Non-aqueous washing apparatus and method
First Claim
1. In automatic cleaning apparatus of the type having automatic controls for carrying out a proscribed method of cleaning;
- container means for receiving fabric to be cleaned and working fluids;
means for adding a primary working fluid and a first co-solvent to said container means;
means for applying mechanical energy to provide relative movement between the fabric load and the wash liquor in the wash container for a time sufficient to provide fabric cleaning;
means for separating said first co-solvent and primary working fluid from the fabric to be cleaned;
means for adding a second co-solvent to said container means and adding mechanical energy to provide movement between wash liquor and fabric;
means for separating said second co-solvent from the fabric to be cleaned; and
means for flowing air through said container means to dry the fabric therein in situ.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for washing fabric loads without water or using water only as a co-solvent are disclosed. One method of non-aqueous clothes washing includes the steps of disposing clothing in a wash container, delivering a wash liquor to the fabric load, the wash liquor comprising a substantially non-reactive, non-aqueous, non-oleophilic, apolar working fluid and at least one washing additive, applying mechanical energy to the clothing and wash liquor for a sufficient amount of time to provide fabric cleaning and, thereafter, substantially removing the wash liquor from the fabric load. The working fluid may be selected from the group consisting of perfluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, fluorinated hydrocarbons and fluoroinerts.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. In automatic cleaning apparatus of the type having automatic controls for carrying out a proscribed method of cleaning;
- container means for receiving fabric to be cleaned and working fluids;
means for adding a primary working fluid and a first co-solvent to said container means;
means for applying mechanical energy to provide relative movement between the fabric load and the wash liquor in the wash container for a time sufficient to provide fabric cleaning;
means for separating said first co-solvent and primary working fluid from the fabric to be cleaned;
means for adding a second co-solvent to said container means and adding mechanical energy to provide movement between wash liquor and fabric;
means for separating said second co-solvent from the fabric to be cleaned; and
means for flowing air through said container means to dry the fabric therein in situ. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- container means for receiving fabric to be cleaned and working fluids;
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10. In an automatic cleaning apparatus of the type having automatic controls for carrying out a proscribed method of cleaning;
- container means for receiving fabric to be cleaned and working fluids;
means for adding a wash liquor to said container means;
means for applying mechanical energy to provide relative movement between the fabric load and the wash liquor in the wash container for a time sufficient to provide fabric cleaning;
means for separating said wash liquor from the fabric to be cleaned;
means for adding a liquid extraction solvent to said container means and adding mechanical energy to provide movement between wash liquor and fabric;
means for separating said liquid extraction solvent from the fabric to be cleaned; and
means for flowing air through said container means to dry the fabric therein in situ. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
- container means for receiving fabric to be cleaned and working fluids;
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13. In an automatic cleaning apparatus of the type having automatic controls for carrying out a proscribed method of cleaning:
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A container for receiving fabric to be cleaned and fluids;
Storage tanks for each of a primary working fluid and a liquid extraction solvent;
A dispenser adapted for selectively dispensing working fluid and selectively dispensing the liquid extraction fluid into said container;
Means for applying mechanical energy to provide relative movement between the fabric load and the fluid in the wash chamber;
Means for separating fluids from the fabric to be cleaned; and
Means for flowing air through said container to dry the fluids therein in situ. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification