WO2019094355A1 - Dispositif et procédé pour sécher des vêtements - Google Patents

Dispositif et procédé pour sécher des vêtements Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2019094355A1
WO2019094355A1 PCT/US2018/059347 US2018059347W WO2019094355A1 WO 2019094355 A1 WO2019094355 A1 WO 2019094355A1 US 2018059347 W US2018059347 W US 2018059347W WO 2019094355 A1 WO2019094355 A1 WO 2019094355A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
clothing
airflow
drying device
plate
perforated support
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.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2018/059347
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Arjen DE JONG
Erika OSTROFF
Richard T. BREUNESSE
Brian SPARANO
Richard DE JONG
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.)
Secco Labs Inc
Original Assignee
Secco Labs Inc
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
Application filed by Secco Labs Inc filed Critical Secco Labs Inc
Publication of WO2019094355A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019094355A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased 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
    • D06F59/00—Supports adapted to retain the shape of particular articles being dried, e.g. incorporating heating means
    • D06F59/02—Supports adapted to retain the shape of particular articles being dried, e.g. incorporating heating means for garments
    • 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
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/32—Control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/34—Control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers  characterised by the purpose or target of the control
    • D06F58/36—Control of operational steps, e.g. for optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
    • D06F58/38—Control of operational steps, e.g. for optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry of drying, e.g. to achieve the target humidity
    • 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
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/02—Characteristics of laundry or load
    • 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
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/02—Characteristics of laundry or load
    • D06F2103/08—Humidity
    • 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
    • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/16—Air properties
    • D06F2105/24—Flow or velocity
    • 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
    • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/50—Starting machine operation, e.g. delayed start or re-start after power cut
    • 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
    • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/62—Stopping or disabling machine operation
    • 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
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/203—Laundry conditioning arrangements

Definitions

  • the invention relates to drying clothing, particularly in a relatively short amount of time, such as those for use in homes, hotels, gyms, spas, laundromats, and other facilities.
  • This disclosure relates to a device and method for drying clothing using forced air.
  • Gyms occasionally provide drying machines for members so that gym clothing can be dried after use.
  • Such machines are often traditional appliances designed to dry clothing and therefore take an extended period of time, and often heat clothing more than necessary.
  • gyms and swimming pools often provide swimsuit spinners that spin dry clothing, and which also take a significant amount of time to achieve reasonable results.
  • a typical dryer includes a drum or closed space, which receives articles of clothing therein. Activation of the dryer causes the device to rotate (drum) while heated air is passed into and out of the device.
  • the clothes, and more particularly, the water content therein is heated sufficiently to change the state of the water from a liquid to a gas (vaporization), whereupon the water vapor is ejected with the exiting airflow, which causes the clothes to become dry.
  • Gas dryers which use electricity to power various electrically operated components (such as a motor, timer, buzzer alarms, lights, and other "on-board” electrical devices), are labeled as gas dryers because they use gas valves and other gas-related components to allow for heat to be generated for use in the drying process.
  • electric dryers do not incorporate any gas components. Instead, they use air-to-air electrical heat resistance element coils, which allow for the generation of heat to initiate the drying process.
  • conventional clothes dryers also fail to make efficient use of this power.
  • the poor efficiency of conventional clothes dryers is largely due to the fact that clothes dryers simply do not use large amounts of the energy that is input to the dryers. Thermal energy put into the cycle is used for water evaporation and air temperature increase without efficient heat recovery on the gas exhaust side.
  • Most conventional clothes dryers operate by passing dry, heated air around and through the clothes being dried, such that the clothes are heated up, and moisture within the clothes evaporates. The heated, moist air is then exhausted out of the dryer and out into the environment (typically, outside the facility housing the dryer). Given this design, clothes dryers continuously expel, as waste, large amounts of heat energy during operation and, therefore, much of the heated air that is directed toward clothes during the drying process simply passes by the clothes and is vented out of the machine without ever contributing to the actual drying of the clothes.
