U.S. patent application number 10/517045 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-06 for wrinkle deterring and textile cleaning processes and apparatuses.
Invention is credited to Steiner, Michael Scott, Steiner, William K..
Application Number | 20050217035 10/517045 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29715007 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050217035 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Steiner, William K. ; et
al. |
October 6, 2005 |
Wrinkle deterring and textile cleaning processes and
apparatuses
Abstract
Processes and apparatuses (10) for commercial and home-use
cleaning of textile. Home-use embodiments replace the home laundry
clothes dryer, except for embodiments using a novel manual kit (K).
Soiled/stained textile (12, 14) sprayed dampened with solvent,
preferably automatically in the dryer apparatus' rotatable drum
(16); but the textile therein is not soaked nor immersed in
solvent. Highly absorbent, untreated pad material (3, 56) is placed
into the drum, for rubbing against the tumbling textile (12, 14),
to remove the soil, stains and solvent, as well as provide wrinkle
deterring hydration. Also, for home-use washer and washer-dryer
combined units, the pad material (3, 56) can be placed into the
drum (16) prior to the washing cycle, to enhance the scrubbing
action.
Inventors: |
Steiner, William K.;
(Aventura, FL) ; Steiner, Michael Scott;
(Hallandale, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RUDEN, MCCLOSKY, SMITH, SCHUSTER & RUSSELL, P.A.
P.O. BOX 1900
FORT LAUDERDALE
FL
33301
US
|
Family ID: |
29715007 |
Appl. No.: |
10/517045 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
June 3, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US03/17392 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10517045 |
Dec 3, 2004 |
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10333675 |
Jan 22, 2003 |
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6889399 |
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60385384 |
Jun 3, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
8/149.3 ; 68/207;
68/28; 68/5C; 68/58; 8/149.2; 8/158 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 58/203 20130101;
D06F 43/00 20130101; D06F 39/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
008/149.3 ;
008/149.2; 008/158; 068/005.00C; 068/028; 068/058; 068/207 |
International
Class: |
D06F 037/00 |
Claims
1-21. (canceled)
22. In a process for cleaning textile in a drum within a machine,
said process comprising the steps of: dampening the textile with
liquid, other than for spotting, in the absence of soaking or
immersing the textile in liquid; controlling the duration that the
textile maintains hydration; and said controlling including at
least in part placing highly absorbent pad material into the drum
for absorbing at least some of the liquid in the textile and drum
for release back into air within the drum and into the textile at a
rate slower than being released from the dampened textile.
23. In the process according to claim 22, the step of dampening
being: manually dampening the textile with solvent, exterior to the
drum and machine.
24. In the process according to claim 22, said step of dampening
being: spraying automatically the solvent into the drum from
exterior the drum.
25. In the process according to claim 24, said step of dampening
being: at least one of steam, air and water.
26. In the process according to claim 22, the step of: removing the
textile from the drum when the textile has sufficiently dried, but
also retains enough hydration to be substantially wrinkle free.
27. In a process for cleaning textile in a drum within a machine,
said process comprising the steps of: placing highly absorbent pad
material into the drum; generating relative movement between the
textile, the pad material and cleaning/rinsing liquid in the drum;
and scrubbing action thereby being caused by the pad material upon
the textile.
28. In the process according to claim 27, the machine being a
combination textile washing and drying machine, the steps of:
absorbing, by the pad material, some of cleaning/rinsing liquid
from the textile and the drum, during said scrubbing action;
retaining the pad material in the drum after the scrubbing action
and throughout textile drying by the machine; and controlling the
duration of hydration that the liquid has imparted to the textile
by releasing some of that liquid from the pad material back into
the textile and the drum.
29. In the process according to claim 27, the step of: removing the
textile from the drum when the textile has sufficiently dried, but
also retains enough hydration to be substantially wrinkle free.
30. Apparatus for cleaning textile in a drum within a machine, said
apparatus comprising: dampening means for applying solvent to the
textile, other than for spotting, to dampen the textile in the
absence of soaking or immersing the textile in the solvent or any
liquid; and highly absorbent pad material in said drum; said pad
material and the dampened textile being in rubbing contact in said
drum; whereby, soil and solvent are transferred from the textile to
said pad material and; at least near the end of the cleaning, while
the textile is drying in said drum, said pad material hydrates the
textile to deter the formation of wrinkles.
31. Apparatus according to claim 30, in which: at least some of
said pad material is detachably secured within said drum.
32. Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said drum has interior
lifting ribs; and said pad material is detachably secured to said
lifting ribs.
33. Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein: said pad material is
untreated.
34. Apparatus according to claim 33, wherein: said pad material is
felt.
35. Apparatus according to claim 30, in which: said dampening means
is constructed and arranged to spray solvent automatically, from
exterior said drum, into said drum.
36. Apparatus according to claim 35 comprising: automatic spraying
equipment, for additional spraying into said drum at least one of
air, steam or water, without soaking or immersing the textile in
liquid in said drum.
37. Apparatus for cleaning textile, comprising: a drum within a
machine; highly absorbent pad material in said drum; means. for
introducing liquid into said drum for cleaning and rinsing textile
in said drum; and means for generating relative movement between
the textile, the liquid and said pad material; whereby said textile
rubs against said pad material causing a scrubbing of said
textile.
38. Apparatus according to claim 37 in which: said machine is a
laundry washing machine; and said pad material is attached to the
interior of said drum.
39. Apparatus according to claim 37, in which: said machine is a
combination washing and drying machine; said pad material is
present in said drum during washing and drying of the textile; and
said pad material defines a source for hydration of the textile
during drying thereof in said drum; whereby, the textile does not
dry to the extent that wrinkles are formed prior to the textile
removal from said drum.
40. For use in a process for drying wet textile in a rotatable drum
of a textile dryer, the invention comprising: highly absorbent pad
material, for maintaining hydration of the initially wet textile in
the drum by; absorbing some of the liquid in the wet textile, when
the pad material and the textile rub against each other during
rotation of the drum; and releasing back, from the pad material to
the textile and the interior of the drum, some of the liquid at a
rate slower than being removed from the textile.
41. The invention according to claim 40, in which said pad material
is secured to the interior periphery of the drum to provide at
least one of: a cushion protective of buttons and zippers on the
textile as they tumble in the rotating drum; and a smooth, soft
hand finish to the drying textile.
42. In a kit for use with a textile dryer having a rotatable drum:
highly absorbent pad material to be placed in the drum with liquid
wet textile; whereupon, at least near the end of the typical drying
cycle, said pad material hydrates the textile to deter formation of
wrinkles.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/385,384, filed on 3 Jun. 2002, entitled
METHOD AND DEVICES FOR PREVENTING WRINKLING OF TEXTILES IN DRYERS;
and is a Continuation-in-Part of prior pending U.S. application
Ser. No. 10/333,675, filed on 22 Jan. 2003, entitled TEXTILE
CLEANING PROCESSES AND APPARATUSES, which is a Title 15 U.S.C.
Section 371 application of PCT Application No. PCT/US01/23444,
filed 25 Jul. 2001, published in English as WO 02/08510 A1, on 31
Jan. 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention concerns textile cleaning processes and
apparatuses, useful in commercial facilities, group housing and
private dwellings.
[0004] 2. Prior Art
[0005] Textile cleaning processes and apparatus have been in use
commercially for a considerable length of years. For the most part,
commercial processes have changed/improved relatively little except
for the use of less dangerous solvents. Likewise, commercial dry
cleaning equipment, except for more automation, is mostly the same
for the past fifty years and do that which was done previously.
[0006] Commercial dry cleaning, as is well known, is not a dry
process, it is basically a waterless process, using unhealthy,
unfriendly and hazardous liquid solvents, in which the soiled
textiles are immersed and mixed in a rotating drum until the soil
transfers from the textile into the solvent bath. Also, the volume
of solvent needed to immerse the textiles in the drum presents its
own problems: cost, storage space, proper disposal, filtering and
recycling, etc.
[0007] Home-use laundry cleaning equipment typically comprises: a
textile washing machine, in which the textiles are fully immersed
in water with a detergent; and a separate drying machine, employing
a tumbling drum, into which heated air is passed. Home-use laundry
equipment also comes in the form of a single piece of equipment,
which first immerses, washes and drains, and then hot air dries the
textiles; thereby providing housing space savings and eliminating
the step of moving the spun down, but very wet textile, from the
washer unit into the dryer unit.
[0008] The two unit and one unit home-use laundry cleaning
equipment, as well as commercial textile dryers, have a common
problem, the laundry and textile will become wrinkled, before
removal from the dryer, unless there is closely timed human
operator intervention to remove the textiles prior to wrinkling,
but after sufficient drying. Home-use units, both the separate
washer and dryer, as well as the combined washer and dryer, also
have the problems of inadequate cleaning and residual cleaning
agent remaining after washing and drying.
