ES2988166T3 - Apparatus and method for treating textile articles - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus for treating textile articles comprises a drum (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (A), open at least one end (2A), and motorized to rotate around its own longitudinal axis (A); at least one openable closure element (4) arranged at the open end (2A) of the drum (2); at least one fluid atomizing element (10) arranged at the open end (2A) of the drum (2) for supplying a fluid to the interior thereof. The apparatus also comprises a lifting device (6) on which said drum (2) is mounted, suitable for raising and tilting said drum (2) along its longitudinal axis (A). (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Apparatus and method for treating textile articles

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating textile articles, specifically an apparatus for spraying a fluid onto textile articles, such as clothing, and also relates to the associated process.

Prior art

The application of fluid substances to textile articles has long been known, for example to dye them or, after dyeing, to obtain visual effects on textile articles. An example of a visual effect is to bleach the colour of the article in order to give it a worn appearance.

The application of these fluid substances is currently carried out by known apparatus, which is provided for placing the articles into or bringing the articles into contact with a solid support containing the fluid substance, in order to distribute said fluid substance only over the surface of the articles. The contact between the solid support and the articles causes part of the fluid substance to be released uniformly and substantially to the article, over the parts of the articles which come into contact with the solid support. The solid support, which is typically in the form of granules, must then be removed from the articles at the end of the fluid substance application step.

A disadvantage of the known apparatus and associated process is due to the very use of the granules themselves because a step of removing them, additional steps of washing the treated articles, and an additional treatment or removal of the granules (depending on a possible future reuse of the same) are required after the application of the fluid substance.

Another disadvantage of the known apparatus, and of the associated procedure, is due to the difficulty in understanding the quantity of active ingredient in the fluid substance that was actually transferred from the solid support to the article.

To solve this problem, apparatuses have been designed to apply the fluid substance by spraying it. The spraying is carried out through a plurality of nozzles arranged within the apparatus itself. Such apparatuses allow better control of the quantity of the fluid substance applied to the articles and also reduce the consumption of the fluid substance because it is only applied superficially to the garment; unfortunately, they do not provide satisfactory results with reference to the quality of the treatment, because the articles treated in this way present stains and/or deformations of the fluid substances instead of a uniform application of the same.

In order to prevent unwanted staining and deformation and thus to treat articles homogeneously by known spraying devices, it is necessary to use large amounts of the fluid substance to saturate the fibre with the fluid substance. Typically, treating 1 kilogram of articles requires the use of 1 litre of the fluid substance.

JPS6029124 illustrates such known apparatus, wherein a plurality of nozzles are arranged within the basket and are oriented orthogonally to the axis of rotation of the basket, so that the fluid flow supplied is orthogonal to the trajectory of the textile articles during the rotation of the basket. The apparatus is also provided with a lifting system suitable for tilting the basket in a single direction in order to move the open end of the basket downwards. Such tilting is to facilitate unloading of the textile articles when the treatment is finished. JP2003290587 illustrates another such apparatus, wherein the nozzle is arranged at one end of the basket and the basket is tilted during the spraying of the fluid.

Brief summary of the invention

Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to propose a method for treating textile articles, which allows a fluid substance to be applied to said articles without using any solid support, and also an apparatus that allows said method to be implemented.

Within the scope of this objective, it is a further objective of the invention to propose a method and an apparatus which require a smaller amount of the fluid substance to treat the articles.

A further objective of the invention is to propose a method and an apparatus which allow a minimum quantity of the fluid substance to be applied only superficially and uniformly on the articles.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus that allow to control the amount of fluid substance applied to clothing and, consequently, to adjust the final effect obtained on the articles through the treatment.

These and other objectives are met by an apparatus for treating textile articles according to claim 1, and by a method for treating textile articles according to claim 9.

