Technical field

The invention relates to a method for cleaning and/or decontaminating cloth, more in particular technical textiles such as for example firefighter suits wherein toxic materials get stuck during use in the field. The invention also related to a cleanroom facility for applying such cleaning and/or decontaminating method. Automation and computerization of the cleaning and/or decontaminating process are also covered with the invention.

Background of the invention

Documents can be found in the art, pertaining to the field of methods for cleaning, in terms of washing, however not pertaining to the field of decontamination of cloth. For example, CN104017238 A is about dust-free cloth; in particular a method is disclosed for recycling non-dust fabrics. In CN106988078 A the issue of reducing the use of water is discussed.

Both references EP3399090 A1 and CN110344205 A refer to equipment being useful within a cleaning facility although not describing suitable facilities themselves. Moreover, CN110344205 A discusses the need for health and environmental safe approaches.

EP0679753 A2 is related to dry-cleaning of garments using liquid carbon dioxide under agitation as cleaning medium, wherein carbon dioxide-cleaned garments are rendered free of odor, requiring no drying. Although referral is made to the optional use of process enhancers, such as surfactants to become contaminated or loaded, such that herewith contaminants can be removed from garments or fabrics, there is no real decontamination process involved here. In ES1139990 U, in particular the use of a separate bag to put cloth in is described, wherein the use of a separate bag is to enable users to separate their cloth from other people their cloth.

Summary of the invention

In a first aspect of the invention a method is provided for processing of cloth. The processing in particular is related to cleaning and/or decontamination of cloth. The method can be semi- or quasi- automated, wherein more automation is for example comprised in the fact that the user or operator in the work space environment is assisted in taking actions and/or decisions as recommended by a user interface and embedded software system with the entire cleaning and/or decontamination processing tree incorporated. Automation means may include for example robots, but can also refer to e.g. predetermined settings given by a computer. The cloth onto which the method is applied, is for example protection cloth or so-called technical textiles, i.e. not fashion and usually comprising of multiple layers. According to an embodiment, the cloth may have a layered structure with e.g. particular number of layers and specific pore size, and more in particular the cloth may have (as part of the layered structure) one or more filters or membranes, for filtering e.g. unwanted particles. Depending on the amount of filters, certain steps of the processing and/or processing parameters may be adapted or are kept unchanged. Possible constraints for the equipment used for such method are for instance maximum to be used temperature (e.g. less than 40 degrees) and/or to be achieved flow through time (e.g. less than 48 hours). Further to be considered are for example typical amount of cloth, size of the cleanroom and processing machinery and equipment, and e.g. internal size of the decontaminating machine and/or drying chamber. The method comprises in a first step classifying of cloth, as received, in a plurality of classes. This classifying taking place in view of determining required treatment steps and required process parameters for each of said required treatment steps. The classifying step can be semi- or quasi-automated. Classifying of cloth is performed on one hand depending on the type of contamination, and on the other hand taking into account the type of textile that needs to be cleaned and/or decontaminated. The cloth is received for example at a cleaning and/or decontaminating facility in a sealed box or bag. In a second step of the method, in accordance with or depending on the class to which a cloth belongs (as known from first step of the method), either a decontaminating step is performed (directly) on said cloth, or else a drying step is done in advance on the cloth before the decontaminating step takes place. Both decontaminating step and drying step can be considered as treatment steps (as referred to above). Decontaminating means removing very small particles and/or micro-organisms, and can be interpreted for example as removing nanoparticles trapped in the textile membrane, whereas during the drying step somewhat larger though still small particles, i.e. rather microparticles are removed. The drying step is generally required because wet garments are difficult to be cleaned in liquid C02. In particular, the drying step is at least adapted for the purpose of (entirely) removing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), such as for example benzene, from the cloth. According to an embodiment, the decontaminating step is based on the use of carbon dioxide (C02), more in particular liquid C02. The drying step can be selected to enable use of the decontaminating step being based on use of C02, more in particular liquid C02, when the cloth is wet. Also another embodiment confirmed the disinfection properties of C02-washing with regard to different organisms, wherein such disinfection having been tested on several viruses, bacteria, spores and fungi.