[0009] Quite recently, there has entered the market place kits for
home-use, in home clothes dryers, for freshening and cleaning of
garments which cannot be washed in water and are not so soiled that
commercial dry cleaning should be used. Although such kits are
convenient to use, their capability to satisfactorily remove soil
is limited. Such kits have solvent impregnated, small, thin sheets
which are put into the dryer drum with the soiled garments. The
heat within the rotating drum releases the solvent from those
sheets into the atmosphere of the drum. The tumbling garments are
"immersed" in the solvent containing atmosphere for the cleaning
function. The sheets also are impregnated with a pleasant fragrance
substance, to impart a clean smell to the garment. Some kits also
include pre-spotting solution, to be applied to selected soil spots
of the garment, prior to being placed into the dryer drum. A
problem with the use of such kits is that either extensive
pre-spotting is needed, or the cleaning is inadequate, or both.
Some kits also include a bag into which the garments and
impregnated sheets are placed. The bag inhibits the garments from
contact with the hot interior surface of the drum and also confines
the solvent containing atmosphere.
DEFINITIONS
[0010] The term "textile" encompasses: fabrics, garments, laundry,
clothing and cloth.
[0011] The term "dryer" include: home-style clothes dryers, coin
operated garment dryers, commercial laundry dryers, commercial
fabric cleaning apparatus of the fabric immersion type and also the
non-immersed type (as disclosed in our above cited applications);
usually, such dryers and cleaning apparatuses have drums which
rotate during the drying of the textiles therein.
[0012] The terms "washer", "washing machine", "home-use laundry, or
textile washing equipment" encompass top loading and front loading
units, as well as washer and dryer combined units.
[0013] The terms "pad" and "padding" encompass highly absorbent
components, such as components 3, 3', 54 and 56 shown in FIGS. 1, 2
and 5.
[0014] The term "untreated" means that the pads do not initially
contain cleaning solvent, contrary to prior art teachings.
[0015] When some textiles are being dried, in a drum-type dryer,
after being laundered, cleaned in an immersion type or
non-immersion commercial unit, these textiles can become wrinkled
if they are dried too completely and/or too fast, before being
removed from the dryer and placed on hangers, or otherwise
laid-out, to reduce wrinkle formation. Many home-type and
commercial dryers have been equipped with means for combating the
problem of wrinkling textile, for example: reducing the applied
heat prior to the end of the drying cycle; controlling dryer
rotation speed and duration with respect to the type of textile,
i.e. permanent press in contrast to cotton; humidity sensing; lower
temperature for entire drying cycle; air/fluff drying without heat;
etc. Also, the dried load should not contain a mixture of different
types of textile, which would hold different amounts of moisture,
be of different thickness/weight.
[0016] Notwithstanding the design capabilities of the dryers,
experienced human operators have been necessary to ensure wrinkle
free results.
[0017] Quite often, the human operator, rather than permitting too
much drying, terminates the drying cycle prematurely and then
examines the textile load in the drum to determine moisture
content. Thereupon, the operator can reset drying parameters,
especially including a shortening or lengthening of the remaining
drying time. Sometimes, stopping and restarting the drying cycle
more than once is necessary to prevent too much drying and
resulting wrinkling. Also, textiles are considered desirably dried
if they have a "nice hand", and "soft hand", are not shrunk, don't
hold static electricity and don't retain from the final wash rinse
soap, detergent, additives or soil.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Undesired textile wrinkling and other above mentioned
problems can be resolved by use of the present invention, in which
absorbent padding is placed in the dryer drum for retaining
moisture longer than the textiles being dried; and the moist
padding keeps the atmosphere in the drum highly humid. Thus, the
textiles are not dried to the point of wrinkling, because they do
not lose their moisture content too fast. Also, when the textiles
tumble into contact with the padding, the padding absorbs moisture
from the textiles, imparts a soft hand and nice hand. Additionally,
the contact between textiles and padding is a rubbing motion, which
transfers any residual soaps, detergents, additives and soil from
textile to padding. The padding can be secured to the interior of
the drum, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, with reference to pads
3', 54, 115 and 117 and/or be loose, as the pads 3 and 56 in some
of those same Figs. The loose pads can be wetted prior to being
placed in the drum. The secured padding can be wetted prior to the
textiles being placed into the drum or subsequently; also as taught
in our above cited applications.
