|
(11) | EP 4 249 661 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | METHOD FOR PREPARING AT LEAST ONE TEXTILE ITEM OF REUSABLE TYPE INTENDED FOR CLEANING A SURFACE |
| (57) The present invention relates to a method (1) for preparing at least one textile
item of reusable type intended for cleaning a surface. The peculiar feature of the present invention lies in the fact that said method (1) comprises the following phases: - implementing a wash cycle (10) for washing said at least one reusable textile item in a rotary basket (101) of a washing machine (100), in particular of the industrial type, wherein said wash cycle (10) comprises an impregnation phase (14) for impregnating said at least one reusable textile item with at least one active principle, in particular a detergent; - implementing a drying cycle (20) for drying said at least one reusable textile item, wherein said drying cycle (20) is executed in a second rotary basket (201) of a dryer (200), in particular of the industrial type, wherein said drying cycle (20) comprises a desiccation phase (21) for desiccating said at least one reusable textile item, so that, at the end of the desiccation phase (21), the active principle used in said impregnation phase (14) is reactivable by submerging the reusable textile item in water. |
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for preparing at least one textile item of reusable type intended for cleaning a surface, in accordance with claim 1.
[0003] In this frame, it is known in the art to use a first type of item for cleaning a surface, i.e. a non-reusable, or disposable, technical item typically made of paper or a similar perishable material.
[0004] Surface cleaning items of this first type are usually available on the market already moistened with water and a solution of one or more chemicals, and the user can use them only once, usually without having to take any preliminary action, i.e. without having to impregnate them with any active principle prior to using them for cleaning a surface. However, disposable cleaning items suffer from many substantial drawbacks, mainly due to the fact that such non-reusable items must necessarily be disposed of after use, resulting in a remarkable adverse impact on the environment, also considering that they will have been contaminated by the dirt removed from the treated surface.
[0005] A second type of surface cleaning items is also known in the art, which consists of a reusable textile technical item, which is impregnated with at least one separate detergent product and diluted with water before use; in this regard, it should be noted that the term "textile item" refers to mops, technical cloths, strips, gauzes and other similar items that are commonly employed for cleaning a surface.
[0006] In this frame, it must however be pointed out that also the reusable textile items known in the art have a number of drawbacks.
[0007] As a matter of fact, since the reusable textile items known in the art are impregnated with detergent entirely at the user's discretion, this results in constant and uncontrolled utilization of detergent products before using said reusable textile items, with no assurance that after each use such reusable textile items will be washed, sanitized and correctly impregnated with the required detergent.
[0008] It is therefore apparent that the reusable textile items known in the art have a very negative environmental impact, which derives from a totally uncontrolled utilization thereof.
[0009] Another drawback of the reusable textile items known in the art is that they, due to uncontrolled use of detergent products and transport of the aqueous solution contaminated by the removed dirt, inevitably imply greater chemical and biological risks for the operator in the first place, and also for any other people who may be present in the area being cleaned and/or where said contaminated aqueous solution is being transported.
[0010] Another drawback of the reusable textile items known in the art lies in that fact that they imply that aqueous solutions with high concentrations of pollutants are mostly disposed of at the very place of use, without undergoing any specific purification treatment.
[0011] In this frame, it is the main object of the present invention to provide a method for preparing at least one textile item of reusable type intended for cleaning a surface, wherein said method has been so conceived as to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.
[0012] In particular, it is one object of the present invention to provide a method for preparing at least one textile item of reusable type intended for cleaning a surface which has been conceived to permit a controlled and constant utilization of the detergent products necessary for using the reusable textile item, while at the same time giving adequate assurance that said reusable textile item will be washed, sanitized and correctly impregnated, when dry, with the necessary detergent, in terms of both the amount and the quality of such detergent.
[0013] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for preparing at least one textile item of reusable type intended for cleaning a surface, wherein said method has been conceived to permit a controlled utilization of the reusable textile item, such as to avoid any adverse environmental impact and also any chemical and biological risks for an operator and for any other people near the area being cleaned and/or the area where the contaminated aqueous solution is being transported.
[0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for preparing a textile item of reusable type intended for cleaning a surface which has been conceived to prevent aqueous solutions with high concentrations of pollutants from being mostly disposed of at the place of use without undergoing any specific purification treatment.
[0015] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for preparing at least one textile item of reusable type intended for cleaning a surface which has been conceived to univocally identify said at least one textile item, in particular to obtain an accurate and exact account on the textile items treated by means of the method according to the present invention.
[0016] Said objects are achieved by the present invention through a method for preparing at least one textile item of reusable type intended for cleaning a surface incorporating the features set out in the appended claims, which are intended as an integral part of the present description.
[0017] Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following detailed description and the annexed drawings, which are provided herein merely by way of non-limiting explanatory example, wherein:
- Fig. 1A shows a block diagram of a washing machine, in particular of the industrial type, adapted to implement a method for preparing at least one textile item of reusable type intended for cleaning a surface according to the present invention;
- Fig. 1B shows a block diagram of a dryer, in particular of the industrial type, adapted to implement the method according to the present invention;
- Fig. 2 shows an illustrative block diagram of the method for preparing at least one textile item of reusable type intended for cleaning a surface according to the present invention.
[0018] Describing now the annexed drawings, reference numeral 1 in Figure 1A designates as a whole a washing machine, in particular of the industrial type, for washing at least one reusable textile item, and adapted to implement, at least partially, a method for preparing a textile item of reusable type intended for cleaning a surface in accordance with the present invention.
[0019] The washing machine 100 comprises a basket 101 mounted inside a tub 102, wherein the basket 101 is connected to an actuator 103 (e.g. an electric motor) for causing the basket 101 to rotate within said tub 102, and wherein said basket 101 is adapted to internally contain at least one reusable textile item (not shown in the annexed drawings) intended for cleaning a surface.
[0020] As previously explained herein, said at least one reusable textile item may comprise a mop and/or a technical cloth and/or a strip and/or a gauze and/or other similar elements which are commonly employed for cleaning a surface.
[0021] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, said at least one reusable textile item is made of microfibre, in particular about 80% polyester and about 20% polyamide; it may then be so manufactured as to comprise at least one electronic tag that allows it to be univocally identified; for example, said at least one electronic tag (which may be an RFID tag) may be positioned in a suitable pocket associated with the reusable textile item. Moreover, said at least one reusable textile item preferably comprises a plurality of reusable textile items contained in said basket 101. In this regard, and merely by way of example, each textile item may preferably have a size of approximately 40cm (length) x 11cm (width) and a weight of approximately 40 grams when consisting of a mop, or approximately 36cm (length) x 36cm (width) and a weight of approximately 35 grams when consisting of a technical cloth.
[0022] The washing machine 100 comprises also a hydraulic circuit 104 associated with the tub 102 and with the basket 101 to supply a washing liquid into said basket 101 and for draining said washing liquid from said basket 101; as is known, the supply and drain of the washing liquid occur in accordance with predetermined work cycles. By way of example, the hydraulic circuit 104 may comprise, in a per se known manner, connections to the main pipe, connections to the drain pipe, valves for controlling the inlet/outlet flows into/from the tub 102, a pump for removing the washing liquid via said connections to the drain pipe, and so forth.
[0023] Depending on the type of operation to be carried out, the washing liquid may comprise water and/or one or more washing agents or other substances useful for treating the textile items.
[0024] The washing machine 100 further comprises a heating device 105, e.g. in the form of a suitably supplied electric resistor, for heating up the liquid for treating the textile items. Said resistor may be positioned inside the tub 102, e.g. in a bottom portion of said tub 102, i.e. in proximity to a bottom edge of the tub 102.
[0025] The washing machine 100 further comprises a control unit 110 associated with the other components of the washing machine 100 (i.e. associated with the tub 102 and the associated basket 101, the actuator 103, the hydraulic circuit 104, and the heating device 105) for controlling the functions and the operation of the washing machine 100 and for executing the method that will be described hereinafter.
[0026] With reference to Figure 1B, it shows a block diagram of a dryer, in particular of the industrial type, designated as a whole by reference numeral 200.
[0027] The dryer 200 comprises a second basket 201 mounted inside a second tub 202, wherein the second basket 201 is connected to a second actuator 203 (which may comprise, still by way of example, an electric motor) for causing the second basket 201 to rotate within said second tub 202, and wherein said second basket 201 is adapted to internally contain at least one reusable textile item intended for cleaning a surface.
[0028] The dryer 200 comprises also a drying system 207 for drying said at least one reusable textile item loaded in said second basket 201. Preferably, said drying system 207 comprises a second heating device 207A for heating up the air that needs to be circulated through the second basket 201, and an operating element 207B for permitting air circulation through the second basket 201.
[0029] By way of example, the second heating device 207A may be implemented as an electric resistor, suitably supplied and positioned to intercept the air flow that needs to be circulated through the second basket 201 in order to desiccate the contents of said second basket 201; moreover, said operating element 207B may be implemented as a fan or a blower adapted to generate an air flow that, after having been intercepted by the second heating device 207A, flows through the second basket 201 in order to perform the desiccation action on the items placed in the second basket 201; in the case of the present invention, said items consist of said at least one reusable textile item intended for cleaning a surface.
[0030] Preferably, the drying system 207 comprises at least one sensor 207C associated with the second basket 201 for measuring the temperature of said at least one textile item during a desiccation cycle and for adjusting the operation of the second heating device 207A and/or of the operating element 207B as a function of the sensed temperature; in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said at least one sensor 207C comprises at least one infrared sensor.
[0031] The dryer 200 further comprises a second control unit 210 associated with the other components of said dryer 200 (i.e. associated with the second tub 202 and the associated second basket 201, the second actuator 203, and the drying system 207) for controlling the functions and the operation of the dryer 200 and for executing the method in accordance with the present invention.
[0032] With particular reference to the block diagram shown in Fig. 2, there is schematically shown a method (designated as a whole by reference numeral 1) according to the present invention for preparing a textile item of reusable type intended for cleaning a surface.
[0033] The method 1 comprising the following phases:
- implementing a wash cycle (designated as a whole by reference numeral 10), in particular in a rotary basket 101 of a washing machine 100, preferably of the industrial type, wherein said wash cycle 10 comprises an impregnation phase 14 for impregnating at least one reusable textile item with at least one active principle, in particular a detergent;
- implementing a drying cycle (designated as a whole by reference numeral 20) for drying said at least one reusable textile item, in particular said drying cycle 20 being executed in a second rotary basket 201 of a dryer 200, preferably of the industrial type, wherein said drying cycle 20 comprises a desiccation phase 21 for desiccating said at least one reusable textile item,
[0034] In substance, the reactivation of said active principle is achieved by means of a reactivation phase (indicated in Fig. 2 by reference numeral 30), wherein the textile item is submerged in plain water, i.e. without adding any other substances or products to the water. In particular, said reactivation phase 30 for reactivating the active principle in the textile item (following the impregnation phase 14 and the desiccation phase 21) can be effected by using a quantity of water in the range of 1 ml to 10 ml per gram of weight of the textile item, in particular about 3.75 ml of water per gram, so as to obtain, in the solution impregnated in the textile item following the reactivation with water, a residual PH in the range of 7.4 to 9.9, preferably a residual PH of about 8.2.
[0035] Preferably, during said impregnation phase 14 an impregnating product is supplied into the wash basket 101 of the washing machine 100, through the hydraulic circuit 104, in a dose ranging from 13 to 20 millilitres per kilogram of weight of the reusable textile items to be subjected to the impregnation phase 14, preferably 16 ml/kg.
[0036] In this frame, the impregnating substance used in the impregnation phase 14 (defined as "impregnating product") preferably comprises anionic surfactants of vegetable origin, non-ionic surfactants and calcium carbonate. In this regard, the Applicant has found the Emerald Easy™ product by Sutter to be particularly effective; it is nevertheless apparent that the method of the present invention may also be implemented by using another similar or different impregnating product.
[0037] Furthermore, said impregnation phase 14 is preferably carried out through the following steps, managed by the control unit 110 of the washing machine 100:
- activating a hydraulic circuit 104 of the washing machine 100 so as to supply into the basket 101 an impregnating liquid (which comprises water supplemented with the active principle, or "impregnating product" used in the impregnation phase 14) in a total bath/volume ratio of 1:5 to 1:9, preferably about 1:7;
- activating a heating device 105 of the washing machine 100 so as to obtain a temperature of the impregnating liquid of 20 to 40 Celsius degrees, preferably about 30 Celsius degrees;
- activating an actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 to obtain a rotation of the basket 101 for a time interval of 7 to 15 minutes, preferably about 11 minutes, and to obtain a revolution speed of said basket 101 suitable to generate a relative centrifugal force, or "G force", of 0.6 to 0.8, preferably 0.7.
[0038] Preferably, during the impregnation phase 14 said step of activating the actuator 103 is so conducted as to obtain a revolution speed of the basket 101 of 20 to 40 revolutions per minute, preferably about 30 revolutions per minute.
[0039] As regards the desiccation phase 21, it is conducted in a second rotary basket 201 of a dryer 200, in particular of the industrial type, through the following steps, managed by a second control unit 210 of said dryer 200:
- activating a drying system 207 of said dryer 200 to obtain, in the second basket 201, a temperature of 100°C to 140°C, preferably a temperature of about 120°C;
- activating said drying system 207 for a time of 25 to 45 minutes, preferably about 35 minutes.
[0040] In this respect, it should be noted that the second control unit 210 of the dryer 200 can drive or control the drying system 207 in such a way as to adjust the duration of the desiccation phase 21 as a function of the temperature of said at least one reusable textile item positioned in the second rotary basket 201 of the dryer 200, wherein said temperature is sensed by at least one sensor 207C, in particular of the infrared type; preferably, in addition to being controlled by the second control unit 210 of said dryer 200, said at least one sensor 207C is comprised in the drying system 207 of said dryer 200.
[0041] In accordance with the present invention, the drying cycle 20 of the method 1 according to the present invention comprises a cooling phase 22 for gradually cooling said at least one textile item, which is carried out at the end of the desiccation phase 21, wherein said gradual cooling phase 22 is governed by the second control unit 210 as a function of the temperature sensed by said at least one sensor 207C, and wherein during said cooling phase 22 the second control unit 210 of the dryer 200 activates the drying system 207 so as to gradually reduce the temperature of said at least one reusable textile item within a range of 35°C to 45°C, preferably about 40°C; in particular, said cooling phase 22 is carried out by suitably controlling, by means of said second control unit 210, a second heating device 207A and an operating element 207B (both included in said drying system 207 of the dryer 200) as a function of the temperature sensed by said at least one sensor 207C.
[0042] Preferably, the wash cycle 10 of the method 1 according to the present invention comprises at least one wash phase 12 and at least one respective rinse phase 13 that precede the impregnation phase 14.
[0043] In particular, said wash phase 12 is preferably carried out through the following steps, also managed by the control unit 110 of the washing machine 100:
- activating the hydraulic circuit 104 of the washing machine 100 so as to supply into the basket 101 a washing liquid (which comprises water supplemented with at least one detergent substance) in a total bath/volume ratio of 1:3 to 1:7, preferably about 1:5;
- activating the heating device 105 of the washing machine 100 so as to obtain a temperature of the washing liquid of 55°C to 65°C, preferably a temperature of about 60°C;
- activating the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 to obtain a rotation of the basket 101 for a time interval of 10 to 30 minutes, preferably for a time interval of 15 to 20 minutes, and to obtain a revolution speed of said basket 101 suitable to generate a relative centrifugal force (G force) of 0.6 to 0.8, preferably 0.7.
[0044] Preferably, during the wash phase 12 said step of activating the actuator 103 is so conducted as to obtain a revolution speed of the basket 101 of 20 to 40 revolutions per minute, preferably about 30 revolutions per minute.
[0045] In particular, during said wash phase 12 the water may be supplemented with one or more of the following substances:
- a concentrated complete enzymatic detergent (such as, for example, the Enzy Extra™ product by Sutter or a similar product) in a dose of 3 to 10 ml/kg, preferably 5 ml/kg,
- a highly concentrated alkalizer with sequestering power and anti-redeposition action (such as, for example, the Alka Power™ product by Sutter or a similar product), in a dose of 7 to 15 ml/kg, preferably 10 ml/kg,
- a disinfectant with bactericidal and fungicidal action (such as, for example, the Per Active™ product by Sutter or a similar product) in a dose of 5 to 13 ml/kg, preferably 7 ml/kg.
[0046] If, during said wash phase 12, the water is supplemented with all three of the above-mentioned substances, said disinfectant should be conveniently introduced into the basket 101 with a delay of 200 to 300 seconds, preferably 300 seconds, from the introduction of the other two mentioned substances.
[0047] As far as said rinse phase 13 is concerned, it is preferably carried out through the following steps, also managed by the control unit 110 of the washing machine 100:
- activating the hydraulic circuit 104 of the washing machine 100 so as to supply into the basket 101 a rinsing liquid (consisting of water only) in a total bath/volume ratio of 1:3 to 1:7, preferably about 1:5;
- activating a heating device 105 of the washing machine 100 so as to obtain a temperature of the rinsing liquid of 35°C to 45°C, preferably about 40°C;
- activating the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 to obtain a rotation of the basket 101 for a time interval of 3 to 10 minutes, preferably about 5 minutes, and to obtain a revolution speed of said basket 101 suitable to generate a relative centrifugal force (G force) of 0.6 to 0.8, preferably 0.7.
[0048] Preferably, during the rinse phase 13 said step of activating the actuator 103 is so conducted as to obtain a revolution speed of the basket 101 of 20 to 40 revolutions per minute, preferably about 30 revolutions per minute.
[0049] The wash cycle 10 of the method 1 according to the present invention may further comprise at least one pre-wash phase 11 that precedes said at least one wash phase 12.
[0050] In particular, said at least one pre-wash phase 11 is preferably carried out through the following steps, managed by the control unit 110:
- activating the hydraulic circuit 104 of the washing machine 100 so as to supply into the basket 101 a pre-washing liquid (preferably comprising water only) in a total bath/volume ratio of 1:3 to 1:7, preferably about 1:5;
- activating the heating device 105 of the washing machine 100 so as to obtain a temperature of the pre-washing liquid of 35°C to 45°C, preferably a temperature of about 40°C;
- activating the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 to obtain a rotation of the basket 101 for a time interval of 5 to 15 minutes, preferably about 10 minutes, and to obtain a revolution speed of said basket 101 suitable to generate a relative centrifugal force (G force) of 0.6 to 0.8, preferably 0.7.
[0051] Preferably, during said at least one pre-wash phase 11 the step of activating the actuator 103 is so conducted as to obtain a revolution speed of the basket 101 of 20 to 40 revolutions per minute, preferably about 30 revolutions per minute.
[0052] As can be observed in Fig. 2, said at least one pre-wash phase 11 and/or said at least one wash phase 12 and/or said at least one rinse phase 13 and/or said impregnation phase 14 are followed by respective drain sub-phases 11A, 12A, 13A, 14A for draining the liquid used in each one of said phases 11, 12, 13, 14, and also by respective spin sub-phases 11B, 12B, 13B, 14B.
[0053] In this frame, said at least one pre-wash phase 11 is followed by at least one spin sub-phase 11B (which may also be defined as "post-pre-wash spin sub-phase 11B"), wherein the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 is controlled by the control unit 110 in such a way as to cause the basket 101 to rotate for a time interval of 1 to 3 minutes, preferably about 2 minutes, at a revolution speed suitable to generate a relative centrifugal force (G force) of 80 to 350, preferably 200.
[0054] Preferably, during said at least one post-pre-wash spin sub-phase 11B, the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 is controlled by the control unit 110 in such a way as to cause the basket 101 to rotate at a revolution speed of 300 to 700 revolutions per minute, preferably about 500 revolutions per minute.
[0055] Furthermore, said at least one wash phase 12 is followed by at least one spin sub-phase 12B (which may also be defined as "post-wash spin sub-phase 12B"), wherein the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 is controlled by the control unit 110 in such a way as to cause the basket 101 to rotate for a time interval of 1 to 3 minutes, preferably about 2 minutes, at a revolution speed suitable to generate a relative centrifugal force (G force) of 80 to 350, preferably 200.
[0056] Preferably, during said at least one post-wash spin sub-phase 12B, the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 is controlled by the control unit 110 in such a way as to cause the basket 101 to rotate at a revolution speed of 300 to 700 revolutions per minute, preferably about 500 revolutions per minute.
[0057] As far as said at least one rinse phase 13 is concerned, it is followed by at least one spin sub-phase 13B (which may also be defined as "post-rinse spin sub-phase 13B"), wherein the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 is controlled by the control unit 110 in such a way as to cause the basket 101 to rotate for a time interval of 3 to 7 minutes, preferably about 5 minutes, at a revolution speed suitable to generate a relative centrifugal force (G force) of 200 to 350, preferably 300.
[0058] Preferably, during said at least one post-rinse spin sub-phase 13B, the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 is controlled by the control unit 110 in such a way as to cause the basket 101 to rotate at a revolution speed of 500 to 800 revolutions per minute, preferably about 650 revolutions per minute.
[0059] As regards the impregnation phase 14, it is followed by at least one spin sub-phase 14B (which may also be defined as "post-impregnation spin sub-phase 14B"), wherein the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 is controlled by the control unit 110 in such a way as to cause the basket 101 to rotate for a time interval of 30 to 90 seconds, preferably about 50 seconds, at a revolution speed suitable to generate a relative centrifugal force (G force) of 30 to 180, preferably 50.
[0060] Preferably, during said at least one post-impregnation spin sub-phase 14B, the actuator 103 of the washing machine 100 is controlled by the control unit 110 in such a way as to cause the basket 101 to rotate at a revolution speed of 150 to 450 revolutions per minute, preferably about 300 revolutions per minute.
[0061] The features of the method 1 for preparing a textile item of reusable type intended for cleaning a surface in accordance with the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof, are apparent from the above description.
[0062] Indeed, the method 1 according to the present invention prevents the reusable textile item from being impregnated with detergent products autonomously by the user and entirely at the user's discretion, since the active principles for cleaning a surface are introduced into the reusable textile item during the above-described impregnation phase 14, and they are advantageously reactivated by submerging the reusable textile item in plain water (i.e. without requiring the addition of any additives to the water).
[0063] Through the method 1 of the present invention it is therefore possible to prepare reusable textile items in such a way that they are subject to controlled and constant utilization of the required detergent products, in particular while giving adequate assurance that said reusable textile items will be washed, sanitized and correctly impregnated with the necessary detergent, in terms of both the amount and the quality of such detergent.
[0064] It is therefore clear that the method 1 of the present invention permits a controlled utilization of the reusable textile item, while at the same time avoiding any adverse environmental impact and also any chemical or biological risk for an operator and for any other people who may be present in or near the area being cleaned.
[0065] The peculiar provisions of the present invention also permit a correct disposal of the aqueous solutions employed for impregnating every reusable textile item, since such aqueous solutions are disposed of in the very place of installation of the machines (in particular, the washing machine 100) that are used, in accordance with the present invention, for preparing the reusable textile items.
[0066] The method according to the present invention also makes it possible to obtain an accurate and exact account on the treated textile items, by reading at least one electronic tag associated with each textile item, which permits identifying, and detecting the parameters of, each textile item with which each electronic tag has been associated.
[0067] The method for preparing a textile item of reusable type intended for cleaning a surface described herein by way of example may be subject to many possible variations without departing from the novelty spirit of the inventive idea; it is also clear that in the practical implementation of the invention the illustrated details may have different shapes or be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
1. Method (1) for preparing at least one textile item of reusable type intended for cleaning
a surface, wherein said method (1) comprises the following phases:
- implementing a wash cycle (10) for washing said at least one reusable textile item in a rotary basket (101) of a washing machine (100), in particular of the industrial type, wherein said wash cycle (10) comprises an impregnation phase (14) for impregnating said at least one reusable textile item with at least one active principle, in particular a detergent;
- implementing a drying cycle (20) for drying said at least one reusable textile item, wherein said drying cycle (20) is executed in a second rotary basket (201) of a dryer (200), in particular of the industrial type, wherein said drying cycle (20) comprises a desiccation phase (21) for desiccating said at least one reusable textile item,
so that, at the end of the desiccation phase (21), the active principle used in said impregnation phase (14) is reactivable by submerging the reusable textile item in water.2. Method (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said impregnation phase (14) is carried out through the following steps, managed
by the control unit (110) of the washing machine (100):
- activating a hydraulic circuit (104) of the washing machine (100) so as to supply into the basket (101) an impregnating liquid comprising water supplemented with an impregnating product comprising said active principle in a total bath/volume ratio of 1:5 to 1:9, preferably about 1:7;
- activating a heating device (105) of the washing machine (100) so as to obtain a temperature of the impregnating liquid of 20°C to 40°C, preferably about 30°C;
- activating an actuator (103) of the washing machine (100) to obtain a rotation of the basket (101) for a time interval of 7 to 15 minutes, preferably about 11 minutes, and to obtain a revolution speed of said basket (101) suitable to generate a relative centrifugal force, or "G force", of 0.6 to 0.8, preferably 0.7.
3. Method (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that during the impregnation phase (14) an impregnating product is loaded into the basket
(101) of the washing machine (100) in a dose of 13 to 20 millilitres per kilogram
of weight of the reusable textile items to be subjected to the impregnation phase
(14), preferably 16 ml/kg, in particular said impregnating product comprising anionic
surfactants of vegetable origin, non-ionic surfactants and calcium carbonate.
4. Method (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said desiccation phase (21) is carried out in the second rotary basket (201) of a
dryer (200), in particular of the industrial type, through the following steps, managed
by a second control unit (210) of said dryer (200):
- activating a drying system (207) of said dryer (200) to obtain, in the second basket (201), a temperature of 100°C to 140°C, preferably a temperature of about 120°C;
- activating said drying system (207) for a time of 25 to 45 minutes, preferably about 35 minutes.
5. Method (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the second control unit (210) of the dryer (200) controls the drying system (207)
in such a way as to adjust the duration of the desiccation phase (21) as a function
of the temperature of said at least one reusable textile item positioned in the second
rotary basket (201) of the dryer (200), wherein said temperature is sensed by at least
one sensor (207C), in particular of the infrared type.
6. Method (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said drying cycle (20) comprises a cooling phase (22) for gradually cooling said
at least one textile item, which is carried out at the end of the desiccation phase
(21), wherein said gradual cooling phase (22) is governed by the second control unit
(210) as a function of the temperature sensed by at least one sensor (207C), in particular
at least one infrared sensor, and wherein during said cooling phase (22) the second
control unit (210) of the dryer (200) activates the drying system (207) so as to gradually
reduce the temperature of said at least one reusable textile item within a range of
35°C to 45°C, preferably about 40°C.
7. Method (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said cooling phase (22) is carried out by controlling, by means of said second control
unit (210), a second heating device (207A) and an operating element (207B) included
in said drying system (207) of the dryer (200), and as a function of the temperature
sensed by said at least one sensor (207C).
8. Method (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said wash cycle (10) comprises at least one wash phase (12) that precedes the impregnation
phase (14), wherein said at least one wash phase (12) is carried out through the following
steps, managed by the control unit (110) of the washing machine (100):
- activating the hydraulic circuit (104) of the washing machine (100) so as to supply into the basket (101) a washing liquid, in particular comprising water supplemented with at least one detergent substance, in a total bath/volume ratio of 1:3 to 1:7, preferably about 1:5;
- activating the heating device (105) of the washing machine (100) so as to obtain a temperature of the washing liquid of 55°C to 65°C, preferably a temperature of about 60°C;
- activating the actuator (103) of the washing machine (100) to obtain a rotation of the basket (101) for a time interval of 10 to 30 minutes, preferably for a time interval of 15 to 20 minutes, and to obtain a revolution speed of said basket (101) suitable to generate a relative centrifugal force, or "G force", of 0.6 to 0.8, preferably 0.7.
9. Method (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said wash cycle (10) comprises at least one rinse phase (13) that follows the wash
phase (12) and precedes the impregnation phase (14), wherein said rinse phase (13)
is carried out through the following steps, managed by the control unit (110) of the
washing machine (100):
- activating the hydraulic circuit (104) of the washing machine (100) so as to supply into the basket (101) a rinsing liquid in a total bath/volume ratio of 1:3 to 1:7, preferably about 1:5;
- activating a heating device (105) of the washing machine (100) so as to obtain a temperature of the rinsing liquid of 35°C to 45°C, preferably about 40°C;
- activating the actuator (103) of the washing machine (100) to obtain a rotation of the basket (101) for a time interval of 3 to 10 minutes, preferably about 5 minutes, and to obtain a revolution speed of said basket (101) suitable to generate a relative centrifugal force, or "G force", of 0.6 to 0.8, preferably 0.7.
10. Method (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wash cycle (10) comprises at least one pre-wash phase (11) that precedes said
at least one wash phase (12), wherein said pre-wash phase (11) is carried out through
the following steps, managed by the control unit (110) of the washing machine (100):
- activating the hydraulic circuit (104) of the washing machine (100) so as to supply into the basket (101) a pre-washing liquid, in particular comprising water, in a total bath/volume ratio of 1:3 to 1:7, preferably about 1:5;
- activating the heating device (105) of the washing machine (100) so as to obtain a temperature of the pre-washing liquid of 35°C to 45°C, preferably a temperature of about 40°C;
- activating the actuator (103) of the washing machine (100) to obtain a rotation of the basket (101) for a time interval of 5 to 15 minutes, preferably about 10 minutes, and to obtain a revolution speed of said basket (101) suitable to generate a relative centrifugal force, or "G force", of 0.6 to 0.8, preferably 0.7.
11. Method (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one pre-wash phase (11) and/or said at least one wash phase (12) and/or
said at least one rinse phase (13) and/or said impregnation phase (14) are followed
by respective drain sub-phases (11A, 12A, 13A, 14A) for draining the liquid used in
each one of said phases (11, 12, 13, 14), and by respective spin sub-phases (11B,
12B, 13B, 14B).
12. Method (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the impregnation phase (14) is followed by at least one post-impregnation spin sub-phase
(14B), in which the actuator (103) of the washing machine (100) is controlled by the
control unit (110) in such a way as to cause the basket (101) to rotate for a time
interval of 30 to 90 seconds, preferably about 50 seconds, at a revolution speed suitable
to generate a relative centrifugal force, or "G force", of 30 to 180, preferably 50.