Continuous processing apparatus and method for cleaning articles with liquified compressed gaseous solvents
US6051421A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 9, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 9, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC D)Textiles; Paper
- CPC primaryD06F43/00
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The present invention relates to a continuous processing apparatus and method for cleaning articles with a liquified compressed gaseous solvent mixture. The continuous processing apparatus includes three processing chambers including an entrance chamber, a cleaning chamber, and an exit chamber. The chambers are provided with hatches which are opened and closed at appropriate times to allow the articles to be cleaned to pass into and out of the chambers. The entrance chamber is used for evacuation of the incoming articles to remove the majority of the air and moisture from the articles. After evacuation of the incoming articles, the entrance chamber is pressurized and the articles pass into the cleaning chamber. The cleaning chamber is maintained at a temperature and a pressure at which the liquified compressed gaseous solvent mixture is in a subcritical state and a liquid/gas interface exists between a liquid and a gas portion of the liquified compressed gaseous solvent mixture. The cleaned articles are then passed into a pressurized exit chamber where the liquified compressed gaseous solvent mixture remaining in the articles is evacuated before the cleaned articles are removed fro…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.