[0019] In the commercial and automated home-use dryer embodiments,
the textiles are not immersed in solvent. A sufficient, small
amount of solvent is sprayed, onto the textiles when inside the
drum, early in the cleaning process. Thereupon, rotation of the
drum brings the textiles and pads into frictional contact,
repeatedly. The pads can be removably fastened to the "lifting"
ribs and body of the drum and/or be free to move about in the
rotating drum. For this home-use embodiment, if there are no ribs
to secure the highly absorbent, untreated pads, the pads are placed
loosely in the drum.
[0020] In a manual home-use embodiment, the textiles are sprayed,
not soaked nor immersed, with the cleaning solvent, prior to being
placed into the drum. For the home-use, stand alone washer and
washer-dryer combination, the pads also can be removably secured to
the interior of the drum at convenient locations.
[0021] Other features of the improved process and apparatus will be
disclosed in the next following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0022] FIG. 1 is side view of the commercial cleaning machine of
the invention, with its side cover removed and somewhat pictorial,
showing major component parts; FIG. 2 is a front view of the
cleaning machine of FIG. 1, with its front cover off, somewhat
pictorial, showing major component parts, with pads and textile in
the drum;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a partial side view of a home-use unit, with its
side cover removed;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a partial view of a home-use laundry washing unit,
somewhat pictorial and broken away to show the mounted pads;
and
[0025] FIG. 5 is a pictorial illustration of the contents of a
home-use starter kit, with components not to scale with respect to
each other.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Described first will be the home-use, suitable for a kit
sold in grocery stores, embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the
contents/components of a starter kit K would be: a bottle 1 of
solvent 1', preferably with a spray dispensing head 2; a plurality
of highly absorbent, untreated pads 3, and instructions 4 for their
use in a standard, home style, clothes dryer. Optionally, the kit K
also could include a one-use or repeat-use containment bag 5 for
holding the textiles and pads in the drum of the dryer, one purpose
of which is to keep the textiles hydrated with the solvent for a
sufficient time. Another optional component, especially useful if a
containment bag is not used, is covering means 6, positionable over
the typical lint filter of the home style dryer, to reduce air flow
from the dryer drum, thereby to keep the textiles hydrated with the
solvent for a sufficient length of time; so that their frictional
contact with the pads is such that the pads are rubbing over the
damp textile, to rub off the soil and absorb the solvent. Also
optional, but preferred, is a container 7 of spot removing liquid
7' having an applicator tip and a spotter bone 8 and brush 9; to be
used before and/or after cleaning by the process of this invention,
as might be needed for stubborn/unique spots of soil.
[0027] The pads 3 for this home-use unit embodiment can be of a
wide range of shapes, sizes and materials; and, for that reason,
are not shown in detail in any Figure of this specification. These
pads should have enough mass to frictionally confront and rub
against the textile. A thickness of about one-quarter to one-half
inch (about 0.60 to 1.25 cm.) has worked well with surface areas of
ten to fifty square inches (about 65 to 325 cm. sq.). The quantity
of pads depend upon their sizes, the amount of textile material to
be cleaned, the volume of the drum, the duration of drum rotation,
the rate of solvent evaporation and extent to which the textile is
soiled. Additional variables are the material of the textile and
its thickness. Also, some solvents can function better at different
temperatures than others, which can affect their evaporation rate.
The quantity and weight of the textiles being cleaned and the
amount of the pads should be such that the random tumbling movement
of the pads and the textiles in the rotating drum causes a
considerable amount of surface-to-surface rubbing contact
therebetween, which is essential for adequate cleaning by this
process. The material of the pads is to be highly absorbent, smooth
texture and not the source of any undesirable amount of lint from
its own body or because of its rubbing against the textile. Cotton,
felt, terry, etc. are materials of the type which provide the
absorbance, smoothness and weight desirable for a pad to be used in
both this home-use and the commercial embodiments of this
invention. Preferably, the pads can used for a few loads of
cleaning, before they are too dirty to be used again. Then, they
can be cleaned/washed for further use. When used with the washing
unit 101 of FIG. 4, which also could be a combined washer and
dryer, the pads would become soaked during the washing cycle and be
useful as a scrubbing surface, against which the tumbling textiles
would rub. However, if the apparatus is a combined washer and
dryer, the soaked pads could carry too much hydration into the
drying cycle, even though such combination units have a high speed
wash liquid extraction spin cycle (1,200 RPM). Accordingly, pads
for these "combo" units could be thinner than for stand alone
dryers.
[0028] The solvent 1' and the optional pre-spotting liquid 7' can
be selected from any of many existing, as well as future
formulated, user friendly and environmentally approved liquids,
including water-based cleaners and water diluted mixtures thereof.
A few examples of such solvents are:
[0029] DF-2000, a synthetic aliphatic hydrocarbon manufactured by
Exxon Chemical Co., Houston, Tex.; Vista LPA-142, a paraffinic,
maphthenic, manufactured by Vista Chemical Co., Houston, Tex.; N-Ta
Germ Liquid, an alkyl dimethyl benzyl amonium chloride; N Ta Germ
Wet Clean additive: DWX-44 detergent, DWX-Spray Spotter,
Kleerospray Spotter, Nature-L additive, each manufactured by
Kleerwite Chemical, Burke, Va.; Cal-Off, a pre-spotter, diethylene
glycol methyl ether, manufactured by Calcd Chemical, Wayne, N.J.;
and Zuds, a water based spotting compound, also manufactured by
Calcd Chemical.
[0030] Experience to date indicates that the solvent can contain at
least 75% water and the spotter should be more concentrated. As is
known, a spotting solution can be used before and/or after the
textile is cleaned in the drum.
[0031] The optional containment bag would have sufficient volume to
hold a few garments/textiles and the above identified pads 3, such
that the textiles and pads can tumble freely within the closed bag
as the drum rotates. The bag would have some form of closure 5' and
be of a material which can withstand repeated use. It can have one
or more layers, one of which would be somewhat vapor impermeable,
to reduce the rate of evaporation of the cleaning solvent; whereby,
the solvent can be of maximum use in working on/in the textile, for
removal of the soil and the used solvent onto the pads. In a
preferred embodiment of the containment bag 5, it would have an
inner layer or liner 3' of the pad material, to enhance the rubbing
off of the soil from the textiles. Having some or all of an inner
layer 3' of the highly absorbent, untreated pad material can reduce
the amount of the pad pieces 3 otherwise placed into the
containment bag, or the drum, if there is no bag. Under some
conditions of textile material and soil content, it would be
sufficient for the pad inner layer to obviate need for the
individual pieces of pad.
[0032] As noted above, it is important to keep the textiles
hydrated with the solvent 1' for a sufficient duration, without
immersing or soaking or even wetting down the textiles prior to
placing them directly into the drum, or into the containment bag
which then goes into the drum. Preferably, the textiles are only
mist-sprayed with the solvent. Accordingly, especially when a
containment bag is not employed, the home-style dryer should be
inhibited from the extent/rapidity of its normal venting, by
reducing the amount of air flow into and out from the drum.
Typically, the primary amount of venting air passes through the
lint filter. Hence, blocking of the lint filter will reduce the
solvent evaporation rate. Such blocking can be partial or total and
can be accomplished in various ways by various means; one simple
means would be the insertion of a piece of fabric 6 into and
covering the lint filter.
[0033] The duration of textile tumbling in the dryer drum with the
highly absorbent, untreated pads, will depend upon the size of the
drum, the size of the load, the amount of pads and the textile
material. About 20-30 minutes usually will be needed. It is to be
appreciated that the cleaning process according to this invention
does not require that the textile be dry before removal from the
dryer. To the contrary, if the textile is too dry, it could
wrinkle. Preferably, the textile is removed from the dryer drum and
containment bag if such bag is used while the textile is slightly
damp. Then, the textile is placed on a hanger or the like to dry
without wrinkling.
[0034] In one embodiment of the invention, only loose pads are
employed, such as the pads 3 and 56 shown in incorporated FIGS. 2
and 5. In a second embodiment, only attached pads or padding are
employed, such as the components 54, 115 and 117 shown in FIGS. 1,
2 and 4 which are removably attached to the interior of the drums.
A third and fourth embodiment employs one or both attached and
loose pad components, such as 56, 3 and 54, in the rotating drum. A
fifth embodiment can be the textile containment bag 5 having an
inner lining or layer of pad 3' and/or pieces of the pad 3 therein,
as shown in FIG. 5. In all of these embodiments, the primary
purpose of the highly absorbent pads/padding is to contain
sufficient liquid to keep the humidity level into the drum very
high, during the full dryer cycle, while the pads themselves are
drying at a much slower rate than the thinner textiles. In the wash
and spin cycles of the unit 101 of FIG. 4, the pads 115 and 117
provide sol removing scrubbing action.
