The present invention relates to a method for washing textiles in an intermittent washing system using UV radiation, to a device for carrying out the method, and to the use of UV radiation, in particular UV-C radiation, in methods for washing textiles in intermittent washing systems.

A washing machine in which a first main heater is not driven while wash water stored in a first tub and wash water stored in a second tub are simultaneously heated, and a method of controlling the same. A washing machine includes: a first tub configured to store wash water; a first main heater configured to heat wash water stored in the first tub; a first sub heater configured to heat wash water stored in the first tub; a second tub configured to store wash water; and a second heater configured to heat wash water stored in the second tub, wherein a power consumption required to drive the first main heater is greater than a power consumption required to drive the first sub heater, and the first main heater is not driven while wash water stored in the first tube and wash water stored in the second tub are simultaneously heated.

The present invention discloses a tunnel washer apparatus. The apparatus provides a plurality of modules that include an intake module, a discharge module, and one or more modules in between the intake module and the discharge module. Multiple modules have a cylinder. Each cylinder has first and second cylinder ends. A scoop enables transfer of fabric articles to be washed from one cylinder to another cylinder. A first plate is connected to the scoop, wherein the first plate has a concave edge portion and a convex edge portion. The first plate preferably is welded to the first cylinder end with a first weld that extends along the convex edge portion. A second plate is connected to the scoop. The second plate has first and second convex edge portions. The second plate preferably is welded to the second cylinder end with a second weld that extends along one of the second plate convex edge portions. There is a first stress relieving gap in between the first cylinder end and the first weld. There is a second stress relieving gap in between the second cylinder end and the second weld. This arrangement enables the scoop and both plates to move together, thus providing a stress relieving annulus at scoop ends that reduces stress on or near one or more of the scoop to cylinder connections or welds below a threshold that otherwise results in fatigue/cracking.

A washing system includes a housing, a drain line, and a recirculation line. The housing receives, via a fluid inlet, fresh water during one or more wash cycles of a wash session. The drain line is coupled to the housing and includes a valve and is also configured to receive soiled water from the housing during the wash session. The recirculation line is coupled to and extends from the valve of the drain line and is configured to receive a portion of the soiled water via the valve. The recirculation line includes an integrated fluid sanitizer module configured to at least partially sanitize the portion of the soiled water, and the recirculation line is configured to deliver sanitized water from the integrated fluid sanitizer module to the fluid inlet of the housing.

A water replenishment control method for a multi-drum washing machine. The washing machine comprises at least a first washing drum and a second washing drum. While the first washing drum is in a washing process, if the water level of washing water is lower than a set value, then a water replenishment process is executed, and before that, it is necessary to determine whether or not the second washing drum is executing a water replenishment process; if yes, the first washing drum pauses the water replenishment process, and the second washing drum executes precedence preferentially; if no, the first washing drum executes water replenishment process and terminates it when the water level of the washing water reaches a set water level.

A method of washing fabric articles in a continuous batch tunnel washer, comprises providing a continuous batch tunnel washer having an interior, an intake, a discharge, and a plurality of modules that segment the interior. Fabric articles are moved from the intake to the discharge and through the modules in sequence. One or more modules define a wash zone for washing the fabric articles. One or more of the modules are rinse modules that have a perforated scoop. Some of the modules do not have a perforated scoop. After washing fabric articles, the fabric articles can be rinsed by counter flowing liquid in the washer interior at spaced apart modules and along a flow path that is generally opposite the direction of travel of the fabric articles from the intake to the discharge. Velocity rinsing can also replace a continuous counter flow. To improve rinsing and washing, one or more modules may be dilution zone modules, which receives a flow stream from the rinsing modules via a booster pump. A dilution zone module or drum preferably has a perforated scoop to drain the free water when transferring to the next dilution zone module or drum. Drums or modules without shells (carryover modules) have scoops for fabric article (e.g., linen) transfer with no perforations. Thus, the linen and all water go to the next downstream drum at the carryover modules.

A system for monitoring sanitation agents in a laundry machine comprises a plurality of channels. Each channel has an input port, an output port, and a glass tube. Each input port and output port is adapted to be fluidly coupled to the laundry machine. The system includes a monitoring unit associated with each of the glass tubes. Each monitoring unit includes a bubble detector and a flow rate measurement unit. A beeper is configured to generate an indication of an alarm condition based on a determination made by any one of the monitoring units. The system has a display screen, a memory storing computer-readable instructions, and a controller communicatively coupled to each of the monitoring units. The controller is configured to execute the instructions to wirelessly communicate to a web page a volume of a sanitation agent that has passed through each of the glass tubes.

A method of washing fabric articles in a tunnel washer that includes moving the fabric articles from the intake of the washer to the discharge of the washer and through multiple modules or sectors. Liquid can be counter flowed in the washer interior along a flow path that is generally opposite the direction of travel of the fabric articles in order to rinse the fabric articles. While counterflow rinsing, the flow rate can be maintained at a selected flow rate or flow pressure head. One or more booster pumps can optionally be employed to maintain constant counterflow rinsing flow rate or constant counterflow rinsing pressure head. A source of fresh, make-up water can be provided to adjust conductivity. Conductivity is monitored in at least one of the modules. Conductivity of fluid in the discharged fabric articles is monitored. Make up water is added to one or more modules before if the conductivity of water in the discharged fabric articles exceeds a threshold value. In one embodiment, one of the modules is an empty pocket that is drained of fluid when rinsing with counterflowing liquid.

A washing system includes a housing, a drain line, and a recirculation line. The housing receives, via a fluid inlet, fresh water during one or more wash cycles of a wash session. The drain line is coupled to the housing and includes a valve and is also configured to receive soiled water from the housing during the wash session. The recirculation line is coupled to and extends from the valve of the drain line and is configured to receive a portion of the soiled water via the valve. The recirculation line includes an integrated fluid sanitizer module configured to at least partially sanitize the portion of the soiled water, and the recirculation line is configured to deliver sanitized water from the integrated fluid sanitizer module to the fluid inlet of the housing.

A washing system includes a housing, a drain line, and a recirculation line. The housing receives, via a fluid inlet, fresh water during one or more wash cycles of a wash session. The drain line is coupled to the housing and includes a valve and is also configured to receive soiled water from the housing during the wash session. The recirculation line is coupled to and extends from the valve of the drain line and is configured to receive a portion of the soiled water via the valve. The recirculation line includes an integrated fluid sanitizer module configured to at least partially sanitize the portion of the soiled water, and the recirculation line is configured to deliver sanitized water from the integrated fluid sanitizer module to the fluid inlet of the housing.