US3469931A - Method for treating materials - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 30, 1969 w, BOON METHOD FOR TREATING MATERIALS 1 v t RN E mw m mm W8 0 VM W a mm A m L s u 2 W Y 8 Filed March 30, 1966 Sept. 30, 1969 w. BOON METHOD FOR TREATING MATERIALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 30, 1966 INVENTOR WILLIAM BOON fif/nk ATTOIR NE Y.

United States Patent 3,469,931 METHOD FOR TREATING MATERIALS William Boon, 215 Passaic Ave., Passaic, NJ. 07055 Filed Mar. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 538,800 Int. Cl. D061. 29/00 US. Cl. 8-137 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention is broadly concerned with an improved system for the handling and Wash processing of bulky materials, and is more particularly concerned with a unique technique for treating before introducing bulky materials into wash processing units, and is especially directed to a very efficient treatment of applying the conventional soil break solution to the fabrics being processed.

The present invention is broadly concerned with an improved system for the handling and wash processing of bulky materials. The invention is more particularly concerned with a unique technique for treating before introducing bulky materials into wash processing units, and is especially directed to a very efficient treatment of applying the soil break solution to the fabrics being processed.

In accordance with a specific adaptation of the present invention, the break solution is applied to the fabrics by an injector before the fabrics become saturated with the main body of the washing medium, such as water. The present invention is particularly adapted to be utilized in processing units described in applicants U.S. Patent 3,- 208,800, issued Sept. 28, 1965, entitled, Pneumatic Conveying System for Bulky Materials, and US. Patent 2,556,058 issued June 5, 1951, entitled, Pneumatic Conveyor Systems, which are specifically incorporated herein by reference.

As is known in the art, there are a number of methods and techniques used to load wash processing units with fabrics, such as the use of slings, overhead loading hoppers, and conveyor forms of loading. When slings are utilized, the entire mass of fabrics is placed into the wash machine cylinder. The contents of the sling, or slings, are usually dumped into the unit consecutively or simultaneously. Thus, a mass of material is introduced into the processing unit at approximately the same time. This is not desirable since maximum break solution coverage efiiciency can not be obtained.

The same situation essentially exists with respect to the use of loading hoppers, or when hand loading is utilized in which armfuls of material are loaded into the processing unit. Thus, in present techniques known in the art, there is not operation wherein the garments enter the processing machine as single pieces or a continuous stream of essentially single pieces.

Also, in conventional techniques now utilized, after the machine is loaded the chemicals, or break solutions, are introduced or thrown in on top of the load. The doors are then closed and the wash machine is started while Water is introduced into the wash machine to saturate the material to be washed with water.

When using these techniques the chemicals, or break 3,469,931 Patented Sept. 30, 1969 solutions, are initially mixed with the water and subsequently mixed with the material to be cleaned. Thus, under these conditions the relatively pure water first saturates the garments, and then the chemicals mixed with, or dissolved in, the water contact the garments. The chemicals, soap or washing detergents, thereafter displace the water that has been initially absorbed. by the garment fibers. Under conventional techniques, depending on fac tors such as the type of washing solution utilized, the degree of penetration, and the concentration of soil present in the fabrics, five to ten minutes will be required to get a breaking down of the dirt and soil. The chemical solution must be maintained in contact with the garments for a time period to complete the so-called, break operation, or breaking up of the soil and the release of the soil from the fibers. After this has been secured, the rinse operation or cycle may start.

In accordance with the present technique wherein the fabrics are introduced singly or as a continuous stream, by a system described in the above-identified patents, the fabrics are initially contacted, or saturated, with the break solution prior to the fabrics contacting, or being saturated with, the main body of the washing water or solution.

In accordance with one adaptation of the present technique, material to be processed is conveyed to air loading hoppers, or to an instant loader unit Where the material is brought directly from the soil department to the Wash wheel cylinders. As the material in flight moves through the conduit and approaches the Wash machine pocket, the required amount of break solution or chemical is pumped into the system from a central supply reservoir. The con veying air rushing through the conduit will also function to break up or atomize the chemical solution, thereby treating by coating or saturating the garments with a fine spray as the fabrics fly through the conduits in a continuous stream enroute to the washing unit. Thus, the present system, in effect, causes the garments to pass through a mist or spray of the breaking solution, so as to deposit on the fabrics to be cleaned a continuous thin film of the chemical solution.

The amount of break solution utilized is timed, and is a function among other factors of the pounds of material and type of material passing through and into the washing units. For example, the break solution may be an aqueous concentrate and be fed at the rate of approximately /3 to /2 gallon of water-mixed solution, or any other desirable concentration depending on the type of solution used which the operator may be using. This presaturation with the break solution results in instantaneous chemical reaction between the fabrics, the chemical solution and water, and immediately functions to break the soil on the garment. Thus, the concentrated break solution in the garments is diluted by the subsequently added water rather than the break solution diluting the water in the water-saturated garment when using conventional techniques.

The present technique may be utilized when using any type of break solution. Suitable break solutions, for example, are premixed fatty acid soap, premixed caustic silicates, creating varying amounts of silicate alkalis, and premixed detergent. These chemicals or washing agents can be either purchased from manufacturers or made up in operators own plant. These concentrates are of a viscosity so as to permit their injection into the system as a mist or spray as hereinbefore described, and to secure maximum impregnation of the garment to be cleaned.

The process of the present invention may be readily understood by the figures illustrating adaptations of the same.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a technique of utilizing a vibrating feeder.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the technique when utilizing a sorting console together with a plurality of air head hoppers in conjunction with the processing units.

Referring specifically to FIGURE 1, bulky material to be processed, such as incoming laundry, is placed on a loading or receiving table or equivalent unit 1. The incoming material may be manually dumped or placed on unit 1 or mechanical means may be provided for delivering the material to this unit. Unit 1 can be a rotating or vibrating type of feeder. The laundry passes along table 1 into a receiving hopper 2 and thence into a material feed duct line 3. The material is caused to pass through duct 3 by a flowing stream of conveying air obtained as hereinafter described.

The material is then introduced into processing units 10, 20, and 30 maintained in a wash or processing room 40. Each of these processing units preferably have a plurality of chambers through which material may be introduced by means of doors 11 to 16. A hood element 50 moves along a track 51 and may be placed in communication with conduit 3 by means of connections 4 to 8 which are integral with conduit 3. These attachments have suitable valve means to control the flow of air therethrough.

In the adaptation specifically illustrated in FIGURE 1, the material is conducted through conduit 3, through connection 6 and thence into hood 50 and through opening 14 into processing unit 20. The conveying air is separated from the material in machine 20 and passes through conduit 21, through blower 22 and thence into the atmosphere. A second hood or instant loader modulus 60 is also illustrated but is not connected or in communication with connection 7. Suitable valve means are utilized in the ducts and in the connections so as to control the flow of conveying air as desired. In essence, the equipment utilized is described in the aforementioned patents.

Suitable means a, 20a and 30a are adapted for the introduction of the water or washing medium into the respective units, while means 10b, 20b and 30b are adapted for the removal of the water from the respective units. These means may be mounted on the units as desired, and also manifolded in any desirable manner.

In accordance with the presence technique, a central supply or reservoir of break solution is maintained in tank or equivalent means 70. This solution is moved by means of pump 71 and line 72 to injector head solenoid valve nozzles 73 to 77 maintained in the respective connectors 4 to 8. As the material flows or is air conveyed, through conduit 3 and connector 6, sufiicient pressure is maintained on solenoid valve nozzle 75 which is opened by an adequate signal under the conditions of operation to produce a fine spray. This mist is sprayed over substantially the entire area of the material in connector 6 thereby treating, coating or saturating the fabrics prior to their introduction into processing unit 20.

