EP4249661A1 - Pocédé de preparation d'au moins un article textile de type reutilisable destiné au nettoyage d'une surface - Google Patents

Pocédé de preparation d'au moins un article textile de type reutilisable destiné au nettoyage d'une surface Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP4249661A1
EP4249661A1 EP23160659.1A EP23160659A EP4249661A1 EP 4249661 A1 EP4249661 A1 EP 4249661A1 EP 23160659 A EP23160659 A EP 23160659A EP 4249661 A1 EP4249661 A1 EP 4249661A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
phase
basket
washing machine
activating
reusable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP23160659.1A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Alberto Scarafiotti
Alessandro Scarafiotti
Gabriele SCARAFIOTTI
Miliano SCARAFIOTTI
Stefano SCARAFIOTTI
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Limtrade Srl
Original Assignee
Limtrade Srl
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Limtrade Srl filed Critical Limtrade Srl
Publication of EP4249661A1 publication Critical patent/EP4249661A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06B—TREATING TEXTILE MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS, GASES OR VAPOURS
    • D06B5/00—Forcing liquids, gases or vapours through textile materials to effect treatment, e.g. washing, dyeing, bleaching, sizing impregnating
    • D06B5/12—Forcing liquids, gases or vapours through textile materials to effect treatment, e.g. washing, dyeing, bleaching, sizing impregnating through materials of definite length
    • D06B5/26—Forcing liquids, gases or vapours through textile materials to effect treatment, e.g. washing, dyeing, bleaching, sizing impregnating through materials of definite length using centrifugal force
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L13/00—Implements for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L13/10—Scrubbing; Scouring; Cleaning; Polishing
    • A47L13/16—Cloths; Pads; Sponges
    • A47L13/17—Cloths; Pads; Sponges containing cleaning agents
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06B—TREATING TEXTILE MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS, GASES OR VAPOURS
    • D06B15/00—Removing liquids, gases or vapours from textile materials in association with treatment of the materials by liquids, gases or vapours
    • D06B15/10—Removing liquids, gases or vapours from textile materials in association with treatment of the materials by liquids, gases or vapours by use of centrifugal force

