Description

Machine and method for washing and/or dry-cleaning articles

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a machine for washing and/or dry-cleaning and drying articles such as clothes, household linen, towels, curtains and the like, which can be washed with water and/or dry-cleaned.

In particular, the present invention relates to a machine for washing and/or dry-cleaning and drying articles using both water and hydrocarbon-based or silicone-based solvents.

Background Art

The articles to be washed and dried and/or dry-cleaned are hereinafter referred to simply as articles.

The above-mentioned hydrocarbon- or silicone-based solvents were introduced in recent years to cope with the elevated polluting effect of the hydrofluorocarbon-based solvents previously used.

However, although on one hand hydrocarbon- or silicone-based solvents have allowed the development of more ecological and environmentalIy-friendly dry-cleaning cycles, on the other hand they have essentially reduced the effectiveness of dry-cleaning.

To at least partly cope with the reduced cleaning capacity of the above-mentioned new solvents compared with the previous hydrofluorocarbon-based solvents, it was decided that the articles should be put through a double washing/dry-cleaning cycle, using both water and, after drying the articles, dry-cleaning.

The adoption of this mixed cycle certainly improved the effectiveness of the washing/dry-cleaning but also introduced significant complications, both as regards the time required for a complete washing/dry-cleaning cycle, and the several different machines to be used.

To simplify at least the latter problem, compact machines were produced, able to allow washing with water and drying of the articles washed with water, as well as their subsequent dry- cleaning. However, said compact machines which allow articles to be both washed with water and dry-cleaned are not without disadvantages .

The main disadvantage is the difficulty and costs linked to disposal of the water drained out at the end of washing. The washing water, passing in the same drum where the solvent circulates, can easily be polluted and so cannot be drained into normal drains, but requires suitable disposal.

Another disadvantage inherent in use of machines of the known type is the waste of large quantities of solvent drained out along with the water.

Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a machine for washing/dry-cleaning articles such as clothes, household linen, towels, curtains and the like which can overcome the above- mentioned disadvantages of the known machines, and which is at the same time functional and economical to produce and allows effective washing/dry-cleaning and drying cycles for the articles. The technical features of the present invention, in accordance with the above aims, are clear from the content of the claims herein, in particular claim 1, and from any of the claims directly or indirectly dependent on claim 1.

The present invention also relates to a method for washing/dry-cleaning articles. The method according to the present invention is described in claim 23 and any of the claims directly or indirectly dependent on claim 23.

Brief Description of the Drawings The advantages of the present invention are more evident in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the

accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

With reference to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 1 denotes as a whole the machine for washing/dry-cleaning articles in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

The machine 1 comprises a drum 2 or container in which the articles to be washed/dry-cleaned are introduced. The drum 2 rotates, driven by motor means of the substantially known type not described or illustrated, about an axis of rotation A perpendicular to the plane illustrated.

An air inlet duct 3 leads into the drum 2 , the air in particular being hot, for drying the articles held in the drum 2. An outlet zone 24 extends from the drum 2, connecting the drum 2 to the machine 1 pipes, described in detail below.

Similarly, a drying air extractor duct 4 extends from the drum 2.

The inlet duct 3 is fluidly connected to an air treatment apparatus 5 located above the drum 2.

The extractor duct 4 can also be fluidly connected to the air treatment apparatus 5 by a recirculation valve 6.

The air treatment apparatus 5 comprises a circuit 7 for the passage of the air which is treated, a fan 8 designed to make the air circulate in the circuit 7 and the drum 2, a condenser 9 designed to condense the vapours in the air treated, a preheater

10 for the air and a heater 11.

The apparatus 5 also comprises a filter 12 designed to catch any volatile materials carried by the air flow, such as hairs and threads detached from the articles during drying.

The vapour condenser 9 consists of an evaporator inserted in a refrigerating circuit 13. The preheater 10 consists of a condensing unit belonging to the refrigerating circuit 13.

The refrigerating circuit 13 basically comprises a refrigerant condenser split into two different units: in a first unit 14 heat is removed by exchange with a hydraulic circuit 15, and in the second, which coincides with the preheater 10, heat is

removed from the refrigerant by exchange with the air circulating in the apparatus 5.

Advantageously, the heater 11 and the preheater 10 can be switched off, leaving only the condenser 9 on, so that air at a lower temperature is introduced into the drum 2, thus facilitating removal of the articles washed/dry-cleaned and dried from the drum 2. In other words, the operation described above allows the articles to be cooled rapidly after they have been dried by the circulation of hot air. To open or close the circuit 7, the machine 1 comprises, in addition to the recirculation valve 6, an air inlet valve 16 and a valve 17 for air outlet to the outside.

Advantageously, the valves 6, 16, 17 are operated by respective electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic actuators 18. The machine 1 comprises a source of steam, not illustrated, for feeding steam to the heater 11. In particular, through two ducts, the first 19 having a smaller capacity and the second 20 having a larger capacity. The source sends steam to the heater 11 which basically consists of a heat exchanger for heating air. Advantageously, it is a coil heat exchanger.

Regulation of the final air temperature during heating is selected according to the washing/dry-cleaning cycle in progress, for example based on the type of fabric, and is implemented by means of the ducts 19, 20. Obviously, introducing a smaller quantity of steam into the heat exchanger 11 through the duct 19 with smaller capacity gives an air temperature lower than that obtained by introducing a larger quantity of steam. Suitable valves 19a, 20a allow the selection of one or the other, or both of the ducts 19, 20. The machine 1 comprises a water inlet pipe 21 for introducing water into the drum 2. The pipe 21 is fed alternatively by three different sources: a first source 22a of water at room temperature, a second source 22b of water heated by heating means of the known type not illustrated, and a third source 22c of chilled water.

The third source 22c consists of a pipe 23 for recovery of the water from the drum 2 outlet zone 24.

At the outlet zone 24, there is a well or button trap 25, for collecting any parts detached from the articles being washed/dry-cleaned, such as buttons or the like.

Upstream of the well 25 according to the direction indicated by the arrow Fl there is an on - off valve 100.

Along the recovery pipe 23 there is a water circulating pump 26 and, downstream of the pump 26 according to the direction followed by the circuit indicated by the arrow F2 , a water cooling heat exchanger 27, fed by the refrigerating circuit 13. Alternatively, if necessary, the heat exchanger 27 may have a hot fluid flowing through it, for example steam, to heat the water to be introduced into the drum 2.

Upstream of the circulating pump 26, again in the direction indicated by the arrow F2 , there leads into the recovery pipe 23 a pipe 28 which feeds washing products, such as soap, softening and anti-shrinking additives, taken from a plurality of reservoirs, respectively labelled 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e, 29f .

A valve 30 allows the recovery pipe 23 to be closed upstream of point where the pipe 28 which feeds washing products leads into it, close to the drum 2 outlet zone 24.

A water drainage pipe 31 also extends from the outlet zone

24. The pipe 31 feeds the water from the drum 2 to a separator collection tank 32. Along the drainage pipe 31, at the outlet zone

24, there is an on - off valve 101 for regulating pipe 31 closing or opening.

Upstream of the separator tank 32 according to the direction followed by the pipe 31 indicated by the arrow F3, there is a second well or trap 102 for collecting any parts detached from the articles being washed. Similarly to what is described above with reference to the first well 25, the second well 102 collects the above-mentioned parts, such as buttons or the like, which may be detached from the articles during washing with water.

Advantageously, according to the preferred embodiment illustrated, the second well 102 is integrated in the separator tank 32.

Using the different densities of the water and of the solvent used for dry-cleaning, the separator tank 32 allows any

solvent residues to be separated out . The residues float on the surface of the water and can be removed relatively easily.

Even without frequently removing any residues, it is still possible to drain out water without residues by sucking the water from close to the bottom of the tank 32. There is a special suction pipe 33 in the tank 32 for this purpose.

Advantageously, a pump, not illustrated, can be connected to the suction pipe 33 to extract the water from the tank 32.

The suction pipe 33, together with the pump, not illustrated, forms water suction means 103 for the separator tank 32.

Advantageously, there is a sensor 34 in the separator tank 32 for detecting the presence of the above-mentioned solvent residues. The solvent presence sensor 34 can be used simply for information purposes or suitably calibrated and connected to a stop switch, not illustrated, it can stop the machine if the quantity of solvent present in the water being drained out exceeds a predetermined maximum value .

From the top of the separator collection tank 32 there extends a pipe 35 which leads close to the air inlet valve 16 for the apparatus 5. The function of the pipe 35, explained in more detail below, is, during the article drying step, to allow the circulation of hot air also in the water drainage pipe 31, and the consequent removal, by drying, of water residues, in the pipe 31. The water inlet pipe 21, the water sources 22a, 22b, 22c, the recovery pipe 23, the pump 26 and the drainage pipe 31 together form a water feed and recovery circuit 36 for the machine

1.

The machine 1 also comprises two tanks 37, 38, set side by side, for storage of the solvent for dry-cleaning the articles.

The tanks 37, 38 are inserted in a feed and recovery circuit 39 for the solvent used in the dry-cleaning cycle.

From the bottom of the two tanks 37, 38 there extend two fittings 37a, 38a with respective stop valves 37b, 38b, the fittings engaging on a main section 39a of the solvent feed and recovery circuit 39.

The circuit 39 then closes again, branching off, on top of the tanks 37, 38 and has, at the ends, two respective valves 37d, 38d, one for each of the tanks 37, 38.

On said main section 39a there is a solvent circulating pump 40 which, sucking the solvent from the tanks 37, 38, transfers it to the washing/dry-cleaning drum 2.

Also on said main section 39a, downstream of the circulating pump 40, there is a cooling heat exchanger 41 fed by the refrigerating circuit 13. The function of the cooling heat exchanger 41, preferably of the coil type, is to lower the temperature of the solvent before introducing it into the drum 2. Lowering the temperature makes the solvent less aggressive and more suitable for dry-cleaning delicate articles .

A first solvent inlet pipe 42 extends from the main section 39a and has a stop valve 42a.

There is a valve 43 on the main section 39a, upstream of the first pipe 42 , according to the direction of flow indicated by the arrow F4.

A bypass circuit 44 extends from the main section 39a of the circuit 39, upstream of the valve 43.

The bypass circuit 44, through which the solvent flows following closure of the valve 43 , directs the solvent towards a cleaning filter 45. There is a stop valve 44a on the bypass circuit 44. The solvent, filtered in this way, can be introduced into circulation again in the first section 39a and sent towards the tanks 37, 38, or it can be sent directly into the drum 2 through a second solvent inlet pipe 46 which has a respective stop valve 46a. From the bypass circuit 44 there extends a filter 45 drainage pipe 47, the pipe 47 leading into the solvent tanks 37, 38.

The drainage pipe 47 is mainly used during replacement of the filter 45, which is normally of the cartridge type, which involves emptying the cartridge container 45a, which can usually hold up to several dozen litres of solvent.

Therefore, when the filter 45 needs substituting, the tap

47a on the drainage pipe 47 is opened and the container 45a put into communication with a ventilation duct 48, designed to make the pressure on the surface of the solvent substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure.

The hydrocarbon feed and recovery circuit 39 comprises a section 39b for connection to the main section 39a, extending from the drum 2 outlet zone 24. The first collecting well 25 is located along said section 39b, the solvent drained from the drum 2 flowing into the well 25.

The section 39b, extending from the outlet zone 24, forms, for the circuit 39, a pipe for recovery and drainage of the solvent from the drum 2.

Therefore, the solvent drained from the drum 2, after passing through the well 25 and being separated from any residues such as the above-mentioned buttons, is again introduced, through the connecting section 39b, into the main section 39a of the circuit 39, upstream of the circulating pump 40.

There is a stop valve 49 along the connecting section 39b. A pump 50, fed by a corresponding tank, not illustrated, is connected to the well 25 to introduce, when necessary, predetermined quantities of soap into the solvent circulating.

From the air inlet duct 3 there also extends a duct 104 to convey a fraction of the drying air into the first well 25. The duct 104 allows hot air to be conveyed towards the well 25 and towards the drum outlet zone 24 so as to perfectly dry not only the content of the well 25, but also the outlet zone 24 from where the water recovery pipe 23 and the water drainage pipe 31 extend. The solvent feed and recovery circuit 39 also comprises a section 39c for connection between the air treatment apparatus 5 and the solvent tanks 37, 38.

In detail, the connecting section 39c extends from a zone 5a located below the condenser 9 , the zone 5a being used for the collection of the products of condensation.

When hydrocarbons are used, the products of condensation of the air used for drying the articles basically consist of hydrocarbons in the liquid state and sometimes water residues .

Therefore, between the zone 5a and the tanks 37, 38, on the section 39c, there is a water separator 51 designed to separate the water from the solvent which can then be re-introduced into the tanks 37, 38.

Inside the separator 51 there is a cooling heat exchanger 52, advantageously fed with water or connected to the refrigerating circuit 13, designed to speed up decantation of the solvent in the separator 51.

In practice, machine 1 operation involves placing articles to be washed/dry-cleaned in the drum 2 and running a washing cycle with water during which the water, along with soap and suitable additives, is circulated in the drum 2.

During said washing step, by opening the valve 30 and closing the valves 100 and 101, the water flowing out of the drum 2 is recovered through the pipe 23 and re-introduced into the drum 2 thanks to the pump 26. Before re-entering the drum 2 the water recovered may be chilled by yielding heat to the cooling heat exchanger 27.

