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WO2005108667A1 - Distribution uniforme de compositions - Google Patents

Distribution uniforme de compositions Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2005108667A1
WO2005108667A1 PCT/US2005/015900 US2005015900W WO2005108667A1 WO 2005108667 A1 WO2005108667 A1 WO 2005108667A1 US 2005015900 W US2005015900 W US 2005015900W WO 2005108667 A1 WO2005108667 A1 WO 2005108667A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
nozzle
fabric
benefit composition
fabric article
composition
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2005/015900
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Dean Larry Duval
Laura Lynn Heilman
Kofi Ofosu-Asante
Mary Jane Combs
Antony Thanh Nguyen
Eugene Joseph Pancheri
Janine Morgens Strang
Janet Sue Littig
Original Assignee
The Procter & Gamble Company
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by The Procter & Gamble Company filed Critical The Procter & Gamble Company
Priority to CN2005800142073A priority Critical patent/CN1950563B/zh
Priority to CA2565228A priority patent/CA2565228C/fr
Priority to EP05745071A priority patent/EP1743064B1/fr
Priority to JP2007511646A priority patent/JP4855390B2/ja
Publication of WO2005108667A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005108667A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/203—Laundry conditioning arrangements

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the uniform delivery of treatment materials in fabric article drying appliances such as tumble dryers.
  • the present invention relates to a system for spraying fabric in a fabric article drying appliance.
  • the system comprises: a) a tumble dryer; and b) a spray for spraying a treatment composition onto fabric in the tumble dryer wherein the spray has: i) a mean droplet size of the treatment composition of about 100 to about 1000 microns; ii) a spray cone angle in the tumble dryer of about 35° to about 150°; iii) a flowrate at the point the spray enters the tumble dryer of about 0.5 ml/min to about 100 ml/min; and iv) a linear velocity at the point the spray enters the tumble dryer of about 0.5 m/second to about 20 m/second.
  • the present invention may comprise a device for depositing benefit composition in a fabric article drying appliance.
  • the device comprises a pump wherein the pump comprises a conduit having an inlet and a discharge and a nozzle having one or more orifices connected to the discharge of the conduit.
  • the inlet of the conduit is in communication with a source of a benefit composition so as to dispense the benefit composition through the conduit to the nozzle whereby the benefit composition has a mean droplet size of from about 100 microns to about 1000 microns and wherein the cone angle formed by the benefit composition that is discharged from the nozzle is between about 35° and about 150°.
  • the present invention relates to a device which provides uniform distribution of a treatment composition on fabric in a fabric article drying appliance.
  • the device comprises a fabric article treating device wherein the fabric article treating device is associated with the drum of a tumble dryer in a manner such that a benefit composition is dispensed from the fabric article treating device in the form of a spray into the drum wherein the spray contacts the fabric in the drum so as to provide a uniformity of about 75% or more distribution of the benefit composition on fabric present in the drum.
  • the present invention relates to a method for depositing benefit composition in the drum of a tumble dryer.
  • the method comprises providing a pump comprising a conduit wherein the conduit includes an inlet and discharge and a nozzle connected to the discharge of the conduit.
  • the inlet of the conduit is placed in communication with the source of benefit composition wherein the inlet of the conduit is in communication with the source of benefit composition.
  • the benefit composition is dispensed through the conduit from the source of benefit composition to the nozzle and into the drum of a tumble dryer whereby the benefit composition has a mean droplet size of from about 100 microns to about 1000 microns, a linear velocity through the nozzle of between about 0.5 m/second to about 2 m/second.
  • the nozzle may be positioned in the dryer drum in quadrant one, quadrant two, quadrant three, quadrant four, or a combination thereof.
  • the nozzle has a tilt angle wherein the tilt angle in quadrant one ranges from about 80° to the left to about 45° to the right and from about 45° up to about 35° down; the tilt angle in quadrant two ranges from about 80° to the right to about 45° to the left and from about 45° up to about 15° down; the tilt angle in quadrant three ranges from about 80° to the right to abut 45° to the left and about 45° up to about 15° down; the tilt angle in quadrant four ranges from about 80° to the left to about 15° to the right and about 45° up to about 15° down; and combinations thereof.
  • the present invention relates to a method for providing efficient deposition of a benefit agent used to treat fabric.
  • the method comprises providing a fabric article treating device and a benefit composition.
  • the benefit composition is associated with the fabric article treating device such that the benefit composition is discharged into the drum of a tumble dryer either before the tumble dryer is rotated, during rotation of the tumble dryer, or after rotation of the tumble dryer, or a combination thereof.
  • the cone angle formed by the benefit composition that is discharged into the tumble dryer is between about 35° to about 150°.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view of a dryer drum.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a stand-alone fabric article treating apparatus made according to the principles of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the opposite angle of the fabric article treating apparatus of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 4 is an elevational view from one end in partial cross-section of the fabric article treating apparatus of FIG. 2, illustrating the internal housing and external housing, as joined together by a flat cable.
  • FIG. 5 is an elevational view from one side in partial cross-section of the internal housing portion of the fabric article treating apparatus of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 6 is a block diagram of some of the electrical and mechanical components utilized in the fabric article treating apparatus of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view in partial cross-section of the fabric article treating apparatus of FIG. 2, as it is mounted to the door of a clothes dryer apparatus.
  • FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fabric article drying appliance that has a nozzle which sprays a benefit composition into the drum portion of the dryer, as constructed according to the principles of the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of some of the components utilized by an alternative embodiment stand-alone fabric article treating apparatus that is constructed according to the principles of the present invention, in which the entire treating apparatus is contained within a single housing or enclosure.
  • FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a stand-alone unit for dispensing a benefit composition constructed according to the principles of the present invention.
  • FIG. 11 is a perspective view from an opposite angle of the unit of Fig. 10.
  • FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the unit illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11.
  • FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the fluid container, the first and second fitments and the first and second mounting shelves.
  • FIG. 14 is a block diagram of at least a portion of the electrical and mechanical components utilized in the unit of FIGS. 11 - 13.
  • the present invention relates to the uniform distribution of treatment material onto fabrics in fabric article drying appliances such as tumble dryers.
  • the invention relates to efficiently depositing the treatment materials on the fabric so that the materials are deposited on the fabric and not elsewhere.
  • fabric article means an article that comprises a fabric. Such articles include, but are not limited to, clothing, shoes, curtains, towels, linens, upholstery coverings and cleaning implements.
  • drying a dryer cycle means while the dryer is operating.
  • treatment material means a material or combination of materials that can deliver benefits to a fabric article.
  • fabric treatment composition means a composition that comprises one or more treatment materials. Suitable forms of fabric treatment compositions include, but are not limited to, fluidic substances, such as liquids or gases, and solid compounds, such particles or powders.
