Methods and devices for providing moisture in an ozonation process applied to textile products. Unlike other existing moistening methods the invention relates to process of moistening which is provided by means of spraying water by an ultrasonic atomizer and supplying into enclosed volume in micro droplets and production of super oxide radicals with O.sub.3.

A bleaching apparatus has an immersing vessel for immersing clothes in a chemical liquid, and a light source for irradiating the clothes immersed in the immersing vessel with light. The chemical liquid may include an oxidizing agent or a reducing agent in a concentration of 3 to 30% owf. The illumination intensity of the light is 10,000 to 70,000 lx.

A bleaching apparatus has an immersing vessel for immersing clothes in a chemical liquid, and a light source for irradiating the clothes immersed in the immersing vessel with light. The chemical liquid may include an oxidizing agent or a reducing agent in a concentration of 3 to 30% owf. The illumination intensity of the light is 10,000 to 70,000 lx.

A method of cleaning a substrate (16, 24, 34, 64, 71, 82, 102, 165, 171, 181, 201, 300, 310) with optical energy can comprise applying optical energy from a source of optical energy (12, 21, 31, 91, 103, 114, 121, 131, 141, 151, 164, 191, 202) to the substrate. The method can comprise applying the optical energy to a substrate having a cleaning agent applied thereto, the optical energy having one or more optical parameters selected for cleaning the substrate. The method can comprise reading data from a data bearing element (173) associated with the substrate, communicating the data to a processor (154) associated with a cleaning appliance (10, 30, 40, 60, 70, 80, 90, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 161, 200) comprising the source of optical energy, wherein the processor, responsive to the communicated data, controls the cleaning of the substrate with the optical energy. The method can comprise slidingly contacting the substrate with a work surface, said work surface comprising an aperture (83, 117) and emanating optical energy from the aperture for cleaning the substrate. A cleaning appliance can comprise an appliance body (80, 90, 104, 125) comprising an aperture for emanating optical energy for cleaning the substrate and an optical transmission pathway arranged for propagating optical energy received from an optical energy source to said aperture. The appliance can be adapted and constructed for delivering a cleaning agent to the substrate. The appliance can include a processor, a data interface in communication with the processor, and can be configured such that the processor outputs signals that control the cleaning of the substrate, the processor being configured for controlling, responsive to data received by the data interface and via the output signals, the substrate cleaning. The cleaning appliance can include a suction pump (142) for removing material from the substrate.

A method of cleaning a substrate (16, 24, 34, 64, 71, 82, 102, 165, 171, 181, 201, 300, 310) with optical energy can comprise applying optical energy from a source of optical energy (12, 21, 31, 91, 103, 114, 121, 131, 141, 151, 164, 191, 202) to the substrate. The method can comprise applying the optical energy to a substrate having a cleaning agent applied thereto, the optical energy having one or more optical parameters selected for cleaning the substrate. The method can comprise reading data from a data bearing element (173) associated with the substrate, communicating the data to a processor (154) associated with a cleaning appliance (10, 30, 40, 60, 70, 80, 90, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 161, 200) comprising the source of optical energy, wherein the processor, responsive to the communicated data, controls the cleaning of the substrate with the optical energy. The method can comprise slidingly contacting the substrate with a work surface, said work surface comprising an aperture (83, 117) and emanating optical energy from the aperture for cleaning the substrate. A cleaning appliance can comprise an appliance body (80, 90, 104, 125) comprising an aperture for emanating optical energy for cleaning the substrate and an optical transmission pathway arranged for propagating optical energy received from an optical energy source to said aperture. The appliance can be adapted and constructed for delivering a cleaning agent to the substrate. The appliance can include a processor, a data interface in communication with the processor, and can be configured such that the processor outputs signals that control the cleaning of the substrate, the processor being configured for controlling, responsive to data received by the data interface and via the output signals, the substrate cleaning. The cleaning appliance can include a suction pump (142) for removing material from the substrate.

A damage process for a textile product may include, but is not limited to, irradiating a laser beam onto a surface region of a textile product which is dyed, to burn the surface region, exposing the textile product to an ozone gas; and agitating the textile product together with at least one of: pieces of one or more solid materials having uneven surfaces and one or more abrasives of artificial fibers to allow the surface region to be shaved by the at least one of: the pieces of one or more solid materials and the one or more abrasives of artificial fibers. One or more subsequent processes can be carried out, without dipping the textile product into water or a liquid of chemicals, after agitating the textile product and until softening the textile product.

A damage process for a textile product may include, but is not limited to, irradiating a laser beam onto a surface region of a textile product which is dyed, to burn the surface region, exposing the textile product to an ozone gas; and agitating the textile product together with at least one of: pieces of one or more solid materials having uneven surfaces and one or more abrasives of artificial fibers to allow the surface region to be shaved by the at least one of: the pieces of one or more solid materials and the one or more abrasives of artificial fibers. One or more subsequent processes can be carried out, without dipping the textile product into water or a liquid of chemicals, after agitating the textile product and until softening the textile product.

An ozone cleaning system includes a cabinet defining a cleaning space, and an ozone generator disposed in fluid communication with the cleaning space and configured to produce and introduce ozone therein for cleaning items with ozone. An ozone neutralization unit is attached to the cabinet and includes an inlet and outlet tube each disposed within the cabinet. The ozone neutralization unit includes a heater/blower assembly in fluid communication with each tube and operable for heating and recirculating the ozone within the cleaning space. A method of operating the ozone cleaning system includes receiving an input to commence an ozone cleaning cycle, and then producing and introducing ozone into the cleaning space. The method proceeds by determining if the ozone cleaning cycle is complete, and then initiating and executing an ozone neutralization cycle to accelerate the rate of ozone neutralization after the ozone cleaning cycle is complete.

An ozone cleaning system includes a cabinet defining a cleaning space, and an ozone generator disposed in fluid communication with the cleaning space and configured to produce and introduce ozone therein for cleaning items with ozone. An ozone neutralization unit is attached to the cabinet and includes an inlet and outlet tube each disposed within the cabinet. The ozone neutralization unit includes a heater/blower assembly in fluid communication with each tube and operable for heating and recirculating the ozone within the cleaning space. A method of operating the ozone cleaning system includes receiving an input to commence an ozone cleaning cycle, and then producing and introducing ozone into the cleaning space. The method proceeds by determining if the ozone cleaning cycle is complete, and then initiating and executing an ozone neutralization cycle to accelerate the rate of ozone neutralization after the ozone cleaning cycle is complete.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to methods and systems for bleaching textiles using ozone gas. Embodiments also incorporate a color removal step. In one example, there is provided a hybrid machine that incorporates certain features of a washer, but that also includes an integrated blower for gas distribution inside the machine. There is also provided an ozone dosing control system that allows for maintenance of a constant concentration of ozone in the machine. In one embodiment, the ozone output measured in grams/hour at this constant concentration in conjunction with the weight of product measured being treated may be referred to as the bleaching factor. There is further provided a drain sump design that helps minimize water volume in the presence of fabric lint, various added materials, and other processing chemicals.