Advantageously, the washing cycle with water ends with a step of rinsing the articles, following opening of the valve 101 and closing of the valve 30, draining the water through the drainage pipe 31.

The water flowing through the pipe 31 is introduced into the separator tank 32 in which the water is separated from any solvent residues using the methods described above.

At the end of the washing cycle with water, the articles, kept in the drum 2, are dried by circulation of a hot air current.

Advantageously, during this step the air treatment apparatus 5 has the recirculation valve 6 closed and the inlet valve 16 and outlet valve 17 open. In this way, the air sucked into the apparatus 5 and heated by the preheater 10 and the heater 11, is sent into the drum 2 through the inlet duct 3 and expelled to the outside through the extractor duct 4.

During the drying step just described and after valve 101 opening, the hot air flowing out of the drum 2 circulates in the entire zone between the drum 2 outlet zone 24 and the separator tank 32 so as to dry the water present in the pipe 31. During this step, the pipe 35 is of significant importance, since it is through this that the hot air introduced into the pipe 31 and the separator tank 32 is expelled to the outside, close to the valve 16.

After the articles have been dried, with the articles kept in the drum 2, a dry-cleaning cycle with solvent is carried out.

The solvent, as already described above, is introduced into the drum 2 through the first and second inlet pipes 42, 46 which, advantageously, lead one into the front part and the other into the rear part of the drum 2. During the dry-cleaning cycle with solvent, the solvent is circulated in the drum 2 and, obviously, along the feed and recovery circuit 39.

At the end of the dry-cleaning cycle, the articles, kept in the drum 2 , are dried by circulation of a hot air current . Advantageously, during this step the air treatment apparatus 5 has the recirculation valve 6 open and the inlet valve 16 and outlet valve 17 closed. In this way, the air is heated in the apparatus 5 by the preheater 10 and the heater 11, is sent into the drum 2 through the inlet duct 3 and re-introduced into the apparatus 5 through the extractor duct 4. The air re-introduced into the apparatus 5 circulates through the condenser 9 where the solvent vapours and any water vapours present in the air condense.

From the condenser 9, the air which is substantially dry because its moisture has been removed, again passes towards the preheater 10 and the heater 11 and is then re-introduced into the drum 2.

Advantageously, during the step just described and after opening valve 100 and closing valves 30 and 101, part of the hot air flow directed into the drum 2 is channelled into the duct 104, to dry any solvent residues from both the collecting well 25 and its contents, if any, and from the machine outlet zone 24, at the valve 100.

Using drying to remove any solvent, even if only traces are present, at the drum 2 outlet zone 24, means that during a subsequent step of washing with water the water is not contaminated with the solvent . Therefore, the drying action described above makes it possible to perfectly dry solvent from the only zone of the machine 1 through which both the solvent and the water pass .

Advantageously, by means of this device, the water circulating and, above all, the water drained, which passes through the zone 24 after the solvent, substantially does not carry with it any solvent residue.

This avoids the possibility that water and solvent may come into contact and, therefore, the relative environmental pollution which would be caused by draining water polluted with solvent. However, if solvent residues are present in the water drained circulating in the pipe 31, said residues are suitably separated at the separator tank 32.

With reference to what is described above relative to the condenser 9, the products of condensation of the solvent vapours and water vapours are sent to the separator 51, which separates the water from the solvent, the latter being sent through the pipe

39c to the storage tanks 37 and 38.

Advantageously, this process is facilitated by the presence of the cooling heat exchanger 52 which speeds up decantation of the solvent.

Advantageously, after the second drying step described above has been completed, the preheater 10 and the heater 11 can be switched off so as to circulate, in the drum 2, air which is not particularly hot, thus facilitating the removal of articles from the drum 2 by the operators. It is basically a cooling step for the articles washed/dry-cleaned and dried.

Use of the machine 1 described above is particularly advantageous since it allows washing cycles to be carried out using water and dry-cleaning cycles using hydrocarbons, on the same articles in the same machine and the same drum 2, without having to remove the articles .

This operation is achieved, in particular, thanks to the fact that the water feed and recovery circuit 36 is separate from the solvent feed and recovery circuit 39.

In other words, in the same machine the two circuits, for water and solvent, are completely separate.

In this text the term solvent refers to any type of solvent used for dry-cleaning articles such as clothes and the like, for example hydrocarbon-based or comprising hydrocarbons, in particular synthetic and/or siloxane hydrocarbons. By way of example, several types of solvents belonging to the category indicated or similar to it are commercially known as Actrel® 3356 D, Actrel® DF 2000, GreenEarth ^SM .

The invention described may be modified and adapted without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept . Moreover, all details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.