CN1922352A

CN1922352A - Laundry apparatus and method using the same

Info

Publication number: CN1922352A
Application number: CNA2005800055520A
Authority: CN
Inventors: W·M·谢珀; J·C·霍特; A·V·拉多米塞尔斯基; K·N·普赖斯; C·A·J·K·托恩
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Ltd
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Ltd; Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 2004-02-20
Filing date: 2005-02-17
Publication date: 2007-02-28
Also published as: CA2556391A1; BRPI0507911A; AR049155A1; KR20060121976A; EP1716280A1; WO2005083168A1; US20050183208A1; JP2007521931A; KR100894429B1; AU2005217402A1

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for treating, cleaning or refreshing fabric articles. Specifically, the apparatus is dual mode apparatus capable of both washing and drying operations wherein a lipophilic fluid is used in at least one step of the fabric treatment process in the apparatus. A kit containing replaceable/consumable components is also provided.

Description

Laundry apparatus and using method thereof

Invention field

The present invention relates to a kind ofly to be used to handle, the equipment and the method for cleaning or refreshing fabfrics goods.Specifically, this equipment wherein uses lipophilic fluid for can carry out the dual mode apparatus that washing operation can carry out drying operation again at least one step of fabric treating technology in this equipment.Also comprise the external member that comprises replaceable/consumable component.

Background of invention

For the cleaning of textile article, the consumer can select conventional immersion washing or dry-cleaning.

Conventional clothing cleans the water that uses relatively large amount, typically carries out in as the laundromat of inserting coins with washing machine or in special field in consumer family.Although it is quite senior that washing machine and laundry detergent compositions have become, still there is the risk that makes textile article generation dye transfer and contraction in conventional washing methods.The used a large portion textile article of consumer is unsuitable for cleaning with so conventional washing methods.Even be considered to " machine-washable " textile article and also after the washing of being everlasting, produce serious fold, therefore need to press.

Most of dry-cleaning methods clean by nonaqueous solvents.By avoiding contacting water, these methods have farthest reduced shrinks and wrinkling risk.Owing to need to handle and recover a large amount of solvents, make these dry-cleaning methods be unsuitable in consumer family, using.Owing to need special dry-cleaning operation, make this washing form not only inconvenient expense but also high concerning the consumer.

Recently, people have developed and have utilized the dry-cleaning method as the dry-cleaning medium of this class Compressed Gas of supercritical carbon dioxide for example.Regrettably, these methods have a lot of shortcomings, and for example they need the very high equipment of pressure.

For example utilizing, other dry-cleaning method of the non-solvent of perfluor fourth ammonia and so on also has description recently.These methods also have many shortcomings, the abundant dissolve body dirt of non-solvent fluid for example, and also extremely expensive.

Therefore, the new equipment that cleans or handle textile article, the needs of method and composition are not met as yet, needing these equipment, method and composition is safe to the textile article of wide region, farthest reduce shrink and wrinkling, and be suitable in consumer family and/or in service trade and commercial undertaking, using with high performance-price ratio.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to the double-mode fabric treatment apparatus, this equipment comprises:

Be used to hold the chamber of textile article;

Be used to store first reservoir of lipophilic fluid;

Be used to store second reservoir of fabric finishing composition;

Configuration is used for distributing with droplet form the distributor of fabric finishing composition;

The optional heater that is used for heated chamber; With

The optional gas sensor that is used for monitoring chamber lipophilic fluid vapour concentration;

Wherein said equipment is used to comprise the fabric treating operation in washing cycle and oven dry cycle by configuration; During washing cycle, lipophilic fluid is assigned in the chamber; By distributor fabric finishing composition is assigned in the chamber during the oven dry cycle, the interior textile article of at least a portion of the composition that therefore is assigned with and chamber contacts.

The present invention also relates to a kind of method of in double-mode fabric treatment apparatus of the present invention, handling textile article.This method may further comprise the steps:

Textile article is placed in the chamber;

Lipophilic fluid is assigned in the chamber, makes textile article contact with lipophilic fluid;

At least a portion of lipophilic fluid is taken out in chamber; With

With droplet form fabric finishing composition is assigned in the chamber, makes textile article contact with fabric finishing composition;

Wherein said fabric finishing composition is in about 20 ℃ at chamber and is assigned in the chamber during about 80 ℃ temperature.

The external member that comprises replaceable/consumable component also is provided.

Summary of drawings

Although this specification it is believed that by following explanation to understand the present invention better by particularly pointing out and clearly claimed claims of the present invention are drawn a conclusion, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an equipment schematic diagram according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is the side view that equipment is according to an embodiment of the invention cut open;

Fig. 3 is an equipment front view according to an embodiment of the invention;

Should be appreciated that not necessarily drafting in proportion of accompanying drawing, and embodiment is represented with graphical symbol, imaginary line, sketch and fragmentary views sometimes.In some cases, may be omitted understanding the present invention's details unnecessary or that other details is beyonded one's depth.Of course it is to be understood that and the invention is not restricted to the specific embodiments that this paper illustrates.

Detailed Description Of The Invention

Definition

Term " fabric " goods used herein " refer to the conventional washing methods of any common usefulness or dry-cleaning The goods that method is cleaned. Therefore, this term comprises clothing, flax, latitude curtain, dress ornament and ground The plate covering. This term comprises that also other is all or in part by textile article, such as hand Handbag, furniture cover, oil skin etc.

Term used herein " lipophilic fluid " refers to any nonaqueous solvents that can remove sebum, Hereinafter with for a more detailed description. " lipophilic fluid " defined herein do not comprise example usually Material such as compressible gases such as carbon dioxide and so on. Under environment temperature and pressure, this lipophilic The property fluid is at least part of to be liquid.

Phrase used herein " dry weight of textile article " refers to the fluid weight that specially do not add Textile article weight.

Phrase used herein " absorptive capacity of textile article " refers to and can be collected also by textile article Remain on the maximum of the fluid in its hole and the space. The absorptive capacity of textile article is according to following Textile article absorptive capacity test protocol (Test Protocol for Measuring Absorption Capacity of a Fabric Article) measures.

For the person of ordinary skill of the art, by reading following detailed description and appended Claims, these and other aspect of the present invention, feature and advantage will become aobvious and easily See. Except as otherwise noted, described all percentages, ratio and ratio be all by weight herein Meter. Except as otherwise noted, the unit of all temperature be degree centigrade (℃). Except as otherwise noted, All measuring is international unit.

Textile article absorptive capacity test protocol

The 1st step: rinsing and oven dry will add lipophilic fluid and arrive wherein reservoir or other appearance Device; Clean reservoir makes it without any foreign substance, particularly soap, washing agent and profit Humectant.

The 2nd step: " doing " textile article that weighing will be tested, to obtain textile article " doing " Heavy.

The 3rd step: 2L is injected reservoir at the lipophilic fluid of～20C.

The 4th step: will put into the storage that fills lipophilic fluid through the textile article in the 2nd step In the device.

The 5th step: the textile article in the agitated reservoir, to guarantee not having air in the textile article Residual and the textile article of capsule is drenched by lipophilic fluid.

The 6th step: textile article is taken out in the reservoir that fills lipophilic fluid.

The 7th step: as required textile article is launched, make same surface or the phase of textile article Between effects on surface without any contact.

The 8th step: allow textile article drip-dry through the 7th step, until the frequency of drop is super Cross 1 drops/sec.

The 9th step: weighing is through " wetting " textile article in the 8th step, and is heavy with " wetting " of obtaining textile article.

The 10th step: the amount of calculating the lipophilic fluid that textile article absorbed with following formula.

FA＝(W-D)/D*100

In the formula:

The fluid that FA=absorbs, % (that is the textile article absorptive capacity % that represents by the textile article dry weight)

The W=sample weight that wets, g

The initial sample weight of D=, g

Term " non-immersion " is meant that all basically fluids closely contact with textile article.Without any " dissociating " washing medium that surpasses minimum.This is different from " immersion " method, and in " immersion " method, wash fluid is a shower gel, textile article or as being immersed in wherein in the conventional upright type washing machine, perhaps as dropping into wherein in the conventional horizontal washing machine.Term " non-immersion " is done definition in more detail according to following non-immersion method test protocol (Test Protocolfor Non-Immersive Processes).When the test protocol below satisfying, wherein the method that contacts with fluid of textile article is non-immersion method.

Non-immersion method test protocol

The 1st step: the absorptive capacity of determining the fabric sample with above-mentioned textile article absorptive capacity test protocol.

The 2nd step: make textile article stand the fluid contact process, make a large amount of fluid contact fabric goods.

The 3rd step: will place near textile article through the dry fabric sample in the 1st step through the 2nd step, and move/stirring/upset textile article and fabric sample, make fluid transfer to (textile article should reach identical saturated content with the fabric sample) on the fabric sample from textile article.

The 4th step: weighing is through the fabric sample in the 3rd step.

The 5th step: calculate the fluid that the fabric sample is absorbed with following formula:

FA＝(W-D)/D*100

In the formula:

The fluid that FA=absorbed, %

The W=sample weight that wets, g

The initial sample weight of D=, g

The 6th step: the fluid that comparison fabric sample is absorbed and the absorptive capacity of fabric sample.If the fluid that the fabric sample is absorbed is less than the about 0.8 of fabric sample absorptive capacity, this method is non-immersion so.

Lipophilic fluid can use separately, perhaps uses with optional liquid (for example water and/or polar solvent) and/or the described any composition in this paper back, to be formed for the fabric treating medium and/or the cleaning solution of fabric treatment procedure.Should be appreciated that fabric treating comprises cleaning, adjustment, starching and pure and fresh.By the weight of described fabric treating medium, lipophilic fluid typically comprises the fabric treating medium at least about 50%.By the weight of water, the fabric treating medium comprises and is less than about 30% or be less than about 10% water in one embodiment.

In equipment of the present invention and method, do not recommend to clean or handle the textile article that soaks.Yet most textile articles contain from the moisture of the different content of wearer's absorption of air or contact.The wet goods of this based article and water once in a while for example swimming suit can be handled with equipment of the present invention and method.

Equipment

Fig. 1 is the schematic diagram of an embodiment that carries out the equipment of fabric treating technology according to the present invention.Carry out this embodiment of equipment of fabric treating technology and other embodiment according to the present invention at WO 01/94675 (P﹠amp; G case 8119M) describes in detail in.

Equipment 70 comprises chamber 1, this chamber can hold pending textile article and comprise the washing fluid of lipophilic fluid, wherein when the washing fluid that is placed on pending textile article in the chamber and will comprise lipophilic fluid was introduced in the fabric treating chamber 1, chamber 1 kept the amount of lipophilic fluid mostly to be the absorptive capacity of wherein holding fabric most.In addition, chamber 1 can be the permeable chamber of lipophilic fluid.

Equipment 70 also comprises exterior chamber 2, and this exterior chamber can be held the lipophilic fluid that is not maintained at from fabric treating chamber 1 in the described fabric treating chamber.Exterior chamber 2 is configured to covering chamber 1.Exterior chamber 2 typically comprises outlet or water discharge outlet 7, and the lipophilic fluid that exterior chamber 2 is held is discharged exterior chamber 2 by this outlet.The expectation lipophilic fluid makes the amount of fabric treating chamber 1 interior lipophilic fluid be no more than the absorptive capacity that is included in the fabric in the textile article treatment chamber 1 from the rate of discharge of exterior chamber 2.

In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, chamber 1 and exterior chamber 2 are for cylindrical configuration and have horizontal access 58.Typically the horizontal center line of the exterior chamber that relatively chamber 1 is static is consistent with the rotating shaft 100 of active chamber 1, and this active chamber is installed in the exterior chamber 2 movably.Usually chamber 1 can have any suitable perforation or patterns of openings, and according to the design principle design, so that fluid can not weaken to unacceptable degree by the mobile maximization of its perforated surface.Chamber 1 is designed to can keep enough rigidity when rotating at a high speed in the presence of the textile article load that is comprising lipophilic fluid.Chamber 1 can comprise fastening element, pillar (not shown) for example, and have the invisible back side among Fig. 1, this back side is typically smooth, and can bore a hole or not bore a hole.Equipment be configured to preferably lipophilic fluid the to be led lipophilic fluid of chamber 1 can see through the surface, rather than the back side of chamber 1.

Profile as Fig. 2 more clearly illustrates, and exterior chamber 2 comprises peripheral wall 62, be fixed to rear wall 63 on edge of peripheral wall, be fixed to the antetheca 64 on the peripheral wall opposite edges; Described antetheca has tubulose extension 55, and this extension has the inlet 58 that is used for to equipment 70 fillings and taking-up washings.This pliable and tough tubulose extension 55 that connects static rotating cylinder 2 is propagated the vibration that produces during the machine run and is minimized.Inlet 58 forms sealing gland with Qianmen 59, and this Qianmen is near the antetheca 56 that is fixed to the laundry rack its peripheral outermost.Qianmen 59 can randomly comprise optional feature to guarantee excellent sealing, for example forms rubber, synthetic rubber or the elaxtic seal of any suitable shape to guarantee to seal.When fabric treatment apparatus 70 running, access door 59 is in closed position shown in Figure 2 and the outermost portion of pliable and tough tubulose extension 55 is formed " airtight " sealing.Airtight quality should be enough to allow superpressure or the decompression in the device, but also needn't be the required quality of extreme pressure, for example supercritical carbon dioxide operation.The element of these back only illustrates in the cross section of Fig. 2, and is the clearest to guarantee remaining map contour.

As seeing from Fig. 2, exterior chamber 2 supports by four suspension springs 47 (only illustrating two), and an end of spring is connected to the topmost portion of exterior chamber 2, and the other end is fixed to fabric treatment apparatus cashier's office in a shop.Top spring 47a is connected on the load transducer 48 with control unit interface.In unshowned device modification, any desirable high speed suspension, load equalization or systems stabilisation, the known or disclosed type of modern European preload formula washing machine for example is all applicable to present device.

