WO2018172779A1 - Apparatus and method for treating a substrate with solid particles in a rotatably mounted drum - Google Patents

Apparatus and method for treating a substrate with solid particles in a rotatably mounted drum Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018172779A1
WO2018172779A1 PCT/GB2018/050750 GB2018050750W WO2018172779A1 WO 2018172779 A1 WO2018172779 A1 WO 2018172779A1 GB 2018050750 W GB2018050750 W GB 2018050750W WO 2018172779 A1 WO2018172779 A1 WO 2018172779A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
drum
particulate material
solid particulate
collecting
treatment
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2018/050750
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Steven Charles BULL
Original Assignee
Xeros Limited
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 Xeros Limited filed Critical Xeros Limited
Publication of WO2018172779A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018172779A1/en

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F35/00—Washing machines, apparatus, or methods not otherwise provided for
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/02—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums
    • D06F37/04—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis
    • D06F37/08—Partitions

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to an apparatus that employs a multiplicity of solid particles in the treatment of substrates, particularly a substrate which is or comprises a textile.
  • the present disclosure further relates to the operation of an apparatus for the treatment of substrates using solid particles.
  • the invention particularly relates to an apparatus and method for cleaning of soiled substrates.
  • an apparatus for use in the treatment of substrates with a solid particulate material comprising:
  • a partition is disposed within the drum to divide the interior thereof into a storage compartment for storing said solid particulate material and a treatment compartment for said treatment of substrates, wherein the storage compartment is adjacent the end wall and the treatment compartment is adjacent the access means, wherein said partition comprises one or more apertures to allow flow of solid particulate material between the storage compartment and the treatment compartment,
  • said partition comprises a front panel facing the treatment compartment and a back panel facing the storage compartment wherein the front panel comprises at least one front panel aperture which allows flow of solid particulate material between the storage compartment and the treatment compartment, and the back panel comprises at least one back panel aperture which allows flow of solid particulate material between the storage compartment and the treatment compartment; wherein disposed between the front and rear panels are at least one cavity, at least one collecting deflector surface, and at least one dispensing deflector surface;
  • said at least one collecting deflector surface is configured to bias solid particulate material in said at least one cavity towards the storage compartment;
  • the apparatus can dispense with, and preferably does not comprise, a further storage compartment which is not attached to or integral with the drum.
  • the apparatus can dispense with, and preferably does not comprise a pump for circulating said solid particulate material between the storage means for the solid particulate material (in this invention referred to as the storage compartment) and the interior of the drum where treatment of the substrates is effected (i.e. the treatment chamber or, in this invention, the treatment compartment).
  • the apparatus can dispense with, and preferably does not comprise, a pump for circulating said solid particulate material.
  • a further advantage of the storage compartment being located in the rotatable drum is that solid particulate material can be centrifugally dried, i.e. it can undergo one or more spin cycles to dry the particles. Centrifugal drying of the solid particulate material may be separate from or included in the operation of the apparatus to treat substrates. For instance, centrifugal drying may be effected concurrently with extraction step(s) for removing liquid medium, as described hereinbelow.
  • the method described hereinbelow for treating a substrate optionally comprises the step of centrifugal drying of the solid particulate material. It will therefore be appreciated that an advantage of the present invention is the dry storage of the solid particulate material.
  • the amount of water used in the treatment of the substrates can be further reduced, relative to existing treatments which use solid particulate material, because water is not required to transport the solid particulate material around the apparatus.
  • the apparatus and methods of the present invention therefore only require the water needed as the liquid medium in the treatment of the substrates, which provides a significant reduction in water consumption.
  • the dispensing flow path and/or the storage compartment are configured such that it takes at least one rotation in the dispensing direction to begin to release the solid particulate material into the treatment compartment.
  • this facilitates separation and untangling of substrates within the drum.
  • This also facilitates controlled release of the solid particulate material during the treatment cycle, enabling increased and more consistent exposure of the substrates to the solid particulate material, thereby improving the treatment performance and efficiency.
  • the rate of flow of the solid particulate material between the storage compartment and the treatment compartment may be controlled, additionally or alternatively, by varying the rate of rotation of the drum and/or by intermittently rotating the drum, in either the dispensing or collecting direction.
  • the rate of flow of the solid particulate material between the storage compartment and the treatment compartment may be controlled, additionally or alternatively, by varying the direction of rotation of the drum.
  • a given phase in the treatment cycle may comprise a number (n) of rotations in the collecting direction and further comprise a number (m) of rotations in the dispensing direction, where n and m are different and independently selected from integers or non-integers, thereby leading to a net increase or decrease in the amount of solid particulate material in the storage compartment and the treatment compartment.
  • the apparatus is preferably a front-loading apparatus, with the access means disposed in the front of the apparatus.
  • the access means is or comprises a door.
  • the drum has an opening at the opposite end of the drum to the end wall, suitably wherein the opening is aligned with the access means, and through which opening said substrates are introduced into said drum, and specifically into said treatment compartment.
  • the rotatable drum is preferably cylindrical, but other configurations are also envisaged, including for instance hexagonal drums.
  • the inner surface of the drum is preferably a cylindrical inner surface.
  • the inner surface of the drum is the surface of the inner wall(s) of the drum.
  • the inner wall(s) of the drum is/are joined to the end wall of the drum at the juncture of the inner and end walls.
  • the inner surface is the surface of the inner wall of the drum which is disposed around the rotational axis of the drum, i.e. substantially perpendicular to the end wall of the drum.
  • the axis of the cylindrical drum is preferably the rotational axis of the drum. More generally, the inner and end walls of the drum define a three-dimensional volume in which the end wall bisects the rotational axis of the drum, and preferably bisects said rotational axis in a substantially perpendicular manner, and wherein the inner wall(s) is/are disposed around the rotational axis, preferably wherein the inner walls are substantially parallel to the rotational axis.
  • the inner surface of the drum preferably comprises perforations which have dimensions smaller than the dimensions of the solid particulate material so as to permit passage of fluids into and out of said drum but to prevent egress of said solid particulate material, as is conventional in many of the prior art apparatus suitable for treating substrates with solid particulate material.
  • the housing of the apparatus is a tub which surrounds said drum, preferably wherein said tub and said drum are substantially concentric, preferably wherein the walls of said tub are unperforated but having disposed therein one or more inlets and/or one or more outlets suitable for passage of a liquid medium and/or one or more treatment formulation(s) into and out of the tub.
  • the tub is suitably water-tight, permitting ingress and egress of the liquid medium and other liquid components only through pipes or ducting components.
  • neither the drum nor the tub allows ingress or egress of the solid particulate material, which is retained by the drum throughout the treatment cycle by which substrates are treated in the apparatus.
  • the solid particulate material remains in the storage compartment and/or in the treatment compartment and/or in the flow paths between the storage compartment and the treatment compartment throughout the treatment cycle, thereby obviating the need for a pump to circulate the particulate material.
  • the partition is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said drum
  • the partition may further comprise perforations which have dimensions smaller than the dimensions of the solid particulate material so as to permit passage of fluids but to prevent passage of said solid particulate material.
  • the partition and the drum may be non-integral elements.
  • the partition may be assembled inside the drum and/or is able to be retrofitted to an existing drum. This arrangement is of particular utility in converting a conventional apparatus which is not suitable or adapted for the treatment of substrates using a solid particulate material into an apparatus which is suitable for the treatment of substrates using a solid particulate material.
  • the apparatus is preferably configured such that, in use, solid particulate material is not able to leave the drum by escaping between the drum and the access means.
  • the apparatus comprises a seal between the access means and the drum such that, in use, solid particulate material is not able to leave the drum.
  • the apparatus further comprises the typical components present in apparatus suitable for the treatment of substrates with solid particulate material, preferably in a liquid medium and/or in combination with one or more treatment formulation(s) as described in more detail hereinbelow.
  • the apparatus preferably comprises at least one pump for circulation of the liquid medium, and associated ports and/or piping and/or ducting for transport of the liquid medium and/or one or more treatment formulation(s) into the apparatus, into the drum, out of the drum, and out of the apparatus.
  • the apparatus comprises a suitable drive means to effect rotation of the drum, and suitably a drive shaft to effect rotation of the drum.
  • the apparatus comprises heating means for heating the liquid medium.
  • the apparatus comprises mixing means to mix the liquid medium with one or more treatment formulation(s).
  • the apparatus may further comprise one or more spray means to apply a liquid medium and/or one or more treatment formulation(s) into the storage compartment and/or treatment compartment, before, during or after the treatment of the substrates.
  • the apparatus typically further comprises an external casing, which surrounds the tub and drum.
  • the apparatus suitably further comprises a control means programmed with instructions for the operation of the apparatus according to at least one treatment cycle.
  • the apparatus suitably further comprises a user interface for interfacing with the control means and/or apparatus.
  • the apparatus preferably comprises said solid particulate material.
  • the dimensions of said at least one cavity, said at least one front panel aperture and said at least one back panel aperture are preferably such that they have no internal dimension which is less than at least 2 times, more preferably no less than at least 3 times, the longest dimension of the solid particulate material. Flow paths having such dimensions help to maintain the particle flow and the speed thereof, as well as preventing blockages.
  • said at least one collecting deflector surface is configured to bias solid particulate material in said at least one cavity towards the storage compartment during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction
  • said at least one dispensing deflector surface is configured to bias solid particulate material in said at least one cavity towards the treatment compartment during rotation of the drum in a dispensing direction.
  • said drum is configured to bias solid particulate material present inside the treatment compartment drum towards said storage compartment during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction, and/or the drum is configured to bias solid particulate material present inside the storage compartment towards said treatment compartment during rotation of the drum in a dispensing direction.
  • the partition comprises at least one blade which is disposed between the front and back panels and configured to bias solid particulate material in said at least one cavity towards said at least one collecting deflector surface during rotation of the drum in a collecting direction.
  • the partition preferably comprises at least one blade which is disposed between the front and back panels and is configured to bias solid particulate material in said at least one cavity towards said at least one dispensing deflector surface during rotation of the drum in a dispensing direction.
  • the at least one blade configured to bias solid particulate material towards a dispensing deflector surface may be different from said at least one blade configured to bias solid particulate material towards a collecting deflector surface.
  • the at least one blade configured to bias solid particulate material towards a dispensing deflector surface may be the same as said at least one blade configured to bias solid particulate material towards a collecting deflector surface, and in this embodiment a first surface of said at least one blade is configured to bias solid particulate material towards a dispensing deflector surface and a second surface of said at least one blade is configured to bias solid particulate material towards a collecting deflector surface.
  • a front panel aperture, said at least one cavity, a collecting deflector surface and a back panel aperture preferably defines a channel which allows flow of solid particulate material from the treatment compartment to the storage compartment.
  • a back panel aperture, said at least one cavity, a dispensing deflector surface and a front panel aperture preferably defines a channel which allows flow of solid particulate material from the storage compartment to the treatment compartment.
  • the partition is optionally movable along the rotational axis of the drum such that the volume of each of the storage compartment and the treatment compartment may be varied.
  • the apparatus is thereby configured to allow the volume of the treatment compartment to be increased, and the volume of the storage compartment correspondingly decreased, before, during or after treatment of said substrates.
  • the apparatus may be configured such that, prior to treatment of the substrates, particles are dispensed into the treatment compartment and volume of the storage compartment is reduced by moving the partition towards the end wall in order to increase the volume of the treatment compartment, thereby increasing the amount of substrate(s) treatable in the treatment compartment.
  • the apparatus may be configured such that, after treatment of the substrates, the volume of the treatment compartment may be reduced by moving the partition away from the end wall in order to assist or facilitate the removal of the substrates out of the apparatus.
  • a movable partition may be movable by any suitable drive or indexing means, including a motor or pneumatics and the like.
  • a movable partition may passively move or translate along the axis of rotation in operation of the apparatus, depending on the direction of rotation, optionally where the extent of movement is predetermined within one or more defined limits.
  • the drum is disposed in the apparatus such that the axis of the drum is substantially horizontal.
  • the drum is disposed in the apparatus such that the axis of the drum is substantially horizontal during at least part of the operation of the apparatus.
  • the apparatus and/or drum may also be tiltable (and particularly the drum), as is known in the art, such that the axis of the drum to the horizontal plane can be varied before, during or after the treatment of the substrates in the apparatus, and preferably during the treatment or portion thereof. Tilting may be effected by any suitable means, including for instance an air bag, hydraulic ram, pneumatic piston and/or electric motor.
  • the drum and/or apparatus is tiltable preferably such that the axis of the drum defines an angle A to the horizontal plane which is greater than 0 and less than about 10°.
  • the drum and/or apparatus may be configured to be tiltable such that the drum is inclined in a downwards direction from the front of the drum to the end wall of the drum during a part of said treatment, and particularly during rotation of the drum in a collecting direction.
  • the drum and/or apparatus may be configured to be tiltable such that the drum is inclined in a downwards direction from the end wall of the drum to the front of the drum during a part of said treatment, and particularly during rotation of the drum in a dispensing direction.
  • the apparatus is configured such that for a part of said treatment (particularly during rotation of the drum in a collecting direction) the axis of the drum may be tilted such that it defines an angle A to the horizontal plane which is greater than 0 and less than about 10° and such that the drum is inclined in a downwards direction from the front of the drum to the end wall of the drum.
  • the apparatus is configured such that for a part of said treatment (particularly during rotation of the drum in a dispensing direction) the axis of the drum may be tilted such that it defines an angle A to the horizontal plane which is greater than 0 and less than about 10° and such that the drum is inclined in a downwards direction from the end wall of the drum to the front of the drum.
  • lifters In conventional apparatus, as well as in apparatus adapted for the treatment of substrates using solid particulate material, it is known to dispose one or more so-called “lifters” onto the inner surface of the drum. These lifters encourage circulation and agitation of the contents (i.e. the substrate(s), treatment agents and solid particulate material) within the drum during rotation of the drum. These lifters preferably take the form of a multiplicity of spaced apart elongate protrusion(s) affixed to the inner surface of the drum. Typically, the elongate protrusions are disposed on the inner surface of the drum such that the elongate dimension of the protrusion is essentially perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the drum.
  • the elongate protrusion preferably extends in a direction away from said end wall, and preferably extends from said end wall, and preferably extends the length of the inner surface of the drum, i.e. from the end wall to the opening of the drum.
  • the elongate protrusion therefore has an end proximal to the end wall and an end distal to the end wall.
  • the drum preferably has at least one elongate protrusion located on the inner surface of the drum, and preferably from 2 to 10, preferably 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, preferably 2, 3 or 4, and preferably 4, of said protrusions.
  • a plurality of elongate protrusions are located on the inner surface of the drum, all of the elongate protrusions typically have the same or substantially the same dimensions as each other.
  • a plurality of elongate protrusions may have elongate protrusions of differing dimensions, i.e. one or more elongate protrusions of a first size and/or shape, and one or more elongate protrusions of a second size and/or shape, etc.
  • Said at least one elongate protrusion(s) may be present in the storage compartment and/or the treatment compartment.
  • elongate protrusion(s) are present, they are preferably present in both the storage compartment and the treatment compartment.
  • the partition is moveable, elongate protrusion(s) are preferably present in both the storage compartment and the treatment compartment, and preferably the or each elongate protrusion extends away from the partition and into both the storage compartment and the treatment compartment, i.e. such that the drum comprises said at least one elongate protrusion and the partition moves or translates along the same elongate protusion(s) when moving away from and towards the end wall in the drum.
  • the elongate protrusion behaves as a rail on which partition moves.
  • the or each elongate protrusion in the treatment compartment is preferably integrally formed with an elongate protrusion in the storage compartment.
  • the elongate protrusion(s) and/or the drum are preferably configured to bias solid particulate material present inside the treatment compartment towards the storage compartment, during rotation of the drum in a collecting direction.
  • the elongate protrusion(s) and/or the drum are preferably configured to bias solid particulate material present inside the storage compartment towards the treatment compartment, during rotation of the drum in a dispensing direction.
  • an elongate protrusion is curvilinear.
  • a curvilinear elongate protrusion which has a spiral or helical geometry is preferred.
  • spiral or helical spiral geometry refers to a three-dimensional spiral curve which also encompasses an arc of a complete spiral or helical spiral curve.
  • an elongate protrusion is rectilinear.
  • a drum may comprise both curvilinear and rectilinear elongate protrusions, but typically a drum comprises either curvilinear or rectilinear elongate protrusions.
  • An apparatus in which the axis of the drum is tiltable is of particular use when the elongate protrusion is rectilinear.
  • the bias which encourages solid particulate material present inside the treatment compartment towards the storage compartment during rotation of the drum in a collecting direction may be provided by the tilt of the drum.
  • the bias which encourages solid particulate material present inside the storage compartment towards the treatment compartment during rotation of the drum in a dispensing direction may be provided by the tilt of the drum.
  • curvilinear elongate protrusions are of particular utility for apparatus in which the axis of the drum is substantially horizontal, and in particular wherein the axis of the drum is substantially horizontal during operation of the apparatus.
  • the partition, elongate protrusions and the drum may be non-integral elements.
  • the partition and the elongate protrusions can be assembled together inside the drum and/or are able to be retrofitted to an existing drum.
  • This embodiment of the invention is of particular utility in converting a conventional apparatus which is not suitable or adapted for the treatment of substrates using a solid particulate material into an apparatus which is suitable for the treatment of substrates using a solid particulate material.
  • the partition and the elongate protrusion(s) would normally be non-integral elements, in order to allow these components to be introduced into the drum without dissembling the whole apparatus.
  • an integral partition and elongate protrusion(s) are also envisaged.
  • an elongate protrusion may further comprise one or more perforations which have dimensions smaller than the dimensions of the solid particulate material so as to permit passage of fluids through said perforations but to prevent passage of said solid particulate material through said perforations.
  • the apparatus is configured such that the at least one elongate protrusion in the treatment compartment and the at least one collecting deflector surface therefore operate in combination to bias the solid particulate material towards the storage compartment during rotation of the drum in a collecting direction.
  • the at least one elongate protrusion in the treatment compartment and the at least one collecting deflector surface at least partially generate a continuous surface which biases the solid particulate material from the treatment compartment towards the storage compartment during rotation of the drum in a collecting direction.
