EP2964826A1

EP2964826A1 - Method for applying a composition comprising a chemical compound to laundry articles by spray application

Info

Publication number: EP2964826A1
Application number: EP13707648.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Bruno BEISEMANN; Mario Possmann; Johannes Georg Winter
Original assignee: Ecolab USA Inc
Current assignee: Ecolab USA Inc
Priority date: 2013-03-06
Filing date: 2013-03-06
Publication date: 2016-01-13
Also published as: WO2014135208A1

Abstract

The present invention refers to a method of wet treatment of laundry articles comprising the steps of washing, rinsing and drainage, wherein after the step of washing a composition comprising a chemical compound is applied to the laundry articles provided in a chamber, said method comprising the step of contacting said composition comprising said chemical compound with said laundry articles by spray application of said composition comprising said chemical compound within said chamber containing said laundry articles.

Description

Method for applying a composition comprising a chemical compound to laundry articles by spray application

The invention relates to a method for applying a composition comprising chemical compounds, preferably laundry finishing agents, to laundry articles by spray application.

Background of the invention

The desirability of adding a fragrance to laundry during the cleaning process has been recognized for decades. A vast array of scented fabric conditioners are available on the market today. These products combine perfumes with softening and conditioning agents to produce laundry that is soft, fresh smelling, static-free, crease-resistant, and easily ironed. In one approach, the conditioners are added during the wash cycle in a washing machine. However, this approach may be wasteful, because much of the perfumes on conditioners in the conditioning compositions do not adhere to the clothes in a washer and are washed away with the waste water. To avoid this waste, fabric conditioners may be added during the drying process in a dryer. As discussed below, this approach has not been entirely satisfactory in imparting a lasting fragrance to freshly laundered articles.

Various methods for adding a fragrance to laundry in a dryer are well known. One of the most common methods employs dryer sheets which are impregnated with conditioning agents and allowed to tumble with the clothes in a dryer. During the drying process, fragrance is imparted to the clothes that come into contact with these dryer sheets. The dryer sheets are typically made of a spongy material and the conditioning agents are chosen such that they melt or flow at conventional dryer operating temperatures. However, these dryer sheets suffer from several drawbacks. Because the conditioning agents are applied through contact between articles of laundry and the sheets, application can be splotchy and uneven. In addition, in order to assure that all articles of laundry come into contact with the sheet, it is necessary for the dryer sheets to be put in the laundry early on in the drying cycle. This can be disadvantageous because any fragrances in the conditioning compositions are likely to volatilize during prolonged exposure to the heat of the drying cycle, leaving little residual fragrance on the textile surface at the end of the drying process. This problem occurs specifically in industrial dryers, such as those used by the hotel industry, which operate at much higher temperatures than do conventional household dryers. In fact, many industrial dryers work at temperatures hot enough to melt dryer sheets. Finally, the conditioning agents that can be used with dryer sheets are limited because they must be selected from compounds that melt or flow in a fairly specific temperature range. The compositions that meet these criteria are not optimally suited for use as softeners and conditioners.

In other laundry softening or conditioning methods, liquid or solid conditioners are housed in porous containers which are either allowed to tumble freely with the laundry in a dryer or which are attached to the drum of the dryer such that they spin with the laundry. These liquid or solid conditioners are then dispensed through the porous walls of the container during the drying process. As with dryer sheets, these porous containers apply conditioning agents by making direct contact with articles of laundry, which requires prolonged exposure to the laundry during the drying cycle and which may lead to an uneven application of the conditioning agents.

In another method, a fabric softener or conditioner is held in a container within a dryer and hot air is circulated over the container such that the fabric softener or conditioner vaporizes and is carried by the air stream over the laundry. This requires that the softener or conditioner be present during the hottest part of the drying cycle, resulting in the volatilization and loss of volatile fragrant components within the conditioning compositions.

Finally, it is known to sprinkle liquid softeners or conditioners onto either the damp clothes as they enter the dryer, or onto the drum itself before the clothes are placed in the dryer such that the softener or conditioner permeates the laundry as it dries. Unfortunately, the spray nozzles used to apply conditioning compositions dispense the liquids in droplets, rather than a fine mist or vapor which makes it difficult to precisely control the amount and distribution of the liquids as they are applied to laundry. None of these methods has been entirely successful at imparting a lasting residual fragrance to articles of laundry. Thus, a need exists for a system that is able to impart a fragrance to laundry in a dryer without substantial loss of the fragrance before the completion of the drying process. Such a system would be of particular value to the hotel industry, where fresh-smelling bath robes, towels, and linens would enhance the comfort of guests and potentially create more repeat customers. Further, the prior art does not provide a simple and cost-effective method to apply chemical compounds to laundry articles.

Therefore the object of the present invention was to provide a new method for applying chemical compounds to laundry articles.

Summary of the invention The present invention provides a method of wet treatment of laundry articles comprising the steps of washing, rinsing and drainage, wherein after the step of washing a composition comprising said chemical compound is applied to the laundry articles provided in a chamber, said method comprising the step of contacting said composition comprising said chemical compound with said laundry articles by spray application of said composition comprising said chemical compound within said chamber containing said laundry articles.

According to the present invention due to the spray application of a composition comprising said chemical compound, in particular a laundry finishing agent, the liquid compositions comprising said chemical compound are dispensed in form of a fine mist or vapor which makes it possible to precisely control the amount and distribution of the liquids as they are applied to laundry articles.

