Method and apparatus for treating laundry

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses that provide for laundry to be washed and rinsed in a washing device in a state in which it lies spread out on an upper strand of a belt conveyor and, directly thereafter, to be dried in a likewise spread-out state on an upper strand of a belt conveyor. During the washing, rinsing and also the drying operations, the laundry rests on the belt conveyors, which also transport the laundry through the washing device and the dryer. The items of laundry here are washed, and also rinsed, by being sprayed with jets of liquid. The procedure described provides for a compact washing and drying system and is gentler on the items of laundry.

Claims

1. A method for a wet treatment and drying of laundry which is washed and rinsed in the wet treatment and that during a drying phase of the drying a bound liquid from the wet treatment is extracted to at least a large extent, comprising: placing the laundry in a spread-out state on a start of a conveyor in a region of the wet treatment, the conveyor comprising at least one belt conveyor (11, 42); conducting the wet treatment and the drying on laundry that is lying on the conveyor in a spread-out state and along a continuous treatment path; drying the laundry immediately following the wet treatment along the continuous treatment path; and then transferring the dried laundry in its spread-out state by the conveyor in a drying region directly to an intake conveyor of a downstream laundry treatment device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wet treatment is conducted on a first of the at least one belt conveyor (11) and the drying is conducted on a second of the at least one belt conveyor (42) along the continuous treatment path and/or a transport speed of the conveyors first belt conveyor (11) and the second belt conveyor (42) are coordinated with each other in the region of the wet treatment and the drying.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the laundry is transported in a spread-out state on the conveyor through at least one drying section, wherein the laundry is dried successively with a plurality of consecutive drying units.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the laundry is washed in at least one liquid and subsequently rinsed, and the laundry is sprayed and/or sprinkled in the spread-out state with at least one liquid.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the laundry is sprayed and/or sprinkled with pressurized liquid and/or liquid jets at a high velocity.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the laundry is sprayed and/or sprinkled in a lying and/or resting state with at least one liquid, wherein the laundry is sprayed and/or sprinkled with the at least one liquid in a state of lying on a conveyor and/or of resting on the conveyor.

7. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one liquid is sprayed and/or sprinkled on a free side of the laundry and that at least part of this liquid is drained off from an opposite side of the laundry.

8. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein following or during the washing at least part of the at least one liquid bound in the laundry is removed from the laundry.

9. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the laundry is washed in a prewash zone and a main wash zone and is rinsed in at least one rinse zone.

10. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein during the wet treatment the laundry is disinfected in an ultrasonic bath.

11. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the laundry is transported through all zones of the wet treatment in an uninterrupted manner.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the laundry is dried successively with a plurality of consecutive drying units.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least some of the drying units are arranged transverse to a treatment direction above the conveyor carrying the laundry and/or at least one drying unit forms a drying strip arranged above the conveyor and running transversely to the treatment direction.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the drying units are selected from the group consisting of hot air generators, infrared radiators, at least one row of air nozzles, and at least one shock wave applicator.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one row of air nozzles, fed with ambient air and/or waste heat, are employed as a drying unit.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising performing a dry disinfection of the laundry.

17. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one sensor directed at the laundry to be dried determines a residual moisture, a degree of dryness and/or a temperature of the laundry and on the basis of measured values the drying is controlled by controlling the drying units employed for drying.

18. A method for a wet treatment and drying of laundry which is washed and rinsed in the wet treatment and that during a drying phase of the drying a bound liquid from the wet treatment is extracted to at least a large extent, comprising: transferring the laundry in a spread-out state by a feeding machine to a start of a conveyor in a region of the wet treatment, the conveyor comprising at least one belt conveyor (11, 42): conducting the wet treatment and the drying on laundry that is lying on the conveyor in a spread-out state and along a continuous treatment path; drying the laundry immediately following the wet treatment along the continuous treatment path; and then transferring the dried laundry in its spread-out state by the conveyor in a drying region directly to a folding machine or a mangle.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the wet treatment is conducted on a first of the at least one belt conveyor (11) and the drying are_is conducted on separate conveyors a second of the at least one belt conveyor (42) along the continuous treatment path and/or the transport speed of the conveyors first belt conveyor (11) and the second belt conveyor (42) are coordinated with each other in the region of the wet treatment and the drying.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the laundry is transported in a spread-out state on the conveyor through at least one drying section, wherein the laundry is dried successively with a plurality of consecutive drying units.

21. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the laundry is washed in at least one liquid and subsequently rinsed, and the laundry is sprayed and/or sprinkled in the spread-out state with at least one liquid.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the laundry is sprayed and/or sprinkled with pressurized liquid and/or liquid jets at a high velocity.

23. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the laundry is sprayed and/or sprinkled in a lying and/or resting state with at least one liquid, wherein the laundry is sprayed and/or sprinkled with the at least one liquid in a state of lying on a conveyor and/or of resting on the conveyor.

24. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein at least one liquid is sprayed and/or sprinkled on a free side of the laundry and that at least part of this liquid is drained off from an opposite side of the laundry items.

25. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein following or during the washing at least part of the liquid bound in the laundry is removed from the laundry.

26. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the laundry is washed in a prewash zone and a main wash zone and is rinsed in at least one rinse zone.

27. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein during the wet treatment the laundry is disinfected in an ultrasonic bath.

28. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the laundry is transported through all zones of the wet treatment in an uninterrupted manner.

29. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the laundry is dried successively with a plurality of consecutive drying units.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein at least some of the drying units are arranged transverse to a treatment direction above the conveyor carrying the laundry and/or at least one drying unit forms a drying strip arranged above the conveyor and running transversely to the treatment direction.

31. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the drying units are selected from the group consisting of hot air generators, infrared radiators, at least one row of air nozzles, and at least one shock wave applicator.

32. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein at least one row of air nozzles, fed with ambient air and/or waste heat, are employed as a drying unit.

33. The method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising performing a dry disinfection of the laundry.

34. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein at least one sensor directed at the laundry to be dried determines a residual moisture, a degree of dryness and/or a temperature of the laundry and on the basis of measured values the drying is controlled by controlling the drying units employed for drying.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below in more detail on the basis of the drawing, in which

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a device for the wet treatment of laundry,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1 with an upstream feeder station,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a device for the drying of laundry,

(5) FIG. 4 shows the device of FIG. 3 with a downstream folding machine,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a device for the combined wet treatment and drying of laundry, and

(7) FIG. 6 shows the device of FIG. 5 with an upstream feeder station and a downstream folding machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) The devices shown in the figures are employed for the treatment of laundry, in particular separate items of laundry. The laundry items are preferably so-called flat textiles, such as tablecloths, napkins, duvet covers, pillow cases and bed sheets.

(9) The device of FIGS. 1 and 2 is employed for the wet treatment of laundry items, specifically for their washing and/or rinsing and/or disinfection. In the following, this device will be referred to a washing device 10.

(10) The washing device 10 has a single continuous conveyor, which in the shown exemplary embodiment is a belt conveyor 11. The belt conveyor 11 is driven in rotation with an upper strand 13 moving along in the treatment direction 12. A conveyor belt of the belt conveyor 11 extends across the entire working width of the washing device 10. The conveyor belt is liquid-permeable in that it is provided with a web-like or lattice-like structure.

(11) The shown washing device 10 has a plurality of uninterrupted treatment zones following each other in the treatment direction 12, specifically a pre-wash zone 14 at the start of the washing device 10, followed by a main wash zone 15 which serve to wash the laundry items. Directly following the main wash zone 15 is a process water rinse zone 16 as well as a fresh water zone 17. Together they form a rinse zone. The process water rinse zone 16 can eliminated if appropriate, with the rinsing operation taking place only in a rinse zone.

(12) A disinfection of the laundry items can be conducted in the rinse zone or following the rinse zone.

(13) It is conceivable that a disinfection zone (not shown) is located between the main wash zone 15 and the process water rinse zone 16. In the disinfection zone, the laundry items can be disinfected chemically after washing, in other words when they are damp, and/or by means of plasma jets and/or peracetic acid.

(14) The laundry items lying spread out on the upper strand 13 of the belt conveyor 11 are transported continuously one after the other by the single belt conveyor 11 through the individual zones of the washing device 10.

