Device and system for improved cleaning in a washing machine

Abstract

A washing system for cleaning within a washing zone comprising at least one inlet capable of fluid communication with a feed water; at least one treatment zone in fluid communication with the at least one inlet, said at least one treatment zone comprising a water softening zone, an electrolysis zone, a dosing zone and combinations thereof; and at least one outlet in fluid communication the at least treatment zone capable of being in fluid communication with a washing zone.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of EP Patent Application No. 04252837.2, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No. 04252849.7, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No. 04252846.3, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No. 04252838.0, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No. 04252853.9, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No. 04252851.3, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No. 04252845.5 and U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 967,757, filed Oct. 18, 2004.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In recent years there has been growing interest in a variety of non-detergent based technologies for washing laundry and other soiled substrates. For example, a number of washing machines have been launched on the Japanese and Asian markets that make use of electrolysis, ultrasonic or cavitation techniques to promote the cleaning or disinfection of laundry. Typically, such machines include at least one wash cycle characterized...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention relates to a washing system for cleaning within a washing zone comprising at least one inlet capable of fluid communication with a feed water; at least one treatment zone in fluid communication with the at least one inlet, said at least one treatment zone comprising a water softening zone, an electrolysis zone, a dosing zone and combinations thereof; and at least one outlet in fluid communication the at least treatment zone capable of being in fluid communication with a washing zone. In one embodiment the washing zone is capable of cleaning or washing substrates comprises laundry and dishware. In one embodiment the water softening zone comprises nanofiltration devices, electrodeionization devices, electrodialysis devices, reverse-osmosis devices capacitive deionization devices, flow-through capacitors and ion-exchange water-softening devices and combinations thereof. In one embodiment the water-softening zone comprises capacitive deionization. In one embodiment the at least partially softened water comprises a residual Ca2+ hardness of less than about 4 mmol/L. In one embodiment at least partially softened water comprises a soft water flux of at least about 2 L/h at a feed water pressure from about 100 to about 1000 kP. In one embodiment the device and the washing zone are housed substantially within one housing. In one embodiment the device and the washing zone are independently housed. In one embodiment the dosing zone is f

Problems solved by technology

As the washing machine manufacturers themselves make clear, however, the machines and systems currently on the market are of limited value for the washing of more heavily soiled or stained items where the use of a surfactant-based detergent product continues to be necessary to achieve acceptable cleaning performance.

One difficulty in adopting any change to cleaning technologies relates to the enormous capital investment that has been made worldwide in the current types of washing machine equipment.

Asking owners of this equipment to wholly replace their machines with new machines would require significant investment by the owners, as well as create a glut of obsolete washing machines having limited use.

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