparatus comprising a drum enclosed in a basket, fluid supply input and output, conduits for flow of liquids, at least one apparatus for stocking the chemical compositions, hydraulic circuits command valves ; moreover an electrical circuit cooperates with a control ler for l au nch , d uration , kind of prog rams to be used : precleaning, cleaning, rinse, spin-drying and/or drying.
• Such (known) apparatuses aim to reduce mechanical forces on the garments to be cleaned and/or to emphasize the application of chemical compositions. They are known to focus on the reduction of mechanical friction to garments and to emphasize the application of chemical composition. Mechanical friction in existing wet-cleaning systems is typically reduced by minimizing the time of drum rotation (i.e. the drum remains idle much of the time during the cleaning and conditioning cycles).
• an apparatus for cleaning delicate textiles comprising a motorized and rotating drum housed in a fluid tight basket, at least a water inlet and a fluid outlet, at least a first container for a first chemical composition.
• the first container is appropriate to contain a warm mixture of water and the said first chemical composition ;
• the apparatus comprises at least a conduit cooperating with a circulating means for mixing and circulating the said hot mixture between said first container and said circulating means;
• the apparatus further comprises a means for injecting and/or spraying said warm mixture into said drum and over dry textiles, said circulating means having an inlet for said warm mixture and at least an outlet cooperating with at least a first end of a conduit opening at its second end into the drum.
• delicate textiles one means items such as woolen jackets, sport jackets, silk ties, tight woven cashmere sweaters or high-quality suits made of water-sensitive protein fibers such as wool, cashmere, silk or other garments made of animal hair, animal skin as well as garments made of rayon and mixed spun materials; of course this list is non exhaustive and more generally "delicate textiles” comprises al l textiles items or equivalents that have a tendency to dimensional changes/shrinkage, surface damages and dye or color loss during one or more cleanings.
• the term “delicate textiles” refers to items which have a tendency to lose dye or color, to crease, to felt or shrink when cleaned or washed in water. In order to avoid damages many of the delicate textiles are conventionally dry cleaned.
• the apparatus according to the invention can be implemented in a professional as well as in a household setting.
• the apparatus comprises a first means for circulating the warm mixture into the drum through the spraying means, and/or a second means for circulating the warm mixture into the drum through the injection means.
• warm mixture means a mixture whose temperature ranges between 10°C and 35°C.
• the invention involves at least three embodiments i.e. one with two circulating means (pumps for example) ; and two others with a single circulating means ( pump for example).
• a first heating means is located inside said first container.
• a first heating means is located outside said first container.
• the apparatus may further comprise a second container for a second chemical composition, said second container having an opening for the second chemical composition to flow out of said second container and into said fluid tight basket.
• the first container comprises an outlet for evacuating the mixture not flowing through the circulating means.
• the invention further encompasses a method for cleaning delicate textiles comprising at least a first contact between textiles and a washing fluid, a rotating of wet textiles in a motorized rotating drum provided in a fluid tight basket, at least a first rinse by contacting said textiles with clean water, at least a first extraction of rinse water wherein prior to the first contact between the textiles and washing fluid, a warm mixture of water and a first chemical composition is provided in a first container, then it is sprayed over the dry textiles during drum rotation.
• the warm mixture comprises 1 to 20 % of first chemical composition.
• the warm mixture projected over the dry textiles enables an efficient cleaning of the textiles.
• the soils/impurities are solids such as dust and metal particles etc. Most of these impurities will be removed "right away", just like brushing them off, in the spraying method. The remainder of the soil/impurities represents polar (water soluble stains like sugars, starch, food etc) and non polar type of stains (oil soluble) will be removed later in the cleaning cycle.
• the key is to obtain a quick coating of the garment fibers, in the first few seconds following the injection of the warm mixture into the drum. The coating will protect the textile fibers in the subsequent cleaning cycle.
• the method according to the invention can be implemented either in a professional and/or commercial environment, or in a household setting.
• the warm mixture has a temperature between 10°C and 35° C.
• the washing fluid is continually recirculated around the textiles, before being extracted out of the drum. By recirculating said washing fluid, the need for mechanical action through drum rotation is reduced.