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for preparing at least one textile item of reusable type intended for cleaning a surface, in accordance with claim 1.
  • a first type of item for cleaning a surface i.e. a non-reusable, or disposable, technical item typically made of paper or a similar perishable material.
  • a second type of surface cleaning items is also known in the art, which consists of a reusable textile technical item, which is impregnated with at least one separate detergent product and diluted with water before use; in this regard, it should be noted that the term “textile item” refers to mops, technical cloths, strips, gauzes and other similar items that are commonly employed for cleaning a surface.
  • reference numeral 1 in Figure 1A designates as a whole a washing machine, in particular of the industrial type, for washing at least one reusable textile item, and adapted to implement, at least partially, a method for preparing a textile item of reusable type intended for cleaning a surface in accordance with the present invention.
  • the washing machine 100 comprises a basket 101 mounted inside a tub 102, wherein the basket 101 is connected to an actuator 103 (e.g. an electric motor) for causing the basket 101 to rotate within said tub 102, and wherein said basket 101 is adapted to internally contain at least one reusable textile item (not shown in the annexed drawings) intended for cleaning a surface.
  • an actuator 103 e.g. an electric motor
  • said basket 101 is adapted to internally contain at least one reusable textile item (not shown in the annexed drawings) intended for cleaning a surface.
  • said at least one reusable textile item may comprise a mop and/or a technical cloth and/or a strip and/or a gauze and/or other similar elements which are commonly employed for cleaning a surface.
  • said at least one reusable textile item is made of microfibre, in particular about 80% polyester and about 20% polyamide; it may then be so manufactured as to comprise at least one electronic tag that allows it to be univocally identified; for example, said at least one electronic tag (which may be an RFID tag) may be positioned in a suitable pocket associated with the reusable textile item.
  • said at least one reusable textile item preferably comprises a plurality of reusable textile items contained in said basket 101.
  • each textile item may preferably have a size of approximately 40cm (length) x 11cm (width) and a weight of approximately 40 grams when consisting of a mop, or approximately 36cm (length) x 36cm (width) and a weight of approximately 35 grams when consisting of a technical cloth.
  • the washing machine 100 comprises also a hydraulic circuit 104 associated with the tub 102 and with the basket 101 to supply a washing liquid into said basket 101 and for draining said washing liquid from said basket 101; as is known, the supply and drain of the washing liquid occur in accordance with predetermined work cycles.
  • the hydraulic circuit 104 may comprise, in a per se known manner, connections to the main pipe, connections to the drain pipe, valves for controlling the inlet/outlet flows into/from the tub 102, a pump for removing the washing liquid via said connections to the drain pipe, and so forth.
  • the washing liquid may comprise water and/or one or more washing agents or other substances useful for treating the textile items.
  • the washing machine 100 further comprises a heating device 105, e.g. in the form of a suitably supplied electric resistor, for heating up the liquid for treating the textile items.
  • Said resistor may be positioned inside the tub 102, e.g. in a bottom portion of said tub 102, i.e. in proximity to a bottom edge of the tub 102.
  • the washing machine 100 further comprises a control unit 110 associated with the other components of the washing machine 100 (i.e. associated with the tub 102 and the associated basket 101, the actuator 103, the hydraulic circuit 104, and the heating device 105) for controlling the functions and the operation of the washing machine 100 and for executing the method that will be described hereinafter.
  • a control unit 110 associated with the other components of the washing machine 100 (i.e. associated with the tub 102 and the associated basket 101, the actuator 103, the hydraulic circuit 104, and the heating device 105) for controlling the functions and the operation of the washing machine 100 and for executing the method that will be described hereinafter.
  • FIG. 1B shows a block diagram of a dryer, in particular of the industrial type, designated as a whole by reference numeral 200.
  • the dryer 200 comprises a second basket 201 mounted inside a second tub 202, wherein the second basket 201 is connected to a second actuator 203 (which may comprise, still by way of example, an electric motor) for causing the second basket 201 to rotate within said second tub 202, and wherein said second basket 201 is adapted to internally contain at least one reusable textile item intended for cleaning a surface.
  • a second actuator 203 which may comprise, still by way of example, an electric motor
  • the dryer 200 comprises also a drying system 207 for drying said at least one reusable textile item loaded in said second basket 201.
  • said drying system 207 comprises a second heating device 207A for heating up the air that needs to be circulated through the second basket 201, and an operating element 207B for permitting air circulation through the second basket 201.
  • the second heating device 207A may be implemented as an electric resistor, suitably supplied and positioned to intercept the air flow that needs to be circulated through the second basket 201 in order to desiccate the contents of said second basket 201; moreover, said operating element 207B may be implemented as a fan or a blower adapted to generate an air flow that, after having been intercepted by the second heating device 207A, flows through the second basket 201 in order to perform the desiccation action on the items placed in the second basket 201; in the case of the present invention, said items consist of said at least one reusable textile item intended for cleaning a surface.