In a preferred embodiment said spray application is carried out before, during or after rinsing of said laundry articles.

In another preferred embodiment said spray application is carried out before, during or after drainage of said laundry articles.

In a further preferred embodiment said spray application is carried out before, during or after a drying process of said laundry articles, or during the cool-down cycle of a drying process.

Further preferred, said spray application is carried out during ironing of the laundry articles in an ironer. In another preferred embodiment said spray application is carried out during processing the laundry articles in a steam tunnel.

In a particularly preferred embodiment said composition comprising said chemical compound is applied to the laundry articles by spray application of said composition comprising said chemical compound within said chamber containing said laundry articles after the final step of the series washing, rinsing and drainage.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method the laundry articles are transported through said chamber (e.g. a steam tunnel or a chamber of an ironer) or are agitated (e.g. in a drier) when said composition comprising said chemical compound is released by spray application. Typically the laundry articles are agitated by tumbling them in a drum of a drier, i.e. during the spray application of said composition comprising said chemical compound to laundry articles into a chamber containing these laundry articles the laundry articles preferably are agitated by the rotation of the drier drum in which said laundry articles are placed. The composition comprising said chemical compound may also be applied when laundry articles are processed in a steam tunnel or when subjected to ironing in an ironer. Therefore, particularly preferred, the method is carried out in a drier, a steam tunnel or an ironer. The "chamber" corresponds to the drier drum of the drier, to the steam tunnel or to a housing of an ironer in which housing the ironing is carried out by using rollers.

As used herein the term "chamber" is represented by a container or receptacle, which is closed, but not necessarily sealed. The laundry articles are contained in the chamber itself or within a drum arranged in said chamber. The chamber itself or said drum, respectively, is preferably agitated. An example of a drum within a chamber is a drier drum of a drier for drying laundry articles. Such chambers are normally closed in order to provide the conditions in that way that the composition comprising said chemical compound when released by spray application is taken up or absorbed by the laundry articles instead of spreading into and contaminating the surrounding atmosphere. The method may be preferably carried out in a dryer. If the composition comprising said chemical compound is applied during the processing of laundry articles in a steam tunnel, then the "chamber" is represented by the steam tunnel housing, or possibly by a further inner chamber within the steam tunnel. Here the composition comprising said chemical compound is applied when the laundry articles are transported through the chamber, i.e. the steam tunnel.

If the composition comprising said chemical compound is applied during ironing of laundry articles by using an ironer, then a chamber is provided in the area of the ironer where the application of the composition comprising said chemical compound is carried out. The installation of a chamber or housing in connection with the ironer, which normally may be operated without any housing, serves the purpose to reduce the contamination of the surrounding atmosphere by the chemical compound(s).

According to a further preferred method of the inventive method said spray application is represented by the deposition of said composition comprising at least one chemical compound on laundry articles by dispersing said composition comprising at least one chemical compound as fine particles and carrying these particles to the laundry articles in a stream of gas. The particles are small enough to travel easily in a stream of gas moving through the atmosphere but are not small enough to remain suspended indefinitely in an ordinary atmosphere without a propelling stream of gas.

Particularly preferred, said gas is selected from air, nitrogen, inert gas or mixtures thereof.

Further preferred, said spray application of said composition comprising said chemical compound is carried out by using pressurized gas selected from air, nitrogen, inert gas or mixtures thereof.

According to a preferred embodiment said composition comprising said chemical compound is provided in a storage cartridge prior to the spray application to the laundry articles. In another preferred embodiment pressurized gas is loaded with said composition comprising said chemical compound by feeding said pressurized gas through a cartridge containing said composition comprising said chemical compound, whereby the pressurized gas is taking up the composition comprising said chemical compound, and then immediately is dispensed through a spraying nozzle and applied to the laundry articles.

The method preferably is carried out at a temperature of 0°C to 150°C, preferably at a temperature of 10°C to 100°C, further preferred at a temperature of 15°C to 80 °C.

According to the present invention upon entry into said chamber by spray application said composition comprising said chemical compound comes into contact with the laundry articles. According to the present invention the spray application of said composition comprising said chemical compound leaves an effective concentration of the chemical compound which becomes absorbed by the laundry articles. Therefore, the chemical compound or composition comprising said chemical compound after spray application is dispensed or deposited on and taken up or absorbed by the laundry articles. With the method according to the present invention chemical compound(s) or composition comprising said chemical compound(s) can be homogenously dispensed onto laundry articles.

In another preferred embodiment the laundry articles are transported through said chamber or are agitated when spray application is carried out in said chamber containing said laundry articles.

According to a preferred embodiment the gaseous medium contained in said chamber is withdrawn from the chamber. It is particularly preferred that the gaseous medium contained in said chamber is withdrawn from the chamber, and wherein excess chemical compound comprised in the withdrawn gaseous medium is collected and may be discarded or recycled. These methods serve the purpose to reduce contamination of the surrounding atmosphere by the chemical compound(s), that otherwise may compromise the health of the individuals working in the respective laundry processing facility.

For further reducing the load of chemical compound in the surrounding atmosphere the chamber may be equipped with an exhaust line, in order to remove excess chemical compound which was not absorbed by the laundry articles. In a preferred method said chemical compound is a laundry finishing agent or a chemical compound having the property to deliver a soil modifying property to soils.

