Abstract: A method for the effective recovery of as large a portion as possible of the energy in the waste heat of a trough mangle (10) or other launderette machines. To this end, provision is made for a portion of the energy contained in the waste heat to be recovered by cooling the waste heat in a heat exchanger (14), with the waste heat being cooled to such an extent that it falls below the dew point and condenses, with the result that the energy released during condensation and at least a large portion of the energy from the condensate can also be recovered. In this way, it is possible for up to half the residual energy in the moist waste air from a trough mangle (10) and the waste gas from a heating device to be recovered and reused again.

Abstract: To date, inline washing systems have been formed from a tunnel-type washing machine (10) and a downstream water-removal press (18). The laundry is both washed and rinsed in a tunnel-type washing machine (10). A relatively large amount of fresh water is required for this purpose. In addition, a tunnel-type washing machine (10) of this type requires a great deal of space. The invention now provides for an inline washing system to be formed from a tunnel-type washing machine (10) which only washes the items of laundry. Rinsing and also water removal are then performed in the downstream water-removal press (18). It has been found that the rinsing performance is better and fresh water can be saved as a result of this. It is therefore also possible to wash relatively small amounts of laundry using a tunnel-type washing machine (10) in an economical manner because the tunnel-type washing machine (10) can be designed without a rinse zone.

Abstract: Humid waste air is produced in heated laundry machines. This humid waste air has a still relatively high temperature. In order for the energy contained in the humid waste air to be recovered, at least in part, the humid waste air is directed through a heat exchanger (12). Condensate is produced in the heat exchanger (12), and it has proven difficult, in the case of known heat exchangers (12), for this condensate to be directed away. Moreover, the humid waste air contains accompanying substances, for example fluff from the treated laundry. These accompanying substances are deposited in known heat exchangers (12), which adversely affect the efficiency of the heat exchanger (12) over time. The invention makes provision for the heat exchanger (12) to be equipped with upright heat-exchanger plates (13), from which the condensate can run off. The condensate can then be discharged in a specific manner out of the heat exchanger (12).

Abstract: The invention makes provision for the weight of the contents of the drum to be continuously determined. As a result, the weight of the dry laundry in the drum and the weight of the liquid required for washing can be determined. The weight determination also makes it possible to determine the residual moisture content of the laundry, identify an unbalance and/or assist batch division. The spin dryer (10) or laundry centrifuge preferably rests on its feet (19) by means of weight sensors, that is to say is weighed. In this way, the weight of the contents of the drum as well as dynamic forces which are produced when the loaded drum is driven in rotation can be established in a simple and reliable manner.

Abstract: In tunnel-type washing machines (10) for commercial laundries, the main-wash liquid is heated by steam in particular. This means a steam-generating system is required in the laundry. The invention makes provision for the main-wash liquid to be heated up by means of a flow heater, preferably a heating device (26) which has a gas burner (28). As a result, the tunnel-type washing machine (10) can also be used in laundries which do not have a steam generating system. The invention also makes provision for the gas burner (28) of the flow heater to be operated continuously since treatment liquid which is required for other purposes, preferably treatment liquid which is temporarily stored in a storage tank (31), is heated up after the main-wash liquid is heated up. Uninterrupted, economical operation of the gas burner (28) is ensured as a result.

Abstract: In the washing and drainage of laundry articles, treatment liquid which contains still unspent wash-active substances occurs at the end of the washing operation. These substances have hitherto been conducted, if appropriate after neutralization, into the discharge together with the treatment liquid. This known procedure has an adverse effect on the efficiency of the washing operation. According to the invention, spent wash-active substances are removed from the treatment liquid separated from the laundry articles after the washing operation. This takes place by means of precision filtration, in which only the spent wash-active substances which are larger due to the absorption of dirt from the washing operation are filtered out of the treatment liquid, but not the unspent wash-active substances having a smaller particle size. These can be reused, together with the treatment liquid, for a subsequent washing operation.

Abstract: According to the invention, provision is made for at least one treatment additive in the treatment liquid to be reused to be measured during operation of the pass-through washing machine and possibly the spin dryer which is arranged downstream of said pass-through washing machine. As a result, it is possible to establish whether the treatment liquid still contains a sufficient quantity of treatment additives before said treatment liquid is reused. On account of the established concentration of the respective treatment additive, the treatment additive can be deliberately added in a metered manner, so that the treatment liquid to be reused contains a sufficient concentration of the respective treatment additive.

Abstract: The invention makes provision for the final wash liquid from the washing device to be separated from the items of laundry in a water-removal device, specifically together with a large portion of the final wash liquid bound in the items of laundry. The items of laundry are then rinsed in the water-removal device. Following this, the rinse liquid is routed away from the items of laundry. The final wash liquid and the rinse liquid are temporarily stored in separate storage tanks and returned to the subsequent wash process in a deliberate manner. A mixture of at least a portion of the final wash liquid and the rinse liquid is fed particularly to the prewash zone in order to prewash the next batch of items of laundry.

Abstract: The invention proposes a spin dryer which makes it possible to drain the laundry to approximately the same extent as a laundry press. For this purpose, a rotatable drum of the spin dryer is driven at a high rotational speed such that the laundry inside the drum is exposed to a centrifugal force which amounts to at least 600 times gravitational acceleration.

Abstract: A washer-extractor-dryer (50), in which a plate heat exchanger (60) is arranged in the outer drum (53). During washing, the plate heat exchanger (60) is located in the washing liquid and, as a result, warms the latter up. During drying of the washed laundry, air is conducted along the outside (63) of the plate heat exchanger (60) and is thereby pre-heated before the air enters the inner drum (52) with the laundry to be dried. A pivotable flap (68) is provided in order to allow liquid to flow along the plate heat exchanger (60) during the washing mode and air to flow along it during the drying mode.

Abstract: The use of at least one central heat exchanger to extract and dry the heat energy released by laundry machines, in particular their gland steam. The energy thus recovered can be fed back to the laundry machines as hot air or hot water. This represents a significant reduction in the energy requirements of laundry machines as laundry machines discharge a great amount of unused energy into the environment, which, particularly in light of rising energy prices, represents an unnecessary operational cost for a laundry.

Abstract: The washer-extractor (41) having only a single front-end opening (13) of the drums (12, 14). This opening (13) is used for loading and also unloading. The openings (13, 15) can be closed by a door (46). The door (46) can be separated from the drums (12, 14). In addition, the door (46) does not co-rotate when the inner drum (12) is rotationally driven for washing and spinning the laundry. A washer-extractor (41) of this type is characterized by its simple design and by a reliable sealing effected by the door (46), particularly when the washer-extractor (41) is arranged in the dividing wall (43).

Abstract: The invention makes provision for the weight of the contents of the drum to be continuously determined. As a result, the weight of the dry laundry in the drum and the weight of the liquid required for washing can be determined. The weight determination also makes it possible to determine the residual moisture content of the laundry, identify an unbalance and/or assist batch division. The spin dryer (10) or laundry centrifuge preferably rests on its feet (19) by means of weight sensors, that is to say is weighed. In this way, the weight of the contents of the drum as well as dynamic forces which are produced when the loaded drum is driven in rotation can be established in a simple and reliable manner.

Abstract: The invention makes provision for the weight of the batch of laundry of that laundry machine whose batch is to be divided to be continuously determined. To this end, the weight of the laundry machine together with the laundry which is currently located therein is preferably continuously weighed. The weight of the partial batch which is respectively unloaded from the laundry machine is then given by subtracting the weight of the laundry remaining in the laundry machine from the total weight of the batch of laundry in the laundry machine.

Abstract: The invention proposes a spin dryer which makes it possible to drain the laundry to approximately the same extent as a laundry press. For this purpose, a rotatable drum of the spin dryer is driven at a high rotational speed such that the laundry inside the drum is exposed to a centrifugal force which amounts to at least 600 times gravitational acceleration.

Abstract: A continuous washing machines (10) for industrial use having an inner drum (11), which can be driven in circulation, and an outer drum (22), which partially encloses said inner drum, with the outer drum (22) being formed from outer-drum sections (24) which are sealed in relation to the inner drum (11), in which the end sides (25) of the cylindrically designed outer-drum sections (24) are assigned seals (33, 24) which are fastened on the outside of the end regions of the casing of the outer-drum sections (24) by tension straps (45) such that the outer-drum sections (24) need not be specific configurations in the end regions and the seals (33, 34) can be adjusted simply by being displaced on cylindrical end regions of the outer-drum sections (24).

Abstract: A trough mangle with a mangle roll having a diameter that is enlarged as compared with conventional trough mangles in which the only one mangle roll enlarged in diameter leads to a disproportionate increase in the mangling performance.

Abstract: In commercial laundries, installations for the washing and, if appropriate, spin-drying of the laundry, which have a plurality of washing machines (10), are used. The washing machines (10) are conventionally arranged in a free-standing manner in the laundry. This takes up a large amount of space and makes it difficult to operate the washing machines (10) and supply them with electrical power and water. Moreover, the individual washing machines (10) make it difficult to treat sterile laundry.

Abstract: A piston press in which hydraulic lines (32) of a hydraulic cylinder (19) move a ram plate (21) up and down with relatively large diameters, and in which use is made of a hydraulic pump (33) with a continuously adjustable delivery flow, in particular with constant output regulation, making it possible to move the ram plate (21) more quickly in the unloaded or less loaded state, by which means the operating time is shortened considerably as compared with known piston presses (10).

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the washing of items of laundry (11), in which only the items of laundry (11) are transferred from the last washing chamber (18) into the first rinsing chamber (19), without the washing liquid. As a result, the washing liquid cannot pass into the rinsing zone (15), and the method according to the invention thus prevents mixing of different treatment liquids. As a result, an effective treatment of the items of laundry (11), in particular a more effective rinsing thereof, is possible.