JPS6011155B2 - Products for processing textiles in the Dumble dryer - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a product for treating textiles with conditioning agents.

This product is particularly suitable for use in tumble dryers, machines that roll wet fabrics while passing loose air around them to remove moisture. It has been found that carrying out laundering of clothing and textiles, particularly in the case of cotton textiles such as terry cloth, imparts a roughening effect to the feel of the textiles during subsequent wear or use.

It has therefore been proposed to soften the fabric by treating it with a fabric softener in a tumble dryer. For example, it has been proposed to mist fabric softener onto the inside of the dryer drum before placing the fabric in the tumble dryer, allowing the fabric softener to be scraped from the drum and transferred to the fabric during tumble drying. However, in this case it is possible that a sticky droplet may adhere to the drum. It has also been proposed to impregnate a piece of fabric with a fabric softener and add this to the tumble dryer together with the garment to be softened, transferring the fabric softener from the fabric to the garment during tumble drying; however, in this case usually each The necessity of using a new piece of impregnated fabric each time is inconvenient and relatively expensive. According to the invention,
An improved product for tumble drying textiles has been devised. In its broadest aspect, the invention provides a product for tumble drying fabrics, the product comprising at least one fabric conditioner impregnated with a fabric conditioner.
It is formed from a piece of elastic, flexible substrate, which is fixed in multiple layers. Configuring the product in this manner facilitates gradual application of the conditioner to the fabric during use of the product. Also, in this way relatively inexpensive substrate materials can be used and the substrate does not stick to the sides of the tumble dryer or the tumble dryer exit, which can easily occur with single impregnated sheets. Problems such as substrate clogging are avoided. By using the products of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a substantially uniform distribution of the fabric conditioner on the treated fabric, and by controlling the amount of fabric conditioner in the product, one or more tumbles can be achieved. It becomes possible to use the product for drying operations.

Articles according to the invention may take on a variety of physical forms, but each includes the essential characteristic that it is formed from at least one piece of elastic, malleable substrate.

Preferred substrates are foamed plastic or rubber sheets or strips, which are preferably highly porous and flexible. Suitable foams are of the open cell type (closed cell foams are not sufficiently porous) and are approximately 20
Preferably, the foam has a density of -30k9/〆 and a pore count (number of cells per linear length on the foam surface) of about 30-17 cells/inch (ie, 10-30 cells/skin). Such foam sheets or strips are approximately 1 inch (approximately 2.5 feet)
For example, from about 1/8 to about 3'4 inch (about 0.2 inch)
Preferably, the thickness is between 5 and about 2 mm thick. A particular preferred substrate that may be mentioned is a polyurethane foam obtained in sheet form having a thickness of about 0.5 to 1 skin and a porosity of about 15 to 2 perforations. It has been found that polyether type polyurethane foams are better at retaining shape at the elevated temperatures encountered during tumble drying than polyester types. The foamed plastic used can, if desired, be a zero-silk foam, ie a foam in which the cell walls are destroyed but the entire cellular silk remains intact. Alternatively, a laminated foam sheet, ie, one or two layers of foam with large pores laminated with one or two layers of foam with fine pore structure, can be used. This can give a product that is more resistant to surface damage, and the finer external pore structure even makes it easier to apply fabric conditioning agents to the treated fabric. Alternatively, the substrate can be a textile of woven or unwoven construction, but such a textile can be made elastically pliable, for example by coating or laminating with rubber or similar materials. must be processed.

If a regular fabric is used, ie one that does not tend to hold its shape, the product will tend to "clump" during the tangle drying process and will be relatively ineffective. Also, if only a single open sheet of such substrate is used for textile processing, the sheet may easily get caught between the rotating drum and the body of the tumble dryer, or the hot air outlet from the tumble dryer may be blocked during use. Occlusion may occur. It is necessary that the product as a whole has a certain three-dimensional shape to facilitate contact of its outer surface with the fabric during the tumble drying process and thus improve uniform application of the fabric conditioner to the fabric.