• At least one pump is used to circulate said warm mixture within said container before it is sprayed over said dry textiles.
• a second chemical composition is injected over textiles present into the drum.
• Said second chemical composition is preferably a conditioner composition.
• a second fluid extraction is provided.
• the thus treated textiles can then be directly loaded into the drum. They have a low humidity ratio (less than 40 %) and they are slightly creased. No additional step is required.
• Figure 1 shows a first schematic embodiment of the invention ;
• Figure 2 shows a second schematic embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 3 shows a third schematic embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 1 is a schema ill ustrating an apparatus (also named cleaning apparatus hereafter) for cleaning delicate textiles ; this drawing only shows means that are necessary for a good understanding of the invention.
• the apparatus in a known and essential way, comprises : a motorized drum 1 rotating about an horizontal axis ; said drum is housed in a fluid tight basket 2.
• the apparatus is provided with some supply inlets and outlets such as a water supply inlet 20 and a drain outlet 1 1 .
• compositions are detergents, soap, pre-conditioner, conditioner as disclosed for example in WO 2010/097651 .
• These compositions are generally mixed with water in specific container or container compartments ; water flows over said compartment containing chem ical composition(s). The mixture flows towards basket 2. Therefore said mixture of water and chemical composition(s) is introduced d irectly into the d rum where they are heated if necessary.
• a hydraulic circuit comprising at least a pump is provided to circulate the washing fluids; and programmed valves actuate this circulation.
• a program control device is also provided and designed to permit various cleaning cycles.
• a heating means is provided in the basket 2 in order to heat the washing fluid.
• the heating means 4 cooperates with a specific (first) container 5 that is, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, directly linked to the basket 2, just underneath.
• Figure 1 relates to an embodiment where a single circulating means like a pump 61 is provided.
• a first conduit 53 is linked to a first opening of the specific container 5 and to sa id pu mp 61 ; said first conduit 53 allows fluid present in container 5 to flow out.
• a second conduit 54 is a supply conduit from pump 61 to container 5.
• fluid such as a warm mixture of soap and water is circulated and recirculated between pump 61 and first container 5.
• This fluid is also named “cleaning liquid” or “washing fluid” in the present specification.
• pre-heated water can be used to heat the mixture.
• the pre-heated mixture can be introduced from outside said apparatus. In such an embodiment warm water for example can be injected directly into container 5.
• Advantageously pump 61 has an opening cooperating with a conduit 71 ending by its second end into the drum 1 . More precisely an injection means 7 is provided to inject the mixture, under pressure, into drum 1 .
• the injection means 7, or sprayer is positioned at the second end of the conduit 71 .
• the man skilled in the art will determine the appropriate diameters and pressure allowing a spraying of the hot mixture into the drum 1 . As an example the pressure is less than 5 bars.
• the drum 1 is only partially filled through sprayer 7 as will be described later.
• the drum is half filled with said warm mixture during the cleaning cycle.
• the first container 5 is positioned underneath and tightly connected to the basket 2.
• valve 10 cooperates with a drain 1 1 in order to control the final extraction of the fluid out of the apparatus.
• Valve 10 can be connected to an outlet of the first container 5.
• a pre-programmed controller not shown, is provided in order to control the flows, time, durations, temperatures of the cleaning cycle, in order to offer users with various cleaning programs ; pre-cleaning , cleaning, rinse..
• FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention that differs from the first embodiment by the injection means.
• the sprayer 7 is replaced by a plurality of injectors 8,9 that inject the warm mixture directly into the drum 1 .
• water can be injected into the drum 1 through a plurality of water injection holes 20, distributed at some specific points around the drum 1 .
• the water injection holes 20 are disposed in the upper part of the drum. Water flows more or less according to arrows F , to the connection 50 between drum 1 and first container 5, and then into container 5 where it is mixed with the first chemical composition basically contained in said first container 5.
• said warm mixture is fully mixed thanks to pump 62 and connections 51 , 52 between said pump 62 and the first container 5.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a kind of combination of first and second embodiments. It relates to an apparatus comprising two pumps 61 , 62; a first pump 61 is dedicated to the spraying means 7, the second pump 62 is dedicated to the injections means 8, 9. Both pumps 61 , 62 are connected to the first container 5, to circulate the warm mixture.