In one embodiment, chamber 1 comprise lipophilic fluid permeable (for example, perforation) peripheral wall 65, be fixed to the rear wall 66 of the basic atresia on the described peripheral wall and be fixed to the antetheca 67 of the basic atresia on the described peripheral wall opposite side.Described antetheca 67 has and contains inlet 58 tubulose extension 55, and this inlet is used for to fabric treatment apparatus 70 fillings and takes out washings, and with exterior chamber 2 in inlet 58 concentric alignment.Same intervals is three lifting blades 60 on the inner periphery of peripheral wall 65, and it has the cross section of fundamental triangle or other shape.In a specific embodiment, the radial extension line that each blade shroud produces around rotating shaft 100 places of chamber 1 is symmetric shape and passes through its height.This makes the opposite spin of chamber 1 have equal lifting effect to the goods that will wash.Be to be understood that and what approve is that the washing machine of most conventional does not promote blade, and tumbler dryer has the lifting blade, it is designed to low speed and/or unidirectional " rolling " running.In addition, chamber 1 can comprise that along its inner surface deflector or other structure are to help to reconfigure the fabric that comprises within it.

By power transmission shaft 49 chamber 1 is rotatably fixed on the exterior chamber 2.The power of rotation chamber 1 transmits by the driven pulley 50 of concentric installation.Transmission system comprises the variable-speed drive motor 54 on the peripheral wall 62 that is fixed to exterior chamber 2.Any motion of exterior chamber 2 does not influence the rotary speed of chamber 1.The output shaft 53 of CD-ROM drive motor 54 has fixing drive 52.Drive 52 is connected on the driven pulley 50 by conventional driving belt 51.A not shown possible alternative transmission system has two drives rather than 52, one off-centre of single drive are installed and another concentric installation.In this alternative transmission system, the drive that the power of rotation chamber 1 can be installed by off-centre or be sent to the exterior portion of power transmission shaft 49 by the drive of concentric installation, two kinds of drives all are fixed on the power transmission shaft with fixed relationship.With the rotary speed of using the drive of eccentric installation with this chamber of change in the revolution of chamber 1, and use the drive of installing with one heart with rotary speed driving chamber 1 in revolution to fix.

In one embodiment of the invention, drive motor 54 not only can speed change, but also can reverse, make chamber 1 at the specific part of washing cycle at first along a direction rotation, and then counter-rotating.In the direction of rotation of fluid administration/removal phasic change chamber several times, provide more uniform stirring and more uniform heat to transmit for processed textile article, so can more effectively remove dirt and/or lipophilic fluid.

In the big storage tank 19 and 20 at least one will be held lipophilic fluid; Another big storage tank can hold the mixture of lipophilic fluid and composition of detergent or fabric finishing composition, and this mixture can be applied on the textile article in the equipment 70 in fabric treatment procedure.In another embodiment, be administered on the textile article in the equipment 70 in the fabric treatment procedure before, said composition can make up with lipophilic fluid.These compositions can be any form that is easy to distribute or flows, for example thixotropic gel, shear thinning liquid, liquid, gel, powder, particle, paste, thin slice, microparticle, nano particle and suspension etc.In another embodiment, two big storage tanks 19 and 20 all will hold lipophilic fluid, and one of them jar holds new lipophilic fluid, and another jar holds the lipophilic fluid of using or reclaiming.In another embodiment, composition is in lipophilic fluid leaves in big storage tank 19 and 20 one or two in.This can eliminate the necessity of carrying out any mixing before being delivered in the chamber 1 at the coated device 26 with the content in the jar.Alternatively, come the lipophilic fluid of arrogant storage tank 19 and 20 to mix with washing agent or the fabric finishing composition in being stored in little storage tank 27 and 28, for example in fabric treatment procedure, be administered on the discrete fabric load in the equipment 70 before.Alternatively, can comprise additional storage jar or source in the equipment 70, provide fluid (comprising lipophilic fluid, water or other polar solvent, for example lower alcohol or glycol) to give washing or rinse cycle.The double-mode textile treatment that adopts lipophilic fluid, water, polar solvent or its mixture is at WO 01/94678 (P﹠amp; G case numbers 8121) open in.

In one embodiment, big storage tank 19 and 20 with little storage tank 27 and 28 can be randomly can with equipment 70 disengagements.Then, storage tank can be recovered or recharge and reconnect on the equipment together with its content.Various known " connecting fast " device (not shown)s are known in the art, and can be used for guaranteeing that storage tank throws off or connect fast or easily.In a specific embodiment, the physical configuration that each storage tank comprises makes it be connected and to throw off with the mode of equipment 70 with " locking key ".In other words, each storage tank optionally cooperates with the target " receiving port " or the socket of equipment 70.When storage tank for example comprised cleaning compositions or this class of fabric finishing composition and consumes thing, this " locking key " system was useful.In an alternative embodiment, one or more storage tanks can be removable or disposable tube.In another embodiment, big storage tank can permanently be connected on the equipment, perhaps can only change by the attendant who train, and little storage tank can be single sale or as the part of external member sell, can by consumer's replacing tin; External member can randomly comprise operation instructions, for example uses up the dismounting specification of storage tank and the instruction for mounting of the new storage tank of liquid of filling expectation and/or composition.Under permanent connection mode, the content of big storage tank can periodically replenish or emit, and changes with the new liq or the composition of identical or different type.Can throw off or replaceable pattern under, in case the content of storage tank is partially or completely consumed, storage tank together with its used/dirty content or its empty content just be removed, and similar with disposing " locking key " connects and comprise and the new storage tank of the expectation content that previous content is identical or different is changed.The storage tank of changing or handled by the consumer is perhaps reclaimed by the third party and is used to recharge, for example retailer, whole seller or manufacturer.The quantity of size storage tank all can change according to the beneficial effect of expectation.Any permanent big or little storage tank that is fixed on the equipment will have and be used for the fluid of expectation and/or the parts that recharge of composition (for example, but the capping that the sealing of break-through maybe can repeat to seal).

In one embodiment, by carry out pumping with pump 24 fluid and/or the composition of expecting is delivered in the applicator 26.Be stored in fluid in

big storage tank

19 and 20 and/or composition respectively from

conduit

22 and 21 pumpings, earlier through valve 23, then by pump 24, after conduit 25 to applicator 26.Be stored in fluid in

little storage tank

27 and 28 and/or composition respectively from

conduit

29 and 30 pumpings, earlier through valve 23, then by pump 24, after conduit 25 to applicator 26.The present invention can adopt various types of pumps, comprises gear pump, centrifugal pump, membrane pump, plunger displacement pump or peristaltic pump.Because gear pump produces usually than the higher pressure of any other type of pump, and the good needed pulse free flow of jet mode of its generation, so adopt gear pump.Other parts that transmit fluid also can adopt, air compressor for example, and it is by exerting pressure on storage tank top and fluid being released storage tank.In one embodiment, employing can provide the maximum stream flow of about 0.5GPM (about 1.87 liters/minute) and about 758kPa (110psi) maximum pressure gear pump 24 through 6mm ( ¹/ ₄The flexible delivery catheter 25 of ") diameter is delivered to applicator 26 with fluid and/or composition.

Be stored in

big storage tank

19 and 20 with

little storage tank

27 and 28 in fluid and/or composition all mix by opening at 4 valves that advance in the 1 valve house steward 23 who goes out, the valve house steward is corresponding to the conduit that is connected to the corresponding stored jar that comprises fluid and/or composition.For example, can mix by the lipophilic fluid composition interior that valve house steward 23 will be stored in the big storage tank 19 with being stored in big storage tank 20.Alternatively, can by valve house steward 23 will be stored in the big storage tank 19 lipophilic fluid be stored in

little storage tank

27 and 28 interior compositions mix.In another embodiment, fluid and/or composition separately transmit, and promptly are not pre-mixed.

For fluid being introduced the inside of chamber 1, pump 24 is connected to applicator 26 through conduit 25.Applicator 26 can be any suitable configuration.In one embodiment, applicator 26 is configured to sends plane fan-spray and/or circular cone fan-spray.The plane fan-spray produces the fluid thin slice that is parallel to the aperture main shaft.Spraying is that the fan shape at about 75 angles, cross section are oval.Special plane fan-spray is useful, because the drop that its produces is enough big, not can by during washing and/or oven dry cycle since recycled air stream that the rotation or the flip-flop movement of chamber 1 produce or the air flow that produces owing to ventilation operation in the cycle of oven dry take away.

The spray nozzle typical case provides less than about 1200 microns, about 100 microns to about 1000 microns of typical case, perhaps about 120 microns to about 500 microns, perhaps about 150 microns about 300 microns average droplet size extremely.This average droplet size can be measured by Malvern grain analyser or high-speed photography.When spray nozzle covers when producing particle mean size less than 100 microns thinner droplet mist with refined net or barrier film, spray pattern is typically by the air movement disturbance in the chamber 1.The rotary speed of chamber 1 is high more, and the typical case surpasses 735m/s ², then the droplet that needs in the spray pattern is just big more.

Pressure in the delivery catheter 25 should be enough high, is the entire depth that the fan-shaped fluid spray in plane covers chamber 1 to produce substantially by applicator 26.The pressure that is fit in the delivery catheter 25 will be according to changing through the fluid of delivery catheter 25 to applicator 26.For example, the pressure that the paste typical case need be different with thixotropic gel or liquid.Similarly, with lipophilic fluid that composition mixes may require with without any the different pressure of the lipophilic fluid of composition.By regulating expulsion pressure, and randomly by changing temperature with heater, equipment of the present invention can be used all types of fluids, gel and other material, comprises the emulsion system of Newtonian fluid and non-newtonian fluid, shear thinning fluid and non-shear thinning fluid, multiphase mixture, emulsion, micro emulsion and dynamic change.

In one embodiment, by a plurality of spray nozzle delivery lipophilic fluids; The position of each spray nozzle should make from the lipophilic fluid of a plurality of spray nozzle ejections and be in the mode of this fluid uniform distribution on processed textile article.In another embodiment, a nozzle delivery lipophilic fluid of equipment, and other nozzle is sent rinse fluid, cleaning compositions and/or fabric finishing composition.These other spray nozzles can be in fabric treatment procedure operation in any suitable cycle (for example washing, rinsing, dehydration or oven dry), and can with the using and/or remove and take place in succession or take place simultaneously of lipophilic fluid.

In an alternative embodiment, with lipophilic fluid with about 1 to about 20 liters/minute, or about 1 to about 10 liters/minute, or about 2 to 5 liters/minute speed pumps in the chamber 1, rather than spraying.

In typical embodiments of the present invention, pump 24 and valve 23 can be positioned under

storage tank

19,20,28 and 27, so that gravity-actuated to be provided.

Fig. 2 represents the endo conformation of applicator 26, and this applicator is as the spray nozzle in the following embodiment.Be shown in the rotating shaft 100 that applicator 26 among Fig. 2 is parallel to chamber 1.In another embodiment, applicator 26 is positioned on the rotating shaft 100 of chamber 1.Applicator 26 is supported by the spraying cantilever 57 that is fixed on the Qianmen 59.By the carrier pipe 61 that fluid transfer conduit 25 is connected to nozzle 26 fluid is delivered to nozzle 26.Applicator 26 is parallel to rotating shaft 100 location, thus peripheral wall 65, antetheca 67 and the rear wall 66 of its bootable plane fan-spray impulse chamber 1.Spraying cantilever 57 allows and is sprayed on chamber 1 antetheca, and is wrapped in the rolling cycle around the spraying cantilever 57 without any the clothes in the discrete textile article, thereby suppresses or even may stop effective cleaning to discrete textile article.

In the alternative embodiment of a not illustrated in Fig. 2, applicator 26 can directly be fixed on the pliable and tough tubulose extension 55, and cantilever 57 and carrier pipe 61 no longer need to spray.Therefore, applicator 26 can be directly connected to fluid transfer conduit 25.Applicator 26 can be positioned on the appropriate location of pliable and tough tubulose extension 55, like this peripheral wall 65, antetheca 67 and the rear wall 66 of this applicator guide plane fan-spray impulse chamber 1 of tolerable.The diverse location and/or the configuration of applicator 26 and/or spraying cantilever 57 also are suitable, as long as the operation cycle (for example, the rolling cycle) interior applicator nozzle or a plurality of nozzle are not positioned at such place, and promptly textile article tangles with other any structure of spraying cantilever 57, applicator 26 or combine with applicator 26 or is wrapped in around them in this place's chamber.In one embodiment of the invention, select the position and/or the configuration of applicator 26 (with the form of spray nozzle or a plurality of these type of nozzles), make the permeable peripheral wall 65 of the preferred impact fluid of applicator 26 guide plane fan-sprays, and randomly preferably also impact antetheca 67 and/or rear wall 66.

Being applicable to that spray nozzle of the present invention is specified under about 275kPa (40psi) fluid pressure, about 690kPa (100psi) maximum pressure sends about 1.87 Liter Per Minutes (0.5 logical sequence per minute), and forms 80 ° spray angle.

In non-immersion embodiment of the present invention, the fluid externally accumulation degree on the chamber 2 inner surfaces bottoms is not enough to form the shower gel of submergence textile article, because they are removed by valve 5 and conduit 7 by pump 3.Pump 3 can the pumping velveteens or particulate matter and not stopping up, and can do for a long time and turn round and do not damage.Centrifugal pump and gear pump are to be applicable to pump of the present invention.Centrifugal pump is useful, because this pump has the difficult big moving component (screw or impeller) that is stopped up by insoluble solids, and does not comprise the friction means that any meeting damages owing to wearing and tearing.Pump 3 is positioned under the exterior chamber 2, so that gravity-actuated to be provided.Good for guaranteeing pumping, need the basic air of getting rid of in the conduit 7.Therefore, the length of conduit 7 is minimized, to reduce the needed Fluid Volume of air in the displacement conduit 7.In concrete non-immersion embodiment, externally the liquid level of chamber 2 bottoms is lower than the height of the bottom of chamber 1, makes chamber 1 interior liquid level not rise to the height of textile article in the submergence chamber 1.In concrete immersion embodiment, can allow 3 free time of pump, make fluid accumulation, too much fluid can be increased to the wherein height of textile article of submergence in the chamber 1 as a result.

