Flexible waterproofing / impregnation and drying equipment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flexible waterproofing / impregnation and drying apparatus and method for drying articles that have been treated with a solvent-based or water-based waterproofing / impregnation treatment, the flexible waterproofing / impregnation and drying apparatus comprising an inlet for a waterproofing / impregnation fluid to waterproof / impregnate the article, and one or more heat generating units for effectively drying the article, such as clothing, shoes, bags, wallets, blankets and garments.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a waterproofing / impregnation and drying apparatus and a method for drying articles that have undergone a solvent-based or water-based waterproofing / impregnation treatment.The present invention also relates to the use of the waterproofing / impregnation and drying apparatus for drying articles that have undergone a solvent-based or water-based waterproofing / impregnation process, such as clothes, shoes, bags, wallets, blankets and clothing. [Background technology]

[0002] Waterproofing / impregnation machines are well known in the art and are also drying machines for drying articles such as shoes and clothing. The articles to be waterproofed / impregnated are usually subjected to the waterproofing / impregnation process in one machine and then subjected to drying in another machine. This process is often cumbersome, requires different machines and is relatively time consuming. An example of a composite apparatus is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,399,633. In this apparatus, the object to be treated is placed on a platform in an open cavity. A screen is provided at the top of the cavity to prevent excess treatment agent from flowing out of the open treatment cavity. Since one of the objectives of the invention shown in US Pat. No. 5,399,633 is to save space and provide usable space in the vicinity of the apparatus, no door is provided to close the treatment cavity. A door would take up valuable space, and by providing a screen, it is achieved that, at the treatment parameters for this particular apparatus, substantially all of the treatment agent remains inside the treatment cavity. A further example is the applicant's own prior device disclosed in patent application WO 2005 / 023636. In this device, a closed treatment chamber is provided, but the treatment therein was not entirely satisfactory. This was due to a number of minor problems, such as, for example, the air in which the treatment agent was suspended was not agitated and circulated within the treatment chamber. This resulted in insufficient treatment and, moreover, in accumulations and agglomerations of the treatment agent in certain locations. In particular, this device did not provide any means for drying the objects to be treated, except for partial ventilation of the air, rather than a dedicated drying cycle, which resulted in long drying times. A further example is the applicant's own earlier application WO 2006 / 023636, which improved performance compared to the device of WO 2006 / 023636, in particular by distributing the treatment agent much better, however still no drying means were provided and the drying cycle, which relied on ambient ventilation, was too slow. [Prior art document] [Patent documents] [Patent Document 1] Russian Patent Application Publication No. 2684085 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2009 / 127214 [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. 2014 / 135166 Summary of the Invention

[0003] (Objective of the Invention) There is therefore a need for a more versatile and adaptable waterproofing / impregnation device that can waterproof / impregnate and then dry articles in a single device using a simple process that requires very short operating times.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to meet the need to improve the state of the art for waterproofing / impregnating and drying articles such as clothing, shoes, bags, wallets, blankets and garments, to overcome the problems described in the prior art of having separate devices and separate processes, and to improve known waterproofing / impregnating devices and processes by providing a highly adaptable waterproofing / impregnating and drying device. The device is adaptable in that it is capable of both waterproofing / impregnating articles with a solvent-based or water-based waterproofing / impregnating fluid and drying the articles using one or more heat generating units, said heat generating units being configured to provide heat in one or more different forms. In most cases the device will utilize both functionalities, but it will be apparent that in some cases only one or the other process may be utilized.

[0005] The waterproofing / impregnation and drying apparatus of the present invention is highly versatile and adaptable with respect to the choice of waterproofing / impregnation fluid used in the apparatus, the method of applying the waterproofing / impregnation fluid to the articles being waterproofed / impregnated and / or dried, the number and type of heating units used to dry the articles after waterproofing / impregnation, and the method of controlling the apparatus.

