EP2369051A1 - Method for finishing of washed pieces of washing and dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves drying, folding and de-stacking laundry pieces (11) after washing and draining the laundry pieces in a dryer (10), where the laundry pieces are completely dried in an outstretched condition. The laundry pieces are dried by compressed air flows and/or by energy-loaded waves. The laundry pieces are transported on an air-permeable conveyor (12), where the conveyor is designed as a continuous conveyor with a conveyor section (13). Air vents are arranged above an upper drum (15) of the conveyor section for loading the laundry pieces with the compressed air flows. An independent claim is also included for a dryer for washed laundry pieces.

Description

The invention relates to a method for the final treatment of laundered laundry items according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a dryer for laundered laundry items according to the preamble of claim 10.

Laundry items from certain fabrics or materials are not first mangled after drying, but immediately folded and possibly also stacked.

The drying of all laundry items, including those that are not mangled, is usually done in dryers. The laundry items are dried in a rotating air-permeable drum of drying air, in particular hot air or hot air. The dried laundry items leaving the drum dryers in many cases are still relatively frizzy and remain so even after folding. This is often undesirable.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a method for the aftertreatment of washed laundry items and a dryer for carrying out such a method, whereby the dried laundry items are comparatively smooth.

A method for achieving this object comprises the measures of claim 1. By drying the laundry items in the spread state, a complete drying takes place. The pieces of laundry become smoother than in the drum dryer, where they are dried up in the rotating drying drum. Even if the laundry items are curled after washing, they are dried in the expanded and preferably flat state, whereby they initially lose at least largely existing residual folds during the drying process. The dry laundry items are thus substantially wrinkle-free when folded.

It is preferably provided to separate the items of laundry before spreading. The separation is required because the laundry in a laundry pile leave the washing machine or one of the same following drainage device and thus are intertwined, so to speak. The separation of the laundry items is preferably done by machine, so that only a few laundry items are spread. As a result, the spreading of the laundry items can be faster and more effective, and possibly also manually. Preferably, however, the laundry items are spread out by a spreading and / or input device by machine. Optionally, the spread laundry items can also be stored by machine, in particular by the input or spreading device, on a serving for drying pad.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the separated items of laundry are individually dried over the entire surface in the extended state. As a result, the laundry items are separated during drying, namely without overlapping, on a serving for drying pad. The drying can be done more evenly and effectively.

Optionally, the invention contemplates drying the laundry items from a stream of air or high-energy waves. The air flow can be directional air jets of corresponding temperatures. The air may be at room temperature, but may also have a higher temperature. If the materials of the laundry to be dried allow it, the air flow can also be formed from hot air. The energy-rich waves used alternatively or additionally to the drying may be infrared rays, for example those derived from black light rays, or microwaves. Preferably, in particular a plurality of air streams and / or waves are directed to the spread laundry items. This can be vertical be directed, but also obliquely directed at an acute angle to the plane of the laundry to be dried. In this way, the streams, waves and / or rays can penetrate the laundry and thereby bring about intensive drying.

A preferred development of the method provides for the individual spread laundry items to be moved continuously through the air stream or the air jets and / or energy-laden waves. This creates a drying section. Along this drying section, the spread laundry items are dried over the entire surface after the continuous process. Along the drying line drying can be done with different jets or waves and also the parameters of the jets and / or waves along the drying line can be changed. For example, the temperature of the air jets forming air along the drying path can change. The same applies to the number and the grid of the air jets or waves.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the laundry items are transported on an air-permeable conveyor lying through the air jets or waves. As a result, the air jets and / or waves can penetrate not only the items to be dried, but also the bearing surface of the laundry items on the conveyor. Thus, when passing through the laundry through the laundry enriched with moisture air can be dissipated on another side of the laundry, in particular sucked. The air flowing through the laundry can be cooled, but also, especially when the laundry is already relatively dry, are reused, preferably at the beginning of the drying section, where the laundry is still relatively humid. It is also conceivable to re-use used air only partially, namely to use for the enrichment of cold or warm fresh air. Finally, it is also conceivable that the air flowing through the laundry to be dried air in countercurrent, ie with reverse flow direction, back through the laundry. The used air used as circulating air can optionally be enriched with fresh air, namely heated fresh air or fresh air at room temperature.