The present invention therefore provides the means to deliver a soil modifying property to soils. Especially those soils that are only partially removed or difficult to remove with a conventional wash cycle such as cosmetics, makeup, lipstick, non trans-fats and the like. The chemical compound may be selected from the group consisting of penetrants, pre-spotting agents, i.e. pre-treatment agents, HLB modifiers. In a further preferred embodiment of this alternative method the soils are modified by the chemical compound in that way that the soils may be removed in the drying process or in a subsequent wet treatment. Such subsequent wet treatment may either immediately following the drying step or at a later stage once the laundry articles has been used and possibly further soiled.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the inventive method said chemical compound is a laundry finishing agent and is selected from the group consisting of fragrance, conditioning agent, softening agent, anti-soil-re-deposition agent, soil release agent, ease ironing agent, ease drying agent, antistatic agent, fungistatic, bacteriostatic, hydrophobic agent, oleophobic agent, impregnation material, flame retardant, repellent, scavenger, surfactant, bleaching agent, such as a peracid compound, H₂0₂, bleach activator, bleach catalyst, oxidizing agent, optical brightener, chelating agent, builders, radical scavenger such as BHT, paraffin, enzyme and compositions comprising one or more of said agents.

In yet a further preferred method said chemical compound is selected from the group consisting of fragrance (perfume), hydrophobing agent, softener, fabric conditioner, anti-wrinkling, starching agent, performance booster.

In yet a further preferred method said chemical compound is a fragrance (perfume), which preferably is present in the composition from 0.1 to 2.0 wt.-%, further preferred from 0.5 to 1 .5 wt.-%.

In yet a further preferred method said chemical compound is selected from the group consisting of hydrophobing agent, softener, fabric conditioner, anti- wrinkling, starching agent, performance booster, which preferably is present in the composition from 1 .0 to 20.0 wt.-%, further preferred from 5.0 to 15.0 wt.-%, more preferred from 8.0 to 12.0 wt.-%.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the chemical compound having the property to deliver a soil modifying property to soils is having 2 or more carbon atoms, 3 or more carbon atoms, 4 or more carbon atoms, 5 or more carbon atoms, 6 or more carbon atoms, or is represented by a chemical compound having at least 2 carbon atoms and at least one nitrogen atom, or is represented by a chemical compound having at least one silicon atom, or is represented by a chemical compound having at least one sulfur atom.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the chemical agent or the is a fragrance. In an alternative preferred embodiment the chemical agent or the is BHT (butylhydroxyltoluene). In a further alternative preferred embodiment the chemical compound is paraffin. In a further alternative preferred embodiment the chemical compound is a soil release agent.

In addition to the chemical compound additional ingredients may be comprised in the composition and applied to the laundry articles by spray application, which additional ingredient may be selected from solvent, co-solvent, chelating agent, buffering agent, acidulant, source of alkalinity, rheology modifier or a mixture thereof.

In various embodiments, said chemical compound makes up from 0.0001 weight percent of the total composition. In various embodiments said chemical compound will be present in an amount from 0.0001 to 40 weight percent, preferably from 0.0001 to 25 weight percent of the total composition.

As mentioned above the method according to the present invention is carried out during the wet treatment of said laundry articles comprising the steps of washing, rinsing and drainage, at either of the following steps:

i) before, during or after rinsing of said laundry articles;

ii) before, during or after drainage of said laundry articles;

iii) before, during or after drying of said laundry articles;

iv) before, during or after ironing of said laundry articles.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the inventive method after the steps of washing rinsing and drainage spray application of the composition comprising said chemical compound is carried out at either of the following steps: a) before, during or after drying of said laundry articles;

b) during or after drying of said laundry articles;

c) during drying of said laundry articles;

d) after drying of said laundry articles;

e) before, during or after ironing of said laundry articles.

The wet treatment is followed by a drying process. The method according to the present invention may in particular be carried out before, during or after a drying process of said laundry articles, or during the cool-down cycle of a drying process. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the inventive method after the steps of washing rinsing and drainage spray application of the composition comprising said chemical compound is carried out at either of the following steps:

a) before, during or after a drying process of said laundry articles;

b) during or after a drying process of said laundry articles;

c) during a drying process of said laundry articles;

d) after a drying process of said laundry articles;

e) before, during or after ironing of said laundry articles.

In an alternative embodiment the method is carried out during ironing of the laundry articles in an ironer or during processing the laundry articles in a steam tunnel. As mentioned above there is a desire to deliver a soil modifying property to soils. There exists a problem of soils that are only partially removed or difficult to remove with a conventional wash cycle such as cosmetics, makeup, lipstick, non trans-fats and the like. For the removal of such tenacious soils a chemical compound which may be selected from the group consisting of penetrants, pre- spotting agents, i.e. pre-treatment agents such as surfactants or surfactant mixtures, HLB modifiers is dispensed onto the respective laundry articles by the above described method, i.e. by spray application. In an alternative method the chemical compound is sprayed into said chamber comprising said laundry articles before the washing step. This procedure is preferred as the tenacious soils thereby are pre-treated, i.e. pre-incubated with suitable chemical compound, and then removed during a conventional washing step. In alternative embodiments the chemical compound is applied onto the laundry articles after the washing step, after the rinsing step or after the drainage step, for example before, during or after the drying step. By this method tenacious soils which were not removed by a conventional washing procedure will be removed in a subsequent wet treatment. Such subsequent wet treatment may either immediately follow the drying step or preferably at a later stage once the laundry articles have been in use again and possibly have been further soiled.

Further preferred embodiments as described above in respect to the application of the chemical compound, can also be implemented in the method for applying or dispensing to laundry articles said chemical compound having the property to deliver a soil modifying property to soils.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention refers to a method of wet treatment of laundry articles comprising the steps of washing, rinsing and drainage, wherein after the step of washing a composition comprising a chemical compound is applied to the laundry articles provided in a chamber, said method comprising the step of contacting said composition comprising said chemical compound with said laundry articles by spray application of said composition comprising said chemical compound within said chamber containing said laundry articles, preferably after the complete series of steps of washing, rinsing and drainage the spray application takes place.

Definitions

As used herein, the term "laundry articles" refers to woven laundry articles as well as to non-woven laundry articles, including clothing, textiles, mattresses, carpets and mops, towels, bed sheets, but also yearn. Exemplary articles of clothing or garments laundered at an industrial laundering facility include robes, uniform shirts, uniform pants, executive shirts, lab coats, aprons, jackets, and shop coats. The reference to textiles includes items or articles that include textiles or fabric. Items or articles that include textiles or fabric can include athletic shoes, accessories, stuffed animals, brushes, mats, hats, gloves, outerwear, tarpaulins, tents, and curtains. The method of the present invention is particularly useful in connection with industrial laundry where continuous batch washers or wash extractors are used.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the method is applied in connection with the operation of continuous batch washers or wash extractors as well as water extraction devices such as centrifuge or press. After the laundry articles have passed through continuous batch washers or wash extractors and subsequently the water extraction device the laundry articles typically are subjected to drying in driers, removal of knits in steam tunnels or ironing in an ironer.

Compositions Water, aqueous solutions or lipophilic or oily composition can be used as a vehicle for chemical compounds.

In a preferred embodiment, the chemical compound is selected so that it is compatible with and/or soluble in water, an aqueous solution, lipophilic or oily composition. Preferably, the chemical compound is soluble in in water, an aqueous solution, lipophilic or oily composition to at least about 0.01 % by weight of the total composition, more preferably about 1 wt.-%, more preferably about 5 wt.-%, further preferred up to 25 wt.-%, still further preferred up to 40 wt.-%.

The composition comprising the chemical compound can also include other ingredients, such as a carrier, solvent or co-solvent, a buffering agent, an acidulant, a source of alkalinity, a rheology modifier or a mixture thereof.

Modifiers

Surfactant Modifiers

Numerous known surfactants can be suitable as modifiers. See, e.g., McCutcheon's Volume 1 : Emulsifiers & Detergents (1995 North American Edition) (MC Publishing Co., 175 Rock Road, Glen Rock, N. J. 07452). Examples of the major surfactant types that can be used as modifiers include: alcohols, alkanolamides, alkanolamines, alkylaryl sulfonates, alkylaryl sulfonic acids, alkylbenzenes, amine acetates, amine oxides, amines, sulfonate amines and amides, betaine derivatives, block polymers, carboxylated alcohol or alkylphenol ethoxylates, carboxylic acids and fatty acids, diphenyl sulfonate derivatives, ethoxylated alcohols, ethoxylated alkylphenols, ethoxylated amines and/or amides, ethoxylated fatty acids, ethoxylated fatty esters and oils, fatty esters, fluorocarbon-based surfactants, glycerol esters, glycol esters, heterocyclic- type products, imidazolines and imidazoline derivatives, isethionates, lanolin-based derivatives, lecithin and lecithin derivatives, alkyl glycosides and glucosamines, lignin and lignin derivatives, maleic or succinic anhydrides, methyl esters, monoglycerides and derivatives, olefin sulfonates, phosphate esters, lecithin and its derivatives, phosphorous organic derivatives, polyethylene glycols, polymeric surfactants (e.g., polysaccharides, acrylic acid, and acrylamide), propoxylated and ethoxylated fatty acids alcohols or alkyl phenols, protein-based surfactants, quaternary surfactants, sarcosine derivatives, silicone-based surfactants, soaps, sorbitan derivatives, sucrose and glucose esters and derivatives, sulfates and sulfonates of oils and fatty acids, sulfates and sulfonates ethoxylated alkylphenols, sulfates of alcohols, sulfates of ethoxylated alcohols, sulfates of fatty esters, sulfonates of benzene, cumene, toluene and xylene, sulfonates of condensed naphthalenes, sulfonates of dodecyl and tridecylbenzenes, sulfonates of naphthalene and alkyl naphthalene, sulfonates of petroleum, sulfosuccinamates, sulfosuccinates and derivatives, taurates, thio and mercapto derivatives, tridecyl and dodecyl benzene sulfonic acids, and the like. Sulfonates of oils and fatty acids are preferred, in particular sulfonated oleic acid. Co-solvent Modifiers