  • the apparatus is configured such that the at least one elongate protrusion in the storage compartment and the at least one dispensing deflector surface operate in combination to bias the solid particulate material towards the treatment compartment during rotation of the drum in a dispensing direction.
  • the at least one elongate protrusion in the storage compartment and the at least one dispensing deflector surface at least partially generate a continuous surface which biases the solid particulate material from the storage compartment towards the treatment compartment during rotation of the drum in a dispensing direction.
  • the front panel comprises at least one front panel collecting aperture for collecting solid particulate material from the treatment compartment, and at least one front panel dispensing aperture for dispensing solid particulate material to the treatment compartment, wherein the front panel collecting aperture is closer than the front panel dispensing aperture to the inner surface of the drum, preferably wherein the front panel collecting aperture is at the periphery of the front panel and adjacent the inner surface of the drum.
  • the back panel preferably comprises at least one back panel collecting aperture for collecting solid particulate material from the storage compartment, and at least one back panel dispensing aperture for dispensing solid particulate material to the storage compartment, wherein the back panel collecting aperture is closer than the back panel dispensing aperture to the inner surface of the drum, preferably wherein the back panel collecting aperture is at the periphery of the back panel and adjacent the inner surface of the drum.
  • the term "at the periphery” preferably refers to a configuration in which a collecting aperture is defined by an aperture or gap or channel at the edge of a panel (front or back panel) where the panel would otherwise bisect or meet the inner surface of the drum.
  • a collecting aperture preferably extends around a portion of the periphery of the panel.
  • a collecting aperture at the periphery of a panel may and preferably does extend along the edge of a panel between a pair of adjacent elongate protrusions.
  • a collecting aperture at the periphery of a panel may extend along the edge of a panel for only part of the periphery of a panel between a pair of adjacent elongate protrusions.
  • a front panel collecting aperture, said at least one cavity, a collecting deflector surface and a back panel dispensing aperture preferably define a channel which allows flow of solid particulate material from the treatment compartment to the storage compartment.
  • a back panel collecting aperture, said at least one cavity, a dispensing deflector surface and a front panel dispensing aperture preferably define a channel which allows flow of solid particulate material from the storage compartment to the treatment compartment.
  • an inner panel is preferably disposed between the front panel and the back panel, wherein the inner panel defines at least one front cavity between the front panel and the inner panel and at least one back cavity between the back panel and the inner panel, wherein the periphery of the inner panel abuts the inner surface of the drum, and wherein the inner panel comprises at least one inner panel aperture which is in fluid communication with said at least one front panel aperture and said at least one back aperture to define a channel which allows flow of solid particulate material between said storage compartment and said treatment compartment.
  • a front panel collecting aperture, a front cavity, a collecting deflector surface, an inner panel aperture, a back cavity and a back panel dispensing aperture preferably define a channel which allows flow of solid particulate material from the treatment compartment to the storage compartment, wherein a collecting deflector surface may be present in and/or extend into and form a boundary wall in both the front cavity and the back cavity, and preferably a collecting deflector surface is present in and/or extends into and forms a boundary wall in both the front cavity and the back cavity.
  • a collecting deflector surface may be present in the front cavity or the back cavity or both, and is preferably present in at least the front cavity.
  • a collecting deflector surface in the front cavity may extend into the back cavity.
  • a collecting deflector surface in the front cavity is configured to bias solid particulate material in the front cavity towards the storage compartment during rotation in the collecting direction.
  • a collecting deflector surface in the back cavity is configured to bias solid particulate material in the back cavity towards the storage compartment during rotation in the collecting direction.
  • a collecting deflector surface in the back cavity may comprise part of the reverse side of a blade disposed in the back cavity, i.e. between the inner panel and the back panel.
  • At least one blade is preferably disposed between the front and inner panels and configured to bias solid particulate material in said at least one cavity (preferably said at least one front cavity) towards said at least one collecting deflector surface during rotation of said drum in a collecting direction.
  • a back panel collecting aperture, a back cavity, a dispensing deflector surface, an inner panel aperture, a front cavity and a front panel dispensing aperture preferably define a channel which allows flow of solid particulate material from the storage compartment to the treatment compartment, wherein a dispensing deflector surface may be present in and/or extend into and form a boundary wall in both the front cavity and the back cavity, and preferably a dispensing deflector surface is present in and/or extends into and forms a boundary wall in both the front cavity and the back cavity.
  • a dispensing deflector surface may be present in the back cavity or the front cavity or both, and is preferably present in at least the back cavity.
  • a dispensing deflector surface in the back cavity may extend into the front cavity.
  • a dispensing deflector surface in the back cavity is configured to bias solid particulate material in the back cavity towards the treatment compartment during rotation in the dispensing direction.
  • a dispensing deflector surface in the front cavity is configured to bias solid particulate material in the front cavity towards the treatment compartment during rotation in the dispensing direction.
  • a dispensing deflector surface in the front cavity may comprise part of the reverse side of a blade disposed in the front cavity, i.e. between the inner panel and the front panel.
  • At least one blade is preferably disposed between the back and inner panels and is configured to bias solid particulate material in said at least one cavity (preferably said at least one back cavity) towards said at least one dispensing deflector surface during rotation of said drum in a dispensing direction.
  • the drum preferably has at least one elongate protrusion located on the inner surface of the drum in the treatment compartment wherein the elongate protrusion extends in a direction away from said partition, preferably wherein the elongate protrusion extends from said partition and/or preferably wherein said drum comprises two, three, four, five or six elongate protrusions.
  • the drum and/or the at least one elongate protrusion in the treatment compartment is/are configured to bias solid particulate material present inside the treatment compartment towards the partition, and particularly towards said at least one front panel collecting aperture located in the front panel of the partition, during rotation of the drum in a collecting direction.
  • the drum preferably has at least one elongate protrusion located on the inner surface of the drum in the storage compartment wherein the elongate protrusion extends in a direction away from said partition, preferably wherein the elongate protrusion extends from said partition and/or preferably wherein said drum comprises two, three, four, five or six elongate protrusions.
  • the drum and/or the at least one elongate protrusion in the storage compartment is/are configured to bias solid particulate material present inside the storage compartment towards the partition, and particularly towards said at least one back panel collecting aperture located in the back panel of the partition, during rotation of the drum in a dispensing direction.
  • said elongate protrusion(s) may be curvilinear, particularly wherein the axis of said drum is substantially horizontal.
  • Said elongate protrusion(s) may be rectilinear, particularly wherein the axis of the drum is tiltable relative to the horizontal plane.
  • the drum has at least one elongate protrusion in the treatment compartment and at least one elongate protrusion in the storage compartment, such that the or each elongate protrusion in each compartment extends in a direction away from said partition
  • the or each elongate protrusion in the treatment compartment is preferably integrally formed with an elongate protrusion in the storage compartment.
  • the front panel and the back panel extend to the inner surface of the drum, wherein each of the front panel aperture(s) and the back panel aperture(s) are configured to allow flow of solid particulate material from the storage compartment to the treatment compartment and from the treatment compartment to the storage compartment.
  • the at least one collecting deflector surface and the at least one dispensing deflector surface are arranged around a central hub, preferably wherein said hub is concentric with the drum, and/or preferably wherein the at least one collecting deflector surface and the at least one dispensing deflector surface extend radially outward.
  • the at least one collecting deflector surface extends radially outward in a direction to deflect solid particulate material towards the storage compartment, and/or the at least one dispensing deflector surface extends radially outward in a direction to deflect solid particulate material towards the treatment compartment.
  • Said dispensing deflector surface(s) are preferably disposed in a direction to deflect solid particulate material through said front panel apertures and into the treatment compartment.
  • Said collecting deflector surface(s) are preferably disposed in a direction to deflect solid particulate material through said back panel apertures and into the storage compartment.
  • the apparatus comprises a plurality of collecting deflector surfaces and a plurality of dispensing deflector surfaces, wherein said collecting deflector surfaces and said dispensing deflector surfaces are arranged alternately around said central hub.
  • the central hub is suitably configured to provide at least a portion of the dispensing deflector surface(s) and/or the central hub is suitably configured to provide at least a portion of the collecting deflector surface(s).
  • the partition preferably comprises a plurality of said cavities and a plurality of blades disposed between the front and back panels and extending radially outward from said central hub, wherein each cavity is defined by a first blade, a second blade, a section of the rear wall of the front panel, a section of the rear wall of the back panel, at least one collecting deflector surface and at least one dispensing deflector surface.
  • the apparatus of Embodiment B is preferably configured such that the angle of the axis of the drum to the horizontal plane may be varied to allow solid particulate material to flow from the treatment compartment to the storage compartment during rotation of the drum in a collecting direction, and to allow solid particulate material to flow from the storage compartment to the treatment compartment during rotation of the drum in a dispensing direction.
  • the apparatus is preferably configured such that during rotation of the drum in a collecting direction the drum is inclined in a downwards direction from the access means to the end wall of the drum, and during rotation of the drum in a dispensing direction the drum is inclined in a downwards direction from the end wall of the drum to the access means.
  • Embodiment B it is preferred that:
  • the drum has at least one elongate protrusion located on said inner surface of said drum in the treatment compartment wherein the elongate protrusion extends in a direction away from said partition, preferably wherein said elongate protrusion in the treatment compartment extends from said partition and/or preferably wherein said drum comprises two, three, four, five or six elongate protrusions; and/or.
  • the drum has at least one elongate protrusion located on said inner surface of said drum in the storage compartment wherein the elongate protrusion extends in a direction away from said partition, preferably wherein the elongate protrusion in the storage compartment extends from said partition and/or preferably wherein said drum comprises two, three, four, five or six elongate protrusions;
  • said elongate protrusions are present in both the treatment compartment and the storage compartment, wherein the or each elongate protrusion in the treatment compartment is integrally formed with an elongate protrusion in the storage compartment.
  • the partition combines certain elements of Embodiments A and B described above.
  • the front panel comprises at least one front panel collecting aperture for collecting solid particulate material from the treatment compartment, and at least one front panel dispensing aperture for dispensing solid particulate material to the treatment compartment, wherein the front panel collecting aperture is closer than the front panel dispensing aperture to the inner surface of the drum, preferably wherein the front panel collecting aperture is at the periphery of the front panel and adjacent the inner surface of the drum.
  • the back panel comprises at least one back panel collecting aperture for collecting solid particulate material from the storage compartment, and at least one back panel dispensing aperture for dispensing solid particulate material to the storage compartment, wherein the back panel collecting aperture is closer than the back panel dispensing aperture to the inner surface of the drum, preferably wherein the back panel collecting aperture is at the periphery of the back panel and adjacent the inner surface of the drum.
  • a collecting aperture preferably extends around a portion of the periphery of the panel.
  • a collecting aperture at the periphery of a panel may and preferably does extend along the edge of a panel for only part of its periphery between a pair of adjacent elongate protrusions, and preferably wherein one collecting aperture at the periphery of a panel is juxtaposed with one elongate protrusion.
  • a collecting aperture at the periphery of a panel may extend along the edge of a panel for all of its periphery between a pair of adjacent elongate protrusions.
  • a front panel collecting aperture is disposed along the edge of said front panel for only part of its periphery between a pair of adjacent elongate protrusions and adjacent an elongate protrusion such that, during rotation of the drum in a collecting direction the front panel collecting aperture is at the leading edge of the elongate protrusion.
  • a back panel collecting aperture is disposed along the edge of said back panel for only part of its periphery between a pair of adjacent elongate protrusions and adjacent an elongate protrusion such that, during rotation of the drum in a dispensing direction the back panel collecting aperture is at the leading edge of the elongate protrusion.
  • a front panel collecting aperture is offset from a back panel collecting aperture.
  • a front panel collecting aperture is preferably not located in the same region of the periphery of the partition as a back panel collecting aperture.
  • the partition is configured such that there is no linear pathway (i.e. no straight line) in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the drum which allows solid particulate material to travel along the inner surface of the drum in a direction from the end wall of the drum towards the opening of the drum without being interrupted by at least one of the front and back panels.
  • the partition is configured such that there is no linear pathway (i.e. no straight line) which allows solid particulate material to travel along the inner surface of the drum in a direction from the end wall of the drum towards the opening of the drum without being interrupted by at least one of the front and back panels.
  • a front panel collecting aperture, said at least one cavity, a collecting deflector surface and a back panel dispensing aperture preferably define a channel which allows flow of solid particulate material from the treatment compartment to the storage compartment.
  • a back panel collecting aperture, said at least one cavity, a dispensing deflector surface and a front panel dispensing aperture preferably define a channel which allows flow of solid particulate material from the storage compartment to the treatment compartment.
  • Embodiments C and B The primary difference between Embodiments C and B is the presence in Embodiment C of both dispensing and collecting apertures in each of the front and back panels, wherein the collecting apertures are at the periphery of the panels, as described hereinabove.
  • the partition of Embodiment C is otherwise configured similarly to the partition of Embodiment B, including the description hereinabove of the central hub, collecting deflector surface(s), dispensing collector surface(s), blade(s), elongate protrusion(s) and apparatus configuration (including the angle of the axis of the drum), and the description thereof applies equally to Embodiment C.
  • said dispensing deflector surface(s) are preferably disposed in a direction to deflect solid particulate material through said front panel dispensing apertures and into the treatment compartment.
  • said collecting deflector surface(s) are preferably disposed in a direction to deflect solid particulate material through said back panel dispensing apertures and into the storage compartment.
  • the elongate protrusions may be curvilinear or rectilinear, as described hereinabove. Curvilinear elongate protrusions are particularly suitable for operation of the apparatus wherein the drum is substantially horizontal.
  • the apparatus is configured such that the angle of the axis of the drum to the horizontal plane may be varied, as described hereinabove.
  • at least one scoop on the surface of the back panel facing the storage compartment, wherein said at least one scoop is configured to bias solid particulate material present in the storage compartment towards said at least one back panel collecting aperture during rotation of the drum in a dispensing direction.
  • the presence of said at least one scoop is particularly preferred wherein said at least one back panel collecting aperture is at the periphery of the back panel and adjacent the inner surface of the drum.
  • the presence of said at least one scoop is of particular utility for Embodiments A and C disclosed herein.
  • the scoop facilitates collection of solid particulate material from the storage compartment during rotation of the drum in a dispensing direction. In other words, the scoop increases the catchment region of a back panel collecting aperture.
  • a scoop is associated with a back panel collecting aperture towards which said solid particulate material is biased by said scoop.
  • said elongate protrusion(s) disposed in the storage compartment is/are associated with a back panel collecting aperture towards which said solid particulate material is biased by said elongate protrusion.
  • the apparatus may be configured with at least one elongate protrusion in the storage compartment and at least one scoop on the surface of the back panel facing the storage compartment, but preferably the apparatus is configured with either at least one elongate protrusion in the storage compartment or at least one scoop on the surface of the back panel facing the storage compartment.
  • any or all of the back panel collecting aperture(s) may be associated with both an elongate protrusion and a scoop, but preferably a back panel collecting aperture is associated with either an elongate protrusion or a scoop.
  • a scoop comprises a body portion, a first entry aperture and a second exit aperture, wherein said first entry aperture is in fluid communication with the storage compartment, and said second exit aperture is in fluid communication with a back panel collecting aperture.
  • the scoop is disposed on the surface of the back panel facing the storage compartment such that during rotation of the drum in a dispensing direction, solid particulate material enters the first entry aperture of the scoop from the storage compartment and passes through the body of the scoop towards the second exit aperture of the scoop, and then leaves the scoop through the second exit aperture, and hence into a back panel collecting aperture.
  • said second exit aperture is at least partially aligned with a back panel collecting aperture.
  • the body of a scoop may cover all or part of a back panel collecting aperture.
  • a scoop is located on the surface of the back panel facing the storage compartment such that the inner surface of the drum forms, or is juxtaposed with, an interior surface of the scoop.
  • the apparatus of the present invention is preferably configured for the treatment of substrates with solid particulate material in the presence of a liquid medium and/or one of more treatment formulation(s).
  • the solid particulate material preferably comprises a multiplicity of particles.
  • the number of particles is no less than 1000, more typically no less than 10,000, even more typically no less than 100,000.
  • a large number of particles is particularly advantageous in preventing creasing and/or for improving the uniformity of treating or cleaning of the substrate, particularly wherein the substrate is a textile.
  • the particles have an average mass of from about 1 mg to about 1000 mg, or from about 1 mg to about 700 mg, or from about 1 mg to about 500 mg, or from about 1 mg to about 300 mg, preferably at least about 10 mg, per particle.
  • the particles preferably have an average mass of from about 1 mg to about 150 mg, or from about 1 mg to about 70 mg, or from about 1 mg to about 50 mg, or from about 1 mg to about 35 mg, or from about 10 mg to about 30 mg, or from about 12mg to about 25 mg.
  • the particles preferably have an average mass of from about 10 mg to about 800 mg, or from about 20mg to about 700mg, or from about 50 mg to about 700 mg, or from about 70 mg to about 600 mg from about 20mg to about 600mg. In one preferred embodiment, the particles have an average mass of about 25 to about 150 mg, preferably from about 40 to about 80 mg. In a further preferred embodiment, the particles have an average mass of from about 150 to about 500 mg, preferably from about 150 to about 300 mg.
  • the average volume of the particles is preferably in the range of from about 5 to about 500 mm 3 , from about 5 to about 275 mm 3 , from about 8 to about 140 mm 3 , or from about 10 to about 120 mm 3 , or at least 40 mm 3 , for instance from about 40 to about 500 mm 3 , or from about 40 to about 275 mm 3 , per particle.
  • the average surface area of the particles is preferably from 10 mm 2 to 500 mm 2 per particle, preferably from 10mm 2 to 400mm 2 , more preferably from 40 to 200mm 2 and especially from 50 to 190mm 2 .
  • the particles preferably have an average particle size of at least 1 mm, preferably at least 2mm, preferably at least 3mm, preferably at least 4 mm, and preferably at least 5mm.
  • the particles preferably have an average particle size no more than 100mm, preferably no more than 70mm, preferably no more than 50mm, preferably no more than 40mm, preferably no more than 30mm, preferably no more than 20mm, preferably no more than 10mm, and optionally no more than 7mm.
  • the particles have an average particle size of from 1 to 20mm, more preferably from 1 to 10mm.
  • Particles which offer an especially prolonged effectiveness over a number of treatment cycles are those with an average particle size of at least 5mm, preferably from 5 to 10mm.
  • the size is preferably the largest linear dimension (length). For a sphere this equates to the diameter. For non-spheres this corresponds to the longest linear dimension.
  • the size is preferably determined using Vernier callipers.
  • the average particle size is preferably a number average. The determination of the average particle size is preferably performed by measuring the particle size of at least 10, more preferably at least 100 particles and especially at least 1000 particles. The above mentioned particle sizes provide especially good performance (particularly cleaning performance) whilst also permitting the particles to be readily separable from the substrate at the end of the treatment method.
  • the particles preferably have an average particle density of greater than 1g/cm 3 , more preferably greater than 1.1 g/cm 3 , more preferably greater than 1.2g/cm 3 , even more preferably at least 1.25g/cm 3 and especially preferably greater than 1.3g/cm 3 .
  • the particles preferably have an average particle density of no more than 3g/cm 3 and especially no more than 2.5g/cm 3 .
  • the particles have an average density of from 1.2 to 3g/cm 3 .
  • the particles of the solid particulate material may be polymeric and/or non-polymeric particles.
  • Suitable non-polymeric particles may be selected from metal, alloy, ceramic and glass particles.
  • the particles of the solid particulate material are polymeric particles.
  • the particles comprise a thermoplastic polymer.
  • a thermoplastic polymer as used herein, preferably means a material which becomes soft when heated and hard when cooled. This is to be distinguished from thermosets (e.g. rubbers) which will not soften on heating.
  • a more preferred thermoplastic is one which can be used in hot melt compounding and extrusion.
  • the polymer preferably has a solubility in water of no more than 1wt%, more preferably no more than 0.1wt% in water and most preferably the polymer is insoluble in water.
  • the water is at pH 7 and a temperature of 20°C whilst the solubility test is being performed.
  • the solubility test is preferably performed over a period of 24 hours.
  • the polymer is preferably not degradable. By the words "not degradable" it is preferably meant that the polymer is stable in water without showing any appreciable tendency to dissolve or hydrolyse. For example, the polymer shows no appreciable tendency to dissolve or hydrolyse over a period of 24hrs in water at pH 7 and at a temperature of 20°C.
  • a polymer shows no appreciable tendency to dissolve or hydrolyse if no more than about 1 wt%, preferably no more than about 0.1 wt% and preferably none of the polymer dissolves or hydrolyses, preferably under the conditions defined above.
  • the polymer may be crystalline or amorphous or a mixture thereof.
  • the polymer can be linear, branched or partly cross-linked (preferably wherein the polymer is still thermoplastic in nature), more preferably the polymer is linear.
  • the polymer preferably is or comprises a polyalkylene, a polyamide, a polyester or a polyurethane and copolymers and/or blends thereof, preferably from polyalkylenes, polyamides and polyesters, preferably from polyamides and polyalkylenes, and preferably from polyamides.
  • a preferred polyalkylene is polypropylene.
  • a preferred polyamide is or comprises an aliphatic or aromatic polyamide, more preferably an aliphatic polyamide.
  • Preferred polyamides are those comprising aliphatic chains, especially C 4 - Ci6, C 4 -Ci2 and C 4 -Cio aliphatic chains.
  • Preferred polyamides are or comprise Nylons. Preferred Nylons include Nylon 4,6, Nylon 4, 10, Nylon 5, Nylon 5,10, Nylon 6, Nylon 6,6, Nylon 6/6,6, Nylon 6,6/6, 10, Nylon 6, 10, Nylon 6,12, Nylon 7, Nylon 9, Nylon 10, Nylon 10, 10, Nylon 11 , Nylon 12, Nylon 12, 12 and copolymers or blends thereof.
  • Nylon 6, Nylon 6,6 and Nylon 6, 10, and particularly Nylon 6 and Nylon 6,6, and copolymers or blends thereof are preferred. It will be appreciated that these Nylon grades of polyamides are not degradable, wherein the word degradable is preferably as defined above.
  • Suitable polyesters may be aliphatic or aromatic, and preferably derived from an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and a C1-C6, preferably C2-C aliphatic diol.
  • the aromatic dicarboxylic acid is selected from terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, phthalic acid, 1 ,4-, 2,5-, 2,6- and 2,7- naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, and is preferably terephthalic acid or 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, and is most preferably terephthalic acid.
  • the aliphatic diol is preferably ethylene glycol or 1 ,4-butanediol.
  • Preferred polyesters are selected from polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate.
  • Useful polyesters can have a molecular weight corresponding to an intrinsic viscosity measurement in the range of from about 0.3 to about 1.5 dl/g, as measured by a solution technique such as ASTM D-4603.
  • polymeric particles comprise a filler, preferably an inorganic filler, suitably an inorganic mineral filler in particulate form, such as BaS0 4 .
  • the filler is preferably present in the particle in an amount of at least 5wt%, more preferably at least 10wt%, even more preferably at least 20wt%, yet more preferably at least 30wt% and especially at least 40wt% relative to the total weight of the particle.
  • the filler is typically present in the particle in an amount of no more than 90wt%, more preferably no more than 85wt%, even more preferably no more than 80wt%, yet more preferably no more than 75wt%, especially no more than 70wt%, more especially no more than 65wt% and most especially no more than 60wt% relative to the total weight of the particle.
  • the weight percentage of filler is preferably established by ashing. Preferred ashing methods include ASTM D2584, D5630 and ISO 3451 , and preferably the test method is conducted according to ASTM D5630.
  • the definitive version of the standard is the most recent version which precedes the priority filing date of this patent application.
  • the matrix of said polymer optionally comprising filler(s) and/or other additives extends throughout the whole volume of the particles.
  • the particles can be spheroidal or substantially spherical, ellipsoidal, cylindrical or cuboid. Particles having shapes which are intermediate between these shapes are also possible. The best results for treatment performance (particularly cleaning performance) and separation performance (separating the substrate from the particles after the treating steps) in combination are typically observed with ellipsoidal particles. Spheroidal particles tend to separate best but may provide optimum treatment or cleaning performance. Conversely, cylindrical or cuboid particles separate poorly but treat or clean effectively. Spherical and ellipsoidal particles are particularly useful where improved fabric care is important because they are less abrasive. Spheroidal or ellipsoidal particles are particularly useful in the present invention which is designed to operate without a particle pump and wherein the transfer of the particles between the storage compartment and the treatment compartment is facilitated by rotation of the drum.
  • spheroidal encompasses spherical and substantially spherical particles.
  • the particles are not perfectly spherical.
  • the particles have an average aspect ratio of greater than 1 , more preferably greater than 1.05, even more preferably greater than 1.07 and especially greater than 1.1.
  • the particles have an average aspect ratio of less than 5, preferably less than 3, preferably less than 2, preferably less than 1.7 and preferably less than 1.5.
  • the average is preferably a number average.
  • the average is preferably performed on at least 10, more preferably at least 100 particles and especially at least 1000 particles.
  • the aspect ratio for each particle is preferably given by the ratio of the longest linear dimension divided by the shortest linear dimension.
  • the average aspect ratio is within the abovementioned values.
  • the particles may not provide sufficient mechanical action for good treating or cleaning characteristics.
  • the particles may have an aspect ratio which is too high, the removal of the particles from the substrate may become more difficult and/or the abrasion on the substrate may become too high, which may lead to unwanted damage to the substrate, particularly wherein the substrate is a textile.
  • a method for treating a substrate comprising agitating the substrate with solid particulate material in the apparatus of the present invention, as described herein.
  • the solid particulate material is re-used in further treatment procedures.
  • the method additionally comprises separating the particles from the treated substrate.
  • the particles are preferably stored in the storage compartment for use in the next treatment procedure.
  • the method comprises rotating the drum for multiple rotations in said dispensing direction and further comprises rotating the drum for multiple rotations in said collecting direction.
  • the drum rotates for multiple rotations in said dispensing direction, and may also rotate for multiple rotations in said collecting direction.
  • Rotation in both directions during the agitating phase may be preferable for a number of reasons, including maximising contact and mixing between the substrate(s) and the solid particulate material.
  • the agitating phase comprises a greater number of rotations in the dispensing direction than in the collecting direction.
  • the drum rotates for multiple rotations in said collecting direction, and may also rotate for multiple rotations in said dispensing direction. Rotation in both directions during the separating phase may be advantageous in order to facilitate better separation of the solid particulate material from the treated substrate.
  • the separating phase comprises a greater number of rotations in the collecting direction than in the dispensing direction.
  • the method preferably comprises agitating the substrate with solid particulate material and a liquid medium.
  • the method comprises agitating the substrate with said solid particulate material and a treatment formulation.
  • the method comprises agitating the substrate with said solid particulate material, a liquid medium and one or more treatment formulation(s).
  • the method may comprise the additional step of rinsing the treated substrate.