In an embodiment, the decontamination step of the method is at least adapted (e.g. use of temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and/or use of 45 bar and/or use of liquid C02 acting as non-polar solvent) for the purpose of removing one or more of the following: prions (Creutzfeldt-Jacob), bacterial spores, mycobacterium tuberculosis, non-lipid viruses (polio, coxsackie), fungi (aspergillus, Candida), vegeative bacteria (S. aureus, P. aeruginosa), lipid viruses (HIV, herpes, hepatitis B, Sars- Covid), preferably with an effectiveness exceeding 99,9%.

The method may comprise a further step, wherein in accordance with the class to which a cloth belongs, (local) treatment or so-called pre-treatment of (part of) the cloth is performed, for the purpose of removing visible dirt (e.g. by means of cleaning the surface) from the cloth. This further step is typically performed after first step of classifying of cloth, and before the decontaminating or the drying followed by decontaminating step. In particular for the pre-treatment and the decontaminating step the type of textile (determining partly the class to which a cloth belongs) is an important parameter, whereas being of less importance for instance for the drying step. The pre treatment step can be semi- or quasi-automated. Pre-treatment can be understood as removing macroparticles, i.e. larger than the microparticles removed during drying, and much larger than the nanoparticles removed during the decontaminating step. Moreover, during pre-treatment in particular, heavy dirty spots are removed, and thus rather biological dirt whereas the other (drying and decontaminating) steps concern more the removal of chemical dirt. The (local) treatment step may comprise (locally) dispensing a liquid such as for instance a detergent in the form of a liquid or by (jet) blasting a certain liquid or solids onto the garment.

Further, the method may comprise the step of receiving a variety of different cloth and subsequently performing classifying based on one or more of the following: visual inspection of the cloth, and/or (database) information about the historic (past till present) use of the cloth. The visual inspection can be partly automated by means of for example camera systems and is particularly related to the surface or visible parts of the cloth. For partly or semi-automated visual inspection, the classifying step may become partly automated. The information about the historic use is for example stored within a database. Historic use may relate to recent data, e.g. fire classification of latest fire, as well as data from long time ago and giving for example the entire cleaning and/or decontaminating history. While referring to the variety of different cloth, the different cloth may vary in terms of the type of cloth, referring e.g. to amount of layers and/or type of filters for a particular purpose e.g. protection or safety.

The method may also comprise the step of adapting the process parameters of the decontaminating step, preferably operating at 45 bar and/or using a temperature less than 40 degrees Celsius, preferably below 20 degrees Celsius, more preferably around 15 degrees Celsius, and/or the drying step and/or the (local) treatment step in accordance with the classifying step. This adapting can be (partly) automated. Process parameters are for example rotating speed, temperature and pressure.

The method may comprise a further step, wherein in accordance with the class to which a cloth belongs, the cloth is put in a separate bag e.g. made of (synthetic) textile for the (entire) duration of the processing to thereby gather (certain) to be removed particles (as to be removed during the processing e.g. due to centrifugal forces) within the bag. The to be removed particles to be captured in a containment such as the separate bag, are for example asbestos particles. In a second aspect of the invention a cleanroom facility is provided, adapted for executing the method for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth in accordance with the first aspect. According to an embodiment, the classifying step is performed in a first room, and the decontaminating step is performed in a third room, being (physically) separated from said first room, and with a separate air flow and pressure, by means of a second room, wherein parts or cloth are passed through and optionally the drying step is performed. Parts are for instance helmets or boots (e.g. associated with a firefighter suit) also referred to as "hard" matter as opposed to "soft" textile. In case the drying step is not performed, the second room can be seen or interpreted as a lock, before entering the (third) room for performing the decontaminating step. The drying and/or decontaminating step may be performed by equipment placed just outside the cleanroom facility, in a fourth room also called technical area, though in connection with the second and third room. The second room may be adapted for receiving parts or cloth from the first room and delivering parts or cloth to the third room, wherein the receiving and/or delivering is enabled by means of a door, hatch or other type of access means in general. According to an embodiment, the (local) treatment step is performed in the first room. The third room may comprise of a contained cloth area for decontaminating cloth, and a contained non-cloth (ozone) area for decontaminating non cloth accessories such as for example helmets or boots. According to an embodiment, the first room is in under-pressure, and the second and third room are in overpressure.