Preferred co-solvents for use as modifiers include 2- (2-aminoethoxy) ethanol, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, amyl acetate, amyl alcohol, butanol, 3-butoxyethyl-2-propanol, butyl acetate, n-butyl propionate, cyclohexanone, diacetone alcohol, diethoxyethanol, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol n-butyl ether, diisobutyl carbinol, diisobutyl ketone, dimethyl heptanol, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol propyl ether, dipropylene glycol tert-butyl ether, ethanol, ethyl acetate, 2-ethylhexanol, ethyl propionate, ethylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether acetate, hexanol, isobutanol, isobutyl acetate, isobutyl heptyl ketone, isophorone, isopropanol, isopropyl acetate, methanol, methyl amyl alcohol, methyl n-amyl ketone, 2-methyl-1 -butanol, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, 1 -pentanol, n-pentyl propionate, 1 -propanol, n- propyl acetate, n-propyl propionate, propylene glycol n-butyl ether, propylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol n-propyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether and tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether. Ethylene glycol butyl ether and dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether are more preferred cosolvents. Mixtures of cosolvents can be used if desired. Commercially available cosolvents (all of which are available from Union Carbide Corp.) include those sold under the trade names: Butoxyethyl PROPASOL™, Butyl CARBITOL™ acetate, Butyl CARBITOL™, Butyl CELLOSOLVETM™ acetate, Butyl CELLOSOLVE™, Butyl DIPROPASOL™, Butyl PROPASOL™, CARBITOL™ PM-600, CARBITOL™ Low Gravity, CELLOSOLVE™ acetate, CELLOSOLVE™, Ester EEPTM™, FILMER 1ST™, Hexyl CARBITOL™, Hexyl CELLOSOLVE™, Methyl CARBITOL™, Methyl CELLOSOLVE™ acetate, Methyl CELLOSOLVE™, Methyl DIPROPASOL™, Methyl PROPASOL™ acetate, Methyl PROPASOL™, Propyl CARBITOL™, Propyl CELLOSOLVE™, Propyl DIPROPASOL™ and Propyl PROPASOL™. Solvent for use to incorporate the chemical compound

Solvents that can be employed in the present invention include, but are not limited to, C-i -16 aliphatic and aromatic alcohols and esters such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, iso-propanol, butanol, iso-butanol, amyl alcohol, octanol, nonanol, and other aliphatic alcohols, acetamidophenol, acetanilide, acetophenone, [2-acetyl-1 - methylpyrrole, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, phenethanol, benzyl benzoate, amyl acetate, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate and other alkyl carboxylic esters; ethers, hydroxyethers, or glycol ether esters including ethers, such as methyl t- butyl ether, dibutyl ether, methyl phenyl ether and other aliphatic or alkyl aromatic ethers; glycol ethers such as ethoxy ethanol, butoxy ethanol, ethoxy 2-propanol, propoxy ethanol, butoxy 2-propanol, benzyloxyethanol, ethylene glycol phenyl ether, DOWANOL EPH™ (commercially available from Dow Chemical Co.), propylene glycol phenyl ether (commercially available as DOWANOL PPH™ from Dow Chemical Co.), butoxy ethanol, propoxy ethanol, hexoxy ethanol, isopropoxy 2-propanol, butoxy 2- propanol, propoxy 2-propanol, tertiary butoxy 2-propanol, ethoxy ethanol, butoxy ethoxy ethanol, propoxy ethoxy ethanol, hexoxy ethoxy ethanol, methoxy ethanol, methoxy 2-propanol, and ethoxy ethoxy ethanol and other glycol ethers; glycol ether esters such as butoxy ethoxy acetate, ethyl 3- ethoxy propionate; essential oils (e.g., benzaldehyde, pinenes (alphas, betas, and the like), terpineols, terpinenes, carvone, cinnamealdehyde, borneol and its esters, citrals, ionenes, jasmine oil, limonene, dipentene, linalool and its esters); dibasic esters such as dimethyl adipate, dimethyl succinate, dimethyl glutarate (often available in a mix; including products available under the trade designations DBE, DBE-3, DBE-4, DBE-5, DBE-6, DBE-9, DBE- IB, and DBE-ME from DuPont Nylon Intermediates and Specialties), dimethyl malonate, diethyl adipate, diethyl succinate, diethyl glutarate, dibutyl succinate, and dibutyl glutarate; dialkyl carbonates such as dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, dipropyl carbonate, diisopropyl carbonate, and dibutyl carbonate; Ci_-16 protonated carboxylic acids such as 2-ethyl-1 -hexanoic acid, butyric acid, octanoic acid, heptanoic acid, nonanoic acid, and decanoic acid; C-_\.-_\2 organic anhydrides such as acetic anhydride, succinic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, and alkyl or alkenyl succinic anhydrides; organo-nitriles such as benzonitrile; C₃-ie in organo- phosphates and phosphonates such as tributyl phosphate, tripropyl phosphate, 2- ethyl-1 -hexyl phosphate; and phthalate esters such as dibutyl phthalate, diethylhexyl phthalate, and diethyl phthalate. Also included are C_4-i₆ lactones and lactams such as n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and cyclic ureas such as dimethyl ethylene urea. Mixtures of solvents can be used if desired.