Because gravity, the fluid of getting rid of from chamber 1 can be by the perforation 46 of chamber 1, and gravity is drop-down along the outer surface of chamber 1 with liquid, arrives the bottom (being minimum point) of chamber 1 outer surface up to their, pass the perforation on the chamber wall, arrive the bottom of exterior chamber 2 inner surfaces then.Conduit 7 is positioned at this bottom (being minimum point).Be designed to guide all fluid/droplets to enter conduit 7 the exterior chamber inner surface.Then, the fluid in the conduit 7 and from those (hereinafter in more detail describe) of conduit 37, by pump 3 inflow filters 6 with recover jars 8, pump 3 has the maximum rated power of the maximum pressure of 3 gallons of per minutes and 345kPa (50psi).Delivery catheter 7 typical cases have 127mm ( ¹/ ₂") diameter.

Before fluid being delivered to recovery jar 8,, fluid is filtered in filter 6 by after the triple valve 5.In its primary importance, valve 5 connecting ducts 4 and 7 allow pump 3 that fluid is pumped into back in the flow container 8 through filter 6.In its second place, valve 5 allows fluid pump in the conduit 4 from conduit 37.In its 3rd position, valve 5 cuts out.Filter 6 is removed velveteen, fabric fibre and bulky grain dirt, does not recover jar 8 bottoms and blocks downstream conduit so they can not be deposited on.And filter 6 has been guaranteed the reliability service of pump 10, because pump 10 typically is high-pressure pump, it typically is easier in the type of solid and particulate matter damage.In addition, filter 6 will prolong the life-span of recovery system 15.Filter 6 can be any typical filter device, and includes but not limited to Fulfo ^Basket type filter or gauffer type filter, for example this class of US net 20 to 100 (840 microns to 149 micron screen) cartridge type filter is by the filter of ParkerFiltration manufacturing.In one embodiment, can be regularly filter 6 be taken off cleaning from equipment, for example remove velveteen, fabric fibre and bulky grain dirt, and the filter after will cleaning is reinstalled on the equipment.In another embodiment, available identical but do not have used new filter to change filter 6, and with the filter of crossing discardable or reclaim by the third party after be used for selling again and re-using.In another embodiment, filter 6 can be self-cleaning.Velveteen and the bulky grain dirt removed can be handled with the family expenses refuse sack then, perhaps be taken to gathering station and handle.

Recovering jar 8 is used for fluid is separated.Fluid from chamber 1 is collected in the recovery jar 8.Typically, before the fluid of wherein collecting is for further processing, in returning flow container 8, collect the fluid that q.s is arranged.Return flow container 8 and be equipped with liquid level sensor 44, for example along recovering conductance type, condenser type or the optical pickocff that jar 8 inwalls are distributed in the appropriate location, to determine to begin to empty back the time of flow container 8.This sensor is connected to the controller that illustrates later.

Recover jars 8 and carry out the separation of Gravity Separation or any other type, with separately different fluid and any suspended solid of existing.These solids will be typically the dirt of removing from fabric by cleaning process.In this case, when adopting the fluid of different densities, they will separate in recovering jar 8 owing to gravity, and can be removed subsequently.Under these circumstances, the fluid of bottom will at first be pumped in recovery system 15 and the conduit 16 through triple valve 12 and conduit 14 by pump 10, conduit 11.The place of depositing originally according to this concrete fluid then, for example in storage tank 19, two valve groups import bottom flow in the conduit 18.In all bottom flow by from recovering to remove jars 8 and after the liquid stream that is separated reaches valve 17, valve 17 open and closure catheter for closing 18 so that the top fluid is transported in the storage tank 20, the sensor of difference fluid is equipped with on the valve 17, for example conductance type, condenser type or optical pickocff.If desired or expectation, the auxiliary agent that the present invention also can adopt particular design decomposes with auxiliary emulsion, therefore provides additional auxiliary to lock out operation.

Valve 12 has two positions.In its primary importance, valve 12 connecting

ducts

11 and 13 allow the content in the discharging recovery jar 8.Conduit 13 can be the guide pipe that is connected to family expenses sewer or free-standing fluid separation container (not shown).In its second place, valve 12 connecting

ducts

11 and 14 are to import fluid in the recovery system 15.

Pump 10 produces higher pressure, is typically 69kPa to 689kPa (10psi to 100psi), to promote dirty fluid by recovery system 15.Recovery system 15 is removed tiny dirt particles by thin filtration/separation parts such as for example molecular sieves, and has and isolate for example parts of the non-washing fluid composition of dissolvings such as dirt, surfactant and water.A possibility method removing pollutant from solvent is for example to adopt the electrostatic fluid filtration system of description in the United States Patent (USP) of announcing on September 28th, 1,999 5,958,205 of authorizing people such as Ingalls.Other possibility method of removing pollutant is to adopt valve evaporation technique for example or by the PACE ultrafiltration system of Smith andLoveless Inc. manufacturing.In one embodiment, recovery system 15 regularly can be pulled down, so that remove the non-washing fluid composition of collected dissolving.In another embodiment, available original, identical, new recovery system 15 is changed recovery system 15, and the recovery system of changing 15 is abandoned, or by being used for selling again and re-using after third party's recovery.In another embodiment, recovery system 15 can be self-cleaning.Then, the non-washing fluid composition of collected dissolving or can handle by being discharged to the family expenses sewer perhaps can be handled by being collected in place separately, and this ground is convenient to the non-washing fluid composition that the consumer handles collected dissolving.

In one embodiment, with fluid by the pump 10 that under maximum pressure 1724kPa (250psi), has 2.8 liters/minute of maximum rated capacity through diameter be 6mm ( ¹/ ₄The stainless

steel delivery catheter

11 and 14 of ") is sent in the recovery system 15.

Also can in recovery system 15, adopt the parts except that thin filtration/separation to come the non-washing fluid composition of separate dissolved from fluid.Exemplary alternative system is that wherein recovery system 15 comprises the system of Distallation systm.The Distallation systm that is fit to is included in the solvent distillation recovery system described in the United States Patent (USP) of announcing on March 2nd, 1,999 5,876,567 of authorizing people such as Yamamoto.When recovery system 15 was Distallation systm, pump 10 needn't be high-pressure pump, because typically do not need higher pressure.Yet the higher cost of distillation or vacuum plant has hindered the application of this class recovery system.

Of course it is to be understood that the desired use that this depends on equipment.For example, service or commercial operation can bear the equipment with higher price distillation or vacuum plant, and the recovery system that other is simpler, more convenient or price is lower is most popular for housed device and can bears.

Fluid valve

12,5,7 and 23 is driven by electromagnet, or is driven by the ball valve motor that is similar to drive unit known in the art.

Equipment 70 shown in Fig. 1 to 3 typically comprises air circulation system.Air circulation system comprises air exhauster 31 and air exhauster is connected to the ajutage 32 of heater 33.Heater 33 can be electric heater, comprises the heating element heater that air should pass through before entering tube connector 34 from it, and tube connector is sent to the inlet that is positioned at appliance doors 59 with hot-air from heater 33.Alternatively, air can enter interior rotating cylinder by the opening on outer rotaring tube 63 rear walls and interior rotating cylinder 66 rear walls.For the arrangement in conventional roller dryer, this a kind of arrangement in back is typical, and the position of tube connector can obviously easily be seen.Typically, air exhauster 31 is the centrifugal exhauster that is driven by variable-speed drive motor.The heating element heater that is fit to is a resistance coil, and its temperature is regulated by regulating winding voltage.Also can adopt alternative heating element heater, for example the source of infrared radiation or microwave radiation source.In alternative embodiment, air can be replenished by steam, because steam provides part or all of hot gas, so the application of hot-air becomes selectable.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), with air ionization for example can be passed through corona discharge before textile article contacts.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), with ozone can be added in the air before textile article contacts.Alternatively, can by with air circulation system independently conduit system ozone is added in the chamber 1.

In Fig. 2 disclosed embodiment, the inside that hot-air is introduced chamber 1 is to remove remaining fluid from the goods that are cleaned.In the oven dry cycle, speed and the direction rotation of chamber 1 to change.Because the goods of being dried during the oven dry cycle are usually located at or the penetralia surface of close chamber 1 periphery surface, make the hot-air of introducing movable drum inside return the way that leads to the opening that is arranged in the conduit 35 on the static rotating cylinder periphery surface and see through the fabric of being dried at it.

In the equipment shown in Fig. 1 to 3, be used for during oven dry and evaporation process cycle, making the air circulation air exhauster 31 of air circulation have 272m ³The rated power of the muzzle velocity of/hr (160cfm) and 27.9m/s (5500lfm).Typically, housed device promptly is designed for the equipment of purposes such as family, can have the air mass flow of about 15L/s (35cfm) to about 272L/s (160cfm).The equipment of commercial and industrial scale rises to about 1200L/s (2542cfm).The size that is used to constitute the connecting duct of closed circuit allows air circulate with metered flow.Heater 33 comprises heating element heater 33, and heating element heater 33 comprises that 115 volts of interchanges, 2300 watts spiral twine nichrome coils.Temperature-sensing element 45 comprises the thermistor that inserts in the conduit 34.0 to 120 volt of regulation voltage exchanges rheostat and is used to regulate the speed of variable speed driver of air exhauster 31 and the temperature of heating element heater 33.

In an alternative embodiment, this class gas of for example air, nitrogen, ozone, argon gas, helium, neon, xenon and their mixture is introduced the inside of inner cavity chamber 1, with before handling with lipophilic fluid from the fabric particle-removing dirt that gets on.Randomly, can be with these gas heating.During this optional pre-processing period, speed and the direction rotation of inner cavity chamber 1 to change.More detailed disclosure about equipment, parts, element and the example of this optional pre-treatment step is seen United States Patent (USP) 6,564,591.

Conduit 35 is connected to condenser 36.Condenser 36 is removed all steam and by the insoluble solids of hot-air from being picked up by the oven dry fabric, is made conduit 38 not comprise other outer steam of deacration.Condenser 36 makes the motion air through filtering and cooling, so that vapor condensation is gone in the conduit 37.Then, in conduit 37 steam of condensation by triple valve 5, here with from exterior chamber 2, remove and mix through the fluid of conduit 7.As the United States Patent (USP) of announcing on April 30th, 1974 of authorizing Moore 3,807,948, the United States Patent (USP) of announcing on May 2nd, 1978 of authorizing Wehr 4,086, the United States Patent (USP) of announcing on September 13rd, 705 and 1,988 4 of authorizing people such as Kabakov, water-cooled condenser described in 769,921 or refrigerant condenser are all applicable.Condenser also can be connected with for example cylindrical shell of this class absorbent of one or more layers molecular sieve or activated carbon, to collect uncondensable organic solvent.The embodiment of this class absorption plant describes in following United States Patent (USP): that announced on May 11st, 1976 authorizes people's such as Fuhring 3,955,946; That announced on May 13rd, 1975 authorizes people's such as Fuhring 3,883,325; That announced on April 3rd, 1984 authorizes people's such as Girard 4,440,549; That announced on April 22nd, 1986 authorizes 4,583,985 of Preisegger; That announced on December 6th, 1988 authorizes people's such as Fuhring 4,788,776; That announced on November 11st, 1986 authorizes 4,622,039 of Merenda; With announced on January 11st, 1994 authorize people's such as Boppart 5,277,716.By it absorbent can be absorbed through the steam " blanket " by bed.Other solvent recovery system is described in following United States Patent (USP): announce on March 23rd, 5,467,539 and 1993 of authorizing Hahn of announcing November 21 nineteen ninety-five authorizes people's such as Yamada 5,195,252.

In another embodiment, from equipment, get rid of, they are contacted with the additional filter element or the cartridge filter that comprise catalyst for preventing lipophilic fluid steam; Filter element can be replenished or support by porous material, and perhaps alternatively, filter element or cartridge filter comprise at least a efficient chemical absorbent or physical absorbent.Such system is reduced to steam pressure zero substantially, and for example even can polymerization and/or solidify one or more compositions in the lipophilic fluid.For example, more particularly, the catalyzed conversion tube that is fit to can comprise the catalyst that porous material or holder and they are supported.This class catalyst can comprise the ring-opening polymerization catalyst of any known annular siloxane; Include but not limited to that phosphonitrile or phosphonitrile are catalyst based; Hindered amine is catalyst based; The sub-silane catalyst of short of electricity; The derivative of sulfonium or iodine; Alkali metal silane alkoxide; Platinum, rhodium and cobalt hydrosilylation catalysts; The co-catalyst that contains SiH; Silane lithium alkoxide and potassium silanolate.Can carry out modification to catalyst in any way,, make them not have inherent volatility or inherent volatility very low, and in service life, have good stable for example by clathration, the absorption on holder etc.Exemplary holder comprises the holder with high gap volume and low flow resistance.Holder can be with kind or different types of, for example comprises the main support material that is fixed to as on this class of synthetic plastic machinery supporting structure, as mesoporous silica etc.

Be to be understood that and approve be, of the present invention this can independently use on the one hand, and can be used to control discharging in any application safely, comprise the immersion and the non-immersion method of cleaning any material, no matter be textile article or crust, be the occasion of the part of dicyandiamide solution particularly at straight chain or annular siloxane.

