US3827262A

US3827262A - Spray washing system for garments

Info

Publication number: US3827262A
Application number: US00194345A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Manuel
Original assignee: ATO Inc
Current assignee: Scott Technologies Inc
Priority date: 1971-11-01
Filing date: 1971-11-01
Publication date: 1974-08-06
Anticipated expiration: 1991-08-06

Abstract

Spray washing system for garments. A pair of opposed nozzles on opposite sides of a garment hanging plane with the impact area of one of hollow form and that of the other elongated, extending thereacross, the former acting as a garment positioning element for the latter while both apply water to the garment. For washing pockets etc. sprays with elongated impact areas extending horizontally sweep upwardly, preferably in up down repeated manner, preferably pipes carrying the nozzles rotating about their own axes. An agitating section, e.g. for effective rinse, employs nozzles with elongated impact areas extending vertically, sweeping horizontally, preferably in a back and forth repeated manner, preferably also on pipes that rotate about their own axes. Vertically arranged soft roll pairs, such as of sponge rubber, driven at the same speed as the surface speed of the conveyor retain the water in each spray section. Horizontally extending wires in the zone of the opposed nozzles confine the garments to the hanging plane.

Description

United States Patent [19] Manuel SPRAY WASHING SYSTEM FOR GARMENTS [52] [1.8. CI. 68/3 R, 68/205 R, 118/316, 118/323, 134/181, 134/199 [51] Int. Cl. D06f 31/00 [58] Field of Search 68/205 R, 62.3 R; 118/316, 118/323;134/180,181,199

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,732,701 1/1956 Smith et a1. 68/205 R X 2,822,635 2/1958 Mears 113/316 X 3,205,686 9/1965 Norton 68/62 X 3,261,369 7/1966 Thiele 134/181 X 3,510,352 5/1970 Neuman 134/181 X 3,686,899 8/1972 Rosenfeld et a1. 68/205 R X FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 20,757 1/1930 Australia 68/205 R 364,002 ll/l922 Germany 68/205 R 1 Aug.6, 1974 Primary ExaminerHarvey O. Hornsby Assistant Examiner-Philip R. Coe

[5 7] ABSTRACT Spray washing system for garments. A pair of opposed nozzles on opposite sides of a garment hanging plane with the impact area of one of hollow form and that of the other elongated, extending thereacross, the former acting as a garment positioning element for the latter while both apply water to the garment. For washing pockets etc. sprays with elongated impact areas extending horizontally sweep upwardly, preferably in up down repeated manner, preferably pipes carrying the nozzles rotating about their own axes. An agitating section, e.g. for effective rinse, employs nozzles with elongated impact areas extending vertically, sweeping horizontally, preferably in a back and forth repeated manner, preferably also on pipes that rotate about their own axes. Vertically arranged soft roll pairs, such as of sponge rubber, driven at the same speed as the surface speed of the conveyor retain the water in each spray section. Horizontally extending wires in the zone of the opposed nozzles confine the garments to the hanging plane.

15 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 1 SPRAY WASHING SYSTEM FOR GARMENTS This invention relates to a spray washing system for garments while hanging on hangers and useful in a conveyorized washing system.

A continuous system for laundering garments while hanging on hangers and carried by a conveyor one by-one is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 55,468, filed July 16, 1970, and now Pat. No. 3,686,899, by Howard Rosenfeld and Justin J. Wetzler to which reference is made. Among other things that application discloses a conveyor for successive garments on hangers with the long horizontal dimensions of the garments aligned with the direction of travel and a series of successive separate spray stations, including at least one wash and one rinse station, through which the garments are successively conveyed. Each spray station is adapted to direct liquid spray in the transverse direction against the broad sides of the successive garments in the manner that relates movement between garment and spray causes agitated movement of garment portions while thoroughly subjecting the garment to spray.

The objects of the present invention are to provide improved spray washing apparatus useful in such systems and in other systems.

The invention features the combination of a pair of opposed nozzles on opposite sides of a garment hanging plane, in which the impact areas of one nozzle is that of a hollow form and that of the other is elongated, extending there across, the former acting as a garment positioning element for the latter while both apply water to the garment.

It also features a washing section capable of washing pockets comprising a series of spray pipes, preferably slightly angled with respect to horizontal when used with conveyed garments, with elongated impact areas of the sprays extending horizontally and sweeping upwardly on the hanging plane.

lt also features a rinse section with pipes, preferably slightly angled with respect to vertical when used with conveyed garments, with elongated impact areas of the sprays extending vertically and sweeping horizontally on the hanging plane.