Other solvents which may be employed in the methods and compositions of the present invention include ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, mesityl oxide, methyl amyl ketone, cyclohexanone and other aliphatic ketones; aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, xylene, and other aromatics or mixtures of aromatic solvents; aliphatic hydrocarbons such as VM&P naphtha and mineral spirits, and other aliphatics or mixtures of aliphatics; nitro alkanes such as 2-nitropropane; fluorinated and other halogenated solvents (e. g., chlorotrifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane, perfluoropropane, chlorodifluoromethane, and sulfur hexafluoride); amides (e.g. dimethyl acetamide), and the like.

For the purposes of this invention, said chemical compound may be compositions or agents which impart softness or crease-resistance, reduce static, make laundry easier to iron or is used for hydrophobing. These compositions or agents may include conditioning, antistatic, and softening agents, as well as perfumes and fragrances. Examples of softening agents and/or anti-static agents typically found in fabric softeners are well known in the art and include, but are not limited to, cationic and nonionic softeners, such as quaternary ammonium salts, including ditallow quaternary ammonium salts, imidazolinium salts, esters of quaternary ammonium salts, amidoamines, carboxylic salts of tertiary alkylamines, fatty acid polyglycol esters, fatty acid alkanol amides, organic phosphoric acid esters, tertiary phosphine oxides, tertiary amine oxides, alkylated party ethoxylated polyamines, anionic soaps, sulfates, sulfonates, and the like. Specific examples of softening and/or anti-static agents include methyl bis(tallow amidoethyl)-2- hydroxyethyl ammonium methyl sulfate, ditallow dimethyl quaternary ammonium chloride, methyl bis(tallow amidoethyl)-2-tallow imadazolinium ammonium methyl sulfate, and methyl bis(ethyl tallowate)-2-hydroxyethyl ammonium methyl sulphate, diethylester dimethyl ammonium chloride. Other examples of anti-static agents include polyhydric alcohols, amines, amides, polyoxy ethylene derivatives, amine soaps, amine salts of alkyl sulfates, alkyl phosphates, and the like.

Examples of suitable fabric softening agents, are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,610, which is herein incorporated by reference.

The fragrance, or perfume, may be any fragrant substance or mixture of substances, including natural and synthetic substances, that have a favorable aroma. In addition, the fragrance or perfume may contain auxiliary materials such as fixatives, extenders, stabilizers and solvents. Examples of suitable fragrances include, but are not limited to, silicon oils, essential oils, absolutes, resinoids, resins, and synthetic perfume components such as hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, ethers, acids, esters, acetals, ketals, nitrites, including saturated and unsaturated compounds, aliphatic, carbocyclic and heterocyclic compounds. Examples of such perfume components are geraniol, geranyl acetate, linalool, linaly acetate, tetrahydrolinalool, citronellol, citronellyl acetate, dihydromyrcenol, dihydromyrcenyl acetate, tetrahydromyrcenol, terpineol, terpinyl acetate, nopol, nopyl acetate, 2-phenylethanol, 2-phenylethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate, benzyl salicylate, benzyl benzoate, styrallyl acetate, amyl salicylate, dimethylbenzylcarbinol, trichloromethylphenylcarbinyl methylphenylcarbinyl acetate, p-tert-butyl-cyclohexyl acetate, isononyl acetate, vetiveryl acetate, vetiverol, alpha-n-amylcinammic aldehyde, alpha-hexyl- cinammic aldehyde, 2-methyl-3-(p-tert-.butylphenyl)-propanal, 2-methyl-3-(p- isopropyl-phenyl)propanal, 3-(p-tert.butylphenyl)propanal, tricyclodecenyl acetate, tricyclodecenyl propionate, 4-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)-3- cyclohexenecarbaldehyde, 4-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-3-cyclohexenecarbaldehyde, 4-acetoxy-3-pentyltetrahydropyran, methyl dihydrojasmonate, 2-n- heptylcyclopentanone, 3-methyl-2-pentyl-cyclopentanone, n-decanal, n- dodecanal, 9-decenol-1 , phenoxyethyl isobutyrate, phenylacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal, phenylacetaldehyde diethyl acetal, geranonitrile, citronellonitrile, cedryl acetal, 3-isocam-phylcyclohexanol, cedryl methyl ether, isolongifolanone, aubepine nitrile, aubepine, heliotropine, coumarin, eugenol, vanillin, diphenyl oxide, hydroxycitronellal ionones, methyl ionones, isomethyl ionomes, irones, cis- 3-hexenol and esters thereof, indane musk fragrances, tetralin musk fragrances, isochroman musk fragrances, macrocyclic ketones, macrolactone musk fragrances, ethylene brassylate, aromatic nitro-musk fragrances. A specific example of a suitable fragrance is Softy AR 3329, a fragrance manufactured by CPL Aromas UK. Softy AR 3329 contains dipropylene glycol, HHCB (1 ,3,4,6,7,8- hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta-(g)-2-benzopyran), and 1 ,1 ,6,7- tetramethyl-6-acetyldecalene, in addition to small quantities of various essential oils, alcohols, esters, hydrocarbons, and aldehydes.

Examples of suitable fragrances, or perfumes, are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,610, which is herein incorporated by reference.

