EP1923496B1

EP1923496B1 - Cleaning cloth

Info

Publication number: EP1923496B1
Application number: EP05782032A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Masayoshi Kakutani
Original assignee: Sanko Co Ltd
Current assignee: Sanko Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-09-09
Filing date: 2005-09-09
Publication date: 2010-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2025-09-09
Also published as: JPWO2007029335A1; HK1112494A1; US20090119862A1; WO2007029335A1; EP1923496A4; EP1923496A1; DE602005024721D1

Abstract

A cleaning cloth which is formed from a nonwoven fabric comprising synthetic resin fibers having a small diameter by forming many parallel rib parts arranged apart at given intervals by causing fibers to project out by needle punching. The edges of these many rib parts arranged parallel can serve as cleaning edges to efficiently clean the surface of an object to be cleaned. Since each rib part has a given width, moderate strength is ensured. Thus, the quantity of the deformation in compression of the edge parts caused by frictional force during cleaning can be reduced and the cloth can exhibit high cleaning performance.

Description

The present invention relates to a cleaning cloth used to wipe off and clean stains adhering to glass, pottery, synthetic resins, metals, stone materials, and other various materials of tableware, rice cooling tools, utensils and others.

BACKGROUND ART

Hitherto, as multipurpose cleaning cloths for households or industries, cloths formed from nonwoven cloth of synthetic resin fibers have been variously proposed, and used.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an abrasive cloth, wherein abrasive grains are bonded and fixed to the fiber surface of a nonwoven cloth containing synthetic fibers each having a flatness factor of 5 or more with a binder interposed therebetween. Patent Document 2 discloses an abrasive cloth, wherein silicon carbide abrasive grains are bonded and fixed to fibers of a nonwoven cloth containing a metal-plated synthetic resin fiber. Moreover, Patent Document 3 discloses an abrasive cloth, wherein a urea resin and silicon carbide abrasive grains are bonded and fixed to fibers of a nonwoven cloth.
Additionally, Patent Documents 4 and 5 each disclose an abrasive cloth, wherein abrasive grains are bonded and fixed not to individual fibers but to a single surface or both surfaces of a nonwoven cloth with an adhesive agent.
Further, Patent Documents 6 and 7 each disclose an abrasive cloth, wherein a porous resin layer is formed on fibers of a nonwoven cloth without using any abrasive grain.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-5-220670 ; Patent Document 2: JP-A-6-155310 ; Patent Document 3: JP-A-6-155311 ; Patent Document 4: JP-A-5-28477 ; Patent Document 5: JP-A-9-22886 ; Patent Document 6: JP-A-6-17374 ; Patent Document 7: JP-A-7-108465 .
Furthermore, EP-A-0864289 discloses a textile fabric, for a cleaning cloth, is a nonwoven with projecting surface structures on both sides. The structures are as full or part surfaces. A process is disclosed where, initially, the nonwoven is heat fixed, and a yarn or twisted yarn structure is applied to the material in a second stage.
EP-A-0744149 discloses a reusable cleaning cloth having a textile base of nonwoven fibres (cellulose at least in part), and of a number of yarn loops protruding from the cleaning surface. The loops are concentrated in separate area sections, which are separated from each other by means of non straight lines in the manner of islands. When the cloth is new, the island-like surfaces project 0.5-5 mm from the base and are isotropically staggered in relation to each other. They are 4-50 mm long and 2-10 mm wide and preferably consists of polyester.
