JP7562142B2 - Tunnel washer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a continuous washing machine that uses multiple washing tubs and multiple rinsing tubs to continuously wash and rinse the items by moving them between the washing tubs and rinsing tubs.

Patent Document 1 discloses a continuous washing machine that washes the items while moving them. The continuous washing machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 is composed of a washing zone in which the items loaded into the washing machine are washed with water, detergent, disinfectant, etc., and a rinsing zone in which the items washed in the washing zone are rinsed with new water. The washing zone consists of multiple pre-washing tanks in which the loaded items are pre-washed, and multiple main washing tanks in which the items are main washed. The rinsing zone consists of multiple rinsing tanks in which the items washed in the main washing tanks of the washing zone are rinsed. The items are then washed as they move through the pre-washing tank, main washing tank, and rinsing tank together with the wash water and rinsing water.

JP 2017-93799 A

However, when the items to be washed are moved from the main washing tank in the washing zone to the rinsing tank in the rinsing zone, the washing water containing dirt and detergent components in the main washing tank moves into the rinsing tank along with the items to be washed. This results in a deterioration of the rinsing performance caused by multiple rinsing tanks. In particular, the lint contained in the washing water in the main washing tank in the washing zone moves directly into the rinsing tank in the rinsing zone.

The present invention aims to provide a continuous washing machine that can improve rinsing performance in the rinsing zone without sending wash water containing dirt and detergent components in the final washing tank of the washing zone into the first rinsing tank of the rinsing zone.

One aspect of the present invention for solving the above problem is a continuous washing machine equipped with a washing zone consisting of a plurality of washing tubs into which the washed items are continuously sent and washed, and a rinsing zone consisting of a plurality of rinsing tubs and a processing tub into which the washed items washed in the washing zone are continuously sent and rinsed, characterized in that the continuous washing machine has a first circulation means for supplying rinsing water in the rinsing tubs of the rinsing zone into the washing tub of the washing zone from which the washing water has been discharged , the washing zone has a plurality of pre-wash tubs for pre-washing the washed items and a plurality of main wash tubs for main-washing the washed items pre-washed in the plurality of pre-wash tubs, and a final main wash tub located at the end of the washing zone performs main wash and rinsing, and the rinsing water in the rinsing zone is sent from the rinsing tub located in the rinsing zone to a leading rinsing tub adjacent to the final main wash tub of the washing zone, and the rinsing water in the leading rinsing tub is supplied to the final main wash tub .

In one aspect of the present invention, the first circulation means comprises a washing water discharge pipe for discharging washing water from a final main wash tank located at the end of the washing zone, a rinsing water discharge pipe for discharging rinsing water from a leading rinsing tank located at the beginning of the rinsing zone, a rinsing water recovery tank for recovering the rinsing water from the leading rinsing tank discharged from the rinsing water discharge pipe, a rotary screen provided between the leading rinsing tank and the rinsing water recovery tank for capturing lint from the rinsing water from the leading rinsing tank discharged by the rinsing water discharge pipe, and a rinsing water supply pipe for supplying the rinsing water recovered in the rinsing water recovery tank to the final main wash tank.

One aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the rinsing water in the leading rinsing tank is collected in the rinsing water recovery tank through the rotary screen, and the wash water collected in the rinsing water recovery tank is supplied to the leading rinsing tank.

One aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it has a second circulation means comprising a rinsing water discharge pipeline for discharging rinsing water from the processing tank of the rinsing zone, a flash tank for recovering the rinsing water from the processing tank discharged from the rinsing water discharge pipeline, a rotary screen provided between the processing tank and the flash tank for capturing lint from the rinsing water from the processing tank discharged by the rinsing water discharge pipeline, and a rinsing water supply pipeline for supplying the rinsing water recovered in the flash tank into the processing tank.

According to the present invention, the first circulation means supplies rinsing water from the rinsing tank of the rinsing zone to the washing tank of the washing zone from which the washing water has been discharged, so that the washing water containing dirt and detergent components in the final washing tank of the washing zone is not sent to the first rinsing tank of the rinsing zone. This prevents washing water containing dirt, detergent components, and lint from being sent to the rinsing tank of the rinsing zone, improving the rinsing performance in the rinsing zone.