[0006] In one embodiment, an air conditioning device is proposed as a means for the method of drying the treated articles. At least within the scope of this specification and claims, air conditioning is to be understood as the air conditioning device treating the air being introduced into the treatment / drying chamber according to predefined parameters, so that the air can be cooler, warmer, have a higher or lower relative humidity than the outside air. Also, the air conditioning device can give a predefined velocity to the exiting air in order to obtain sufficient / desired air exchange inside the device.

[0007] Waterproofing / impregnation should be understood as the treatment of an article, such as for example a shoe, exposed in the device and method of the present invention, which treatment makes the article, if not completely waterproof, then at least for a certain period of time, improved resistance to getting wet.

[0008] At least within the scope of the present invention, a "fluid" should be understood as a substance that continuously deforms due to an applied shear stress or external force. Fluids are phases of matter, including liquids, gases and plasmas. They are substances that have a zero shear modulus, or more simply, substances that cannot resist any shear force applied to them. The term "fluid" therefore includes both liquid and gas phases. In particular with respect to the present invention, the impregnating fluid comprises a small amount of air and an impregnating agent. The impregnating agent generally comprises a drying agent, a silicone component or other impregnating agent, and possibly other active ingredients, as well as a solvent. The impregnating agent or waterproofing / impregnating fluid is generally a liquid, and as used in the present invention, when applied to an object, droplets are suspended in the air current.

[0009] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the one or more inlets are equipped with one or more nozzles, said inlets are connected by a conduit to a source of impregnating agent, and drainage means are provided for emptying the conduit of impregnating agent between each operation of the device.

[0010] This embodiment is particularly interesting in that it allows easy and fast changing from one impregnation liquid to another, or in processes involving impregnations with hardeners, the liquid is drained before the hardener becomes active and can potentially clog the impregnation system (conduits, nozzles, etc.).

[0011] In one particular embodiment, the evacuation means comprises a connection to a source of pressurized gas or washing liquid so that said pressurized gas or washing liquid can be introduced into the conduit to evacuee the impregnating agent.

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention in a first aspect to provide a waterproofing / impregnating and drying apparatus for waterproofing / impregnating and drying an article, said apparatus comprising a chamber, one or more inlets for introducing a waterproofing / impregnating fluid into the chamber, and means for supplying air to the chamber, agitating the air in the chamber and removing air from the chamber, wherein the apparatus comprises one or more heat generating units (6).

[0013] In a second aspect, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a a. placing the article into an apparatus; b. Selecting and controlling one or more entrances via electronic displays and input devices, or by remote control of electronic means; Chamber configuring the device to control flow of waterproofing / impregnation fluid into the device; c. configuring the apparatus via an electronic display and input device, or by remote control of electrical means, to configure one or more heating units; d. configuring means for supplying air into the chamber, agitating the air within the chamber, and removing air from the chamber via an electronic display and input device, or by remote control of electrical means; e. waterproofing / impregnating said article for a fixed time, specified by operating an electronic display and input device configured to control the adaptive drying apparatus, or by remote control of electronic means, and then drying; The present invention provides a method for waterproofing / impregnating and drying an article, comprising:

[0014] In a third aspect, the object of the present invention is to utilize a waterproofing / impregnation and drying apparatus for drying an article, said article being a garment, a shoe, a bag, a wallet, a blanket, a garment, etc., which has undergone a solvent-based or water-based waterproofing / impregnation process. [Table 1] [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 shows a front view of the waterproofing / impregnating and drying apparatus (1) of the present invention, including a chamber (2), means for supplying, agitating and / or removing air to and from the chamber (4), a heating unit (6), a chamber door (8), an inlet (10) for supplying waterproofing / impregnating fluid, an electronic display and input device (16) and remotely controllable electrical means (17) for controlling the adaptable waterproofing / impregnating and drying apparatus (1).

[0016] [Diagram 2] 2 shows the inside of the adaptable waterproofing / impregnating and drying apparatus (1) of the present invention, which includes a chamber (2), a means for supplying, agitating and / or removing air to and from the chamber (4), a heating unit (6), an inlet (10) for supplying a waterproofing / impregnating fluid, a sprayer (18) for applying the waterproofing / impregnating fluid to the articles (12) to be waterproofed / impregnated and then dried, and a shelf (14). In this embodiment of the present invention, the shelf is a rotatable shelf configured to rotate the articles to be waterproofed / impregnated or dried, and the apparatus (1) comprises two sprayers for waterproofing / impregnating the articles.