The dependent claims define possible advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

In order to better understand the invention and appreciate its advantages, some non-limiting embodiments by way of example thereof will be described below with reference to the attached figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of an apparatus for treating textile articles according to the invention in a first operating configuration;

Figure 2 is a front view of the apparatus of Figure 1 in the first operating configuration;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a detail of the apparatus according to the invention;

Figures 4 and 5 are cross-sectional side views of the apparatus of Figure 1, in two additional operating configurations; and

Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a side cross-sectional view and a longitudinal cross-sectional view of another detail of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Description of the embodiments of the invention

An apparatus for treating textile articles T according to the invention is indicated in the attached figures by reference 1. The apparatus 1 may be of the type indicated in the introductory part of the present description.

In general, the apparatus 1 comprises an upper body 1A and a lower body 1B which act as a base for the apparatus 1 and on which the upper body 1A is movably mounted.

The apparatus 1 comprises a drum 2 in the form of a body of revolution, preferably cylindrical, which runs along a longitudinal axis A (Figure 1), and which is open at least at one end 2A. Said drum 2 is mounted on the upper body 1A. Preferably, the drum 2 is open at both ends 2A thereof, as in the example shown in the figures. Obviously, the drum 2 is hollow.

The drum 2 is also monitored for rotation about its own longitudinal axis A. For this purpose, the apparatus 1 comprises a motor element 3 arranged, in the illustrated example, below the drum 2, advantageously in the upper body 1A. Preferably, the motor element 3 is provided with a suitable transmission 3A, still more preferably provided with retreaded wheels. Obviously, the motor element 3 is adjustable in order to be able to control and adjust the speed of rotation of the drum 2.

Furthermore, the apparatus 1 comprises at least one openable closing element 4 arranged at said open end 2A of the drum 2 to allow closing the drum 2 or accessing the interior of the drum 2 itself through the open end 2A itself. Preferably, the apparatus 1 is provided with two closing elements 4, each closing a respective end of the ends 2A of the drum 2 (Figures 1 and 2).

Preferably, said closing elements 4 are substantially in the form of a disk. Advantageously, they are movably connected to the apparatus 1, in particular to the upper body 1A, so as to be able to move between a closed position of the drum 2 and an open position of the drum 2.

Advantageously, the closing elements 4 are mounted on suitable mobile supports 5 which are in turn articulated to the upper body 1A of the apparatus 1 (see Figures 1 and 2). Obviously, the closing elements 4 are provided with locking elements 4A which make it possible to lock the closing elements 4 in the closed position.

The apparatus 1 also comprises at least one element 10 (Figure 3) for spraying a fluid suitable for application on the textile articles T when they are inside the drum 2. According to the invention, the spraying element 10 is arranged at the open end 2A of the drum 2 to supply said fluid inside the drum 2 and, consequently, apply the fluid on the movable textile articles T. The presence of two spraying elements, each at a respective open end 2A of the drum 2, is preferred (Figures 4 and 5).

Advantageously, the spraying element 10 is arranged across the open end 2A of the drum 2 during the spraying of the fluid. Furthermore, it is advantageous to provide the spraying element 10 with an orientation towards the opposite end of the drum 2 with reference to the end at which it is arranged. For this purpose, the spraying element is preferably oriented longitudinally with respect to the drum 2, in other words, parallel to the longitudinal axis A or inclined with respect to it, but in any case oriented towards any region of the opposite end of the drum 2. Preferably, the spraying element 10 is arranged in the upper half of the open end 2A of the drum 2, still more preferably coaxially therewith.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the spray element 10 comprises a nozzle (shown in Figure 3) which, as is known, supplies both a fluid flow and an air flow through different dedicated orifices. It is also possible to provide the use of airless nozzles, in other words those which spray the fluid without pressurized air, but only through the pressure of the fluid.

According to the present invention, the apparatus 1 also comprises a lifting device 6 on which the drum 2 is mounted, said lifting device 6 being adapted to raise and tilt the drum 2 along the longitudinal axis A thereof (Figures 3 and 4).

Advantageously, the lifting device 6 is arranged in the lower body 1B of the apparatus 1, still more advantageously below the drum 2. The lifting device 6 is provided with at least one pair of lifting elements 6A arranged so as to be able to raise a respective end of the drum 2 to tilt.

