Gas Or Vapor Patents (Class 8/149.2)
  • Patent number: 8984692
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber for receiving laundry and configured to perform one or more cycles of operation and method for actively dehumidifying the treating chamber of a laundry treating appliance to retard or eliminate the adverse effects of moisture-laden laundry remaining in the treating chamber or moisture remaining in the treating chamber or other areas of the laundry treating appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara A. Balinski, Karl D. McAllister
  • Patent number: 8709351
    Abstract: A continuous feed discharge surface treater for treating web materials has a discharge chamber where ionization of a process gas occurs defined and contained by one or more rollers. Enhanced chemical coronas and plasmas are achieved by limiting depletion of the gas chemistry from the discharge chamber and dilution or contamination from mixing with drawn in ambient air. Atmospheric coronas can also be achieved in which minimal or no ozone is exhausted from the treater. Various roller and electrode assemblies, including both fixed and rolling electrodes, can be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Enercon Industris Corporation
    Inventors: Richard R. Hammen, Joseph Roethle, Gregory W. Schuelke
  • Patent number: 8566990
    Abstract: A laundry machine and a method of controlling the laundry machine are disclosed. The laundry machine includes a steam generator (300) which generates steam to supply the steam into a drum (130), a water supply line (320) which supplies water into the steam generator (300), a filter (360) installed in the water supply line (320) to filter water, a regenerating unit (382) which regenerates the filter (360), and a controller which controls operations of the steam generator (300) and the regenerating unit (382).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Hun Bae, Jung Wook Moon, Chul Jin Choi, Dong Hyun Kim, Young Bok Son
  • Patent number: 8566989
    Abstract: A clothing treating apparatus and a method of controlling such an apparatus are provided. The clothing treating apparatus may make use of a draining function which may be automatically or manually performed after determining whether or not water received in a detachable water supply tank may be re-used or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hea Kyung Yoo, Dae Yun Park, Jong Seok Kim, Dong Won Kim, Sog Kie Hong
  • Patent number: 8486225
    Abstract: An inventive method includes the steps of: loading a fiber product in an appropriate form into a treatment vessel; wetting the fiber product; forcibly circulating an ozone-containing liquid in contact with the wetted fiber product to thereby bleach the fiber product; and forcibly circulating an ozone decomposing chemical agent liquid in contact with the ozone-treated fiber product to decompose ozone. This method ensures efficient bleaching of the fiber product with the ozone. Further, the method is advantageous in that the resulting bleached fiber product is less liable to be yellowed over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventors: Shigenori Aono, Koichi Abe, Keigo Takeda
  • Patent number: 8438750
    Abstract: A dryer has a drying chamber to receive damp items and a process air duct to feed process air into and extract process air out of the drying chamber. The process air duct has a heat source and a heat sink to heat the process air before the process air enters the drying chamber and to cool the process air after the process air leaves the drying chamber, respectively. A cleaning device has an accumulator for a liquid; a rinsing line connected to the accumulator; a control organ in the rinsing line; a distributor connected to the rinsing line to distribute the liquid conveyed through the rinsing line on a lint filter and to receive the lint caught by the lint filter; and a drain line to drain the liquid with the received lint away from the lint filter and towards the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Dittmer, Klaus Grunert, Thomas Nawrot, Andreas Ziemann
  • Patent number: 8356496
    Abstract: An apparatus for loading items to be washed with an air flow, comprising a substantially closed first channel system for guiding an air flow which loads the items to be washed. A treatment chamber for receiving the items to be washed, a blower for driving the air flow, a heater for heating the air flow before the items to be washed are loaded, and a cooler for cooling the air flow after the items to be washed have been loaded are arranged in the first channel system. Here, the first channel system has outside the treatment chamber and the blower, two branches and which are connected to one another in parallel and can be flowed through in parallel by corresponding parts of the air flow. Here, the heater is arranged in a first branch and the cooler is arranged in a second branch of said branches. The invention likewise relates to a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Moschütz
  • Patent number: 8321982