In a third aspect of the invention a computer program product is provided, comprising computer- readable code, that when run on a computer environment supports execution of the method for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth in accordance with the first aspect, in particular one or more of the following steps. A first step, classifying cloth as received in a plurality of classes; a second step, visually inspecting the cloth for assisting the classifying; a third step, storing to or loading from a database information about the historic (past till present) use of the cloth; a fourth step, adapting the process parameters of the decontaminating step and/or the drying step and/or the (local) treatment step in accordance with the classifying; and a fifth step, examining the cloth after the decontaminating step herewith controlling status of the cloth in terms of quality, performance and/or functionality. It is noted that some of these steps, e.g. classifying, visually inspecting and adapting process parameters, can be semi- or quasi- or even fully automated. Examining the cloth, as described in the fifth step, can be for example checking if there are holes or defects in the cloth deteriorating the effectiveness thereof. E.g. protection clothing that has been perforated or got burnt at some locations because of use in the field (e.g. while extinguishing a fire) will no longer protect.

In addition, with the invention a database is provided, adapted to run on a computer environment, comprising information for each piece of cloth, to be treated with the method for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth in accordance with the first aspect, about the historic (past till present) use of the cloth.

Further, with the invention a database is provided, adapted to run on a computer environment, comprising information, for each type of cloth, to be treated with the method for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth in accordance with the first aspect, and for each class therein, the required treatment steps and the required process parameters for each of the required treatment steps.

In a fourth aspect of the invention a method is provided for calibrating the method for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth, comprising the following steps. In a first step a witness sample is placed on or attached to the cloth, and this for the purpose of calibrating or testing the cloth after having performed the cleaning and/or decontaminating method, and hence being a measure for the performance of this cleaning and/or decontaminating method. The witness sample can be removably fixed onto the calibrated or tested cloth. A second step regards regularly off-line, e.g. in a lab, checking of the witness sample, after having been removed from the cloth, and this in relation to the cleaning and/or decontamination performance of the method on the cloth. In a third step, the process parameters are adapted accordingly in the database comprising information about the historic (past till present) use of the cloth. Such witness sample is for example a small piece of cloth being submitted to a testing laboratory for evaluation.

In a fifth aspect of the invention an identification arrangement is provided for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth in a cleaning and/or decontamination facility. The arrangement comprises of providing the cloth with identification tags, e.g. based on wireless communication such as for example RFID-tags. The arrangement also comprises of providing the cleaning and/or decontamination facility with (e.g. wireless communication) means for tracking movement of the cloth through the different processing steps provided in the cleaning and/or decontamination facility, as outlined with the method for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

A scan system for logistic purposes, for example scanning received to be cleaned and/or decontaminated cloth at the beginning of the processing chain, is herewith described. Moreover, when a closed box, having to be cleaned and/or decontaminated cloth there within, for instance arrives at the cleaning and/or decontamination facility, it is enough to scan close to though outside of the box, in order to read or register the identification from the RFID-tag onto the cloth stored within the box. In other words, the cloth is for example provided with RFID-tag which can be read when arriving at cleaning and/or decontaminating premises without having to open the box wherein the cloth is stored.

In a sixth aspect of the invention a system is provided for quality control of cleaning and/or decontaminating processed cloth. The system comprises means for dispensing liquid (e.g. water) onto the processed cloth. The system also comprises camera means for detecting colour changes due to the dispensing of the liquid. The system further comprises computation means deriving quality parameters from such colour changes.