[0017] [Diagram 3] 3 shows the inside of the flexible waterproofing / impregnating and drying apparatus (1) of the present invention, which includes a chamber (2), a means for supplying, agitating and / or removing air to and from the chamber (4), a heating unit (6), a sprayer (18) for applying a waterproofing / impregnating fluid to the items (12) to be waterproofed / impregnated and dried, and a shelf (14). In this embodiment, the apparatus (1) comprises two shelves and a rotatable sprayer for waterproofing / impregnating the items.

[0018] [Figure 4]4 shows the inside of the flexible waterproofing / impregnating and drying apparatus (1) of the present invention, which includes a chamber (2), a means (4) for supplying, agitating and / or removing air to and from the chamber, a heating unit (6), a sprayer (18) for applying a waterproofing / impregnating fluid to the articles (12) to be waterproofed / impregnated and dried, a shelf (14) and a support (20) for mounting the shelf. In this embodiment, the apparatus (1) includes one shelf for waterproofing / impregnating the articles and a rotatable sprayer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0020] The present invention relates to a flexible waterproofing / impregnation and drying device 1 for waterproofing / impregnation and drying articles, said flexible device comprising a chamber 2, one or more inlets 10 for introducing a waterproofing / impregnation fluid into the chamber, means 4 for supplying air to the chamber, agitating the air in the chamber and removing air from the chamber, and one or more heat generating units 6.

[0021] The waterproofing / impregnating fluid introduced into the chamber via one or more inlets 10 may be solvent-based or water-based. Within the scope of the present invention, "solvent-based" means any waterproofing / impregnating fluid having a main component of an organic or inorganic solvent other than water.

[0022] The air introduced into chamber 2 may in one embodiment be at atmospheric pressure (about 1 atm) and room temperature (about 25° C.), but may be introduced at higher or lower pressure and / or higher or lower temperature. The means 4 for supplying air into chamber 2, agitating the air inside the chamber, and removing air from the chamber may be any means known to those skilled in the art, such as air fans, air blowers, ventilation systems, and air conditioning systems.

[0023] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the air introduced into the chamber 2 is supplied via a sprayer 18. This has the advantage that the same inlet can be used both for introducing the waterproofing / impregnation liquid and for introducing air into the chamber 2 after waterproofing / impregnation. This has the additional advantage that the inlet 10 and the sprayer 18 are flushed with air.

[0024] One or more heating units 6 of the apparatus may heat the air in the chamber 2 and / or the surface of an article placed in said chamber 2 to a temperature between 20 and 200°C, such as between 40 and 180°C, for example between 50 and 150°C, for example between 75 and 100°C.

[0025] The one or more heat generating units 6 of the device 1 may be selected from a variety of heat generating units, such as, but not limited to, an infrared emitting unit, an ultraviolet emitting unit, a microwave unit, an electric heater, a fluorescent tube, a heat pump, or any combination of heat sources thereof. Although the device 1 may include only one heat generating unit 6 to maximize the applicability of the device 1 of the present invention, it is within the scope of the present invention that the device 1 may include multiple heat generating units (of the same type or in any combination).

[0026] In case of providing two or more heating units 6, it is within the scope of the present invention to apply a combination of one or more of said units 6, both in terms of the choice of heat source, the temperature and the heating duration of the individual heating units, depending on the article to be waterproofed / impregnated and dried.

[0027] In one embodiment of the invention, the heating unit 6 and the means for supplying air to, agitating the air within, and removing air from the chamber 2 are a single unit, such as an air conditioning unit.

[0028] In another embodiment of the present invention, Inside Chamber 2 The air introduced into the chamber 2 is subjected to a dehumidification process during operation of the apparatus 1 and reintroduced into the chamber 2, whereby recycled dehumidified air is used in the drying process of the present invention.