The combinations of these features with wires for restraining the garments in hanging planes and soft rubber, vertically arranged squeeze roll pairs between wash, rinse and discharge stations is shown.

Other objects and features will be understood from the description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the figures wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view partially in cross-section and partially diagrammatic of a complete washing system according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross sections taken at lines 22 and 3-3 of FIG. 1 and partially diagrammatic of the soaking and washing stations respectively, and

FIGS. 4, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are diagrammatic cross sections illustrating the pocket washing effect of one of the wash station pipes.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the spray impact areas achieved with the soak station of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1 garments on hangers 12 are conveyed on a conveyor 14 through a hanging'plane P which may comprise a series of planes if space requirements prevent the conveyor from running in a straight line through all stations.

Soiled garments after being placed on hangers on the conveyor are conveyed through soak station 16,

washing stations

18 and 20, vertical squeeze roll pair 22,

rinse station

24 and 26 and squeeze roll pair 28.

The conveyor moves e.g. at 10 feet per minute and the squeeze rolls are driven with matching surface speed.

Each station is provided with its own receiver vat 30, and is equipped with its own pump which heats and recirculates the water through the respective nozzles. The only exception is the last spray pipe pair 32 which employ fresh water, with optional sour, this water comprising the only make up water in the entire system. Baffles 34 are provided to prevent mixing water of the various stations and water is withdrawn from the last rinse station as needed in the other stations.

Referring also to FIG. 2 in the soak station two pairs of opposed pipes are provided of which two, designated 33 and 35 are seen in the figures. The pipes are stationary, set with major component in the vertical direction but angled forward, angle a in the direction of travel of the conveyor.

There are pairs of opposed nozzles on these pairs of pipes, however the nozzles of each pair are of different type. NOzzles 40 are of the hollow cone type, for in stance hollow cone whirl jet l/4 B5 manufactured by SPraying Systems, Inc., Chicago, who make all of the nozzles for this specific embodiment. These nozzles produce a hollow cone of spray having a cone angle of approximately Spaced the standard dimension of 3 inches from the garment hanging plane, the impact area of the spray upon the plane is a hollow annulus H approximately 5 or 6 inches wide, with a radial thickness of the annulus on the order of inch. Opposed nozzles are of the flat spray type, e.g. 1/4 TT 80 Vee Jet, having an 80 spread in one direction and virtually no spread in the other direction. These nozzles, 42, produce an elongated impact area at the 3 inch spacing, e.g. of 5 or 7 inches length and A inch width. Opposing

nozzles

40 and 42 are aligned so that the elongated areas overlie the open space of the annular impact areas. Thus direct opposition of two sprays is avoided while the tendency to blow the garment out of position is overcome. By such, the flat spray is able to exert its optimum penetrating force, soaking and dislodging dirt throughout the thickness of the fabric, while the hollow cone positions the fabric for this treatment and adds additional soaking solution, this being typically a warm detergent in each case.

The nozzle pairs are advantageously placed on 6 inch centers along the pipe, having an overlapping effect. As the garment enters between a soak pair, first the forward lower hem encounters the spray, and the soaking spreads progressively as the conveyor moves, lower portions being progressively sprayed before upper portions. This has the desired soaking effect. It is discovered that an opposite angle of the pipe is not so effective --i.e., water running down in rivulets from upper portions of the garment are found toimpede the effect of the sprays.

Typically the

pipes

33, and 35 are 5 ft. 10 inches in vertical height with a 1 foot component in the horizontal dimension and the second pair of soak pipes is spaced Sfeet forward of the first pair, giving an opportunity for excess water to run off the garment after the first pair before reaching the second. It should also be noted that the pairs of sprays above described have a desirable complex flexing effect of the garment, as defined by the circular pressure region in one direction crossed by a linear pressure region in the opposite direction. By this, soil is loosened and wrinkles begin to be removed (see FIG. 5).

After progressing through baffles 34 the garment passes through the

wash stations

18 and 20, and perhaps additional stations for e.g. rental garments exposed to high soil conditions. Each wash station in this embodiment is the same so only one will be described.