  • the drying system 207 comprises at least one sensor 207C associated with the second basket 201 for measuring the temperature of said at least one textile item during a desiccation cycle and for adjusting the operation of the second heating device 207A and/or of the operating element 207B as a function of the sensed temperature; in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said at least one sensor 207C comprises at least one infrared sensor.
  • the dryer 200 further comprises a second control unit 210 associated with the other components of said dryer 200 (i.e. associated with the second tub 202 and the associated second basket 201, the second actuator 203, and the drying system 207) for controlling the functions and the operation of the dryer 200 and for executing the method in accordance with the present invention.
  • a second control unit 210 associated with the other components of said dryer 200 (i.e. associated with the second tub 202 and the associated second basket 201, the second actuator 203, and the drying system 207) for controlling the functions and the operation of the dryer 200 and for executing the method in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 With particular reference to the block diagram shown in Fig. 2 , there is schematically shown a method (designated as a whole by reference numeral 1) according to the present invention for preparing a textile item of reusable type intended for cleaning a surface.
  • the method 1 comprising the following phases:
  • the reactivation of said active principle is achieved by means of a reactivation phase (indicated in Fig. 2 by reference numeral 30), wherein the textile item is submerged in plain water, i.e. without adding any other substances or products to the water.
  • said reactivation phase 30 for reactivating the active principle in the textile item can be effected by using a quantity of water in the range of 1 ml to 10 ml per gram of weight of the textile item, in particular about 3.75 ml of water per gram, so as to obtain, in the solution impregnated in the textile item following the reactivation with water, a residual PH in the range of 7.4 to 9.9, preferably a residual PH of about 8.2.
  • an impregnating product is supplied into the wash basket 101 of the washing machine 100, through the hydraulic circuit 104, in a dose ranging from 13 to 20 millilitres per kilogram of weight of the reusable textile items to be subjected to the impregnation phase 14, preferably 16 ml/kg.
  • the impregnating substance used in the impregnation phase 14 preferably comprises anionic surfactants of vegetable origin, non-ionic surfactants and calcium carbonate.
  • the Applicant has found the Emerald Easy TM product by Sutter to be particularly effective; it is nevertheless apparent that the method of the present invention may also be implemented by using another similar or different impregnating product.
  • impregnation phase 14 is preferably carried out through the following steps, managed by the control unit 110 of the washing machine 100:
  • said step of activating the actuator 103 is so conducted as to obtain a revolution speed of the basket 101 of 20 to 40 revolutions per minute, preferably about 30 revolutions per minute.
  • the desiccation phase 21 it is conducted in a second rotary basket 201 of a dryer 200, in particular of the industrial type, through the following steps, managed by a second control unit 210 of said dryer 200:
  • the second control unit 210 of the dryer 200 can drive or control the drying system 207 in such a way as to adjust the duration of the desiccation phase 21 as a function of the temperature of said at least one reusable textile item positioned in the second rotary basket 201 of the dryer 200, wherein said temperature is sensed by at least one sensor 207C, in particular of the infrared type; preferably, in addition to being controlled by the second control unit 210 of said dryer 200, said at least one sensor 207C is comprised in the drying system 207 of said dryer 200.
  • the drying cycle 20 of the method 1 according to the present invention comprises a cooling phase 22 for gradually cooling said at least one textile item, which is carried out at the end of the desiccation phase 21, wherein said gradual cooling phase 22 is governed by the second control unit 210 as a function of the temperature sensed by said at least one sensor 207C, and wherein during said cooling phase 22 the second control unit 210 of the dryer 200 activates the drying system 207 so as to gradually reduce the temperature of said at least one reusable textile item within a range of 35°C to 45°C, preferably about 40°C; in particular, said cooling phase 22 is carried out by suitably controlling, by means of said second control unit 210, a second heating device 207A and an operating element 207B (both included in said drying system 207 of the dryer 200) as a function of the temperature sensed by said at least one sensor 207C.
  • the wash cycle 10 of the method 1 according to the present invention comprises at least one wash phase 12 and at least one respective rinse phase 13 that precede the impregnation phase 14.
  • said wash phase 12 is preferably carried out through the following steps, also managed by the control unit 110 of the washing machine 100:
  • said step of activating the actuator 103 is so conducted as to obtain a revolution speed of the basket 101 of 20 to 40 revolutions per minute, preferably about 30 revolutions per minute.
  • the water may be supplemented with one or more of the following substances:
  • said disinfectant should be conveniently introduced into the basket 101 with a delay of 200 to 300 seconds, preferably 300 seconds, from the introduction of the other two mentioned substances.
  • said rinse phase 13 is preferably carried out through the following steps, also managed by the control unit 110 of the washing machine 100:
  • said step of activating the actuator 103 is so conducted as to obtain a revolution speed of the basket 101 of 20 to 40 revolutions per minute, preferably about 30 revolutions per minute.
  • the wash cycle 10 of the method 1 according to the present invention may further comprise at least one pre-wash phase 11 that precedes said at least one wash phase 12.
  • said at least one pre-wash phase 11 is preferably carried out through the following steps, managed by the control unit 110:
  • the step of activating the actuator 103 is so conducted as to obtain a revolution speed of the basket 101 of 20 to 40 revolutions per minute, preferably about 30 revolutions per minute.
  • said at least one pre-wash phase 11 and/or said at least one wash phase 12 and/or said at least one rinse phase 13 and/or said impregnation phase 14 are followed by respective drain sub-phases 11A, 12A, 13A, 14A for draining the liquid used in each one of said phases 11, 12, 13, 14, and also by respective spin sub-phases 11B, 12B, 13B, 14B.
  • said at least one pre-wash phase 11 is followed by at least one spin sub-phase 11B (which may also be defined as "post-pre-wash spin sub-phase 11B"), wherein the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 is controlled by the control unit 110 in such a way as to cause the basket 101 to rotate for a time interval of 1 to 3 minutes, preferably about 2 minutes, at a revolution speed suitable to generate a relative centrifugal force (G force) of 80 to 350, preferably 200.
  • G force relative centrifugal force
  • the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 is controlled by the control unit 110 in such a way as to cause the basket 101 to rotate at a revolution speed of 300 to 700 revolutions per minute, preferably about 500 revolutions per minute.
  • said at least one wash phase 12 is followed by at least one spin sub-phase 12B (which may also be defined as "post-wash spin sub-phase 12B"), wherein the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 is controlled by the control unit 110 in such a way as to cause the basket 101 to rotate for a time interval of 1 to 3 minutes, preferably about 2 minutes, at a revolution speed suitable to generate a relative centrifugal force (G force) of 80 to 350, preferably 200.
  • G force relative centrifugal force
  • the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 is controlled by the control unit 110 in such a way as to cause the basket 101 to rotate at a revolution speed of 300 to 700 revolutions per minute, preferably about 500 revolutions per minute.
  • At least one rinse phase 13 is followed by at least one spin sub-phase 13B (which may also be defined as "post-rinse spin sub-phase 13B"), wherein the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 is controlled by the control unit 110 in such a way as to cause the basket 101 to rotate for a time interval of 3 to 7 minutes, preferably about 5 minutes, at a revolution speed suitable to generate a relative centrifugal force (G force) of 200 to 350, preferably 300.
  • G force relative centrifugal force
  • the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 is controlled by the control unit 110 in such a way as to cause the basket 101 to rotate at a revolution speed of 500 to 800 revolutions per minute, preferably about 650 revolutions per minute.
  • the impregnation phase 14 it is followed by at least one spin sub-phase 14B (which may also be defined as "post-impregnation spin sub-phase 14B"), wherein the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 is controlled by the control unit 110 in such a way as to cause the basket 101 to rotate for a time interval of 30 to 90 seconds, preferably about 50 seconds, at a revolution speed suitable to generate a relative centrifugal force (G force) of 30 to 180, preferably 50.
  • G force relative centrifugal force
  • the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 is controlled by the control unit 110 in such a way as to cause the basket 101 to rotate at a revolution speed of 150 to 450 revolutions per minute, preferably about 300 revolutions per minute.
  • the method 1 according to the present invention prevents the reusable textile item from being impregnated with detergent products autonomously by the user and entirely at the user's discretion, since the active principles for cleaning a surface are introduced into the reusable textile item during the above-described impregnation phase 14, and they are advantageously reactivated by submerging the reusable textile item in plain water (i.e. without requiring the addition of any additives to the water).
  • the method 1 of the present invention permits a controlled utilization of the reusable textile item, while at the same time avoiding any adverse environmental impact and also any chemical or biological risk for an operator and for any other people who may be present in or near the area being cleaned.
  • the peculiar provisions of the present invention also permit a correct disposal of the aqueous solutions employed for impregnating every reusable textile item, since such aqueous solutions are disposed of in the very place of installation of the machines (in particular, the washing machine 100) that are used, in accordance with the present invention, for preparing the reusable textile items.
  • the method according to the present invention also makes it possible to obtain an accurate and exact account on the treated textile items, by reading at least one electronic tag associated with each textile item, which permits identifying, and detecting the parameters of, each textile item with which each electronic tag has been associated.
EP23160659.1A 2022-03-09 2023-03-08 Pocédé de preparation d'au moins un article textile de type reutilisable destiné au nettoyage d'une surface Pending EP4249661A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT202200004475 2022-03-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4249661A1 true EP4249661A1 (fr) 2023-09-27