  • Rinsing is preferably performed by adding a rinsing liquid medium, optionally comprising one or more post- treatment additives, to the treated substrate.
  • the rinsing liquid medium is preferably an aqueous medium as defined herein.
  • the method is a method for treating multiple batches, wherein a batch comprises at least one substrate, the method comprising agitating a first batch with solid particulate material, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:
  • step (a) collecting said solid particulate material in the storage compartment; (b) agitating a second batch comprising at least one substrate with solid particulate material collected from step (a);
  • step (c) optionally repeating steps (a) and (b) for subsequent batch(es) comprising at least one substrate.
  • the treatment procedure of an individual batch typically comprises the steps of agitating the batch with said solid particulate material in a treatment apparatus for a treatment cycle.
  • a treatment cycle typically comprises one or more discrete treatment step(s), optionally one or more rinsing step(s), optionally one or more step(s) of separating the particles from the treated batch, optionally one or more extraction step(s) of removing liquid medium from the treated batch, optionally one or more drying step(s), and optionally the step of removing the treated batch from the apparatus.
  • steps (a) and (b) may be repeated at least 1 time, preferably at least 2 times, preferably at least 3 times, preferably at least 5 times, preferably at least 10 times, preferably at least 20 times, preferably at least 50 times, preferably at least 100 times, preferably at least 200 times, preferably at least 300 times, preferably at least 400 at least or preferably at least 500 times.
  • the substrate may be or comprise a textile and/or an animal skin substrate.
  • the substrate is or comprises a textile.
  • the textile may be in the form of an item of clothing such as a coat, jacket, trousers, shirt, skirt, dress, jumper, underwear, hat, scarf, overalls, shorts, swim wear, socks and suits.
  • the textile may also be in the form of a bag, belt, curtains, rug, blanket, sheet or a furniture covering.
  • the textile can also be in the form of a panel, sheet or roll of material which is later used to prepare the finished item or items.
  • the textile can be or comprise a synthetic fibre, a natural fibre or a combination thereof.
  • the textile can comprise a natural fibre which has undergone one or more chemical modifications.
  • animal skin substrate includes skins, hides, pelts, leather and fleeces. Typically, the animal skin substrate is a hide or a pelt. The hide or pelt may be a processed or unprocessed animal skin substrate.
  • the treating of a substrate which is or comprises a textile according to the present invention may be a cleaning process or any other treatment process such as coloration (preferably dyeing), ageing or abrading (for instance stone-washing), bleaching or other finishing process.
  • Stonewashing is a known method for providing textiles having "worn in” or “stonewashed” characteristics such as a faded appearance, a softer feel and a greater degree of flexibility. Stonewashing is frequently practiced with denim.
  • the treating of a substrate which is or comprises a textile is a cleaning process.
  • the cleaning process may be a domestic or industrial cleaning process.
  • the treating of a substrate which is or comprises a textile is an ageing or abrading process, particularly stone-washing.
  • the term "treating" in relation to treating an animal skin substrate is preferably a tannery process, including colouring and tanning and associated tannery processes, preferably selected from curing, beamhouse treatments, pre-tanning, tanning, re-tanning, fat liquoring, enzyme treatment, tawing, crusting, dyeing and dye fixing, preferably wherein said beamhouse treatments are selected from soaking, liming, deliming, reliming, unhairing, fleshing, bating, degreasing, scudding, pickling and depickling.
  • said treating of an animal skin substrate is a process used in the production of leather.
  • said treating acts to transfer a tanning agent (including a colourant or other agent used in a tannery process) onto or into the animal skin substrate.
  • the treatment formulation referred to herein may comprise one or more treatment agent(s) which are suitable to effect the desired treating of the substrate.
  • a method according to the present invention which is a cleaning process suitably comprises agitating the substrate with said solid particulate material, a liquid medium and one or more treatment formulation(s) wherein said treatment formulation is preferably a detergent composition comprising one or more of the following components: surfactants, dye transfer inhibitors, builders, enzymes, metal chelating agents, biocides, solvents, stabilizers, acids, bases and buffers.
  • said treatment formulation is preferably a detergent composition comprising one or more of the following components: surfactants, dye transfer inhibitors, builders, enzymes, metal chelating agents, biocides, solvents, stabilizers, acids, bases and buffers.
  • the treatment formulation of a coloration process is preferably a composition comprising one or more dyes, pigments, optical brighteners and mixtures thereof.
  • the treatment formulation of a stone-washing process may comprise an appropriate stone- washing agent, as known in the art, for instance an enzymatic treatment agent such as a cellulase.
  • the treatment formulation of a tannery process suitably comprises one or more agent(s) selected from tanning agents, re-tanning agents and tannery process agents.
  • the treatment formulation may comprise one or more colourant(s).
  • the tanning or re-tanning agent is preferably selected from synthetic tanning agents, vegetable tanning or vegetable re-tanning agents and mineral tanning agents such as chromium (III) salts or salts and complexes containing iron, zirconium, aluminium and titanium.
  • Suitable synthetic tanning agents include amino resins, polyacrylates, fluoro and/or silicone polymers and formaldehyde condensation polymers based on phenol, urea, melamine, naphthalene, sulphone, cresol, bisphenol A, naphthol and/or biphenyl ether.
  • Vegetable tanning agents comprise tannins which are typically polyphenols. Vegetable tanning agents can be obtained from plant leaves, roots and especially tree barks. Examples of vegetable tanning agents include the extracts of the tree barks from chestnut, oak, redoul, tanoak, hemlock, quebracho, mangrove, wattle acacia; and myrobalan.
  • Suitable mineral tanning agents comprise chromium compounds, especially chromium salts and complexes, typically in a chromium (III) oxidation state, such as chromium (III) sulphate.
  • Other tanning agents include aldehydes (glyoxal, glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde), phosphonium salts, metal compounds other than chromium (e.g. iron, titanium, zirconium and aluminium compounds).
  • the tanning agents are substantially free from chromium-containing compounds.
  • One or more substrates can be simultaneously treated by the method of the invention. The exact number of substrates will depend on the size of the substrates and the capacity of the apparatus utilized.
  • the total weight of dry substrates treated at the same time may be up to 50,000 kg.
  • the total weight is typically from 1 to 500 kg, more typically 1 to 300 kg, more typically 1 to 200 kg, more typically from 1 to 100 kg, even more typically from 2 to 50 kg and especially from 2 to 30 kg.
  • the total weight is normally at least about 50 kg, and can be up to about 50,000 kg, typically from about 500 to about 30,000 kg, from about 1000 kg to about 25,000 kg, from about 2000 to about 20,000 kg, or from about 2500 to about 10,000 kg.
  • the liquid medium is an aqueous medium, i.e. the liquid medium is or comprises water.
  • the liquid medium comprises at least 50wt%, at least 60wt%, at least 70wt%, at least 80wt%, at least 90wt%, at least 95wt% and at least 98wt% of water.
  • the liquid medium may optionally comprise one or more organic liquids including for example alcohols, glycols, glycol ethers, amides and esters.
  • the sum total of all organic liquids present in the liquid medium is no more than 10wt%, more preferably no more than 5wt%, even more preferably no more than 2wt%, especially no more than 1 % and most especially the liquid medium is substantially free from organic liquids.
  • the liquid medium preferably has a pH of from 3 to 13.
  • the pH or the treatment liquor can differ at different times, points or stages in the treatment method according to the invention. It can be desirable to treat (particularly to clean) a substrate under alkaline pH conditions, although while higher pH offers improved performance (particularly cleaning performance) it can be less kind to some substrates.
  • the liquid medium has a pH of from 7 to 13, more preferably from 7 to 12, even more preferably from 8 to 12 and especially from 9 to 12.
  • the pH is from 4 to 12, preferably 5 to 10, especially 6 to 9, and most especially 7 to 9, particularly in order to improve fabric care.
  • the treating of a substrate, or one or more specific stage(s) of a treatment process is conducted under acid pH conditions.
  • certain steps in the treatment of animal skin substrates are advantageously conducted at a pH which is typically less than 6.5, even more typically less than 6 and most typically less than 5.5, and typically no less than 1 , more typically no less than 2 and most typically no less than 3.
  • Certain fabric or garment finishing treatment methods for instance stone-washing, may also utilise one or more acidic stage(s).
  • An acid and/or base may be added in order to obtain the abovementioned pH values.
  • the abovementioned pH is maintained for at least a part of the duration, and in some preferred embodiments for all of the duration, of the agitation.
  • a buffer may be used.
  • the weight ratio of the liquid medium to the dry substrate is no more than 20: 1 , more preferably no more than 10: 1 , especially no more than 5: 1 , more especially no more than 4.5: 1 and even more especially no more than 4:1 and most especially no more than 3:1.
  • the weight ratio of liquid medium to the dry substrate is at least 0.1 : 1 , more preferably at least 0.5: 1 and especially at least 1 : 1.
  • the ratio of particles to dry substrate is at least 0.1 , especially at least 0.5 and more especially at least 1 : 1 w/w.
  • the ratio of particles to dry substrate is no more than 30: 1 , more preferably no more than 20: 1 , especially no more than 15: 1 and more especially no more than 10: 1 w/w.