  • Clothes dryers also waste heat energy in other ways. For example, much of the heat generated by clothes dryers simply escapes from the dryers due to a combination of radiation, conduction, and convection before the heat ever reaches the clothes. Furthermore, even to the extent that the heat generated by a clothes dryer reaches and heats the clothes, the energy is still often wasted. In particular, once the clothes drying cycle has been completed, the heat energy stored in the clothes is wasted as well, as the clothes sit idle within the machine.
  • Ozone The technology and advanced air control system wicks off moisture and bacteria quietly, but with speed.
  • Ozone is implemented as a non-harmful additive antibacterial and antimicrobial element.
  • IoT integration measures data— humidity levels, usage, time, weight, speed, power, scent preference, cost-savings benefits, as well as a maintenance management system— that connects to the cloud.
  • Ozone While the clothing does in fact get disinfected in the wicking process alone, Ozone may be implemented as an additive antibacterial and antimicrobial element. Similarly, a cleaning product, such as a detergent, and/or fragrance may be added.
  • the device's processing circuitry may incorporate sensors that measures data— humidity levels, usage, time, weight, speed, power, scent preference, cost-savings benefits, as well as a maintenance management system, and may connect to a network, such as the cloud.
  • An apparatus for drying, sanitizing, and/or deodorizing articles of clothing using a fixed porous plate to hold clothing and a pump or motor to force air through the clothing.
  • a curved perforated metal stationary plate is provided to receive moisture-laden clothing that is held onto the plate by predetermined airflow through the clothing and plate orifices.
  • a UV mechanism may be provided to sanitize the plate between use cycles, and airflow may be heated to improve wrinkle reduction and drying.
  • the size of the orifices may be calculated to be in such a range that the airflow velocity through the holes is optimized for holding the clothing onto the plate surface and drying the clothing efficiently.
  • Air flow may be generated by an electric motor driving a centrifugal ventilator that circulates the air.
  • a guide apparatus may be provided for controlling air through the outside channel, through the clothing and, through the plate orifices to create a closed loop for the airflow.
  • a heating apparatus for heating air that moves through the guide apparatus may be provided, the heating apparatus may comprise an electric heating element in the airflow, an electric or thermal energy storage device in the form of a battery or thermal mass which is connected to either the 'electric grid' or other external electric power source, such as solar power.
  • the device may be provided with power storage sufficient to supplement received external power source such that, for example, 10 drying cycles can be completed with a maximum of 1 kW power draw from the external power supply.
  • a controller may be provided for controlling the other components of the system, including the airflow guide, the pump or motor, and the power supply.
  • Restrictor elements may be provided for impeding the airflow being pulled through the plate orifices whereby the orifice size in the relation to the total plate size is such that the air velocity is holding the clothing on the surface.
  • Such restrictor elements may occlude individual orifices, or may occlude orifices as a group such that the airflow may be modified.
  • thermal energy may be conserved using, for example, a heat or thermal wheel type heat exchanger. Heated 'exhaust' air flows through the heat exchanger which transfers the thermal energy, typically with between 85%-90% effectiveness, to the inflowing 'fresh' air coming from outside the machine. Heated 'fresh' air has a relative humidity lower than ambient airflow. Low humidity air enhances the drying principle of the clothing. Before 'fresh' air is circulated through the textile either Ozone (sanitation) or deodorizer can be injected in the airflow
  • the drying device comprises a perforated support, typically a perforated plate, and a pump for forcing air through the perforated support, wherein, upon locating an object to be dried at the perforated support air passing through the perforated support passes through the object to be dried.
  • the object to be dried is an article of clothing.
  • the object to be dried is an article of clothing.
  • a wide variety of objects may be dried using the device and methods disclosed herein.
  • the drying device may have a pump with at least two modes, where a first of the two modes is for positioning the objects to be dried at the perforated plate and a second mode is for drying the objects.
  • the first mode may pump air at a first rate and the second mode may pump air at a second rate faster than the first rate.
  • the perforated plate is typically a curved rectangle, and may be made of stainless steel, and the perforations are openings for air to pass through.