  • treatment material As used herein, the terms “treatment material”, “treatment composition”, “fabric treatment composition” and “benefit composition” are used interchangeably.
  • the articles “a”, “an”, and “the” when used in a claim are understood to mean one or more of the material that is claimed or described.
  • all component or composition levels are in reference to the active level of that component or composition, and are exclusive of impurities, for example, residual solvents or by-products, which may be present in commercially available sources. Unless otherwise indicated, all percentages and ratios are calculated based on weight of the total composition. Unless otherwise indicated, all measurements herein were performed at a standard atmospheric pressure of about 1 bar.
  • the delivery system is comprised of a spray for delivering treatment materials to fabrics in a fabric article drying appliance such as a tumble dryer.
  • the dryer drum is typically rotating during delivery of the treatment materials but may also be stationary during delivery.
  • the spray comprises a treatment composition.
  • the treatment composition comprising the spray of the present invention has a mean droplet size of about 100 microns to about 1400 microns, about 200 microns to about 1300 microns, about 300 microns to about 1200 microns, or about 500 microns to about 1100 microns.
  • a suitable instrument for measuring droplet size is the Malvern particle sizer manufactured by Malvern Instruments Ltd. of Framingham, Massachusetts.
  • the viscosity of the treatment composition comprising the spray is about 200 cps or less, about 100 cps or less, or about 50 cps or less.
  • the Brookfield Model DV-II viscometer is available from Brookfield of Middleboro, Massachusetts.
  • the static surface tension of the treatment composition comprising the spray as measured between approximately 20°C - 25 °C is about 3 to about 100 dynes/cm, about 4 to about 70 dynes/cm, or about 5 to about 40 dynes/cm.
  • a suitable instrument for measuring static surface tension is a Kruss Tensiometer, Model K12 manufactured by Kruss of Matthews, North Carolina.
  • the treatment composition may be sprayed through a nozzle and into the drum of a fabric article drying appliance such as the drum of a tumble dryer.
  • the nozzle typically will have a diameter of about 200 to about 600 microns or about 250 to about 400 microns.
  • a non-limiting example of a nozzle suitable for this purpose is a pressure swirl atomizing nozzle.
  • suitable nozzles include the Cosmos 13 NBU nozzle manufactured by Precision Valve Corporation of Marietta, Georgia, the WX12 and WD32 nozzles manufactured by Saint- Gobain Calmar USA, Inc. of City of Industry, California, and Seaquist Model No.
  • the nozzle may be in association with a spraying device.
  • the nozzle may be permanently attached or releaseably attached to a spraying device.
  • a releaseably attached nozzle is a nozzle which is threaded such that it can easily be removed from or placed in a spraying device.
  • the nozzle may be disposable.
  • the spraying device may be free standing or it may be associated with the drying appliance as discussed in further detail below. It is desirable that the fabrics in the fabric article drying appliance not come into direct contact with the nozzle while the nozzle is operating as this may inhibit flow from the nozzle. Hence, it may be desirable for the nozzle to include a deflector which deflects the fabric away from the nozzle.
  • the deflector may surround all or a portion of the nozzle (for example the top portion of the nozzle).
  • the degree of extension of the deflector into the fabric article drying appliance is selected so as to insure that the deflector does not intercept the cone angle of the spray under normal use conditions.
  • the deflector may be made from any suitable material, non- limiting examples of which include plastic, metal, Plexiglas, and the like.
  • the deflector may be of any shape provided that the shape selected does not negatively impact fabric integrity during tumble drying process (i.e.; no sharp edges/corners or rough surfaces).
  • the placement of the nozzle and angle of the nozzle may be varied so as to optimize spray contact with the fabric in the tumble dryer.
  • the dryer drum may be divided into four equal quadrants as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the four quadrants (quadrant one 601, quadrant two 602, quadrant three 603, and quadrant four 604) are determined by the intersection of the x-axis 630and y-axis 640 of the dryer drum 600.
  • the position of the nozzle 610 may then be varied in relation to these quadrants.
  • One non-limiting example of placement of the nozzle 610 within the quadrant may be along the quadrant bisection line-612 as shown for the second quadrant 602 in FIG. 1.
  • the nozzle 610 may also be angled in either the left to right direction and/or the up to down direction.
  • tilt angle This angling of the nozzle is referred to herein as "tilt angle".
  • the tilt angle may vary from quadrant to quadrant. For instance, as viewed looking straight into the dryer drum from the door side of the dryer, in the first quadrant 601 the tilt angle may be from about 80° to the left to about 45° to the right and/or from about 45° up to about 35° down. In the second quadrant 602 the tilt angle may vary from about 80° to the right to about 45° to the left and/or from about 45° up to about 35° down. In the third quadrant 603 the tilt angle may vary from about 80° to the right to about 45° to the left and/or about 45° up and about 15° down.
  • the tilt angle may vary from about 80° to the left to about 15° to the right and/or about 45° up and about 15° down.
  • the tilt angle is typically selected such that the nozzle is not directly aimed at the dryer vent/lint screen or at the top of the drum.
  • the nozzle be angled such that the spray from the nozzle is delivered through the void space/tunnel created by the tumbling of the fabrics around the perimeter of the dryer drum so as to contact the fabrics at the bottom of the rotating circle of fabrics.
  • the nozzle be angled such that the spray intercepts the fabrics being tumbled in the dryer as the fabrics drop from their highest vertical point to their lowest vertical point during dryer drum rotation.
  • the flowrate of the spray in the drum of the fabric article drying appliance such as a tumble dryer is about 0.5 to about 100 ml/minute, about 1 to about 75 ml/minute, about 2 to about 50 ml/minute, or about 15 to about 25 ml/minute.
  • One suitable method for determining flow rate is found in ASME/ANSI MFC-9M-1988, entitled "Measurement of Liquid Flow in Closed Conduits by Weighing Method".
  • the linear velocity of the spray in the drum of the tumble dryer is about 0.05 to about 2 m second or about 0.1 to about 1 m second.
  • the length of the spray in the drum of the tumble dryer is from about 20% to about 95% of the length of the drum as measured along the rotational axis of the drum.
  • One suitable method for determining linear velocity is by utilizing Laser Doppler Anemometry such as described in "Laser Doppler and Phase Doppler Measurement Techniques" part of the " Experimental Fluid Mechanics” series, written by Albrecht, H.E., Damaschke, N., Borys, M., and Tropea, C, 2003, XIV, 738, page 382.
  • the cone angle of the spray refers to the angle the spray forms as it is sprayed into the drum of the tumble dryer. A method for determining cone angle is described below.
  • the cone angle of the spray is about 35° to about 150° or about 40° to about 110° or about 50° to about 90°.