The dose of a fragrance component refers to an amount and type of fragrance that provides a residual fragrance to the textiles dried that can be detected on the fabric at least 24 hours after the drying operation. For example, more than 50% of a panel of at least nine people can detect the presence of a fragrance on towels at least 24 hours after the towels are dried in a dryer in the presence of the fragrance dispenser wherein the fragrance dispenser is dispensing a desired amount or dose of the fragrance component. Preferably, the fragrance dispenser can satisfy a panel test where at least six of nine panelists correctly identify the towel, from a group of three towels, that is different. Either one towel or two towels of the three towels are dried in a dryer in the presence of the fragrance dispenser at least 24 hours earlier. The other towel or towels are not dried in the presence of a fragrance dispenser. The panelists are asked to identify the towel that is different from the other two towels without being told that the difference relates to fragrance. The panelists that can detect the presence of residual fragrance either select the towel that has no residual fragrance if the other two towels have a residual fragrance or select the towel that has the residual fragrance is the two other towels do not have residual fragrance. This type of panel test can be referred to as a "triangle test." It should be understood that the panelists are individuals not suffering from an impairment of olfactory sense from, for example, illness or activity that may limit one's ability to detect fragrance (e.g., smoking or exposure to certain chemicals). The fragrance or fragrance composition may be best suited for addition during the cool-down cycle in the dryer. In another embodiment, the chemical compound such as a conditioning composition is adapted to be added to laundry in a dryer in the beginning, or at an early stage, of the drying process. The chemical compound may also be added during a later stage, for example, during the cool- down cycle. In yet another embodiment, the chemical compound is adapted to be added over a period of time during the drying process. In an alternative method the chemical compound (such as a fragrance composition) may be added to the laundry articles before, during or after the drainage step, which is before the drying process. Suitable conditioning compositions may include conventional conditioning, softening, and antistatic agents well known in the art, in addition to water and other additives, as discussed above. The conditioning composition may itself contain a fragrance or perfume.

Soil release agents are preferably polymeric soil release agents, preferably those comprising block copolymers of polyalkylene terephthalate and polyoxyethylene terephthalate, and block copolymers of polyalkylene terephthalate and polyethylene glycol. Preferably, these polymeric soil release agents contain one, or more, negatively charged functional groups such as the sulfonate functional group, preferably as capping groups at the terminal ends of said polymeric soil release agent. Examples of soil release agents are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,610, which is herein incorporated by reference. For the purposes of this invention dryers include any type of conventional laundry dryer. Such dryers are well known in the art. Examples of suitable dryers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,807,893 and 5,749,163, which are herein incorporated by reference. Dryers that can be used in conjunction with the present invention include conventional automatic clothes dryers. The dryers may be gas, electric, or steam powered and may be of the type used in homes or of the type used in industries, such as those used by the hotel industry. As will become clear in the following discussion, the present invention is particularly useful in industrial dryers which operate at temperature of up to, or greater than, 80 °C, and sometimes at temperatures of up to 95 °C. This is much hotter than the operating temperatures of home dryers which are typically run at temperatures below about 65 °C. These higher temperatures exacerbate the problem of fragrance volatilization and loss during drying because most fragrances have flash points much lower than 95 °C. Industrial dryers often achieve a temperature in the range of about 75 °C to about 1 15°C. It should be understood that these ranges are not necessarily strictly adhered to. Domestic dryers and industrial dryers can operate at lower temperatures or higher temperatures as desired.

Examples The examples according to the present invention were carried out as follows: the desired chemical compound to be applied to laundry articles was provided in water, more specifically in an aqueous solution or in an oily composition or phase. The chemical compound was suspended, dissolved or was otherwise incorporated in the an aqueous solution or the oily phase, respectively, and evenly distributed therein.

The method for dispensing the chemical compound was carried out in a drier. For carrying out the method of the present invention a supply line for feeding pressurized air was arranged for connecting the cylinder containing said pressurized air with the inner space (chamber) of the drier. The dryer drum of the drier was filled with the laundry article. The composition comprising the chemical compound to be applied was placed in a removably mounted U-shaped section of the supply line. Upon opening the valve of the supply line the pressurized air flowed through the supply line and took up the composition comprising the chemical compound placed in the U-turn of the U-shaped section of the supply line and feeding it into the dryer. The chemical compound was thereby finely distributed and formed an aerosol and was thereby dispensed or deposited on and taken up or absorbed by the laundry articles in the drier.

Removal of the composition comprising the respective chemical compound to be applied from the U-shaped section of the supply line was confirmed by weighting before and after spray application said U-shaped section of the supply line. The results showed that in each experiment at least 99,5 weight-% of the composition placed therein was removed by the stream of pressurized air.

Uptake or absorption of the chemical compound by the laundry article was checked by comparing untreated laundry articles with treated laundry articles. Laundry articles treated with the composition comprising a fragrance were subjected to a smell test by a panel of individuals who confirmed that the treated laundry articles did comprise the fragrance while no smell of fragrance was detected in respect to the untreated laundry articles. As test the triangle test was used which was described above.

Uptake or absorption of silicone (polymethylsilicone) as softener by the laundry article was checked by comparing untreated laundry articles with treated laundry articles. Laundry articles treated with composition comprising polymethylsilicone were subjected to a touch test by a panel of individuals who confirmed that the treated laundry articles did comprise the polymethylsilicone while the untreated did not. Polymethylsilicone treated laundry articles gave the feeling of a greasy softness. A further method to check if the laundry article took up or absorbed the respective chemical compound was by comparing treated and untreated laundry articles by spectroscopic methods, with which the presence of the respective chemical compound was identified.