Alternatively, in accordance with the invention, a system is provided for quality control of cleaning and/or decontaminating processed cloth. The system comprises means for blowing heated gas (e.g. air) into the processed cloth. The system also comprises thermal camera means for detecting (local) defects. The system further comprises computation means deriving quality parameters from such detected (local) defects.

A quality control system for measuring the condition or status of cleaned and/or decontaminated cloth, at end of the processing chain, is herewith described.

Further referring to the art, it is noted that in ES1139990 U, there is no notion of a need to remove particles as part of the decontamination process and to use a bag to gather those in. Moreover ES1139990 U does neither discuss classifying cloth in a plurality of classes, nor in accordance with the class where to a cloth belongs selecting to do an additional step of using a bag.

In the background, none of the references pertain to what a person skilled in the art would denote to be a cleanroom facility, with different rooms, suitably separated and having different characteristics, e.g. in terms of pressure. In the field of decontamination, the use of a cleanroom facility is recommendable, defined as a cleanroom facility is related to the workspace environment of the user or environment comprising different rooms and areas wherein the method is performed.

In an embodiment of the invention said first room is in under-pressure, and said second and third room are in overpressure, wherein the decontamination step is performed in the third room, and wherein said decontaminating step being based on the use of C02, more in particular liquid C02, and said decontaminating being performed by equipment placed just outside said cleanroom facility, in a fourth room, though in connection with said second and third room. It is worth emphasizing that a difference needs to be made between the decontamination processing parameters like pressure (within the equipment used therefore) and the use of pressure (differences) in the cleanroom chambers to maintain separate airflow.

CN104017238 A is about dust-free cloth while the invention relates to technical textiles. It is worth emphasizing that one aims at being able to reuse said technical textiles within a reasonably short time, and therefore an effective approach must be selected, which is use of C02, more in particular in technical textiles as mentioned with layers and/or with filters, use of the technique of CN104017238 A (water) is totally ineffective. Moreover, while effectiveness of methods can be tuned by setting higher processing parameters like rotation and/or temperature, it is worth emphasizing that such approach may damage these filters, which is unacceptable. Therefore, the challenge solved by the invention is finding an appropriate processing method within the boundaries acceptable for the type of cloth treated (e.g. less than 40 degrees). The water cleaning methods of CN104017238 A are not appropriate for this, and neither is the temperature range as referred to in CN106988078 A (45 degrees or higher) workable.

Neither CN106988078 A nor CN110344205 A are discussing technical textiles, especially not those with layers and/or filters.

CN110344205 A discusses the need for health and environmental safe approaches but does not discuss the issues discussed above. CN106988078 A discusses the issue of reducing the use of water but does not discuss any of the issues discussed above. Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 illustrates a flow-chart embodiment of the method for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth, comprising classifying and decontaminating, and possibly also drying, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates another flow-chart embodiment of the method for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth, comprising classifying and decontaminating, and possibly also performing local treatment and drying, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 3 illustrates a flow-chart embodiment of the method for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth, comprising classifying and decontaminating, and possibly also drying, while indicating different areas or rooms wherein the method is performed, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 4 illustrates another flow-chart embodiment of the method for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth, comprising classifying and decontaminating, and possibly also performing local treatment and drying, while indicating different areas or rooms wherein the method is performed, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 5 illustrates a flow-chart embodiment of the method for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth, comprising classifying and decontaminating, and possibly also drying, including computerization using a separate database system for cloth history and processing parameters respectively, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 6 illustrates another flow-chart embodiment of the method for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth, classifying and decontaminating, and possibly also performing local treatment and drying, including computerization using one single database system for both cloth history and processing parameters, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 7 illustrates an embodiment in perspective top view of the environment comprising different rooms and areas wherein the method is performed for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth, including intake and quality control, in accordance with the invention. Detailed description of the invention

The invention is now further described while referring to the set of drawings.

