Device and method for cleaning and drying textiles

Abstract

 A device for cleaning and drying textiles, includes a closed body (2) provided with at least a first aperture (3) and a second aperture (4); the body communicates with at least a delivery means (6) for delivering a flow of hot air, and has a distribution means (7), at said second aperture, for a controlled distribution of said hot air.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and a method for cleaning and drying textiles.

[0002] It is known that spots or smudges on textiles, such as articles of clothing, are eliminated by means of solvents that are effective but also exhale toxic vapors.

[0003] For the above reason, the cleaning operation is performed inside adapted cabins or booths provided with vent devices for eliminating the toxic vapors.

[0004] The vent devices normally provided in the cleaning booths do not guarantee a complete aspiration of the solvent vapors which therefore can be inhaled by the operators.

[0005] To obviate this inconvenience, the present cleaning booths are provided with work tables adapted to aspirate vapors directly from the fabrics laid thereon. In this manner the vapors, generated by the solvents which are sprayed on the fabrics by adapted guns, are completely aspirated.

[0006] It is apparent however that in order to remove a spot, the fabric must be arranged on the work table so that the spot to be removed is centered on the aspiration zone of the work table. A great waste of solvent is caused by spraying the solvent directly on the spot because it is immediately removed by the aspiration device sometimes even before it has acted on the spot. The fabric must also be dried afterwards by using pressurized air which produces further solvent vapors and must be aimed correctly at the spotted fabric.

[0007] All of the above entails a complicated operation for the operator especially when the spots are small and spaced apart.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the prior art inconveniences described above.

[0009] Within the above aim, an object of the invention is provide a device and a method for cleaning and drying textiles with a rapid and easy operation without difficult centering operations of the spot.

[0010] A further object of the invention is provide a device and a method, for cleaning and drying textiles, that allow the operator to use just one hand, leaving the other hand free for any other operation.

[0011] Still a further object of the invention is provide a device and a method for cleaning and drying textiles, wherein the formation of solvent vapors is virtually eliminated ensuring a safe working environment for the operator.

[0012] Still a further object of the invention is provide a device and a method for cleaning and drying textiles which prevent any damage to the textiles caused by abrasion or excessive use of solvent.

[0013] The above technical aim, as well as those objects, are achieved by a device for cleaning and drying textiles, characterized in that it comprises a closed body provided with at least a first aperture and a second aperture, said body communicating with at least a delivery means for delivering a second flow of hot air, said body having a distribution means, at said second aperture, for a controlled distribution of said hot air.

[0014] The method according to the above device is characterized in that it comprises hitting a portion of the textile to be cleaned first with a solvent and then with a first hot air flow simultaneously with a second hot air flow having an opposite direction to said first flow for aspirating said solvent and its vapors.

[0015] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent by the following description of an embodiment of the invention, illustrated, by way of example in the enclosed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a broken view of the device for cleaning and drying textiles according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross section view of the device for cleaning and drying textiles of FIG. 1, according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a variated embodiment of the device according to the invention.

[0016] With reference to the above figures, the device according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a closed body 2 provided with at least a first aperture 3 and a second aperture 4; aperture 3 is coaxial to aperture 4.

[0017] Body 2 is substantially shaped as a truncated cone and second aperture 4 is larger than first aperture 3.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, body 2 can be in communication, through first aperture 3, with aspiration means 31 of a second hot air flow, for example by means of a conduit 5, and is also in communication with delivery means 32 for delivering a first hot air flow, through a conduit 6.

[0019] Conveniently, the air delivered through conduit 6 is hot air which is subsequently distributed at second aperture 4 through a controlled distribution means, generally designated by reference numeral 7.

[0020] In particular, the controlled distribution means has a diffuser 8 provided with a plurality of holes 33 arranged mutually aligned and at the same distance from the edge of second aperture 4.

[0021] In particular, diffuser 8 extends radially inside body 2 and may be regulated, by means of a command 30, to be closer or further from the edge of second aperture in order to spray the first hot air flow with more or less strength on the textile to be cleaned.

[0022] In a variated embodiment of the invention, the diffuser can also rotate about an axis substantially through the center of first aperture 3 and the center of second aperture 4.

[0023] The rotation of the diffuser allows to hit a greater area of the textile preventing the operator from turning the entire body 2.

[0024] The diffuser may be operated for example by a motor 9 supported by side brackets 10 on body 2 so that the second hot air flow is not obstructed.

[0025] A grip 11 is provided on a side of body 2 and is dampened, for example by means of rubber blocks 12, for ensuring a virtually constant pressure, of the edge 13 of second aperture 4 on the textile, regardless of the force exerted by the operator on the grip.