  • the size of at least some of the openings can be varied or the openings can be closed by at least partially occluding the corresponding openings.
  • the openings may be varied so that the average flow velocity over the plate area is between 1 and 5 m/s with a pressure drop between 100 and 1,000 pascals.
  • a plurality of openings adjacent the object to be dried remain fully open while a number of other openings are partially or completely occluded, such that airflow is directed through the object to be dried.
  • a housing would enclose both the plate and the pump, and airflow may be circulated within the housing by the pump.
  • the drying device may further comprise a heat exchanger, and the airflow circulates through heat exchanger.
  • the heat exchanger may be a condenser, and the condenser may remove moisture from the airflow.
  • the heat exchanger may be a thermal wheel.
  • the drying device may further comprise a heating element for heating at least one of the airflow forced through the perforated plate or the perforated plate itself.
  • the drying device may further comprise an energy buffer for storing energy between use cycles of the device.
  • an energy buffer may be thermal, mechanical, or electrochemical.
  • a controller may be provided for controlling a use cycle of the device.
  • the device may further comprise a sensor, wherein the use cycle is initiated upon detection of objects to be dried by the sensor, or wherein the sensor is a moisture sensor and wherein the controller ends the use cycle upon detection that the object is dry.
  • Additional sensors may be provided for controlling other elements of the device, such as determining perforations that should be occluded for a particular use cycle.
  • the device may further comprise an infuser for infusing a substance into the airflow of the device.
  • a substance may be a disinfectant, detergent, ozone, or a scent.
  • the device further comprises a vibration transducer for vibrating the perforated plate.
  • a transducer may be an ultrasonic vibration transducer comprising a series of piezo elements.
  • the device may further comprise a UV light for sanitizing the perforated plate between use cycles.
  • a method for drying clothing may be provided as well, the method comprising receiving clothing at a perforated support and maintaining the clothing in a substantially stationary position while passing airflow through the clothing and the perforated support.
  • the clothing is then maintained in the substantially stationary position by the airflow passing through the clothing.
  • the perforated support is typically a perforated plate, and the method may further comprise detecting, at a sensor, the presence of clothing or some other object to be dried at the perforated plate.
  • the method may detect, at the sensor, the presence of clothing at the perforated support and then initiate a drying cycle by increasing a velocity of the airflow.
  • the method may then detect, at a moisture sensor, that the clothing is dry and end the drying cycle.
  • the method may initially maintain airflow at a first speed prior to receiving the clothing at the perforated support, the first speed being sufficient to retain the clothing at the perforated support, then determine that clothing has been located at the perforated support, and then maintaining airflow at a second speed greater than the first speed during a drying process, and then reducing the airflow to the first speed, such that the clothing can be removed from the perforated support.
  • a substance such as disinfectant, detergent, ozone, or scent is infused into the airflow during the drying process.
  • the airflow may be heated at a heat exchanger prior to passing the airflow through the clothing and the perforated support.
  • the heat exchanger may be a condenser, and the method may further comprise reducing the moisture level of the airflow at the condenser prior to passing the airflow through the clothing and the perforated support.
  • the method may further comprise closing a housing in which the perforated support is located in order to initiate a use cycle.
  • the perforated support comprises a plurality of openings through which the airflow passes, and the size of at least one of the openings can be varied, or the opening can be closed by at least partially occluding the
  • the method may determine an average flow velocity or a pressure drop between the two sides of the perforated support, and may then open or close the at least one opening in order to maintain a defined average flow velocity or pressure drop.
  • the method may further comprise determining or identifying the location of clothing at the perforated support and opening the openings adjacent the clothing and at least partially occluding the openings that are not adjacent the clothing.
  • the method further comprises sanitizing the perforated support with a UV light upon removal of the clothing from the perforated support.
  • Figure 1 A shows a perspective view of a drying device in accordance with this disclosure with a housing closed.
  • Figure IB shows the drying device of FIG. 1 A with the housing open.
  • Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the drying device of FIG. 1A.
  • Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a drying device in accordance with the present disclosure.
  • Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of drying clothing.
  • FIGS 5A-5G illustrate an alternative embodiment of the drying device in accordance with this disclosure with certain components being shown as transparent in certain figures.
  • the device 100 when incorporated into a housing 130, typically has a cabinet like shape with a (plexi)glass sliding door 140. Inside the module there may be a perforated stainless steel plate 110 visible to the eye. The inside ('inner module) of the perforated plate 110 is isolated from the outside of the plate and connecting to a centrifugal ventilator.
  • the perforated plate has orifices which can have properties to either open or close more depending on the amount of delta pressure over the orifices. In doing so, the airflow is modified in such a way most airflow will be passing through the OBJECT increasing drying performance.
  • the inside of the plate 110 may have an electric heating element which can rapidly increase the plate temperature, hence the air passing through the plates orifices. Behind the plate 110, before entering the ventilator either Ozone/sanitizer or fragrance is injected in the airflow. Air flows through the ventilator housing and is directed to the outer side of the inner module, mixing the gas/sanitizer or fragrance with the air.
  • a cycle may, in some embodiments, be completed in 60 seconds or less depending on the thickness, size and material of the OBJECT. Monitoring of the temperatures, pressures and humidity takes place during the cycle assuring an optimized energy and time consumption.
  • the system may be designed to never draw more than 1 kW power from the grid at all times.
  • an energy storage device 180 which can be electric (battery) or thermal storage capacitor (Stone or metal object conserving thermal energy), located somewhere in the housing 130.
  • the storage device may then be capable of storing enough energy for continuous use of the device without drawing too much current from the power outlet in the applicable facility.
  • a control unit may continuously monitor the 'State of Charge' of the energy storage module. All electronics may be coupled to one control module which connects to the 'cloud' ( ⁇ ') which allows for continuous system monitoring, diagnostics and software updates if needed.
  • Figure 1 A shows a drying device 100 in accordance with this disclosure with a housing closed.
  • Figure IB shows the drying device of FIG. 1 A with the housing open.
  • Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the drying device.
  • the drying device 100 comprises a perforated support, such as plate 110, and a pump 120 for forcing air through the perforations in the plate 110.
  • an object to be dried such as an article of clothing
  • the plate 110 is substantially vertical, and the clothing is held against the plate by the force of the airflow passing through it.
  • the pump 120 may be, for example, a motor 123 mated with a fan 126 for generating airflow through the device 100.
  • the plate 110 and the pump 120 are contained within a housing 130 having a door 140.
  • the housing 130 typically provides a defined path for the circulation of airflow within the device 100, such that air pumped by the pump 120 is consistently directed through the plate 110.
  • the door 140 of the housing 130 may be, for example, a glass sliding door such that clothing being dried is visible inside the door during a drying process.
  • the door 140 of the housing 130 may be opened by a user, clothing to be dried may be applied to the plate 110, the door 140 may then be closed, and the pump 120 may then force air through the clothing within the housing 130 until the clothing is dried.
  • a controller may be provided in conjunction with a processor and/or control circuitry to control various processes implemented by the device 100.
  • the controller may govern the operation of a dry cycle of the device.
  • the controller may then monitor any feedback in the system, such as through sensors implemented in the device 100.
  • Such a controller may be implemented in any number of forms to provide a user interface.
  • functions of the controller are accessible through buttons of a user interface 135 on the top of housing 130 of the device 100.
  • the pump 120 may have two or more operating modes in order to generate airflow of different speeds.
  • the pump 120 operating in a first mode may force air through the plate at a first rate, with the first rate being selected to allow a user to position clothing on the plate 110.
  • the pump 120 may operate in the first mode with airflow sufficient to retain clothing against the plate 110.
  • the plate 110 may be arranged in a variety of orientations, the device 100 shown maintains the plate 110 in a vertical orientation. Accordingly, the first mode of the pump 120 may generate sufficient airflow to retain the clothing against the plate 1 10 even in implementations where the plate is positioned vertically.
