Recapture of ions applied in a wash process
First Claim
1. A method of washing clothes in a clothes washer, the clothes washer having a wash zone for receiving a substrate load to be cleaned, comprising the steps:
- providing a wash liquor for applying to the substrate load,loading the wash zone with the substrate load,providing an inactive bleaching agent in the wash liquor,thereafter, mixing metal ions with the inactive bleaching agent in the wash liquor to produce an active bleaching agent in the wash liquor,applying the wash liquor with the active bleaching agent to the substrate load, andcapturing the metal ions prior to a disposal of the wash liquor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wash cycle is provided for a clothes washer, the clothes washer having a wash zone for receiving a substrate load to be cleaned. The wash cycle includes a step of providing a wash liquor for applying to the substrate load. Another step is loading the wash zone with the substrate load. Another step is mixing metal ions with an inactive bleaching agent as catalyst agents to catalyze an activation reaction to produce an active bleaching agent. Another step is combining the active bleaching agent with the wash liquor. Another step is applying the wash liquor with the active bleaching agent to the substrate load. Another step is capturing the metal ions prior to a disposal of the wash liquor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of washing clothes in a clothes washer, the clothes washer having a wash zone for receiving a substrate load to be cleaned, comprising the steps:
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providing a wash liquor for applying to the substrate load, loading the wash zone with the substrate load, providing an inactive bleaching agent in the wash liquor, thereafter, mixing metal ions with the inactive bleaching agent in the wash liquor to produce an active bleaching agent in the wash liquor, applying the wash liquor with the active bleaching agent to the substrate load, and capturing the metal ions prior to a disposal of the wash liquor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 13, 14, 16)
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5. A method of washing clothes in a clothes washer, the clothes washer having a wash zone for receiving a substrate load to be cleaned, comprising the steps:
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providing a wash liquor for applying to the substrate load, loading the wash zone with the substrate load, mixing metal ions with an inactive bleaching agent to produce an active bleaching agent, applying the wash liquor with the active bleaching agent to the substrate load, and capturing the metal ions prior to a disposal of the wash liquor, wherein the bleaching agent is introduced to the wash liquor in an inactive state and the step of mixing the metal ions comprises providing a solid block of material containing the metal ions, or salts thereof, and subjecting the block to a flow of wash liquor thereover.
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8. A method of washing clothes in a clothes washer, the clothes washer having a wash zone for receiving a substrate load to be cleaned, comprising the steps:
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providing a wash liquor for applying to the substrate load, loading the wash zone with the substrate load, mixing metal ions with an inactive bleaching agent to produce an active bleaching agent, applying the wash liquor with the active bleaching agent to the substrate load, and capturing the metal ions prior to a disposal of the wash liquor, wherein the step of mixing the metal ions comprises operating an electrolysis system with an electric current flowing in a first direction and the step of capturing the metal ions comprises operating the electrolysis system with the electric current flowing in an opposite direction.
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9. A method of washing clothes in a clothes washer, the clothes washer having a wash zone for receiving a substrate load to be cleaned, comprising the steps:
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providing a wash liquor for applying to the substrate load, loading the wash zone with the substrate load, mixing metal ions with an inactive bleaching agent to produce an active bleaching agent, applying the wash liquor with the active bleaching agent to the substrate load, and capturing the metal ions prior to a disposal of the wash liquor, wherein the step of capturing the metal ions comprises capturing the metal ions in a disposable cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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15. A method of washing clothes in a clothes washer, the clothes washer having a wash zone for receiving a substrate load to be cleaned, comprising the steps:
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providing a wash liquor for applying to the substrate load, loading the wash zone with the substrate load, mixing metal ions with an inactive bleaching agent to produce an active bleaching agent, applying the wash liquor with the active bleaching agent to the substrate load, and capturing the metal ions prior to a disposal of the wash liquor, wherein the step of capturing the ions comprises dispensing a compound to the wash liquor to precipitate the ions, wherein the compound dispensed to precipitate the ions comprises a flocculent.
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17. A method for washing clothes in a clothes washer, the clothes washer having a wash zone for receiving a substrate load to be cleaned, comprising the steps:
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applying a wash liquor to a substrate load, introducing an inactive bleaching agent into the wash liquor, at a desired time in the method for washing clothes, subsequent to the introduction of the inactive bleaching agent into the wash liquor, dispensing metal ions into the wash liquor as catalyst agents to catalyze an activation reaction to produce an active bleaching agent, and capturing the metal ions prior to a disposal of the wash liquor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method for washing clothes in a clothes washer, the clothes washer having a wash zone for receiving a substrate load to be cleaned, comprising the steps:
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in a wash cycle, applying a wash liquor with an inactive bleaching agent to the substrate load in the wash zone, subsequent to the application of the wash liquor with the inactive bleaching agent to the substrate load, mixing metal ions with the inactive bleaching agent as catalyst agents to catalyze an activation reaction to produce an active bleaching agent, applying the wash liquor with the active bleaching agent to the substrate load in the wash zone, and capturing the metal ions prior to a disposal of the wash liquor.
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Specification