By way of example, specific forms of the product include a single sheet of Motomura folded or wrapped and then tied into a specific multilayer configuration, particularly in the knotted area. If desired, the sheets can be cut before or after tying. Particular product shapes from a single sheet are a folded fan shape and a rolled cylinder shape. Instead of tying, the sheets can be fixed in other ways, for example by adhesive or heat treatment, but in this case this is preferably done before the substrate is impregnated with the conditioning agent. Alternatively, the product can be made from one or more substrate sheets or strips, again with the substrates folded or rolled around each other and then tied or otherwise secured to form a sash or blind. The overall shape depends on the shape of each sheet and how it is tied.

For example, strips of flexible substrate can be tied at their ends to form a kite shape having from 2 to about 12 or more "arms." Alternatively, it may be possible to connect the east of the strip at the center so that the two ends form a mop head structure. Instead of the strips, which can be rectangular, circular or other cross-sections, the sheets of flexible material can be tied together in a variety of ways, with a particularly preferred shape being a large number of foam sheets, for example about 2 to 12 sheets. The idea is to tie them so that they have an overall spherical appearance. For example, oval foam sheets can be used to form "leaves" or "petals" of the substrate projecting from a common center to have the appearance of a flower, such as a rose, if desired. Various forms of the product of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The preferred form is one that is suitable for rolling freely with the fabric in a tumble dryer, but does not require the product to be attached to the inside surface of the tumble dryer with a stiff adhesive or other means, such as a "Velcro" type. Attachment can also be made by means of engageable hook and loop fixings or tape or hooks. The product can also be fitted with loops or tape for conveniently transporting it or suspending it between uses. It will be appreciated that the products of the present invention can be colored or include patterns or stylistics such as product usage.

Additionally, the product may be attractively packaged, such as in a transparent box or shrink wrapped to conveniently control the bulky nature of the product for transportation and storage. Also,
The product may be designed to be used in textile treatment and then used in other applications, such as as a household sponge, upholstery cleaner or automobile cleaner. As previously mentioned, the product contains a fabric conditioning agent that is impregnated into the flexible substrate either before or after the sheet or strip of substrate is converted into a final product.

Preferably, the conditioning agent is solid at room temperature, but melts or softens at temperatures reached during textile processing, typically from about 40°C to about 80°C in conventional tumble drying operations. The filling material facilitates the gradual transfer of the conditioning agent from the interior to the exterior of the product.Alternatively, the conditioning agent can be a viscous liquid or pasty substance, but This is undesirable due to the tackiness of the product and the resulting relatively low level of conditioner used.As previously mentioned, the product of the present invention can be used to treat fabrics with conditioners during tumble drying. be done.

Preferred modifiers are so-called softeners which give the treated fabric a softer feel. Many fabric softeners have the general formula 10[N(R,R2R3R4)]n'×-(1), where R,
is a C,6 to C22 alkyl group, R2 is a C, to C4 alkyl group, and R3 and R4 are R, or R
2, any of R,, R2, R3 and R4 are saturated or unsaturated linear or branched alkyl groups, or they can contain substituents such as hydroxy groups, or R,, R2, R3 and R
4 can be bonded to the nitrogen atom by a bonding group such as an amide, ester or ether bond, or R,
2 or 3 of R3 and R4 can be combined with the N atom to form a heterocycle, such as a morpholinyl ring, x is an anion, and M is a quaternary ammonium compound with a valence of x.

Suitable anions (X-) are CI-, HS〇4-, SQ:
, C2 day 5S〇4-, C ratio S04-, HCOO-, CQ
COO-, Br-, 1- and &P04-, among which chloride ion, sulfate ion, bromide ion and acetate ion are preferred.