[0029] Thus, the device 1 of the present invention may also comprise and / or be connected to a dehumidification device.

[0030] The device 1 of the present invention can be controlled in several ways: by controlling the electrical means 17 for controlling the introduction of the waterproofing / impregnation liquid (liquid flow rate, pressure, liquid temperature, etc.), one or more heating units 6 (selection of heat source, temperature, drying time, etc.), as well as controlling the means 4 for supplying air to the chamber, agitating the air therein, and removing the air from the chamber (air flow rate, pressure, temperature, duration, etc.).

[0031] The electrical means 17 are controlled and configured by an electronic display and input device 16 present on the front of the machine 1, or by a remote device, wireless or wired, remote control, such as a phone, tablet, computer, cash register, etc. In this way, the machine 1 can be both controlled and monitored during operation, either on the machine itself by the electronic display and input device 16, or remotely by a remote device, wireless or wired.

[0032] The apparatus 1 can include rotatable or non-rotatable shelves 14 and rotatable or non-rotatable sprayers 18. Any combination of rotatable and non-rotatable sprayers 18 and rotatable and non-rotatable shelves 14 is useful for waterproofing / impregnating and drying articles according to the present invention.

[0033] Within the scope of the present invention, the device 1 may include one or more sprayers 18 as well as one or more shelves 14, said shelves being suitable for supporting the articles to be impregnated.

[0034] For example, when waterproofing / impregnating and drying articles such as coats, jackets, blankets, etc., the waterproofing / impregnating and drying apparatus 1 may be mounted with one or more clasps or retaining devices attached to the top of the apparatus 1 to secure the article to be waterproofed / impregnated and dried. The one or more clasps or retaining devices may be rotatable to ensure that the waterproofing / impregnating fluid is evenly distributed over the surface of the article.

[0035] For items to be waterproofed / impregnated and dried, usually: a. placing the item into apparatus 1; b. configuring the apparatus to select and control one or more inlets 10 via an electronic display and input device 16 or by remote control of electrical means 17 to control the flow of waterproofing / impregnating fluid into the chamber 2; c. configuring the apparatus 1 to configure one or more heating units 6 via electronic display and input device 16 or by remote control of electrical means 17; d. configuring the apparatus 1 to configure means 4 for supplying air into the chamber, agitating the air inside the chamber, and removing air from the chamber via an electronic display and input device 16 or by remote control of an electrical means 17; e. impregnating said article for a fixed time, specified by operating an electronic display and input device 16, or by remote control of an electronic means 17, adapted to control the apparatus 1, followed by drying; The following method is carried out.

[0036] Within the scope of the present invention, the method may be controlled, modified, adapted and optimized according to the use of the device 1 for impregnating and drying articles such as clothes, shoes, bags, wallets, blankets, clothing, etc.

[0037] In one embodiment of the invention, the method may be controlled, modified, altered and / or optimized based on the environment within chamber 2 during operation, such as humidity conditions within chamber 2.

[0038] In certain embodiments, the methods of the present invention may be automatically controlled, modified, altered, and / or optimized in real time based on the environment within chamber 2 during operation, such as humidity conditions.

[0039] The time required for the entire process of waterproofing / impregnation and subsequent drying of the article is very short, for example, less than 30 minutes, for example, less than 25 minutes, less than 20 minutes, or even less than 15 minutes, depending on the article to be waterproofed / impregnated and dried, and the selection of the waterproofing / impregnation fluid used, and the selection of the heating unit applied in the drying process. EXAMPLES

[0040] Example 1 A pair of shoes was placed in the apparatus of the present invention, and the shoes were waterproofed / impregnated with an aqueous waterproofing / impregnation fluid for about 60 seconds and subjected to the method of the present invention. The apparatus was configured according to Fig. 2 with a rotating shelf, two sprayers, and a heating unit including a microwave unit and an electric heater. The pair of shoes was fully waterproof and fully dry after 23 minutes of operation of the apparatus of the present invention.

