IT201900009159A1 - ABRASIVE ELEMENT FOR THE SURFACE TREATMENT OF CLOTHING AND RELATED APPARATUS - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Field of application

[0001] The present invention is generally applicable to the technical sector of the treatment of fabrics and particularly relates to an abrasive element for the surface treatment of garments.

[0002] The invention also relates to an apparatus for the surface treatment of clothing by means of the aforementioned abrasive element.

State of the art

[0003] The use of apparatuses for the surface treatment of clothing in order to artificially reproduce the worn appearance due to use has been known for some time in the fabric treatment sector.

[0004] Generally, such apparatuses comprise an industrial washing machine provided with a basket rotatable around a longitudinal axis of rotation and having a substantially cylindrical side wall provided with an open axial end.

[0005] Furthermore, the basket comprises an axial end closed by a substantially radial bottom wall to define a compartment for containing the items of clothing intended to be treated by one or more treatment liquids.

[0006] The liquid usually consists of an aqueous solution mixed with a predetermined amount of abrasive material, for example pumice stone or other similar conglomerates.

[0007] However, the liquid discharged from the washing machine at the end of the treatment is harmful to human health and the abrasive powder dispersed therein must be separated from the liquid solution by using suitable filters and subsequently disposed of as special waste. It is therefore evident that this waste disposal procedure is particularly long and has non-negligible costs.

[0008] Furthermore, during the treatment a final rinsing phase of the garments is provided which increases the overall water consumption by the washing machine.

[0009] In order to at least partially overcome these drawbacks, apparatuses that can be installed on industrial washing machines have been developed which have a rotating drum whose containment compartment includes at least one abrasive element that is removably installed on the inner walls of the drum for the treatment of the items to be treated.

[0010] From W003006728 an apparatus for the stone surface treatment of garments made of textile material is known which comprises a plurality of abrasive elements having a shaped head made of silicate carbon and intended to be removably fixed to the inner walls of the drum of a industrial washing machine and designed to create an abrasive projection for garments.

[0011] The abrasive elements comprise a threaded stem which can be inserted into corresponding holes made in the drum of the washing machine and a nut that can be screwed onto the stem to removably fix the shaped head to the inner walls of the drum.

[0012] From KR20180028817 and JP2691849 industrial washing machines are known for the stone aging of garments made of textile material in which the inner walls of the rotating basket are provided with a plurality of substantially spherical stones or abrasive elements of conical shape, detachably fixed by means of respective fastening elements comprising a nut and a bolt.

[0013] A first drawback common to these known solutions is represented by the fact that the abrasive elements are composed of consumable materials which maintain their abrasive property for a short time.

[0014] Furthermore, the material that makes up the abrasive elements tends to disperse in the washing liquid which must be separated from the liquid solution by using suitable filters to be subsequently disposed of as special waste.

[0015] This drawback is particularly disadvantageous as it increases the overall treatment times and labor costs required for the replacement of the abrasive elements.

[0016] To at least partially overcome these drawbacks, apparatuses have been developed comprising abrasive elements which can be inserted into the rotating drum of an industrial washing machine with the items of clothing to be treated.

[0017] From W09932261 abrasive elements of the floating type are known for the stone aging of garments made of textile material which have a hollow body on whose external surface an abrasive layer made of a material chosen from diamond, silicon carbide, is deposited broncharbon, tungsten carbide and cubic boron carbide.

[0018] A drawback of this known solution is represented by the fact that the abrasive elements are made of metallic material and are rotated by the drum of the washing machine together with the items of clothing, with a consequent increase in the risk of damage to the internal walls of the drum.

[0019] A further drawback of this solution is represented by the fact that the abrasive elements inserted in the drum do not allow an efficient and uniform treatment of the surface of the garments.

[0020] Furthermore, at the end of the treatment of the garments, the abrasive elements remain entangled on the garments and must be recovered to be reinserted into the basket for further treatments.

Technical problem

[0021] In light of the known state of the art, the technical problem that the present invention aims to solve is, in short, that of providing an apparatus that allows to increase the treatment efficiency of an item of clothing by using abrasive elements and which allow to superficially treat a garment uniformly and in a particularly short time.

Presentation of the invention

[0022] The object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problem by providing an abrasive element and an apparatus for the surface treatment of garments with one or more treatment liquids which have characteristics of high efficiency and relative cheapness.

[0023] A particular object of the present invention is to provide an abrasive element and an apparatus for the surface treatment of garments of the type described above which allow a garment to be treated superficially in a particularly short time.

[0024] A further object of the present invention is to provide an abrasive element and an apparatus for the surface treatment of garments of the type described above which allow an article of clothing to be treated superficially in a uniform manner.

[0025] Another object of the present invention is to provide an abrasive element and an apparatus for the surface treatment of garments of the type described above which have non-consumable shapes and materials and which retain their abrasive capacity over time.

[0026] A further object of the present invention is to provide an abrasive element and an apparatus for the surface treatment of garments of the type described above which increase the safety of an operator assigned to its management.

[0027] Another object of the present invention is to provide an abrasive element for the surface treatment of garments of the type described above which has reduced overall dimensions.

[0028] A further object of the present invention is to provide an abrasive element and an apparatus for the surface treatment of garments of the type described above which reduce management and maintenance times.

[0029] Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the surface treatment of garments that can be easily installed on new and / or used industrial washing machines so as to improve their performance.

[0030] The aforementioned purposes, as well as others which will appear more clearly in the following, are achieved by an abrasive element for the surface treatment of garments, which can be removably applied to the internal walls of a rotating drum of an industrial washing machine, in accordance with the claim 1.

[0031] According to a peculiar aspect of the invention, the abrasive element comprises a body formed by a plurality of discs each having a substantially serrated outer peripheral edge and the discs are mutually superimposed in substantially coaxial positions to form an abrasive side surface in the body. Furthermore, the disks are mutually coupled by means of fixing means adapted to constrain the body to the internal walls of the drum.

[0032] Conveniently, each disc has a substantially circular shape in plan and a gradually decreasing diameter to give the body a truncated cone shape with a larger base corresponding to the larger diameter disc.

[0033] Thanks to this combination of characteristics, the abrasive element makes it possible to increase the treatment effectiveness of an item of clothing and to treat the latter surface uniformly and in a particularly short time

[0034] In accordance with claim 7, each disc has a central hole of constant diameter able to define with the central hole of the other discs a coupling seat for the fastening means

[0035] Furthermore, according to claim 12, the coupling seat has a radial recess for the insertion of a key so as to prevent reciprocal rotation of the discs.

[0036] The invention also relates to an apparatus for the surface treatment of clothing with one or more treatment liquids and can be installed on an industrial washing machine, in accordance with claim 14.

[0037] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are obtained in accordance with the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

[0038] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more evident in the light of the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of an apparatus and an abrasive element for the surface treatment of garments, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the help of the following drawing tables in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are respectively a perspective view and a front view of the apparatus for the surface treatment of clothing according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an abrasive element for the surface treatment of clothing according to the invention, in a first operational configuration;

FIGS. 4 and 6 are respectively a plan view and a side view of the abrasive element of Fig. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the abrasive element of Fig. 3, in a second operating configuration;

FIGS. 7 is a plan view of a detail of the abrasive element of Fig. 5.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment [0039] With particular reference to the figures, an apparatus for the surface treatment of clothing C with one or more treatment liquids and can be installed on a washing machine is illustrated and indicated with the reference number 1 industrial or other similar device commonly used in the textile sector to wash or treat fabrics.

[0040] By way of non-restrictive example, the apparatus 1 can be used for the treatment of jeans, sweaters or jackets in denim or similar fabric.

[0041] The industrial washing machine, moreover, will be configured to treat the garments C with a predetermined quantity of treatment liquid containing water, detergents and / or particular ecological solvents suitably selected according to the treatment and the type of fabric.

[0042] According to a preferred configuration of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus 1 comprises a substantially tubular basket 2 which rotates around a longitudinal axis of rotation X

[0043] The basket 2 comprises a substantially cylindrical side wall 3 provided with an open axial end 4 for the insertion and removal of the items of clothing C to be treated or treated.

[0044] The basket 2 also comprises an axial end 5 closed by a substantially radial bottom wall 6 to define a compartment 7 for containing the items of clothing C.

[0045] In a per se known way, the side wall 3 of the basket 2 may have a plurality of through holes designed to allow the entry and / or exit of the treatment liquid from the compartment 7.

[0046] Preferably, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the side wall 3 can be shaped so as to define a plurality of radial blades 8 internally hollow, protruding towards the compartment 7 and with a substantially truncated conical section shape to interact with the garments C during the treatment so as to promote agitation.

[0047] Advantageously, the containment compartment 7 comprises at least one abrasive element 9 removably installed on the internal walls 3, 6 of the basket 2 for the treatment of the items to be treated C.

[0048] According to a peculiar aspect of the invention, the abrasive element 9 comprises a body 10 formed by a plurality of discs 11 each having an outer peripheral edge 12 substantially serrated.

[0049] Furthermore, the disks 11 are mutually superimposed in substantially coaxial positions to form an abrasive side surface 13 in the body 10 and are mutually coupled by means of fixing means 14 suitable for binding the body 10 to the internal walls 3, 6 of the basket 2.

[0050] In this way, by mutually superimposing each disc 11 by means of the fastening means 14 it will be possible to mount and install the abrasive element 9 in the basket 2.

[0051] Furthermore, the particular shape of the peripheral edge 12 of each disc 11 will be able to treat the garments C by abrasion in an efficient and uniform way.

[0052] In the following, the expression "serrated outer peripheral edge", indicated by the reference number 12, will mean an external edge having a plurality of protrusions and hollows with a regular or irregular plan shape suitable for generating a surface of contact with abrasive type C clothing.

[0053] Preferably, the serrated outer peripheral edge 12 of each disc 11 is formed by a series of substantially triangular-shaped teeth 15 and the discs 11 may comprise the same number of teeth 15.

[0054] Alternatively, each serrated disc 11 may have an increasing number of teeth 15 from the base disc 11 'to the apex disc 11 ".

[0055] Conveniently, each disc 11 can be made of stainless steel and the outer peripheral serrated edge 12 can be made by laser cutting so as to preserve its abrasive capacity over time without dispersing polluting material in the treatment liquid.

[0056] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, each of the discs 11 can have a substantially circular plan shape and have a predetermined reduced thickness.

[0057] Preferably, the discs 11 have a gradually decreasing outer diameter to give the body 10 a frusto-conical shape with a larger base corresponding to the disc 11 having a larger outer diameter, as better illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0058] According to an alternative form of the invention, not shown in the figures, each disc 11 may comprise a polygonal plan shape or a spherical, cylindrical or cubic body 10 depending on the external diameter of each disc 11, which may be constant or increasing according to the abrasive capacity required, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0059] As schematically illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7, each of the discs 11 has a central hole 16 of constant internal diameter d2 suitable to define with the central hole 16 of the other discs 11 a coupling seat 17 for the fixing means 14.

[0060] Furthermore, each disc 11 may be substantially full or, alternatively, one or more discs 11 of the abrasive element 9 may be non-full and have a series of cavities 18 separated by stiffening spokes 19, as better illustrated in FIG . 7.

[0061] In this way, when mounting an abrasive element 9 to one of the walls 3, 6 of the basket 2 by means of the fixing means 14, each disc 11 will be able to adapt to the substantially tubular shape of the basket 2.

[0062] In the example shown in FIG. 5, the discs 11 with a larger external diameter and proximal to the base one 11 'have a plurality of cavities 18 and spokes 19, while the discs 11 with a smaller external diameter and proximal to the apex 11 "are full and have only the central hole 16.

[0063] As better illustrated in the figures, the fixing means 14 comprise a substantially cylindrical pin 20 with a diameter slightly smaller than that of the central hole 16 for insertion into the coupling seat 17.

[0064] The pin 20 comprises an enlarged upper end portion 21 intended to abut against the apex disc 11 "of the body 10 of the abrasive element 9 and a lower end portion 22 protruding from the base disc 11 '.

[0065] The lower end portion 22 can be threaded to be screwed removably into a counter-threaded hole formed in an inner wall 3, 6 of the basket 2.

[0066] Alternatively, this lower end portion 22 of the pin 20 can be hollow and counter-threaded to receive a threaded bolt suitably arranged on the internal walls 3, 6 of the basket 2 protruding towards the compartment 7.

[0067] Naturally, the enlarged upper end portion 21 of the pin 20 may comprise a flat, rounded or inclined upper surface according to the abrasive capacity required, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0068] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the coupling seat 17 of each disc 11 has a radial recess 23 and the fixing means 14 may comprise a key 24 which can be inserted in the recess 23 to prevent the reciprocal rotation of the discs 11.

[0069] Furthermore, each disc 11 may comprise a distinctive sign 25, preferably an identification number, obtained on any solid part of the disc 11 so as to identify the order of insertion of each disc 11 on the pin 20 to form the abrasive element 9 before being mounted in the basket 2.

[0070] Operationally, as better illustrated in FIG. 5, for the assembly of the abrasive element 9 proceed as follows.

[0071] First, a plurality of discs 11 are arranged, each having an outer peripheral edge 12 substantially serrated.

[0072] Subsequently the discs 11 are mutually superimposed in substantially coaxial positions, in the order established by the distinctive sign 24 of each disc 11, whether increasing or decreasing, and so that the central hole 16 and the recess 23 of each disc 11 are aligned to form the coupling seat 17.