The combination of ring-opening polymerization catalyst and can remove lipophilic fluid and prevent any discharging to extraneous air as the memory capacity of this class high gap volume porous material of mesoporous silica.Can regularly take off filter cylinder and handle or change, perhaps alternatively, remove the lipophilic fluid of polymerization, and randomly, the regeneration of catalyst be for re-using with new filter cylinder.

Equipment 70 also can the mode identical with the conventional garment drying plant be removed remaining fluid.This can enter it and conduit 43 is connected to conduit 41 and the primary importance that conduit 38 is connected to conduit 42 is realized by driving reversal valve 40.In its second place, reversal valve 40 allows fresh air to be drawn in the connecting duct 43 through connecting duct 41, and enter the inlet of air exhauster 31, be heated to predetermined temperature by heater 33, the fabric of being dried in being contained in active chamber 1 circulates, remove the steam that picks up with the fabric period of contact, and be discharged in the air through conduit 42.When steam when conduit 42 is discharged in the atmosphere, preferably handle steam in some way, make have only air, steam and similarly material enter in the atmosphere through conduit 42.This can comprise allows steam by scrubbing thing or comprising filter cylinder as the above-mentioned disclosed catalyst that is supported of this paper.Catalyst can comprise makes the lipophilic fluid polymerization can be deposited on the polymerization catalyst of the solid polymer on the holder with generation.Filter cylinder can allow air, steam and similar substance be easy to by, keep for example this class steam of lipophilic fluid simultaneously.Can regularly take off filter cylinder and handle or change, perhaps alternatively, remove the lipophilic fluid of polymerization, and the regeneration of catalyst be for re-using with new filter cylinder.

In its second place, connecting

duct

43 and 42 is blocked, and all mixtures of steam that returns from static chamber 1 and air are returned to the suction side of air exhauster 31 through connecting duct 41.In this position, carry out recirculation by making the inner cavity chamber 1 of hot-air through holding the fabric that has contacted with lipophilic fluid, equipment 70 also can be used for the steam treatment of fabric.

The temperature of air is by sensing element 45 impressions in the connecting duct 34, and this sensing element can be the thermosensitive resistance type sensor, and it sends signal to heater.This guarantees during any cycle the continuous monitoring to hot-air, air/ozone, air or air/ozone/vapour mixture temperature, and can remain on predetermined level or change, this depends on that equipment 70 is in which of cleaning frequency at present in stage.For example, a temperature can be used for preliminary treatment, and another temperature is used for the auxiliary lipophilic fluid of removing.

Reversal valve 40 can be driven automatically.This can utilize electromagnet or similar driving arrangement known in the art to realize.

Connecting duct 35 is equipped with gas sensor, with the vapour concentration of monitoring in static chamber 2 outlet airs stream.Gas sensor sends and the proportional signal of vapour concentration to mechanical control device.According to the amplitude of signal, controller can continue, stops or selecting the new cycle.Gas sensor can be the metal oxide type, but also may be utilized based on other alternative sensor of infrared, condenser type or conductance type sensing.In a specific embodiments, when the oven dry cycle certain a bit, gas sensor signal reaches a certain minimum of a value that low content steam appears in indication, controller stops heating cycle by cut-out heater 33, and continues with a cooling cycle.

Can comprise that in equipment other gas sensor is with the solvent steam concentration in the monitoring chamber 1, particularly during the oven dry cycle.Gas sensor can be operably connected with controller.When gas sensor detected solvent steam concentration and surpasses threshold value, controller can be by cutting out heating, increasing air mass flow or both temporary transient interruption oven dry cycles simultaneously.Be reduced to when being lower than floor level when gas sensor detects solvent steam concentration, controller sends signal to the user, and it is safe that the equipment of opening takes out textile article.

In another embodiment, textile article and the lipophilic fluid on them and the weight of any composition are measured by the load characteristic of electro-motor 54, for example the voltage between motor terminal.In another embodiment, the apparatus system that is used for determining the load of textile article and the lipophilic fluid on them and any composition in the chamber 1 comprises that the data that can be associated from the acceleration with the moment of inertia of the friction torque of the driving torque of chamber 1, chamber 1, this chamber and chamber determine the system of textile article and the lipophilic fluid on them and any composition load quality the moment of inertia in the chamber 1.

The unbalance control of described equipment is fallen proportional current signal by the monitoring and the electric current of motor 54 and is incorporated into.When chamber 1 is accelerated, the variation of this current signal reflection rotation chamber 1 needed moment of torsion.The amplitude that changes is proportional to the unbalanced load that causes the machine undue oscillation.When the amplitude of unbalanced signal surpassed maximum permissible value, machine controller was carried out equilibration period again by the rotating speed that reduces rotating speed, reorganize fabric load and accelerate to setting again with roll.Alternative parts of experiencing non-equilibrium state can adopt tachometer or static switch.

In alternative embodiment, can be randomly reduce or elevated pressure under operation equipment of the present invention, typically realize by vavuum pump or to the pressure that equipment is supplied with this class gas of nitrogen for example and therefore increased in the washing cavities.This class embodiment even can comprise to being designed for the modification of the equipment that overcritical or dense gas cleans.

The front view of Fig. 3 indication equipment 70.Equipment 70 has anter 71, two lateral plates 72 (one of them only is shown) and top flats 73.Door 59 comprise the conduit 25 of carrying fluids cover for shower nozzle 26 spray nozzle lid 76, cover through connecting duct 34 and carry 33 gas lid 77 and handle 75 of gas for chamber 1.Door 59 can be made by any suitable material, and at least a portion of door 59 can be lighttight so that the operator can observe the equipment in the running.

Device controller 81 is also on anter 71.Device controller 81 is responsible for giving various processing steps timings and chronological order related when the equipment of use.For example, device controller 81 controls are delivered to the amount of the lipophilic fluid on the textile article, the speed of rotating cylinder rotation and the time that textile article rolls etc.Device controller 81 also allow consumer/operator directly input about the relevant information of the cleaning type of the textile article that is cleaned and/or expectation.

Access door 80 also is positioned on the anter 71.Access door 81 makes the internal work parts of operator/consumer near equipment, to take out or to change any wearing detail, for example filter, fluid and auxiliary agent etc.More particularly, access door 81 can allow near little storage tank 27 with 28 and greatly

storage tank

19 and 20, can take off and change so if they are removable to recharge.Access door 81 also makes and is easy to approaching any parts that need maintenance or repair.

Panel

78 and 79 is the access holes that take out, clean or change filter for operator/consumer easily.Can be from panel 79 near recovery system 15, and can be near filter 6 from panel 79.

As shown in Figure 3, fluid issuing 85 and gas vent 84 are positioned on the lateral plate 72.Fluid issuing 85 is connected to conduit 13, and then is connected to family expenses sewer, another fluid-storing container or is connected with the two simultaneously.Gas vent 84 is connected to conduit 42.Referring to aforementioned, optional scrub thing, deflector or filter cylinder and can between gas vent 84 and conduit 42, maybe it can be connected to gas vent 84.That is, any gas or steam is at first by conduit 42, then by gas vent 84, scrubs thing, deflector or filter cylinder to what choose wantonly again.

Air intlet 83 and access hole 82 are positioned on the panel 73, to the source of the gas of equipment by adding, access hole 82 allows operator/consumer take out easily, to clean or replacing and

air system

35,36,38 and 40 to 43 relevant any filters to air intlet 83 through conduit 43.

Equipment also comprises the parts that are used for the lipophilic fluid recovery and re-use.Specifically, the lipophilic fluid of removing from processed textile article is typically the lipophilic fluid collected and the mixture of pollutant fabric treatment procedure.Pollutant includes but not limited to water, washing dirt, surfactant, bleaching agent, enzyme and other fabric cleaning additive that uses in composition of detergent.Can adopt various restoration methods that pollutant is separated from mixture, and the lipophilic fluid that recovers can be stored in the equipment and be used further to fabric treatment procedure.The restoration methods that is fit to is described in following patent: U.S. Patent Publication US 2002/0004952A1 (P﹠amp; G case 8483M) and US 2003/0069159A1 (P﹠amp; G case 8689M); Be filed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/483, the 290 (P﹠amp on June 27th, 2003; G case 9289P) and jointly submit to name to be called the temporary patent application of " Process for Purifying A Lipophilic Fluid EmployingA Functionalized Fabric Treating Agent " and " Process for Recovering ALipophilic Fluid From A Mixture By Modifying The Mixture "; The both submits (P﹠amp on February 24th, 2004; G case 9542P and 9543P).

In one embodiment of the invention, the housed device of equipment for transforming.Conventional aqueous-based cleaning equipment, for example the machine of top-loaded washing machine, horizontal washing machine, low wash volumes washing machine, dryer, rinsing maching/dryer combination all can be used for method of the present invention or equipment by transformation.In one embodiment, the washing machine of being transformed keeps the ability of its washing that is had and/or drying clothes before transformation.This connection and/or pipeline that will comprise that all are relevant connects, and for example is connected to the drainage system of water source and useless washings etc.For example, non-water method of the present invention can be used as the cover of one on conventional washing facility additional cycles.Controller in consumer or the embedding equipment can be selected suitable washing cycle according to the dirt of textile article to be washed and appearance.In another embodiment, the dryer of transformation or rinsing maching/dryer combination also will keep all relevant being connected and/or pipeline connection, for example air inlet and outlet, heater etc. except that being connected to water source, solvent source and exhaust system.

In another embodiment of the invention, equipment is not the transformation of existing equipment, but makes to carry out method of the present invention specially.

Equipment of the present invention can randomly have and family expenses rinsing maching or the similar size of dryer.That is, external dimensions and/or inside dimension are similar to house detergent or dryer.Alternatively, equipment of the present invention can have and commerical dryclean machine or the similar size of commercial scale washing facility, for example is used for the equipment of commercial laundering service or self-service laundry.

Equipment of the present invention can comprise that also at least one comprises the acquisition equipment of filter element; Filter element can be accommodated in the filter cylinder that is removably mounted on the described washing facility.Acquisition equipment can be positioned at any part of equipment.A plurality of acquisition equipments can be arranged, and each is designed for filters fluid or air.

Filter element can be cotton linters filter, and it removes any loose particles, velveteen and the fabric fibre of being removed from textile article etc. in processing procedure.

Also can adopt demineralizing plant or filter, to remove the hardness that produces ion (for example calcium, magnesium) from any water that is used for present device or method.This hardness of water filter only appears at the occasion with some form water, for example the part of independent washing of auxiliary agent in lipophilic fluid or conduct or pre-processing period.This class device can be connected to main suit or other water source easily.The water that washing or preliminary treatment are used should pass through the hardness of water filter before being used for equipment of the present invention or method.The hardness of water filter can be the form of filter cylinder, and filter cylinder is detachable, is easy to clean, handle and uses original new water hardness filter replacing.

In equipment of the present invention, can adopt the dirt filter, to remove any dirt of removing from textile article.Also can adopt solvent filter, to remove the composition that treatment compositions was used in processing procedure, for example water, surfactant and enzyme etc.This can make lipophilic fluid and/or treatment compositions be reproduced and re-use.

The equipment that is used for present device and method comprises the procedure Selection control system with the typical case, and the user can pass through dial, button and touch pad etc. and this system communication.Control system can be " intelligence control system ", and promptly equipment is according to from the response of sensor signal and work automatically; Perhaps control system can be manual system or traditional Mechatronic Systems.Control system can allow the user select the type (for example cleaning or fabric treating, dry-cleaning or washing etc.) in degree, the time of cleaning frequency and cycle of size, soil types, the pollution of fabric load to be cleaned.Alternatively, the user can select the cleaning and/or pure and fresh cycle of presetting.In another alternative embodiment, equipment can come the length of control cycle according to the parameter determined of any amount.For example, when the collection rate of lipophilic fluid reached steady rate, equipment can be configured as closing after one period set time, and another that perhaps begins lipophilic fluid used.

In one embodiment of the invention, equipment of the present invention can comprise program chooser.This selector can be any suitable form, for example dial, button, touch pads, panel (typical case comprises button or categorizing selection parts) or their combination.In addition, equipment of the present invention can comprise a plurality of selectors.For example, the user can use a selector input load size, and uses another selector to import the main type of pending fabric (for example, " dry-cleaning " indication has the clothes of dry-cleaning only in wash load).Alternatively, all these functions can realize on a multiposition selector.This class selector has at least two selector positions.May making up of selector position comprises:

1. at least one is selected from " dry-cleaning ", " carefully nursing mark " and " slight dirt ", and at least one is selected from " washing ", " normally " and " severe dirt ";

2. at least one is selected from " dry-cleaning ", " carefully nursing mark " and " slight dirt ", and at least one is selected from " pure and fresh ", " deodorizing ", " fabric treating " and " rinsing/softening ";

In one embodiment, any selector able to programme all has at least three selector positions, they comprise: at least one is selected from " dry-cleaning ", " carefully nursing mark " and " slight dirt ", at least one is selected from " washing ", " normally " and " severe dirt ", and at least one is selected from " pure and fresh ", " deodorizing ", " fabric treating " and " rinsing/softening ".

Term used herein " Machine Washable textile article " is meant that those are easy to be accredited as the textile article that can wash with the automatic washing methods of conventional moisture family expenses safely by fabric industry and consumer.Term used herein " soiled textiles goods only " is meant and is easy to be differentiated that by fabric industry and consumer for using the automatic washing methods washing of conventional moisture immersion washing family expenses be unsafe, otherwise and needs those textile articles of carrying out special treatment with conventional nonaqueous solvents such as Perc (perchloroethylene).The goods of indicating that manufacturer is done on textile article are that " Machine Washable " " dry-cleaned " only or the label of similar explanation helps to discern fabric type and selects corresponding suitable washing methods.