[0035] The loose pads 3 and 56 can be placed into the dryer
pre-wetted or dry. If dry, then the pads would need to absorb
moisture from the wet textile. The attached pad material 54 would
be made wet by the wet textile; and/or could be sprayed with water
from the nozzles 26 and 74, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
[0036] Not only do the textiles obtain some moisture from the wet
pads when rubbing/brushing against each other during tumbling in
the drum, the textiles do not become over dry and lose their
natural moisture content, because the wet pads maintain a high
level of humidity in the drum. This prevents wrinkling of the
textiles, imparts a soft hand, prevents shrinking and eliminates
static electricity. By brushing against the textiles, the pads also
help impart a nice hand. The pads, especially the attached pads 54,
buffer the drop of the textiles against the metal interior of the
drum, thus helping to prevent broken buttons, zippers and textile
trim. Also, because the pads absorb wash water from the textiles,
the pads absorb soap, detergents, additives and soil left in the
textiles after the final wash rinse.
[0037] The process of the commercial/professional embodiment of
this invention is very similar to the home-use embodiment, except
it takes advantage of being able to use some existing commercial
dry cleaning technology and improve upon it. Primarily, the novel
features of the commercial embodiment are: (1) The solvent mist
spraying and air/water/steam jetting upon the textile are
automatically accomplished in the drum, while the drum is rotating
and during rotation dwell times. (It is to be emphasized that the
textile is not immersed in a solvent or water bath, nor soaked in
the solvent or water.) (2) The untreated, highly absorbent pads are
secured to the lifting ribs of the drum. (3) Regulation of air
flow, drum temperature, drum r.p.m., solvent spraying, and moisture
level are accomplished by sensors and computer controls.
[0038] Many of the mechanical elements shown in FIGS. 1-3 are not
discussed hereinafter, since their presence and operation are not
essential to a full understanding of the invention claimed herein.
Those same FIGS. 1-3 are found and their elements described in our
above cited United States and PCT applications.
[0039] More specifically and with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the
commercial textile cleaning machine 10 can be an existing piece of
equipment, modified to employ the novel process of this invention.
However, a new, simpler, textile cleaning machine 10 can be built
to perform the new method.
[0040] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, which show somewhat
pictorially the side and front views of a commercial dry cleaning
machine 10, with cover panels removed, embodying the invention, but
showing only major components; it will become evident to those
skilled in the art that the machine 10 is simpler than an existing
commercial dry cleaning machine, can be less rugged, more economic
and simpler to use. Since the process employing the machine 10 does
not immerse the textile 12, 14 in a solvent bath, nor even soak
that textile in solvent, there is no need for placing many gallons
of solvent into the drum 16; thus avoiding having hundreds of
pounds of solvent supported in the revolving drum. There is not any
expensive and bulky solvent recovery and recirculation system,
since less than one quart (one liter) of solvent is needed by the
invention per twenty-five pound (11 kilograms) load and mostly is
absorbed by the untreated pads and/or are vented out with the soil
particulates. Hence, the solvent container 18 can be housed easily
within the machine 10 and connected to a pump 20, which will pump
the solvent into the drum 16 as a spray mist, via lines 22, 24 and
jet heads 26. The solvent tank 18 can represent a plurality of
tanks coupled in parallel and holding different: solvents,
conditioners, sizing, water proofing, fire proofing, etc.
substances. The pump 20 can generate 60 to 110 p.s.i. Alternately
(not shown), a barrel or large tank of the solvent can be located
outside of the machine 10 and connected to the pump 20. Since the
pump is moving a small quantity of solvent, it can be smaller then
presently needed in commercial dry cleaning equipment. If there
results a small volume dirty waste liquid, it can be collected from
the drum by waste disposal means 28, 30 and then removed according
to regulatory/environmental procedures, which could be as simple as
flushing down to a sewer; which is especially a viable form of
waste disposal, since a preferred embodiment of the solvent can be
water-based.