1 is a block diagram showing a simplified configuration of a tunnel washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; 4A to 4C are process diagrams showing processes of a tunnel washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A shows the flow of items to be washed in a continuous washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the items to be washed have moved to the final tank of the main wash, (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which wash water has been drained from the final tank of the main wash, and (c) is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which rinsing water in the first rinsing tank of the rinsing zone has been supplied into the final tank of the main wash. 1A shows the flow of items to be washed in a continuous washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the items to be washed in the final tank of the main wash have moved into the leading rinsing tank, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which rinsing water in the leading rinsing tank has had lint removed by a rotary screen and is supplied into the leading rinsing tank.

The embodiment of the continuous washing machine according to the present invention will be described in detail below. The continuous washing machine 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a washing zone 4 consisting of multiple washing tubs 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h, 7, which continuously sends and washes the inserted articles 2 (see Figs. 3 and 4), and a rinsing zone 6 consisting of multiple rinsing tubs 8, 5a, 5b, 5c and a processing tub 5d, into which the articles 2 washed in the washing zone 4 are continuously sent and rinsed. The continuous washing machine 1 of this embodiment also has a first circulation means 9 that supplies rinsing water in the rinsing tub 8 of the rinsing zone 6 to the washing tub 7 of the washing zone 4 into which the washing water has been discharged.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the washing zone 4 is provided with two pre-wash tanks 3a and 3b, six main wash tanks 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, and 3h, and a final main wash tank 7 located at the end of the washing zone 4, which are arranged in series. The pre-wash tank 3a is provided with an inlet 10 through which the items 2 to be washed are inserted. The items 2 to be washed inserted through the inlet 10 are pre-washed in the pre-wash tanks 3a and 3b, and then sent to the main wash tanks 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, and 3h in sequence for main washing (batch flow), and then sent to the final main wash tank 7. The final main wash tank 7 is supplied with rinsing water from the leading rinsing tank 8 located at the beginning of the rinsing zone 6 by a first circulation means 9.

The rinsing zone 6 is provided with a leading rinsing tank 8 adjacent to the final main wash tank 7, and three rinsing tanks 5a, 5b, and 5c. A processing tank 5d for processing is provided behind the rinsing tank 5c, and a spin-dryer 11 is provided behind the processing tank 5d for processing. The rinsing water used in the rinsing zone 6 is sent (counterflow) from the final rinsing tank 5c of the rinsing zone 6 to the leading rinsing tank 8 adjacent to the final main wash tank 7 of the washing zone 4, and the rinsing water in the leading rinsing tank 8 is supplied to the final main wash tank 7, into which washing water has been previously discharged, by a first circulation means 9.

The first circulation means 9 is formed of a washing water discharge pipe 12 for discharging washing water from the final tank 7 of the washing zone 4, a rinsing water discharge pipe 13 for discharging rinsing water from the leading tank 8 of the rinsing zone 6, a rinsing water recovery tank 14 for recovering the rinsing water from the leading tank 8 discharged from the rinsing water discharge pipe 13, a rotary screen 15 provided between the leading tank 8 and the rinsing water recovery tank 14 for capturing lint from the rinsing water from the leading tank 8 discharged from the rinsing water discharge pipe 13, and a rinsing water supply pipe 16 for supplying the rinsing water recovered in the rinsing water recovery tank 14 to the final tank 7 of the main wash. A pump 22 is provided in the middle of the rinsing water supply pipe 16 to send the rinsing water from the rinsing water recovery tank 14 to the final tank 7 of the main wash.

The rinsing water supplied from the rinsing water recovery tank 14 to the final main wash tank 7 through the rinsing water supply line 16 may be supplied to the leading rinsing tank 8. Fresh water may also be supplied to the rinsing water recovery tank 14. Rinsing water that overflows the rinsing water recovery tank 14 may be discharged through the discharge line 24.