Advantageously, the lifting elements 6A are arranged on a respective half of the drum 2 in a longitudinal direction thereof. More advantageously, they are aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the drum 2. Still more advantageously, the lifting elements 6A are substantially arranged below a respective end of the drum 2. Said lifting elements 6A can be individually actuated and can therefore be individually actuated to tilt the drum 2 (Figures 4 and 5) or can be lowered simultaneously to maintain the drum 2 in a horizontal position.

Due to the presence of the lifting device 6, it is possible to spray the fluid at one end 2A of the drum 2, at an appropriate distance from the spraying element. In this way, a sufficient gap is provided between the articles and the nozzle to allow the fan of the sprayed fluid substance to open as much as possible, allowing to obtain a homogeneous application of the fluid on the textile articles. The present invention allows to obtain an application of the fluid with a homogeneity that was not possible until now with the known apparatus made for spraying the fluid.

It is therefore understood that during the operation of the apparatus 1, which will be explained below, the drum 2 is required to be tilted so that the end 2A at which the fluid is sprayed is at a higher height than the other end 2A of the drum 2, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

Due to the fluid spraying elements 10, it is possible to reduce the amount of the fluid substance required to treat the textile articles T, which are not soaked in the fluid substance as before, but are simply coated by it on their external surface. It has been verified that it is possible to homogeneously treat 1 kilogram of textile by the apparatus 1 using only 100 ml of the fluid substance. Obviously, it is possible to apply a larger amount of the fluid substance by adjusting the spraying and duration of the treatment according to the needs.

The homogeneous application of the fluid substance is obtained because the textile articles T rub against the internal surfaces of the drum 2, thereby preventing the fluid substance from settling by condensation. It is important to avoid the formation of condensate of the fluid substance on the internal surfaces of the drum 2 because the condensate causes the formation of drops of the fluid substance which, if they come into contact with the textile articles T, would form irregularities on them.

In a preferred embodiment, the closure element 2 comprises a through opening 4B through which the spraying element 10 is inserted during the spraying step, and with a dimension such as to allow air to circulate inside the drum (Figures 1 to 3). More specifically, the through opening 4B has dimensions so as to allow air to pass freely therethrough also when the spraying element 10 is at least partially inserted therein. For this purpose, the through opening 4B suitably has a maximum lateral dimension greater than the maximum lateral dimension of the spraying element, preferably greater than at least 50%. Advantageously, the maximum lateral dimension of the through opening 4B is equal to at least 30% of the maximum lateral dimension of the closure element 4. It is preferable that the through opening 4B has a circular cross section.

The through opening 4B has the double advantage of allowing the fluid to be sprayed inside the drum 2 even though the spraying element is kept at least partially outside the machine 1 and the closing element 4 is in a position of closing the drum 2, and also of allowing air to pass through the drum 2, to better distribute the fluid inside the drum 2 and, consequently, for a better homogeneity of its application on the textile articles T

For this purpose, it should be specified that air is moved so as to be sucked into the drum 2 to flow together with the spray of the fluid substance towards the articles placed on the other side of the drum 2. Another advantage of sucking air into the drum 2 is that the sprayed fluid substance does not leave the drum 2 and therefore does not come into contact with the external environment of the apparatus 1 or with the operator.

As can be seen in the illustrated example (particularly in Figures 1 to 3), it is advantageous for the through opening 4B to be located centrally in the closing element 4, in other words coaxial with it.

It is noted that it is possible to provide plugs 7 to close the through opening 4B (Figure 2). The plugs 7 can also provide a seat 7A to receive an accessory 8 according to the needs, for example a probe or a camera to monitor the correct course of the treatment of textile articles.

It is noted that the presence of the holes 4B in the closing elements 4 and, particularly, in a coaxial position, provides the possibility of arranging a washing device for the inside of the drum 2 (not illustrated in the attached drawings) comprising, for example, a rod provided with a plurality of dispensers (as illustrated in document JPS6029124) for supplying a washing product. It is also advantageous to provide a receiving element 9, typically a tank, arranged below the drum 2, preferably in the lower body 1B (Figures 1 and 3).

