Method and device for the non-iron drying of damp material, in particular damp laundry

• US 6,796,055 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heinz Szelies
• Original Assignee: Heinz Szelies
• Inventors: Baltes, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): O MALLEY, KATHRYN S
• Application Number:
  US10/312,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20040064966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 343/21, 343/27, 344/25, 344/49, 345/52, 346/04, 346/06
• US Class Current: 34/449
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/10 Drying cabinets or drying chambers having heating or ventilating means

Abstract

The invention describes a method for the drying of a damp material (2), whereby the material (2) is treated in a treatment chamber (15) of a drying cabinet (1) in a mechanically immobile condition, in which air (10) is directed through the treatment chamber (15) and over a condenser (13) and the moisture in the air (10) can condense at the condenser (13) and be led away. The air (10) is led about the material (2) for drying at least during a period of the drying of the material (2) in a closed loop through the treatment chamber (15) in which the material (2) at increasing temperature in the treatment chamber (15) is exposed to steam or increased humidity generated at least partly from the dampness of the material (2) or the increased humidity of the air (10) circulating around and is relaxed and smoothed by the steam or the increased humidity in relation to creases, folds or similar from preceding treatments, and with an increasing dehumidify of the residual humidity of the air (10) after the beginning of the condensation at the condenser (13) the material (2) then is freed from creases, folds or similar and therefore is then dried largely without ironing. Further the invention describes a drying cabinet (1) for the drying of the damp material (2) is treated in a treatment chamber (15) of a drying cabinet (1) in mechanically immobile condition which shows flaps (21, 22) to be switched between the circulation in the closed circulation and a treatment in the open circulation which make possible an introduction and exhausting from external air.

Claims

1. A method for the drying of a damp material (2), in particular of damp laundry, whereby the material (2) is treated in a treatment chamber (15) of a drying cabinet (1) in mechanically immobile condition in which air (10) is directed through the treatment chamber (15) and over a condenser (13), which is cooled by an outer air circuit, and the moisture in the air (10) condenses on the condenser (13) and can be led away, characterised in that

the air (10) is circulated over the material (2) for drying at least during a period of the drying of the material (2) with a switched-off condenser in a closed inner loop through the treatment chamber (15) in which the material (2), which is hung by means of an on hanging device (3), is exposed at increasing temperature in the treatment chamber (15) to steam or increased humidity generated at least partly from the dampness of the material (2) or the increased humidity of the air (10) circulating around with a temperature up to between 90 degrees Celsius and 125 degrees Celsius and is relaxed and smoothed by the steam or the increased humidity in relation to creases, or folds from preceding treatments,

and with an increasing dehumidify of the residual humidity of the air (10) after the beginning of the condensation at the condenser (13) the material (2) then is freed of creases, or folds and therefore is then dried largely without ironing.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that during the formation of the steam or the increased humidity the temperature is increased in the treatment chamber (15).

3. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the condensation starts after a time delay after the beginning of the drying and the generation of the steam or the increased humidity.

4. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the change-over from the transition of the steam or the increased humidity over the material (2) in the closed circulation to the phase of the increasing withdrawal of the air humidity from the treatment chamber (15) by means of condensation at the condenser (13) is carried out slidingly.

5. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the air (10) and/or steam or increased humidity after the transition over the condenser (13) in operation mode amounts maximum for about 60-70 degrees celsius.

6. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the steam or the increased humidity is at least partly supplied also from an external source to the treatment chamber (15).

7. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the after the phase of the transition of the steam or the increased humidity and at or after the drying the material (2) is exposed in the same treatment chamber (15) in an open circulation under influence of external air (23) supplied from the outside to a further treatment like a further drying, a disinfection, a sterilization, a pollutant removal or the like.

8. A method according to claim 7, characterised in that by means of the addmix of external air (23) into the treatment chamber (15) the temperature in the treatment chamber (15) can be reduced.