[0041] Example 2 A pair of boots was placed in the apparatus of the present invention and subjected to the method of the present invention by waterproofing / impregnating the boots with a solvent-based waterproofing / impregnating fluid for about 90 seconds. The apparatus had one shelf, a rotatable sprayer, a heating unit with a microwave unit, an electric heater and an ultraviolet light emitting unit, and was constructed according to Figure 4. The pair of shoes was fully waterproof and dry after 26 minutes of operation of the apparatus of the present invention.

[0042] Example 3 The coat was placed in the device of the invention and waterproofed / impregnated with an aqueous waterproofing / impregnating fluid for about 180 seconds and subjected to the method according to the invention. The device was equipped with a rotatable clasp but no shelf according to Figure 3 or Figure 4 and consisted of a rotatable sprayer, a microwave unit, an air conditioning unit and a heating unit with fluorescent tubes. The coat was fully waterproof and dry after 19 minutes of operation of the device of the invention.

[0043] Example 4 Apparatus comprising a treatment chamber in which are arranged a number of (movable) nozzles, ventilation means and a heating source or air conditioning device, used for waterproofing and drying a pair of shoes. The volume of the chamber is about 65 liters. The ventilation device used to agitate the air in the chamber is controllable to operate at various effects between 0% and 100%. In this embodiment, the heater is activated to provide an air temperature in the chamber between 30°C and 50°C, and the ventilation means at 40% (air speed of about 1-1.5 m / s). This condition is maintained for a period of 20-50 seconds. The ventilation means is then reduced to an effect of 5-15% and the nozzles are activated to generate a mist of impregnating agent towards the shoes. The nozzles can be activated all at the same time or sequentially, i.e. one or more at a time. The method is maintained for a period of 5-30 seconds, during which 5ml to 100ml of liquid impregnating agent is pumped through the nozzles and transformed into an impregnating mist directed towards the shoes. After spraying the waterproofing agent, a drying process is activated, where the ventilation means is set at 40%-75% and the temperature is controlled between 30°C and 50°C for up to 60 seconds. At this point, the treatment chamber can be opened when the shoe has undergone a complete impregnation routine and the impregnating agent is dry enough for normal use of the shoe. The impregnating agent may be further dried, cured and / or matured, depending on the actual means.

[0044] Other aspects of the invention can include: - one, two or more platforms are provided vertically displaced relative to one another inside the chamber and adapted to position the articles to be treated, the platforms being provided with motor means enabling them to rotate about a vertical axis inside the chamber; and / or - the inlet (10) for introducing the waterproofing / impregnating fluid into the chamber is controlled by an electronic display and input device (16) or by remote control of electrical means (17); and / or - the inlet or inlets comprise one or more nozzles, said inlets being connected by a conduit to a source of impregnating agent, and drainage means are provided for emptying the conduit of impregnating agent between each operation of the device; and / or - said exhaust means comprises a connection to a source of pressurized gas or washing liquid so that pressurized gas or washing liquid can be introduced into the conduit to exhaust the impregnating agent; and / or - the impregnating agent is pre-dosed in the mixing chamber by a conduit connecting a reservoir of impregnating agent to the mixing chamber, the mixing chamber further comprising an air inlet and an air outlet, the air inlet being connected to an air source, the air having a pressure higher than the ambient air pressure, and the air outlet being connected to the one or more nozzles; and / or - an air compressor is provided to provide an air source, the air pressure being selected between 0.13 MPa (1.3 bar) and 0.5 MPa (5 bar); and / or - The amount of impregnating agent per treatment in the device is selected between 3 ml and 50 ml; and / or - the combined volume of air from the waterproofing / impregnation fluid and the air introduced by the air supply means provides a total volume of air corresponding to 3 to 25 times the volume of the chamber during the treatment of the object; and / or - Using an adaptive waterproofing / impregnation and drying device (1), where the articles are clothes, shoes, bags, wallets, blankets, clothing, etc. that have undergone a solvent-based or water-based waterproofing / impregnation process.