  • the present invention may include a spraying device for delivering the benefit composition into the tumble dryer.
  • the spraying device may be a standalone device or it may be incorporated into the fabric article drying appliance.
  • spraying device is used interchangeably with the term “fabric article treating apparatus”.
  • suitable spraying devices which may be used with the present invention are disclosed in the following commonly assigned co-pending applications: U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0259750, published on December 23, 2004 and entitled “Processes and Apparatuses for Applying a Benefit Composition to One or More Fabric Articles During a Fabric Enhancement Operation”; WO 2004/12007, published on November 4, 2004 and entitled “Volatile Material Delivery Method”; U.S.
  • Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0123490 published July 1, 2004 and entitled “Fabric Article Treating Method and Device Comprising a Heating Means”
  • U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0123489 published on July 1, 2004 and entitled “Thermal Protection of Fabric Article Treating Device”
  • U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0134090 published on July 15, 2004 and entitled “Fabric Article Treating Device Comprising More Than One Housing”
  • U.S. Application Publication No. 2004/0025368 published on July 29, 2004 and entitled “Fabric Article Treating Apparatus with Safety Device and Controller”
  • the spraying system is comprised of a pump, a nozzle, a source of benefit composition, and a conduit as described in further detail below.
  • the conduit connects the source of the benefit composition to the pump whereby the benefit composition is discharged through the nozzle of the pump into a tumble dryer.
  • the conduit connects the source of the benefit composition to the pump whereby the benefit composition is transported via conduit between the pump and nozzle and then discharged into a tumble dryer.
  • the interior of the conduit may be of any shape, non-limiting examples of which include circular and/or oval shaped. It may also be desirable to include a check valve in the conduit before the nozzle.
  • Non-limiting examples of minimum working pressures for the check valve are from about 0.1 psi to about 2 psi or from about 0.5 psi to about 1 psi.
  • the pump may be manually operated, and/or the pump may be automated.
  • the pump may be mechanically driven, electrically driven, or a combination thereof.
  • the spraying system may comprise: a housing or enclosure that contains a source of the fabric treatment composition, such as a reservoir or is in communication with an external source of the fabric treatment composition; an output device, such as a nozzle; a controller, such as an electronic control device with a processing circuit and input and output circuits; one or more sensors, such as a temperature sensor, light sensor, motion sensor, or the like; one or more input devices, such as a start switch and/or a keypad; one or more indicating devices, such as color lights or LED's; and a charging system if the fabric treatment composition is to be electrostatically charged before (or while) being delivered.
  • a source of the fabric treatment composition such as a reservoir or is in communication with an external source of the fabric treatment composition
  • an output device such as a nozzle
  • a controller such as an electronic control device with a processing circuit and input and output circuits
  • one or more sensors such as a temperature sensor, light sensor, motion sensor, or the like
  • input devices such as a start switch and/
  • FIGS. 2 - 5 illustrate one embodiment of an exemplary spray system which may be used in the present invention.
  • a "stand-alone" controller and dispenser unit i.e., as a self-contained device
  • the reference numeral 10 is illustrated as having two major enclosures (or housings) 20 and 50.
  • the enclosure 20 acts as an "inner housing” which is located in the interior of a fabric article drying appliance (e.g., a clothes dryer), while the enclosure 50 acts as an "outer housing” that is located in the exterior of the fabric article drying appliance.
  • the enclosure 50 may be mounted on the exterior surface of the fabric article drying appliance door, however, it may instead be mounted on any exterior surface, non-limiting examples of which include: the side walls, the top walls, the outer surface of a top-opening lid, and the like, including a wall or other household structure that is separate from the fabric article drying appliance.
  • enclosure 20 may be mounted on any interior surface of the fabric article drying appliance, examples of which include, but are not limited to: the interior surface of the door, the drum of the fabric article drying appliance, the back wall, the inner surface of a top-opening lid, and the like.
  • Enclosure 50 may be permanently mounted to the exterior surface, or preferably releasably attached to the exterior surface.
  • enclosure 20 may be permanently mounted to the interior surface, or releasably attached to the interior surface.
  • the enclosure 20 When mounted on the interior surface of the door, for example, the enclosure 20 may be constructed so as to have the appearance of being “permanently” mounted, such that it seems to be “built into” the door of a dryer unit (or other type of fabric article drying appliance), without it actually being truly constructed as part of the fabric article drying appliance.
  • enclosure 20 perhaps may be more loosely mounted near the door, or along side the interior surface of the door, much like one of the embodiments 10 as depicted in FIGS. 2 - 5 that "hangs" along a vertical door of the appliance.
  • door represents a movable closure structure that allows a person to access an interior volume of the dryer apparatus, and can be of virtually any physical form that will enable such access.
  • the door "closure structure" could be a lid on the upper surface of the dryer apparatus, or a hatch of some sort, or the like.
  • the treating apparatus 10 may be grounded by way of being in contact with a grounded part of the fabric article drying appliance such as by a spring, patch, magnet, screw, or other attaching means, and/or by arc corona discharge, or by way of dissipating residual charge.
  • a grounded part of the fabric article drying appliance such as by a spring, patch, magnet, screw, or other attaching means, and/or by arc corona discharge, or by way of dissipating residual charge.
  • One non-limiting way of dissipating the charge is by using an ionizing feature, for example a set of metallic wires extending away from the source.
  • fabric article drying appliances such as clothes dryers have an enameled surface.
  • One method of grounding would be to ground to the enameled surface of the fabric article drying appliance by utilizing a pin that penetrates the non-conductive enamel paint for grounding thereto.
  • Another method of grounding to the non-conductive surface of a fabric article drying appliance comprises the usage of a thin metal plate that is positioned between the fabric article drying appliance and the fabric article treating device which serves to provide a capacitive discharge. Typical thickness of such a plate is from about 5 microns to about 5000 microns.
  • a discharge nozzle 24 and a "door sensor" 22 are visible on the inner housing 20, which also includes a benefit composition-holding reservoir 26 within an interior volume of the inner housing 20. The reservoir 26 may be used to hold a benefit composition.
  • the discharge nozzle 24 can act as a fluid atomizing nozzle, using either a pressurized spray or, along with an optional high voltage power supply (not shown in FIG. 2) it can act as an electrostatic nozzle.
  • the benefit composition can comprise a fluidic substance, such as a liquid or a gaseous compound, or it can comprise a solid compound in the form of particles, such as a powder, or solid particles in solution with a liquid.
  • Reservoir 26 can be of essentially any size and shape, and could take the form, for example, of a pouch or a cartridge; or perhaps the reservoir could merely be a household water line for situations in which the benefit composition comprises potable water.
  • the inner housing 20 and outer housing 50 are typically in electrical communication. In the embodiment of FIG.
  • a flat cable 40 (also sometimes referred to as a "ribbon cable”) is run between the two housings 20 and 50, and travels along the inner surface of the fabric article drying appliance door 15 (see FIG. 7, for example), over the top of the door 15, and down the exterior surface of the door 15.
  • FIG. 3 shows the same fabric article treating apparatus 10 from an opposite angle, in which the outer housing 50 is provided with an ON-OFF switch at 56.
  • the flat cable 40 is again visible in FIG. 3, and along the surface of the inner housing 20 visible in FIG. 3, a door mounting strap 21 is visible. An end of the mounting strap is also visible in FIG. 2.
  • the fabric article treating apparatus 10 is illustrated such that the reservoir 26 can be seen as an interior volume of the inner housing 20.
  • a set of batteries 52 can be seen, as well as a printed circuit board with electronic components at 54.
  • any type of electrical power source could be used in the present invention, including standard household line voltage, batteries, or even solar power.
  • FIG. 5 some of the other hardware devices are illustrated with respect to the inner housing 20. In the embodiment of FIG.
  • FIG. 5 provides a block diagram of some of the electrical and mechanical components that may be included in a fabric article treating apparatus 10, suitable for use with the present invention.
  • the high voltage power supply 28 is provided in the inner housing 20, which will be used to electrically charge the fluid that will be dispensed through the discharge nozzle 24, thus making this an electrostatic nozzle system.
  • the inner housing 20 utilizes a general body or enclosure to contain the devices needed within the drying appliance, and it will be understood that such components will generally be subjected to relatively high temperatures during the treatment cycle of the drying appliance. Consequently, the more sensitive electronic components will generally (but not always) be mounted in a different location, such as in the outer housing 50.
  • the flat cable 40 will bring certain command signals and electrical power into the inner housing 20, and will also receive electrical signals from sensors mounted in the inner housing 20 and communicate those sensor signals back to the outer housing 50.
  • a power supply control signal follows a wire 70 through the quick disconnect switch 34 to the high voltage power supply 28.
  • This signal can comprise a constant DC voltage, a constant AC voltage, a variable DC voltage, a variable AC voltage, or some type of pulse voltage, depending on the type of control methodology selected by the designer of the fabric article treating apparatus 10.
  • the signal at 70 is a variable DC voltage, and as this voltage increases, the output of the high voltage power supply 28 will also increase in voltage magnitude, along a conductor 39 (e.g., a wire) that is attached to an electrode 38 that carries the high voltage to the nozzle 24, or into the reservoir 26. The voltage impressed onto the electrode 38 will then be transferred into the benefit composition.
  • a constant output voltage DC high voltage power supply could optionally be used instead of the variable output voltage power supply 28 of the exemplary embodiment.
  • the benefit composition Once the benefit composition is charged within the reservoir 26 it will travel through a tube or channel 42 to the inlet of the pump 30, after which the composition will be pressurized and travel through the outlet of the pump along another tube (or channel) 44 to the discharge nozzle 24.
  • the actual details of the type of tubing used, the type of pump 30, and the type of electric motor 32 that drives the pump can be readily configured for almost any type of pressure and flow requirements.
  • the electrical voltage and current requirements of the electric motor 32 to provide the desired pressure and flow on the outlet of the pump 30 can also be readily configured for use in the present invention.
  • any type of pump and electric motor combination can be utilized in some form or another to create a useful device that falls within the teachings of the present invention, or a stand-alone pump can be used (i.e., without an associated electric motor).
  • some types of pumps do not require separate input and output lines or tubes to be connected thereto, such as peristaltic pumps, in which the pump acts upon a continuous tube that extends through an inlet opening and continues through a discharge opening of the pump. This arrangement is particularly beneficial for use with electrostatically charged fluids or particles that are being pumped toward the discharge nozzle 24, because the tubing can electrically insulate the pump from the charged benefit composition.
  • FIG. 7 diagrammatically shows the general location of some of the components of one of the stand-alone embodiments of the fabric article treating apparatus 10 which may be used with the present invention.
  • the electronics 54 and the batteries 52 are located within the outer housing 50, which is electrically connected to a flat cable 40 that carries power supply and input/output signals between the outer housing 50 and the inner housing 20.
  • Contained within the inner housing 20 are the reservoir 26, pump 30, electric motor 32, high voltage power supply 28, discharge nozzle 24, and various sensors that may or may not be included for a particular version of the treating apparatus 10.
  • the electrical conductor 39 is depicted, which carries the high voltage to the nozzle 24, and this is one configuration that could be alternatively used instead of carrying the high voltage to the reservoir 26.
  • the tubing 42 to the inlet of the pump is illustrated, as well as the tubing 44 from the outlet of the pump that provides the benefit composition to the nozzle 24.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment for use with the present invention, which depicts a fabric article drying appliance generally designated by the reference numeral 110.
  • the controller depicted in the stand-alone embodiment of the earlier figures is now integrated into the electronic control system of the drying appliance 110.
  • a door 15 is illustrated in FIG. 8, which is the normal point of access by a human user to the interior drum volume of the drying appliance 110.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative stand-alone embodiment of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 150.
  • Components illustrated in FIG. 9 include a reservoir (or chamber) 26, an optional charging component 39 (such as an electrode or other type of electrical conductor that transports a high voltage to the reservoir or to the nozzle), a discharge nozzle 24, a pump unit 30, and a set of batteries 52.
  • An electronic printed circuit board 54 is provided, which would typically include a microcontroller or other type of control circuit.
  • One or more sensors may be included in such a device, as depicted at the reference numeral 129, and may include a pressure sensor, a door sensor 22, motion sensor 36, humidity sensor 46, and/or a temperature sensor 48.
  • this embodiment 150 all of the components are enclosed in a single housing, and the entire unit is positioned within a fabric article drying appliance, such as a conventional clothes dryer found in a consumer's home.
  • the "single-housing" stand-alone unit 150 of FIG. 9 can incorporate all of the electrical and electronic components that are described herein with respect to FIG. 6 - 7.
  • FIGS. 10 - 14 where like reference numerals indicate like elements, a benefit composition dispensing apparatus 1100 constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.
  • the apparatus 1100 comprises two enclosures or housings 1120 and 1 150.
  • Enclosure 1 120 defines an "inner housing” located in an interior of a fabric enhancement apparatus such as a fabric article drying appliance, e.g., a clothes dryer (not shown in FIGS. 10 - 14), while the enclosure 1150 defines an "outer housing" located outside of the fabric article drying appliance.
  • the fabric enhancement apparatus may also comprise a laundry apparatus or a laundry and drying apparatus.
  • the enclosure 1150 may be mounted on an exterior surface of the fabric enhancement apparatus door (not shown), such as by pressure sensitive, thermally stable adhesive foam strips (not shown).