The rinsing water in the final processing tank 5d of the rinsing zone 6 is circulated by a second circulation means 17. The second circulation means 17 is formed of a rinsing water discharge pipe 18 for discharging the rinsing water in the processing tank 5d, a flash tank 19 for collecting the rinsing water in the processing tank 5d discharged from the rinsing water discharge pipe 18, a rotary screen 20 provided between the processing tank 5d and the flash tank 19 for capturing lint from the rinsing water in the processing tank 5d discharged by the rinsing water discharge pipe 18, and a rinsing water supply pipe 21 for supplying the rinsing water collected in the flash tank 19 to the processing tank 5d. A pump 23 is provided in the middle of the rinsing water supply pipe 21 to send the rinsing water in the flash tank 19 to the processing tank 5d.

Fresh water may be supplied to the flash tank 19. Rinse water that overflows the flash tank 19 may be discharged through the drain line 25.

Next, the procedure for sending the items 2 to be washed from the final main wash tank 7 to the first rinsing tank 8 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. As shown in Figure 3(a), the items 2 to be washed that have been washed in the washing tank 3h are sent to the final main wash tank 7 together with the wash water in the washing tank 3h. When the items 2 to be washed are washed in the final main wash tank 7, the wash water in the final main wash tank 7 is discharged to the outside through the wash water discharge pipe 12, as shown in Figure 3(b). In this state, the items 2 to be washed remain in the final main wash device 7.

As shown in FIG. 3(c), the rinsing water in the leading rinsing tank 8 is discharged through the rinsing water discharge line 13 into the rinsing water recovery tank 14. At this time, the rinsing water in the leading rinsing tank 8 discharged through the rinsing water discharge line 13 into the rinsing water recovery tank 14 has lint and other debris captured by the rotary screen 15. The rinsing water from which the lint and debris has been captured and recovered in the rinsing water recovery tank 14 is supplied by the pump 22 into the final main wash tank 7. The items 2 to be washed in the final main wash tank 7 are rinsed by the rinsing water supplied from the leading rinsing tank 8 through the rotary screen 15 and the rinsing water recovery tank 14 into the final main wash tank 7. Therefore, in the final main wash tank 7, the items 2 to be washed are main washed and rinsed. The items 2 to be washed in the final main wash tank 7, to which rinsing water is supplied from the leading rinsing tank 8, are sent to the leading rinsing tank 8 together with the rinsing water, as shown in FIG. 4(a).

As shown in FIG. 4(b), the rinsing water discharged from the leading rinsing tank 8 through the rinsing water discharge line 13 and passed through the rotary screen 15 may be supplied back into the leading rinsing tank 8. In the rinsing zone 6, the rinsing liquid in the processing tank 5d passes through the rinsing water discharge line 18, passes through the rotary screen 20, is discharged into the flash tank 19, and is then returned to the processing tank 5d. Then, new water is supplied to the rinsing tank 5c, and the rinsing water in the rinsing tank 5c is sent to the rinsing tanks 5c, 5b, 5a, and leading rinsing tank 8 in the opposite direction to the direction in which the items 2 are sent, i.e., toward the leading rinsing tank 8.

For this reason, clean rinsing water is stored in the rinsing tanks 8, 5a, 5b, and 5c of the rinsing zone 6 in the order of rinsing tanks 5c, 5b, 5a, and rinsing tank 8. Therefore, the items to be washed in the rinsing tank 8 are gradually rinsed with clean rinsing water as they are sent to the rinsing tanks 5a, 5b, and 5c in sequence.

In the above embodiment, the rinsing water in the leading rinsing tank 8 adjacent to the final main washing tank 7 is supplied to the final main washing tank 7 via the rotary screen 15 and the rinsing water recovery tank 14, but the final main washing tank 7 and the leading rinsing tank 8 do not have to be adjacent to each other. After the washing water in the washing tank 3h in the washing zone 4 is drained, the rinsing water in the leading rinsing tank 8 may be supplied to the washing tank 3h. Also, the rinsing tank in the rinsing tank 5a may be supplied to the final main washing tank 7 or to the washing tank 3h. Therefore, the relatively clean rinsing water in the rinsing zone 6 may be supplied after the washing water in one of the washing tanks in the washing zone is drained.