• a second container 3 can be provided for another fluid such as a conditioner composition . Water is preferably introduced through the second container 3 which, however, is not compulsory.
• the first chemical composition can advantageously be a soap composition as described in patent application WO 2010/097651 .
• An amount of soap (for example) composition as well as water is injected into the container 5 with a proportion of composition to water of 1 % to 20 %.
• heating means 4 starts in order to heat said mixture of soap composition and water.
• the heating means 4 is disposed within or very close to container 5. Any kind of heating means can be provided : the man skilled in the art wil l choose depending on the whole context.
• the duration of said heating is set according to temperatures to be reached. For example the heating will be stopped when the temperature of the mixture inside container 5, is 25°C or 30°C. The temperature can be between 10°C to 35°C.
• warm water within said range of temperatures could be used to eliminate the need for a heating means.
• pump 61 , 62 starts ; or if several pumps, the pump 61 dedicated to the spraying starts. This will permit to inject said hot mixture into drum 1 , through conduit 71 .
• the (highly concentrated) soap mixture is introduced into the drum 1 while the dru m is rotating. Typical ly, at least more than half of the soils/impurities are solid such as dust and metal particles etc. Due to the injection under pressure of said hot mixture, most of these impurities will be removed "right away" (just l i ke brush ing them off) d uring th is spraying method i.e. in the beginning of the washing process. The remainder of the soil/impurities represents polar (water soluble stains like sugars, starch, food etc) and non polar type of stains (oil soluble) will be removed later, during cleaning cycle.
• the key is to obtain a quick coating of the garments fibers in the first few seconds following the introduction of the mixture into the drum 1 .
• the mixture is introduced onto dry textiles which better absorb the mixture, in dry condition, than wet textiles would.
• the coating will prevent water from penetrating deeply into the fibers cavities and thus from adhering to the fibers. As a result, water can be extracted more easily in the subsequent extraction steps.
• Next step of the method comprises introduction of water into basket 2, by any means known per se.
• water is introduced directly into the first container 5, for example through appropriate holes 20.
• water injection is provided through specific holes 20 disposed in the upper part of the drum 1 .
• the water injection duration as well as speed rotation of the drum 1 are determined by the man skilled in the art, in order to create a homogeneous coating of textiles with the warm mixture, more precisely with the first chemical composition.
• the drum 1 is rotated at a certain rotation speed for a certain length of time which will depend on the size of the drum ; a larger drum will be rotated at lower rpm than a smaller drum. Th is contrasts with existing wet cleaning systems which try to minimize rotation speed and mechanical action.
• the present invention will rotate (i.e. recirculate) the water and/or the water-composition mixture around the garments, using at least an integrated recirculation pump (i.e. water is extracted and reinjected into the drum). This will reduce the mechanical action (through drum rotation).
• the textiles are rotated only periodically.
• the recirculation addresses the problem of stain removal in existing wet cleaning systems caused by mechanical action that inherently creates "friction" to the garments (which is necessary to remove stains).
• a first extraction of the washing liquid can be done in order to eliminate the washing liquid and thus most of the suds which were removed from the textile fibers.
• a second chemical composition such as a conditioner composition is injected into the drum 1 in order to "prepare" the textiles for drying and finishing (ironing). Th e conditioner composition does not need to be pre-heated.
• the conditioner composition will coat the garments with a protective thin layer of sizing.
• the conditioner composition will expand and remove almost entirely small creases. It has to be pointed out that conditioners used in existing wet cleaning systems do not have this capability. This is due to the combination and specific arrangement of the invention.
• Next step consists of extracting water still adhering to the textiles.
• This extraction cycle uses varying drum rotation rates, depending of the type of the textiles to be cleaned. For example a low g-force of about 60 g will be used for sensitive silk garments, and a very high g-force will be used for some wool garments.
• the present invention enables the removal of much of the moisture from the textiles, thereby reducing the subsequent drying time.

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• 2011
  • 2011-05-31 EP EP11729269.8A patent/EP2714980A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2011-05-31 WO PCT/EP2011/058964 patent/WO2012163410A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2011-05-31 US US13/142,102 patent/US20120304394A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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