Cleaning apparatus

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus and method for use in the cleaning of soiled substrates, the apparatus comprising a casing which contains a rotatably mounted cylindrical cage concentrically located within a rotatably mounted cylindrical drum having a greater diameter than the basket, wherein the cage and the drum are concentrically located within a stationary cylindrical drum having a greater diameter than the rotatably mounted drum, wherein the casing includes access means, allowing access to the interior of the cylindrical basket, and wherein the rotatably mounted cylindrical cage and the rotatably mounted cylindrical drum are adapted to rotate independently. The method involves cleaning the soiled substrate by treatment of the moistened substrate with a formulation comprising solid particulate cleaning material, the formulation being free of organic solvents, and the method being carried out using the apparatus of the invention, and the apparatus and method find particular application in the cleaning of textile fabrics.

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to substrate cleaning using a solvent-free cleaning system that uses only a limited amount of water. More particularly, the invention relates to the cleaning of textile fabrics by such a system, and it provides an apparatus suitable for this purpose. Background technique

[0002] Dry cleaning is an important process in the textile industry, especially for the removal of hydrophobic stains which are difficult to remove by conventional water washing methods. However, most commercial dry cleaning systems currently use halocarbon solvents, such as perchlorethylene, which are toxic and potentially harmful to the environment. The use of these solvents and the need to store, handle and / or dispose of these solvents creates a major pollution problem in the industry, and this inevitably increases costs.

[0003] More recently, the use of carbon dioxide has been reported as an alternative to such systems. Therefore, it has been pr...

Examples

example 1

[0075] The polymer particles comprise cylindrical nylon crumbs comprising nylon 6 having a molecular weight in the interval of 15000 Da to 16000 Da, having an average size of 4 mm in length and 2 mm to 3 mm in diameter, and an average particle weight of 30 mg to 40 mg, 6 polymers.

[0076] The fabric to be cleaned consisted of soiled and stained nylon 6,6 fibres, and the wetted dyed fibres, were loaded into a device according to the invention containing 75 g (air dry mass) of polymer particles. The temperature was raised to 40°C and maintained at 40°C for 10 minutes, then increased to 70°C at a rate of 2°C per minute, and then maintained at 70°C for 20 minutes to complete the wash cycle, after which time removal of nylon debris was performed The crumbs were cycled for 5 minutes, then the fabric was removed from the appliance, rinsed and dried. Complete soil and stain removal was achieved and the fabric was found to be free of residual nylon debris.

example 2

[0078] The fabrics to be cleaned consisted of soiled cloth which was mercerized cotton stained with coffee in a hydrophilic delivery medium. This pre-soiled fabric sample was placed in a device according to the invention containing 75 g (air dry mass) of polymer particles comprising nylon 6 with an average size of 4 mm in length and 4 mm in diameter, 6 Cylindrical crumbs of polymer. Pre-soiled fabric samples were wetted with tap water prior to washing to obtain a 1:1 ratio of substrate to water. The equipment was operated to a maximum temperature of 70°C during a 30 minute wash cycle with a cooling phase at the end of the cycle, followed by a 5 minute cycle to remove nylon debris. Once this time is complete, the washed fabrics are removed from the appliance and dried flat. After the washing process, the degree of soiling of the cloth is very significantly reduced.

example 3

[0080] The fabrics to be cleaned consisted of soiled cloths of mercerized cotton soiled with urban road dust in a hydrophilic transport medium. This pre-soiled fabric sample was placed in a device according to the invention containing 75 g (air dry mass) of polymer particles comprising nylon 6 with an average size of 4 mm in length and 4 mm in diameter, 6 Cylindrical crumbs of polymer. Pre-soiled fabric samples were wetted with tap water prior to washing to obtain a 1:2 ratio of substrate to water. The equipment was operated to a maximum temperature of 70°C during a 30 minute wash cycle with a cooling phase at the end of the cycle, followed by a 5 minute cycle to remove nylon debris. Once this time is complete, the washed fabrics are removed from the appliance and dried flat. After the cleaning process, a significant reduction of dust particles was observed.

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to substrate cleaning using a solvent-free cleaning system that uses only a limited amount of water. More particularly, the invention relates to the cleaning of textile fabrics by such a system, and it provides an apparatus suitable for this purpose. Background technique

[0002] Dry cleaning is an important process in the textile industry, especially for the removal of hydrophobic stains which are difficult to remove by conventional water washing methods. However, most commercial dry cleaning systems currently use halocarbon solvents, such as perchlorethylene, which are toxic and potentially harmful to the environment. The use of these solvents and the need to store, handle and / or dispose of these solvents creates a major pollution problem in the industry, and this inevitably increases costs.

[0003] More recently, the use of carbon dioxide has been reported as an alternative to such systems. Therefore, it has been pr...

Examples

example 1

[0075] The polymer particles comprise cylindrical nylon crumbs comprising nylon 6 having a molecular weight in the interval of 15000 Da to 16000 Da, having an average size of 4 mm in length and 2 mm to 3 mm in diameter, and an average particle weight of 30 mg to 40 mg, 6 polymers.

[0076] The fabric to be cleaned consisted of soiled and stained nylon 6,6 fibres, and the wetted dyed fibres, were loaded into a device according to the invention containing 75 g (air dry mass) of polymer particles. The temperature was raised to 40°C and maintained at 40°C for 10 minutes, then increased to 70°C at a rate of 2°C per minute, and then maintained at 70°C for 20 minutes to complete the wash cycle, after which time removal of nylon debris was performed The crumbs were cycled for 5 minutes, then the fabric was removed from the appliance, rinsed and dried. Complete soil and stain removal was achieved and the fabric was found to be free of residual nylon debris.

example 2

[0078] The fabrics to be cleaned consisted of soiled cloth which was mercerized cotton stained with coffee in a hydrophilic delivery medium. This pre-soiled fabric sample was placed in a device according to the invention containing 75 g (air dry mass) of polymer particles comprising nylon 6 with an average size of 4 mm in length and 4 mm in diameter, 6 Cylindrical crumbs of polymer. Pre-soiled fabric samples were wetted with tap water prior to washing to obtain a 1:1 ratio of substrate to water. The equipment was operated to a maximum temperature of 70°C during a 30 minute wash cycle with a cooling phase at the end of the cycle, followed by a 5 minute cycle to remove nylon debris. Once this time is complete, the washed fabrics are removed from the appliance and dried flat. After the washing process, the degree of soiling of the cloth is very significantly reduced.

example 3

[0080] The fabrics to be cleaned consisted of soiled cloths of mercerized cotton soiled with urban road dust in a hydrophilic transport medium. This pre-soiled fabric sample was placed in a device according to the invention containing 75 g (air dry mass) of polymer particles comprising nylon 6 with an average size of 4 mm in length and 4 mm in diameter, 6 Cylindrical crumbs of polymer. Pre-soiled fabric samples were wetted with tap water prior to washing to obtain a 1:2 ratio of substrate to water. The equipment was operated to a maximum temperature of 70°C during a 30 minute wash cycle with a cooling phase at the end of the cycle, followed by a 5 minute cycle to remove nylon debris. Once this time is complete, the washed fabrics are removed from the appliance and dried flat. After the cleaning process, a significant reduction of dust particles was observed.

Images