The present invention relates to the field of smoothing devices used to smooth garments, such as clothing tops, suspended vertically on hangers, and more particularly relates to a method for smoothing a garment comprising in particular the diffusion of a liquid and of an air stream towards the garment.
In a known manner, a method for smoothing a garment using a crease-removing cabinet comprises the following steps:
Although such a smoothing method allows a garment to be smoothed without any action from the user other than putting the garment in the crease-removing cabinet, it does not ensure optimal smoothing of the garment.
The present invention is intended to remedy this disadvantage.
The technical problem at the heart of the invention consists in particular of providing a smoothing method that ensures satisfactory smoothing of a garment in less time, with optimized energy consumption, and without any action by the user other than placing the garment in the crease-removing cabinet.
To this end, the present invention relates to a method for smoothing a garment using a crease-removing cabinet comprising diffusion means for diffusing a liquid onto the garment, characterized in that the smoothing method comprises the diffusion of an air stream onto the garment simultaneously with the diffusion of the liquid onto the garment.
Diffusing the air stream simultaneously with the diffusion of the liquid allows for better distribution of the liquid on the garment due to the entrainment of the liquid droplets by the blowing effect of the air stream. Furthermore, the diffusion of the air stream on the garment allows for better penetration of the liquid droplets into the garment. These provisions help to promote the humidification of the garment and thus improve the smoothing of the garment. The diffusion of the air stream also makes it possible to apply pressure/traction on the garment which enhances the flattening of the garment and contributes to the smoothing action.
Consequently, the smoothing method according to the present invention ensures satisfactory smoothing of a garment in less time and without any action by the user other than placing the garment in the crease-removing cabinet.
The smoothing method may also have one or more of the following features, taken alone or in combination.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the diffused air stream is at room temperature or at a temperature lower than room temperature. Such a feature makes it possible to optimize the humidification of the garment with little energy consumption.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the diffused air stream is in the form of an air blade.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the air stream is diffused towards the garment in a direction forming an angle comprised between 20° and 70° relative to a normal to the surface of the garment to be processed, and for example relative to a horizontal plane. Such an air stream orientation generates local tension on the garment with an X, Y and Z component, thereby tensioning the garment in all directions, and thus further improving the smoothing of the garment.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the air stream flows over the surface of the garment with a flow rate comprised between 1 and 35 km/h, and advantageously comprised between 1 and 16 km/h.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the duration of the air stream diffusion is comprised between 30 s and 10 min, and for example on the order of 5 min.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the diffused air stream is moved vertically along the garment.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the liquid is diffused by at least one spray nozzle.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the spray nozzle is moved vertically along the garment.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the air stream diffusion comprises the simultaneous diffusion of a first air stream and of a second air stream on either side of the garment and towards the garment. Such a distribution of the air streams has the advantage of holding the garment in place. Diffusing the air stream simultaneously with diffusion of the liquid also improves the diffusion of the liquid droplets on the garment. Indeed, the air stream has the advantage of dispersing the liquid flow onto the garment, allowing for better liquid distribution.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the first and second air streams are diffused respectively on two opposite sides of the garment.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the first and second air streams are diffused onto the garment symmetrically so that the result of the first and second air streams exerts a tension on the garment that is parallel to the surface of the garment, and preferably directed downwards.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, said method comprises positioning the garment on a hanger comprising means of placing the garment under tension.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, said method comprises the attachment of pulling means onto the base of the garment. For example, these pulling means may be weights or elastic straps, attached by clips to the base of the garment.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, said method comprises the diffusion of a warm air stream onto the garment, the diffusion of the warm air stream being carried out after the diffusion of the liquid and the diffusion of the air stream.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the diffused warm air stream is moved vertically along the garment.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the warm air stream flows over the surface of the garment with a flow rate comprised between 1 and 35 km/h, and advantageously comprised between 17 and 35 km/h.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the diffused warm air stream has a temperature comprised between 50 and 150° C.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the duration of the diffusion of the warm air stream is comprised between 1 min and 10 min, and for example on the order of 5 min.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the diffusion of the warm air stream comprises the simultaneous diffusion of a first warm air stream and of a second warm air stream on either side of the garment and towards the garment.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the first and second warm air streams are diffused respectively on two opposite sides of the garment.
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method, the first and second warm air streams are diffused over the garment symmetrically so that the result of the first and second warm air streams exerts a tension on the garment that is parallel to the surface of the garment.