Wash station 18 comprises a series of

pipes

50, 52, 54 each of which is set at a small angle B to the horizontal so that the major component of extent is in that direction. The series of pipes are parallel to the hanging plane P, spaced 3 inches therefrom, the pipes are spaced 18 inches vertically from one another, are 6 ft. 6 inches in horizontal extent and 18 inches each in vertical extent. The pipes are mounted in bearings 56 for rotation about their own axes A. Along these pipes at 6 inch centers are nozzles of the flat spray type, all 1/4 P 5010 having a 50 included angle in one direction virtually none in the other. The wide dimensions of the nozzles are aligned with the axes of the respective pipes this.being advantageous to maintain the same orientation of spray impact area on the hanging plane as the pipes rotate, with major extent in the horizontal direction. A motor 60 and crank assembly 62 rotationally oscillate the pipes to 45 on each side of perpendicular relation to the hanging plane. Downsweep of the pipe applies significant quantities of water to the garment, much running into a pocket 64 of a garment (FIG. 4). Successive upsweep of the next lower pipe 54 has a unique pocket washing effect. In FIG. 4 a nozzle 54 is shown spraying perpendicular to the hanging plane, commencing to squeeze the bottom of the pocket 64. The water already captured in the pocket has not had a chance to drain through the fabric. Thus when the pocket is squeezed the water starts to be forced up and run over the edge. As the pipe 54 rotates the component Cv of the spray in the upward vertical direction accelerates the water, and as rotation proceeds this component increases to Cv of FIG. 4d. Thus the water is squeezed out of the bottom and accelerated out Of the 'top of the pocket, then refilled in a cyclic manner as the sprays rotate. In this embodiment the pipes are rotated through 44 cycles per minute while the garments move at 10 feet per minute, thus assuring a repeated washing action. Tests reveal that insides of pockets are washed free of soil and much larger debris is removed.

As shown the pipes are mounted in

opposed pairs

49, 50; 5 l, 52; 53, 54. However they are driven 90 out of synchronization. Thus spray impact areas do not oppose each other, but have a mutually garment supporting effect. The sinuous contour into which the garment is progressively formed by the sprays has a soil dislodging effect which may be likened to the popping of an ice cube out of a deformed rubber ice cube tray.

The angular relation of the pipes ensures thorough coverage of the garments as they proceed, the 6 inch spacing of the nozzles ensuring a repeated, varying effect. This further dewrinkles garments.

The wet garments pass through a pair of sponge rubber rolls, having a force against each other on the order of one or a few pounds. In this embodiment a 6 %inch outer diameter roll is secured to a 4 inch center pipe, the sponge rubber being of the type known as Armoflex insulation, used for insulating refrigeration pipes.

These rolls gently squeeze out water from the vertically hanging garments limiting the mixing between adjacent tanks.

The garments then proceed to a first rinse station of identical construction and effect as the washing station, thence through a second pair of squeeze rolls 23 thence to a second rinse station. This station comprises 3 opposed pipe pairs 70, 72, 32 constructed identically to those of the wash station with the following exceptions. The nozzles of the first two encountered pipe pairs have nozzles l/4 TI 8010 with included angle and rated at 1 gallon per minute capacity at 40 psi (the same as the 1 gallon per minute at 40 psi for the wash station nozzles). The nozzles at the final rinse pair 32 from which fresh water emits are Tee Jets 1/4 TT 8002 of 0.2 gpm/40 psi rated capacity such that the total fresh water input to the entire laundry system may be only 2.6 gallons per minute.

Pipes 70 and 72 have major extent in the vertical direction, e.g. forming an angle of 20 to the vertical, the pipes angling downwardly in the conveying direction. Thus as the garments arrive at each spray pair they are rinsed progressively from top to bottom, gravity aiding and avoiding drainage onto rinsed areas. The first pairs 70, 72 of the pipes in the last stage rotate at 44 rpm, 45 to either side from perpendicular relation to the hanging plane, and thus the garments are swept back and forth horizontally by the out of phase, opposed sprays in a rinsing action, with minimum drainage onto rinsed areas. This has an enhanced agitating action due to the fact that the weight of the garment is not providing the resistance to such horizontal sinuous flexing as it does by the vertical sinuous flexing as produced in the washing sections. (For this reason one or more of the wash stations may be equipped with such a spray system). The last spray pipe 32 is similarly angled but is stationary, and applies a fine spray to which sour may be added to neutralize the effects of any detergent chemicals that may remain. Following this is a third set of squeeze rolls, and then a drying section which may be according to my co-pending drier application.

Horizontal wires spaced e.g. 1 /2ft. apart and 1 inch from the hanging plane, wires on each side of the plane, provide a channel through which the garments travel, this helping to confine the channel to the hanging plane, for best effect of the spray system.