In addition, equipment of the present invention can comprise the control system of what is called " intelligent apparatus ".This intelligent apparatus can comprise following function/device, and for example the remote control startup of Internet, equipment, the signal that has sent to the user or the equipment fault remote-controlled diagnosis of being undertaken by supplier or manufacturer are selected, are connected to self-diagnosable system, loadtype and cycle when equipment is out of order when equipment has been finished the textile article processing procedure.In addition, equipment of the present invention can also be the part of scavenger system, promptly so-called " intelligence system ", and equipment wherein of the present invention can carry out washing facility (as washing machine or the dryer) communication of complement operation with other, to finish remaining cleaning process.

In one embodiment of the invention, the permeable active chamber of fluid has cylinder curved surface and rear wall, and basic horizontal is installed.The permeable active chamber of fluid is the rotating cylinder that can be the Any shape that allows textile article freely to roll and rotate at a high speed.This includes but not limited to " cylinder " and the real cylindrical roller of hexagonal cross-section " cylinder ", octagonal cross-section.Rotating cylinder can be made by any suitable material.For example, the material of Shi Heing comprises aluminium, stainless steel, polymeric material and their combination.Rotating cylinder can have the surface, inside of uniformity, but also can have various projections or sunk area at the inner surface of rotating cylinder.Raised areas can comprise ridge or the protuberance that is arranged on regularly on the rotating cylinder inner surface.The setting of rule is expected very much, because it helps the rotation of rotating cylinder.These ridges or protuberance can be randomly along the whole length of rotating cylinder.A n-lustrative example of this class rotating cylinder can be referring to Fig. 1 and 2.

In one embodiment of the invention on the other hand, the amount of putting lipophilic fluid in fluid can see through active chamber at any time be no more than about 5 times of textile article dry weight, alternatively, is no more than about 1.5 times of described textile article dry weight.

In another embodiment of the invention, any detachable mounted component, for example acquisition equipment, filter and memory unit (cartridge type and non-cartridge type) all can be approaching from selected position on the top of described equipment and the front panel.The diagram that this class is arranged as shown in Figure 3.

Equipment of the present invention can randomly comprise one or more with in the lower member:

(a) at least one comprises the acquisition equipment of filter element, for example aforementioned those acquisition equipments;

(b) one or more auxiliary agent memory units that are used for the storage sets compound, randomly, these parts can be removably mounted on the equipment;

(c) to the connection of exhaust apparatus, air outlet slit or their combination;

(d) at least one can provide the gas feed of the air of proper temperature and humidity, randomly has the air of ozone and/or static Combined Treatment;

(e) ozone source;

(f) lipophilic fluid recovery system;

(g) outlet pump-down process/VOC control system;

(h) physics Electrostatic Control parts (for example, corona discharge);

(i) electro-motor, for example speed change, (can adopt clutch and gear drive to realize needed friction speed) of constant speed, brushless motor;

(j) be used for heated air or the heating lipophilic fluid heater;

(k) compressor;

(l) vavuum pump;

(m) inert gas supply part, for example argon gas, helium and xenon etc.;

(n) safety interlocking for example prevents to open during use the lock of equipment on any access door;

(o) steam inlet; With

(p) sensor element includes but not limited to VOC, vibration, ozone, humidity, temperature and pressure sensor element.

In another aspect of this invention, equipment comprises that at least one is used for the sensor that clothing labels detects, and for example, the clothing labels detector can be rf detector.In this embodiment, textile article have can machinery dismounting label, this label can by Equipment Inspection to, make equipment select the processing cycles/recipes that is fit to, for example appear at real silk in the textile article to be cleaned, jean, wool, artificial silk, cotton, " dry-cleaning only " etc. according to the fabric type of textile article.

The present invention can be able to carry out on the equipment with " double-mode " work." double-mode " equipment is the equipment that can wash and can dry fabric in same rotating cylinder, promptly does to the operation of doing.The dual mode apparatus that is used for conventional aqueous cleaning process is commercially available, especially in Europe.

Method

An aspect of the inventive method relates to a plurality of rotations in the equipment 70, sprays and rolls the cycle.Chamber 1 can roll, stir, rotates or in other words apply mechanical energy to it content that comprises textile article, lipophilic fluid, washing agent and fabric finishing composition, and lipophilic fluid and composition can be assigned to equably on all textile articles in the chamber 1.

The amount typical case who is assigned to the lipophilic fluid in the chamber 1 is less than about 5 times of textile article dry weight to be cleaned, or be less than about 2 times of textile article dry weight, or about 1.5 times (promptly 3/2 times) being less than the textile article dry weight are to about 0.2 times, or press the dry weight basis of fabric load, about 20% to about 150%, or about 20% to about 90%.In one embodiment, the amount of lipophilic fluid makes does not have or has only the absorptive capacity of the lipophilic fluid of minute quantity above clothes, presses the dry weight basis of fabric, and this amount is typically about 150%.For example, be typically the load that 5 kilogram weights are categorized as the dirt textile article to clean one at the applied once lipophilic fluid, equipment of the present invention can use with about 5kg to the same few lipophilic fluid of about 10kg.Should be appreciated that fluid reservoir in the equipment can have usually than being used for much more fluid of single processing cycle, and equipment can reclaim the fluid in each cycle wholly or in part, and/or have a plurality of cycles.Typically, under the family expenses situation, the amount of fluid is based on the amount of weight, type and the dirt of clothes, and can select the optimal cycle to control by the selectable interface of user, and is very similar in the mode of routine laundry hands-operation with the consumer.

Should be appreciated that the present invention also comprises " immersion " washing methods, wherein a large amount of lipophilic fluids is pumped in the chamber 1, makes textile article be immersed in the cleaning solution.By the weight of the dry fabric in the chamber, the total amount of lipophilic fluid can be about 550% to about 1500% dry fabric weight.

The time of using lipophilic fluid will be depended on and use the used exact method of lipophilic fluid and the lipophilicity washing fluid periodicity by textile article, and can have very big excursion.For example, reducible 30 seconds to about 30 minutes this time.More generally, (at this moment fabric has been ready to universal from start to end, press unless randomly scald) whole cleaning or fabric treating operation can be about 5 minutes to about 3 hours, or even longer, for example, if consider that there is additional fabric treating operator scheme or cleaning operation back whole night in low energy consumption.Total processing time also will change with accurate equipment design, and the device variations that for example has reduction pressure (vacuum) parts can help to reduce cycle time.Typical operation comprises washing cycle, rinse cycle and oven dry cycle, needs about 20 minutes to about 2 hours altogether.The consumer may extremely not expect to relate to the fabric treating operation of longer time, but can propose requirements of saving energy, and this can change with the difference of country.

Near then small part lipophilic fluid is removed method by non-distillation and is removed from fabric.The embodiment that method is removed in non-distillation adopts inflatable air bag, and is not shown, and the rotation of this air bag from the rear wall of interior rotating cylinder 66 along interior rotating cylinder 100 expands, and fabric load pressed to the inwall of chamber 1.By the swelling gasbag applied pressure lipophilic fluid is clamp-oned in the exterior chamber 2 from fabric by the hole of interior rotating cylinder 46, and be collected in the jar 8 by conduit 7.During this non-distillation removal method, that chamber 1 can be is static, with the speed rotation of the fabric that is enough to overturn or to be enough to that fabric is fixed on speed rotation on chamber 1 inwall.The fabric load reallocation combination that the expansion of air bag and contraction can cause with the rotation by chamber 1 is carried out.

Another embodiment that method is removed in non-distillation relates to capillary utilization, for example by sponge etc. provide like that.In this embodiment, the textile article of handling through lipophilic fluid is pressed towards sponge etc. to remove lipophilic fluid.For example, sponge can be positioned at the rear wall 66 of inner cavity chamber 1, or promotes on one of fin 60.Can prevent the sponge contact fabric by the coating member of activity, up to suitable the time.

Another embodiment of non-distillation removal method relates to the high speed rotation of chamber 1, and this is called swing circle in conventional equipment.The textile article of handling through lipophilic fluid stands high centrifugal acceleration, and the typical case is about 4,450m/s ²(about 450G) order of magnitude.Typically, fabric load stood high centrifugal acceleration about 30 seconds to about 5 minutes.The lipophilic fluid of being removed by high centrifugal acceleration is collected in jars 8, and classification pump shown in Figure 1 and delivery catheter 3 to 7 illustrate a possibility method of the fluid that recovery removes from textile article.

After partly removing lipophilic fluid by non-distillating method, air is introduced chamber 1 does not need drying plant additional or that separate so that textile article is dried fully.Alternatively, textile article can be transferred in another compartment in the same equipment or the chamber and carry out the oven dry cycle.The transfering part that is fit to is the example explanation in " channel-style " washing machine, and wherein textile article is transferred to another compartment through conveyer from a compartment in inside.The embodiment of channel-style washing machine is at EP 0,914, and is open among 511B1 and the WO 98/48094 (authorizing Electrolux).

Typically, non-distilation steps remove lipophilic fluid weight at least about 70% or at least about 80%.The removal of residue lipophilic fluid realizes that at baking step the textile article in the chamber rolls therebetween under moving air.Air randomly is heated to and is lower than about 100 ℃, or between about 30 ℃ and about 80 ℃, or between about 40 ℃ and about 65 ℃, and flow is between about 15L/s and about 272L/s, or between about 20L/s and about 200L/s.Alternatively, available gas (for example nitrogen) replaces air.In another alternative embodiment, gas (for example steam, ozone) can be joined in the air.Randomly, air is ionized.

In another alternative embodiment, surface reactive material or inertia fabric nursing material can be joined in air or the air-flow,, for example remove static, joyful smell, sterilization and softening etc. with the fabric care benefit effect that obtains to add.

Can filter or purify the air of getting rid of by other parts, get rid of from system, for example pass through exhaust system with the solvent vapo(u)r that guarantees minimum.Gas sensor can be positioned at the position near floss hole, with the concentration of monitoring solvent vapo(u)r from the air flow that equipment is discharged.Can comprise another gas sensor in the equipment, with the solvent vapo(u)r content in the monitoring chamber 1.In the inventive method on the other hand, textile finishing step was included in the oven dry cycle.After lipophilic fluid is by the removal to small part from the textile article handled, fabric finishing composition is sent in the chamber 1, make its contact fabric goods and send the textile finishing beneficial effect, for example fabric-softening, shake up, smell, antistatic, crease-resistant etc.

In one embodiment, finish composition is applied on the textile article by spraying, simultaneously textile article be in for example roll or low speed rotation (for example with about 9.8m/s ²Centrifugal acceleration rotation, this can produce just is enough to keep clothes to be close to the power of chamber 1) in this type games.Alternatively, by the spraying in a plurality of stages finishing agent is applied on the textile article, textile article rolls in these stages or between the stage, to realize that composition is in the more uniform distribution of fabric face.

In another embodiment, the oven dry cycle when the temperature of chamber 1 is lower than about 100 ℃ or about 20 ℃ apply fabric finishing composition during to about 80 ℃ or about 35 ℃ to about 60 ℃.In a further embodiment, in order to give the textile article of handling long lasting fragrance, applying with spices during the cooling down operation in oven dry cycle is the fabric finishing composition of main component (promptly not having other composition to have higher percentage in composition).Term used herein " cooling down operation " is meant the part of no longer giving chamber 1 heat supply in the oven dry cycle, though also can continue to the finish composition heating to help the distribution of composition.

The finish composition that is fit to comprises fabric care agent, includes but not limited to: arrangement polymer, fabric softener, spices, wrinkle controlling agent, antistatic additive, water and their mixture.In a specific embodiment, steam and water smoke can be used as finish composition.At room temperature, composition can be liquid or gel, and can be heated activation.That is, composition 100 ℃ or more the viscosity under the low temperature need be reduced to and be lower than about 50mPas (50 centipoise).In a typical embodiment, composition in the viscosity under about 37 ℃ between about 0.5 to about 20mPas (about 0.5 to about 20 centipoises).Available Brookfield LVF viscosity apparatus is measured viscosity.

Also can use other applicator or distributor, for example sprayer, atomizer and similar device.A kind of typical this type of applicator can provide particle mean size less than about 100 microns, about 0.1 micron to about 60 microns of typical case, perhaps about 0.5 micron to about 40 microns, perhaps about 1 micron about 20 microns droplet extremely.Because particle size is little, droplet is easier to air movement in chamber 1.Available this air circulation device of for example fan is with

droplet guide wall

65,66 and 67.Alternatively, during being dispensed into finish composition in the chamber, air circulation system or gas/air floss hole can be closed, so the droplet of finish composition can not run off by floss hole.Randomly, for contacting between the finish composition that guarantees to be assigned with and textile article, after being distributed fully, finish composition can keep closing air circulation system or floss hole about 5 minutes to about 30 minutes.

Sprayer, atomizer and similar devices are known those skilled in the art.The device that is applicable to this paper is the sprayer with at least one ultrasonic contact or ultrasonic concussion unit.Typical this sprayer is with trade name Acu Mist ^, can be available from Sono Tek Corporation, Milton, New York.Other embodiment of this type of device can be available from Omron Health Care, GmbH, Germany and Flaem Nuove, S.P.A, Italy.Similarly, aerosol delivery well known in the art system also can be used for sending washing agent and/or finish composition.The static distributor also can be used for composition is assigned to chamber 1.The example of this type of static distributor is described in U.S. Patent application 10/418,595 (P﹠amp; G case numbers 8903) and PCT announce WO03/02291.

Other distributor that can be detachably connected to Qianmen 59 is described in U.S. Patent application 10/697,735,10/697,685 and 10/697,736 (P﹠amp; G case numbers 9397,9398 and 9400); U.S. Patent application 2003/0200674A1; PCT announces WO 03/087285 and WO 03/087461.Should be appreciated that these distributors can be used for sending cleaning compositions, finish composition, even lipophilic fluid.