A dryer for solving the above-mentioned problem has the features of claim 10. This dryer has a conveyor, whereby the laundry items to be dried are continuously moved past the serving for drying air and / or serving for drying high-energy rays. The dryer makes it possible, the laundry in a continuous flow continuously and preferably also over the entire surface to dry. Preferably, the laundry is in the extended state on the conveyor, whereby the laundry over the entire surface of the serving for drying air or energy waves can be acted upon.

A preferred embodiment of the dryer provides to form the conveyor as a continuous conveyor with an endless conveyor line. When circulating continuous conveyor is preferably a strand, usually an upper run, for moving the laundry to be dried through a drying area of the dryer. The laundry is in the expanded state on the serving for drying strand, in particular upper strand of the conveyor line. In the area of the upper run, the laid out laundry can most effectively be dried from above by means of air jets or infrared or microwaves which can be directed perpendicularly or slightly obliquely onto the entire upper side of the laundry items laid out on the upper run.

Preferably, the conveyor line of the conveyor is designed to be permeable to air. As a result, the air jets or waves used for drying can flow through both the laundry items laid out on the conveyor line and through the conveyor line, namely the upper run. Preferably, it is further provided to suck the air required for drying, which flows through the laundry items to be dried and the upper run of the conveyor, below the upper run and either dissipate into the open or reuse completely or partially elsewhere for drying.

The dryer according to the invention may have blowing nozzles and / or infrared radiators, in particular black light radiators or microwave devices, above the upper run of the conveyor line accommodating the items of laundry. The tuyeres produce directed air jets that impinge perpendicularly or slightly obliquely on preferably full-surface and / or in a uniform grid on the laundry items to be dried or energy-related waves that are directed vertically or obliquely directed to the top of the spread lying on the conveyor string laundry. This type of loading of the items of laundry leads to a rapid, uniform and effective drying of the laundry items, in particular due to the spreading arrangement of the laundry items on the conveyor line.

The dryer according to the invention is preferably provided in the dry area with a housing which covers at least the upper part of the conveyor line receiving the laundry items for drying, or in particular wholly or at least for the most part surrounds. As a result, the energy used for drying, namely moving air, in particular moving hot or hot air and / or energy waves, encapsulated in the dry area, whereby the energy can almost completely serve to dry the laundry and forcibly by the laundry items to be dried and the upper run of the Passage can pass through or flow through or must.

Furthermore, the invention provides for the conveyor, in particular its upper section receiving the items of laundry, to be provided with a length such that a number of items of laundry can be dried per unit of time, which can be folded in the same time unit by a subsequent folding device. As a result, the dryer is virtually adapted to the work of the subsequent folding device or synchronized with the folding device. Because the drying of the respective laundry lasts much longer than the folding, the drying area of the dryer is dimensioned correspondingly long. As a result, so many items of laundry can be dried at the same time that leaves a conveyor at the end of the drying section at each Falttakt the folding device a dried laundry. If appropriate, it is also conceivable to associate a folding device with a plurality of dryers, preferably operated in parallel, so that items of laundry from different dryers can be fed alternately to the common folding device.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing.

The sole figure of the drawing schematically illustrates a dryer with a subsequent folding and stacking device.

The invention has a dryer 10, which is designed as a continuous dryer. The dryer 10 is preferably used for drying household linen such as towels, bath towels and the like, which consist of terry cloth. The dryer can also serve for drying other laundry items 11, in particular household linen such as towels or bath towels made of other materials.