The present invention further relates to a crease-removing cabinet for implementing the smoothing method according to the invention, the crease-removing cabinet comprising at least one air nozzle and one liquid spray nozzle carried by a carrier that is movable and configured to move along the garment.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the carrier is mounted vertically movable.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the crease-removing cabinet comprises an air nozzle configured to diffuse an air blade towards the garment.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the crease-removing cabinet comprises a first air nozzle and a second air nozzle that are configured to be arranged symmetrically on either side of the garment, the first and second air nozzles being configured to respectively diffuse a first air stream and a second air stream on either side of the garment and towards the garment.
According to one embodiment of the invention, each of the first and second air nozzles forms an angle comprised between 20° and 70° relative to a horizontal plane, and advantageously on the order of 45°.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the crease-removing cabinet comprises a first liquid spray bar and a second liquid spray bar that are configured to be arranged on either side of the garment and that are vertically offset from each other, the first and second liquid spray bars being configured to respectively diffuse a first liquid stream and a second liquid stream onto either side of the garment and towards the garment. Such a configuration of the first and second liquid spray bars ensures optimal liquid distribution on each side of the garment and across the full width of the garment, and thus an optimized smoothing of the garment.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the first liquid spray bar comprises a plurality of nozzles that are substantially aligned in a first alignment direction, and the second liquid spray bar comprises a plurality of nozzle openings that are substantially aligned in a second alignment direction. Advantageously, the first and second alignment directions are substantially horizontal.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the crease-removing cabinet comprises a hanger that is configured to support the garment and which comprises tensioning means configured to place the garment under tension.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the first air nozzle comprises a first air outlet opening that is arranged below the first liquid spray bar, and the second air nozzle comprises a second air outlet opening that is arranged below the second liquid spray bar.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the first air nozzle comprises a first heating device that is configured to heat the air circulating in the first air nozzle, and the second air nozzle comprises a second heating device that is configured to heat the air circulating in the second air nozzle.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the first and second air nozzles are configured to diffuse respectively a first air blade and a second air blade onto either side of the garment and towards the garment. Advantageously, each of the first and second air blades is oriented towards the garment and downwards. According to one embodiment of the invention, each of the first and second air blades extends over the entire width of the garment.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the first air outlet opening of the first air nozzle is elongated and extends substantially parallel to the first alignment direction, and the second air outlet opening of the second air nozzle is elongated and extends substantially parallel to the second alignment direction.
The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description with reference to the attached schematic drawings illustrating, by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment of this crease-removing cabinet.
As shown in
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the hanger 4 comprises a main body portion 5 which has an overall flattened shape and which comprises in particular a collar support portion 6 configured to support a collar portion of the garment to be smoothed. The hanger 4 further comprises a first shoulder support 7 which is adjustable and which is configured to support a first shoulder portion of the garment and a second shoulder support 8 which is also adjustable and which is configured to support a second shoulder portion of the garment. The first and second shoulder supports 7, 8 are advantageously slidably mounted between a retracted position and a deployed position so as to be able to adapt the width of an upper part of the hanger 4 to different sizes of clothing.
The hanger 4 also includes tensioning means configured to place the garment supported by the hanger 4 under tension in order to facilitate its smoothing. The tensioning means more particularly include flexible snap rings, for example made of composite or metal or plastic material, and a control mechanism (not shown in the figures) configured to move the flexible snap rings between a resting position and a tensioning position in which the flexible snap rings are elastically deformed and exert tension on the garment supported by the hanger 4.
Advantageously, the flexible snap rings comprise a first trunk snap ring 9 and a second trunk snap ring 10 configured to extend into a trunk portion of the garment supported by the hanger 4, and a first sleeve snap ring 11 and a second sleeve snap ring 12 configured to extend respectively into a first sleeve and a second sleeve of the garment supported by the hanger 4.