Table 1 summarizes the type of chemical compound, the product name and chemical description of the added chemical compound, the amount of the chemical compound in the total composition, the type and amount of the laundry article and the conditions under which the method was run in the drier. Table 2 summarizes whether the dispensed chemical compound was taken up or absorbed by the laundry articles.

The examples 1 to 5 show that a diversity of chemical compounds alone or as mixtures were introduced into water or an aqueous solution or an oily composition. The examples 1 to 5 further show that the chemical compound was successfully added by spray application and taken up and absorbed, respectively, by the laundry articles.

Table 1 :

amount comprised

type of product name / chemical amount of composition type of laundry article; param

Exampl in total composition

chemical description comprising chemical and conditions of dryer* wh e No: of the aqueous

compound % are weight% compound added adding composition solution [weight %]

1 perfume 100% perfume oil 071 105-N 1 wt.-% amount added: wet terry towels: total weight

(mixture comprising 1 .0 g composition 33% of the total terry towel wei terpenes, aldehydes, comprising chemical residual water;

ketones) compound added dryer setting 2; total drying tim min.; after the drying cycle residual water was dried off hydrophobing Saprit protect Plus® 10 wt.-% amount added: wet terry towels: total weight agent comprises of 20-22% 1 .0 g composition 33% of the total terry towel wei fluoroacrylate copolymer, 4- comprising chemical residual water;

5% propylene glycol compound added dryer setting 2; total drying tim min.; after the drying cycle residual water was dried off softener softener comprising 10-20 10 wt.-% amount added: wet terry towels: total weight w% TEA ester quats, 1 -5% 1 .0 g composition 33% of the total terry towel wei propanol, 0.25-1 % silicone, comprising chemical residual water;

perfume compound added dryer setting 2; total drying tim min.; after the drying cycle residual water was dried off fabric Optisit relax® comprising 5- 10 wt.-% amount added: wet terry towels: total weight conditioner, 10 w% E05 non ionics, 1 .0 g composition 33% of the total terry towel wei anti-wrinkling 25% quat poly siloxane, 1 - comprising chemical residual water;

2% propanol, 1 -2% ethanol compound added dryer setting 2; total drying tim min.; after the drying cycle residual water was dried off

Table 1 : continued

*dryer type/model: Electrolux Zanker TT 350 with 25kg capacity

Table 2: uptake/absorption of chemical compound by laundry article

Claims

1 . A method of wet treatment of laundry articles comprising the steps of washing, rinsing and drainage, wherein after the step of washing a composition comprising a chemical compound is applied to the laundry articles provided in a chamber, said method comprising the step of contacting said composition comprising said chemical compound with said laundry articles by spray application of said composition comprising said chemical compound within said chamber containing said laundry articles.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said spray application is carried out before, during or after rinsing of said laundry articles.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said spray application is carried out before, during or after drainage of said laundry articles.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said spray application is carried out before, during or after a drying process of said laundry articles, or during the cool-down cycle of a drying process.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said spray application is carried out during or after a drying process of said laundry articles.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said spray application is carried out during a drying process of said laundry articles.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said spray application is carried out after a drying process of said laundry articles.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said spray application is carried out before, during or after ironing of the laundry articles in an ironer.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said spray application is carried out during processing the laundry articles in a steam tunnel.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said spray application is represented by the deposition of said composition comprising at least one chemical compound on laundry articles by dispersing said composition comprising at least one chemical compound as fine particles and carrying these particles to the laundry articles in a stream of gas.

1 1 . The method according to claim 10, wherein said gas is selected from air, nitrogen, inert gas or mixtures thereof.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 1 1 , wherein said spray application of said composition comprising said chemical compound is carried out by using pressurized gas selected from air, nitrogen, inert gas or mixtures thereof.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said composition comprising said chemical compound is provided in a storage cartridge prior to the spray application to the laundry articles.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein pressurized gas is loaded with said composition comprising said chemical compound by feeding said pressurized gas through a cartridge containing said composition comprising said chemical compound, whereby the pressurized gas is taking up the composition comprising said chemical compound, and then immediately is dispensed through a spraying nozzle and applied to the laundry articles.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein said method is carried out at a temperature of 0°C to 150°C, preferably at a temperature of 10°C to 100 °C, further preferred at a temperature of 15°C to 80 °C.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein upon entry into said chamber by spray application said composition comprising said chemical compound comes into contact with the laundry articles.

17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the laundry articles are transported through said chamber or are agitated when spray application is carried out in said chamber containing said laundry articles.

18. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the gaseous medium contained in said chamber is withdrawn from the chamber.

19. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the gaseous medium contained in said chamber is withdrawn from the chamber, and wherein excess composition comprising said chemical compound comprised in the withdrawn gaseous medium is collected and may be discarded or recycled.

20. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein said chemical compound is a laundry finishing agent and is selected from the group consisting of fragrance, conditioning agent, softening agent, anti-soil-re-deposition agent, soil release agent, ease ironing agent, ease drying agent, antistatic agent, fungistatic, bacteriostatic, hydrophobic agent, oleophobic agent, impregnation material, flame retardant, repellent, scavenger, surfactant, bleaching agent, such as a peracid compound, H₂0₂, bleach activator, bleach catalyst, oxidizing agent, optical brightener, chelating agent, builders, radical scavenger such as BHT, paraffin, enzyme and compositions comprising one or more of said agents.