The dryer 10 shown in the figure has a conveyor 12 with an endless conveyor line 13. Um Umlenktrommeln 14, of which at least one is drivable, an upper run 15 and a lower run 16 of the conveyor line 13 are guided endlessly. On the upper strand 15 to be dried items 11 are spread in the Condition and without overlap, preferably at a small distance, which may be smaller than shown in the figure, transported in the direction of passage 17 through the dryer 10. The conveyor line 13 is designed to be permeable to air. For this purpose, the conveyor train 13 is sieve-like, net-like or grid-like. Preferably, the conveyor string 13 consists of a mesh or a seamless polyester wire mesh. The conveyor line 13 has a width which corresponds at least to the width of the largest item of laundry 11, so that the items to be dried 11 in the spread state on the conveyor line 13, namely the upper run 15 of the same place. However, it is also conceivable to make the conveyor line 13 larger, so that two or more rows of juxtaposed, spread laundry items 11 can be found on the conveyor line 13, in particular the upper run 15 thereof.

The upper run 15 of the conveyor line 13 is surrounded by a housing 19 in a drying area 18. The housing 19 is associated with a straight-line, in the embodiment shown horizontal drying section 18 of the upper run 15 of the conveyor line 13. The housing 19 shown here encloses the top and the bottom of the upper strand 15 in the drying section 18. The housing 19 is thereby both above the upper strand 15 and under the same, in an area in which the lower strand 16 of the upper strand 15th is sufficiently far away. Through a gap on a front inlet side 20 and a rear outlet side 21, the upper run 15 with the pieces of laundry 11 spread out there run into or out of the housing 19. This gap on the inlet side 20 and on the outlet side 21 may optionally be at least partially sealed by an air curtain or the like against the exit and the entry of external air.

The located above the upper run 15 along the drying section 18 located part of the housing 19 are associated with a plurality of air outlet nozzles 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the air outlet nozzles 22 are formed as extending transversely to the direction of passage 17 slot nozzles, which extend over the entire width of the upper strand 15. A plurality of such formed as a slot nozzle air outlet openings 22 follow each other in the passage direction 17 with preferably uniform intervals. Formed in the illustrated embodiment by trapezoidal angled in cross-section baffles 23. Between the top strand 15 facing free ends slightly sloping leg 24 adjacent baffles 23 each have an air outlet nozzle 22 is formed. Due to the oblique course of the legs 24, the cross section of each slot-like air outlet nozzle 22 tapers to the air outlet opening 25 at the free lower ends of the legs 24 adjacent baffles 23. Die Air outlet nozzles 22 and air outlet openings 25 are all rectified, in such a way that the air jets emerging from these impinge approximately perpendicular to the upper strand 15 and the garments 11 stretched out thereon.

It is also conceivable to design the air outlet nozzles as spot jet nozzles, so that in a preferably uniform grid a plurality of such air outlet nozzles follow one another in the passage direction 17 and lie next to one another. The air outlet nozzles 22 may also be partially or completely obliquely directed at an obtuse angle to the upper strand 15 or the upper side of the laundry items 11 lying thereon.

The air jets directed through the air outlet nozzles 22 from above onto the laundry items 11 flow through the laundry items 11 and also the upper run 15. Preferably, each laundry item 11 is traversed essentially completely over the entire length of the drying line 18, in particular approximately transversely. The air enters the lower part of the housing 19, which is located under the upper strand 15. In this air is drawn off. For this purpose, a negative pressure can preferably be built up in the part of the housing 19 located below the upper strand 15. Alternatively or additionally, overpressure can be built up in the upper part of the housing 19 located above the upper strand 15.

As air for drying the laundry items 11, both air at room temperature or ambient temperature and hot air or hot air can be used. It is also conceivable, in the course of the drying section 18, to change the temperature of the air, in order, for example, to adapt it to the progressive degree of drying of the items of laundry 11 along the drying section 18. When air is referred to below, it means hot air, hot air and ambient temperature air.

