EP0480062A1 - Verfahren und vorrichtung zum trocknen von wäsche oder dergleichen - Google Patents

Verfahren und vorrichtung zum trocknen von wäsche oder dergleichen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0480062A1
EP0480062A1 EP91908178A EP91908178A EP0480062A1 EP 0480062 A1 EP0480062 A1 EP 0480062A1 EP 91908178 A EP91908178 A EP 91908178A EP 91908178 A EP91908178 A EP 91908178A EP 0480062 A1 EP0480062 A1 EP 0480062A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
air
drying
chamber
solvent
solvent recovery
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP91908178A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0480062B1 (de
EP0480062A4 (en
Inventor
Takayuki 220-1 Tazawa Ohkawa
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tosei Denki Corp
Original Assignee
Tosei Denki Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP2111429A external-priority patent/JPH0753197B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP2111428A external-priority patent/JPH0749077B2/ja
Application filed by Tosei Denki Corp filed Critical Tosei Denki Corp
Publication of EP0480062A1 publication Critical patent/EP0480062A1/de
Publication of EP0480062A4 publication Critical patent/EP0480062A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0480062B1 publication Critical patent/EP0480062B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F43/00—Dry-cleaning apparatus or methods using volatile solvents
    • D06F43/08—Associated apparatus for handling and recovering the solvents
    • D06F43/086—Recovering the solvent from the drying air current

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a drying device and method for drying and at the same time removing cleaning solvent from clothes and other fabric which have been cleaned using petroleum-based dry-cleaning solvent.
  • Conventional dryers for drying clothes and other fabric which have been cleaned using petroleum-based dry-cleaning solvent call for, as described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid Open No. 73298/1984, recycling air by conveying air heated in a heating chamber into a drying chamber, cooling the air exhausted from the drying chamber in a cooling chamber, liquifying solvent vapor and moisture contained in the exhaust air, then heating the air again, from which solvent vapour has been removed, in the heating chamber and conveying it into the drying chamber in order to dry said items while recovering dry-cleaning solvent.
  • dryers having a conventional structure as above are able to dilute the concentration of the solvent vapor in the drying chamber by intaking the outside air, thereby eliminating the danger of an explosion.
  • they instead of recovering solvent vapor, they discharge it toghether with exhaust air into the outside atmosphere, which presents the problem of releasing the disagreeable smell of the solvent vapor.
  • An object of the present invention is the provision of a device and a method for drying clothes and other similar fabric which solves the above problems of conventional cloth dryers by means of cooling air passed through the drying chamber before exhausting it into the outside atmosphere, in order to recover as much solvent vapor from the exhaust air as possible and also reduce, by means of cooling, the smell of however little solvent vapor which might remain in the exhausted air.
  • Another object of the present invention is the provision of a method for drying clothes and other similar fabric which recovers cleaning solvent from dry-cleaned items while drying them in the solvent recovery circulating process and, in case of drying laundered clothes and other fabric which do not use petroleum-based dry-cleaning solvent, makes exhaust air pass through a ventilation route with low ventilation resistance, thereby achieving high drying efficiency.
  • a drying device has a solvent recovery circuit which is formed with a drying chamber provided with a drying drum, and air discharge channel connected to an exhaust port of the drying chamber and provided with a blower, an air intake channel connected to an air intake port of the drying chamber and provided with a heating chamber, and a cooling chamber to which a solvent recovery channel, as well as said air discharge channel and the air intake channel, are connected, said cooling chamber positioned between the air discharge channel and the air intake channel; wherein the air intake channel of the solvent recovery circuit is provided with an open air inlet port which is capable of opening and closing in order to direct the outside atmosphere into the air intake channel; and a switching damper is installed at the outlet end of the cooling chamber in order to cause the outlet end to be selectively connected to said air intake channel or an exhaust vent.
  • the cooling chamber of a clothes dryer according to the present invention is provided with a condenser therein as well as a viewport formed at a side thereof, through which the inside of the cooling chamber can be seen from the outside.
  • equipment of the cooling chamber such as the condenser can be easily maintained and checked.
  • a clothes dryer according to the present invention is also provided with a concentration sensor which detects concentration of solvent vapor in the solvent recovery channel and, when the concentration level is detected to be in a preset range, opens the said open air inlet port and switches the switching damper at the same time so that the outlet end of the cooling chamber becomes connected to the open air end of the exhaust vent.
  • the open air inlet port is opened while the outlet end of the cooling chamber becomes connected to the open air end of the exhaust vent by means of switching the damper at the outlet end of the cooling chamber in order to lower the temperature in the drying chamber and reduce the concentration of solvent vapor, thereby preventing an explosion.
  • a clothes dryer according to the present invention is further provided with a temperature sensor which detects temperature in the solvent recovery channel and, when detecting temperature to exceed a specified degree, opens the open air inlet port and switches the switching damper in order to connect the outlet end of the cooling chamber to the open air end of the exhaust vent.
  • the open air inlet port is opened while the outlet end of the cooling chamber becomes connected to the open air end of the exhaust vent by means by switching the damper at the outlet end of the cooling chamber in order to lower the temperature in the drying chamber and as well as the temperature of the solvent vapor, thereby preventing an explosion.
  • a clothes dryer according to the present invention is further provided with an exhaust vent which is formed parallel to the cooling chamber of the solvent recovery circuit and open to the outside atmosphere, an open air inlet port in the air intake channel of the solvent recovery circuit, said open air inlet port capable of opening and closing for introducing the outside air, and a switching damper selectively connecting the cooling chamber or the exhaust vent to the outlet end of the air discharge channel.
  • the damper when drying clothes and other objects cleaned without using dry-cleaning solvent but other means such as laundry, the damper is switched to connect the exhaust vent to the outlet end of the air discharge channel while the open air inlet port is opened to introduce the outside atmosphere into the air intake channel; air heated by the heater is introduced into the drying chamber where moisture contained in the objects is vaporized; and the air containing the vapor is exhausted through the air discharge channel to the outside atmosphere, thus bypassing the cooling chamber.
  • heated air efficiently moves through the drying chamber because of low ventilation resistance, thereby achieving effective drying performance.
  • the method for dryingclothes and other objects according to the present invention has the solvent recovery circulating process which consists of supplying air heated in the heating chamber into the drying chamber in which a drying drum is installed, vaporizing solvent from the objects, introducing solvent vapor and air from the exhaust port of the drying chamber into the cooling chamber through the air discharge channel, recovering solvent from the solvent recovery channel by means of liquifying the solvent vapor, and reheating the air in the heating chamber and directing it into the drying chamber; and the open air introduction process which consists of opening an open/shut open air inlet port to supply the outside air into said drying chamber, introducing solvent vapor and the air in the drying chamber into the cooling chamber through the air discharge channel, recovering solvent from the solvent recovery channel by means of liquifying solvent vapor, and discharging the air through an exhaust vent which is connected to the outlet end of said cooling chamber, said method selectively and alternatively performing said solvent recovery circulating process and said open air introduction process by turns.
  • the method according to the present invention also calls for supplying the outside air from an open air inlet port of the air intake channel into the drying chamber for the purpose of lowering the temperature in the drying chamber as well as reducing the concentration of solvent vapor, thereby preventing an explosion.
  • the method for drying clothes and other objects according to the present invention calls for switching and repeating, at predetermined regular intervals, the solvent recovery circulating process and the open air introduction process.
  • the method for drying clothes and other objects according to the present invention further calls for detecting the concentration of solvent vapor in the drying chamber in the solvent recovery circuit and switching the solvent recovery circulating process to the open air introduction process when detecting the concentration to be in a specified range.
  • the method for drying clothes and other objects according to the present invention further calls for detecting the temperature in the drying chamber in the solvent recovery circuit and switching the solvent recovery circulating process to the open air introduction process when detecting the temperature to be more than a specified degree.
  • Figure 1 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a clothes dryer according to the present invention.
  • Numeral 1 denotes a drying chamber, in which generally cylindrical-shaped drying drum 2 made of punching metal or other similar materials and having numerous ventilation holes therearound is installed. Objects to be dried, such as clothes, can be put in and taken out of drying drum 2 through a door (not shown) on the front panel of said drying chamber 1. Stirring fan 3 for stirring objects to be dried is installed in drying drum 2.
  • Exhaust port 4 is open at the bottom of drying chamber 1, and air discharge channel 6 provided with blower 5 is connected to said exhaust port 4.
  • Air intake port 7 is open at the top of drying chamber 1, and heating chamber 11 provided with heater 10 which has steam pipe 9 is formed in air intake channel 8 connected to said air intake port 7.
  • Exhaust vent 19 installed parallel to cooling chamber 14 is connected to the outlet end of air discharge channel 6, the outlet end of exhaust vent 19 opening to the outside air.
  • Air discharge channel 6 is provided with Linton filter 20 which is installed at the intake side of blower 5.
  • Open/shut open air intake port 21 for taking in the outside air is bored in air intake channel 8, open air intake port 21 being provided with the first damper 22 which can be opened and closed by such means as an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, an electromagnetic device, etc.
  • the second damper 23 for the selective connection of air discharge channel 6 to cooling chamber 14 or exhaust vent 19 is installed at the outlet end of exhaust channel 6.
  • the third damper 24 for switching connection of cooling chamber 14 to said air intake channel 8 or exhaust vent 19 is installed at the outlet end of cooling chamber 14, both dampers 23 and 24 capable of opening and closing by such means as an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, an electromagnetic device, etc.
  • solvent recovery circuit 25 is formed with said drying chamber 1, air discharge channel 6 connected to exhaust port 4 of drying chamber 1, and cooling chamber 14 connected to the outlet end of exhaust channel 6, the outlet end of cooling chamber connected to air intake channel 8.
  • Steam pipe 9 of said heater 10 is provided with adjusting valve 26, which can be adjusted, allowing heated 10 to heat the air to an appropriate temperature for objects to be dried.
  • Drying chamber 1 is also provided with raw steam blowing nozzle 27.
  • Cooling chamber 14, which has condenser 13, is also provided with open/shut viewport 28, through which the inside of the cooling chamber can be seen from the outside.
  • Solvent recovery circuit 25 is formed by closing open air inlet port 21 of air intake channel 8 with the first damper 22, connecting the outlet end of air discharge channel 6 to cooling chamber 14 by means of the second damper 23, and connecting the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to air intake channel 8 by means of the third damper 24.
  • the liquidized solvent moisture is discharged into solvent recovery channel 15, and solvent which is introduced from solvent recovery channel 15 into solvent/moisture separator 16 is separated due to the differences in specific gravities and recovered from solvent discharge port 17, and moisture is discharged from water discharge port 18 located below solvent discharge port 17.
  • the air, divested of solvent and moisture, is introduced into air intake channel 8 and reheated by heated 10. As this process is sequentially repeated, the objects are dried, and the solvent is recovered.
  • raw steam is injected from raw steam blowing nozzle 27 into drying chamber 1 at appropriate times in order to increase the humidity in drying chamber 1 and give some moisture to the objects in drying drum 2, thereby preventing generation of static electricity and, consequently, explosion of solvent vapor that might otherwise be caused by electrostatic discharge.
  • open air inlet port 21 for continually introducing the outside air into air intake channel 8 is opened by the first damper 22 using a timer control, while the third damper 24 is switched to connect the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to the open air through exhaust vent 19, in order to direct the outside air from open air inlet port 21 of air intake channel 8 into drying chamber 1, thereby lowering the temperature in drying chamber 1, reducing the concentration of the solvent vapor and, consequently, preventing an explosion.
  • the outlet end of air discharge channel 6 remains to be connected to cooling chamber 14 by means of the second damper 23.
  • Solvent vapor and air discharged from drying chamber 1 is directed through air discharge channel 6 into cooling chamber 14, where vaporized solvent is liquified and recovered through the solvent recovery channel, and the cooled air is exhausted through exhaust vent 19.
  • the open air introduction process and the exhausting process described above are conducted for a period of, for example, 5 seconds.
  • the system is switched witout a break to the previously described solvent recovery circulating process by closing, with the first damper 22, open air inlet port 21 for introducing the outside air into air intake channel 8, and connecting the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to air intake channel 8 by means of switching the third damper 24 while maintaining the connection of the outlet end of air discharge channel 6 into cooling chamber 14 by means of the second damper 23, and the solvent recovery circulating process is conducted for the period of, for example, 30 seconds.
  • These two processes i. e. the open air introduction process and the solvent recovery circulating process, are alternatively conducted for the period of, for example, 5 - 10 minutes.
  • the solvent recovery ration increases, and even if some amount of solvent vapor remains in the exhaust air, there will not be much smell.
  • the circular cooling process is initiated, without halting the system, by means of the timer control; open air inlet port 21 for introducing the outside air into air intake channel 8 is closed by the first damper 22, the outlet end of air discharge channel 6 is connected to cooling chamber 14 by means of the second damper 23, the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 is connected to air intake channel 8 by means of switching the third damper 24, heater 10 of air intake channel 8 is stopped, and the air cooled in cooling chamber 14 is circulated to drying chamber 1, thereby cooling drying chamber 1 as well as the objects to be dried in drying drum 2.
  • the timer control After conducting this circular cooling operation for a period of, for example, 5 - 10 minutes, and then without break, the timer control opens open air inlet port 21 to introduce the outside air into air intake channel 8 with the first damper 22 and switches the third damper 23 to connect the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to the outside air through exhaust vent 19, while keeping the outlet end of air discharge channel 6 to be connected to cooling chamber 14 by means of the second damper 23.
  • heater 10 is stopped, the outside air is supplied from open air inlet port 21 into air intake channel 8 to cool drying chamber 1 with its low temperature and is cooled in cooling chamber 14 and then exhausted to the outside form the open air end of exhaust vent 19.
  • drying chamber 1 is deodorized, and the odor of the exhaust air is also reduced by cooling.
  • this deodorizing process is conducted for the period of, for example, 1 minute, the entire drying process is completed.
  • open air inlet port 21 for introducing the outside air into air intake channel 8 is opened by the first damper 22, the outlet end of air discharge channel 6 is connected to exhaust vent 19 by the second damper 23, and the inlet end of air intake channel 8 is closed by the third damper 24. Then, when steam is circulated through steam pipe 9 of heater 10 while blower 5 is driven, the air heated by heater 10 of air intake channel 8 is introduced into drying chamber 1, where moisture contained in the objects in drying drum 2, which is being rotated, is vaporized, and the vaporized moisture is then exhausted together with the air through air discharge channel 6 and exhaust vent 19 into the outside air. As the air thus exhausted to the outside does not pass through cooling chamber 14, it moves smoothly without receiving much ventilation resistance, and the drying efficiency is therefore improved.
  • Air discharge channel 6 of drying chamber 1 is provided with temperature sensor 30 so that when temperature sensor 30 detects the temperature of the air discharged from drying chamber 1 to exceed a specified degree, signals from temperature sensor 30 cause the first damper 22 of open air inlet port 21 to open and switch the third damper 24 to connect the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to the open-air end of exhaust vent 19.
  • open air inlet port 21 is opened, while the third damper 24 at the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 is switched to connect the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to the open air end of exhaust vent 19, thereby lowering the temperature of solvent vapor, as well as the temperature in drying chamber 1, and consequently preventing an explosion.
  • open air inlet port 21 is closed while the third damper 24 at the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 is switched to connect the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to air intake channel 8.
  • the system switches to perform the open air introduction process again, and after alternatively repeating the open air introduction process and the solvent recovery circulating process, the entire drying process is completed with the aforementioned cooling process which is followed by the deodorizing process.
  • a concentration sensor for detecting the concentration of solvent vapor instead of said temperature sensor 30 so that when the concentration sensor detects the concentration of solvent vapor to be in a specified range where there is the strong possibility of explosion of solvent vapor, signals from the concentration sensor cause said open air inlet port 21 to open and switch the third damper 24 at the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to connect the outlet end of cooling chamber 14 to the open air end of exhaust vent 19.
  • the system switches to perform the open air introduction process again, and after alternatively repeating the open air introduction process and the solvent recovery circulating process, the entire drying process is completed with the aforementioned cooling process which is followed by the deodorizing process.
  • cooling chamber 14 can be easily observed from the outside through viewport 28
  • equipment of the cooling chamber such as the condenser, can be easily maintained and checked.
  • condenser 13 of cooling chamber 14 uses cooling water pipe 12
  • the present invention is suitable for drying clothes and other objects cleaned with petroleum-based dry-cleaning solvent.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
  • Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
  • Accessory Of Washing/Drying Machine, Commercial Washing/Drying Machine, Other Washing/Drying Machine (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
  • Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
EP91908178A 1990-04-26 1991-04-25 Verfahren und vorrichtung zum trocknen von wäsche oder dergleichen Expired - Lifetime EP0480062B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP111428/90 1990-04-26
JP2111429A JPH0753197B2 (ja) 1990-04-26 1990-04-26 衣類などの乾燥装置
JP111429/90 1990-04-26
JP2111428A JPH0749077B2 (ja) 1990-04-26 1990-04-26 衣類などの乾燥装置
PCT/JP1991/000564 WO1991016489A1 (fr) 1990-04-26 1991-04-25 Procede et appareil de sechage du linge ou analogue

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0480062A1 true EP0480062A1 (de) 1992-04-15
EP0480062A4 EP0480062A4 (en) 1992-10-28
EP0480062B1 EP0480062B1 (de) 1998-01-28

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91908178A Expired - Lifetime EP0480062B1 (de) 1990-04-26 1991-04-25 Verfahren und vorrichtung zum trocknen von wäsche oder dergleichen

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0480062B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE162865T1 (de)
DE (1) DE69128825T2 (de)
WO (1) WO1991016489A1 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107815812A (zh) * 2016-09-13 2018-03-20 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 一种高效冷凝器和具有该冷凝器的洗衣机
CN107815835A (zh) * 2016-09-13 2018-03-20 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 一种高效冷凝器和具有该冷凝器的洗衣机

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1092058A (fr) * 1953-12-12 1955-04-18 Perma Maschinen A G Machine à nettoyer
DE1121014B (de) * 1959-02-06 1962-01-04 Boehler & Weber K G Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Verbessern des Auskondensierens des in einem Luftstrom enthaltenen fluechtigen Loesungsmittelbestandteiles innerhalb einer Chemisch-Reinigungsmaschine
JPS4949426B1 (de) * 1970-08-25 1974-12-27
US3831294A (en) * 1972-09-11 1974-08-27 Challenge Cook Bros Inc Means for controlling the drying of textiles and reclaiming the liquid therefrom
US4281465A (en) * 1978-07-17 1981-08-04 Ameg Verfahrens-Und Umweltschutz-Technik Ag Method and apparatus for the recovering of solvents in dry cleaning units
JPS5924319Y2 (ja) * 1979-10-13 1984-07-18 三洋電機株式会社 溶剤回収式乾操装置
JPS5944572A (ja) * 1982-09-06 1984-03-13 旭化成株式会社 乾燥用循環空気の加熱方法およびその装置
JPS59160099U (ja) * 1983-04-12 1984-10-26 三洋電機株式会社 ドライクリ−ナ

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107815812A (zh) * 2016-09-13 2018-03-20 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 一种高效冷凝器和具有该冷凝器的洗衣机
CN107815835A (zh) * 2016-09-13 2018-03-20 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 一种高效冷凝器和具有该冷凝器的洗衣机
CN107815835B (zh) * 2016-09-13 2020-04-03 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 一种高效冷凝器和具有该冷凝器的洗衣机
CN107815812B (zh) * 2016-09-13 2020-06-09 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司 一种高效冷凝器和具有该冷凝器的洗衣机

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0480062B1 (de) 1998-01-28
DE69128825D1 (de) 1998-03-05
EP0480062A4 (en) 1992-10-28
WO1991016489A1 (fr) 1991-10-31
ATE162865T1 (de) 1998-02-15
DE69128825T2 (de) 1998-05-14

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