According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the closing element 4 rotates with the drum 2. In this way, the areas of the inner surface of the closing element 4 are prevented from being touched by the textile articles T. Such untouched areas could be subject to the formation of a fluid condensate and, therefore, of drops that will cause the formation of drips and irregularities on the treated article. The provision of the closing element 4 rotating with the drum 2 makes it possible to obtain a perfectly homogeneous application of the fluid to the articles T.

For this purpose, the closing elements 4 are suitably mounted in a rotatable manner in their suitable supports 5. The closing elements 4, which tightly close the ends 2A of the drum 2 by a circumferential contact, are set in rotation by the drum 2 itself.

Advantageously, the closing element 4 comprises a perimeter edge 4C fixed to the support 5 (Figure 1). In the example illustrated in the figures, only an internal part of the closing element 4 rotates with the drum 2. Indeed, the closing element 4 comprises an external wall 4D (facing the outside of the appliance 1 when the closing element 4 is closed) formed in a single piece with the perimeter edge 4C, and a rotatably mounted internal panel 4E (Figure 2) suitable for being rotated by the drum 2 through a circumferential contact, while the external surface 4D of the closing element 4 remains stationary. Preferably, the supports are positioned around the through opening 4B to allow a correct rotation of the internal panel 4E around such a through opening 4B, in other words, a rotation of the internal panel 4E at the same speed as the rotation of the drum 2.

According to yet another advantageous aspect, the spraying elements 10 are movable along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the drum 2, between a spraying position, in which the spraying element has at least one cross section coplanar with the open end 2 of the drum 2 (or also arranged within the drum 2) and a rest position, in which the spraying element is completely outside the drum 2. It is preferable that the spraying element, when in the spraying position, has at least one cross section arranged within the drum 2.

Since it is preferable that the spraying elements 10 are positioned along the longitudinal axis A of the drum 2, it is also preferable that they can move along the longitudinal axis A itself.

In order to allow the movement of the spraying elements 10, they are preferably mounted on suitable mobile guide supports 11 oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the drum 2, which are in turn preferably fixed on supports 12 fixed to the closing element 4, particularly on the external surface (figure 3). Alternatively, the guide support 11 may be mounted on the mobile supports 5 of the closing element 4.

Advantageously, the spraying elements 10 are provided with moving elements 13, for example pistons, which are preferably mounted on the guide support 11 itself. For this purpose, the spraying elements 10 can be mounted on a respective carriage 14 which slides along the guide support 11 and be moved by the moving element 13 (Figure 3).

The provision of retractable spraying elements 10 and their arrangement entirely outside the drum 2 when not in use makes it possible to prevent interference between a non-operating sprayer and the textile articles T during operation of the apparatus 1. Indeed, as already explained, during operation, the drum 2 is inclined and the textile articles T are placed in the vicinity of the drum end 2A at a lower height than the other (as shown in Figures 4 and 5). When the non-operating sprayer, which is also arranged at the lower end 2a, is positioned only partially inside the drum 2, there is a risk of compromising the movement of the textile articles T during the application of the fluid substance; this may result in a non-homogeneous application of the fluid substance to the articles.

In order to optimize the movement of the textile articles within the drum 2, it is advantageous to provide it with at least one internal agitation element 20, for example a fin protruding from the internal surface of the drum 2 (Figures 6 and 7). In this case, it is particularly preferable that the internal agitation element 20 exhibits edges or side surfaces 21 which are blunt in order to prevent the fluid substance from condensing at sharp corners.

Preferably, the apparatus 1 comprises an air circulation device preferably providing at least one fan (preferably a plurality of fans) arranged below the drum 2, in the lower body 1B. The efficiency of the air circulation device is improved by the presence of through holes 4B in the closing elements 4 allowing a more efficient air circulation, particularly inside the drum 2. It is advantageous to provide the side wall of the drum 2 with holes, preferably provided with a plurality of holes to allow a more efficient air circulation.

The presence of a plurality of fans is preferred because it allows a wider range of possibilities for adjusting the air speed.

