| CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for laundering laundry items with a cleaning fluid, comprising: an inlet pipe cleaning fluid; a pump associated with said inlet pipe for increasing the pressure of said cleaning fluid; a working surface, for receiving the laundry items; and at least one nozzle for discharging said cleaning fluid, directed toward the working surface, whereby high pressure cleaning fluid is applicable to wash said laundry items. 2. An apparatus in claim 1 , wherein said nozzles directs said fluid water toward said working surface in a variety of intensities. 3. An apparatus in claim 1 , wherein said nozzles directs said fluid water toward said working surface in an intensity of 1 -6 meters per second. 4. An apparatus in claim 1 , wherein said nozzles are oriented at a variety of angles relative to said working surface. 5. An apparatus in claim 1 , wherein said nozzles are oriented at 70-90 degrees relative to said working surface. 6. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein at least one filter is disposed upstream of said pipe and/or said nozzles. 7. An apparatus in claim 1 , further comprising a recycle loop having; an water accumulation sink, disposed beneath said working surface; a recycle pipe for directing water back to said recycle pipe; and a waste pipe for discharging residue water into municipal drainage. 8. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein at least one filter is disposed downstream of the recycle pipe. 5 9. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein said pump further comprising a pressure regulator integrated with or downstream of said pump. 10. An apparatus as in claim 1 , further comprising at least one inlet for receiving cleaning chemicals upstream of said nozzles; and at least one io rinsing nozzle, for rinsing said laundry items. 11. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein said work surface comprises a laundry conveying means. 15 12. An apparatus as in claim 1 , further comprises laundry holding mechanism, for holding the laundry items on the working surface. 13. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the laundry holding mechanism comprises at least one net. 20 14. An apparatus as claim 1 , wherein said working surface further comprising a water removal mechanism, for at least partially drying laundry. 15. A method of laundering laundry items with a cleaning fluid, comprising 25 the steps of: placing laundry on a working surface; directing at least one nozzle toward said working surface; and applying the cleaning fluid under high pressure, to the laundry items. 16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising applying cleaning chemicals to the laundry items. 17. A method according to claim 15, further comprising rinsing the laundry items. 18. A method according to claim 15, further comprising at least partially drying the laundry. |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to laundering clothing, and more specifically to a high pressure laundering method and system therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A washing machine generally operates by subjecting the laundry to water and detergent and mechanically agitating the laundry, typically in a revolving drum or other container. Laundering is carried out according to a programmed schedule, whereby the laundry is typically mixed with water of a specified temperature and chemicals (e.g. detergent, laundry softener, brighteners, etc.) at various times and cycles of actions (e.g., rinsing, adding fabric softener, spin drying and so forth). Laundry can encompass a wide range of fabrics and may sometimes include other material(s).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a laundering system and method wherein the laundry is efficiently washed either in terms of time and/or cleaning quality.
The invention relates to a system and a method taking advantage of the cleaning effect of pressurized cleaning fluid, typically water; and in a continuous process (versus a batch process). Accordingly, a stream of cleaning fluid is generated and applied to the laundry via one or more nozzles, as the laundry passes by the nozzles. Advantages of the laundry system and method, without limitation, may include one or more of the following: (a) the system generally saves water, time and electricity as compared to a conventional laundry machine, as each period of laundering action is not pre-programmed rather depends on the number of laundry items that are washed; (b) washing time depends on the size of each laundry item and typically requires less than a minute per laundry item; (c) there is no need to accumulate laundry as in a conventional batch washing machines rather it is efficient to wash even just one or a few laundry items; (d) there is no need to sort laundry items - different colored clothing and fabric types such as, delicate and rough fabrics can be cleaned one after the other; and (e) using high pressure water may require less or no soap, thereby causing less pollution and saving money.
It is a particular feature of the laundry system and method that water/cleaning fluid is sprayed on the laundry with a pressure/intensity whereby the laundry is rapidly and efficiently cleaned.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a laundry system in accordance with the present invention. The system comprises a low pressure pipe 100 having a fresh water inlet 102 via which a source of water enters, such as from a water container or municipal water source (not shown). At inlet 102, a first filter 104 is disposed to ensure water is properly cleaned prior to entering the laundering system. Pipe 100 is typically made of metal or plastic; or other suitable plumbing material. Along pipe 100, a pump 106 is installed for producing a pressurized water flow, which is fed into a high pressure pipe 108. In some embodiments, the system includes a pressure regulator 110, integrated with or downstream of pump 106. One or more nozzles 112 are located at the discharge end of high pressure pipe 108. Typically, the system includes one or more inlets 114 for introducing cleaning and softening chemicals. Inlet 114 is illustrated as upstream and adjacent nozzles 112, however, the inlet could be located at a variety of locations including adjacent fresh water inlet 102. A second filter 116 is typically disposed upstream of inlet 114 and nozzles 112. The water, or mixture of water and cleaning chemicals, is discharged in the form of a high-flow spray or jet from nozzles 112.
The system further comprises a working surface 118 typically has associated therewith a horizontal conveying means, such as a conveyor belt (not shown). Laundry is placed at a laundry inlet 120 which directs the laundry toward working surface 118. The laundry is preferably held to working surface 118, by a laundry holding mechanism, for example, by one or more nets (not shown). Typically, nozzles 112 are disposed above and below working surface 118, to ensure an all-around laundering to each piece of laundry. In such case, working surface 118 is porous or has apertures (not shown) to the extent that cleaning fluid can pass through the working surface and can thoroughly contact the laundry. Nozzles 112 can be adapted to disperse the water/cleaning fluid at various pressures and can be oriented at a variety of angles relative to working surface 118, to suit the type of fabrics and stains to be laundered. In cases where chemical cleaning are added, one or more rinsing nozzles 121 are typically disposed above and below working surface 118, to remove soap from laundry items. Rinsing nozzles 121 typically discharge water at a lower pressure and/or flow rate, as compared to nozzles 112 (However without limitations). At the distal end of working surface 118, clean laundry is picked up at laundry outlet 122 of the laundry system.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the system includes a water removal mechanism such as a drying member 123, (e.g. rotatable cylinder, roller, hot air blower, etc), disposed downstream of working surface 118. Laundry moving along working surface 118 is at least partially dried by drying element 123.
In other embodiments of the present invention, the system comprises a water recycle loop to allow reuse of at least a portion of the used water. The loop includes a water accumulation sink 124 beneath working surface 118; and a water recycle pipe 126 that directs water through a third filter 128 and back to low pressure pipe 102. A waste pipe 130 discharges residue water from nozzles 112, working surface 118, rinsing nozzles 121 and drying element 123 into municipal drainage 132.
As mentioned above, according to some embodiments, working surface 118 includes a conveying mechanism to transport the laundry, and which can be via a variety of means, such as via vibration, pneumatically, a conveyor belt, and so on. In one embodiment, nozzles 112 are oriented at a particular fixed angle, which is suitable for a wide range of fabric types, including delicate fabrics and rougher fabric types. As a result laundry pieces O
subjected within the laundry system can be cleaned without sorting (see below testing paragraph and table).
According to an embodiment of the laundry method, the present invention includes the steps of: placing one or more laundry items, either manually or automatically, on working surface 118; and applying high pressure water, with or without cleaning/softening chemicals, to the laundry on the working surface, discharged from one or more nozzles. In some embodiments, where cleaning chemicals are added to the water, the method further includes a rinsing step, whereby a rinsing fluid from one or more rinsing nozzles 121 is sprayed onto the laundry items.
TESTING:
Laundry experiments in accordance with method of the present invention were performed using various fabric types and colors, (see Table 1 ) in order to determine desired intensity and angle of incidence of the cleaning fluid. Prior to entering the laundry system, fabrics were stained with different kinds of dirt and food products, such as, ketchup, red wine, oil, mud, chocolate and concentrated pomegranate juice. A stain remover, "Sano-oxygen" [Sano Bruno's Enterprises, Ltd, Neve-Neeman Industrial Zone, Hod-Hasharon, Israel 54241 ], was dispensed into cleaning chemical inlet 114, and then the laundry system was operated. The intensity of the water/cleaning fluid, which was defined by flow rate and area of incidence of the water/cleaning fluid, was tested in order to determine an intensity range resulting in a suitable balance between proper cleaning and minimal damage to the laundry items for a variety of fabric colors and types. A suitable range of nozzle angles, defined as the angle between the nozzles 112 and working surface 118, was also determined for a suitable balance between proper cleaning and minimal damage to the laundry items. A suitable combination of intensity and angles of incidence was found to be 1 -6 meters per second and 70-90 degrees, respectively.
It should be noted that, the angle is not restricted to any angle and can be variable with respect to the fabric and stains to be cleaned.
Table 1 : Tested fabric compositions/ types: