Washing apparatus

• US 20040129032A1
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Scheibel, Jeffrey John, Vinson, Phillip Kyle, Burckett-St. Laurent, James Charles Theophile Roger, France, Paul Amaat, Hartman, Frederick Anthony, Sakkab, Nabil Yaqub, Radomyselski, Arseni V., Severns, John Cort, Deak, John Christopher, Noyes, Anna Vadimovna, Kamiel Thoen, Christiaan Arthur Jacques
• Granted Patent: US 6,898,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/5C
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28033 Membrane, sheet, cloth, pad, lamellar or mat
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 33/02 with electrical or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 11/0017 "Soft" surfaces, e.g. textiles
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 11/0076 Regeneration of cleaning solutions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/049 Cleaning or scouring pads; Wipes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/12 Soft surfaces, e.g. textile
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/48 Regeneration of cleaning solutions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/162 containing Si
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/2041 Dihydric alcohols
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/30 Amines; Substituted amines ; Quaternized amines
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3765 in liquid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3773 in liquid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3905 Bleach activators or bleach catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3932 Inorganic compounds or complexes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3942 Inorganic per-compounds C11D3/3902 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3945 Organic per-compounds C11D3/3902 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3947 Liquid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/395 Bleaching agents
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/40 Dyes ; Pigments
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/43 Solvents
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/50 : Perfumes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/24 : Hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/263 : Ethers
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/3209 : Amines or imines with one to four nitrogen atoms; Quaternized amines
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/5004 : Organic solvents
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/5009 : containing phosphorus, sulfur or silicon, e.g. dimethylsulfoxide
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/5013 : containing nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/5022 : containing oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/5027 : Hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/20 : Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programs, service modes or refreshment cycles
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/28 : Air properties
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/44 : Opening, closing or locking of doors
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/30 : characterised by mechanical features, e.g. buttons or rotary dials
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/42 : Safety arrangements, e.g. for stopping rotation of the receptacle upon opening of the casing door
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/00 : Dry-cleaning apparatus or methods using volatile solvents D06F9/00 - D06F41/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/02 : having one rotary cleaning receptacle only
• CPC Class Codes: D06L 1/02 : using organic solvents
• CPC Class Codes: D06L 1/04 : combined with specific additives D06L1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06L 1/10 : Regeneration of used chemical baths
• CPC Class Codes: D06L 1/12 : using aqueous solvents
• CPC Class Codes: D06L 4/17 : in an inert solvent
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 13/005 : Compositions containing perfumes; Compositions containing deodorants
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/06 : Processes in which the treating agent is dispersed in a gas, e.g. aerosols aerosol compositions C09K3/30
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/14 : using gases or vapours other than air or steam , e.g. inert gases

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating, refreshing or cleaning fabric articles, especially articles of clothing, linen and drapery.

Claims

1. A fabric treating apparatus comprising a chamber capable of receiving a fabric to be treated and a cleaning fluid comprising a lipophilic fluid, wherein when a fabric to be treated is present in the chamber and a cleaning fluid comprising a lipophilic fluid is introduced into the fabric-containing chamber, the fabric-containing chamber retains an amount of lipophilic fluid up to the absorptive capacity of the fabric contained therein.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said chamber is a lipophilic fluid pervious chamber.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises an outer chamber capable of receiving said lipophilic fluid from the fabric-containing chamber that is not retained in said fabric-containing chamber.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said outer chamber houses said chamber capable of receiving a fabric to be treated and a cleaning fluid comprising a lipophilic fluid.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said outer chamber comprises an exit port through which said lipophilic fluid exits said outer chamber.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said lipophilic fluid exits said outer chamber at a rate such that the amount of lipophilic fluid in said fabric-containing chamber does not exceed the absorptive capacity of the fabrics contained therein.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises an applicator for introducing a cleaning fluid comprising a lipophilic fluid into said chamber capable of receiving a fabric to be treated and a cleaning fluid comprising a lipophilic fluid.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said applicator comprises a storage chamber comprising a cleaning fluid comprising a lipophilic fluid.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said applicator comprises means for evenly distributing the lipophilic fluid onto the fabrics when contained within the chamber.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises a mechanical element associated with the chamber capable of receiving a fabric to be treated and a cleaning fluid comprising a lipophilic fluid, wherein when a fabric to be treated is present in the chamber and a cleaning fluid comprising a lipophilic fluid is introduced into the fabric-containing chamber, operation of the mechanical element results in fabric-containing chamber retaining an amount of lipophilic fluid up to the absorptive capacity of the fabric contained therein.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said mechanical element comprises a motor associated with the chamber capable of receiving a fabric to be treated and a cleaning fluid comprising a lipophilic fluid, wherein when a fabric to be treated is present in the chamber and a cleaning fluid comprising a lipophilic fluid is introduced into the fabric-containing chamber, operation of the motor rotates the chamber at a speed such that the fabric-containing chamber retains an amount of lipophilic fluid up to the absorptive capacity of the fabric contained therein.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said mechanical element comprises a centrifugal extractor associated with the chamber capable of receiving a fabric to be treated and a cleaning fluid comprising a lipophilic fluid, wherein when a fabric to be treated is present in the chamber and a cleaning fluid comprising a lipophilic fluid is introduced into the fabric-containing chamber, operation of the motor rotates the chamber at a speed such that the fabric-containing chamber retains an amount of lipophilic fluid up to the absorptive capacity of the fabric contained therein.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein when a fabric to be treated is present in said chamber, said fabric'"'"'s movement is unconstrained within said chamber.

14. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said chamber is movable with respect to said outer chamber.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said chamber is movable at more than one speed with respect to said outer chamber.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said chamber can rotate at a speed of from about 0.5 G to about 3 G.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said chamber can rotate at a speed of from about 0.7 G to about 3 G.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said chamber can rotate at a speed of from about 50 G to about 450 G.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said chamber can rotate at a speed of from about 150 G to about 450 G.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises a programmable selector in the form of a dial, panel or combinations thereof having at least two selector positions including at least one selected from “

dry-clean”

, “

delicate care label” and

“

light soil” and

at least one selected from “

water wash”

, “

normal”

, and “

high soil”

.

21. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises a programmable selector in the form of a dial, panel or combinations thereof having at least two selector positions including at least one selected from “

dry-clean”

, “

delicate care label” and

“

light soil” and

at least one selected from “

refresh”

, “

deodorize”

, “

fabric treatment” and

“

rinse/soften”

.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises a programmable selector in the form of a dial, panel or combinations thereof having at least three selector positions including at least one selected from “

dry-lean”

, “

delicate care label” and

“

light soil”

, at least one selected from “

water wash”

, “

normal”

, and “

high soil”

, and at least one selected from “

refresh”

, “

deodorize”

, “

fabric treatment” and

“

rinse/soften”

.

23. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises a filter element.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said filter element comprises a cartridge detachably associated with said apparatus.

25. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said storage chamber is detachably associated with said applicator.

26. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said applicator further comprises one or more additional storage chambers comprising adjunct ingredients.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said one or more additional storage chambers are detachably associated with said applicator.

28. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises a gas inlet port.

29. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises port through which fluid selected from the group consisting of air, other gases, water and mixtures thereof can enter and exit said apparatus.

30. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said chamber comprises one or more walls that define an internal volume.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein one or more walls comprise a door through which fabrics can be introduced into said internal volume.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31 wherein said door comprises a locking system such that the door can not be opened during operation of the apparatus.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein said apparatus comprises a gas sensor that measures the level of lipophilic fluid vapor within the chamber and prevents the opening of the door prior to attainment of a safe level of lipophilic fluid vapor.

34. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said applicator comprises a nozzle capable of delivering a droplet size of said cleaning composition comprising a lipophilic fluid of from about 10 microns to about 1200 microns.

35. The apparatus according to claim 34 wherein said applicator comprises a nozzle capable of delivering a droplet size of said cleaning composition comprising a lipophilic fluid of from about 100 microns to about 1000 microns.

36. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the fabric treating apparatus has dimensions similar to those of a domestic washer and/or dryer.

37. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the fabric treating apparatus has dimensions similar to those of a commercial dry-cleaning machine.

38. An article of manufacture comprising one or more consumables and instructions for using the consumables with a laundering apparatus in accordance with claim 1 to treat fabric articles.

39. The article of manufacture according to claim 38 wherein the one or more consumables are consumables used in a domestic fabric treating process.

40. The article of manufacture according to claim 38 wherein the one or more consumables are consumables used in a commercial fabric treating process.

41. An article of manufacture comprising one or more recyclable components and instructions for using the recyclable components with a laundering apparatus in accordance with claim 1.

42. A packaged goods consumer product comprising

(a) at least one kit comprising one or more consumable adjunct composition for use in an apparatus according to claim 1 and

(b) separate from, or affixed to any element of said kit, printed or machine-readable instructions for use of said adjunct composition.

43. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a garment tag detector.

44. An apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said garment tag detector is a radiofrequency detector.

45. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus is capable of performing both a conventional aqueous immersive wash/dry cycle as well as a non-immersive cleaning process.

46. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises means for conducting an aqueous immersive wash process.