    Abstract: A method of operating a washing machine, by which a steam generator is disclosed, laundry and the washing machine itself can be safely protected in a manner that an error occurrence of the washing machine is accurately detected and by which a following cycle such as a washing cycle, a drying cycle and the like can be effectively performed despite the failure of the washing machine. The present invention includes a step (a) of supplying water to a steam generator, a step (b) of supplying steam into a drum by generating heat from a heater of the steam generator, and a step (c) of detecting abnormality of the washing machine while the step (a) or (b) is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seog Kyu Park, Youn Dong Lee
  • Patent number: 8296888
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a cloth treating apparatus, such as a laundry treating machine, and methods of control and operation which sanitize the machine. The laundry treating machine can include an accommodating space which supplies air and moisture in order to remove unpleasant odors, wrinkles, or dampness from the laundry. The laundry treating machine may further include a circulation duct to circulate, dehumidify, or heat air inside the accommodating space. Operation of the laundry treating machine can use steam-sanitizing to remove odors, moisture, bacteria from the accommodating space and circulation duct. Steam-sanitizing can be performed based on a user's selection or the occurrence of a condition, such as unloading of laundry from the accommodating space after treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hea Kyung Yoo, Sog Kie Hong, Dong Won Kim, Jong Seok Kim, Dae Yun Park
  • Patent number: 8239989
    Abstract: A method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine comprises inputting laundry into an inner tub, supplying steam to the laundry, and rotating the inner tub. Odor of the laundry is rapidly and easily removed without performing a cleaning process using water, and the fabrication cost is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myong-Hun Im, Soo-Young Oh, Jae-Won Chang, Kyung-Chul Woo, Kyeong-Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 8209805
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a washing method of a washing machine, in which an out of order of a water level sensor in a steam generator which generates steam is detected exactly, for safe protection of the steam generator and laundry, and effective performance of the washing. To achieve the object of the present invention, the washing method includes the steps of ($ sensing a water level sensor being out of order during steam washing, and (B) turning off the? steam generator if it is sensed that the water level sensor is out of order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seog Kyu Park
  • Patent number: 8192507
    Abstract: Coloring compositions including, for example, a supercritical fluid comprising a noble gas in a supercritical state and a colorant within the supercritical fluid are disclosed. For example, the noble gas may be at least one of helium, argon, krypton, neon, xenon and radon. Methods of producing such compositions and methods of coloring an article with such composition are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventors: William B. Carlson, Gregory D. Phelan, Philip A. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8181298
    Abstract: A novel washing method that is capable of smoothly washing laundry with low washing water consumption and low power consumption is disclosed. The control method is applied to a washing machine having a steam generation unit. The control method comprising a step of discharging water out of the steam generation unit when a rinsing operation of the washing machine is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seog Kyu Park, In Geun Ahn
  • Patent number: 8168004
    Abstract: A washing machine that is capable of providing a stable washing mode even when a washing-related device is abnormal during a washing operation is disclosed. When a steam generation unit, which generates high-temperature steam into a drum, is abnormal, the operation of the steam generation unit is interrupted, and an operation for driving a washing heater mounted in a tub is performed, or an operation for driving a drying unit, which supplies high-temperature dry hot air into the drum, is performed. A steam substituting algorithm is provided when the steam generation unit is abnormal during the operation using the high-temperature steam. Consequently, the interruption of the washing operation due to the abnormal steam injection function is prevented, and therefore, the reliability of the product is improved while the inconvenience of use is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Phal Jin Lee, Dong Won Kang, Kwang Cheol Park
  • Publication number: 20120042455
    Abstract: Device (1) for treating a yarn, comprising a main body (2) axially crossed by a treatment chamber (3) inside which the yarn (F) slides; at least a first side channel (4) in fluid communication with the treatment chamber (3) for the introduction of at least one substance for treating the yarn (F) and at least a second side channel (5) in fluid communication with said chamber (3) for the introduction of compressed air. The device (1) can be inserted within a system (11) for treating the yarn (F). The system (11) comprises at least one conduit (6) for supplying the device with the substance to be used for the treatment, a conduit (13) for introducing compressed air into the device (1) and a discharge conduit (12) for exiting the air and any fibre possibly detached from the yarn (F).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicants: ECAFIL BEST S.P.A. INDUSTRIA FILATI, TECHNORES S.R.L.