[0045] The combination of heating units (6) is set according to the goods to be dried using the electronic display and input device (16) or by remote control of electrical means (17).

[0046] - Temperature, waterproofing / impregnation time and drying time are configured using the electronic display and input device (16) or by remote control of the electrical means (17) depending on the article to be waterproofed / impregnated and dried. The following are some embodiments of the present invention. [Aspect 1] A waterproofing / impregnating and drying apparatus (1) for waterproofing / impregnating and drying articles, said apparatus comprising a closed chamber (2) accessible through a door, one or more inlets (10) for introducing a waterproofing / impregnating fluid or mist into said chamber, means (4) for supplying and removing air to / from said chamber, and an agitation device for agitating the air in said chamber, said waterproofing / impregnating and drying apparatus being provided with a drying device comprising one or more heat generating units (6). [Aspect 2] The apparatus (1) according to aspect 1, wherein the one or more heating units (6) are capable of heating the air in the chamber (2) and / or the surface of the article placed in the chamber (2) to 20 to 200°C. [Aspect 3] 3. The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat generating unit (6) is an infrared emitting unit, an ultraviolet emitting unit, a microwave unit, an electric heater, a fluorescent tube, a heat pump, or any combination thereof. [Aspect 4] The apparatus (1) according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the heating unit (6) and the means (4) for supplying air to the chamber (2), agitating the air in the chamber (2), and removing air from the chamber (2) are a single unit. [Aspect 5] 5. The apparatus (1) of claim 4, wherein the single unit is an air conditioning unit. [Aspect 6] 6. The apparatus (1) of any of the preceding aspects, further comprising electrical means (17) configured to control the apparatus (1) and thereby the heating unit (6) and the means (4) for supplying air to the chamber, agitating the air in the chamber (2), and removing the air. [Aspect 7] The device (1) according to any one of aspects 1 to 6, wherein the electrical means (17) is controllable by a remote device, such as a phone, tablet, computer, cash register, etc., via a wireless or wired connection. [Aspect 8] The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the heating units (6) are configured to be individually controlled by an electronic display and input device (16) or by remote control of the electrical means (17). [Aspect 9] The apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding aspects, wherein the inlet (10) for introducing a waterproofing / impregnating fluid into the chamber is controlled by the electronic display and input device (16) or by a remote control of the electrical means (17). [Aspect 10] 1. A method for waterproofing / impregnating and drying an article, comprising the steps of: a. placing the article in a waterproofing / impregnation and drying apparatus (1) for waterproofing / impregnation and drying, the adaptable apparatus comprising a chamber (2) and one or more inlets (10) for introducing a waterproofing / impregnation fluid into the chamber, means (4) for supplying air to the chamber, agitating the air in the chamber and removing air from the chamber of the apparatus (1), a drying apparatus comprising one or more heating units (6), and the apparatus (1) being an apparatus according to any one of the aspects 1 to 9; b. configuring the apparatus (1) to select and control one or more inlets (10) via an electronic display and input device (16) or by remote control of the electronic display and input device (16) to control the flow of waterproofing / impregnation fluid into the camber (2); c. configuring said apparatus (1) via an electronic display and input device (16) or by remote control of the electronic display and input device (16) to configure one or more heating units (6); d. configuring the apparatus (1) via an electronic display and input device (16) or by remote control of the electronic display and input device (16) to configure means (4) for supplying air into the chamber, agitating the air inside the chamber, and removing air from the chamber; e. waterproofing / impregnating and thereafter drying the article for a fixed time specified by operating an electronic display and input device (16) configured to control the apparatus (1) or by remote control of the electronic display and input device (16). [Aspect 11] 11. The method according to embodiment 10, wherein the air introduced into the chamber (2) via the means (4) has a relative humidity of less than 80% RH, such as less than 40% RH, preferably less than 25% RH. [Aspect 12] 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the temperature of the air in the chamber (2) and / or the surface of the article placed in the chamber (2) is elevated to more than 50°C, such as more than 100°C, preferably more than 150°C, such as more than 75°C. [Aspect 13] 13. The method according to embodiment 11 or 12, wherein the total time for waterproofing / impregnation and drying is less than 5 minutes, such as less than 3 minutes, or even less than 2 minutes. [Aspect 14] 11. The method of embodiment 10, wherein the inlet includes a nozzle connected by a conduit to a source of impregnation liquid, and drainage means is provided for emptying the conduit and cleaning the nozzle between each operation of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A waterproofing / impregnating and drying device (1) for impregnating an article with a waterproofing / impregnating fluid or mist and drying said article to render said article waterproof, said waterproofing / impregnating and drying device (1) comprising a closed chamber (2) accessible through a door, one or more inlets (10) for introducing said waterproofing / impregnating fluid or mist into said chamber (2), means (4) for supplying air to and removing air from said chamber (2), and an agitation device for agitating the air in said chamber (2), said waterproofing / impregnating and drying device (1) comprising one or more heat generating units (6), The air supplied into the chamber (2) by the means (4) is supplied into the chamber via the inlet (10).

