Fabric article treatment appliance

Abstract

A fabric article treatment appliance capable of washing and drying fabric articles, moreover, the appliances is capable of providing and using a first and a second predominant fluid in the washing step, wherein the first and the second predominant fluids are different.

1 . A fabric article treatment appliance comprising: 
 (i) a perforated drum;    (ii) a first means configured to store and deliver a lipophilic cleaning fluid;    (iii) a second means configured to provide water;    (iv) a third means for tumble drying;    (v) recovery means comprising a storage tank for spent fluid and a separator for separating lipophilic cleaning fluid from water and/or solid soils.    
   
   
       2 . The appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the appliance is capable of performing: 
 (i) an immersive treating step wherein water is the predominant fluid;    (ii) a non-immersive treating step wherein water is the predominant fluid;    (iii) an immersive treating step wherein a lipophilic cleaning fluid is the predominant fluid;    (iv) a non-immersive treating step wherein a lipophilic cleaning fluid is the predominant fluid.    
   
   
       3 . The appliance according to  claim 1  further comprising a fourth means to provide impinging gas.  
   
   
       4 . The appliance according to  claim 1  further comprising one or more of the following: an ozonizer, an ultrasonic device, an electrolysis device and an ion exchange column.  
   
   
       5 . The appliance according to  claim 1  further comprising process control means configured to sense a parameter and adjust the process in function of the result detected.  
   
   
       6 . The appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the lipophilic cleaning fluid is selected from the group consisting of linear or cyclic silicones, hydrocarbons, perfluorocarbons, perchloroethylene, glycol ethers, liquefied carbon dioxide, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the lipophilic cleaning fluid is a linear or cyclic silicone having a normal boiling point of from about 180° C. to about 250° C. and a viscosity of no more than about 10 cS.  
   
   
       8 . The appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the lipophilic cleaning fluid is selected from the group consisting of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane, perfluorobutylamine, dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether, diproplyene glycol n-propyl ether, propylene glycol n-butyl ether, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the appliance is capable of performing a predominant fluid switchover step comprising: 
 (a) providing a first mixture comprising a first predominant fluid to the appliance;    (b) at least partially removing the first predominant fluid; and    (c) adding a second predominant fluid to the appliance, thereby transforming the first mixture into a second mixture comprising the second predominant fluid.    
   
   
       10 . The appliance according to  claim 9  wherein one of the predominant fluids is water and the other predominant fluid comprises linear or cyclic silicones, hydrocarbons, perfluorocarbons, perchloroethylene, glycol ethers, liquefied carbon dioxide, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the appliance is capable of reducing surfactant carry-over effect by performing the following steps: 
 (a) providing a first mixture comprising a first predominant fluid and a surfactant to the appliance;    (b) at least partially removing the first mixture, thereby at least partially removing the surfactant; and    (c) adding a second predominant fluid to the appliance, thereby transforming the first mixture into a second mixture comprising the second predominant fluid.    
   
   
       12 . The appliance according to  claim 11  wherein one of the predominant fluids is water and the other predominant fluid comprises linear or cyclic silicones, hydrocarbons, perfluorocarbons, perchloroethylene, glycol ethers, liquefied carbon dioxide, and mixtures thereof.