    Inventor: Stefano Carnevale
  • Patent number: 8046854
    Abstract: Disclosed is a washing machine, The washing machine includes a tub to contain washing water; a drum rotatably installed in the tub to contain laundry to be washed; a detergent box to contain a detergent supplied to the inside of the tub; and a steam generating device to heat water to generate steam, supply the generated steam to the drum, and supply the heated water selectively to the detergent box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hee Tae Lim, Kyu Hwan Lee, Jae Hyun Choi
  • Patent number: 8042282
    Abstract: A drum for a clothes dryer in which an internal structure, especially, a baffle structure, of the drum is improved to prevent target items from being entangled and damaged during a drying operation to thereby improve the drying efficiency of the clothes dryer. Rotatable balls are inserted in the baffles mounted on an internal surface of the drum, the mounting arrangement of the baffles is changed, or the baffles are modified to thus improve the drying operation. In addition, an absorbent is filled in the baffles to thus increase the drying efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jung-Geun Oh, Sang-Ik Lee, Sang-Hun Bae, Sung-Ho Song, Jae-Hak Joung, Yoon-Seob Eom
  • Patent number: 7955539
    Abstract: A reversible, heat-set covered fiber is described, the covered fiber comprising: A. A core comprising an elastic fiber comprising a substantially crosslinked, temperature-stable, olefin polymer, and B. A cover comprising an inelastic fiber. The fiber is heat-set by a method comprising: (a) Stretching the covered fiber by applying a stretching force to the covered fiber; (b) Heating the stretched covered fiber of (a) to a temperature in excess of the crystalline melting point of the olefin polymer for a period of time sufficient to at least partially melt the olefin polymer; (c) Cooling the stretched and heated covered fiber of (b) to a temperature below the crystalline melting point of the olefin polymer for a period of time sufficient to solidify the polymer; and (d) Removing the stretching force from the covered fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Rajen M. Patel, Rona L Reid, Antonio Batistini, Selim Bensason, Thoi H. Ho
  • Patent number: 7934279
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control method of a laundry machine. The control method includes inputting a command to drive the steam laundry dryer, and determining whether water is supplied to a steam generator of the steam laundry dryer. According to the control method of the steam laundry dryer, it is possible to effectively remove wrinkles from clothes and to prevent the breakage of the steam laundry dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Chang Woo Son
  • Patent number: 7934278
    Abstract: Disclosed are a washing method of a washing machine capable of preventing a phenomenon that remaining detergent is collected into a space where a heater is positioned or a specific space during a washing operation of laundry, capable of minimizing a generation of washing water unnecessarily supplied to the washing machine, and capable of fast heating corresponding laundry before a washing operation for an efficient washing operation, and an apparatus thereof. To this end, the method comprises the steps of: generating steam by heating washing water supplied into a washing machine; injecting the generated steam into laundry inside of a drum of the washing machine; and rotating the drum after injecting the steam into the laundry and thereby washing the laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Soo-Young Oh, Kyung-Chul Woo, Jin-Woong Kim, Si-Moon Jeon
  • Patent number: 7845197
    Abstract: A high efficiency triple pass tunnel finisher includes an articulated spraying function for allowing steam to effectively penetrate a garment. The tunnel finisher can be used for the laundering of shirts, pants, and jackets. The tunnel finisher includes hot air chambers and a steam chamber that can include two rows of steam injectors located at a 45° angle in relation to the walls of the module. The steam chamber has a lower pressure than the hot air chambers, creating an air pressure differential. The hot air chambers are positively pressurized, preventing the relatively cooler air of the steam chamber from entering the chamber. The pressurization prevents heat loss, allowing the finisher to be more efficient, while increasing the temperature at which the garments exit the steam chamber. This leads to faster drying times, less garment wrinkling, and reduced dwell time for a garment with a high quality appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Leonard Automatics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Neal Frushtick
  • Patent number: 7845037
    Abstract: A triple pass tunnel finisher for finishing fabric. The finisher includes a side module, a front module, and a rear module. The side module includes an entrance for receiving a fabric piece to be conveyed through the apparatus, and a steam injection chamber downstream of the entrance for treating the fabric piece with steam. The front module communicates with the side module to receive the fabric piece conveyed therefrom, and includes first and second hot air chambers, and an exit downstream of the second hot air chamber. The rear module communicates with the front module to receive the fabric piece therefrom, and includes a heating apparatus for heating the fabric piece, and a U-shaped intermediate hot air chamber downstream from the first hot air chamber and upstream from the second hot air chamber for receiving the fabric piece from the first hot air chamber and for delivering the fabric piece to the second hot air chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Leonard Automatics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Neal Frushtick