In Figure 1 a flow-chart embodiment is illustrated of the method 100 for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth, in accordance with the invention. With this flow-chart is indicated that the method 100 may either comprise the steps of classifying 101 and decontaminating 102, or else the method 100 comprises the steps of classifying 101, drying 103 and decontaminating 102. In this latter case, the drying 103 is performed on the cloth before decontaminating 102 it, as indicated by arrow 13. Also for this latter case, after classifying 101, the drying 103 is performed, as illustrated by means of arrow 12. Having been classified, dried and decontaminated, the cloth can be delivered for inspection (not shown) as indicated by arrow 15. Drying or off-gassing of the cloth is not always necessary. Whenever this happens, after classifying 101, the cloth can be decontaminated directly, as illustrated with arrow 11. After the cloth has been decontaminated, again it can be delivered for inspection (not shown) as indicated by arrow 14. Classifying 101 of cloth means that the cloth is classified and sorted in boxes according to the type of contamination, and taking into account the type of textile of the cloth that needs to be cleaned and/or decontaminated. Drying 103 of cloth goes along with removing microparticles from the cloth, whereas decontaminating 102 by means of using liquid C02 focuses on nanoparticles to be removed. In either of both steps 102, 103, very small invisible particles are removed.

In Figure 2 another flow-chart embodiment is illustrated of the method 200 for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth, in accordance with the invention. Here, next to the possible step of drying 203, performed before decontaminating 202 and after classifying 201, a step of performing local treatment 204 can be executed. During this local treatment 204, typically macroparticles are removed from the cloth. Such macroparticles are considered visible, appearing as for example heavy dirty spots on the cloth surface. In other words, during the local treatment 204, also referred to as pre-treatment, rather biological dirt is removed, whereas the other steps 202, 203 concern more the removal of chemical dirt. Moreover, during the local treatment 204, a liquid such as a detergent may be used, more in particular dispensed onto the cloth, for enhancing the removal of the local dirt. Arrows 21, 27 are depicted indicating the flow of the method comprising the steps of classifying 201 and decontaminating 202. On the other hand, arrows 22, 26, 28 indicate the flow of the method comprising the steps of classifying 201, drying 203 and decontaminating 202. Further, arrows 23, 24, 25, 29 indicate the flow of the method comprising the steps of classifying 201, performing local treatment 204, drying 203 and decontaminating 202.

In Figure 3 a flow-chart embodiment of the method for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth is depicted, together with the indication of the different areas or rooms wherein the method is performed, in accordance with the invention. Flere, again, as in Figure 1, the method 300 may either comprise the steps of classifying 301 and decontaminating 302, according to the flow given by arrows 31, 34. Otherwise, the method 300 comprises the steps of classifying 301, drying 303 and decontaminating 302, wherein arrows 32, 33, 35 are indicating the flow. With the illustration of Figure 3 it becomes clear that each of the different steps 301, 302, 303 are performed in a different room. The classifying step is performed in a first room 306. Moreover, for either of the steps of drying 302 and decontaminating 303 two rooms are used each time, i.e. a room 307, 308 for access wherein or whereto the operator or robot transfers the cloth for performing one processing step after the other, and a room 309 for the equipment or machinery being stored also known as the technical area. The technical area for the equipment of drying 302 and decontaminating 303 can be shared, as is the case in the illustration of Figure 3. Thus, a second room 307 is used for accessing the area of drying 303 and transferring the cloth thereto. After drying 303, the cloth is further transferred to a third room 308 where the cloth is received for decontaminating 302. A fourth room 309 is used wherein the equipment being accessible via second 307 and third room 308 for the cloth to be dried and decontaminated, is placed. Drying 303 is hence performed in rooms 307, 309 for access (a) of cloth and storing equipment (b) respectively. Similarly, decontaminating 302 is performed in rooms 308, 309 for access (a) of cloth and storing equipment (b) respectively. The combination of rooms 306, 307, 308 is also called the cleanroom area 305. After the cloth has been decontaminated, according to the flow of arrow 34, 35, it can be delivered for inspection to the quality control area 310.