The air is preferably passed under pressure through the air outlet nozzles 22, so that out of the air outlet openings 25 of the air outlet nozzles 22 directed compressed air jets flow out. As a result, an overpressure can arise in the upper part of the housing 19 located above the upper run 15, which leads to the compressed air flowing through the laundry items 11 and the upper run 15 into the lower part of the housing 19 under the upper run 15.

In the figure, a combined folding and stacking device 26 is shown, in which the dried items of laundry 11 folded in succession and then stacked in stacks become. In the folding and stacking device 26, a sorting of the laundry items 11 can be made according to their size by the laundry items 11 are measured before. The sorting takes place in such a way that the items of laundry 11 are folded as a function of their size and are stacked after being folded in different stacks with items 11 of the same size.

Before the dryer 10 may be a singulator. The separating device automatically separates the items of laundry 11 from the laundry batch coming from a washing machine and a downstream dewatering device, in which the items of laundry 11 are connected in a laundry pile. The separated items of laundry 11 are then either spread out by an operator and stored in the extended state in a loading area 27 on a, located in front of the housing 19, free starting area of the upper strand 15. However, it is also conceivable to provide a spreading device between the dryer 10 and the separating device. This can be an input machine arranged in front of the loading area 27 of the dryer 10, which is also used in laundries in order to supply items of laundry in the extended state to a defect. The spreader has manually or automatically loadable Spreizklammern that extend an edge of the laundry item 11 and automatically store the stretched laundry items 11 with the held between the Spreizklammem leading edge in the loading area 27 on the upper run 15 of the conveyor 12. However, the input device can also have a manually or automatically loadable Aufziehklammer, which raises the garment across a narrow Aufziehförderer and thereby extends. From Aufziehförderer the laundry is then placed with a wide leading edge in the loading area 27 on the upper strand 15 of the conveyor 12 before the drying section 18.

The method according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figure:

After washing and dewatering, the items of laundry 11 are dried in the dryer 10 and then folded in the folding and stacking device 26 and preferably stacked depending on the size.

The items of laundry 11 are washed by post and drained. After draining the laundry items 11 are together wrapped in a laundry pile. The laundry items 11 are either manually or preferably by a Separation device mechanically singulated and either manually or spread by a spreading device and stored in the extended state in the loading area 27 on the upper run 15 in front of the drying section 18 surrounding housing 19. Depending on the size of the dryer 10 and the laundry items 11, these are transported one-by-one individually, ie without overlapping, preferably at a small distance successively in the direction of passage 17 through the dryer 10. The laundry items 11 are then at a small distance one behind the other on the upper strand 15 of the dryer 10. It is also conceivable, the laundry items 11 mehrbahnig, so both successively and to dry side by side.

The laundry items 11 are dried in the extended state during their continuous transport through the dryer 10. It is a continuous drying. From the conveyor 12 lying on its upper strand 15 lying laundry items 11 are continuously transported in the direction of passage 17 through the housing 19. In this case, the laundry items 11 are acted upon from above with point or line-shaped air jets, in particular compressed air jets, substantially over the entire surface or in a uniform grid. The compressed air jets preferably impinge on the surface of the items of laundry 11 at 90 °. But you can also impinge obliquely on the surface of the laundry items 11 at an obtuse angle.

The directed air jets flow after occurrence on the surface of lying flat lying on the upper run 15 garments 11 through the laundry items 11 and the upper run 15 with entrainment of moisture from the laundry to be dried 11. The accumulating below the upper run 15 moist air is in Suction area of the underlying under the upper strand 15 lower part of the housing 19. This extraction can optionally be omitted if the pressure of the air in the upper part of the housing 19 on the laundry items 11 and the upper strand 15 is so high that the air can flow out of the lower part of the housing 19 automatically after flowing through the laundry items 11 and the upper strand 15 , The air may be - as mentioned above - air at room temperature, but also heated or heated air, the temperature of the air depends mainly on the material of the laundry items to be dried 11. The air is introduced with overpressure into the upper part of the housing 19 via the laundry items 11 to be dried. From the air outlet nozzles 22, the air is compressed and thereby accelerated so that it exits with directed compressed air jets at the air outlet openings 25 from the air outlet nozzles 22 and with high flow velocity and a corresponding pressure on the top of the laundry items to be dried 11 strikes.