In operation wash water may be maintained at 140F, 1st rinse 120F, second rinse F and final rinse, pipe 32, cold. The speed of oscillation of the pipes may be varied over a range. For pocket washing preferably the speed is maintained in the range of about 20 to 50 rpm, too slow impeding the speed of the system as well as allowing water to drain through the pockets, too fast failing to properly accelerate the water, and coordinate with the wave of water formed in the pocket.

Without further discussion it will be understood that numerous variations of the system and its components will occur within the spirit and scope of the description.

What is clalmed is:

l. A washing on a hanger system comprising: a first water spray station;

a second water spray station; and,

a conveyor for transporting garments through said first station and then through said second station, said conveyor being arranged to transport said garments through each of said stations in a respective hanging plane with the long horizontal dimensions of the garments extending in the respective plane,

each of said spray stations comprising a set of spaced pipes extending generally parallel to the hanging plane of said each station, a spray nozzle mounted on each of said pipes and arranged to direct a flat spray having an elongated impact area against said hanging plane of said each station, and means for rotating each of said pipes about the axis thereof to cause the impact area of the nozzle mounted thereon to travel along said hanging plane of said each station in a direction having a major component generally perpendicular to the longest dimension of the impact area of the nozzle,

the longest dimensions of the impact areas of the nozzles of the first water spray station extending generally horizontally, and,

the longest dimensions of the impact areas of the nozzles of the second water spray station extending generally vertically. I

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said pipes of said first station are vertically spaced relative to each other, each of said pipes forming a small acute angle with the horizontal such that it is angled downwardly in the direction of travel of the conveyor,

said pipes of said second station are horizontally spaced relative to each other, each of said pipes forming a small acute angle with the vertical such that it is angled downwardly in the direction of travel of the conveyor, and

a plurality of said noozzles having said respective impact areas is mounted on each of said pipes.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said stations comprises a said set of said pipes of said each station with said nozzles having said respective impact areas mounted thereon positioned on each side of said hanging plane of said each station.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the sets of said pipes of said each station are aligned with each other across said hanging plane of said each station, and said means for rotating said pipes is arranged to rotate the pipes of one of said sets out of phase with the pipes of the other of said sets.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein each of said stations includes restraining wires extending generally horizontally and arranged to confine a garment in each said station in the region of the hanging plane of said each station.

6. In a system for washing garments while hung with the long horizontal dimensions thereof extending in a vertical plane and including nozzles arranged to direct spray against the broad sides of the garments and a conveyor arranged to transport the garments relative to the nozzles in a hanging plane generally parallel to the vertical plane, that improvement comprising:

a set of nozzles mounted in a line along and on one side of the hanging plane, each of said nozzles being arranged to direct against said hanging plane a flat spray having an elongated impact area the longest dimension of which is generally parallel to said line; and,

means for periodically swinging each of said nozzles of said set to cause said impact area thereof to travel along said plane in a direction having a major component generally perpendicular to said longest dimension thereof.

7. The system of claim 6 including a second set of nozzles mounted on a second line along and on said one side of said plane, said second line being generally parallel to said first-mentioned line and spaced therefrom a distance greater than said longest dimension, and each of said second set of nozzles being arranged to direct against said plane a flat spray having an elongated impact area the longest dimension of which is generally parallel to said second line.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein each of said sets of said nozzles is mounted on a respective pipe extending generally parallel to said hanging plane, and said means for swinging said nozzles comprises means for rotating each of said pipes about its respective axis.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein each of said lines extends downwardly in the direction of movement of the garments, and forms a small acute angle with one of the horizontal and the vertical.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said line forms a small angle with the horizontal, said impact areas are oriented with their major dimensions extending generally horizontally, and said swinging of said nozzles causes said horizontally oriented impact areas periodically to travel upwardly of said plane thereby to squeeze accumulated liquid upwardly out of pockets of said garments.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said line forms a small angle with the vertical.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein said impact areas of adjacent nozzles of each of said sets overlap.

13. In a system for washing garments while hung with the long horizontal dimensions thereof extending in a vertical plane and including nozzles arranged to direct spray against the broad sides of the garments and a conveyor arranged to transport the garments relative to the nozzles in a hanging plane generally parallel to the vertical plane, that improvement comprising:

a first set of nozzles mounted in a first line along and on one side of the hanging plane;

a second set of nozzles mounted along and on the other side of said hanging plane in a second line generally parallel to said first line;

each of said nozzles of each of said sets being arranged to direct against said hanging plane a flat spray having an elongated impact area the longest dimension of which is generally parallel to said first and second lines; and,

means for periodically swinging each of said nozzles of each of said sets to cause said impact areas thereof to travel along said plane in a direction having a major component generally perpendicular to said longest dimension thereof, and in such a manner as to maintain the impact areas of the nozzles of the two sets in offset relationship.