Finally, it is emphasized that the apparatus 1 is preferably made of a stainless material, particularly stainless steel.

The operation of the device 1 is described below.

After loading a plurality of textile articles T to be treated into the drum 2, both closing elements 4 are closed. At least one of the through holes 4B remains open, the other may be left open or closed by a plug 7.

The body 1A is tilted along the longitudinal axis A of the drum 2, by actuating only one of the lifting elements 6A, in particular the one arranged on the side where the through opening 4B of the closing element 4 is left open. In this way, this closing element 4 is taken to a greater height than the other. The longitudinal axis A of the drum 2 is inclined at an angle a with respect to the horizontal (figure 4).

The motor element 3 is then driven to rotate the drum 2 around its own longitudinal axis A at a predetermined working speed. The predetermined working speed is selected according to the angle at which the textile articles T fall into the drum 2.

As is known, during the rotation of the drum 2, the articles inside it are dragged along the direction of rotation to a height that varies according to the speed of rotation of the drum 2, then they fall downwards, along an inclined direction at a fall angle with respect to the vertical. Preferably, the working speed is adjusted to obtain a fall angle of the articles that is between 25° and 90°, more preferably between 40° and 50°, still more preferably 45° with respect to the vertical.

When the working rotation speed is reached, the spraying element 10 which is at the highest height moves to the spraying position (the one on the right in Figure 4), and the stage of spraying the fluid substance starts.

After a predefined treatment time, the spraying stage is terminated by stopping the flow of fluid substance only but not the flow of air ejected from the spraying element 10. The latter then moves back to the rest position, in other words completely outside the drum 2.

At this time, the drum 2, which is still rotating, is moved with its longitudinal axis A to a substantially horizontal position, and is allowed to rotate for a predetermined time, in order to distribute the fluid substance between the textile articles T by a mechanical action between them. This distribution step makes it possible to further improve a perfectly homogeneous application of the fluid on the articles, but it is not essential.

The rotation of the drum 2 is then stopped, and the upper body 1A is tilted through an angle a' opposite to the previous angle a (Figure 5). In other words, the lifting element 6A that was raised moves back to the starting (lowering) position, while the other lifting element 6A is raised.

The previous stages are repeated, always spraying the fluid substance from the side of drum 2 that is raised.

It is noted that the operation of the above apparatus 1 allows to obtain a homogeneous application of the sprayed fluid on the articles T. Furthermore, the homogeneity of the application is obtained by supplying a smaller quantity of the same fluid than the known apparatuses (it is not necessary to saturate the fibre with the fluid). The homogeneity of the application is due to the inclination of the drum 2 during the fluid spraying stage, which separates the articles T from the spraying element 10, and to the fact that the formation of condensate of the fluid inside the apparatus 1 is prevented.

A method for treating a textile article T with a fluid by means of the above-described apparatus 1 also falls within the scope of protection of the present invention. Such a method comprises at least one step in which the drum 2 is tilted along its own longitudinal axis A and rotated about the same longitudinal axis A, and during which the fluid is sprayed.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the following steps: a) tilting the drum 2 along its own longitudinal axis A;

b) rotating drum 2 until it reaches a predetermined working speed;

c) spraying the fluid into the drum 2, by a spraying element 10 arranged at the end 2A of the drum 2 which is at a higher height than the other end;

d) finish spraying said fluid.

Preferably, said spraying step c) comprises, before the spraying itself, moving the spraying element 10 to a spraying position in which it has at least one coplanar cross section with the open end 2A of the drum 2, and the spraying completion step d) comprises, after the spraying has ended, moving the spraying element 10 to a rest position in which it is completely outside the drum 2.

As already mentioned, it is preferable that the spraying element 10, when in the spraying position, has at least one cross section arranged within the drum 2, in other words, it is introduced at least partially within the drum 2.

Preferably and independently of the movement of the spraying element 10 between the spraying position and the rest position, the method according to the invention comprises, after step d) of ending the spraying, the following steps:

f) stop the rotation of drum 2;

g) tilting the drum 2 along the longitudinal axis A thereof through an angle a' opposite to the angle a of the first inclination of the drum 2 with respect to the horizontal.