In Figure 4, the flow-chart embodiment of Figure 3 is extended with the possible step of local treatment 404 to be performed before drying 403 and after classifying 401, in accordance with the invention. According to the embodiment, the local treatment 404 is performed in a first room 406, wherein classifying 401 also takes place. As depicted in Figure 4, the method 400 may comprise the steps of classifying 401 and decontaminating 402, according to the flow given by arrows 41, 47. Alternatively, the method 400 comprises the steps of classifying 401, drying 403 and decontaminating 402, wherein arrows 42, 46, 48 are indicating the flow. Further, the method 400 may comprise the steps of classifying 401, performing local treatment 404, drying 403 and decontaminating 402, wherein arrows 43, 44, 45, 49 are indicating the flow. According to Figure 4, a second room 407 is used for accessing the area of drying 403 and transferring the cloth thereto. After drying 403, the cloth is further transferred to a third room 408 where the cloth is received for decontaminating 402 it. A fourth room 409 is used wherein the equipment being accessible via second 407 and third room 408 for the cloth to be dried and decontaminated, is placed. Drying 403 and decontaminating 402 is performed in respective rooms 407, 408 for access (a) of cloth and in room 409 for storing equipment (b) respectively. The cleanroom area 405 combines rooms 406, 407, 408. The cloth having been decontaminated, and following the flow of arrow 47, 48, 49, can be delivered for inspection to the quality control area 410.

In Figure 5 again we can recognize the illustration of Figure 1 with the flow-chart embodiment of the method for cleaning and/or decontamination processing of cloth, in accordance with the invention. The method 500 may either comprise the steps of classifying 501 and decontaminating 502, according to the flow given by arrows 51, 54. Or else, the method 500 comprises the steps of classifying 501, drying 503 and decontaminating 502, wherein arrows 52, 53, 55 are indicating the flow. In Figure 5, a relation is also made to the history of the cloth that is to be cleaned and/or decontaminated. The history of a cloth is stored and continuously updated in a database and can be retrieved any time. Such history may include for instance, all previous cleaning and/or decontaminating performed thereon, particular dirt spotted onto the cloth, special detergents used, defects noticed during quality control, and subsequent repair carried out. The relation or link with the cloth history computer system 511 or database, is indicated with arrow 514 going back and forth, and thus indicating that data may be stored, retrieved and updated. In addition, as shown in Figure 5, a relation is made to the processing parameters for cleaning and/or decontaminating the cloth as received, made out of a particular textile and having a certain type of contamination as identified during the classifying step. With this processing parameters, the process flow and conditions are stored and retrieved, and possibly also updated, for a particular cloth to be cleaned and/or decontaminated. The processing parameters are for example the pressure under which e.g. decontaminating takes place, the rotating speed of the drying and/or the decontaminating drum, the temperature used for drying and/or decontaminating, and the liquid used during local treatment. The relation or link with the process flow/condition computer system 512 or database, is indicated with arrow 513 going back and forth, and thus indicating here also that data may be stored, retrieved and updated. Moreover, one-directional arrows 515, 516 depict the delivery of processing parameters data towards decontaminating 502 and drying 503 steps respectively, such that decontaminating and drying are performed under the correct conditions, with correct parameters and process flow for the cloth classified.

In Figure 6, the flow-chart embodiment of Figure 5 is extended with the possible step of local treatment 604 to be performed before drying 603 and after classifying 601, in accordance with the invention. Figure 6 moreover illustrates the relation with the history of the to be cleaned and/or decontaminated cloth, and with the processing parameters for cleaning and/or decontaminating the cloth as received, made out of a particular textile and having a certain type of contamination as identified during the classifying step, using one single computer system 612 or database for both cloth history and processing parameters. The relation or link with this computer system 612 or database, is indicated with arrow 613 going back and forth, and thus indicating that data may be stored, retrieved and updated. Further, one-directional arrows 615, 616, 617 depict the delivery of processing parameters data towards decontaminating 602, drying 603 and performing local treatment 604 steps respectively, such that decontaminating, drying and local treatment are performed under the correct conditions, with correct parameters and process flow for the cloth classified.

