Patent Application
20170009395
The present invention relates generally to a portable non-immersion cleaning apparatus for cleaning a textile with abrading particles and drying the textile with air flow. More so, a portable non-immersion cleaning apparatus cleans a textile with minimal stress by scrubbing the textile in a rotating drum with abrading particles and a wet cleaning compound, and then drying the textile with air flow that does not require increased centrifugal forces on the textile, and further, increasing the air flow and reducing static pressure in the drum by forming an enhanced vacuum in a drum enclosure having rounded corners.
The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
It is known that a drape is a piece of cloth intended to block or obscure light, or drafts, or water in the case of a shower curtain. Drapes are often hung on the inside of a building's windows to block the passage of light, for instance at night to aid sleeping, or to stop light from escaping outside the building. Drapes come in a variety of shapes, materials, sizes, colors and patterns.
Typically, drapes are fabricated form a delicate material, and have multiple pleats, laces, and ornamental features. This requires the drapes to be cleaned separately from normal garments and textiles. Often, a washing machine creates great agitation and centrifugal forces. This type of agitation can damage the curtain. A dry cleaning machine that uses tetrachloroethylene, i.e., perc, may leave an undesirable chemical smell on the drapes.
In many instances, these methods of cleaning are unsuitable for cleaning many types of draperies including stage drapery, hotel blackout drapery, lined drapery and delicate fabrics. The weight of the liquids on the fabric fibers combined with the centrifugal force used to extract the liquids may cause cracking of the blackout drapery lining, shrinkage, fabric distortion, wrinkling and color fade.
Other machinery designed to clean upholstery and carpets has also been used to clean draperies. These machines are variations of vacuums, steam cleaners and liquid injection/extraction units. In the case of these style machines, difficulty in reaching the rear folded pleats combined with the lack of solid backing make the extraction process difficult, leaving moisture and soil in the drapery.
For the existing prior art regarding non-immersion cleaning machines designed to clean draperies, they have not been manufactured for many years, and none are currently available for sale. Some of the older machines are still in use. However, the machines had several key problems and are largely discarded. No recent activity can be found in any way related to our cleaning technology and drapery cleaning
Other proposals have involved non-immersion cleaning machines designed to clean draperies. The problem with these non-immersion cleaning machines is that they create stress on the textile and do not clean thoroughly between the pleats. Even though the above cited non-immersion cleaning machines meets some of the needs of the market, a portable non-immersion cleaning apparatus for cleaning a textile with abrading particles and drying the textile with air flow is still desired.
The present invention is directed to a portable non-immersion cleaning apparatus for cleaning a textile with finely ground abrading particles. A wet cleaning compound may be carried by the abrading particles to further enhance the cleaning process. In some embodiments, the portable non-immersion cleaning apparatus may clean the textile with minimal stress on the fabrics of the textile. This is accomplished by scrubbing the textile with the abrading particles in a rotating drum, and then drying the textile and removing the abrading particles through an air flow, rather than increased centrifugal forces generated from the rotating drum. The air flow is increased by forming a vacuum that forms in a drum enclosure. The vacuum is enhanced by rounding the corners of the drum enclosure, which not only increases the air flow through the drum, but also reduces static pressure in the drum.
The textile may include, without limitation, a drapery, a curtain, a hotel blackout drapery, lined drapery, children's stuffed animals, costumes, quilts, fabric art, furs, sheer style drapery, wool, cotton, silk drapery, and delicate fabrics. The textile may have pleats, folds, and hidden seams. The abrading particles serve to clean the textile through a grinding engagement action. The abrading particles effectively scrub off embedded dirt and soil from the textile as the drum rotates. The abrading particles may also serve as carriers for the wet cleaning compound, which also helps to clean the textile.
In some embodiments, the textile is substantially cleaned inside a rotating drum. The drum is defined by a generally cylindrical shape formed from cut rolled pieces of metal. The drum is sealed, so as to help maintain the vacuum in the adjacent drum enclosure. The drum includes a plurality of fins that engage the textile from multiple positions, agitating the textile through a tumbling action. The tumbling action of the drum and a plurality of fins that protrude from the drum agitate the textile, allowing the abrading particles and the wet cleaning compound to be massaged into the textile for a thorough cleaning The fins may include a plurality of apertures that are configured to enable passage of air flow through the drum. This is especially useful for drying the textile.
The drum comprises a door for inserting the textiles and regulating access. When closed, the door may be sealed with a sealing ring. This sealed disposition of the drum helps prevent the textile from snagging a surface or edge of the door while tumbling in the drum. A collar may protrude outwardly from the door to help prevent the textile form snagging or wedging into a crevice between the door and the drum. In one embodiment, the drum is actuated through a direct drive electric motor, which rotates the drum at low speed to minimize stress on the textile.
The drum is carried in a housing. The housing includes a base with at least one channel for enabling transport of the cleaning apparatus. For example, a fork from a forklift enters the channel and lifts the apparatus to a vehicle for transport. A drum enclosure is disposed between the drum and the housing. A vacuum forms in the drum enclosure. The vacuum serves to increase air flow through the drum, which helps expedite drying of the textile and the removal of abrading particles and dirt particles. The generally rounded corners of the drum enclosure enables formation of a more efficient vacuum.
After the textile has engaged the abrading particles for a predetermined duration, the textile is dried though subjection to an air flow while still being tumbled in the drum. It is significant to note that the rotational speed of the drum does not increase for this drying process. Thus, since a high speed centrifugal force is used to extract the abrading particles and wet cleaning compound, there is no damage to the fabric fibers. The air flow serves to remove the abrading particles, wet cleaning compound, dirt particles, and soil from the textile; and also from between the pleats, folds, and hidden seams. The aforementioned apertures in the fins may also be effective in directing the air flow into crevices of the pleats and folds of the textile.
For the final drying, or extraction cycle, an air blower creates an air flow through the drum. The velocity of the air flow is adjustable through a variable speed control on the air blower. Thus, cleaning with abrading particles, and then using air flow to dry the textile and remove the abrading particles is less stressful on the textile than fast spinning with high centrifugal force. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the velocity of the air flow may require increases or decreases as related to the weight of the draperies and the amount of pleats in the textile. In this manner, a stronger air stream may be applied to heavier textiles for removing the abrading particles therefrom.
A vacuum forms in a drum enclosure. The vacuum helps increases the velocity of the air flow from the drum to the at least one exhaust outside the housing. The drum enclosure is disposed between the drum and the housing, whereby the air flow is in communication between an inlet in the door of the drum, and at least one exhaust in the housing.
In the present invention, the vacuum formed in the drum enclosure is enhanced because the drum enclosure has rounded corners, which minimize the space between the drum and the housing. The generally rounded contour of the drum enclosure helps to reduce dead air in the vacuum, and thereby, improve static pressure and air flow through the drum. In one possible embodiment, the rounded corners of the drum enclosure may include a curved cowling, which reduces the amount of air in the drum enclosure by 50% thereby reducing loss of air flow and less static pressure.
As the drum rotates, the air flow generated by the air blower enters the drum through an inlet in the door. The air flow is then forced through the textile for removing the abrading particles and dirt particles therefrom. The air carries the abrading particles and dirt particles through the apertures in the fins, before finally being vented through at least one exhaust in the housing. Prior to discharge through the exhaust, the vented air flow may carry the abrading particles and dirt particles to a filter portion. The filter portion may include a disposable filter cloth, which is enclosed with removable panels to facilitate cleaning and maintenance. A bin is disposed towards a bottom end of the housing to catch residue soil and wet cleaning compound that falls to the bottom of the drum.
A control portion regulates components of the cleaning apparatus. In one possible embodiment, the control portion comprises a microprocessor that dynamically controls the speed of an air blower and the rotation cycles of the drum through the direct drive motor. This enables infinite combinations of cycles. The control portion may further include pre-programmed settings that enable switching between cycles depending on the type of textiles being cleaned. An emergency shut-off switch allows the direct drive motor to be quickly powered off. A master electrical panel containing circuitry for powering the apparatus mounts at the rear of the housing.