  • Publication number: 20100154129
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of releasing a roughened surface of a washed cloth (21) which can prevent a cloth (21) with fibers protruding therefrom from being roughened due to fiber lumping after washing. The method of releasing the roughened surface of the washed cloth (21) generated when the cloth (21) is rubbed with wash water filled in a tub (10) by rotation of a drum (20) includes a first step of discharging the wash water from the washed cloth (21) to the tub (10), by rotating the drum (20) so that the washed cloth (21) can stick to the drum (20), and a second step of solving fiber lumping of the washed cloth (21), by using the motion of the washed cloth (21) by a frictional force between the rotated drum (20) and the washed cloth (21) by rotating the drum (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: In-Ho Cho, Young-Soo Kim, Yong Park
  • Publication number: 20100047119
    Abstract: A system for treating and deodorizing objects such as clothing, bedding, or the like, comprising a bag for receiving said objects, and a system for dispersing a deodorizing treatment fluid such as ozone or the like therethrough. Another embodiment of the present invention contemplates a liner to contain and direct a treatment fluid into an absorbent such as pet litter or the like, to disinfect and renew. A complimentary system to the present invention teaches a deodorization, disinfectant, treatment bin for treating litter infused with animal waste, which treatment bin includes a treatment area utilizing ozone to contain and treat the contaminated litter, rendering same re-useable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventor: Laura Sutis Cressy
  • Publication number: 20090282621
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a travelling web of material in a predetermined gaseous atmosphere comprising a chamber (1) through which a moving web of material (2) is transported from an inlet at a first end of the chamber (1) to an outlet at a second end and a means for introducing and controlling gas (5) intended to provide said predetermined gaseous atmosphere within said chamber (1), wherein said inlet and outlet each comprise a sealing means (4a, 4b) designed to enable passage of said web of material (2) therethrough whilst minimising the ingress of an external gas boundary layer (3) around said web of material (2) characterised in that said apparatus also comprises one or more re-circulation channels (7, 8) adapted to re-circulate gases within said chamber (1) from the second end of the chamber to the first end of the chamber thereby negating or substantially negating any pressure difference within the chamber (1) between said inlet and outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: John Kennedy, Richard Sibbick, Frank Swallow, Peter Dobbyn, Alan Hynes, John Brennan
  • Patent number: 7591859
    Abstract: A fabric treatment appliance comprises a steam generator having a chamber configured to hold water, a supply conduit configured to transport water to the steam generator chamber, a weight sensor outputting a signal responsive to the weight of the steam generator, and a controller coupled to the weight sensor and configured to control a flow of water through the supply conduit based on the signal from the weight sensor. The disclosure provides methods of water supply control that can employ the weight sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Nyik Siong Wong, Raveendran Vaidhyanathan, Dengming Peng
  • Publication number: 20090119848
    Abstract: A clothes treating machine is disclosed. The clothes treating machine includes a cabinet forming the external appearance of the clothes treating machine, the cabinet for keeping clothes, an air conditioning unit for supplying cool air into the cabinet, and a control unit for controlling the air conditioning unit based on the state of clothes kept in the cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Joo Yeon KIM, Kyung Ah Choi
  • Patent number: 7485154
    Abstract: A textile treatment delivery system adapted to impart textile conditioning composition and fragrance to a fabric while it is being dried in a heated drier, the delivery system comprising at least one textile conditioning composition and at least one fragrance in a sublimable carrier substance. The treatment is efficient and leaves virtually no residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Givaudan SA
    Inventors: Thomas McGee, Richard P. Sgaramella
  • Patent number: 7390334
    Abstract: A device for washing and drying garments or other items in a single unit. The garments or other items are placed in the device on conventional plastic hangers leaving space in between each item. A manifold with arms extends between the items. The manifold moves up and down so that the arms move up and down the length of the items to be treated. The arms have one set of pipes that spray wash water, rinse water and other washing liquids on the items. The arms have another set of pipes that carry air to the items, drying the items. After the cycle is complete the clothes or other items may be left in the device until needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Inventor: Richard Kleker
  • Patent number: 7252688
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus suitable for decolorizing a textile product using ozone. The apparatus of the present invention enables the decolorization rate to be adjusted by adjusting the water content of the textile product and controlling the ozone concentration to achieve uniform decolorization. The decolorization apparatus for a textile product of the present invention includes an airtight container, a rotary drum which rotates in the airtight container, an ozone generator connected with the airtight container through an automatic valve, a water supply unit, and a blower unit which includes an air heater and supplies hot air and cool air to the airtight container. The ozone concentration inside the airtight container is maintained at a desired level by measuring the ozone concentration using an ozone analyzer and controlling the ozone generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Howa Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehisa Tashiro, Kakuji Miyahara, Toyoteru Ando, Katsuhiro Nishikura, Masatoshi Shinbashi
  • Publication number: 20070151041
    Abstract: A method for revitalizing a fabric load with a revitalization system comprises selecting a revitalization program from a plurality of programs and operating the revitalization system in accordance with the selected revitalization program. The programs can include at least one of a fluid insertion step; a fabric relative motion step; a fluid extraction step; a fabric refreshing step; a fabric reshaping step; a light cleaning step; a water extraction operation, a relative motion operation; a fabric air flow operation; a cooling operation; a fluid insertion operation; and a fabric fluid absorption operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Karl D. McAllister, Tremitchell Wright, Donald M. Tomasi, Bruce C. Beihoff, Alexander V. Minkin, Joel A. Luckman
  • Patent number: 7018423
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods to achieve improved cleaning of both wet washable and dry cleanable fabrics. The present invention is carried out by exposing the fabrics to an aqueous vapor and a lipophilic fluid, optionally, but preferably followed by an extraction of both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Christopher Deak, Paul Amaat France, Wilburt Thomas Woods, Anna Vadimovna Noyes, Linda-Carol McWilliams, Michael Jason Ullom
  • Patent number: 6969409
    Abstract: The present invention provides an animal fibers having improved shrink proofing and pilling resistance properties and method for preparation thereof. An animal fiber having excellent shrink proofing and pilling resistance and retaining its original water repellency is also provided. A method of treating animal fiber in which a surface layer part of animal fiber is primary-oxidized in advance with an oxidizer, and aqueous treatment liquid containing ozone in the form of ultrafine bubbles of 5? or less is allowed to collide against the fiber by blowing the liquid on the fiber in the aqueous treatment solution, and then, the fiber is treated with a reducing agent. Particularly, the above-mentioned method for treating animal fiber in which ultrafine bubbles of ozone are formed by using a line mixer. The method in which an apparatus which collects the ultrafine ozone bubbles in aqueous treatment liquid on the fiber is used so that the bubbles are not scattered out of a treatment reaction bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Kurabo Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Ichimura, Ryo Umehara, Tadashi Karakawa, Kunihiro Oshima, Kazuhiro Nakase
  • Patent number: 6893469
    Abstract: A method for treating a fabric article with the following steps: placing the fabric article in a container having an opening and at least one wall that defines an interior void space. Then the temperature and relative humidity of the air within the interior void space of the container are raised to a predetermined first temperature and a predetermined first relative humidity for a predetermined first period of time. Finally, at least one of the temperature or the relative humidity of the air within the interior void space of the container are changed at the end of the first period of time to a predetermined second temperature and a predetermined second relative humidity for a predetermined second period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Tim Maria Joris Van Hauwermeiren, Jean-Luc Philippe Bettiol, Marianne mai Anh Bouvette, Joost Ignace Dewaele, Merih Pasin, Eddy Vos
  • Publication number: 20040255394
    Abstract: A method for drying articles is provided comprising, providing a wash basket within a wash drum inside a washing machine and an air stream which follows an air flow path through the wash basket and through the machine. Then engaging a heater located along the air flow path, engaging a cooling unit located along the air flow path, and spinning the wash basket with the heating unit and cooling units engaged. Also provided is an apparatus for drying articles comprising, an air stream which follows an air flow path through a washing machine comprising a wash basket, a heating unit located along the air stream, a cooling unit located along the air stream, and a supplemental heater located along the air stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Vanita Mani, Darren Hallman, Robert Sundell