As desired, the bulk material may be introduced into any of the compartments of units 10, 20 and 30 by suitably adjusting the hoods 50 and 60 and by adjusting the valves so as to cut off and initiate the flow of the conveying air stream or streams. Also, by suitable signals any one or more of the injector head solenoid valve nozzles may be actuated to spray a mist onto said fabrics when fabrics are moving thereby into the processing compartments.

Referring specifically to FIGURE 2, the laundry is introduced by means of a sorting console 100. This material passes over an electric piece counter 101 in order to secure an accurate tally of the material to be processed. The material is then conducted by a conveying air stream through a material duct 102 and may be introduced or segregated into any one of head hoppers 103 to 107. Two loading moduli or loading heads 108 and 109 are illustrated which may be moved from one position to another by means of track 110 and conventional, suitable adapters (not illustrated). The material may be introduced into any compartment of any of the processing units 120, 130 and 140, illustrated, through openings 121, 122, 131, 132 and 141. As shown the material passes through duct 102 into hopper 105 and through loading modulus 109 into unit 130. The air is separated in the hopper and withdrawn by means of conduit 133 and blower 150. Units 120, 130 and 140 are provided with means a, a and a for the introduction of water into the same, and also provided with means 120b, 13011, and 1401) for the removal of washing solution from the same.

The breaking solution is withdrawn from central supply reservoir by means of pump 161, and then by suitable solenoid valve injectors 162 to 166 introduced into the respective head hoppers. These valves are actuated by any suitable means such as by passage of air and material therethrough. Here again, as the material to be processed drops through hopper 105 into processing unit 130, the material is coated or saturated with a fine spray of the breaking solution prior to the material making contact with and being saturated with water in the processing unit.

One desirable feature of the present invention is that it is possible to have a soaking period or reaction period for the breaking solution and the material in the hopper before introducing the Water or soap material into the processing unit. For example, it may be desirable to introduce fabrics into head hopper 104 and as it falls through the hopper, to spray this material with breaking solution sprayed in through solenoid valve injector 163. This material can then be left or soaked with the breaking solution for a predetermined time period in the hopper 104 before introducing the same into process unit 120.

Thus, in essence, the present technique is concerned with a process whereby the fabrics are intimately contacted with a spray or film of the breaking solution as they are pneumatically moved along a conveying system prior to introducing the same into the processing or washing units. The technique of the present invention reduces the cycle time appreciably, i.e., in the range from 10 to 25%. Furthermore, the amount of breaking solution required is appreciably reduced and it is estimated approximately 30%. This provides substantial savings, increases the overall capacity of the units, and secures a more effective break of the soil impregnated in the fabrics.

What is claimed is:

1. Process for the removal of soil from fabrics which comprises passing said fabrics through a spray of a concentrated chemical laundry break solution whereby said fabrics are treated with said concentrated solution, and thereafter contacting said fabrics with a large volume of washing water, and wherein said fabrics are passed through said spray by means of a conveying stream of air which stream of air functions to disperse and atomize said spray of concentrated break solution.

2. Process as defined by claim 1 wherein said fabrics pass through said spray of cleaning chemicals in tandem with respect to other fabrics, and said cleaning chemicals comprising fatty acid soap, caustic silicates, and detergent, and feeding said solution generally at approximately /3 to /2 gallon.

3. Process for the removal of soil from fabrics which comprises passing said fabrics through a spray of a concentrated chemical laundry break solution whereby said fabrics are treated with said concentrated solution, and thereafter contacting said fabrics with a large volume of washing water, and wherein said fabrics are introduced into the upper area of a Wash zone, and wherein said 6 fabrics are passed through said spray while being con- References Cited veyed to but before being introduced into said upper area, UNITED STATES PATENTS and wherein sa1d washing water 1s malntalned 1n the lower 3,328,308 6/1967 Mackenzie area of said wash zone.

4. Process as defined by claim 3 wherein said fabrics 5 MAYER WEINBLATT Primary Examiner are passed through said spray of laundry break solution by means of a conveying air stream which further atom- U5, ()1, X,R

izes and spreads the break solution. 68-18

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