Typical commercial products of this type are di-tallow-dimethylammonium chloride, dicocodimethylammonium chloride, di-(stearoyloxyethyl)dimethylammonium chloride and 3-behenoyloxy-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride. Other preferred softeners have the general formula R4COO (R4 is C
, 5-C, 9 alkyl group) and the general formula N ratio -R5-NHR6(0) (wherein R5 is a C, -C3 divalent hydrocarbon group, R
6 is a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms) with a hydroxyalkyldiamine.

A typical commercial product of this type is the reaction product of 2 moles of stearic acid and 1 mole of hydroxyethyl ethylene diamine, which has a mixed chemical structure due to the polyfunctionality of the diamine. Similar products are quaternized products obtained by reacting about 2 moles of oleic acid with 1 mole of hydroxyethylethylene diamine and a mixture of about 2 moles of oleic acid and stearic acid with 1 mole of hydroxyethylethylene diamine. Includes reacted products. The softener is preferably used in combination with a nonionic surfactant. Other types of fabric softeners that can be used in the present invention are known in the art and are described in the literature, e.g.
American Association of T.
extilechemist and Colorin
s”, American Dyert Heart Report
r, p42 and p43 January 28, 1957.

Other fabric conditioning agents that may be used in the products of the present invention, alone or in mixtures, particularly in combination with the fabric softeners mentioned above, include: [1) Optical brighteners, i.e., crab light brighteners. Whitening agents such as substituted disulfonated diaminostilbene compounds as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,612,501, and triazole compounds of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,784,183.

■ Essential and aromatic oils.

'3' Antistatic agents are often compounds having the same general structure as described above for fabric softening compounds.

Particular antistatic agents which may be mentioned by way of example are ethoxylated compounds such as ethoxylated amines, ethoxylated quaternary ammonium compounds, ethoxylated aliphatic alcohols and alkylphenols, ethoxylated aliphatic mono- and dicarboxylic acids, and amides or esters thereof; and polyethylene glycol. The antistatic properties of the preferred quaternary ammonium compounds as well as other fabric softeners can be particularly enhanced by combining these materials with ethoxylated amides such as tallow ethanolamide or ethoxylated fatty alcohols.
'41 Fungicides, such as halogenated salicylanilides, such as tribromosalicylanilide, hexachlorophene, neomycin sulfate, benzalkonium quaternary compounds, and the like. ■ Thickener (bd ngagent)
, such as carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, starch, polyvinyl acetate.

Polyvinyl acetate is also effective in improving ironing ease and can be used for this purpose. ■ Soil release agents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,377,249.
Polyacrylic polyvinyl alcohol compositions and fluorocarbons or copolymers of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid useful for treating polyester fabrics for this purpose as described in the patent.

'71 Ironing aids such as silicones such as dimethyl silicone.

■ Surfactants used in admixture with other conditioning agents, such as nonionic surfactants used with quaternary ammonium fabric softeners.

In this case the ratio of cationic quaternary ammonium compound to nonionic compound is from about 2:1 to about 20:1, especially from about 3:1 to about 1.
The ratio is preferably 0:1 (parts by weight). Some of the modifiers mentioned above are non-melting substances that are normally solid at elevated temperatures as well as at room temperature, in which case these modifiers may be present as aqueous solutions or dispersions or as other fluids or meltable solids. It is necessary to use it with regulators. When impregnating the substrate with the modifier, it is necessary that the modifier be in liquid form, either on the basis of melting or on the basis of the presence of a solvent that can subsequently evaporate. The amount of fabric conditioner used in the products of this invention will of course depend on the type of mystery agent and the type of product, especially if multiple uses of the product are intended, and optimal levels can be readily determined. for example,
In the case of fabric softeners, it is usually preferred to apply the softener for about 1 to about 5 nights, preferably about 2 to 4 nights, for a typical domestic fabric load in the tumble dryer. Products for multiple uses need to contain proportionately more fabric conditioners. Since not all of the fabric conditioner is released from the product, it is generally preferred to use a total of about 25 to about 50 coats of fabric conditioner over about 5 to 1 oven dryer cycle, usually in multi-use products. Generally, about 0.1 parts of fabric conditioner per area of plastic foam has been found to be adequate for optimum release from the product. Tumble more than one product at a time for continuous release of fabric conditioners during the drying cycle, for example by using softeners that melt at different temperatures, or for simultaneous processing of different types of fabrics. Can be used in the dryer. For example, if certain conditioning agents such as fungicides or fragrances interfere with or are inhibited by other fabric conditioning agents, it may be particularly desirable to release said conditioning agents at the end of textile processing. It can be advantageous. The product according to the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG.
．． 12 pieces of polyurethane open-cell polyurethane foam, generally oval in shape with a maximum length of about 5 inches (12.5 inches) and a minimum width of about 4 inches (10 inches), are treated with a quaternary ammonium fabric softener, i.e., acetone. It was impregnated with an alcoholic solution of a mixture of recrystallized g-cured tallow-alkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride and a non-ionic oxidized ethylene monoxide propylene condensate (90:10 ratio) obtained as Ethiran PB™ and perfume. The mixing conditioner became a fluid in about 400 yen, and the total amount deposited on each product sheet was about 20 in. Dry the impregnated piece 1,
Then around the center of the foam pieces, i.e. perpendicularly to and around the middle of the largest dimension, the whole product 2 is made with a nylon string protruding from the center 3 where the ends of the foam pieces 1 are more tightly bundled and folded over. are tied together to take on a spherical appearance. It will be appreciated that the foam pieces may be impregnated with a fabric softener if desired in sheet form before cutting into shapes or after tying into the final product form. All of the form pieces 1 can be tied together in a single piece if desired, but generally two pieces of six form pieces each are hemispherical and the bundle itself is joined back to back. It is preferable to form a good final product. In the actual exam,
The product shown in Figure 1 is spinned after washing the fabric normally.
Conventional commercial liquid fabric softening products of the type added by hand to the rinse water (final rinse in the spin dryer) and commercial fabric softening products of the impregnated nonwoven type for tumble dryer applications and fabric flexibility and antistatic properties. compared.

In this test, a conventional rinse cycle product and other commercially available fabric softening products were used in a home washer with a spin dryer and a home tumble dryer, respectively. The product of the invention was used for 45 minutes in the same domestic tumble dryer to treat cotton toweling as well as nylon garments. At the end of the drying cycle, the outlet temperature was 2 to 78 qo. The product of the present invention releases 2.7 hours of fabric softener in the first tumble drying operation and progressively less amount of fabric softener in subsequent tests such that after about 5 cycles of use the product no longer has enough fabric softener. is no longer valid. The other two products had to be changed after each use. Fabric flexibility was assessed by a panel of experienced fabric feel assessors, and antistatic properties were assessed by a standard antistatic adhesion test, in which an electrostatic charge of skin V was applied to the treated fabric and the fabric was bonded to a grounded metal. Measure the time it takes to fall away from a location.

In these tests, the flexibility and antistatic properties of products according to the invention are approximately equal to conventional rinse cycle products and significantly superior to untreated fabrics.

The product according to the invention accomplishes this without the inconvenience of special rinsing prior to spin drying when using conventional products. Both the products according to the invention and the comparative liquid products were significantly better at fabric softening than known impregnated nonwoven products.
The antistatic properties were particularly good, and when treated with the product according to the invention the time required for "stripping" was reduced from about 5-sand to only 3 seconds upon application of the first fine V charge. The product of FIG. Even more successful results were achieved when impregnating an 80:2 condensate of ) alcohol and 12 moles of ethylene oxide.

Also, good results were achieved when adding 1% perfume to this fabric softening composition, imparting an attractive, long-lasting fresh scent to the treated fabric with multiple dryer cycles. Yet another fabric softener, namely 8 parts by weight of 3-alkyloxy-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (the alkyl group was derived from rapeseed oil), about 64% C, about 22% C, 8 and about 12%C
2.

) or a condensate of 2 moles of stearic acid and 1 mole of N-hydroxyethylesodiamine and 2 parts by weight of a second-linear C, . -C,5 alcohol-
A test was conducted on the ◯ condensate of No. 1. 3 of these mixtures
Five layers were used in a product as shown in Figure 1 made of a laminated foam sheet having an inner layer of large pore size (6 bars) and two outer layers (1 bar) of small pore size foam.
These products were used to process fabrics in five consecutive tumble dryer cycles. In each case, the softening effect was significant compared to the untreated fabric. The product of Figure 2 has a flower shape, possibly rose-like in appearance, formed from one solid "petal" 4, each generally ovoid, secured to each other by joining with nylon string to form a stem portion 5. If desired, it can be covered with a plastic foam cap (not shown) to improve its appearance.

Petals 4 (and caps if present) are each about 3/4 inch thick
16 inches (approximately 0.5 skin) of open cell polyurethane foam was treated with a second mixture of fabric conditioners as described for the product of Figure 1 but in a ratio of 80:20 to 70:30. It is made from impregnated materials. In Figure 3, each approximately 2 inches (approximately 5 skins) wide and approximately 3/1
Seven 6-inch (approximately 0.5 skin) thick flexible polyurethane foam strips 6 are held together at the east by a surrounding strip 7 of the same foam material wrapped around the middle portion of the strips and then stopped. It is fixed with gold (not shown).

The product was impregnated with the same fabric conditioner as described in connection with FIG. 2 above by treating the sheet foam prior to forming the product as shown. It has been found that the products of Figures 2 and 3 provide satisfactory fabric flexibility and antistatic properties when used together.

In Figures 4 and 5, eight hexagonal pieces of thick plastic foam sheet 8 are divided into two larger pieces 8a.
are stacked adjacently, with progressively smaller pieces 8b, 8c and 8d overlapping towards the outer edge of the product to give an overall spherical appearance.

The eight pieces of plastic foam are held together by an elastic cord 9 running through the center, and each oribe is attached to a thin plastic disc 1.
It is held at 0.

The plastic foam pieces are impregnated with a fabric conditioner prior to assembly as shown. During use of the product, the conditioning agent melts at the elevated temperatures encountered during tumble drying and some amount of conditioning agent at the surface of the product comes into contact with the fabric being treated and is removed.

Surface tension and the pressure exerted by the elastic laces through the product moves the remaining fabric conditioning agent to the surface of the product, making it more effective and suitable for multiple uses. In actual testing of the products shown in Figures 4 and 5, thickness 12 side/
A sheet polyurethane foam was used and the product had a diameter of approximately 6 inches (15 arcs) at its widest point.

The total amount of fabric softener used was 58% G-cured-tallow dimethylammonium chloride, 22% secondary-linear C, .
The mixture of -C,5 alcohol-1 and 20% water was 45.5 hours. When fabrics are processed in a home tumble dryer using this product in the recommended manner, the product releases about 5 nights of fabric softener in the first drying cycle and about 2 nights during the next cycle. , and then released gradually decreasing amounts of about 1-2 days in each of the next 10 cycles. The treated fabric was found to be significantly softer than the comparative grain treated fabric. Further tests were conducted using different fabric conditioners.

In one test, a copolymer of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid [permalose (Pe
15% of [obtained as nnalore) T (trademark)]
The foam sheet was impregnated with the aqueous dispersion and then dried.

Polyester fabrics were treated in a tumble dryer with the resulting product containing an anti-staining aid of 30%, resulting in satisfactory improved anti-static and anti-stain properties on the fabrics treated over 5 consecutive dryer cycles. It was found that gender was given. In other tests, the product was tested with 5 doses of tallow alcohol.
condensate with disodium 4,4'-di(2''-anilino-4''-diethanol-aminotriozin-6''-ylamino)-stilbene-2,2'-disulfonate [as photi rudder C (trademark)] 24 of [obtainable]
:1 (by weight) 20 hours of the mixture was impregnated.