  • the ratio of the particles to dry substrate is from 0.1 : 1 to 30: 1 , more preferably from 0.5: 1 to 20: 1 , especially from 1 : 1 to 15: 1 w/w and more especially from 1 :1 to 10: 1 w/w.
  • the treatment method agitates the substrate in the presence of the solid particulate material.
  • the agitation may be in the form of shaking, stirring, jetting and tumbling. Of these, tumbling is especially preferred.
  • the substrate and solid particulate material are introduced into the drum which is rotated so as to cause tumbling.
  • the rotation can be such as to provide a centripetal force of from 0.05 to 1G and especially from 0.05 to 0.7G.
  • the centripetal force is preferably as calculated at the interior walls of the drum furthest away from the axis of rotation.
  • the solid particulate material is able to contact the substrate, suitably mixing with the substrate during the agitation.
  • the agitation may be continuous or intermittent.
  • the method is performed for a period of from 1 minute to 10 hours, more preferably from 5 minutes to 3 hours and even more preferably from 10 minutes to 2 hours.
  • the treatment method is preferably performed at a temperature of from greater than 0°C to about 95°C, preferably from 5 to 95°C, preferably at least 10°C, preferably at least 15°C, preferably no more than 90°C, preferably no more than 70°C, and advantageously no more 50°C, no more than 40°C or no more than 30°C.
  • Such milder temperatures allow the particles to provide the aforementioned benefits over larger numbers of treatment cycles.
  • every treating or cleaning cycle is performed at no more than a temperature of 95°C, more preferably at no more than 90°C, even more preferably at no more than 80°C, especially at no more than 70°C, more especially at no more than 60°C and most especially at no more than 50°C, and from greater than 0°C, preferably at least 5°C, preferably at least 10°C, preferably at least 15°C, preferably from greater than 0 to 50°C, greater than 0 to 40°C, or greater than 0 to 30°C, and advantageously from 15 to 50°C, 15 to 40°C or 15 to 30°C.
  • These lower temperatures again allow the particles to provide the benefits for a larger number of treatment or wash cycles.
  • duration and temperature conditions described hereinabove are associated with the treating of an individual batch comprising at least one of said substrate(s).
  • the method is a method for cleaning a substrate, preferably a laundry cleaning method, preferably a method for cleaning a substrate which is or comprises a textile.
  • a batch is a washload.
  • the washload comprises at least one soiled substrate, preferably wherein the soiled substrate is or comprises a soiled textile.
  • the soil may be in the form of, for example, dust, dirt, foodstuffs, beverages, animal products such as sweat, blood, urine, faeces, plant materials such as grass, and inks and paints.
  • the cleaning procedure of an individual washload typically comprises the steps of agitating the washload with said solid particulate material in a cleaning apparatus for a cleaning cycle.
  • a cleaning cycle typically comprises one or more discrete cleaning step(s) and optionally one or more post-cleaning treatment step(s), optionally one or more rinsing step(s), optionally one or more step(s) of separating the cleaning particles from the cleaned washload, optionally one or more extraction step(s) of removing liquid medium from the cleaned washload, optionally one or more drying step(s), and optionally the step of removing the cleaned washload from the cleaning apparatus.
  • the substrate is preferably agitated with said solid particulate material, a liquid medium, and preferably also a detergent composition.
  • the detergent composition may comprise any one or more of the following components: surfactants, dye transfer inhibitors, builders, enzymes, metal chelating agents, biocides, solvents, stabilizers, acids, bases and buffers.
  • the detergent composition may comprise one or more enzyme(s).
  • optional post-cleaning additives which may be present in a rinsing liquid medium include optical brightening agents, fragrances and fabric softeners.
  • a method of constructing an apparatus according to the present invention which is suitable for use in the treatment of substrates using a solid particulate material, the method comprising retrofitting a starting apparatus which is not suitable for use in the treatment of substrates using a solid particulate material and which comprises a housing having mounted therein a rotatably mounted drum having an inner surface and an end wall and which further comprises access means for introducing said substrates into said drum, wherein said retrofitting comprises the steps of:
  • said partition is configured to divide the interior of the drum into a storage compartment for storing said solid particulate material and a treatment compartment for said treatment of substrates, wherein the storage compartment is adjacent the end wall and the treatment compartment is adjacent the access means, wherein said partition comprises one or more apertures to allow flow of solid particulate material between the storage compartment and the treatment compartment, wherein flow of solid particulate material from the storage compartment towards the treatment compartment is facilitated by the rotation of said drum in a dispensing direction and flow of solid particulate material from the treatment compartment towards the storage compartment is facilitated by the rotation of said drum in a collecting direction, and wherein rotation in the dispensing direction is in the opposite rotational direction to rotation in the collecting direction,
  • said partition comprises a front panel facing the treatment compartment and a back panel facing the storage compartment wherein the front panel comprises at least one front panel aperture which allows flow of solid particulate material between the storage compartment and the treatment compartment and the back panel comprises at least one back panel aperture which allows flow of solid particulate material between the storage compartment and the treatment compartment,
  • disposed between the front and rear panels are at least one cavity, at least one collecting deflector surface, and at least one dispensing deflector surface, wherein said at least one collecting deflector surface is configured to bias solid particulate material in said at least one cavity towards the storage compartment, and wherein said at least one dispensing deflector surface is configured to bias solid particulate material in said at least one cavity towards the treatment compartment.
  • a kit for converting an apparatus which is not suitable for use in the treatment of substrates using a solid particulate material into an apparatus as defined herein which is suitable for use in the treatment of substrates using a solid particulate material wherein the apparatus comprises a housing having mounted therein a rotatably mounted drum having an inner surface and an end wall and which further comprises access means for introducing said substrates into said drum,
  • kit comprises solid particulate material and a partition
  • said partition is configured to divide the interior of the drum into a storage compartment for storing said solid particulate material and a treatment compartment for said treatment of substrates, wherein the storage compartment is adjacent the end wall and the treatment compartment is adjacent the access means, wherein said partition comprises one or more apertures to allow flow of solid particulate material between the storage compartment and the treatment compartment, wherein flow of solid particulate material from the storage compartment towards the treatment compartment is facilitated by the rotation of said drum in a dispensing direction and flow of solid particulate material from the treatment compartment towards the storage compartment is facilitated by the rotation of said drum in a collecting direction, and wherein rotation in the dispensing direction is in the opposite rotational direction to rotation in the collecting direction, wherein said partition comprises a front panel facing the treatment compartment and a back panel facing the storage compartment wherein the front panel comprises at least one front panel aperture which allows flow of solid particulate material between the storage compartment and the treatment compartment and the back panel comprises at least one back panel aperture which allows flow of solid particulate material between the storage compartment and the treatment compartment,
  • disposed between the front and rear panels are at least one cavity, at least one collecting deflector surface, and at least one dispensing deflector surface, wherein said at least one collecting deflector surface is configured to bias solid particulate material in said at least one cavity towards the storage compartment, and wherein said at least one dispensing deflector surface is configured to bias solid particulate material in said at least one cavity towards the treatment compartment.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a partition 1 according to Embodiment A comprising a front panel 2 having a plurality of front panel collecting apertures 3 and a plurality of front panel dispensing apertures 4.
  • Partition 1 further comprises a back panel 5 having a plurality of back panel collecting apertures 6 and a plurality of back panel dispensing apertures (7, not shown).
  • the partition 1 further comprises an inner panel 8 disposed between front panel 2 and back panel 5, thereby defining a front cavity 9 and a back cavity 10.
  • the partition 1 further comprises a plurality of blades 11 a disposed between the front panel 2 and inner panel 8 configured to bias solid particulate material in the front cavity 9 towards a collecting deflector surface (not shown) during rotation of the drum (not shown) in collecting direction 12.
  • the partition 1 further comprises a plurality of blades 11 b disposed between the back panel 5 and inner panel 8 configured to bias solid particulate material in the back cavity 10 towards a dispensing deflector surface (not shown) during rotation in a dispensing direction which is the rotational direction opposite to arrow 12.
  • the partition 1 further comprises a plurality of dispensing deflector surfaces 16 configured to bias solid particulate present in the front cavity 9 towards the treatment compartment 14 of the drum (not shown) during rotation in the dispensing direction, which is the rotational direction opposite to arrow 12.
  • the partition 1 is shown in association with a plurality of curvilinear or spiral elongate protrusions 13a configured to bias solid particulate material in the treatment compartment 14 towards front panel collecting apertures 3 during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction 12.
  • the partition 1 is further shown in association with a plurality of curvilinear or spiral elongate protrusions 13b configured to bias solid particulate material in the storage compartment 15 of the drum (not shown) towards back panel collecting apertures 6 during rotation of the drum in the dispensing direction.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a variation of the partition of Figure 1 in which the front panel collecting apertures 3 and front panel dispensing apertures 4 have a different arrangement. Also shown are a plurality of dispensing deflector surfaces 16a, 16b, 16c configured to bias solid particulate present in the front cavity 9 towards the treatment compartment 14.
  • Figure 3 illustrates certain elements of partition 1 according to Embodiment A, showing inner panel 8 but neither of the front or back panels.
