Garment Tunnel Finisher Using Atomized Spray Instead of Steam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tunnel finishers in the laundering industry rely on steam, which requires a costly on-site boiler system, high energy consumption, and complex maintenance, limiting efficiency and increasing operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A garment tunnel finisher that uses atomized hot water mixed with hot air in a moisturizing zone to treat fabric, eliminating the need for steam and simplifying the system by eliminating the need for a boiler and associated infrastructure, with a non-linear conveyor path and strategically positioned nozzles to enhance moisture penetration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If steam is used as the moisturizing medium in conventional tunnel finishers, then the garments can be effectively conditioned and wrinkles removed, but the system requires a costly on-site boiler system, associated piping, and high energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the steam generation function from the tunnel finisher system by using externally supplied steam rather than an on-site boiler. This removes the complex boiler system, piping, and associated maintenance requirements while maintaining the moisture application function essential for garment conditioning
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary steam injection system that delivers steam from an external source into the tunnel finisher. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to benefit from external steam production while avoiding the complexity of on-site boiler operations and maintenance
2Temperature
If steam is used to bring garments to desired temperature, then effective wrinkle removal is achieved, but great energy and cost are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the energy-intensive steam generation process from the tunnel finisher by using externally supplied steam. This eliminates the need for the finisher to generate its own steam, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective garment temperature control for wrinkle removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the steam supply system to serve itself by using the tunnel finisher's own exhaust heat to preheat the incoming steam or water. This self-service approach recovers waste heat that would otherwise be lost, reducing the overall energy required to achieve the desired garment temperature
3Ease of manufacture
If a linear conveyor path is used in the moisturizing zone, then the system is simple, but moisture penetration into garments is less effective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curved conveyor paths in the moisturizing zone instead of linear paths. The curves cause garments to change direction and present different surfaces to the steam injection points, improving moisture penetration effectiveness while maintaining a relatively simple conveyor design
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces energy consumption and operational costs while effectively conditioning garments, maintaining high temperatures to prevent wrinkling and reduce drying time, without the need for a stationary engineer or complex steam management systems.
Implementation Method 1
atomized hot water mixed with hot air in a moisturizing zone
Implementation Method 2
moisture is applied to and then evaporated from the garments
Implementation Method 3
hot air from the hot air source is mixed with the atomized hot water to raise the temperature in the moisturizing zone
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry tunnel finisher including a tunnel providing a moisturizing zone therein having a non-linear conveyor pathway therethrough with curved portions adjacent the entrance and exit of the tunnel, at least one nozzle directed at the curved portions of the pathway, a hot water source supplying hot water to the at least one nozzle, a compressed air source supplying compressed air to the at least one nozzle, and a hot air source directing hot air into the tunnel, wherein hot water is atomized using compressed air and is sprayed through the at least one nozzle and mixed with hot air in the tunnel to raise the temperature in the moisturizing zone.