  • the pump 120 may have a second operating mode in which the rate of airflow is increased to a rate faster than in the first mode for more efficient drying of the clothing. Accordingly, when the door 140 of the housing 130 is closed, the pump 120 may transition to the second mode.
  • the plate 110 is shown as a curved rectangular plate, it will be understood that such a plate may be any of a variety of shapes, and it may be flattened as well. Similarly, the plate provided may be stainless steel, or it may be any of a number of other materials. While the device 100 is discussed in terms of a perforated plate 110, it will be understood that the perforated support may be provided in various other forms, including flexible or mesh supports. [0060] As shown, the perforations 150 of the plate 110 are typically holes, or openings, through which the airflow passes. In some embodiments, the size of such openings 150 may be adjustable, either as a group or individually.
  • the openings 150 may be closed by either partially or completely occluding such openings.
  • the openings 150 of the plate 110 are occluded in order to maintain a specified airflow velocity over the plate area, such as, for example, between 1 and 5 m/s, or in order to maintain a specified pressure drop between the two sides of the plate, such as a drop of between 100 and 1,000 pascals.
  • some openings 150 may be completely occluded in order to more efficiently operate the device 100 to dry clothing.
  • a size of a usable drying surface of the plate 110 may be adjustable by occluding some openings 150.
  • all openings 150 may be open.
  • openings 150 adjacent an edge of the plate 110 may be occluded, resulting in a smaller drying surface. In such a way, higher airflow velocity may be achieved, or the burden of the pump 120 may be reduced, thereby resulting in a more efficient drying process.
  • sensors are provided for determining how much of the plate 110 contains clothing.
  • the sensors may be monitored by the controller, which may then determine which openings 150, if any, should be occluded.
  • the controller may evaluate the shape and/or location of clothing applied to the plate 110, and may then occlude openings 150 that are not adjacent the clothing while maintaining openings adjacent the clothing in an open position.
  • the sensors described may further determine the presence of clothing and may be used to initiate a drying process only when clothing is applied, or only when clothing is applied and when the door 140 of the device 100 has been closed. Additional sensors may be implemented as well. For example, temperature and/or humidity sensors, or moisture sensors, may be implemented, and feedback from those sensors may be leveraged by the controller in determining when to end a use cycle of the device 100. Similarly, pressure sensors may be implemented to monitor, and adjust airflow, based on the pressure drop across the plate 110.
  • the airflow circulated by the pump 120 is processed or treated by additional components within the housing 130.
  • the housing 130 may contain a heat exchanger 160, and the airflow may circulate through the heat exchanger.
  • the heat exchanger 160 which may be, for example, a thermal wheel or a condenser, may heat and/or dry the airflow. Heated air, or air from which moisture has been removed, may result in more efficient drying of clothing applied to the plate 110.
  • the device 100 may further comprise a heating element independent of, or instead of, the heat exchanger for either directly heating airflow or for heating the plate 110.
  • the device 100 may further comprise an infuser for infusing a substance into the airflow.
  • an infuser may be an ozone generator 170 and may generate and infuse ozone into the airflow, or may infuse the airflow with a disinfectant, a detergent, or a scent.
  • the device 100 may further comprise an energy buffer 180 for storing energy between use cycles of the device.
  • an energy buffer may be a battery for storing electrical energy or it may be a thermal, mechanical, or electrochemical battery.
  • it may be a heat core 180 that is initially heated and retains heat during and across drying cycles.
  • the device 100 may further comprise a vibration transducer, such as an ultrasonic vibration transducer, to vibrate the plate 110.
  • a vibration transducer such as an ultrasonic vibration transducer
  • the transducer may be a series of piezo elements arranged to vibrate the plate 110.
  • the device 100 may incorporate systems for cleaning or sterilizing the plate 110. For example, a UV light may be incorporated into the door 140 of the housing 130 for sterilizing the plate 110 after each use cycle.
  • Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of drying clothing using a device such as the drying device 100 described above.