As shown in
As shown more particularly in
The processing unit 14 comprises a carrier 15 which extends substantially horizontally and which is mounted vertically movable in the smoothing chamber 3. The carrier 15 is configured to move along the garment, and advantageously comprises a through-opening 16 that is intended for the passage of the garment during the vertical movements of the carrier 15. The carrier 15 is more particularly moveable between a first position (see
Advantageously, the crease-removing cabinet 2 comprises a motorization system (not shown in the figures) that is configured to vertically move the carrier 15 between the first and second positions, and a guide system that is configured to guide the carrier 15 translationally during the vertical movements of the carrier 15. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the guide system comprises a first guide rail 17 and a second guide rail 18 that extend vertically and which are spaced apart from each other, and the carrier 15 comprises a first mounting portion 19 that is slidably mounted on the first guide rail 17 and a second mounting portion 20 that is slidably mounted on the second guide rail 18.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the motorization system may, for example, comprise at least one endless belt, for example notched, connected to the first mounting portion 19 and configured to slide the first mounting portion 19 along the first guide rail 17, at least one sprocket, preferably notched, configured to drive the endless belt, and a drive motor whose output shaft is rotationally coupled to the at least one sprocket.
The processing unit 14 further comprises a first support plate 21 that is moveably mounted on the carrier 15 in a first direction of travel D1 that is horizontal, and a second support plate 22 that is moveably mounted on the carrier 15 in a second direction of travel D2 that is horizontal and that is parallel to the first direction of travel D1. The first and second directions of travel D1, D2 are advantageously substantially perpendicular to a garment extension plane in which the garment to be smoothed is intended to extend.
The first and second support plates 21, 22 are more particularly configured to occupy a first configuration in which the first and second support plates 21, 22 are close together so as to be located near the garment to be processed, and a second configuration in which the first and second support plates 21, 22 are separated from one another so as to be located away from the garment to be processed.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the crease-removing cabinet 2 comprises a first motor (not shown in the figures) configured to move the first support plate 21 in the first direction of travel D1, and a second motor (not shown in the figures) configured to move the second support plate 22 in the second direction of travel D2.
Advantageously, the crease-removing cabinet 2 comprises a first guide device configured to guide the first support plate 21 when moving the first support plate 21 in the first direction of travel D1, and a second guide device configured to guide the second support plate 22 when moving the second support plate 22 in the second direction of travel D2.
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the first guide device comprises a first guide portion 23 and a second guide portion 24 that extend parallel to one another and are attached to the carrier 15, and a first slider 25 and a second slider 26 that are attached to the first support plate 21 and which are slidably mounted respectively on the first and second guide portions 23, 24. The second guide device comprises a primary guide portion 27 and a secondary guide portion 28 that extend parallel to one another and are attached to the carrier 15, and a primary slider 29 and a secondary slider 30 that are attached to the second support plate 22 and which are slidably mounted respectively on the primary and secondary guide portions 27, 28.
Advantageously, the first guide portion 23 and the primary guide portion 27 are formed by a first guide element, and the second guide portion 24 and the secondary guide portion 28 are formed by a second guide element that extends parallel to the first guide element.
The processing unit 14 further comprises a first liquid emission module 31 and a second liquid emission module 32 which are respectively carried by the first and second support plates 21, 22.
The first and second liquid emission modules 31, 32 respectively comprise a first liquid spray bar 33 and a second liquid spray bar 34 which are arranged on either side of the hanger 4, and which are therefore configured to be arranged on either side of the garment to be smoothed. The first and second liquid spray bars 33, 34 are more particularly configured to diffuse respectively a first liquid flow and a second liquid flow on either side of the garment and towards the garment.
As shown more particularly in
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the first liquid spray bar 33 consists of a first set of spray nozzles 35 that are substantially aligned in a first alignment direction, and the second liquid spray bar 34 consists of a second set of spray nozzles 36 that are substantially aligned in a second alignment direction. Advantageously, each of the first and second alignment directions is substantially horizontal. For example, each of the first and second spray bars 33, 34 may for example have between 2 and 10 spray nozzles 35, 36.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the spray nozzles 35, 36 of each spray bar 33, 34 are spaced between 5 and 25 cm apart, and for example about 17 cm apart.
As shown in
According to one embodiment of the invention, the liquid distribution tubes 37, 38 comprise an end for fluid connection to a water supply source.
As shown more particularly in
The first air nozzle 48 comprises a first air outlet opening 51 that is arranged below the first liquid spray bar 33, and the second air nozzle 49 comprises a second air outlet opening 52 that is arranged below the second liquid spray bar 34. Advantageously, the first air outlet opening 51 of the first air nozzle 48 is elongated and extends substantially parallel to the first alignment direction of the spray nozzles 35 of the first liquid spray bar 33, and the second air outlet opening 52 of the second air nozzle 49 is elongated and extends substantially parallel to the second direction of alignment of the spray nozzles 36 of the second liquid spray bar 34.