In Figure 7 an embodiment is illustrated in perspective top view of the cleaning and/or decontaminating environment comprising different rooms and areas, including cloth intake or receival and quality control before delivering back the processed cloth, in accordance with the invention. We recognize a first room 706 for classifying and possibly performing local treatment of the cloth, a second room 707 for accessing the drying equipment, a third room 708 for accessing the decontaminating equipment and a fourth room 709 for storing the drying and decontaminating equipment, also known as the technical area. The third room 708 has two compartments: one compartment for the cloth textile (soft material or software) to be decontaminated in the machinery as stored in the fourth room 709, and one specialized ozone compartment for the accessories (hard material or hardware) such as for example helmets and boots to be decontaminated.

Further referring to the quality control, i.e. as well the area to perform quality control including the process to be executed therein, the following embodiment is considered, wherein a frame or framework is placed inside an enclosure that does not let any light pass. In this framework, a garment can be placed using a holder, rack or standard. Once the garment is placed e.g. on its specific standard (various types for different garments) the quality control sequence can be initiated. First an automated (air) sealing of the garment is started. Inflatable tubes and spheres obstruct the openings of the garment, so that resistance is created for the conditioned air/gas to inflate and model the garment in three dimensions. With conditioned air/gas is meant here for example at a particular temperature and certain moisture grade. An operator will check good function and position before closing the door of the enclosure.

Once the door of the enclosure (of the quality control unit) is closed the quality control sequence may be continued. Conditioned air may be further applied and thermal imaging can be initiated as a first measurement. Thermal imaging is particularly performed e.g. for checking the integrity of the thermal membrane, being embedded in the garment as a kind of thermal barrier. Such thermal membrane is for example taped, and thus where the taping would no longer be fixed and peels off, this could be visualized this way. Infrared (IR) cameras are for example placed in such angles that a 3D image can be generated, giving a first set of data over a given period of measurement. The application (software) may compare this data to the maximum allowable leakage (area) and may output a pass or fail to the human machine interface (HMI). During a second measurement, the total fluorescent area of a garment, in simulated daylight, hence its visibility in daylight can be analyzed, whereas in a third measurement, the total retro-reflective area of the apparel, or else visibility at night may be inspected (NBN EN ISO 20471).

In addition to the cameras above, a set of imaging apparatus (e.g. standard optical camera) can also be placed or mounted at such angles inside the enclosure (possibly rotating and/or moving up and down), for example in between the cameras, light sources are positioned in an alternating manner. This set-up of camera's and lighting could be for instance such that garment can be viewed and further analyzed in three dimensions. Again, a pass or fail output can be reported back to the HMI.

According to the embodiment, next sets of quality control parameters that can be compared are the water repellent properties (fourth measurement) and the breathability (fifth measurement) of the garment. The last analysis is only performed when a membrane is present in the laminate (or layered structure) of the garment. A water or liquid nozzle dispenses e.g. water or a liquid onto one or more locations of the garment near a camera. The application software may compare different gray scales or color tones of what is seen by the camera. For example, in case gray scales are used, it may be that the darker the gray is represented, the more water is present (e.g. left behind after spraying) at that particular location of the garment. An indication of the repellent property of the textile can be achieved in this way. After that, conditioned air (with a certain humidity and temperature) may be blown into the garment. After a given period the temperature and humidity can be measured inside the enclosure. A comparative analysis with reference data may be performed by means of the application software over a given time interval. From this data the breathability can be compared to reference data known from standards (e.g. color charts/maps).

After the quality control sequence, the entire analysis can be send out to a database, connecting the identification of the garment to the results of the quality control and the cleaning/decontamination service it received just before.

The quality control unit may comprise of an enclosure, a standard, rack or holder, a set of sensors and camera's, light sources, fans, heating coils and cooling coils, water nozzles and valves, pneumatics, a PLC system, and may be provided with application software, some sort of computer and an HMI.