If the air is heated or heated, this can preferably take place in the upper part of the housing 19, specifically via the guide plates 23 for forming the air outlet nozzles 22. The heating or heating of the air or compressed air can be effected by microwaves, infrared radiation or even black light emitters.

The conveying speed of the items of laundry 11 through the dryer 10 can be controlled or regulated by preferably contactless temperature and / or humidity sensors, which determine the degree of drying of the items 11 at certain points, preferably at several points along the drying section 18. Incidentally, the length and width of the drying section 18 is so dimensioned that a sufficient number of items 11 can be dried simultaneously in the expanded state, so that the timing, in each case a dried article 11 leaves the dryer 10, the timing of the folding and stacking device 26th equivalent. The drying capacity of the dryer 10 thus corresponds to the performance of the folding and stacking device 26. If necessary, several dryers are preferably parallel next to each other a folding and stacking device 26 assigned so that this is one of their performance corresponding number of dried laundry items 11 available.

As a result of the uniform, preferably full-surface drying of the laundry items 11 in the extended state leave the dryer 11 relatively smooth, dry laundry items eleventh

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

dryer

11

laundry

12

promoter

13

production string

14

Umlenktrommel

15

obertrum

16

strand

17

Throughput direction

18

drying section

19

casing

20

inlet side

21

outlet side

22

air outlet nozzle

23

baffle

24

leg

25

Air outlet opening

26

Folding and stacking device

27

loading area

Claims (15)

Process for the final treatment of washed laundry items (11), which are dried after washing and dewatering, folded and possibly stacked, characterized in that the laundry items (11) are dried in the expanded state. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the items of laundry (11) are separated before spreading. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the separated laundry items (11) are dried completely in the extended state. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry items (11) of air streams, in particular compressed air streams, and / or energy-laden waves are dried. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air streams, in particular compressed air streams, and / or waves are directed to the spread laundry items (11). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individual, spread laundry items (11) are moved continuously by the air flow. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry items (11) are transported lying on an air-permeable conveyor (12) lying through the air flow. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry items (11) flows through the air stream and preferably the air which has passed through the laundry items (11) is sucked off on the rear side of the laundry items (11). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air flow of room or outside temperature exhibiting air, hot air and / or hot air is formed. A laundry clothes dryer (11) comprising means for moving the laundry items (11) during drying and means for supplying air for drying to the laundry items (11), characterized in that the means for moving the laundry items (11) during drying is formed as a conveyor (12), whereby the laundry items (11) to be dried are continuously moved past the air serving for drying air and / or for drying energy-rich waves. Dryer according to claim 10, characterized in that the conveyor (12) as a continuous conveyor with a rotating conveyor line (13) is formed, in particular a strand, preferably an upper strand (15), of the conveyor line (13) for passing through the laundry items to be dried (11) is formed by a drying area in which the laundry items are acted upon by drying air. Dryer according to claim 11, characterized in that the conveyor line (13) is permeable to air and the laundry (11) through which air from a suction below the spread laundry items (11) receiving upper run (15) of the feed line (13) is sucked. Dryer according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that above the laundry items (11) receiving upper run (15) of the conveyor line (13) air outlet nozzles (22) for directionally loading the laundry items to be dried (11) with air, in particular compressed air jets, are arranged and optionally provided above the air outlet nozzles (22) energy sources for heating the air through the air outlet nozzles (22) flowing air. Dryer according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that in the region of the drying section (18) at least the laundry items (11) receiving upper run (15) of the conveyor (12) by a housing (19) is surrounded. Dryer according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the conveyor (12), in particular a the laundry pieces (11) receiving upper run (15), has a length such that per unit of time such a number of laundry items (11) are dried can, which in the same time unit of a subsequent folding and / or stacking device (26) is foldable and / or stackable.

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