Family

ID=81851417

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP23160659.1A Pending EP4249661A1 (fr) 2022-03-09 2023-03-08 Pocédé de preparation d'au moins un article textile de type reutilisable destiné au nettoyage d'une surface

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4249661A1 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2007096A (en) * 1977-09-27 1979-05-16 Exterma Germ Prod A method of indicating the presence of an impregnant
US4758467A (en) * 1987-02-26 1988-07-19 Lempriere Noel D Disposable personal washing cloth
DE3907611A1 (de) * 1989-03-09 1990-09-13 Kotterer Grafotec Vorrichtung zur reinigung einer arbeitsflaeche
US6030697A (en) * 1997-06-30 2000-02-29 Avondale Mills, Inc. Method of impregnating garments with an insecticide
US20170050870A1 (en) * 2015-08-21 2017-02-23 Applied Silver, Inc. Systems And Processes For Treating Textiles With An Antimicrobial Agent

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2007096A (en) * 1977-09-27 1979-05-16 Exterma Germ Prod A method of indicating the presence of an impregnant
US4758467A (en) * 1987-02-26 1988-07-19 Lempriere Noel D Disposable personal washing cloth
DE3907611A1 (de) * 1989-03-09 1990-09-13 Kotterer Grafotec Vorrichtung zur reinigung einer arbeitsflaeche
US6030697A (en) * 1997-06-30 2000-02-29 Avondale Mills, Inc. Method of impregnating garments with an insecticide
US20170050870A1 (en) * 2015-08-21 2017-02-23 Applied Silver, Inc. Systems And Processes For Treating Textiles With An Antimicrobial Agent

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10648113B2 (en) Method for washing laundry in a laundry washing machine and laundry washing machine
JP4784029B2 (ja) 洗濯機
US9487902B2 (en) Washing machine having a device for producing water drops and method for operating said washing machine
US9777423B2 (en) Method for treating laundry in a laundry washing machine and laundry washing machine
KR101658549B1 (ko) 세탁장치의 제어방법
EP4249661A1 (fr) Pocédé de preparation d'au moins un article textile de type reutilisable destiné au nettoyage d'une surface
JP6678621B2 (ja) 洗濯乾燥機
JP3680766B2 (ja) 洗濯機
JP2013052057A (ja) ドラム式洗濯機
CN110998013B (zh) 具有控制装置的洗涤物护理器具
JP4026232B2 (ja) 洗濯機
JP6670783B2 (ja) 洗濯乾燥機
JP4978713B2 (ja) 洗濯機
JP3825280B2 (ja) 洗濯乾燥機
KR100439929B1 (ko) 세탁기 및 세탁 건조기
JP6779401B2 (ja) 洗濯乾燥機
JP3820117B2 (ja) 洗濯機および洗濯乾燥機
JP5246203B2 (ja) 洗濯機
JP4858627B2 (ja) 洗濯機
JP3823835B2 (ja) 洗濯乾燥機
JP3757819B2 (ja) 洗濯機および洗濯乾燥機
JP3036720U (ja) 無塵・無菌衣服の洗浄装置
JP2010158578A (ja) 洗濯機
JPH0149514B2 (fr)
JP2021000570A (ja) 洗濯乾燥機

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC ME MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

P01 Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered

Effective date: 20230929

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE