Method and Apparatus for Impregnation of Items

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a method for impregnating items, for example footwear, bags, gloves and other leather items as well as clothing, by way of example snowsuits for children, and of the kind specified in the preamble of claim 1.

The invention also concerns an apparatus for performing the method according to the invention.

Background of the Invention

When buying footwear and other items of leather or leather-like materials, it is becoming common also to buy a spray can with a suitable impregnating agent. In the purchasing situation, it is not always remembered if a corresponding impregnating agent is already present at home, often resulting in a wrong purchase such that in many homes a number of spray cans with greater or lesser content of impregnating agent accumulate.

Such stores of spray cans with impregnating contents may in practice imply a serious environmental problem because the spray cans cannot be discarded together with refuse collection but have to be handed in to recycling stations.

Besides, the use of spray cans with impregnating agent or, for that matter, other contents implies an unfavourable environmental load due to the propellant which is released to the atmosphere through the use thereof.

Thus it may be expected that within a measurable time, a ban will be imposed on the use of spray cans containing a mixture of harmful propellant and i.a. impregnating agents.

Object of the Invention

On this background, it is the purpose of the invention to indicate a method and an apparatus of the kind indicated in the introduction, and which by means of simple

technical measures enables elimination of the above mentioned drawbacks by surface treatment or impregnation of the items mentioned in the introduction, e.g. footwear.

Description of the Invention

A method for surface treatment of items, for example footwear, bags, gloves and other leather items as well as clothing, e.g. snowsuits for children, including the following process steps:

- possibly covering a surface or a part of items not to be treated;

- placing items to be treated in a cubicle which is subsequently shut;

- possibly selecting an impregnating agent; - possibly setting nozzles of a spray unit depending on size and shape of actual items;

- activating the spray unit for forming a mist of impregnating agent for application of impregnating agent on an exposed surface of the items.

In a simple way and by means of simple technical measures it hereby become possible to eliminate the above mentioned drawbacks that otherwise occur in connection with surface treatment in the form of impregnation of items, particularly footwear.

As an alternative to the usual home impregnation of footwear, according to the invention it hereby becomes possible already, for example, in the shoe shop to provide for an optimal surface treatment in the form of spraying footwear with specific impregnation agent.

Suitably, the method according to the invention includes the following additional method steps: - covering a surface or a part of items not to be treated;

- selecting an impregnating agent;

- setting nozzles of a spraying unit in dependence of size and shape of actual items.

The method according to the invention preferably includes the following additional method steps:

- applying vacuum to the cubicle for sucking out excess impregnating agent;

- retaining excess impregnating agent in a filter, preferably a filter containing activated carbon.

With the object of also treating items that cannot stand in the cubicle by themselves, the method according to the invention may advantageously include the following additional method steps:

- suspending items to be surface treated and which cannot stand by themselves in the cubicle; and/or

- supporting items with large height, such as boots, in upright position, e.g. by means of internal supports in the bootlegs.

The invention also concerns an apparatus for surface treating items according to the method of the invention, including a closed cubicle, the apparatus being characterised by including one or more storage containers for specific impregnating agents, where the storage containers are connected with an electric pump via a valve system including one or more valves, the pump being connected with one or more atomising nozzles in the cubicle, an electronic control with associated keyboard which is preferably accessible from a front side of the apparatus and which is adapted to activate the pump and the valve system for connecting it with a storage container containing a specific impregnating agent.

The apparatus according to the invention is thus suitably designed such that it includes a filter and an air pump, ventilator or corresponding means provided at its rear side and adapted to establish a vacuum in the cubicle with the intention of sucking out residual impregnating agent and to retain the residue in the filter.

With the object of optimising the surface treatment and minimising use of impregnating agent, the apparatus according to the invention may be designed such that it includes a scanner, a camera or other means adapted to determine the shape and size of items disposed in the cubicle and which, coordinated by the control, are adapted to activate specific atomising nozzles.

The apparatus according to the invention it moreover designed such that it includes means adapted to support elongated items, e.g. high boots, upright or hanging in the cubicle.

Advantageously, the apparatus according to the invention may be designed such that it includes a drawer arranged under the cubicle, the drawer preferably being accessible from the front side of the apparatus and containing the filter and possibly also the storage containers for impregnating agent.

With the object of facilitating access from the spraying cubicle, it may be advantageous to design the apparatus according to the invention in such a way that the cubicle includes a sliding door arranged for opening by upward displacement and which includes a preferably electric actuating mechanism.

Description of the Drawing

The invention is now explained in detail in connection with the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, as seen from the front side thereof;

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the apparatus, cf. Fig. 1, as seen from the right side;

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the apparatus, cf. Fig. 1, as seen from the front and with open cubicle;

Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the apparatus, cf. Fig. 1, as seen from the left side;

Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the apparatus, cf. Fig. 1, as seen from above;

Fig. 6 shows a plan view of the apparatus, cf. Fig. 2, shown with an open drawer;

Fig. 7 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, as seen from the front side thereof;

Fig. 8 shows a plan view of the apparatus, cf. Fig. 1 , provided with legs;

Fig. 9 shows a plan view of the apparatus, cf. Fig. 2, provided with legs; and

Fig. 10 shows a perspective "transparent" view of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, as seen obliquely from behind;

Fig. 11 shows a plan view of the apparatus, cf. Fig. 10, as seen from the side;

Fig. 12 shows a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 10, shown with an upper drawer in open position for inserting items to be impregnated;

Fig. 13 shows a plan view corresponding to Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 shows a simplified perspective view of the preferred apparatus according to the invention shown in Figs. 10-13.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The apparatus 2 shown in Figs. 1-6 is designed as a generally box-shaped cabinet 4 with a front door in the form of a sliding door 6 (Fig. 3) and with a lower drawer 8 with a front 10. The cabinet 4 includes an internal spraying cubicle 12 with a plane bottom plate 14 upon which items to be surface treated can be supported.

When the sliding door 6 is opened, as shown in Fig. 3, by an operating burton 16, a keyboard 18 with e.g. three pushbuttons 20-24 becomes accessible for selecting a specific impregnating agent.

After preselection by pressing one of the pushbuttons 20-24, the sliding door 6 is closed and the apparatus 2 is started by renewed pressing on the operating button 16, i.e. the impregnation treatment is initiated as soon as the sliding door 6 has been closed. During operation of the apparatus 2, the operating button 16 will preferably be lit and inactive, i.e. it is inoperative to pressure action.

At the end of impregnation treatment, the time period of which can be fixedly preselected or adjustable, an air pump, ventilator or similar means integrated in the bottom of the cabinet 4, preferably behind the drawer 8, will automatically start with the object of establishing a vacuum in the spraying cubicle 12, such that residual impregnating agent is exhausted through a filter, preferably a filter containing activated carbon which is e.g. incorporated in the drawer 8. This has preferably a less depth than the depth of the cabinet 4, which i.a. appears from Figs. 4 and 6, where Fig. 4 further shows an exhaust opening 26 of the air pump, ventilator or the like disposed behind the drawer 8.

The drawer 8 may, as indicated, also have space for e.g. three storage containers for impregnating agent. As shown additionally in figs. 2, 6 and 8, the drawer 8 is provided with a key operated lock 28 as the drawer 8 is normally only to be opened by certified personnel. Figs. 8 and 9 shows that the apparatus 2 may suitably be provided with legs 30 such that the cabinet 4 can be disposed at a working level which is comfortable for the staff.

In Fig. 7 is shown an alternative embodiment of an apparatus 32 which includes a left- hinged pivoting door 34 and a display 36 with associated operating panel 38 with pushbuttons 40-46.

Figs. 10-14 show a preferred embodiment of an apparatus 48 where a bottom plate 50 and an upper front door 52 of the spraying cubicle 12 are arranged sliding like a drawer 54 which, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, can be drawn out for making space for lateral insertion of items in the spraying cubicle 12. The bottom plate 50 is made of a perforated plate 56 forming connection via an upper pleated drop filter 58 for a cubic filter cassette 60 which is preferably filled with activated carbon, and which is disposed immediately under the spraying cubicle 12 in a compartment 62 to which there is access through a lower front door 64.

In the compartment 64 immediately under the filter box 60, a ventilator 66 is placed, providing exhaust of excess impregnating liquid through the filter cassette 60, and which furthermore communicates with the surroundings through a lower ventilation opening 68 at the bottom of the apparatus 48.

When the filter cassette 60 which contains the upper drop filter 58 - after impregnating about 6,600 pairs of shoes and consuming 37-42 litres of impregnation liquid - is to be replaced, the lower front door 64 is opened, after which the filter cassette 60 for removal is adapted to be moved downwards by means of a pivot arm mechanism 70 via a transverse operating handle 72, such that the used filter cassette 60 can be removed and replaced by a corresponding new filter cassette 60.

In Fig. 11, the filter cassette 60 is shown in its lower position where there is clear spacing between the filter cassette 60 and the bottom plate 50, while the filter cassette 60 in Fig. 13 is shown in its upper operational situation where the filter cassette 60 is disposed rather close under bottom plate 50.

With the object of protecting or facilitating cleaning the inner walls and the bottom plate 50 of the spraying cubicle 12, advantageously there may be applied an internal covering of a recticulated polyurethane foam with a PPI (pore per inch) of about 70- 80, e.g. of the type Regicell 80 HIFI Black which has a density of about 30 kg/m ³ .

Said covering of the bottom plate 50 only influence the air penetration of the perforated bottom plate 50 (Fig. 14) to a very small degree. Under normal operational conditions, the said internal covering is to be replaced more often than the filter cassette 60, by way of example for about every 2,000 impregnation treatments.

In a prototype version of the apparatus 48 according to the invention, the filter cassette

60 was made of MDF-board. By future filter cassettes 60, the cassette itself is made of a considerably lighter material, by way of example fibre cardboard. In that connection it is important to note that used filter cassettes 60 are completely harmless and may be disposed of together with refuse collection.

The applied impregnating liquid is particularly developed for impregnating shoes, gloves, clothing etc. The impregnating liquid is quick-drying and hardens in the course of about 90 minutes at 20° C. The impregnating liquid does not cause discolouration, spots or blotches. The impregnation liquid secures the fabric against bleaching by sunlight, attacks by fungus, mildew and fungus mould. The impregnation liquid can be used on oiled clothing of nylon/rayon and make it completely tight.

By the preferred embodiment of an apparatus 48 according to the invention shown in Figs. 10-14, the apparatus is provided with a jacket 76 of stainless steel sheeting which in one piece constitutes the outer rear and side walls, implying that in the situation of use there is only access to the interior of the apparatus through the upper and lower front doors 52, 64.

One or more storage containers for impregnating liquid is disposed in a lower L- shaped box 74 behind and under the filter cassette 60, while a pump 71 and diverse supply connections are disposed behind a stationary rear sheet 70 of the spraying cubicle 12 from where respective atomising nozzles 72 protrude into the spraying cubicle 12.

The processing time is about 25 s in total, of which the treatment itself takes 2 x 350 ms while about 20 s are used for drying the treated item. The used ventilator 66 has a capacity of about 100 m ³ /h and the exhaust from the spraying cubicle occurs with an air exchange of 1.5 s ^"1 . The interval between treatments is about 4 s.

The specific arrangement of the spraying cubicle 12 may vary according to need, depending on the actual items to be impregnated by means of the apparatus 2, 32, 48.

For example, the spraying cubicle 12 may be equipped with a number of atomising nozzles that have a mutually fixed disposition, or the mutual disposition of which may be varied. Another possibility would be to equip the spraying cubicle 12 with a number of movable atomising nozzles if the actual pattern of movement is determined by the actual shape and size of the actual item to be impregnated.

As also indicated the spraying cubicle 12 may be equipped with devices or aiding means for suspending or in other ways reinforcing items that either cannot stand by themselves or which have great height, by way of example high boots.

It is expected that a very significant future application of the method and apparatus according to the invention will consist of impregnating treatment of clothing, particularly hunting clothes, leisure clothing, ski clothing, children's clothing, including snowsuits for children.

In the performing of the present invention, additional future areas of business are expected, such as aseptic treatment of bowling shoes (shoes for rent or lending) and aseptic treatment of summer footwear, in particular sandals.

The present project is intended or planned commercially such that the method and apparatus according to the invention are primarily intended for use in specialty stores for footwear and leather items, where apparatuses are set up according to a cooperation agreement (franchise) and serviced by a firm that owns and sets up the apparatuses (impregnation machines), hi other words, the individual user or business preferably pays a fixed fee determined by a certain number of treatments and possibly by the type of treatment, as it is presumably to be more expensive to treat a pair of high boots than a pair of shoes. The apparatus therefore has an external counter or a display which is read in connection with payment, and which according to prior art e.g. can be remotely read. Alternatively, the apparatus can be adapted to communicate with a service firm via SMS or other wireless communication with the object of remotely controlled reading.

In the future, when buying footwear or other leather items that normally are to be impregnated afterwards, it should be a standard situation that the shop assistant in connection with a purchase is asking, "should I impregnate the shoes?", "should I impregnate the boots" or "should I impregnate the bag?"

Finally, it is to be mentioned that an impregnating apparatus as indicated and described within the scope of the invention may be found in a slot-machine version which is intended for setup in hotels, shopping centres, train and bus stations or other public localities.