It is one objective of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus that uses abrading particles that carry a wet cleaning compound for cleaning drapes and delicate textiles.
It is another objective to inhibit lighter textiles from snagging onto the door through a sealing ring and a collar that restrict engagement between the textile and a crevice between the door and the drum.
It is another objective to provide a drum casing that greatly improves air flow and assists in maintaining stable static pressure during an extraction cycle.
Yet another objective is to provide a drum enclosure that reduces loss of air flow and static pressure by using rounded cowlings for the corners.
Yet another objective is to enable custom programming of cleaning cycles depending on the type of textile to be cleaned.
Yet another objective is to eliminate the need for a second air blower by using a microprocessor in the control portion that allows the air blower to be run at a low speed during rotation cycle, thereby creating low negative air pressure.
Yet another objective is to eliminate the need for pulleys through the use of an electric direct drive motor.
Yet another objective is to enable facilitated interchangeability of direct drive motors.
Yet another objective is to easily clean the filter portion without interrupting the cleaning cycle.
Yet another objective is to improve operator safety with an emergency shut-off switch.
Yet another objective is to provide a cleaning apparatus that is mobile for carrying to a customer location to clean the textile.
Yet another objective is to provide a non-immersion cleaning apparatus that is generally inexpensive to manufacture and easy to operate.
Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims and drawings.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
The textile is dried, and the abrading particles removed through the use of air flow, rather than by generating increased centrifugal forces with rotating drum 114. The air flow is increased by forming a vacuum that forms in a drum enclosure 132. The vacuum is enhanced by rounding the corners of drum enclosure 132 to increase the air flow, and reduce static pressure in drum 114. A control portion 138 regulates air flow and rotational velocity of drum 114. A housing 102 encompasses and supports drum 114. Housing 102 comprises a base 104 with at least one channel 106 that is configured to receive a fork from a forklift to allow portable non-immersion cleaning apparatus 100 to be transported for cleaning at multiple sites.
Portable non-immersion cleaning apparatus 100, hereafter, “cleaning apparatus 100” is configured to clean a textile in a substantially non-liquid environment. The textile is substantially cleaned inside a rotating drum 114. The tumbling action of drum 114 and a plurality of fins 116a-b that protrude from drum 114 agitate the textile, allowing the abrading particles and the wet cleaning compound to be massaged into the textile for a thorough cleaning
As referenced in
The textile may include, without limitation, a drapery, a curtain, a hotel blackout drapery, lined drapery, children's stuffed animals, costumes, quilts, fabric art, furs, sheer style drapery, wool, cotton, silk drapery, and delicate fabrics. The textile may have pleats, folds, and hidden seams. The abrading particles serve to clean the textile through a grinding engagement action. The abrading particles effectively scrub off embedded dirt and soil from the textile as the drum 114 rotates. The abrading particles may also serve as carriers for the wet cleaning compound, which also helps to clean the textile.
In essence, cleaning apparatus 100 performs the cleaning by use of very finely ground abrading particles such as very finely ground sawdust, powders, or the like. The abrading particles may be chemically reacting or nonchemical reacting, and used along with any liquid or semiliquid cleaning compound, including, a liquid or emulsion; chemically reacting or non-chemically reacting. The cleaning process is a non-immersion process where the textile comes into contact with the dampened, slightly abrading particles, i.e., the mixture of the abrading particles and the wet cleaning compound.
Turning towards
Furthermore, all the components required for operation of cleaning apparatus 100 are built on-board the housing such that it can moved from in-plant or installed in-truck to provide a mobile drapery cleaning unit where practicable, and an in-plant solution when not. In some embodiments, at least one power connection and at least one exhaust 108 in the housing 102 are designed to be able to be un-plugged and re-plugged easily between mobile and plant depending.
