Removing soil from fabric using an ionized flow of pressurized gas
US6117190A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 12, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 12, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC D)Textiles; Paper
- CPC primaryD06G1/005
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A piece of soiled fabric is cleaned by contacting it with a jet of an ionized soil-dislodging gas to dislodge the soil therefrom. The ionized gas and the use of an oppositely charged electrostatic filter aid in preventing redeposition of the soil onto the fabric. The fabric may be agitated while it is contacted with the gas jet. A portion of the piece of fabric may be treated with an electrostatic spotting compound that enhances the effect of the ionized gas and may also enhance the removal of the soil. An apparatus for accomplishing the cleaning includes a container having an interior in which the fabric is received, a gas jet nozzle directed into the interior of the container, a source of a pressurized gas communicating with an inlet of the gas jet nozzle, a gas jet manifold extending from the source to the gas jet nozzle, and a gas ionizer disposed to ionize the pressurized gas passing through the gas jet nozzle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.