  • Publication number: 20040237211
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the compression crimping of a synthetic multifilament yarn, said device comprising a transport nozzle and a compression chamber. Said transport nozzle comprises a yarn channel by which means a yarn is guided to a compression chamber. Said compression chamber forms a section having a gas-permeable chamber wall, between a yarn inlet and an enmeshment outlet. According to the invention, the gas-permeable chamber wall comprises a friction surface consisting of material which is resistant to wear, on the inner side facing the yarn enmeshment. The constancy of the braking action produced by the friction on the yarn enmeshment can thus be significantly improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Mathias Stundl
  • Patent number: 6793685
    Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and processes for removing particulate soil from fabric articles, especially articles of clothing, linen and drapery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: PRocter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Anna Vadimovna Noyes, Arseni V. Radomyselski, John Cort Severns, Paul Amaat France
  • Patent number: 6622529
    Abstract: A personal dry cleaning apparatus having housing, a wetting means, and sources of heat to form steam to be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Crane
  • Patent number: 6620210
    Abstract: Methods of using ozone have been developed which sterilize instruments and medical wastes, oxidize organics found in wastewater, clean laundry, break down contaminants in soil into a form more readily digested by microbes, kill microorganisms present in food products, and destroy toxins present in food products. The preferred methods for killing microorganisms and destroying toxins use pressurized, humidified, and concentrated ozone produced by an electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Lynntech, Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver J. Murphy, G. Duncan Hitchens
  • Publication number: 20030167576
    Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and processes for removing particulate soil from fabric articles, especially articles of clothing, linen and drapery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Anna Vadimovna Noyes, Arseni V. Radomyselski, John Cort Severns, Paul Amaat France
  • Patent number: 6610108
    Abstract: The process of the present invention is directed to a dry cleaning process, comprising the use of volatile cyclic, linear or branched siloxanes in the vapor phase for the cleaning of soiled or stained fabrics. The linear or branched siloxanes have the formula: M2+y+2zDxTyQz wherein M is R13SiO1/2; D is R2R3SiO2/2; T is R4SiO3/2; and Q is SiO4/2 R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each independently a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having from one to forty carbon atoms; and x and y are each integers, wherein 0≦x≦10 and 0≦y≦10 and 0≦z≦10. While the cyclic siloxanes have the formula: wherein R5, R6, R7 and R8 are each independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group having from one to forty carbon atoms; and a and b are each integers wherein 0≦a≦10 and 0≦b≦10, provided that 3≦(a+b)≦10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Perry, Patricia A. Hubbard
  • Patent number: 6569210
    Abstract: Fabrics are cleaned by treating at least a portion of the piece of fabric with a particulating chemical, and agitated by a gas jet of a particle-dislodging gas to dislodge the particulated soil. The particulating chemical loosens embedded non-particulate soil and converts it to a particulate form, which is then separated from the fabric by the particle-dislodging gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Sidney C. Chao, Edna M. Purer, Nelson W. Sorbo
  • Patent number: 6475968
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a surfactant comprising a carbohydrate group that results in superior cleaning in a dry cleaning system. The surfactant has a hydrocarbon group that is more solvent-philic than a carbohydrate group, and can result in reverse micelle formation in a densified gas like densified carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Stephen Murphy, David Alan Binder
  • Patent number: 6451066
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for washing fabric loads without water or using water only as a co-solvent are disclosed. One method of non-aqueous clothes washing includes the steps of disposing clothing in a wash container, delivering a wash liquor to the fabric load, the wash liquor comprising a substantially non-reactive, non-aqueous, non-oleophilic, apolar working fluid and at least one washing additive, applying mechanical energy to the clothing and wash liquor for a sufficient amount of time to provide fabric cleaning and, thereafter, substantially removing the wash liquor from the fabric load. The working fluid may be selected from the group consisting of perfluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, fluoronated hydrocarbons and fluoroinerts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Whirlpool Patents Co.