In the inventive method on the other hand, before the contact fabric goods, composition of detergent is mixed mutually with lipophilic fluid, to form the cleaning solution of dilution.Mixing can be carried out outside equipment, and the cleaning solution of dilution is stored in the jar of equipment.Alternatively, composition of detergent and lipophilic fluid are stored in the jar that separates, and mix in equipment to form cleaning solution.After in cleaning solution is dispensed into chamber 1, the textile article that rolls about 1 is to about 20 minutes, to redistribute textile article and to guarantee the even distribution of lipophilic fluid on textile article.Lipophilic fluid further partly is applied on the textile article, and the textile article that randomly rolls about 1 was to about 20 minutes.Roll or low speed rotation (about 9.8m/s at textile article ²) during the decline of lipophilic fluid is applied on the textile article.The lipophilic fluid that is used for this paper different step can comprise identical or different composition, identical or different lipophilic fluid, by identical or different amount, perhaps their combination.

The lipophilic fluid that is used for this paper different step also can comprise water or other polar solvent (for example two pure and mild ethylene glycol); In cleaning solution, use the method (being called " double-mode " cleaning method) of fluid-mixing at U.S. Patent application 10/612,106 (P﹠amp; G case 8121C) explanation in.In an embodiment of double-mode cleaning method, wherein at least one step is used as main fluid with lipophilic fluid.Main fluid is the fluid that content is higher than other any fluid in cleaning solution.Though do not require, main fluid typical case account for cleaning solution weight at least about 50%.For example, be that composition A is a main fluid in the cleaning solution that mixes at 45: 30: 25 with weight ratio A: B: C at three kinds of liquid.In another embodiment, not to adopt mixed liquor, but simultaneously or in a sequence apply lipophilic fluid, water and/or polar solvent separately.

Aspect another of the inventive method, can washing cycle with composition of detergent directly (that is, not needing it is diluted to cleaning solution) be applied on the textile article.Available spray nozzle, sprayer, atomizer etc. are sent composition of detergent.During using composition of detergent, textile article can roll; This rolls and makes the textile article redistribution and guarantee the even distribution of composition of detergent on textile article.Because cleaning agent is because of being diluted to cleaning solution loss, this non-diluted composition directly method of deposition more effectively is not delivered to cleaning agent on the textile article, and the cleaning agent of use less amount when sending same beneficial effect.The extention of lipophilic fluid can be applied on the textile article, and roll or with the low speed rotation textile article; If desired, can repeat these steps.

Randomly, can finish composition be applied on the textile article in any step of washing cycle.Finish composition can be applied directly on the textile article, perhaps be pre-mixed with lipophilic fluid and/or composition of detergent.In a specific embodiment, can with finish composition and composition of detergent be pre-mixed and be administered on the textile article with the composition of " two-in-one ".

In another aspect of this invention, lipophilic fluid, composition of detergent and/or the finish composition that can consume and/or reclaim can provide in cannister, container is detachably connected on the equipment through " locking key " system, makes the user can change them easily easily.

Before just can randomly comprising in the textile article load that is distributed in the present device lipophilic fluid equably to be held, method of the present invention forms the step of emulsion or micro emulsion on the spot, emulsion or micro emulsion comprise for example lipophilic fluid and two or more fluid streams of this class of water (randomly, fabric-treating agent, polar solvent).

Can form O/w emulsion by the technical process of any suitable quantity.For example, can the water that comprise effective schedule of quantities surface-active agent packing be contacted with solvent by the metered shot before the mixing arrangement that is fit to just.Can keep metering, make the solvent/water ratio of expectation keep constant relatively.Available following hydrid component provides sufficient stirring to produce emulsification, for example the mill of pump, colloid mill or other type of this class mixing arrangement of pump assembly or online static mixer, centrifugal pump and other type, impeller, ultrasonic wave blender and a kind of liquid dispersion is difficult for other parts in the mixing material to another kind.

These static mixers are devices that emulsion is passed through at a high speed, in the unexpected change of the direction of emulsion described in these static mixers experience, and/or constitute the unexpected change of channel diameter experience of internal mixer.This produces the pressure loss, and the pressure loss is a factor according to droplet size and the correct emulsification of stability acquisition.

In an embodiment of the inventive method, blend step is an order.Technical process comprises: the phase I with solvent and emulsifier, in second stage premix is mixed and emulsification with water.In another embodiment of the present invention, formulated the regulation of carrying out above-mentioned blend step with continuous mode.Mix the typical case and at room temperature carry out, fluid, water and cleaning agent are also at room temperature supplied with.

For example this class batch methods of top blender or for example two-fluid co-extrusion nozzle, online injector, on-line mixing device or can be used for producing emulsion in this class continuation method of wire mesh sieve.The big I of emulsion composition is controlled by changing mixing velocity, incorporation time, mixing arrangement and viscosity in aqueous solution in final composition.Generally by reducing mixing velocity, reducing incorporation time, reduce solution viscosity or adopt the mixing arrangement that during mixing produces less shearing force can produce the emulsion of big drop size.

The present invention further aspect, lipophilic fluid or cleaning solution are the part of the leaching process that carries out simultaneously with the distribution of fluid/cleaning solution at least.In this embodiment, by spraying described lipophilic fluid through at least one spray nozzle or cleaning solution is realized even distribution, simultaneously, textile article moves in the permeable active chamber of described fluid when spraying.Some lipophilic fluids can be extracted by centrifugal force or gravity.In a further embodiment, the pattern of the velocity variations and/or the reverse direction of motion is used to make fabric to redistribute in the permeable active chamber of fluid, therefore realizes evenly wetting.

Be used for handling another embodiment of the inventive method of textile article at equipment of the present invention.In the embodiment of the present invention aspect this, this method comprises:

(I) by one or more steps of decontamination before any conventional method, immersion or pretreating fabrics goods or textile article load; With

(II) in according to each equipment of aforementioned device claim, handle at least one step of described textile article or textile article load.

" by one or more steps of decontamination before any conventional method, immersion or pretreating fabrics goods or textile article load " meaning is strictly textile article or load to be carried out preliminary treatment, preceding decontamination or immersion, just as the processing that will do them before cleaning on conventional family expenses or commercial washing equipment or the commercial dry-cleaning equipment or handling.For example, allow textile article or load in the pond of containing bleaching agent solution soak a night, in equipment of the present invention, handle then; Perhaps pretreatment solution is applied on the stain of textile article, in equipment of the present invention, textile article is handled then, or the like.

In the present invention's another embodiment aspect this, this method comprises:

(I) in according to each equipment of aforementioned device claim, handle at least one step of textile article or textile article load; With

(II) described textile article or textile article load are carried out one or more steps of post processing by any conventional method.

The meaning is strictly textile article or load to be carried out post processing " textile article or textile article load to be carried out one or more steps of post processing by any conventional method ", just as the post processing that will do them after cleaning on conventional family expenses or commercial washing equipment or commercial dry-cleaning equipment or handling.For example, after in equipment of the present invention, handling, textile article is contacted with fabric softener, or the like.

Equipment of the present invention can be used for pure and fresh and/or the cleaning fabric goods.In addition, alternatively, equipment of the present invention can be used for cleaning or the load of clothes tupe cleaning fabric goods with any described clothes.

Equipment of the present invention can be used for service, for example service, diaper service, uniform cleaning service are cleaned in oven dry, or can be used for commerce, as self-service laundry, dry cleaner, linen service, it is the part of hotel, restaurant, conference centre, airport, pleasure-boat, port facilities, public place of entertainment.

In another embodiment of the invention, equipment of the present invention can be used for handling unclassified textile article load, and does not damage described goods substantially or between described goods dye transfer does not take place substantially." unclassified textile article " meaning is that pending textile article comprises that two or more have the goods of " dry-cleaning only " nursing label.The equipment and the method for the fabric that in other words, use at one time, the interior same equipment cleaning of cleaning the fabric of dry-cleaning only of same equipment can be washed are one embodiment of the invention.

Another embodiment of the invention relates to the textile article of having handled in equipment of the present invention.Typically, the processed textile article of any this class comprise at least a have the surface energy modified effect but do not have anti-static effect composition (for example organosilicon) but the content of analyzing and testing; But perhaps at least a have surface energy modification and/or sensation modification and/or comfortable modification/or the content of the analyzing and testing of the composition of aesthetic effect and at least a antistatic agent except that described at least a composition.

If any, before being used for equipment of the present invention and method, can the water that be used for present device and method be softened, processing such as filtration, sterilization, heating, cooling.

Lipophilic fluid

" lipophilic fluid " used herein is meant and immiscible any liquid of water or liquid mixture (described liquid mostly is 20% most by the weight of water).Usually, suitable lipophilic fluid can be a liquid under environment temperature and pressure fully, can be easily fusing solid (as, at about 0 ℃ of solid that becomes liquid to about 60 ℃ of temperature ranges), perhaps can comprise under environment temperature and the pressure liquid phase and the vapor phase mixture of (as under) at 25 ℃ and 101kPa (1atm) pressure.

Typically, suitable lipophilic fluid is nonflammable, or has higher relatively flash-point and/or lower VOC characteristic to equal or exceed the characteristic of known conventional dry-cleaning fluid, and these terms have used conventional connotation in the dry-cleaning industry.

The non-limiting example of suitable lipophilic fluid materials comprises siloxanes, other siloxanes, hydrocarbon, glycol ether, glycerol derivatives such as glycerin ether, perfluoroamine, perfluorinate and hydrogen fluorine ether solvents, the floride-free organic solvent of low volatility, diol solvent, other environment amenable solvent and their mixture.

" siloxanes " used herein is meant the polysiloxane fluid of nonpolar and water insoluble or lower alcohol.Linear siloxanes is (referring to for example United States Patent (USP) 5,443,747 and 5,977,040) and annular siloxane can be used for the present invention, comprise annular siloxane, it is selected from octamethylcy-clotetrasiloxane (tetramer), ten diformazan basic rings, six siloxanes (hexamer), decamethylcyclopentaandoxane (pentamer is commonly referred to " D5 ") and their mixture.In one embodiment, described siloxanes comprises the cyclic siloxane pentamer greater than about 50%, or greater than about 75% cyclic siloxane pentamer, or at least about 90% cyclic siloxane pentamer.In another embodiment, suitable siloxanes is to contain at least about 90% (or at least about 95%) pentamer with less than the annular siloxane mixture of about 10% (or less than about 5%) tetramer and/or hexamer.

Lipophilic fluid can comprise any component of dry-cleaning solvent, especially comprise fluorated solvent or perfluoroamine than newtype.Although some perfluoroamines such as perfluor tri-butylamine are unsuitable for as lipophilic fluid, they can be used as one of many possibility auxiliary agents contained in the composition that comprises lipophilic fluid and exist.

Other suitable lipophilic fluid includes but not limited to diol solvent system (for example, higher glycol such as C ₆Or C ₈Glycol or more senior glycol), comprise the organosiloxane solvent of ring-type and acyclic type etc., and their mixture.

The non-limiting example of low volatility nonfluorinated organic solvent comprises, for example, and OLEAN ^With other polyol ester, or some nonvolatile relatively biodegradable mid-chain branched petroleum distillate.

The non-limiting example of glycol ether comprises methyl proxitol, propylene glycol n-propyl ether, glycol tertiary butyl ether, propylene glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether, dipropylene glycol tertbutyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether, tripropylene glycol n-propyl ether, tripropylene glycol tertbutyl ether, tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether.

In the literature, except siloxanes, the non-limiting example of other siloxane solvent is also known, referring to, Kirk Othmer " the Encyclopedia ofChemical Technology " that shown for example, and they can comprise GESilicones, Toshiba Silicone, Bayer and Dow Corning available from many commercial source.For example, a kind of suitable siloxane solvent is the SF-1528 available from GE Silicones.

The non-limiting example that is used for the suitable glycerol derivatives solvent of the inventive method and/or equipment has following structure:

R wherein ¹, R ²And R ³Be independently selected from respectively: H; Side chain or straight chain, replacement or unsubstituted C ₁-C ₃₀Alkyl, C ₂-C ₃₀Alkenyl, C ₁-C ₃₀Alkoxy carbonyl group, C ₃-C ₃₀Alkene oxyalkyl, C ₁-C ₃₀Acyloxy, C ₇-C ₃₀Alkylidene aryl; C ₄-C ₃₀Cycloalkyl; C ₆-C ₃₀Aryl; And their mixture.Two or more R ¹, R ²And R ³Can form a C jointly ₃-C ₈Aromatic ring or non-aromatic ring, heterocycle or non-heterocycle.

The non-limiting example of suitable glycerol derivatives solvent comprises 2,3-two (1,1-dimethyl ethyoxyl)-and 1-propyl alcohol, 2,3-dimethoxy-1-propyl alcohol, 3-methoxyl group-2-cyclopentyloxy-1-propyl alcohol, 3-methoxyl group-1-cyclopentyloxy-2-propyl alcohol, carbonic acid (2-hydroxyl-1-methoxy) ethyl ester methyl esters, carbonic acid glyceride and their mixture.

The non-limiting example of other environment amenable solvent comprises that it is 0 to about 0.31 lipophilic fluid greater than 0.1mmHg ozone generation gesture for about 0 to about 0.1mmHg lipophilic fluid and/or vapour pressure for about 0 to about 0.31 lipophilic fluid, vapour pressure that ozone generates gesture.The non-limiting example of the above-mentioned former this lipophilic fluid of not describing comprises that carbonate solvent (promptly, methyl carbonate, ethyl carbonate, ethylene carbonate, propene carbonate, carbonic acid glyceride) and/or succinate solvent (that is dimethyl succinate).

" ozone reaction " used herein is that VOC forms measuring of ozone ability in atmosphere.It is measured with the ozone gram number that every gram volatile organic matter is generated.The method of measuring ozone reaction is discussed further in W.P.L.Carter at " Journal of theAir ﹠amp in 1994; Waste Management Association " among the 881st page to the 899th page " Development of Ozone Reactivity Scales of Volatile OrganicCompounds " that is shown of the 44th volume.Use the technology that is described in detail in the California Air Resources Board method 310, measure used " vapour pressure ".

In one embodiment, lipophilic fluid comprises by the weight of described lipophilic fluid greater than 50% ring penta siloxanes (" D5 ") and/or have volatile much at one linear analog, and randomly supplies with other siloxane solvent.

Composition

Cleaning agent and fabric care agent can extensively change, and content uses very on a large scale.For the fabric-treating agent of appointment, when containing it in the composition, its content is typically about 0.1% to about 80% by the weight of described composition, or about 1% to about 60%, or about 5% to about 50%.In some embodiments, water is included in the described composition as carrier; The content that water can exist counts about 0.1% to about 99% by the weight of described composition, or about 1% to about 90%, or about 10% to about 80%.

When forming wash liquid with lipophilic fluid, water and/or polar solvent diluted composition, the content of the fabric-treating agent of appointment (when containing sometimes) is typically about 0.01% to about 50% by the weight of described wash liquid, or about 0.1% to about 30%, or about 1% to about 20%.

Yet some reagent is used in the described composition with low-down content.For example, detergency enzymes such as protease, amylase, cellulase, lipase etc. and bleaching catalyst (comprise can be used for washing with cleaning products in contain the ring-like greatly of manganese or similar transition metal) typical case is used for composition with low-down content, the typical case counts about 0.01% to less than about 5% by the weight of described composition.

Some suitable cleaning agents comprise, but are not limited to soil release polymer, surfactant, bleaching agent, enzyme, spices, and their mixture.

Suitable fabric care agent includes, but not limited to put in order polymer, softening agent, spices, finishing agent, wrinkle controlling agent, reduces dehydrating agent, antistatic additive, and their mixture.

In these cleanings or the fabric care agent some are described in detail hereinafter.

The soil release polymer that one class is suitable comprise fluorine-containing soil release polymer (fluoro-SRPs), specifically, derived from the copolymer of perfluoro monomer and alkylmethacrylate monomer, with trade name ZONYL ^The city is sold by E.I.du Pont de Nemours and Company ofWilmington, and Del. is also commercially available is REPEARL F35 available from Mitsubishi ^, it comprises the fluoro-SRP of aqueous suspension form.Other suitable fluoro-SRP is disclosed among WO01/98384, WO 01/81285, JP 10-182814, JP 2000-273067, WO 98/4160213 and the WO 99/69126.

Another kind of suitable soil release polymer comprises the soil release polymer (Si-SRPs) that contains siloxanes.Exemplary Si-SRP can DF104, DF1040, SM2125, SM2245, SM2101, SM2059 be available from GE with Dow Corning 75SF ^Emulsion is commercially available.

Also being suitable for what make soil release polymer of the present invention is water-soluble modified cellulose, and it includes but not limited to: carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methylcellulose and similar compounds.These compounds and other suitable compound are described in the 4th edition the 5th volume of Kirk Othmer Encyclopediaof Chemical Technology the 541st to 563 page head in the article of " Cellulose Ethers " and the list of references wherein quoted.

Another kind of suitable soil release polymer can comprise the block copolymer of poly-terephthalic acids alkylene ester and poly-terephthalic acids oxygen vinyl acetate, and the block copolymer of poly-terephthalic acids alkylene ester and polyethylene glycol.These compounds are at length open and be discussed in US 6,358, and 914 and US 4,976,879In.

Another kind of soil release polymer is crystallizable polyester, and it comprises terephthalic acids vinyl acetate monomer, terephthalic acids oxygen vinyl acetate monomer, or their mixture.The embodiment of this polymer is commercially available Zelcon 4780 ^(available from DuPont) and Milease T ^(available from ICI).The more complete disclosure of these detergents is contained among EP 0 185 427 A1.

Be applicable to that surfactant of the present invention has following general formula:

(I)Y _u-(T _t-X _v) _x-Y’ _w

(II)T _y-(X _v-Y _u) _x-T’ _z

And their mixture;

Wherein T and T ' are solvent compatible (or lipophilic) parts, and it is independently selected from:

(a) straight or branched, ring-type or acyclic, saturated or undersaturated, replacement or unsubstituted C1-C22 alkyl or C4-C12 alkoxyl;

(b) have the siloxanes of following chemical formula:

(III) M _aD _bD′ _cD″ _d

Wherein a is 0 to 2; B is 0 to 1000; C is 0 to 50; D is 0 to 50, and precondition is that a+c+d is at least 1;

M in the chemical formula (III) is R ¹ _3-eX _eSiO _1/2, the R in the chemical formula (III) wherein ¹Be H or alkyl independently, the X in the chemical formula (III) is a hydroxyl, and e is 0 or 1;

D in the chemical formula (III) is R ⁴ ₂SiO _2/2, the R in the chemical formula (III) wherein ⁴Be H or alkyl independently;

The D ' of chemical formula (III) is R ⁵ ₂SiO _2/2, the R in its chemical formula (III) ⁵Be H, alkyl or (CH independently ₂) _f(C ₆Q ₄) _gO-(C ₂H ₄O) _h-(C ₃H ₆O) _i(C _kH _2k) _j-R ³, precondition is at least one R of chemical formula (III) ⁵Be (CH ₂) _f(C ₆Q ₄) _gO-(C ₂H ₄O) _h-(C ₃H ₆O) _i(C _kH _2k) _j-R ³, the R of chemical formula (III) wherein ³Be H, alkyl or alkoxyl independently, the f of chemical formula (III) is 1 to 10, and the g of chemical formula (III) is 0 or 1, the h of chemical formula (III) is 1 to 50, the i of chemical formula (III) is 0 to 50, and the j of chemical formula (III) is 0 to 50, and the k of chemical formula (III) is 4 to 8; The C of chemical formula (III) ₆Q ₄Be not replace or replace, the Q of chemical formula (III) is H, C independently simultaneously _1-10Alkyl, C _1-10Alkenyl, and their mixture.

The D of chemical formula (III) " is R ⁶ ₂SiO _2/2, the R of chemical formula (III) wherein ⁶Be H, alkyl or (CH independently ₂) _l(C ₆Q ₄) _m(A) _n-[(L) _o-(A ') _p-] _q-(L ') _rZ (G) _s, wherein the l of chemical formula (III) is 1 to 10; The m of chemical formula (III) is 0 or 1; The n of chemical formula (III) is 0 to 5; The o of chemical formula (III) is 0 to 3; The p of chemical formula (III) is 0 or 1; The q of chemical formula (III) is 0 to 10; The r of chemical formula (III) is 0 to 3; The s of chemical formula (III) is 0 to 3; The C of chemical formula (III) ₆Q ₄Be unsubstituted or replacement, the Q of chemical formula (III) is H, C independently simultaneously _1-10Alkyl, C _1-10Alkenyl, and their mixture; The A of chemical formula (III) and A ' difference are the coupling part independently, its expression ester, ketone group, ether, sulfo-, acylamino-, amino, C _1-4Fluoro-alkyl, C _1-4Fluoro thiazolinyl, side chain or straight chain polyalkylene oxide, phosphate, sulfonyl, sulfate, ammonium, and their mixture; The L of chemical formula (III) and L ' are independent respectively to be C _1-30Straight or branched alkyl or alkenyl or the aryl that does not replace or replace; The Z of chemical formula (III) is hydrogen, carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, phosphate, phosphate, sulfonyl, sulfonate, sulfate, side chain or straight chain polyalkylene oxide, nitro, glyceryl, unsubstituted or by C _1-30The aryl that alkyl or alkenyl replace, unsubstituted or by C _1-10The carbohydrate that alkyl or alkenyl or ammonium replace; The G of chemical formula (III) is anion or CATION such as H ⁺, Na ⁺, Li ⁺, K ⁺, NH ₄ ⁺, Ca ^{+ 2}, Mg ^{+ 2}, Cl ^-, Br ^-, I ^-, mesylate or toluene fulfonate;

Y and Y ' are hydrophilic segments, and it is independently selected from alkanolamine, the substituted heterocycle that contains O, S, N, sulfate radical, carboxylate radical, the carbonate of hydroxyl, polyhydroxy, C1-C3 alkoxyl, strand alkanolamine or two alkanolamines, the replacement of C1-C4 alkyl; And when Y and/or Y ' were ethyoxyl (EO) or propoxyl group (PO), it must be with the R end-blocking, and R is selected from:

(i) 4 to 8 yuan, replacement or unsubstituted, comprise 1 to 3 heteroatomic heterocycle; With

(ii) contain about 1 straight or branched to about 30 carbon atoms, saturated or unsaturated, replace or not replacement, ring-type or acyclic, aliphatic series or aromatic hydrocarbyl;

X is a bridge linkage group, be selected from O, S, N, P, straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated, replace or C1 to the C22 alkyl of not replacement, ring-type or acyclic, aliphatic series or aromatics, be inserted with O, S, N, P in the described alkyl; Protonated or unprotonated glycidyl, ester group, acylamino-, amino, PO ₄ ^2-, HPO ₄-, PO ₃ ^2-, HPO ₃ ^-

U and w are independently selected from 0 to 20 integer, and precondition is u+w 〉=1;

T is 1 to 10 integer;

V is 0 to 10 integer;

X is 1 to 20 integer; With

Y and z independently are selected from 1 to 10 integer.

Non-limiting example with surfactant of above-mentioned chemical formula comprises alkanolamine; Phosphate/phosphonate ester; Gemini surface active agent includes, but not limited to Shuangzi glycol, Shuangzi acid amides alcoxylates, Shuangzi aminoalkoxy thing; Capped nonionics; The silicone surfactant of end-blocking such as nonionic silicones ethoxylate, siloxanes amine derivative; Alkyl alkoxylates; The polyalcohol surfactant; And their mixture.

Yet another kind of suitable surfactant is organic sulfosuccinate, and its carbochain contains has an appointment 6 to about 20 carbon atoms.In one embodiment, organic sulfosuccinate comprises the dialkyl chain, and each hydrocarbon chain contains has an appointment 6 to about 20 carbon atoms.In another embodiment, organic sulfosuccinate has to comprise and replaces or chain unsubstituted, side chain or straight chain, saturated or undersaturated aryl or alkylaryl.The non-limiting commercially available embodiment of suitable organic sulfosuccinic acid ester surfactant is with trade name Aerosol OT ^With Aerosol TR-70 ^(for example, Cytec) obtain.

The non-limiting example of suitable bleaching agent is selected from catalytic metal compound, active peroxygen source, bleach-activating, bleach enhancers, optical white, radical initiator and hypohalogenous acids bleaching agent.

The embodiment of suitable catalytic metal compound includes but not limited to manganese-based catalyst, as is disclosed in United States Patent (USP) 5,576, the Mn in 282 ^IV ₂(u-O) ₃(1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-7-triazacyclononane) ₂(PF6) ₂Be disclosed in United States Patent (USP) 5,597, the cobalt-base catalyst in 936 is [Co (NH as chemical formula ₃) ₅OAc] T _yAcetate five ammino cobalt salts, " OAc " expression acetate part wherein, and " T _y" be anion; Encircle the transition metal composite of rigid ligand-abbreviation " MRL " mostly.Suitable metal comprises Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Cr, V, Mo, W, Pd and the Ru that is in various oxidation state among the MRL.The example of suitable MRL comprises: two chloro-5,12-diethyl-1,5,8,12-four azabicyclos [6.6.2] hexadecane manganeses (II), two chloro-5,12-diethyl-1,5,8,12-four azabicyclos [6.6.2] hexadecane manganese (III) hexafluorophosphate and two chloro-5-normal-butyl-12-methyl isophthalic acids, 5,8,12-four azabicyclos [6.6.2] hexadecane manganeses (II).Suitable transition metal M RL prepares by known method easily, as the method that is proposed in for example WO00/332601 and US 6,225,464.

Suitable active peroxygen source include but not limited to preformed peracid, with the hydrogen peroxide source of bleach-activating combination, or their mixture.Suitable preformed peracid includes but not limited to be selected from the compound of following material: percarboxylic acids and salt thereof, percarbonic acid and salt thereof, mistake imidic acid and salt, permonosulphuric acid and salt thereof and their mixture.Suitable hydrogen peroxide source includes but not limited to be selected from the compound of following material: perborate compound, percarbonate compound, superphosphate compound and their mixture.The active peroxygen source of suitable type and content is present in United States Patent (USP) 5,576, and 282,6,306,812 B1 and 6,326, among 348 B1, these documents are introduced into for your guidance.

Suitable bleach-activating includes but not limited to can fully hydrolyzed ester and can fully hydrolyzed acid imide, as tetra acetyl ethylene diamine, caprylyl caprolactam, benzoyloxy benzene sulfonate, the ninth of the ten Heavenly Stems acyloxy benzene sulfonate, benzoyl valerolactam, dodecane acyl-oxygen base benzene sulfonate.

Suitable bleach enhancers includes but not limited to be described in United States Patent (USP) 5,817, those in 614.

The non-limiting example of suitable enzyme comprises protease, amylase, cellulase, lipase and other enzyme.Suitable protease comprises with trade name Esperase ^, Alcalase ^, Everlase ^And Savinase ^(available from Novozymes) is available from subtilopeptidase A [as bacillus subtilis, Bacillus lentus, bacillus licheniformis, bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BPN, BPN '), Alkaliphilic bacillus], BLAP and the variant (deriving from Henkel) of Bacillus.Other suitable protease is described among EP130756, WO 91/06637, WO 95/10591 and the WO 99/20726.Suitable amylase (α and/or β) is described among WO 94/02597 and the WO 96/23873.Commercially available diastatic non-limiting example comprises Purafect OxAm ^(deriving from Genencor) and Termamyl ^, Natalase ^, Ban ^, Fungamyl ^And Duramyl ^(deriving from Novozymes).Suitable cellulase comprises bacterium or fungal cellulase, those as producing by lonely humicola lanuginosa, and especially DSM 1800[is with Carezyme ^Commercially available].Other suitable cellulase is the EGIII cellulase by the wooden mould generation of long stalk.Suitable lipase comprises those that are produced by pseudomonad and look bacillus group.The non-limiting example of commercially available lipase comprises the Lipolase that derives from Novozymes ^, Lipolase Ultra ^, Lipoprime ^And Lipex ^That also be applicable to this paper is at [EC 3.1.1.50]; Esterase; Carbohydrase is as mannase (US 6,060,299); Pectate lyase (WO 99/27083); Ring-type maltodextrin glucanotransferase (WO96/33267); And xyloglucanase enzymes (WO 99/02663).In addition, the non-limiting example of bleaching enzymes comprises peroxidase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, oxygenase (as catechol-1, the 2-dioxygenase), lipoxygenase (WO 95/26393), (non-heme) haloperoxidase.

Term used herein " spices " is meant any material odorous.Suitable spices includes but not limited to the oil of one or more aromatic chemicals, natural origin and their mixture.The chemical species of above-mentioned aromatic chemicals and essential oil includes but not limited to alcohol, aldehyde, ester, ketone.Usually, spices provides with perfume delivery systems.

Suitable perfume delivery systems includes but not limited to be loaded with auxiliary delivering compositions, auxiliary perfume systems, reactivity/former perfume systems and the inorganic carrier system of polymer of cyclodextrin, amine of spices.The cyclodextrin delivering compositions that is loaded with spices comprise fragrance material or the blend-most of cyclodextrin compound with cyclodextrin type material can be α-, β-and/or gamma-cyclodextrin, or only be beta-schardinger dextrin-.The method for preparing cyclodextrin and cyclodextrin delivering compositions is further described in United States Patent (USP) 3,812, in 011,4,317,881,4,418,144 and 5,552,378.

The auxiliary delivery system of amine comprises one or more spices and polymerization and/or non-polymeric amine material, and it joins the finished product from spices separately.Above-mentioned system is described among WO 03/33635 and the WO 03/33636.

The auxiliary delivery system of polymer uses the physical adhesion of polymeric material and spices to be used for sending fragrance material.The suitable polymers assistant system includes but not limited to, storage system (coacervate, micro-capsule, starch capsule) and matrix system (polymer emulsion, latex).Above-mentioned system is further described in WO 01/79303, WO 00/68352, WO 98/28339 and the United States Patent (USP) 5,188,753 and 4,746,455.

Reactivity/former perfume systems includes but not limited to the former spices of polymerization, the fragrance material (being typically aldehydes or ketones spices) that reacts with polymer support (being typically the carrier based on nitrogen) before it is included in and joins in the product; Non-polymeric former perfume systems, it comprises the fragrance material with the non-polymer qualitative response, for example Michael adduct (beta-amino ketones), Schiff alkali (imines), oxazolidine,

-ketone ester, ortho esters and photic former spices.Above-mentioned system is further described in WO00/24721, WO 02/83620 and the United States Patent (USP) 6,013,618 and 6,451,751.

The inorganic carrier system that comprises inorganic material (porous zeolite, silica etc.) is loaded one or more fragrance materials.Above-mentioned system is further described in United States Patent (USP): in 5,955,419,6,048,830 and 6,245,732.

Suitable odor control agent comprises following material, and these materials comprise cyclodextrin, odor neutralizer, smell blocking agent, and their mixture.Suitable odor neutralizer comprises aldehyde, flavanoid, slaine, water-soluble polymer, zeolite, active carbon and their mixture.

Other cleaning agent that is applicable to this paper comprises, but be not limited to, builder comprise lysotype not such as zeolite comprise zeolite A, P and so-called maximum aluminium P and soluble-type such as phosphate and Quadrafos, any hydration, water miscible or water-insoluble silicate, 2,2 '-oxo disuccinate, tartrate succinate, glycollate, NTA and many other ester carboxylate or citrate; Chelating agent comprises EDTA, S, S '-EDDS, DTPA and phosphonate ester; Water-soluble polymer, bipolymer and terpolymer; Soil release polymer; Fluorescent whitening agent; Processing aid such as well-ironing agent and/filler; Anti-precipitating agent again; Hydrotropic agent is as cumene sodium sulfonate or cumene sulfoacid calcium, naphthalene sulfonic acid potassium etc., wetting agent; Other spices or precursor spices; Dyestuff; Optical white; Thickener; Simple salt; Alkali is as comprising hydroxide, carbonate, two carbonate and sulfate etc. based on those of sodium or potassium; And the combination of one or more these compositions.

Suitable finishing auxiliaries includes, but not limited to put in order polymer, fabric softener, antistatic additive, odor control agent, odor neutralizer, spices, insect and/or moth expellent and their mixture.

The arrangement polymer can be natural or synthetic, and can be by the formation film and/or by providing adhesion characteristic to work.For example, the present invention can randomly use film forming and/or binder polymer with give fabric especially clothing with the profile confining force." adhesive " is meant that this polymer can adhere on the described surface when being applied to fiber surface and dry as solution or dispersion.Polymer can form film from the teeth outwards, and maybe when resting between the two-layer fiber and contacting with two-layer fiber, it can be bonded together two-layer fiber.

The non-limiting example of commercially available arrangement polymer is: polyvinylpyrrolidone/dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate ester copolymer, and as the copolymer 958 of molecular weight about 100,000 ^With about 1,000,000 the copolymer 937 of molecular weight, derive from GAF Chemicals Corporation; Adipic acid/dimethylamino hydroxypropyl diethylenetriamines copolymer is as Cartaretin F-4 ^And F-23, derive from Sandoz Chemicals Corporation; Methacryl ethyl betaine/methacrylate ester copolymer is as Diaformer Z-SM ^, derive from MitsubishiChemicals Corporation; The polyvinyl alcohol copolymer resin is as Vinex 2019 ^, derive from Air Products and Chemicals, or Moweol ^, derive from Clariant; Adipic acid/glycidyl diethylenetriamines copolymer is as Delsette 101 ^, derive from HerculesIncorporated; Polyamino resin is as Cypro 515 ^, derive from Cytec Industries; Poly-quaternary amine resin, Kymene 557H ^, derive from Hercules Incorporated; And polyvinylpyrrolidone/acrylic acid, as Sokalan EG 310 ^, derive from BASF.

The additional embodiment of suitable arrangement polymer includes but not limited to starch carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and their mixture.

Suitable fabric softener or active material typical case comprise cationic moiety such as quaternary ammonium salt, it can be selected from: N, N-dimethyl-N, N-two (tallow oxygen ethyl) methyl esters ammonium sulfate, N-methyl-N-ethoxy-N, N-two (alkyloyloxyethyl ethyl) methyl esters ammonium sulfate and their mixture.Other embodiment of fabric softener include but not limited to siloxanes or siloxane emulsion (as, amino silicone, cationic silicone), polyol polyester (as, sucrose ester derivative, and their mixture.

Exemplary antistatic additive comprises the fabric softener of fatty acyl group, and its iodine number is more than 20, as N, and N-two (butter acyl-oxygen ethyl)-N, N-Dimethyl Ammonium methyl esters sulfate.Yet should be appreciated that the term antistatic additive not only is confined to described fabric softener, and comprise all antistatic additive.

Can be used for exemplary insect of the present invention and moth expellent and can comprise fragrance component, as citronellol, citronellal, citral, linalool, cdear extract, geranium oil, sandalwood oil, 2-(diethyl phenoxy group) ethanol, 1-dodecylene etc.Can be used for the insect of the present composition and/or other embodiment of moth expellent and be disclosed in United States Patent (USP) 4,449,987; 4,693,890; 4,696,676; 4,933,371; 5,030,660; 5,196,200; In people's such as B.D.Mookherjee " Semio Activity of Flavor and Fragrance Molecules on VariousInsect Species ", this article is published in Bioactive Volatile Compounds fromPlants, ACS Symposium Series 525, R.Teranishi, R.G.Buttery, and H.Sugisawa, 1993,35 to 48 pages, all described patents and publication are incorporated herein by reference.

External member

The external member that comprises a plurality of parts is an another aspect of the present invention.The parts of this external member include, but are not limited to:

(a) fabric finishing composition and/or composition of detergent as described herein;

(b) be used to store the reservoir of described composition;

(c) be used to distribute the distributor of described composition;

(d) be used for removably described reservoir and/or described distributor are connected to attaching parts on the fabric treatment apparatus;

(e) be used to hold the packing or the container of parts (a-d).

What this external member comprised also that a cover is associated with described reservoir or described packing is used to illustrate the operation instructions that how to use external member.In one embodiment, this explanation can comprise two subclass explanations.The parts that subclass instructs the user to assemble this external member make distributor be communicated with composition fluid in the reservoir.Another subclass instruct the user how to connect and dismantle reservoir and/or distributor to fabric treatment apparatus.In another embodiment, wherein distributor and reservoir form an integral unit, and specification only needs to instruct the user how to connect and dismantles this integral unit to fabric treatment apparatus.

Although, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many other variations and modifications may be made in the case of without departing from the spirit and scope of protection of the present invention with specific embodiments explanation with described the present invention.Therefore, in additional claims, comprise all such changes and modifications that belong in the scope of the invention consciously.

Except as otherwise noted, described herein all percentages all by weight.Should be appreciated that each the greatest measure limit value that provides in this manual will comprise the numerical definiteness value that each is less, promptly also have expression as this less numerical definiteness value in this explanation.Each lower limit that provides in this manual will comprise each higher limit, promptly as this higher limit clear and definite expression be arranged also in this explanation.Each number range that provides in this manual will comprise all less number ranges that are contained in this bigger numerical scope, promptly as this less number range clear and definite expression be arranged also in this explanation.

The relevant part of all references is incorporated herein by reference; Quoting of any document may not be interpreted as its approval as prior art of the present invention.

Claims

1. double-mode fabric treatment apparatus, described equipment comprises:

Be used to hold the chamber of textile article;

Be used to store first reservoir of lipophilic fluid;

Be used to store second reservoir of fabric finishing composition;

Be configured as distributing the distributor of described fabric finishing composition with droplet form;

The optional heater that is used to heat described chamber; With

The optional gas sensor that is used for monitoring described chamber lipophilic fluid vapour concentration;

Wherein said device configurations is used to provide the fabric treating that comprises washing cycle and oven dry cycle operation; During described washing cycle, described lipophilic fluid is assigned in the described chamber; With during the oven dry cycle, described fabric finishing composition is assigned in the described chamber by described distributor, therefore at least a portion of the described fabric finishing composition that is assigned with contacts the textile article in the described chamber.

2. equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said distributor and described second reservoir are detachably connected to described equipment.

3. the described equipment of each claim as described above, wherein said distributor and described second reservoir are integral unit.

4. the described equipment of each claim as described above, wherein said fabric finishing composition is assigned with the form of droplet, and described droplet has 0.1 micron particle mean size to 1200 micrometer ranges.

5. the described equipment of each claim as described above, wherein said distributor comprise and is selected from following parts: locator, sprayer, electrostatic charger fall in spray nozzle, ultrasonic wave, and their combination.

6. the described equipment of each claim as described above, wherein said fabric finishing composition is assigned in the described chamber when described chamber is in the highest 100 ℃ temperature.

7. the described equipment of each claim as described above, wherein said fabric finishing composition is assigned in the described chamber when described chamber is in 20 ℃ to 80 ℃ temperature.

8. the described equipment of each claim as described above, wherein said fabric finishing composition is assigned in the described chamber during the cooling down operation in oven dry cycle.

9. the described equipment of each claim as described above, wherein said fabric finishing composition comprises and is selected from following fabric care agent: arrangement polymer, fabric softener, antistatic additive, odor control agent, odor neutralizer, spices, insect and/or moth expellant, and their mixture.

10. the described equipment of each claim as described above, described equipment also comprises the 3rd reservoir that is used to store composition of detergent.

11. the described equipment of each claim as described above, wherein said the 3rd reservoir is detachably connected to described equipment.

12. comprising, the described equipment of each claim as described above, wherein said composition of detergent is selected from following cleaning agent: soil release polymer, surfactant, bleaching agent, enzyme, spices, water, and their mixture.

13. the described equipment of each claim as described above, wherein said composition of detergent directly was assigned in the described chamber during washing cycle, and therefore the described composition that is assigned with contacts described textile article with its undiluted form.

14. the described equipment of each claim as described above, wherein said composition of detergent is assigned with the form of droplet, and described droplet has 0.1 micron particle mean size to 1200 micrometer ranges.

15. a method of handling textile article in the described double-mode fabric treatment apparatus of each claim as described above said method comprising the steps of:

Textile article is placed in the described chamber;

Lipophilic fluid is assigned in the described chamber, makes described textile article contact with described lipophilic fluid;

At least a portion of lipophilic fluid is taken out in chamber; With

With droplet form described fabric finishing composition is assigned in the described chamber, makes described textile article contact with described fabric finishing composition.

16. an external member, described external member comprises:

(a) composition of detergent, fabric finishing composition or both; With

At least with one of lower member:

(b) be used to store the reservoir of described composition;

(c) be used to distribute the distributor of described composition;

(e) the Ren Xuan packing that is used to comprise parts (a to d); With

(f) one of Ren Xuan relevant described reservoir or described packing cover specification, the described user of described instructions direct is connected to described reservoir and/or described distributor on the described fabric treatment apparatus or from described fabric treatment apparatus and takes off, and randomly assembles parts in the described external member and make described distributor be communicated with composition fluid in described reservoir.