  • the enclosure 1150 may be mounted on any other exterior surface of the fabric enhancement apparatus, non-limiting examples of which include: side walls, top walls, an outer surface of a top-opening lid, and the like.
  • the enclosure 1 150 may also be mounted on a wall or other household structure that is separate from the fabric enhancement apparatus.
  • the enclosure 1120 may be mounted, such as by pressure sensitive, thermally stable adhesive foam strips (not shown), on any interior surface of the fabric enhancement apparatus, examples of which include, but are not limited to: the interior surface of the door, a drum of the apparatus, the back wall, the inner surface of a top-opening lid, and the like. As illustrated in FIGS.
  • the inner housing enclosure 1 120 comprises a main body 1121 comprising an integral front/side main section 1122 and a back plate section 1 123 secured to the main section 1122 via screws, adhesive, snap-fit elements or the like.
  • the sections 1122 and 1123 are preferably molded from a polymeric material.
  • Housed within the main body 1121 may be the following elements: a discharge nozzle 24; a door sensor 22 for sensing ambient light when the door of the fabric enhancement apparatus is open such that the sensor 22 is exposed to ambient light; a motion sensor 36 (contained within the main body 1 121 and not visible from outside the main body 1121); a humidity sensor 46 (not shown in Figs. 10 and 1 1); and a temperature sensor 48.
  • the nozzle 24 is not combined with a high voltage power supply.
  • the nozzle 24 functions as a fluid atomizing nozzle so as to generate a pressurized spray.
  • the enclosure 1150 comprises a main body 1151 having a back wall 1151 a, a first inner compartment 1151b, for storing varying lengths of unused cable 1 140, to be described below, and a second compartment 1 151c, for storing a fluid pump 1130, a motor 1 132 for driving the pump 1130, batteries 52, a tube 1142 (to be discussed below) and a portion of a tube 1144 (to be discussed below).
  • the enclosure 1150 further comprises a cassette door 1 152 pivotably coupled to the main body 1151 such as by pins 1152a (only one of which is illustrated in Fig. 12), a printed circuit board 1 160a and a face plate 1162.
  • the printed circuit board 1 160a is housed between the main body 1151 and the face plate 1 162.
  • the face plate 1162 is coupled to the main body 1151 via screws, adhesive, snap-fit elements, or like coupling elements.
  • the pivotable door 1 152 comprises a pocket 1 152b for receiving a fluid reservoir defined by a removable container 1170 filled with a benefit composition, which composition may comprise any one of the benefit compositions discussed in this document or the documents noted herein.
  • the container 1 170 may be formed from a polymeric material, paper, foil, a combination of these materials or a like material.
  • the door 1152 is releasably held in a closed position within the main body 1 151 via first and second flex arms 1153, which are coupled to the main body 1 151.
  • Extending through corresponding openings in the face plate 1162 are an ON-OFF switch 1266c, a "refluff key or switch 266d, and a dial 266a, which may comprise a potentiometer, which a user rotates to dial in a desired one of a strong, regular or light setting corresponding to a strong, regular or light benefit level to be provided by a benefit composition to at least one fabric article during a fabric enhancement operation.
  • the cable 1 140 is coupled to and extends between the enclosures 1120 and 1 150.
  • the cable 1140 may run along the inner surface of the fabric enhancement apparatus door, over the top of the door, and down the exterior surface of the door. Any unused length of the cable 1 140 can be manually inserted into the first compartment 1151b for storage.
  • the cable 1140 carries benefit composition from the fluid pump 1130 in the outer enclosure 1150 to the nozzle 24 in the inner enclosure 1120, see FIG. 14, and electrical signals from the sensors 36, 22, 46 and 48 mounted in the inner enclosure 1120 to a microcontroller 1 160 mounted to the printed circuit board 1160a in the outer enclosure 1 150.
  • a first fitment 1 172 is mounted to the main body 1 151 via first and second mounting shelves 1155a and 1 155b, see FIGS.
  • the first and second shelves 1155a and 1155b are positioned on opposing sides of a flange 1172a of the first fitment 1172 and are snap fit, adhesively secured or bolted together so as to encompass the flange 1172a.
  • the assembly comprising the shelves 1155a and 1 155b and fitment 1172 is mounted to the main body 1151 such that the shelves 1155a and 1 155b are received within a slot 1151 d defined in the main body 1 151.
  • the fitment 1172 is inserted into a second fitment 1170a forming part of the fluid container 1 170 when the door 1152 is pivoted to its closed position and functions to pierce or otherwise penetrate the container 1 170 so as to provide a pathway for the benefit composition to travel from the container 1170 to the tube 1 142.
  • the benefit composition travels to the inlet of the pump 1130, after which the composition is pressurized and carried via the tube or channel 1144 (shown in FIG. 12), which extends through the cable 1140, to the discharge nozzle 24, where the benefit composition is discharged.
  • the pump 1130 and the motor 1 132 comprises a single assembly, namely, a piezoelectric pump, one of which is commercially available from Par Technologies, LLC, under the product designation LPD-30S.
  • suitable pumps which can be used in this or other embodiments include but are not limited to gear pumps and diaphragm pumps.
  • a suitable diaphragm pump is model No. NF5RPDC-S with a DC motor available from KNF Neuberger, Inc. of Trenton, New Jersey.
  • the types of control signals used to control the electric motor 1132 can vary according to the design requirements of the apparatus 1 100, and such signals will travel to the motor 1 132 via an electrical conductor 1 172.
  • the electrical signal traveling along conductor 1172 comprises a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal controlled by the microcontroller 1160.
  • PWM pulse-width modulated
  • the enclosure 1150 comprises a second compartment 1151c for storing batteries 52, which may comprise two AA batteries.
  • the batteries 52 define a power source, which provide a DC voltage to a DC power supply 1 158, see FIG. 14.
  • An example DC power supply comprises an integrated circuit chip commercially available from Maxim Integrated Products under the product designation "MAX1724EZK50-T.”
  • the DC power supply 1158 provides an output voltage to the microcontroller 1160.
  • a suitable microcontroller 1160 is a microprocessor manufactured by Atmel Corporation and sold under the product designation Atmega48-16A1.
  • the microcontroller 1 160 may comprise a microprocessor manufactured by Atmel Corporation and sold under the product designation Atmega48-16AJ.
  • the microcontroller 1160 includes on-board memory and input and output lines for analog and digital signals.
  • the microcontroller 1160 also has a serial port that can be interfaced to an optional programmer interface using an RS-232 communications link. As noted above, the ON-OFF switch 1266c, and the refluff key 266d are coupled to the microcontroller 1 160, see FIG. 14.
  • the motion sensor 36, door sensor 22, humidity sensor 46 and temperature sensor 48 generate signals to the microcontroller 1160.