  • a plurality of blades 1 1 a are disposed in the front cavity 9 between the front panel (not shown) and inner panel 8, wherein blades 1 1a are configured to bias solid particulate material in the front cavity 9 towards collecting deflector surfaces 17a, 17b during rotation in collecting direction 12.
  • Collecting deflector surfaces 17a, 17b are configured to bias solid particulate material in the front cavity 9 towards the storage compartment 15 during rotation in collecting direction 12.
  • Said collecting deflector surfaces 17a, 17b, 17c may extend into the back cavity (not shown).
  • dispensing deflector surfaces 16a, 16b configured to bias solid particulate material in the front cavity 9 towards the treatment compartment 14 during rotation of the drum in the dispensing direction, which is the rotational direction opposite to arrow 12. Said dispensing deflector surfaces 16a, 16b may extend into the back cavity (not shown).
  • Figure 4 illustrates certain elements of partition 1 according to Embodiment A, showing inner panel 8 but neither of the front or back panels.
  • Blade 11 a is configured to bias solid particulate material in the front cavity 9 towards collecting deflector surface 17a which is configured to bias solid particulate material in the front cavity 9 towards the storage compartment 15 during rotation in collecting direction 12.
  • a collecting deflector surface may extend into or be present in the back cavity 10, and this part of the collecting deflector surface is shown as collecting deflector surface 17c which is configured to bias solid particulate material in the back cavity 10 towards the storage compartment 15 during rotation in collecting direction 12. It will be appreciated that said part of the collecting deflector surface 17c may comprise part of the reverse side of blade 11 b disposed in the back cavity 10 (i.e.
  • Figure 5 shows a partition 1 according to Embodiment A disposed in drum 18, which is separated into a treatment compartment 14 and a storage compartment 15.
  • Figure 6 shows a partition 1 according to Embodiment B comprising a front panel 2 facing the treatment compartment (not shown) and a back panel 5 facing the storage compartment (not shown).
  • the front panel has a plurality of front panel apertures 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d.
  • a plurality of cavities 21a and 21 b is disposed between the front and back panels.
  • a plurality of blades 22a, 22b and 22d is disposed between the front and back panels, the blades extending radially outward from a central hub (not shown), creating the plurality of cavities 21a and 21 b.
  • a plurality of dispensing deflector surfaces 23a, 23b (not shown) and 23c is disposed in a cavity in a direction to deflect solid particulate material through the front panel apertures 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d towards the treatment compartment.
  • the central hub is configured to provide portions of the dispensing deflector surfaces, which are shown in Figure 6 as dispensing deflector surfaces 23aa, 23bb and 23cc adjacent dispensing deflector surface 23a, 23b (not shown) and 23c and adjacent front panel apertures 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d and which are similarly disposed in a direction to deflect solid particulate material through said front panel apertures into the treatment compartment.
  • Cut-away portions 24b and 25b in the front panel 2 and back panel 5, respectively, are designed to locate around an elongate protrusion (not shown) disposed on the inner surface of the drum (not shown).
  • Figure 7 illustrates certain elements of a partition 1 according to Embodiment B, in which the front panel is not shown, and comprising a back panel 5 facing the storage compartment (not shown).
  • a plurality of blades 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d is disposed between the front panel (not shown) and the back panel 5, the blades extending radially outward from a central hub 26, creating a plurality of cavities 21 a, 21 b, 21 c and 21 d.
  • a plurality of dispensing deflector surfaces 23a and 23b is arranged around the central hub 26 in a direction to deflect solid particulate material through the front panel apertures (not shown) and towards the treatment compartment (not shown).
  • the central hub 26 is configured to provide portions of the dispensing deflector surfaces, which are shown in Figure 7 as dispensing deflector surfaces 23aa and 23bb adjacent dispensing deflector surfaces 23a and 23b and adjacent the front panel apertures (not shown) and which are disposed in a direction to deflect solid particulate material through said front panel apertures into the treatment compartment.
  • a plurality of collecting deflector surfaces 27a, 27b, 27c and 27d is arranged around the central hub in a direction to deflect solid particulate material through the back panel apertures 28a, 28b and towards the storage compartment (not shown).
  • Figure 8 illustrates certain elements of a partition 1 according to Embodiment B comprising a front panel 2 having a front panel aperture 20b, and a back panel 5 having a back panel aperture 28a.
  • a partition 1 according to Embodiment B comprising a front panel 2 having a front panel aperture 20b, and a back panel 5 having a back panel aperture 28a.
  • Arranged around the central hub 26 in an alternating manner are a plurality of dispensing deflector surfaces 23a and 23b and a plurality of collecting deflector surfaces 27a and 27b.
  • the dispensing deflector surfaces are disposed in a direction to deflect solid particulate material through said front panel apertures and towards the treatment compartment (not shown).
  • the collecting deflector surfaces are disposed in a direction to deflect solid particulate material through said back panel apertures and towards the storage compartment (not shown).
  • the central hub 26 is configured to provide portions of the collecting deflector surfaces, which are shown in Figure 8 as collecting deflector surfaces 27aa and 27bb adjacent collecting deflector surfaces 27a and 27b and adjacent the back panel apertures 28a which are disposed in a direction to deflect solid particulate material through said back panel apertures into the storage compartment.
  • Figure 9 shows a component which comprises a plurality of dispensing deflector surfaces 23 and a plurality of collecting dispenser surfaces 27. The component may be fitted in, around or as a part of the central hub of the partition of Embodiment B.
  • Figure 10 shows a partition 1 according to Embodiment C comprising a front panel 2 facing the treatment compartment (not shown) and a back panel 5 facing the storage compartment (not shown).
  • the front panel has a plurality of front panel collecting apertures 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d.
  • the back panel has a corresponding number of back panel collecting apertures 31 b and 31 c (31 a and 31 d not shown).
  • the other elements of the partition are as described in Figure 6, including the plurality of cavities and blades disposed between the front and back panels, the blades extending radially outward from a central hub and creating said cavities.
  • a plurality of dispensing deflector surfaces is disposed in a cavity in a direction to deflect solid particulate material through the front panel dispensing apertures 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d towards the treatment compartment.
  • Cut-away portions 24c and 25c in the front panel 2 and back panel 5, respectively, are designed to locate around an elongate protrusion (not shown) disposed on the inner surface of the drum (not shown).
  • Figure 11 illustrates certain elements of a partition 1 according to Embodiment C, in which the front panel is not shown, and comprising a back panel 5 facing the storage compartment (not shown) and comprising back panel collecting apertures 31a, 31 b, 31 c and 31 d.
  • a plurality of blades 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d is disposed between the front panel (not shown) and the back panel 5, the blades extending radially outward from a central hub 26, creating a plurality of cavities 21a, 21 b, 21 c and 21d.
  • a plurality of dispensing deflector surfaces e.g. 23a is arranged around the central hub 26 in a direction to deflect solid particulate material through the front dispensing panel apertures (not shown) and towards the treatment compartment (not shown).
  • the central hub 26 is configured to provide portions of the dispensing deflector surfaces, which are shown in Figure 1 1 as, e.g.
  • a plurality of collecting deflector surfaces e.g. 27b is arranged around the central hub in a direction to deflect solid particulate material through the back panel dispensing apertures (e.g. 28b) towards the storage compartment (not shown).
  • Cut-away portions 25a, 25b, 25c and 25d in the back panel 5 are designed to locate around an elongate protrusion (not shown) disposed on the inner surface of the drum (not shown).
  • Figure 12 illustrates an embodiment in which a scoop (33) is disposed on the surface of back panel (5) facing the storage compartment (15), wherein said scoop (33) is associated with a back panel collecting aperture (6).
  • Figure 13 shows the body portion (34), the first entry aperture (35) and the second exit aperture (36) of said scoop.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Crushing And Pulverization Processes (AREA)
PCT/GB2018/050750 2017-03-24 2018-03-22 Apparatus and method for treating a substrate with solid particles in a rotatably mounted drum WO2018172779A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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GB1704728.3 2017-03-24
GBGB1704728.3A GB201704728D0 (en) 2017-03-24 2017-03-24 Treatment apparatus and method

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WO2018172779A1 true WO2018172779A1 (en) 2018-09-27

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CN113106702A (zh) * 2021-04-19 2021-07-13 龙健 洗鞋方法及洗鞋装置

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WO2020225307A1 (en) * 2019-05-07 2020-11-12 Syddansk Universitet Mechanism for dispensing biological material

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EP2749685A1 (en) * 2011-08-22 2014-07-02 Haier Group Corporation Drum washing machine and washing method
EP2762630A1 (en) * 2011-09-30 2014-08-06 Haier Group Technique R&D Center Washing machine and washing method
WO2014147391A1 (en) * 2013-03-20 2014-09-25 Xeros Limited New cleaning apparatus and method

Patent Citations (3)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2749685A1 (en) * 2011-08-22 2014-07-02 Haier Group Corporation Drum washing machine and washing method
EP2762630A1 (en) * 2011-09-30 2014-08-06 Haier Group Technique R&D Center Washing machine and washing method
WO2014147391A1 (en) * 2013-03-20 2014-09-25 Xeros Limited New cleaning apparatus and method

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113106702A (zh) * 2021-04-19 2021-07-13 龙健 洗鞋方法及洗鞋装置

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