Method for the wet treatment of laundry

Abstract

In tunnel-type washing machines ( 10 ) for commercial laundries, the main-wash liquid is heated by steam in particular. This means a steam-generating system is required in the laundry. The invention makes provision for the main-wash liquid to be heated up by means of a flow heater, preferably a heating device ( 26 ) which has a gas burner ( 28 ). As a result, the tunnel-type washing machine ( 10 ) can also be used in laundries which do not have a steam generating system. The invention also makes provision for the gas burner ( 28 ) of the flow heater to be operated continuously since treatment liquid which is required for other purposes, preferably treatment liquid which is temporarily stored in a storage tank ( 31 ), is heated up after the main-wash liquid is heated up. Uninterrupted, economical operation of the gas burner ( 28 ) is ensured as a result.

1 . A method for the wet-treatment of laundry, the laundry being at least washed in a drum ( 12 ,  41 ,  66 ) which can be driven in rotation using a heated-up treatment liquid, wherein the treatment liquid is heated up by at least one heating device ( 26 ,  50 ,  67 ). 
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating device ( 26 ,  50 ,  67 ) is operated with fossil fuels. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating device ( 26 ,  50 ,  67 ) operates in the manner of a flow heater. 
   
   
       4 . The method according  claim 1 , wherein the treatment liquid that is warmed by the heating device ( 26 ,  50 ,  67 ) is pumped so as to circulate through at least one chamber ( 13 ,  42 ) in the drum ( 12 ,  41 ,  66 ), which can be driven in rotation. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the treatment liquid that is warmed by the heating device ( 26 ,  50 ,  67 ) is pumped in a continuous circuit through at least one chamber ( 13 ,  42 ). 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the treatment liquid that is warmed by the heating device ( 26 ,  50 ,  67 ) is pumped so as to circulate through at least one chamber ( 13 ,  42 ) that has an outer drum ( 23 ,  24 ,  48 ). 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating device ( 26 ,  50 ,  67 ) is operated continuously. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one burner of the respective heating device ( 26 ,  50 ,  67 ) is operated in an uninterrupted manner. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein operation of the heating device ( 26 ,  50 ,  67 ) is at least temporarily continued after the treatment liquid for washing the laundry is heated up. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein operation of the heating device ( 26 ,  50 ,  67 ) is at least temporarily continued in order to heat up the treatment liquid for washing the next batch of laundry after the treatment liquid for washing the laundry is heated up. 
   
   
       11 . A method for the wet-treatment of laundry, the laundry being at least washed in a drum ( 12 ,  41 ,  66 ) that can be driven in rotation using a warmed treatment liquid, wherein treatment liquid for the laundry in the drum ( 12 ,  41 ,  66 ) or for other purposes is heated up or warmed alternately by a heating device ( 26 ,  50 ,  67 ). 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein temporarily stored treatment liquid is warmed up between successive phases of heating-up of the treatment liquid of successive batches of laundry in the drum ( 12 ,  41 ,  66 ). 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein treatment liquid for washing the laundry in the drum ( 12 ,  41 ,  66 ) is first heated by the heating device ( 26 ,  50 ,  67 ) and, when this treatment liquid has reached an intended temperature, temporarily stored treatment liquid is warmed in at least one storage tank ( 31 ,  55 ,  74 ). 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein treatment liquid which serves for main washing of the laundry is heated by the heating device ( 26 ,  50 ,  67 ). 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein main-wash liquid which serves for main washing of the laundry is heated by the heating device ( 26 ,  50 ,  67 ). 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the warmed treatment liquid in the storage tank ( 31 ,  55 ,  74 ) is used to wash the laundry into the drum ( 12 ,  41 ,  66 ). 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the warmed treatment liquid in the storage tank ( 31 ,  55 ,  74 ) is used to prepare pre-heated main-wash liquid. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein temporarily stored treatment liquid is warmed up between successive phases of heating-up of the treatment liquid of successive batches of laundry in the drum ( 12 ,  41 ,  66 ). 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein treatment liquid for washing the laundry in the drum ( 12 ,  41 ,  66 ) is first heated by the heating device ( 26 ,  50 ,  67 ) and, when this treatment liquid has reached an intended temperature, temporarily stored treatment liquid is warmed in at least one storage tank ( 31 ,  55 ,  74 ). 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein treatment liquid which serves for main washing of the laundry is heated by the heating device ( 26 ,  50 ,  67 ). 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein main-wash liquid which serves for main washing of the laundry is heated by the heating device ( 26 ,  50 ,  67 ). 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the warmed treatment liquid in the storage tank ( 31 ,  55 ,  74 ) is used to wash the laundry into the drum ( 12 ,  41 ,  66 ). 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the warmed treatment liquid in the storage tank ( 31 ,  55 ,  74 ) is used to prepare pre-heated main-wash liquid.