  • the microcontroller 60 generates a pulse- width modulated (PWM) signal to the pump motor 1132 via the conductor 1172.
  • PWM pulse- width modulated
  • An audio indicator 1300 is further coupled to the microcontroller 1160 and functions to indicate that a drying cycle has been completed, clothes have been treated with the benefit composition, an error occurred during the benefit composition dosing cycle or the benefit composition dispensing apparatus is out of fluid.
  • the audio indicator 1300 is mounted to the printed circuit board 1 160, see FIG. 12. Further coupled to the microcontroller 1160 are first, second, third, fourth and fifth light emitting diodes 1400a-1400e, see FIGS. 1 1-13.
  • the diodes are coupled to the face plate 1162 so as to be visible to an operator when actuated, see FIG. 11.
  • the first diode 1400a is actuated by the microcontroller 1160 when the apparatus 1100 is activated via the ON-OFF switch 1266c.
  • the second diode 1400b is actuated by the microcontroller 1 160 when the pump 1 130 is pumping benefit composition to the nozzle 24.
  • the third diode 1400c is actuated by the microcontroller 1160 when the refluff key 266d has been activated.
  • the fourth diode 1400d is actuated by the microcontroller 1160 when the spraying operation has been completed for the corresponding fabric enhancement operation cycle.
  • the fifth diode 1400e is actuated by the microcontroller 1 160 to generate a warning signal when the container is out of fluid, or the fabric enhancement cycle has been interrupted, which latter event may be detected via the door sensor 22 sensing light or the motion sensor 36 sensing no motion.
  • the microcontroller 1 160 may sense that the container 1 170 is out of fluid by sensing a change in the current drawn by the pump motor 1132.
  • Treatment Composition provides one or more fabric benefits including, but not limited to, softness, anti-soil re-deposition, stain or water repellency, color or whiteness enhancement, fragrance, enhanced absorbency, anti-static, anti-bacterial, wrinkle control, shape/form retention, and/or fabric abrasion resistance.
  • Classes of materials that contain materials that can provide such benefits include, but are not limited to, cationic materials, nonionic materials, other polymeric materials, and particulate materials.
  • the treatment material is present, based on total composition weight, at one of the following levels, at least about 0.5 wt %, at least about 2 wt %, from about 4 wt % to about 90 wt %, from about 4 wt % to about 50 wt %, or from about 4 wt % to about 10 wt %.
  • Suitable treatment materials include but are not limited to those disclosed in WO 2004/12007, published on November 4, 2004 and entitled “Volatile Material Delivery Method”; WO 00/24856, published on May 4, 2000 and entitled “Fabric Care Composition and Method"; U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
  • the fabric treatment composition used in conjunction with the present invention may include a perfume.
  • the perfume may comprise at least about 0.005 wt. %, about 0.005 wt. % to about 10 wt% or about 0.1 wt. % to about 2 wt. % of a material such as a perfume that comprises at least about 30 wt.%, about 35 wt % to about 100 wt.
  • the fabric treatment composition used in conjunction with the present invention may also include from about 0.5 to about 20% of fabric softeners or fabric hand modifiers non-limiting examples of which include diester quaternary ammonium compounds, polyquaternary ammonium compounds, triethanolamene esterified with carboxylic acid and quaternized materials, amino esterquats, cationic diesters, betain esters, betaines, silicone or silicone emulsions comprising amino silicones, cationic silicones, quat/silicone mixtures, functionalized polydimethyl siloxanes ("PDMS”), amine oxides, silicone co-polyols, cationic starches, sucrose fatty esters, polyethylene emulsions, and mixtures thereof.
  • fabric softeners or fabric hand modifiers non-limiting examples of which include diester quaternary ammonium compounds, polyquaternary ammonium compounds, triethanolamene esterified with carboxylic acid and quaternized materials, amino esterquats, cationic die
  • the fabric treatment composition used in conjunction with the present invention may also include from about 0.1 to about 1.2% of antistatic agents non-limiting examples of which include polyanilines, polypyrroles, poly acetylene, polyphenylene, polythiophenes, ethoxylated polyethyleneimines, and various commercial materials such as STATEXAN WP, STATEXAN HA, or STATEXAN PES (available from LanXess- a subsidiary of Bayer located in Leverkusen, Germany), ETHOFAT (available from Akso Nobel of Arnhem, Netherlands),and mixtures thereof.
  • antistatic agents non-limiting examples of which include polyanilines, polypyrroles, poly acetylene, polyphenylene, polythiophenes, ethoxylated polyethyleneimines, and various commercial materials such as STATEXAN WP, STATEXAN HA, or STATEXAN PES (available from LanXess- a subsidiary of Bayer located in Leverkusen, Germany), ETHO
  • the fabric treatment composition used in conjunction with the present invention may also include from about 0.005 to about 1.5% of malodor control agents non-limiting examples of which include substituted or unsubstituted cyclodextrins, porous inorganic materials, starch, olfactory odor blockers and mixtures thereof.
  • the fabric treatment composition used in conjunction with the present invention may also include from about 0.05 to about 0.5% of preservatives non-limiting examples of which include didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride which is available under the tradeneme UNIQUAT ® (from Lonza of Basel Switzerland), l,2-benzisothiozolin-3-one, which is available under the tradename PROXEL ® (from Arch Chemicals of Norwalk, Connecticut), dimethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin which is available under the tradeneme DANTOGUARD ® (from Lonza of Basel Switzerland), 5- Chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one / 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, which is available under the tradename KATHON ® (from Rohm and Haas of Philadelphia, Pennnsylvania), and mixtures thereof.
  • preservatives non-limiting examples of which include didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride which is available under the tradeneme UNI
  • the fabric treatment composition used in conjunction with the present invention may also include from about 0.05 to about 5% of ethoxylated surfactants and/or emulsifiers. These may include, but are not limited to carboxylated alcohol ethoxylates, ethoxylated quaternary ammonium surfactants, ethoxylated alkyl amines, alkyl phenol ethoxylates, alkyl ethoxylates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl ethoxy sulfates, polyethylene glycol/polypropylene glycol block copolymers, fatty alcohol and fatty acid ethoxylates, long chain tertiary amine oxides, alkyl polysaccharides, polyethylene glycol (“PEG”) glyceryl fatty esters and mixtures thereof.
  • ethoxylated surfactants and/or emulsifiers may include, but are not limited to carboxylated alcohol ethoxylates, e
  • the fabric treatment compositions of the present invention can be formulated into any suitable form and prepared by any process chosen by the formulator, non-limiting examples of which are described in U.S. Patent No. 6,653,275. Uniformity and Deposition Efficiency It is desirable that a treatment composition applied during the drying process be uniformly distributed onto the fabric in the tumble dryer during the drying process. It is also desirable during the drying process that a treatment composition be deposited on the fabric that is in the tumble dryer rather than deposited elsewhere such as through the dryer vent/lint screen.
  • the uniformity of distribution (i.e.; Distribution Index) of the treatment composition on the fabric in the drum of the tumble dryer be at least about 35%, at least about 45%, at least about 50%, at least about 60%, at least about 70%, at least about 75%, or at least about 80%.
  • the deposition of the treatment composition onto the fabric in the drum of the tumble dryer be at least about 70%, at least about 75%, or at least about 80%. It is also desirable that less than about 10% of the treatment composition be released from the dryer drum through the lint screen, less than about 5% of the treatment composition be released from the dryer drum through the lint screen, or less than about 1% of the treatment composition be released from the dryer drum through the lint screen.
  • the following method may be used to measure the cone angle (width of a spray).
  • the sprayer which is to be the source of the spray is mounted on a vertical surface at the height that corresponds to the vertical midpoint of the dryer drum with the nozzle of the spraying device aligned with the corresponding horizontal (perpendicular) axis.
  • step 7 To determine the cone angle using the picture from step 6, draw the vertical line corresponding to the point that is 20% of the length determined in step 1 so as to intersect the top and bottom boundaries of the spray. From the point where the vertical line intersects the top boundary of the spray, draw a line back to the discharge midpoint of the nozzle of the sprayer. Repeat this process for the lower boundary of the spray (i.e.; from the point where the vertical line intersects the bottom boundary of the spray, draw a line back to the discharge midpoint of the nozzle of the sprayer.
  • the cone angle is the internal angle formed by the intersection of these two lines at the nozzle discharge.
  • Method for Determining Deposition of the Treatment Composition on the Fabric and Deposition of the Treatment Composition on the Lint Screen Fabric Stripping 1. Weigh fabrics until the total load weight is approximately 2.7 kg. 2. Turn on the washing machine set on a 10-min. agitation time and a high water level, approximately 21 gal fill. 3. Use approximately 160 grams of a liquid laundry detergent such as Liquid TIDE ® . 4. Add the detergent to the washing machine water after it is approximately full. Rinse the laundry detergent bottle cap out with water running into the machine so as to allow any remaining detergent in the cap to run into the washing machine. 5. Once the tub is filled to approximately 3 ⁇ full, the fabrics are added to the water in the washing machine. 6. The wash cycle is allowed to proceed automatically through completion of the final spin. 7.
  • Steps #2 - 6 are repeated 3 more times, with the respective amounts of detergent added to the wash load as listed above. 8. After the 4 th cycle is complete, the fabrics are removed from the washing machine and dried using the high heat cycle of a dryer. 9. The fabrics are then stored in plastic bags until treatment.
  • Fabric Load - Each treatment consists of using twelve 1 yd. squares of stripped fabric swatches per load.
  • the stripped fabric swatches are placed in the washing machine, set on the rinse cycle, wet and spun dry. Before placing damp fabrics into the tumble dryer, the following Dryer Cleaning Procedure is performed before each treatment. A 5% bleach solution is sprayed inside the dryer on the front and back walls and the dryer drum. The lint screen is removed prior to spraying. The dryer is thoroughly wiped down with paper towels. Once dryer cleaning is complete, the lint trap of the dryer is replaced and covered with a new 14" by 7" piece of white cotton knit fabric secured on the edges by masking tape. A suitable white cotton knit fabric is CW120 available from Empirical Manufacturing Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. The damp fabrics are then placed into the dryer drum, and a drying cycle is completed. During the drying cycle, a spray composition is delivered into the dryer drum. Following the drying treatment cycle, the fabrics are removed from the dryer drum as is the covering over the lint screen for sampling and analysis.
  • Lint screen The fabric over the lint screen is sampled as follows: 1. The covering over the lint screen is sampled by removing it from the lint screen. 2. Six circular samples measuring 40 mm in diameter are cut from the portion of the lint screen cover which was not covered by the masking tape. 3. The six samples cut from the lint screen cover are labeled and analyzed according to the swatch analysis described below.
  • Fabric Load (from the dryer) - 1. Six of the twelve, one square yards of fabric are sampled from each cycle. 2. Each fabric swatch is unfolded and a ruler used to measure in six inches from the corner of the swatch. 3. A 40 mm circle is cut from this area. 4. Sample swatches are labeled and analyzed.
  • ICP Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry
  • Yttrium Y
  • the distribution of Y is representative of the distribution of the treatment composition solution.
  • Method for Determining Uniformity of the Treatment Composition (Distribution Index) onto the Fabric Image analysis may be used to evaluate uniformity of spray distribution per surface area of a test sample.
  • a number of digital images are acquired per sample by imaging equipment and analyzed by computer software.
  • the software detects a spray deposition area and provides a count of the number of pixels comprising the stained areas in the image. By comparison of the number of pixels detected for all images taken per sample, a standard deviation is calculated. A smaller standard deviation correlates to a more uniform spray deposition.
  • red dye i.e.; 0.0 wt 5% FD&C Red Dye #40 in distilled water.
  • Image analysis is then conducted according to the following steps to evaluate the uniformity of distribution of spray on a sample.
  • Background calibrate imaging system and acquire digital image of sample Background calibration a well known technique for calibrating images using a flat neutral gray card, is applied to images before analysis to eliminate lighting variance across the field of view and minimize problems in image analysis due to spatial lighting variance. Additionally, to insure color consistency in the digital images taken at different times (e.g. images taken on different days), the images are also color corrected using a standard color chart (Gretag Macbeth 24 color chart).
  • a standard color chart Gartag Macbeth 24 color chart
  • a stencil in the size of the field of view of the camera (16cm by 20.5cm) is placed on the area to be imaged.
  • a picture is taken in response to a command from the operator when the sample is correctly positioned.
  • Six images are taken per front-side and back-side of the fabric for a total of 12 images per fabric.
  • the picture is digitized (i.e. converted to a binary representation) in a known manner.
  • the digital image data is transferred to a computing device.
  • Many other methods of acquiring the digital image are well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. For example, a sample to be analyzed may be submitted via the network, a file may be retrieved from a database, and/or a flatbed scanner may be used to digitize a photograph.
  • the image is electronically processed by image analysis software (Optimas v6.5 available from Media Cybernetics, Incorporated of Silver Spring, Maryland) based on a reference intensity threshold.
  • the region of interest selected is the entire screen image.
  • the method for selecting the intensity threshold setting is as follows.
  • the background and color corrected images of the fabric (step 1 above) are converted to a single 'gray' level image representation that highlights the difference between the red dyed areas and 'clean' fabric areas.