[0026] Body 2 is also provided with at least one nozzle 14 for spraying the solvent on the spots of the textile to be cleaned.

[0027] Nozzle 14 is arranged in a seat 15 external to body 2 and communicating with the inside of body 2 for example by means of a plurality of windows 16.

[0028] In this manner, besides allowing to easily aim the solvent at the spots to be eliminated, the formation of solvent vapor is prevented also because the second air flow sucks the atomized solvent which has not reached the textile through apertures 16.

[0029] Furthermore, for ensuring a perfect seal between body 2 and seat 15 with the textile, at least the edge of aperture 4 is provided with a seal member constituted, for example, by a round metallic ring 13 which allows body 2 to slide on the textile without damaging the textile and at the same time allows the solvent vapors and the first and second air flows to perform optimally.

[0030] A light source, not illustrated, may be provided at the nozzle 14 for outlining the spots to be eliminated and for allowing the operator to exactly determine the nozzle operating range in order to hit the spots precisely and conserve solvent.

[0031] The above described device is used in a method for cleaning and drying a textile according to the invention.

[0032] Namely, the method consists of hitting a portion of the textile to be cleaned from one or more spots with a solvent and then with a second air flow and simultaneously with a first hot air flow having a direction opposite to that of the second air flow in order to guarantee the complete aspiration and drying of the solvent and of its vapors sprayed on the spot for eliminating the spot.

[0033] Namely, the hot air of the first flow has a selected temperature, according to the type and quantity of solvent, and has a speed greater than the speed of the second air flow in order to reach and hit the spot on the textile with a certain strength and then be aspirated, together with the solvent vapors by the second air flow.

[0034] In practice, there will be a second air flow ascending at the lateral surface of body 2 and a first air flow mainly at the center zone of body 2; the first air flow will hit the textile and then be aspirated by the second air flow together with the vapor solvents.

[0035] The operation of the device according to the invention is apparent from the foregoing description.

[0036] In particular, after depositing a selected quantity of solvent on the spot to be eliminated from the textile, the spot has to be surrounded by the edge 13 of the second aperture 4 and, by operating adapted push buttons 20 on the grip 11, the first hot air flow is sent on the spot, which is wet with solvent, in order to dry the textile and remove the spot, and simultaneously the second air flow removes the vapors and is eliminated through conduit 5.

[0037] In this manner, when the operator identifies a spot to be eliminated, he or she can remove the spot with a simple operation, by delivering a selected quantity of solvent, without generating vapors and without rubbing the textile.

[0038] The device and method according to the invention may have numerous modifications and variations, all within the inventive concept; furthermore, all the details may be substituted with technically equivalent elements.

[0039] The materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the specific needs and the state of the art.

[0040] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning and drying textiles, characterized in that it comprises a closed body (2) provided with at least a first aperture (3) and a second aperture (4), said body communicating with at least a delivery means (6) for delivering a second flow of hot air, said body having a distribution means (7), at said second aperture, for a controlled distribution of said hot air.

2. The device, according to claim 1, characterized in that said body is in communication with aspiration means (31) of a second air flow having a speed which is lower than the speed of said first air flow.

3. The device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said hot air controlled distribution means (7) have a diffuser (8) provided with a plurality of holes (33) arranged inside said body (2) and spaced from an edge (13) of said second aperture.

4. The device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said body has a substantially truncated cone shape and in that said second aperture (4) is coaxial to said first aperture (3) and is larger than said first aperture.

5. The device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said diffuser (8) is adjustable inside said body to be closer to or further from said edge (13).

6. The device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said diffuser rotates about an axis passing at the centers of said first and second apertures.

7. The device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a grip (11) associated with said body for moving said body.

8. The device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one nozzle 814) for spraying solvent.

9. The device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one nozzle is arranged in a seat (15) arranged externally to said body and communicating with the inside of said body.

10. The device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said edge of said second aperture has a seal member (13) providing a seal with the textile to be cleaned.

11. The device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a light source associated with said body for lighting and indicating the operating range of said nozzle.

12. The device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said grip is dampened on said body for providing a constant pressure of said edge on said textile independently from the pressure exerted by the operator on said grip.

13. A method for cleaning and drying textiles, characterized in that it comprises hitting a portion of the textile to be cleaned first with a solvent and then with a first hot air flow simultaneously with a second hot air flow having an opposite direction to said first flow for aspirating said solvent and its vapors.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that hot air of said first flow has a temperature selected according to the type and quantity of solvent used and has a speed greater than the speed of said second flow.

15. The method, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first flow is produced substantially in a central zone of said second flow.

Drawing