Dry cotton sheets using this product in a tumble dryer,
It was found that the apparent whiteness under artificial light was improved for several tumble dryer cycles. A variation of the product of FIGS. 4 and 5 is to provide a hollow core which can be filled with a fabric conditioner if desired.

The product shown in FIG. 6 is somewhat similar in construction to the product shown in FIG. 3, except for the plastic foam piece A-shaped.

This product consists of 6 plastic foam sheets 11
are used, and each sheet strip is separated by two from the two longer sides.
It has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped cut into two triangular sections, each forming six sided pieces with a "waist" in the central region. The six sheet pieces are tied together at the center 12 with nylon string, giving the whole a spherical appearance.

Before cutting the plastic foam sheet, it is impregnated with the fabric conditioner described in FIGS. 4 and 5. The fabric conditioner can be applied as a melt or as a solution in a solvent such as inpropyl alcohol, and then the solvent is evaporated. In an actual application of the product of Figure 6, using a 6-sided polyurethane fabric, the overall maximum length of the product is 5 inches (12.5 skins) and the maximum width (i.e., the foam plastic sheet for each piece ) at the end of ) is 4 inches (
10 arcs). A piece of foam plastic was impregnated with approximately 43 g of the same fabric softener mixture used in the products of FIGS. 4 and 5. When this product was used in a tumble dryer, it was found that the fabric was satisfactorily softened for at least 5 drying cycles. When comparative tests were performed using a single sheet of the same plastic foam co-impregnated with the same textile conditioner, the first drying cycle released a satisfactory level of textile conditioner, but the multi-use properties were not satisfactory. However, the fabric conditioners subsequently available were insufficient.

Comparative testing was conducted using a commercially available product having a single sheet of this foam containing about 2.5 kg of fabric softener, approximately 20 x 7.5 mm. During normal tumble drying operations approximately 0.
Only the moth fabric softener was transferred to the fabric being dried, which was insufficient to provide a satisfactory fabric softening effect or appreciable antistatic properties, and attempted reuse of the product yielded no benefit. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a generally spherical product, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a flower-shaped product, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a product taking the form of a tied base strip, and FIG. 4 is a generally spherical product. FIG. 5 is a front view of the product shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another spherical product. 1...Sheet piece, 2...Product, 4...
...Petal, 5... Stem, 6... Band, 7... Surrounding band, 8... Sheet, 9
...Elastic string, 10...Disc, 11. ．．・．． ．．・Sheet, 12...Center. Tosugi〆ㆆsugi Yugene〆Mesumei. 'S Shio Ku Shio Gu

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A product for processing textiles in a tumble dryer formed from a flexible substrate impregnated with a textile conditioning agent, comprising: 1
1. A product characterized in that one or more pieces of elastically flexible impregnated substrate are fixed in multiple layers. 2. The elastically flexible base material has a thickness of about 0.25 to 2 cm,
The article of claim 1 which is a foam plastic sheet, preferably from about 0.5 to about 1 cm. 3. The product of claim 2, wherein the foam sheet has a pore count of from about 10 to about 30 cells/cm, preferably from about 15 to about 25 cells/cm. 4. A product according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the elastically flexible substrate is a reticulated plastic foam. 5. The article of claim 1, wherein the elastically flexible substrate is formed from a laminated sheet of plastic foam. 6. A product according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the elastically flexible substrate is formed from a polyurethane plastic foam fabric. 7. A product according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein from about 2 to about 12 pieces of substrate are secured together to form a generally spherical body. 8. The product of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the fabric conditioner includes a fabric softener. 9. The product of claim 8, wherein the fabric softener is a quaternary ammonium compound. 10. The product of claim 9, wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is mixed with the nonionic surfactant in a ratio of about 2:1 to about 10:1 (parts by weight). 11. The product of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the fabric conditioner includes an antistatic agent. 12. A product according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the fabric conditioner is a normally solid substance that melts at elevated temperatures during tumble drying.