  • the method used depends upon the lighting, imaging system, and type and color of dye used vs. the background fabric color. For example the green channel can be used.
  • an intensity image from Red - Green , Red - Blue or other similar mathematical combinations of the Red, Green, and Blue color channels of an image can be used to create a single channel 'gray' level image for thresholding that accentuates the differences between the dyed and 'clean' areas of the fabric.
  • the software is calibrated to detect colored areas in pixels of the digital images.
  • a "clean", un-dyed white fabric is the standard reference and is imaged according to step (1).
  • the threshold is set for which zero pixels are detected for all images for that "clean" sample, and such that increasing the threshold value any higher would make the software start detecting pixels on the "clean" sample. Pixels of a color intensity value within the set threshold are detected and counted by the image analysis software.
  • Distribution Index is created by a mathematical equation using the standard deviation value. This distribution index is a scale from 0 to 100. 0 ⁇ Distribution Index ⁇ 100 1
  • Example Treatment Composition The following are non-limiting examples of treatment compositions which may be useful in the present invention:
  • Example Nozzle Placements The following are non-limiting examples of nozzle placements which may be used in a tumble dryer: A. Non-limiting examples of nozzle placements which may be used with a cross-flow tumble dryer (i.e.; where the drum typically rotates in a counter-clockwise motion, and air flow typically enters the tumble dryer through a rear panel in quadrant 602 and exits through the rear panel of the dryer in quadrant 601— see Fig. 1).
  • a cross-flow tumble dryer i.e.; where the drum typically rotates in a counter-clockwise motion, and air flow typically enters the tumble dryer through a rear panel in quadrant 602 and exits through the rear panel of the dryer in quadrant 601— see Fig. 1).
  • Non-limiting examples of nozzle placements which may be used with an axial flow dryer (i.e.; where the drum typically rotates in a clockwise motion and air flow typically enters the dryer through the rear panel of the appliance in the first quadrant 601 of Fig. 1 and exits through the lint screen in the front panel of the dryer below the door).
  • an axial flow dryer i.e.; where the drum typically rotates in a clockwise motion and air flow typically enters the dryer through the rear panel of the appliance in the first quadrant 601 of Fig. 1 and exits through the lint screen in the front panel of the dryer below the door.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
  • Chemical Or Physical Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)
  • Treatments For Attaching Organic Compounds To Fibrous Goods (AREA)
  • Accessory Of Washing/Drying Machine, Commercial Washing/Drying Machine, Other Washing/Drying Machine (AREA)
  • Detergent Compositions (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif permettant de déposer une composition bénéfique sur un appareil de séchage d'article textile, le dispositif comprenant : une pompe, la pompe comprenant : a) un conduit, le conduit comprenant une entrée et une évacuation ; et b) une buse présentant un ou plusieurs orifices reliés à l'évacuation du conduit ; l'entrée du conduit étant en communication avec une source de composition bénéfique de manière à distribuer la composition bénéfique dans le conduit à partir de la buse, la composition bénéfique étant ainsi distribuée à partir de la buse dans l'appareil de séchage d'article textile, la composition bénéfique présentant une taille des gouttelettes moyenne comprise entre environ 100 microns et environ 1000 microns et l'angle du cône formé par la composition bénéfique qui est déchargée à partir de la buse étant compris entre environ 35° et environ 150°.
PCT/US2005/015900 2004-05-06 2005-05-06 Distribution uniforme de compositions WO2005108667A1 (fr)

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CN2005800142073A CN1950563B (zh) 2004-05-06 2005-05-06 组合物的均匀递送
CA2565228A CA2565228C (fr) 2004-05-06 2005-05-06 Distribution uniforme de compositions
EP05745071A EP1743064B1 (fr) 2004-05-06 2005-05-06 Distribution uniforme de compositions
JP2007511646A JP4855390B2 (ja) 2004-05-06 2005-05-06 組成物の均一な放出

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US60/568,771 2004-05-06

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CN (1) CN1950563B (fr)
AT (2) ATE425292T1 (fr)
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DE (2) DE602004019954D1 (fr)
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Cited By (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2119821A1 (fr) * 2008-05-13 2009-11-18 The Procter and Gamble Company Procédé de traitement de textiles
US20100192311A1 (en) * 2009-01-30 2010-08-05 Euan John Magennis Method for perfuming fabrics

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP6272346B2 (ja) * 2013-11-07 2018-01-31 富士機械製造株式会社 対基板作業装置および対基板作業ライン
CN111721086A (zh) * 2020-06-28 2020-09-29 贾萍 一种石墨高效烘干设备

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US5980583A (en) * 1995-03-08 1999-11-09 Haggar Clothing Co. Apparatus and method for imparting wrinkle-resistant properties to garments and other articles
US20030091749A1 (en) * 2001-05-04 2003-05-15 France Paul Amaat Raymond Gerald Methods and apparatus for applying a treatment fluid to fabrics
US20040025368A1 (en) * 2002-04-22 2004-02-12 The Procter & Gamble Company Fabric article treating method and apparatus

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JPH0433698A (ja) * 1990-05-29 1992-02-05 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 衣類乾燥機
US6691536B2 (en) * 2000-06-05 2004-02-17 The Procter & Gamble Company Washing apparatus

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5980583A (en) * 1995-03-08 1999-11-09 Haggar Clothing Co. Apparatus and method for imparting wrinkle-resistant properties to garments and other articles
US20030091749A1 (en) * 2001-05-04 2003-05-15 France Paul Amaat Raymond Gerald Methods and apparatus for applying a treatment fluid to fabrics
US20040025368A1 (en) * 2002-04-22 2004-02-12 The Procter & Gamble Company Fabric article treating method and apparatus

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2119821A1 (fr) * 2008-05-13 2009-11-18 The Procter and Gamble Company Procédé de traitement de textiles
WO2009140058A1 (fr) * 2008-05-13 2009-11-19 The Procter & Gamble Company Procédé de traitement de tissus
US20100192311A1 (en) * 2009-01-30 2010-08-05 Euan John Magennis Method for perfuming fabrics

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JP4855390B2 (ja) 2012-01-18
CN1950563B (zh) 2010-11-03
EP1743064A1 (fr) 2007-01-17
ATE425292T1 (de) 2009-03-15
ATE426702T1 (de) 2009-04-15
CN1950563A (zh) 2007-04-18
ES2323130T3 (es) 2009-07-07
JP5015306B2 (ja) 2012-08-29
CA2565228A1 (fr) 2005-11-17
EP1743064B1 (fr) 2012-06-27
CA2565228C (fr) 2010-04-27
JP2011015984A (ja) 2011-01-27
DE602004019954D1 (de) 2009-04-23
JP2007536014A (ja) 2007-12-13
DE602005013485D1 (de) 2009-05-07

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