(15) The upper strand 13 of the belt conveyor 11 is guided at a distance in the treatment direction 12 around a plurality of successive deflection drums 18 to 24, of which at least one also serves as a driver drum. The deflection drums 18, 20, 22, 23 and 24 lie in a common, preferably horizontal plane. The deflection drums 19 and 21 lie in lower common plane which runs parallel to the upper plane having the deflection drums 18, 20, 22, 23 and 24. As a result, the upper strand 13 in the region of the prewash zone 14 and the main wash zone 15 has only one V-shaped course (as seen from the side) with a lower vertex that is defined by the deflection drums 19 and 21. The lower deflection drum 19 of the prewash zone 14 lies between the deflection drums 18 and 20. Likewise, the lower deflection drum 21 of the main wash zone lies between the deflection drums 20 and 22. As a result, the upper strand 13 and the prewash zone 14 has an initial section 25, which slopes downwards in the treatment direction 12, and a following, rising section 26. The upper strand 13 also has in the region of the main wash zone 15 an initial section 27 that slopes downward followed by a rising section 28, which is situated at the end of the washing zone. In the shown exemplary embodiment, sections 25 and 27, on one hand, as well as 26 and 28, on the other hand, are configured to have a different lengths in that sections 26 and 28 are shorter than the sections 25 and 27, whereby it is possible that sections 25 and 27, on one hand, and sections 26 and 28, on the other hand, can in turn have the same length. But it is conceivable to provide the individual sections 25 to 28 with lengths that deviate from the shown exemplary embodiment.

(16) Two further deflection drums 29 and 30 lead to or from the beginning and the end of a lower strand 31 of the conveyor belt of the belt conveyor 11. As a result, the lower strand 31 runs in a preferably horizontal plane. The plane of the lower strand 31 lies at a distance below the plane formed by the deflection drums 19 and 21. The lower deflection drum 29 at the front end of the belt conveyor 11 of the washing device 10, as seen in the treatment direction 12, is arranged below and upstream of the deflection drum 18, as seen in the treatment direction 12. Opposite thereto lies the rear and lowest deflection drum 30 at a distance below the deflection drum 24 at the rear end of the upper strand 13.

(17) As a result of the deflection drum 29 lying upstream and below the deflection drum 18 at the beginning of the washing device 10, an upward sloping loading section 32 of the conveyor belt of the belt conveyor 11, as seen in the treatment direction 12, is created between the deflection drums 18 and 29.

(18) A collecting trough 33 for prewash liquid is located between sections 25 and 26 of the upper strand 13 disposed in the prewash zone 14 and the lower strand 31. Also located in the region of the main wash zone 15 between sections 27 and 28 of the upper strand 13 and the lower strand 31 is a separate collecting trough 34 for the main wash liquid. In order to provide sufficient space between the upper strand 13 and the lower strand 31 of the belt conveyor 11, the deflection drums 29 and 30 which form and guide the lower strand are arranged at a sufficiently vertical distance below the deflection drums 19 and 21 of the upper strand 13.

(19) In the shown washing device 10, squeegee rollers or pairs of squeegee rollers are assigned to the upper strand 13 of the belt conveyor 11 in the wash zone as well as in the rinse zone. The deflection drums 19 and 21, which buckle the upper strand 13 downwards in the region of the prewash zone 14 and main wash zone 15, form by themselves squeegee rollers, under which the upper strand 13 runs along with the spread-out laundry items lying on it. In the process and as a result of the upper strand 13 being pressed by tension against the deflection drums 19 and 21, the respective laundry item is pressed together between the relevant deflection drums 19 and 21 and the upper strand 13, with a portion of the liquid from the washing cycle bound in the respective laundry item being extracted.

(20) The deflection drums 20 and 22 at the end of the prewash zone 14 and the main wash zone 15 are each assigned a squeegee roller 35, 36. The squeegee rollers 35 and 36 lie above the upper strand 13, specifically spaced by the upper strand 13 above the deflection drums 20 and 22. At the end of the prewash zone 14, the upper strand 23 with the spread-out laundry items on it runs between the squeegee roller 35 and the deflection drum 20 and at the end of the main wash zone 15 between the squeegee roller 36 and the deflection drum 22. As a result, at least a portion, in particular a major portion, of the liquid bound in the laundry items, namely the bound liquor, is also separated from the laundry items upstream of the main wash zone, on one hand, and upstream of the rinse zone, on the other. The liquid separated from the laundry items is collected in collecting troughs 33 and 34, specifically the prewash liquid in the collecting trough 33 under the prewash zone 14 and the main wash liquid in the collecting trough 34 under the main wash zone 15. It is also conceivable to provide a smaller number of dewatering stages in the course of the wash zone, for example only the squeegee roller 36 at the end of the main wash zone 15.

(21) The deflection drums 19 and 21 of the upper strand 13 of the belt conveyor 11 are positioned at such a low point in the prewash zone 14 and the main wash zone 15 that they dip into the prewash liquid or main wash liquid collected in the collecting troughs 33 and/or 34 with the sections of the upper strand 13 located in their vicinity. As a result, the spread-out laundry items resting on the upper strand 13 are dipped into the liquid in the collecting troughs 33 and/or 34 and transported through the latter as they are further conveyed by the belt conveyor 11.

(22) The treatment liquids collected in the collecting trough 33 of the prewash zone 14 and/or in the collecting trough 34 of the main wash zone 15 can be led back to the beginning of the prewash zone 14 and/or the main wash zone 15 against the washing direction through a recirculation tube (not shown in the figures). After being filtered if necessary or subjected to some other processing step, the main wash liquid and/or prewash liquid is directed back to the nozzles for spraying the laundry item and is thereby recycled.

(23) In the shown washing device 10 the rinse zone has a squeegee roller 37 between the process water rinse zone 16 and the fresh water zone 17 and arranged above the deflection drum 23. The upper strand of the belt conveyor 11 with the laundry items resting on it runs between the deflection drum 23 and the squeegee roller 37 lying above the upper strand 13. A large portion of the rinse liquid from the process water rinse zone 16 is thus separated from the laundry items upstream of the fresh water rinse zone 17. If appropriate, another squeegee roller can be arranged above the rear deflection drum 24 downstream of the fresh water rinse zone 17 in order to separate a large portion of the rinse liquid out of the fresh water rinse zone 17 from the laundry items before the latter are dried.

(24) Liquid nozzles, specifically high pressure nozzles, are situated in the wash zone as well as in the rinse zone above the upper strand 13 of the belt conveyor 11 and the laundry items lying upon it. Washing and rinsing liquid are dispensed from them at high velocity and high pressure. In FIG. 1 only the liquid jets dispensed from the high pressure nozzles are shown, specifically in the shown exemplary embodiment as full-surface liquid cones 38. As an alternative, the high pressure nozzles can be configured to form flat jets or hollow stream jets, for example liquid cones. Flat jets having a triangular shape extend with their long axis (greater width) transverse to the treatment direction 12.

(25) In the shown washing device 10 the high pressure nozzles are assigned to the respective sections 25 and 27 of the prewash zone 14 and main wash zone 15 as well as to the entire process water rinse zone 16 and fresh water rinse zone 17. The high pressure nozzles are arranged, preferably in a stationary manner, at a distance above the corresponding sections of the upper strand 13. This distance is at least large enough for the spread-out laundry items lying on the upper strand 13 to be transported by the belt conveyor 11 under the high pressure nozzles without making contact with them.

(26) In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the high pressure nozzles are distributed in a uniform grid pattern across the sections 25 and 27 of the wash zone and across the entire rinse zone. Here a plurality of rows follow one another in the treatment direction 12 with adjacent high pressure nozzles lying transversely to the treatment direction 12. The spacing of the rows of high pressure nozzles is preferably just as large as the spacing between the high pressure nozzles in the respective row. This results in a uniform grid pattern, with the high pressure nozzles of successive rows being alternately positioned at the preceding row spaces in that the high pressure nozzles of the second row are positioned between the high pressure nozzles of the first row. There are enough high pressure nozzles arranged adjacent to one another with a selected spacing between them such that the impact area of the liquid cones 38 generated by the high pressure nozzles on the top side of the laundry items lying spread-out on the upper strand 13 is so large that the laundry items can be completely covered by the washing or rinsing liquid dispensed from the high pressure nozzles by the high pressure nozzles of at least two successive rows across the entire working width of the belt conveyor 11. As a result, the laundry items lying on the upper strand 13 can be sprayed or sprinkled by the liquid dispensed from the high pressure nozzles across their entire surface.

(27) The high pressure nozzles generate liquid jets at such a pressure and velocity that is sufficient to penetrate the laundry items lying on the upper strand 13 with liquid, wherein excess liquid flows through the upper strand 13 of the belt conveyor 11 and can accumulate in the collecting troughs 33 and 34. The same applies to the process water rinse zone 16 and the fresh water rinse zone 17. Here the liquid flowing through the upper strand 13 can also be caught under the upper strand 13 by one or more collecting troughs (not shown) in a different manner.

(28) The laundry items are preferably more intensely sprayed with wash liquid in the wash zone than in the rinse zone. In the rinse zone, a sprinkling with rinse liquid, preferably a high pressure sprinkling, can be sufficient.

(29) It is conceivable to determine the loading of the upper strand 13 with spread-out laundry items preferably at the beginning of the wash zone and to control the high pressure nozzles such that essentially only the laundry items are treated with treatment liquid on their full surface but that liquid jets from the high pressure nozzles are not applied in any appreciable amount to the areas on the upper strand 13 that are free of laundry items.

(30) Particularly in the case of the washing device 10 shown in the figures, no high pressure nozzles are assigned to the higher running sections 26 and 28 of the upper strand 13 in the prewash zone 14 and in the main wash zone 15. These sections 26 and 28 of the upper strand serve as sections where excess liquid can drip off the laundry items at the end of the prewash zone 14 and the main wash zone 15. The dripped off liquid can be caught by the respective collecting troughs 33 and 34.

(31) It is conceivable to mount the nozzles of each row at a uniform distance on or in tubes which run transversely to the treatment direction 12 and which are simultaneously employed to supply water to the nozzles. In the case of high pressure nozzles mounted on tubes, it is possible to configure the tubes, in particular sections thereof, between two adjacent high pressure nozzles as pressure runners which come to rest upon the spread-out laundry items lying on the upper strand 13 of the belt conveyor 11 and temporarily fix the latter on the upper strand 13 while they are being treated by the high pressure jets released by the high pressure nozzles.

(32) It is also possible to provide outer cone-shaped shields for the liquid cones 38 below or on the nozzles. As a result, the liquid dispensed by the respective high pressure nozzle can be limited to a targeted circular area of the cone shield, which is open at the bottom, of the liquid cone 38. In the case of nozzles having a different shape, for example flat nozzles or hollow cone nozzles, the high pressure nozzles can be assigned with correspondingly shaped shields.

(33) The open bottom side of the shields arranged in a fixed position under the high pressure nozzles can, as an alternative or in addition to the previously described pressure runners, come to rest on the spread-out laundry items lying on the upper strand 13 in a flat state in order to also fix and/or tighten and/or stretch the laundry items on the upper strand.

(34) FIG. 2 shows the washing device 10 of FIG. 1 having a feeding machine 39 arranged upstream of the washing device 10 as seen in the treatment direction 12. The laundry items are manually placed along one or two tracks to the track feed conveyor 40 of this feeding machine 39 in the spread-out or stretched-out state and preferably fed to the loading section 32 of the belt conveyor 11 of the washing device 10, or preferably larger laundry items automatically transferred along one or two tracks to a spreading device of the feeding machine 39, which spreads the laundry items and places them in the spread-out state on the feed conveyor 40, which then transfers the spread-out laundry items to the loading section 32 of the belt conveyor 11 of the washing device 10, for example.

(35) The method according to the invention is conducted with the washing device 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 as follows:

(36) The laundry items are placed in their spread-out state either manually directly on the loading section 32 of the belt conveyor 11 along one or two tracks, or are automatically transferred to the loading section 32 of the belt conveyor 11 by the feed conveyor 40 of the feeding machine 39 in the spread-out state.

(37) The laundry items lying in a spread-out state on the upper strand 13 of the belt conveyor 11 are continuously transported by the belt conveyor 11 toward and through successive treatment zones of the washing device 10. The wet treatment of the laundry items in the washing device 10 is conducted as the laundry items lie in a spread-out state on the upper strand 13. The laundry items are continuously transported step-by-step through the successive treatment zones of the washing device 10 according to the run-through process.

(38) In the prewash zone 14 adjacent liquid cones 38 are generated in a uniform grid across the section 25 of the upper strand 13 in a plurality of successive rows. This results in a full-surface spraying and/or sprinkling of the laundry items with high-velocity liquid jets propelled under high pressure. These liquid jets penetrate the laundry items, washing out dirt from the laundry items. The liquid and the entrained dirt flow through the upper strand 13 of the liquid-permeable configured conveyor belt of the belt conveyor 11 and are caught in the collecting trough 33.

(39) After passing the grid of high pressure nozzles, at least part of the liquid still bound in the laundry items is pressed out of the laundry items by the lower deflection drum 19. This liquid passes through the liquid-permeable upper strand 13 and accumulates in the collecting trough 33. Additional liquid can drip from the laundry items along the following rising section 26 of the upper strand 13 and accumulate in the collecting trough 33. At the end of the prewash zone 14 a further portion of the liquid still bound in the laundry items and containing dirt is removed from the laundry items between the squeegee roller 35 and the deflection drum 20, namely pressed out of the laundry items. This liquid also accumulates in the collecting trough 33 in the region of the prewash zone 14. This concludes the prewashing process.

(40) In the region of the main wash zone 15, the liquid cones 38 generated by a grid comprising a plurality of high pressure nozzles spray and/or sprinkle main wash liquid in an uniform pattern over the section 27 of the upper strand 13 onto the full surface area of the laundry items which are located in the region of this section 27. Here, too, the laundry items are sprayed with highly pressurized liquid at a great velocity, with the liquid penetrating the laundry items, passing through the upper strand 13 and accumulating in the collecting trough 34 assigned to the main wash zone 15. After a portion of the liquid bound in the laundry with the adhering dirt has been removed at the deflection drum 21, the laundry items are transported upwards on the ascending section 28 of the upper strand 13 to the end of the main wash zone 15. Here is where a further portion, preferably a major portion, of the bound liquor is pressed out of the laundry items between the squeegee roller 36 and the deflection drum 22 opposite thereto. As a result, the laundry items arrive at the following rinse zone with merely a minimal portion of wash liquid bound in them.

(41) It is also conceivable, that is spread out laundry items lying on the upper strand 13 are dipped in the treatment liquid in the region of the lower deflection drums 19 of the prewash zone 14 and the lower deflection drum 21 in the region of the main wash zone 15 and are drawn through the prewash liquid in the collecting trough 33 and/or the main wash liquid in the collecting trough 34 by the rotationally driven conveyor belt of the belt conveyor 11. Because the laundry items also run between the deflection drum 19 and/or 21, the prewash and/or main wash liquid is pressed through the laundry items by the deflection drums 19 and 21. The results in a more intensive prewashing and/or main washing process.

(42) The pre-washing liquid caught in the collecting trough 33 and/or the main wash liquid caught the collecting trough can be recycled. To this end, the prewash and or main washing liquid can be transported back against the treatment direction from the respective collecting trough 33, 34 by a corresponding pipe system, and following any necessary processing, in particular filtering, again fed back to the nozzles for spraying and/or sprinkling the laundry items. This results in a multiple use of the washing liquid. It is preferably provided that only the main wash liquid from the collecting trough 34 is returned to the prewash zone 14 so that the less dirty main wash liquid can be reused for the prewash.

(43) The washed laundry items that have been largely freed from the bound washing liquid and dirt are rinsed in the rinse zone. To this end, a rinsing process is conducted in the process water rinse zone 16 with process water, in other words with liquid that has already been used for other means. The rinsing process is in principle conducted according to the same principle as the previously described washing procedure, with the laundry being sprayed across its entire surface with rinsing liquid by a grid of liquid cones 38, preferably with liquid from high pressure nozzles.