[0041] Since the drum 16 is not to contain a heavy volume of
solvent, it can be a lighter structure, have lighter support and be
rotated by a smaller motor 32, coupled to the rear 33 of the drum
via a belt 34, driven shaft 35, etc. than present dry cleaning
machines. The motor 32 also can be used to drive the air
circulation fan 36, but separate motors (not shown) could be more
practical. The interior periphery of the drum 16 is perforated 38,
as is typical, so that not only the air circulated by the fan 36
can enter the drum, but especially the jet mist spray of solvent
18, can enter via the jet heads 26, which are positioned next to
the drum. The jet heads 26 also can supply air only, or pressurized
water from an interior supply 39 or an exterior supply, or a
mixture of air and water. The jet heads 26 are position to direct
solvent, etc. along the axial direction of the drum and at right
angles thereto, so as to dampen the textiles from plural
directions. Since the rear end 33 of the drum 16 is closed, except
for the perforations 38, the jet heads 26, pointing into the drum's
rear end, would be journaled (not shown) for rotation with the
drum. For ease of viewing the FIGS., the perforations 38 are not
shown in FIG. 2 and only a few are shown in FIG. 1.
[0042] For the same reason as discussed for the home-use
embodiment, the commercial embodiment requires the textile 12, 14,
to remain damp with solvent; hence, solvent evaporation rate needs
to be retarded/controlled. Such control is provided by a damper 40,
which is located in an air output line 42 and an air recirculation
line 44 that returns air from the drum to the input side of the fan
36, for reintroduction into the drum, via the perforations 38. If
the damper 40 is closed, the recirculating air, which also carries
solvent moisture, is passed through a lint and dirt filter 41 and
returned to the drum to help in continuing the hydration of the
textiles. If the damper is open, the moist air can pass outward
through the output line 42. If needed, to increase the hydration,
moist air and/or steam can be supplied through the jet heads 26
from a line 45, which is connected to a source (not shown), such as
a small external boiler. Such steam/moisture also can be supplied
at selected times to: clean water soluble stains; reactivate
solvent on the drying textiles; and give a final "hand" to the
textiles. Also, the fan 36 can be turned off as well as have its
speed changed, via a program panel 46. The program panel 46 is
connected to preset the sequential operations of the machine 10
into various modes, as well as enable random inputs by an operator.
Opening and closing of the damper 40 is one of the many operations
via the program panel 46.
[0043] The machine 10 also includes an air compressor 48, which can
be part of or separate from the pump 20, but can be used in
conjunction therewith. The compressor can be used to provide the
jet action for the jet mist solvent spray through the line 22, 24
and jet heads 26. Also, the compressor 48 can supply jets of air,
without accompanying solvent, through the jet heads 26, for
purposes discussed further below, and for propelling steam/moisture
from line 45.
[0044] A heater 50 is provided to warm the circulating air. The
program panel 46 controls when the heater is on and what
temperature is to be provided. Programming also controls various
valves, only a few of which are illustrated in FIG. 1. The term
"program panel" is used herein to represent all needed programming
means, sensors, etc., etc., since such programming means and
operations are well within the skill in the art.
[0045] Typically, drums of dry cleaning machines contain a
plurality of textile lifting ribs 52 which cause the textiles to be
lifted away from the periphery of the rotating drum and tossed
toward its axis of rotation. Such ribs 52 play an important
additional roll in the present invention. The highly absorbent,
untreated pads 52 are removably mounted along these ribs. For ease
of viewing FIGS. 1 and 2, only a few of the ribs 52 are shown, and
only three of the ribs, one in FIG. 1 and a different two in FIG. 2
have pads 54 mounted thereon. In actual practice, both sides of
each rib 52 can support pads 54. If there are four ribs 52 in a
drum and they project radially inward five inches and are thirty
six inches long (about 13 cm. high and 90 cm. long), they can
support approximately one thousand, four hundred and forty square
inches of pad, which is ten square foot of surface (approximately
9,360 cm. sq.). The rotation of the drum 16, for twenty to thirty
minutes, with this pad surface, will result in a significant amount
of soil removing, rubbing contact between the textiles 12, 14 and
the pads 54. If conditions require more pad surface, the drums can
be built with more ribs; also, loose pads 56, as employed in the
home-use embodiment, can be put into the drum 16. Typically, the
ribs 52 are perforated, or can be perforated as at 58. The pads 54
can be provided with clips (not shown) for detachably mounting the
pads onto the ribs. Other mounting means, such as Velcro or
adhesives can be used, so that the pads can be removed for periodic
washing and/or replacement.
[0046] A significant improvement in a home-use textile cleaning
process and unit 64 next will be described with reference to FIG.