As described above, in the continuous washing machine 1 in this embodiment, the first circulation means 9 supplies rinsing water in the leading rinsing tank 8 of the rinsing zone 6 to the final main wash tank 7 of the washing zone 4 from which the wash water has been discharged, thereby preventing the wash water containing dirt and detergent components in the final main wash tank 7 of the washing zone 4 from being sent to the leading rinsing tank 8 of the rinsing zone 6. This makes it difficult for wash water containing dirt, detergent components, and lint to be sent to the leading rinsing tank 8 of the rinsing zone 6, thereby improving the rinsing performance in the rinsing zone 6.

In addition, in the continuous washing machine 1 of this embodiment, the rinse water in the first rinse tank 8 is filtered by a rotary screen to remove lint and debris, so that by supplying the discharged wash water to the final main wash tank 7 in the washing zone 4, the items to be washed in the final main wash tank 7 can be rinsed with clean rinse water.

Furthermore, in the continuous washing machine 1 of this embodiment, the rinsing water is sent through the multiple rinsing tanks in the rinsing zone 6 in the direction opposite to the direction in which the items 2 are sent, so that the items 2 are rinsed with the cleanest rinsing water from the leading rinsing tank 8 to the final rinsing tank 5c in the rinsing zone 6. Therefore, the items 2 can be washed cleanly.

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, but it is clear that modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. All such modifications and equivalents are intended to be included in the following claims.

The continuous washing machine according to the present invention can be widely used as a continuous washing machine that performs pre-wash and main wash steps followed by rinsing in succession.

1 Tunnel washing machine 2 Items to be washed 3a-3h Washing tub
4 Washing zone 5a-5c Rinsing tank 7 Main washing final tank 8 Rinsing first tank 9 First circulation means

Claims (4)

A washing zone consisting of a plurality of washing tubs which continuously conveys and washes the loaded laundry;
A continuous washing machine having a rinsing zone including a plurality of rinsing tanks and a processing tank to which the items washed in the washing zone are continuously sent and rinsed,
a first circulation means for supplying rinsing water from a rinsing tank of the rinsing zone into the washing tank of the washing zone from which the washing water has been discharged ;
The washing zone has a plurality of pre-washing tanks for pre-washing the items to be washed, and a plurality of main washing tanks for main washing the items to be washed in the plurality of pre-washing tanks, and a final main washing tank located at the end of the washing zone performs main washing and rinsing,
A continuous washing machine characterized in that the rinsing water in the rinsing zone is sent from a rinsing tank located in the rinsing zone to a leading rinsing tank adjacent to the final main wash tank in the washing zone, and the rinsing water in the leading rinsing tank is supplied to the final main wash tank . The first circulation means is
a washing water discharge pipe for discharging washing water from a final main washing tank located at the end of the washing zone;
a rinse water discharge line for discharging rinse water from a leading rinse tank located at the beginning of the rinse zone;
a rinse water recovery tank for recovering the rinse water discharged from the rinse water discharge pipe in the rinse head tank;
a rotary screen provided between the first rinsing tank and the rinsing water recovery tank for capturing lint from the rinsing water in the first rinsing tank discharged through the rinsing water discharge line;
2. The tunnel washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a rinsing water supply pipe for supplying the rinsing water recovered in the rinsing water recovery tank into the final main wash tank. 3. The continuous washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the rinsing water in the leading rinsing tub is recovered into the rinsing water recovery tank through the rotary screen , and the washing water recovered in the rinsing water recovery tank is supplied into the leading rinsing tub . a rinse water discharge line for discharging rinse water from the processing tank of the rinse zone;
a flash tank for recovering the rinsing water discharged from the rinsing water discharge line;
a rotary screen disposed between the processing tank and the flash tank for capturing lint from the rinsing water in the processing tank discharged through the rinsing water discharge line;
4. The tunnel washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a second circulating means comprising: a rinsing water supply pipe for supplying the rinsing water recovered in the flash tank into the processing tub.

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