    Inventors: Kurt A Estes, Daniel C. Conrad, Mark Bradley Kovich, Tremitchell L. Wright
  • Patent number: 6440363
    Abstract: The fungistatic/antibacterial treatment method for sewed goods like clothes according to the present invention is characterized by the steps of permeating the fungistatic/antibacterial chemicals into a variety of sewed goods like clothes after sewed, to be adsorbed thereby, followed by draining, and then drying by heating them with hot air in the state of being hung from hangers. Thus since the sewed goods to which the fungistatic/antibacterial chemicals have been applied are dried in the state of being hung from hangers, positive fixed adsorption of the fungistatic/antibacterial chemicals can be made, foreclosing uneven permeation of the fungistatic/antibacterial chemicals, which is usually unavoidably brought about by their contact with other objects, whereby highly wash resistant fungistatic/antibacterial treatment has been realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Fukusen Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsumori Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 6425926
    Abstract: For thermosol treatment of surface printed textile, a printed textile is transported through a treatment space in its longitudinal direction. A heat source is arranged for emitting heat in the treatment space. A pressure drop is generated over the web in the treatment space from a first side of the web to an opposite, second side of the web for entraining sublimated ink on the first side of the web back to the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventors: Jakobus Hindriks, Peter Hollanders, Andreas Thomas Dorsch, Otto Arnout Richard Pennekamp
  • Patent number: 6369014
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a surfactant comprising a carbohydrate group that results in superior cleaning in a dry cleaning system. The surfactant has a hydrocarbon group that is more solvent-philic than a carbohydrate group, and can result in reverse micelle formation in a densified gas like densified carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA
    Inventors: Dennis Stephen Murphy, David Alan Binder
  • Publication number: 20020020027
    Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and processes for removing particulate soil from fabric articles, especially articles of clothing, linen and drapery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Anna Vadimovna Noyes, Arseni V. Radomyselski, John Cort Severns, Paul Amaat France
  • Patent number: 6346126
    Abstract: A soiled piece of fabric is cleaned by mechanical agitation while the fabric is simultaneously subjected to acoustic energy in a gaseous environment wherein the piece of fabric is not immersed in a liquid cleaning medium. Mechanical agitation may be by gas jet action and/or by tumbling. The acoustic energy vibrates the fibers of the fabric to enhance the cleaning action. The piece of fabric may be chemically treated to mobilize the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Sidney C. Chao, Nelson W. Sorbo
  • Patent number: 6261326
    Abstract: A process for introducing a textile treatment material into a textile treatment system, particularly a supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SCF-CO2) treatment system. The process includes the steps of providing a preparation vessel in fluid communication with a textile treatment system; loading a textile treatment material into the preparation vessel; dissolving or suspending the textile treatment material in near-critical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide in the preparation vessel; and introducing the dissolved or suspended textile treatment material into the textile treatment system. The textile treatment material can be selected from a group including a brightening agent, a whitening agent and a dye. A system suitable for use in carrying out the process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Walter A. Hendrix, Gerardo A. Montero, C. Brent Smith, Donald L. Butcher