According to another preferred aspect of the method, it comprises, after step d) of finishing the spraying but before step f) of stopping the rotation of the drum 2, a step e) of distributing the fluid in which the drum 2 is arranged with its longitudinal axis A in a substantially horizontal position and is kept rotating at said working speed.

During this stage, the treatment of the textile articles T becomes more homogeneous since the previously sprayed fluid substance is distributed, in other words, spread, by a mechanical action between the textile articles. It is important that the spraying elements 10 are not working and are in the rest position. This distribution stage can be carried out after each stage of spraying the fluid substance.

Claims (13)

1. Apparatus for treating textile articles comprising: a drum (2) having the shape of a body of revolution, which develops along a longitudinal axis (A), said drum (2) being open at at least one end (2A), and comprising an opposite end (2A), and being monitored to rotate around its own longitudinal axis (A); at least one openable closing element (4) arranged at said at least one end (2A) of the drum (2) to allow closing the drum (2) or accessing the interior of the drum (2) itself through the open end (2A); at least one element (10) for spraying a fluid suitable for being applied on said textile articles (T) when they are inside said drum (2); said spraying element (10) being arranged at said open end (2A) of the drum (2) in order to supply said fluid therein; a lifting device (6) on which said drum (2) is mounted, said lifting device (6) being suitable for lifting and tilting said drum (2) along the longitudinal axis (A) thereof; characterized in that the lifting device (6) comprises a pair of lifting elements (6A) arranged so as to raise the respective ends of the drum (2) for tilting. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spraying element (10) is arranged across the open end (2A) of the drum (2) during spraying of the fluid. 3. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the spray element (10) is oriented towards the opposite end (2A) of the drum (2) with respect to the end (2A) on which it is arranged. 4. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the spray element (10) is oriented longitudinally with reference to the drum (2). 5. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the closing element (4) comprises a through opening (4B) through which the fluid is sprayed, and of such a dimension as to allow air to circulate inside the drum (2). 6. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the closing element (4) rotates with the drum (2). 7. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the spraying element (10) is movable along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (A) of the drum (2), between a spraying position, in which the spraying element (10) has at least one coplanar cross section with the open end (2A) of the drum (2), and a rest position, in which the spraying element (10) is completely outside the drum (2). 8. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the drum (2) comprises at least one internal stirring element (20), said internal stirring element having blunt corners. 9. Method for treating textile articles with a fluid, by means of the apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising at least one step in which the drum (2) is tilted along the longitudinal axis (A) thereof, and rotates about said longitudinal axis (A) and during which said fluid is sprayed. 10. Method according to claim 9, comprising the following steps: a) tilt the drum (2) along the longitudinal axis (A) thereof through an angle (a) with respect to the horizontal; b) rotating said drum (2) until it reaches a predetermined working speed; c) spraying the fluid inside the drum (2) by means of a spraying element (10) arranged at the end (2A) of the drum (2) which is at a higher height than the other end; d) finish spraying said fluid. 11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the spraying step c) comprises, before spraying, moving the spraying element (10) to a spraying position, in which the spraying element (10) has at least one coplanar cross section with the open end (2A) of the drum (2) of the apparatus (1), and the spraying completion step d) comprises, after the completion of spraying, moving the spraying element (10) to a rest position, in which the spraying element (10) is completely outside the drum (2). 12. Method according to claim 10 or 11, comprising, after step d) of completion of the spraying, the following steps: f) stop the rotation of the drum (2); g) tilting the drum (2) along the longitudinal axis (A) thereof at an angle (a') opposite to the angle (a) of the first inclination of the drum (2) with respect to the horizontal. 13. Method according to one or more of claims 10 to 12, comprising, after step d) of ending the spraying but before step f) of stopping the rotation of the drum (2), a step e) of distributing the fluid, the drum (2) being arranged with the longitudinal axis (A) in a horizontal position and remaining in rotation at the working speed.