[0073] The discs 11 are then reciprocally inserted into the pin 20 so that the enlarged upper end portion 21 of the latter abuts against the apex disc 11 "and the lower end portion 22 protrudes from the base disc 11 'body 10.

[0074] Finally, the key 24 is inserted in the radial recess 23 of each disc 11 and the abrasive element 9 thus formed is bound to the internal walls 3, 6 of the basket 2.

[0075] In this way, the abrasive element 9 has considerably reduced dimensions and is shaped to be assembled in a simple and economical way, reducing management and installation times.

[0076] From the foregoing, it is evident that the apparatus for the surface treatment of garments and the relative abrasive element achieve the intended purposes and in particular allow to increase the treatment efficiency of the garment and allow a garment to be treated superficially of clothing uniformly and in a particularly short time.

[0077] The apparatus and the abrasive element according to the invention are susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the inventive concept expressed in the attached claims.

[0078] Although the apparatus and the abrasive element have been described with particular reference to the attached figures, the reference numbers used in the description and in the claims are used to improve the intelligence of the invention and do not constitute any limitation to the scope of protection claimed.

Reference throughout the description to "an embodiment" or "the embodiment" or "some embodiment" indicates that a particular feature, structure or element described is included in at least one embodiment of the object of the present invention.

Furthermore, the particular features, structures or elements can be combined in any suitable way in one or more embodiments.

Industrial applicability

[0081] The present invention is industrially applicable as it can be realized on an industrial scale by industries belonging to the technical sector of the treatment of fabrics.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS 1. An abrasive element (9) for the surface treatment of garments (C), removably applicable on the internal walls (3, 6) of a rotating basket (2) of an industrial washing machine, characterized in that it comprises a body ( 10) formed by a plurality of discs (11) each having an outer peripheral edge (12) substantially serrated, said discs (11) being mutually superimposed in substantially coaxial positions forming in said body (10) an abrasive side surface (13), said discs (11) being mutually coupled by means of fixing means (14) adapted to constrain said body (10) to the internal walls (3, 6) of the basket (2). 2. Element according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said discs (11) have a substantially circular plan shape. 3. Element according to claim 1, characterized in that said discs (11) have a gradually decreasing external diameter (di) suitable to give said body (10) a truncated conical shape with a larger base corresponding to the disc (11) of diameter external (of) major. 4. Element according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer peripheral serrated edge (12) of each disc (11) is formed by a series of teeth (15) having a substantially triangular shape. 5. Element according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that each serrated disc (11) has a number of teeth (15) increasing from the base disc (11 ') to that of the apex (11 "). 6. Element according to claim 1, characterized in that the discs (11) of said plurality comprise the same number of teeth (15). 7. Element according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said discs (11) has a central hole (16) of constant internal diameter (d2) able to define with the central hole (16) of the other discs (11) a coupling seat (17) for said fixing means (14). 8. Element according to claim 7, characterized in that each disc (11) is substantially full. 9. Element according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises one or more non-filled discs (11) with cavities (18) separated by spokes (19). 10. Element according to claim 7, characterized in that said fixing means (14) comprise a substantially cylindrical pin (20) with a diameter slightly smaller than that of said central hole (16) for insertion into said coupling seat ( 17). 11. Element according to claim 10, characterized in that said pin (20) comprises an enlarged upper end portion (21) intended to abut against the apex disk (11 ") of said body (10) and a portion of lower end (22) protruding from the base disc (11 '), said lower end portion (22) being threaded to be removably screwed into a counter-threaded hole formed in an inner wall (3, 6) of the basket (2). 12. Element according to claim 10, characterized in that said coupling seat (17) has a radial recess (23), a key (24) being provided which can be inserted in said recess (23) to prevent the reciprocal rotation of said discs ( 11). 13. Element according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said discs (11) is made of stainless steel and said external peripheral serrated edge (12) is made by laser cutting. 14. An apparatus (1) for the surface treatment of garments (C) with one or more treatment liquids and installable on an industrial washing machine, which apparatus (1) comprises a basket (2) rotating around an axis of longitudinal rotation (X) and having a substantially cylindrical side wall (3) provided with an open axial end (4) and an axial end (5) closed by a substantially radial bottom wall (6) to define a space (7) for the containment of the items of clothing (C), in which said containment compartment (7) comprises at least one abrasive element (9) removably installed on said walls (3, 6) for the treatment of the items (C) to be treated; characterized in that it comprises one or more abrasive elements (9) according to one or more of the preceding claims.