3. This unit and process employ both the mist spraying of solvent
air and water into the drum and the highly absorbent pads of the
commercial embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2; hence, it does not use the
textile containment bag 5, nor the manual pre-spraying of the
solvent onto the textiles, as described hereinabove with reference
to FIG. 5 and the home-use kit K. This home-use unit 64 basically
starts from a typical home-use clothes/laundry dryer, with its
horizontal axis rotatable drum, heater, filter, etc.; hence, these
components are not shown in FIG. 3. Also not shown is the typical
front loading access door and electric controls. It is to be
understood that this new unit 64 also continues to be usable as a
typical home-use laundry room clothes dryer.
[0047] FIG. 3 shows the right side 66, near its rear, with its side
panel 68 removed, of the home-use unit 64. A refillable supply of
Dry-Wetcleaning.TM. solvent is supported in a container 70 in the
interior of the unit 64 and has its capped refill opening 72
projecting out from the top of the unit. A plurality of spray heads
74 are coupled to both the solvent container 70 and a compressor
76, so as to be able to spray solvent through perforations (not
shown) in the typically non-rotating end cover 78 of the rotatable
drum (not shown); whereby, textiles in the drum can be dampened by
the solvent, similar to the jet spray solvent dampening in the
commercial embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0048] If the interior of the drum has lifting ribs, such as the
ribs 52 shown in FIG. 2, or the interior of the drum is adapted to
have pads 54 secured thereto, then the solvent spray dampening, the
textile cleaning and hydration by rubbing against the absorbing
pads 54 will be accomplished in much the same manner as in the
commercial embodiment disclosed with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2;
exceptions being that in that embodiment there is more automation
and the drum 16 can rotate in opposite directions, between which
there can be programmed dwell time used for additional spraying of
the solvent, etc. If the pads 54 are not secured to the interior of
the drum, or such pads do not provide sufficient rubbing, absorbent
and hydration absorbent surface, loose pads 56 would be placed in
the drum.
[0049] Thus, a conventional domestic clothes dryer can be replaced
by the home-use unit 64, having all the functions of the domestic
clothes dryer, most of the Dry-Wetcleaning capabilities of a
commercial machine 10 according to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and
2.
[0050] FIG. 4 is to be understood as showing a home-use laundry
washing machine 101, or a washer-dryer combination unit 101.
Although the drum or basket 103 is shown vertically for top
loading, it could, for purposes of the inventive feature next
described, be front loading, with the drum positioned horizontally.
For ease of understanding FIG. 4, a typical, vertically standing
agitator is not shown in the drum. In fact, some laundry washing
units do not have such typical agitators, but have other mechanisms
for agitating or mixing the detergent or solvent in the drum with
the laundry (textile), to achieve cleaning action.
[0051] The drum or basket 103 typically is manufactured with
numerous peripheral perforations 105, only a few of which are shown
in FIG. 4. The well known function of the perforations 105 is to
permit spin cycle extraction of the liquid detergent/solvent from
the drum. The drum or basket 103 also can be provided with ribs
107, only one of which is shown, that are similar to the ribs 52
shown in the drum 16 of FIGS. 1 and 2, lying parallel to the axis
of the drum and secured to its periphery 109. In addition to the
known textile lifting function of the ribs, when there is generated
relative motion between the drum periphery 109, the
solvent/detergent (not shown in FIG. 4) and the textiles, for
example 111 and 113, the ribs 107 can be used to removably support
pad material 115 which would come into frequent rubbing contact
with the textiles 111 and 113 and act as scrubbing brushes.
Similarly, some of the perforations 105 can be used to removably
support other pieces of scrubbing pad material 117 (only one of
which is shown in FIG. 4). The pad material can be the same
substance as the highly absorbent pads 54 and 56, above described
and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. If the unit 101 is a combined washer
and dryer, then the pad material 115 and 117 will serve a dual
purpose: (a) to enhance textile cleaning, by acting as textile
scrubbers in the wash mode; and (b) to deter textile wrinkling in
the drying mode, by maintaining textile hydration.
[0052] The hereinabove description of the commercial/professional
and home-use processes and the embodiments of textile cleaning
machine 10 and home-use units 64 and 101 should enable those
skilled in the art to construct new textile cleaning machines, or
make modifications to an existing dry cleaning machine, home-use
clothes dryer, home-use washer-dryer combo and home-use laundry
washer, employing highly absorbent pads, while remaining within the
scope of the inventions. The same applies to the first described
home-use process and the components kit K for use therewith.
* * * * *