US-A-4645699 discloses a cleaning material of consisting of a non-woven web of fibres having end and/or loops protruding from one face thereof, obtained by needle punching a web containing a mixture of at least two fibres, one being at least 100dtex, the other fibre having a weight less than or equal to 30 dtex.
In JP-A-9059861 a napped nonwoven fabric uses a split type conjugate fiber as a component fiber. Many fiber loops exist on the one side of the napped nonwoven fabric. The fiber loop is formed of a split fiber group developed by splitting of the split type conjugate fiber. A thermally pressed part preferably exists in a part of the area in which the fiber loop does not exist. In the thermally pressed part, split type conjugate fibers are pressed by softening or melting of a thermoplastic resin having the lowest melting point in two or more fiber-forming thermoplastic resin components forming the split type conjugate fiber. The split type conjugate fiber is preferably a filament and has preferably 2-8 denier fineness and preferably <=15mm height of the fiber loop.
However, in the abrasive cloths disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, a thermoplastic resin is used as a binder to bond and fix abrasive grains to nonwoven cloth fibers. Thus, the friction between the abrasive grains and an article to be abraded or an article to be cleaned is large so that the lubricity is poor. As a result, it is unavoidable to use a cleaner or a lubricant separately. Additionally, the surface of the article to be cleaned, for example, tableware may be scratched since the hard abrasive grains are used. The abrasive cloths have such problems.
In the abrasive cloths disclosed in Patent Documents 4 and 5, abrasive grains are bonded and fixed only to a surface layer of a nonwoven cloth with an adhesive agent. Accordingly, only the surface layer region to which the abrasive grains are bonded and fixed has an abrading power; at the same time when an adhesive agent layer is worn away, the abrasive grains are peeled off. Thus, the abrasive cloths have a problem that the abrading power falls rapidly.
The abrasive cloths disclosed in Patent Documents 6 and 7, wherein a porous resin layer is formed on fibers of a nonwoven cloth, have a problem that the abrading power thereof cannot be exhibited unless an abrasive member containing abrasive grains is separately prepared to be simultaneously used. In a production process for forming the porous resin layer, the nonwoven cloth is impregnated with a solution of a polyurethane resin or a polysulfone resin in a polar solvent having a high boiling point, such as dimethylformamide (DMF) and subsequently the DMF solvent is removed by using water or hot water; therefore, a troublesome step, such as distillation, is necessary to collect the solvent. Furthermore, a large amount of discharging water containing pollutants, such as BOD, is generated so that a pollution problem may be caused. Thus, there also arises a problem that post-treatment of the discharging water is required.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose cleaning cloth which makes it possible to clean stains adhering to the surface of an article to be cleaned effectively without use of a cleaner in the case of ordinary stains, or with a small amount of cleaner in the case of stubborn stains, without scratching the surface, by taking a structure itself of a nonwoven cloth into a unique consideration without bonding and fixing abrasive grains to fibers of the nonwoven cloth or a surface layer thereof or without forming a porous resin layer on fibers of the nonwoven cloth.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

The invention provides a cleaning cloth in accordance with claim 1.
When the invention is carried out, it is preferable that the thickness of regions in the nonwoven cloth, in which the ridge regions are not formed, is from 1 to 3 mm, the height of the ridge regions is from 4 to 6 mm, the interval between the ridge regions is from 4 to 8 mm, and the width of the ridge regions is from 3 to 6 mm. The sectional shape of the synthetic resin fiber may be triangular or rectangular. The synthetic resin fibers may be formed to have a sheath/ core structure, and a core material may be made of polyester and a sheath material may be made of polyethylene having a lower melting point than that of the core material.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

Since the invention has a constituent as described above, it is possible for edges of a large number of ridge regions arranged in parallel to each other to function as cleaning edges to improve a performance of cleaning the surface of an article to be cleaned. Further, since the ridge regions have the predetermined width, an appropriate strength of the ridge regions can be secured to restrain the quantity of compressive deformation (end face sagging) of the edge parts by a pushing-force during cleaning. Thus, a high cleaning performance can be kept. For example, in the case where the cleaning cloth is used while tableware or the like is washed with water, drainage is made good by grooves made between the individual ridges. Thus, the cleaning effect can be improved. Furthermore, the production process is simple and the cleaning cloth can be produced at low cost since the ridge regions can be effectively formed by needle punching using a nonwoven cloth as a base material. Additionally, since the ridge regions, which are substantially regions for a cleaning action, are integrated with the nonwoven cloth, there is an advantageous effect that the cleaning cloth is strong and has a long lifespan.
As recited in claim 1, by forming, in middles of the ridge regions, narrower middle grooves along a ridge direction in the invention, ridge region edges at the middles grooves or at upper ends of the grooves also function as the cleaning edges to produce an effect that a higher cleaning performance can be obtained.
As recited in claim 4, by making the sectional shape of the synthetic resin fibers into a sharp cross section having different diameters, such as a triangle or a rectangle, in the invention, there is produced an effect that the cleaning performance is further promoted.
As recited in claim 5, when the synthetic resin fibers are formed to have a sheath/core structure, a core material is polyester and a sheath material is polyethylene having a lower melting point than that of the core material, it is possible to: form the ridge regions so that the fibers protrude by a needle punching manner in the production process for forming the ridge regions; and subsequently subject the resultant to heating treatment under the condition of a temperature, which is not higher than the melting point of the core material and causes the surface of the sheath material to be melted, thereby heating some parts of the fibers protruded toward the side of the ridge regions and intertwined with each other. As a result, the form of the ridge regions can be adjusted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cleaning cloth according to the invention before forming ridge regions, wherein alternate long and two short dashes lines represent punching plan lines of a needle punch.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a cleaning cloth of a first embodiment according to the invention.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a main portion of the cleaning cloth.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a fiber of the cleaning cloth according to the invention.
Fig. 5 is a front view illustrating an example of use of the cleaning cloth according to the invention.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a cleaning cloth of an alternative configuration.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged schematic view illustrating an example of cleaning by use of the cleaning cloth according to the invention.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a fiber illustrating a second embodiment.
Fig. 9 is an enlarged schematic view illustrating an example of cleaning by use of the cleaning cloth of the second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMBERS OR SYMBOLS

1: nonwoven cloth
2: ridge regions
3: grooves
4: middle groove
A: cleaning cloth
a: fibers

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

When the invention is carried out, synthetic resin fibers used in a nonwoven cloth are preferably polyester resin fibers since the fibers are firm and have abrasion resistance. When the resin fibers each have a triangular or rectangular sectional shape and apexes thereof are made as sharp as possible, a preferable cleaning effect can be expected.

Embodiment 1

Preferred embodiments for carrying out the invention will be described in detail hereinafter in accordance with the attached drawings.
Fig. 1 shows a nonwoven cloth, which is a base material of a cleaning cloth A according to the invention. This nonwoven cloth 1 is preferably made of polyester fibers having a fineness of 20 to 30 dtex, preferably 28 dtex, and a thickness (t) of 1 to 3 mm, preferably 1.5 mm.
In the invention, a large number of parallel ridge regions 2 are formed with grooves 3 interposed therebetween by protruding the fibers out by needle punching means, that is, punching a needle to the nonwoven cloth. In this case, the density of the nonwoven cloth 1 is from 0.15 to 0.40 g/cm³, and is preferably 0.20 g/cm³. If the density is 0.15 g/cm³ or less, the strength for keeping the shape deteriorates and further the effect of pulling out the fibers with the needle punch gets worse. If the density is more than 0.40 g/cm³, the needles are unfavorably damaged many times.
From results of cleaning performance tests, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the cleaning cloth of the invention is preferably a cleaning cloth wherein the height (h) of the ridge regions 2 is form 4 to 6 mm, preferably 5 mm, the width (W1) of the ridge regions 3 is from 3 to 6 mm, preferably 4 mm, the interval between the ridge regions 2, that is, the width (W2) of the grooves 3 is from 4 to 8 mm, preferably 6 mm.
In the production process of the cleaning cloth of the invention, the ridge regions 2 are formed so that a large number of fibers a protrude in a loop toward one of both surface sides thereof by needle punching means. As illustrated in Fig. 1, in this case, the needles are punched into the nonwoven cloth 1 along needle punching lines L having pairs of two adjacent lines L1 and L2, whereby the ridge regions 2 having a predetermined width can be formed by using the fibers a protruded toward the single surface. When the interval between the individual pairs of the two lines L1 and L2 is changed, for example, when the interval is made slightly large, slender immediate grooves 4 can be formed along the ridge direction between the ridge regions 2 and 2, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Alternative configuration

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the ridge regions 2 having no intermediate grooves can be formed at intervals.
As described above, the ridge regions 2 are formed, and subsequently the surfaces of the protruded fibers are subjected to heating treatment to be shrunken, thereby adjusting the form of the ridge regions 2 and further improving the strength thereof. In this case, it is advisable that the fibers a are rendered fibers each having a triangular form and its apexes are made sharp, as illustrated in Fig. 4(a), or that the fibers a are made into a sheath/core structure, a core material c thereof is made of polyester, and a sheath material b thereof is made of polyethylene having a lower melting point than that of the core material c, as illustrated in Fig. 4(b). This manner makes it possible to deform some parts of the protruded and intertwined fibers a and a to adjust the form of the ridge regions 2 by subjecting the fibers to heating treatment under the condition of a temperature, which is not higher than the melting point of the core material c and causes the surface of the sheath material b to be melted. The heating temperature in the heating treatment preferably ranges from 150 to 180°C.
The thus-formed cleaning cloth A of the first embodiment is a cleaning cloth, wherein the sectional shape of the individual fibers a, which constitute the cleaning cloth A, is made into a substantially equilateral triangle having sharp apexes. As illustrated in Fig. 7, therefore, stains such as hot water scurf and water scurf, and oily stains on tableware can be rubbed off with the sharp apexes of the individual fibers a. The stains rubbed off once can be floated and embraced into water held between the fibers. Thus, the stains are not again rubbed against the surface to be cleaned, so that stains can be effectively cleaned up only by water without using any cleaner.

Embodiment 2

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a second embodiment. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view illustrating a sectional shape of a drawn monofilament made in the form of a substantial rectangle having projected portions 10, 10, ..., which are projected into four directions.
About a nonwoven cloth made of such drawn monofilaments, which each have a sectional shape made into the form of a substantial rectangle, the monofilaments protrude in a loop by needle punching means, as in the first embodiment, to make ridge regions.
As illustrated in Fig. 9, the thus-formed cleaning cloth also makes it possible to rub off stains such as hot water scurf and water scurf, and oily stains on tableware with the sharp apexes 10, 10, ... of the individual fibers a, which constitute the cleaning cloth. Thus, in the same manner as in the case of the cleaning cloth A disclosed in the first embodiment, stains can be effectively cleaned up only by water without using any cleaner.
As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 8, in the invention, the sectional shape of the polyester fibers a is preferably made into a sectional shape having different diameters, which has sharp apexes, as in fibers a having a substantially triangular shape or fibers a having a rectangular shape. This makes it possible to promote the cleaning performance.
The cleaning cloth A of the invention may be used as it is in the state that the cloth is appropriately divided and cut into the form of sheets. Usually, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, a soft sponge support made of a foamed resin may be stuck on the lower surface of the cleaning cloth A so as to make the cloth into a cleaning tool.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The cleaning cloth of the invention can be used as a tool for cleaning articles in wide fields whether the articles are articles for households or industries in order to wipe off and clean stains adhering to the surface of glass, pottery, synthetic resins, metals, stone materials, and other various materials of tableware, rice cooling tools, utensils and others.

Claims

A cleaning cloth, in which a large number of parallel ridge regions each having a predetermined width are formed at predetermined intervals in a nonwoven cloth (1) made of polyester fibres the fineness thereof is from 20 to 30 dtex so that the fibers protrude in a loop by needle punching means, and in middles of the ridge regions (2), narrower middle grooves (4) are formed along a ridge direction.
The cleaning cloth according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of regions in the nonwoven cloth (1), in which the ridge regions are not formed, is from 1 to 3 mm, the height of the ridge regions (2) is from 4 to 6 mm, the interval between the ridge regions (2) is from 4 to 8 mm, and the width of the ridge regions is from 3 to 6 mm.
The cleaning cloth according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the sectional shape of the synthetic resin fiber is triangular or rectangular.
The cleaning cloth according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the synthetic resin fibers are formed to have a sheath/core structure, and a core material is made of polyester and a sheath material is made of polyethylene having a lower melting point than that of the core material.