Wiping Cloth Recycling Wash Cycle With Pre-Rinse Spin Drainage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for cleaning and recycling wet wipes or mops in washing machines are inefficient, particularly in removing heavily soiled water and cleaning agents, leading to prolonged cycles and increased water consumption, and are not suitable for handling oily substances effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method that includes a spin phase before pre-rinsing to drain heavily soiled water, followed by pre-rinsing, washing, and rinsing phases with controlled water levels and speeds, and an optional additional rinsing phase with a disinfectant, along with a final spin cycle to remove excess water, all managed by a controllable washing machine system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a spin phase is added before pre-rinsing to drain heavily soiled water, then the rinsing effect is improved and water consumption is reduced, but the cycle time is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverinsing effectVSAvoidcycle time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

A spin phase is performed before the pre-rinsing phase to drain heavily soiled water from the wipes. This preliminary action removes a large portion of dirty water that would otherwise contaminate the rinsing solution, thereby improving the rinsing effect and reducing the need for additional rinsing cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the drum speed is increased to 500-1000 rpm during spin phase, then water removal efficiency is improved, but foam formation may increase if cleaning agents are present

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater removal efficiencyVSAvoidfoam formation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spin phase is positioned at the beginning of the cycle, before cleaning agents are introduced during the wash phase. This timing allows high-speed spinning (500-1000 rpm) to efficiently remove water and loosely bound dirt without generating excessive foam, since the cleaning agents that would cause foaming are not yet present.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The washing cycle is divided into distinct phases: a preliminary spin phase for water removal, followed by the wash phase where cleaning agents are introduced at lower speeds. This segmentation allows each phase to optimize its function without interfering with the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple rinsing phases are used to remove cleaning agents, then cleaning quality is improved, but water consumption and cycle time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning qualityVSAvoidwater consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-rinsing phase is enhanced by the preceding spin phase, which removes a large amount of dirty water before the rinsing begins. This preliminary water removal means that subsequent rinsing phases require less water and fewer cycles to achieve the same cleaning quality, as the rinsing solution is not immediately contaminated by heavily soiled water.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 approach improves the rinsing effect, reduces water consumption, and allows for effective removal of dirt and cleaning agents, enabling efficient cleaning and recycling of wet wipes or mops without the need for additional long rinsing phases, while allowing for disinfection or reprocessing.

Implementation Method 1

a spin phase takes place with activation of the drainage device, which causes wet wipes or mops to be drained. In this way, a large part of the heavily soiled water bound in the wipes is removed by centrifuging

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP2003236B1Method for cleaning and recycling wiping cloths
Publication Date: 2012.08.01 MIELE & CO KG
  • EP2003236B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2003236B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4

AI summary

The method involves activating a draining device i.e. controllable running pump, after an action of individual phases for removing fluid from a water container. A spring dryer phase (PS) is executed with the activation of the draining device before a rinse-off phase (PRi). Wet wiping clothes or wiping mops are dewatered by the draining device, and the spring dryer phase is executed before rinse-off with a maximum speed at a range of 500 to 1000 revolutions per minute. An independent claim is also included for a washing machine comprising a housing and a water container.