14. The station of claim 13 including restraining wires extending horizontally in the zone between opposing nozzles, said wires confining said garment to the region of said plane.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein each of said sets of nozzles is mounted on a respective pipe extending generally parallel to said hanging plane, and said means comprises means for rotating each of said pipes about its respective axis.

Dedication 3,827,262.Mal00hn O. Manuel, Stanton, Minn. SPRAY WASHING SYS- TEM FOR GARMENTS. Patent dated Aug. 6, 197 4. Dedication filed May 10, 1978 by the assignees, Ludell Mfg. 00., Inc. and American Linen Supply 00. Hereby dedicate to the Public the entire remaining term of said patent.

[Ofiiaial Gazette June 27, 1.978.]

Patent No. 3,827 ,262 Dated August 6, 197 4 Inventor(s) Malcolm O. Manuel It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Cover Sheet, Item 73, Assignee, "A-T-O Inc., Willough'by, Ohio" should read --One-half to A-T-O Inc., Willoughby, Ohio; one-half to American Linen Supply Co., Minneapolis, Minnesot a--;

Column 1, line 20, "relates" should be --relativeline 46, "combinations" should be --combination--;

Column 2, line 27, "NOzzles" should be --Nozzles--,

line 29, "SPraying" should be --Spraying--;

Column 3, line 36-, "Fig. a" should be --.-Fig. 4b, line t "01?" should be --of--;

Column 4, line 65-, "c'lalmed" should be --claimed--;

Column 5, line. 37 "noozles" should? be -nozzles--,

line 52, "feaoh said" should be, said each--.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest COY M; GIBSON JR. c; DA reeting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. A washing on a hanger system comprising: a first water spray station; a second water spray station; and, a conveyor for transporting garments through said first station and then through said second station, said conveyor being arranged to transport said garments through each of said stAtions in a respective hanging plane with the long horizontal dimensions of the garments extending in the respective plane, each of said spray stations comprising a set of spaced pipes extending generally parallel to the hanging plane of said each station, a spray nozzle mounted on each of said pipes and arranged to direct a flat spray having an elongated impact area against said hanging plane of said each station, and means for rotating each of said pipes about the axis thereof to cause the impact area of the nozzle mounted thereon to travel along said hanging plane of said each station in a direction having a major component generally perpendicular to the longest dimension of the impact area of the nozzle, the longest dimensions of the impact areas of the nozzles of the first water spray station extending generally horizontally, and, the longest dimensions of the impact areas of the nozzles of the second water spray station extending generally vertically.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said pipes of said first station are vertically spaced relative to each other, each of said pipes forming a small acute angle with the horizontal such that it is angled downwardly in the direction of travel of the conveyor, said pipes of said second station are horizontally spaced relative to each other, each of said pipes forming a small acute angle with the vertical such that it is angled downwardly in the direction of travel of the conveyor, and a plurality of said noozzles having said respective impact areas is mounted on each of said pipes.

6. In a system for washing garments while hung with the long horizontal dimensions thereof extending in a vertical plane and including nozzles arranged to direct spray against the broad sides of the garments and a conveyor arranged to transport the garments relative to the nozzles in a hanging plane generally parallel to the vertical plane, that improvement comprising: a set of nozzles mounted in a line along and on one side of the hanging plane, each of said nozzles being arranged to direct against said hanging plane a flat spray having an elongated impact area the longest dimension of which is generally parallel to said line; and, means for periodically swinging each of said nozzles of said set to cause said impact area thereof to travel along said plane in a direction having a major component generally perpendicular to said longest dimension thereof.

13. In a system for washing garments while hung with the long horizontal dimensions thereof extending in a vertical plane and including nozzles arranged to direct spray against the broad sides of the garments and a conveyor arranged to transport the garments relative to the nozzles in a hanging plane generally parallel to the vertical plane, that improvement comprising: a first set of nozzles mounted in a first line along and on one side of the hanging plane; a second set of nozzles mounted along and on the other side of said hanging plane in a second line generally parallel to said first line; each of said nozzles of each of said sets being arranged to direct against said hanging plane a flat spray having an elongated impact area the longest dimension of which is generally parallel to said first and second lines; and, means for periodically swinging each of said nozzles of each of said sets to cause said impact areas thereof to travel along said plane in a direction having a major component generally perpendicular to said longest dimension thereof, and in such a manner as to maintain the impact areas of the nozzles of the two sets in offset relationship.