The first and second air nozzles 48, 49 are more particularly configured to diffuse respectively a first air blade and a second air blade on either side of the garment. Advantageously, each of the first and second air blades is oriented towards the garment and downwards, extending the full width of the garment.
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, each of the first and second air nozzles 48, 49 forms an angle comprised between 20° and 70° relative to a horizontal plane, and advantageously on the order of 45°. Thus, each of the first and second air blades flows towards the garment in a direction forming an angle comprised between 20° and 70° relative to the normal to the surface of the garment, and advantageously on the order of 45°.
Advantageously, the first air nozzle 48 comprises a first heating device 53 which is configured to heat the air circulating in the first air nozzle 48, and the second air nozzle 49 comprises a second heating device 54 which is configured to heat the air circulating in the second air nozzle 49.
The crease-removing cabinet 2 further comprises an air stream generator 55 (such as a blower) which is fluidly connected to each of the first and second air nozzles 48, 49. For example, the air stream generator 55 may be housed in a receiving chamber 56 that is separate from the smoothing chamber 3. For example, the receiving chamber 56 may be separated from the smoothing chamber 3 by a vertical separation wall 57 (see
The crease-removing cabinet 2 may further comprise a first air routing hose (not shown in the figures) connecting the air stream generator 55 to the first air nozzle 48, and a second air routing hose (not shown in the figures) connecting the air stream generator 55 to the second air nozzle 49.
The crease-removing cabinet 2 further comprises a control unit 62 which in particular is configured to control the vertical movements of the carrier 15, the horizontal movements of the first and second support plates 21, 22, the operation of the various heating means mentioned above, the operation of the air stream generator 55, and the water supply of the first and second liquid emission modules 31, 32.
A method for smoothing a garment using a crease-removing cabinet 2 according to the present invention will now be described. Such a smoothing method comprises the following steps:
According to one embodiment of the smoothing method according to the present invention, the duration of the step of humidifying the garment and placing it under tension may be comprised between 2 min and 10 min, and for example on the order of 5 min, and the duration of the step of drying the garment and placing it under tension may be comprised between 2 min and 10 min, and for example on the order of 5 min.
Advantageously, during the humidification and tensioning step, the first and second heating devices 53, 54 are not electrically powered such that the first and second air nozzles 48, 49 respectively diffuse a first cold air blade and a second cold air blade on either side of the garment. For example, the first and second cold air blades may be at room temperature, or below room temperature.
Advantageously, during the humidification and tensioning step, the air stream generator 55 is controlled such that each of the first and second diffused cold air blades flows at a moderate speed, for example comprised between 1 and 20 km/h over the surface of the garment.
Thus, during the humidification and tensioning step, the first and second cold air blades cool the garment in order to promote the humidification of the garment. In addition, the air stream generated by the first and second air outlet openings 51, 52, creates an air flow at the liquid spray bars 33, 34, enabling a more even distribution of the liquid on the garment.
In addition, the particular orientation of the first and second air nozzles 48, 49 generates, during the humidification and tensioning step, a local tension on the garment having an X, Y and Z component, thereby tensioning the garment in all directions.
Advantageously, during the drying and tensioning step, the air stream generator 55 is controlled such that each of the first and second diffused warm air blades flows at a moderate speed, for example comprised between 17 and 35 km/h over the surface of the garment, and has a temperature comprised between 50 and 150° C.
The particular orientation of the first and second air nozzles 48, 49 generates, during the drying and tensioning step, a local tension on the garment having an X, Y and Z component, thereby tensioning the garment in all directions while drying it in an optimal manner.
Therefore, in addition to benefiting from an overall processing in a humid smoothing chamber 3, the garment is processed locally (zone by zone) when the processing unit 14 descends along the full length of the garment, which makes it possible to obtain a satisfactory smoothing result in a reduced time and without any action by the user other than putting the garment on the hanger 4.
Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, since this embodiment was only provided by way of example. Modifications can still be made, specifically regarding the constitution of the various elements or by substituting equivalent techniques, without departing from the field of protection of the invention. Thus, in particular, the crease-removing cabinet 2 could comprise two air stream generators, each of which would be fluidly connected to one of the first and second air nozzles 48, 49, respectively, and additional heating means could be provided to heat the garment during the drying and tensioning step.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1913511 | Nov 2019 | FR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2020/082980 | 11/20/2020 | WO |