Decolorization apparatus and decolorization method for textile product

• US 20050115004A1
• Filed: 11/16/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HOWA Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: HOWA Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Shinbashi, Masatoshi, Miyahara, Kakuji, Ando, Toyoteru, Nishikura, Katsuhiro, Tashiro, Takehisa
• Granted Patent: US 7,252,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/102
• CPC Class Codes: D06B 11/0096 to get a faded look
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/34 with oxygen, ozone or ozonides
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 5/132 with oxidants

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus suitable for decolorizing a textile product using ozone. The apparatus of the present invention enables the decolorization rate to be adjusted by adjusting the water content of the textile product and controlling the ozone concentration to achieve uniform decolorization. The decolorization apparatus for a textile product of the present invention includes an airtight container, a rotary drum which rotates in the airtight container, an ozone generator connected with the airtight container through an automatic valve, a water supply unit, and a blower unit which includes an air heater and supplies hot air and cool air to the airtight container. The ozone concentration inside the airtight container is maintained at a desired level by measuring the ozone concentration using an ozone analyzer and controlling the ozone generator.

Claims

1. A decolorization apparatus for a textile product, comprising:

an airtight container;

a rotary drum which has a water-permeable peripheral wall and rotates around a horizontal axis inside the airtight container;

a door provided to the airtight container for loading a textile product into the rotary drum;

an ozone generator connected with the airtight container through an automatic valve;

a water supply unit which supplies water to the airtight container;

a blower unit which includes an air heater and supplies hot air and cool air to the airtight container; and

a blower which circulates and stirs ozone-containing air inside the airtight container.

2. A decolorization apparatus for a textile product, comprising:

an airtight container;

a rotary drum which has a water-permeable peripheral wall and rotates around a horizontal axis inside the airtight container;

a door provided to the airtight container for loading a textile product into the rotary drum;

an ozone generator connected with the airtight container through an automatic valve;

a water supply unit which supplies water to the airtight container;

a blower unit which includes an air heater and supplies hot air and cool air to the airtight container; and

air pipes which supply compressed air for pressure purging on the door and a shaft support of the rotary drum.

3. A decolorization method for a textile product, comprising:

a loading step of loading a textile product into a rotary drum and closing a door by using an apparatus which includes an airtight container and the rotary drum, the airtight container having the door and the rotary drum having a water-permeable peripheral wall and rotating around a horizontal axis in the airtight container;

a centrifugal dehydration step of rotating the rotary drum at a high speed;

an ozone decolorization step of supplying ozone gas to the airtight container and rotating the rotary drum at a low speed, thereby exposing the textile product to the ozone gas to decolorize the textile product;

an ozone discharging step of discharging the ozone gas by supplying air to the airtight container;

an ozone decomposition step of dissolving the ozone gas remaining in the textile product by supplying water to the airtight container; and

a post-treatment washing step of washing the textile product with water and dehydrating the textile product.

4. The decolorization method according to claim 3, comprising a dyeing step of supplying a dye solution to the airtight container and rotating the rotary drum for a predetermined period of time, between the loading step and the centrifugal dehydration step.

5. The decolorization method according to claim 3,

wherein, in the ozone decomposition step, a chemical which decomposes ozone is supplied to the airtight container together with water.

6. The decolorization method according to claim 4,

wherein, in the ozone decomposition step, a chemical which decomposes ozone is supplied to the airtight container together with water.