2. The waterproofing / impregnating and drying apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the one or more heating units (6) are capable of heating the air in the chamber (2) and / or the surface of the article placed in the chamber (2) to a temperature of 20 to 200°C.

3. The waterproofing / impregnating and drying apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heat generating unit (6) is an infrared emitting unit, an ultraviolet emitting unit, a microwave unit, an electric heater, a fluorescent tube, a heat pump, or any combination thereof.

4. The waterproofing / impregnating and drying device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heating unit (6), the means (4) for supplying and removing the air from the chamber (2) and the agitator are a single unit.

5. The waterproofing / impregnating and drying device (1) according to claim 4, wherein said single unit is an air-conditioning unit.

6. The waterproofing / impregnating and drying apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising electrical means (17) configured to control the waterproofing / impregnating and drying apparatus (1) and thereby to control the heating unit (6), the means (4) for supplying and removing air from the chamber (2) and the stirring device.

7. The waterproofing / impregnating and drying device (1) according to claim 6, wherein said electrical means (17) are controllable by a remote device such as a phone, a tablet, a computer, a cash register, etc., by wireless or wired connection.

8. The waterproofing / impregnating and drying device (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the heating units (6) are adapted to be individually controlled by an electronic display and input device (16) or by remote control of the electrical means (17).

9. 9. The waterproofing / impregnating and drying device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the inlet (10) for introducing the waterproofing / impregnating fluid into the chamber is controlled by the electronic display and input device (16) or by remote control of the electrical means (17).

10. 1. A method for waterproofing / impregnating and drying an article, comprising the steps of: a) placing the article in a waterproofing / impregnating and drying device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9; b. configuring the waterproofing / impregnating and drying apparatus (1) to select and control the one or more inlets (10) to control the flow of waterproofing / impregnating fluid into the chamber (2) via an electronic display and input device (16) or by remote control of the electronic display and input device (16); c) configuring the waterproofing / impregnating and drying apparatus (1) to configure the one or more heat generating units (6) via the electronic display and input device (16) or by remote control of the electronic display and input device (16); d) configuring said waterproofing / impregnating and drying apparatus (1) to provide means (4) for supplying air into said chamber via said inlet (10), agitating the air in said chamber and removing air from said chamber via said electronic display and input device (16) or by remote control of said electronic display and input device (16); e) waterproofing / impregnating and subsequently drying said article for a fixed time specified by operating said electronic display and input device (16) configured to control said waterproofing / impregnating and drying apparatus (1) or by remote control of said electronic display and input device (16).

11. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the air introduced into the chamber (2) via the means (4) has a relative humidity of less than 80% RH.

12. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the temperature of the air in the chamber (2) and / or the surface of the article placed in the chamber (2) is raised to above 50°C.

13. 13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the total time for waterproofing / impregnation and drying is less than 5 minutes.

14. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the inlet comprises a nozzle connected by a conduit to a source of impregnating liquid, and drainage means are provided for emptying the conduit and for cleaning the nozzle between each operation of the waterproofing / impregnating and drying device (1).

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