As shown in
As illustrated in
In one embodiment, the rotation of the drum is actuated through a direct drive motor 134, which rotates drum 114 at low speed to minimize stress on the textile. Direct drive motor 134 is visible from the top view of
In some embodiments, direct drive motor 134 may include an electric direct drive motor 134. It is significant to note that use of a direct drive motor 134 negates the need for pulleys for rotating drum 114. Additionally, the gears for operation have been separated from the motor. In this manner, in the event of a motor failure, a commonly available motor may be easily swapped out, thereby minimizing downtime for cleaning apparatus 100.
As shown in
When closed, door 120 may be sealed with a sealing ring 124. This sealed disposition of drum 114 helps prevent the textile from snagging a surface or edge of door 120 while tumbling in drum 114. The collar 144 of door 120 may protrude outwardly from the door 120 to help prevent the textile from snagging or wedging into a crevice between door 120 and drum 114.
Drum 114 further includes a plurality of fins 116a-b that engage the textile from multiple positions, agitating the textile through a tumbling action. Fins 116a-b may include a plurality of apertures that are configured to enable passage of air flow through the drum 114. This is especially useful for drying the textile.
After the textile has engaged the abrading particles for a predetermined duration, the textile is dried though subjection to an air flow while still being tumbled in drum 114. It is significant to note that the rotational speed of drum 114 does not increase for this drying process. Thus, since a high speed centrifugal force is used to extract the abrading particles and wet cleaning compound, there is no damage to the fabric fibers. The air flow serves to remove the abrading particles, wet cleaning compound, dirt particles, and soil from the textile; and also from between the pleats, folds, and hidden seams. The aforementioned apertures in fins 116a-b may also be effective in directing the air flow into crevices of the pleats and folds of the textile.
Since cleaning apparatus 100 utilizes a nonwetting (non-immersion) cleaning method, the fabric of the textile is not subjected to stress. This is because a high speed rotating drum and strong centrifugal forces are not used for drying the textile and removing abrading particles; and thus, there is no damage to the fibers of the textile. Thus, cleaning with abrading particles, and then removing the abrading particles, wet cleaning compound, and soil particles with air flow is generally not stressful on the textile.
For the final drying, or extraction cycle, an air blower 140 creates the air flow through drum 114 and the textile. Air blower 140 may include a tube with a vented terminus that enables air flow to discharge from the housing 102 (
Looking now at
In the present invention, the vacuum formed in drum enclosure 132 is enhanced because drum enclosure 132 has rounded corners, which minimize the space between the drum 114 and housing 102. The generally rounded contour of drum enclosure 132 helps to reduce dead air in the vacuum, and thereby, improve static pressure and air flow through drum 114. Those skilled in the art, in light of the present teachings, will recognize that by rounding out the corners of drum enclosure 132, and specifically using a curved cowling, the amount of air in drum enclosure 132 is reduced by about 50%, thereby reducing loss of air flow and also reducing the static pressure.
As drum 114 rotates, the air flow generated by air blower 140 enters drum 114 through the inlet in door 120. The air flow is then forced through the textile for removing the abrading particles and dirt particles therefrom. The air carries the abrading particles and dirt particles through the apertures that are located in the fins 116a-b, before finally being vented through exhaust 108.
Prior to discharge through exhaust 108, the air flow carries the abrading particles and dirt particles to a filter portion 110, shown in
As referenced in
Thus, with microprocessor software controls and a digital flat screen interface, custom cleaning cycles can be created specific to the types of textile being cleaned. This enables cleaning apparatus 100 to dry clean more types of textiles, and thus greatly increase the addressable market. Further benefits of the microprocessor in control portion 138 are that air blower 140 can be run at a low speed during rotation cycle creating low negative air pressure and eliminating the need for additional blower fans.
Further, using the microprocessor with software enables the air blower 140 to be started with a custom start sequence that minimizes the startup load of the air blower, which is suitable for mobile power applications. In one embodiment, a master electrical panel 118 mounts to the rear of housing 102 and provides the necessary circuitry for powering direct drive motor 134 and air blower 140.
These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings.
Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.