  • a user would first open the door 140 of the device 100 in order to insert an object for drying, such as clothing (200). This may be by pushing an activation button on top of the device 100 after which the door 140, in some
  • a sliding glass door opens and reveals the perforated plate 110 for holding the clothing.
  • the pump 120 maintains airflow through the plate 110 at a first velocity or level (210).
  • This airflow is typically strong enough to provide a pressure drop across the plate 110 such that when a user applies clothing to the plate 110, the clothing is retained by the airflow passing through the clothing and the plate without falling (220).
  • the device 100 is designed to not use more power than a standard electric socket output allows (for example, in the US, some outlets may provide 110V at 15 A, resulting in a total of 1,650 W). While the standard electric output of outlets may vary, a a module may be provided for buffering energy to allow heat rejection in the machine to be significantly increased, such as to leverage the equivalent of lOkW or higher on demand without exceeding the electric power outlet maximum capacity at any time. Accordingly, in such embodiments, prior to initiating a dry cycle, the unit will "heat up" by preheating or storing thermal energy in a heat core (at 205).
  • the heat core in such a design may use a water based fluid heated to near boiling temperature using a 1 kW electric heating element, air/liquid heat exchanger, and built in circulation pump.
  • the heat core When the heat core is preheated, the system is ready for use.
  • heat up can take 1-3 min depending on starting temperature and ambient conditions.
  • Such a cycle may be particularly desirable where the airflow is to be heated during use (at 247).
  • a user may close the door 140 (at 230) and initiate a drying cycle.
  • the drying cycle may be initiated by either the closing of the door 140, which effectively seals the housing 130, by a sensor incorporated into the device 100, or manually by a user activating the device 100 at a user interface 135, such as by pushing a start button.
  • the user may indicate that the cycle should begin by pushing a button on the device 100 while the door is still open. In such an embodiment, the indication would initiate a dry cycle by first closing the door 140 and then proceeding with the remaining steps of the method.
  • openings 150 in the plate 110 may be partially or completely occluded prior to initiating a dry cycle at the device 100.
  • some openings 150 may be occluded to control the airflow through the plate generally in order to adhere to some preferred airflow velocity or pressure differential across the plate.
  • openings may be occluded to more precisely focus airflow through the clothing on the plate 110.
  • the device 100 may detect or otherwise identify the location of clothing on the plate 110 and occlude openings 150 that are not obstructed by the clothing, while maintaining the openings 150 adjacent the clothing. Accordingly, most or all of the airflow in the device 100 would pass through the clothing.
  • the location at which clothing is located may be identified by a user.
  • a portion of the plate 110 may be designated for small loads, and when a user applies only a single garment or a few articles of clothing, the user may indicate that only the designated portion of the plate 110 is occupied. In such a scenario, all openings 150 outside of the designated portion of the plate 110 may be occluded.
  • the pump 120 increases the velocity of the airflow through the clothing and the plate 110 to a second level (240) in order to facilitate drying of the clothing.
  • This second level is typically calibrated for optimal drying.
  • additives are added to the airflow at this point (245) in order to incorporate additional cleaning features. For example, a disinfectant, detergent, ozone, or a scent, or other deodorizing agent may be applied to the airflow during this stage of the dry cycle. Similarly, if heat has been stored or generated in the system, such heat may be released (247) at this stage of the dry cycle.
  • the airflow may pass through the pump 120 and get directed to a region between the door 140 (in its closed position) and the plate 110. This may be through ducting or openings in the housing positioned to direct the airflow.
  • the door itself 140 or other parts of the housing 130 may be hollow, or may be provided with hollowed chambers, and is slotted for returning the airflow to the housing at appropriate locations.
  • the airflow may then proceed through clothing mounted on the plate as it is drawn through the perforations in the plate 110 to enter a space within the housing.
  • the airflow may then pass over the heat core 180 to be heated (at 247), infused with an additive (at 245), dehumidified at a condenser, or treated in some other way, and drawn back into the pump to be forced back through the plate 110.
  • These additional steps may be done either before or after pumping the airflow.
  • several of these tasks are accomplished by a heat exchanger 160, and some of the airflow is bled off through ventilation at various points in the process in order to control relative humidity and other factors.
  • Fresh intake air may then enter the process prior to or at the heat exchanger 160 or other heating element.
  • the heat exchanger 160 may be, for example, a thermal wheel or a heat recovery wheel.
  • the dry cycle may be timed and may then extend for a fixed amount of time and end when the cycle time is exhausted.
  • a sensor such as a moisture or humidity sensor, may be incorporated to determine when the clothing is dry.
  • a humidity sensor may be provided in the airflow to detect when the returning air is sufficiently reduced in humidity.
  • the device 100 may detect that the clothing is dry (250) and may then reduce the air flow to the first level (260). A user may then open the door 140 of the housing 130 (at 270), or the housing may open automatically, and remove the clothing (280).
  • the device 100 may implement a sanitizing stage by, for example, injecting ozone gas into the airstream and circulating it for a period of time (at 255). Ozone could then be used to kill most bacteria and eliminate odor.
  • the door 140 closes and the device 100 may sanitize the plate (290). This may be, for example, by way of a UV light incorporated into the door 140 of the device 100. Further, in systems where all relevant features are implemented, while the unit is sanitizing, the device 100 may prepare for the next usage by beginning to pre-heat the system (at 205) in preparation for the next cycle. Once this cycle is completed, the door 140 may reopen (at 200) to allow a user to initiate the following cycle.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Accessory Of Washing/Drying Machine, Commercial Washing/Drying Machine, Other Washing/Drying Machine (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif de séchage, le dispositif comprenant un support perforé, typiquement une plaque perforée, et une pompe pour forcer de l'air à passer à travers le support perforé. Lors du placement d'un objet à sécher au niveau du support perforé, l'air traversant le support perforé passe à travers l'objet à sécher. Typiquement, l'objet à sécher est un article vestimentaire. L'invention concerne également des procédés de séchage de vêtements par passage d'air à travers une plaque perforée.
PCT/US2018/059347 2017-11-07 2018-11-06 Dispositif et procédé pour sécher des vêtements Ceased WO2019094355A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201762582692P 2017-11-07 2017-11-07
US62/582,692 2017-11-07

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2019094355A1 true WO2019094355A1 (fr) 2019-05-16

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PCT/US2018/059347 Ceased WO2019094355A1 (fr) 2017-11-07 2018-11-06 Dispositif et procédé pour sécher des vêtements

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Country Link
WO (1) WO2019094355A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US12559880B2 (en) 2022-03-17 2026-02-24 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Dryer appliance and infuser assembly

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB291149A (en) * 1927-02-24 1928-05-24 Matthews & Yates Ltd Improvements in means for drying garments and the like
US3352076A (en) * 1966-01-18 1967-11-14 Wheeling Steel Corp Airflow grid structure for air distribution through metal lath and plaster ceilings
GB1491852A (en) * 1976-05-03 1977-11-16 Thorn Domestic Appliances Ltd Static drying racks for tumbler driers
EP2423375A1 (fr) * 2010-08-24 2012-02-29 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Sèche-linge à tambour rotatif
US20180010289A1 (en) * 2015-02-03 2018-01-11 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Garment care device for drying and sanitizing garments

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB291149A (en) * 1927-02-24 1928-05-24 Matthews & Yates Ltd Improvements in means for drying garments and the like
US3352076A (en) * 1966-01-18 1967-11-14 Wheeling Steel Corp Airflow grid structure for air distribution through metal lath and plaster ceilings
GB1491852A (en) * 1976-05-03 1977-11-16 Thorn Domestic Appliances Ltd Static drying racks for tumbler driers
EP2423375A1 (fr) * 2010-08-24 2012-02-29 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Sèche-linge à tambour rotatif
US20180010289A1 (en) * 2015-02-03 2018-01-11 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Garment care device for drying and sanitizing garments

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US12559880B2 (en) 2022-03-17 2026-02-24 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Dryer appliance and infuser assembly

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