Cleaning Apparatus

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus and method for use in the cleaning of soiled substrates, the apparatus comprising a casing which contains a rotatably mounted cylindrical cage concentrically located within a rotatably mounted cylindrical drum having a greater diameter than the basket, wherein the cage and the drum are concentrically located within a stationary cylindrical drum having a greater diameter than the rotatably mounted drum, wherein the casing includes access means, allowing access to the interior of the cylindrical basket, and wherein the rotatably mounted cylindrical cage and the rotatably mounted cylindrical drum are adapted to rotate independently. The method involves cleaning the soiled substrate by treatment of the moistened substrate with a formulation comprising solid particulate cleaning material, the formulation being free of organic solvents, and the method being carried out using the apparatus of the invention, and the apparatus and method find particular application in the cleaning of textile fabrics.

1 . An apparatus for use in the cleaning of soiled substrates, said apparatus comprising a casing which contains a rotatably mounted cylindrical cage concentrically located within a rotatably mounted cylindrical drum having a greater diameter than said basket, wherein said cage and said drum are concentrically located within a stationary cylindrical drum having a greater diameter than said rotatably mounted drum, wherein said casing includes access means, allowing access to the interior of said cylindrical basket, and wherein said rotatably mounted cylindrical cage and said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum are adapted to rotate independently. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said access means may be closed so as to provide a substantially sealed system. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said stationary cylindrical drum, said rotatably mounted cylindrical cage and rotatably mounted cylindrical drum are mounted horizontally within said casing. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said rotatably mounted cylindrical cage comprises a plurality of perforations in its cylindrical side walls, thereby allowing for ingress and egress of fluids, fine particulate materials and discrete particulate materials. 
     
     
         6 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum comprises a plurality of perforations in its cylindrical side walls, thereby allowing for ingress and egress of fluids and fine particulate materials but preventing the ingress or egress of discrete particulate materials. 
     
     
         10 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said rotatably mounted cylindrical cage has a capacity in the region of 50-500 litres. 
     
     
         13 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein rotation of said rotatably mounted cylindrical cage and said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum is effected by use of drive means, wherein operation of said drive means is optionally effected by control means. 
     
     
         18 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  which comprises circulation means. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the inner surface of the cylindrical side walls of said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum comprises a multiplicity of spaced apart circulation paddles to serve as circulation means. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said apparatus additionally comprises separation means, wherein said separation means optionally comprises a plurality of reservoir baffles which are fixedly mounted between the cylindrical walls of said rotatably mounted cylindrical cage and said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum. 
     
     
         25 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  which comprises suction means. 
     
     
         28 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  which additionally comprises recirculation means, wherein said recirculation means optionally comprises ducting connecting said suction means and said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum, said ducting comprises separating means and purification means and said separating means comprises a cyclone and said purification means comprises a filter. 
     
     
         34 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A method for cleaning a soiled substrate, said method comprising the treatment of the moistened substrate with a formulation comprising solid particulate cleaning material, said formulation being free of organic solvents, wherein said method is carried out in an apparatus according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         38 . A method for cleaning a soiled substrate, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) loading at least one soiled substrate into an apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  via the access means, said apparatus containing a solid particulate cleaning material located in at least one of the rotatably mounted cylindrical cage and the rotatably mounted cylindrical drum;   (b) closing the access means so as to provide a substantially sealed system;   (c) operating the apparatus for a first cycle, wherein said rotatably mounted cylindrical cage and said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum are both caused to rotate in the same direction, wherein said first cycle comprises a wash cycle;   (d) operating the apparatus for a second cycle, wherein said rotatably mounted cylindrical cage continues to rotate in the same direction, but said rotatably mounted cylindrical drum (i) is caused to initially cease rotation and (ii) subsequently is subjected to incremental movements in the opposite direction to the cage, whereby the solid particulate cleaning material is retained between successive pairs of reservoir baffles until removal of the material from the cage has been completed, wherein said second cycle comprises a cycle for removal of said solid particulate cleaning material from said at least one substrate;   (e) removing the cleaned at least one substrate from the apparatus; and   (f) removing any remaining solid particulate cleaning material.   
     
     
         39 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A method as claimed in any  claim 37  wherein said at least one soiled substrate comprises at least one textile fibre garment and said solid particulate cleaning material comprises a multiplicity of polymeric particles, and wherein said solid particulate cleaning material comprises at least one cleaning material, and said soiled substrate is moistened by wetting with water prior to commencing cleaning operations. 
     
     
         43 - 57 . (canceled)