(44) The rinsing in at least the process water rinse zone 16 can also be conducted with liquid jets of high velocity and high pressure, wherein the velocity and the pressure of the rinse liquid, if necessary, can in the following fresh water rinse be less than that employed for washing. It is also conceivable to use other nozzles for rinsing than liquid cones 38, for example spray nozzles, above all high pressure spray nozzles

(45) Arranged at the end of the process water rinse zone 16 is a pair of squeegee rollers that comprises an upper squeegee roller 37 and a lower deflection drum 23 opposite thereto, which thereby assumes a multiple function, namely not only serving to guide the upper strand 13 but also to form a pair of squeegee rollers. At least a major portion of the liquid bound in the laundry items from the process water rinse cycle is removed at the end of the process water rinse zone 16 by the squeegee roller 37 and the deflection drum 23 assigned to it. As a result a major portion of the process water liquid is removed from the laundry items prior to the following fresh water rinse zone 17.

(46) The laundry items in the fresh water rinse zone 17 are in principle rinsed in exactly the same manner as in the process water rinse zone 16. Instead of process water, fresh water is used for the final rinsing. The rinsing process in the fresh water rinse zone 17 can be performed with liquid jets that are less energetic and preferably weaker and/or by merely applying a sprinkling process. After the laundry has been rinsed with fresh water, the wet treatment stage of the laundry items is concluded. Before the laundry items are further processed, is may be also provided that a portion, preferably a major portion of the liquid still bound in the laundry from the fresh water rinsing process items is removed now or only at the end of the fresh water rinse zone 17. This can again be performed by squeegee rollers in that a squeegee roller (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) is arranged above the rear deflection drum 24, or as an alternative also by pneumatic means using so-called “air knives”.

(47) If necessary, the laundry is disinfected during the washing process, preferably during the main wash or at the end of the main wash zone. This disinfection is performed in an ultrasonic bath with a mixture of at least water, preferably sterilized water, and peracetic acid. The water contains only a small amount of peracetic acid so that the ultrasonic bath employed for disinfection contains only a low concentration of peracetic acid.

(48) The disinfection bath is set in ultrasonic oscillations by an ultrasound source, for example a sonotrode. For disinfection the laundry is transported through the disinfection bath that has been set in ultrasonic oscillations. There a rapid and effective disinfection of the laundry is performed in the oscillating disinfection bath having a low peracetic acid concentration of preferably 0.04% to 2%. The ultrasonic oscillations result in a hydrodynamic-acoustic gravitation of the laundry in the disinfection bath which enhances the efficacy of the peracetic acid in the disinfection bath, thus making it possible to achieve an effective, in particular thorough, disinfection at a lower peracetic concentration and/or with a shorter length of time spent by the laundry in the disinfection bath set in ultrasonic oscillations.

(49) The method described above allows for the wet treatment, specifically the washing, rinsing and, if necessary, the disinfection, of the spread-out laundry items resting on the upper strand 13 of the belt conveyor 11, with the laundry items only being moved by the upper strand 13, which runs continuously in the treatment direction 12, and passing under the stationary nozzles or high pressure nozzles arranged above the belt conveyor 11 and the laundry items lying on the latter and moved under the liquid jets generated by the latter.

(50) The method according to the invention is characterized in that a portion, in particular a major portion, of the treatment liquid is extracted from the laundry items at the end of the prewash zone 14, the main wash zone 15 and preferably also the process water rinse zone 16 before they are further treated in the next step. This results in the greatest degree of separate baths possible. Only a small amount of treatment liquid is carried over from one zone to the other.

(51) Due to the squeegee rollers 35, 36 at the end of the prewash zone 14 and main wash zone 15, a substantially complete bath separation is realized between the prewash and main wash. Since the separated treatment liquid from the prewashing and main washing steps are accumulated in the separate collecting troughs 33, 34, no carryover of bath liquid occurs.

(52) By virtue of the squeegee roller 37 between the process liquid rinse zone 16 and the fresh water zone 17, any carryover of rinse liquid in the rinse zone is also avoided to at least a great extent.

(53) FIGS. 3 and 4 show a device configured as a dryer 41 for the purpose of drying laundry or laundry items. The laundry items are primarily flatware items. In particular, the dryer 41 is employed to dry laundry items that have been washed and rinsed with the washing device 10 and also disinfected if necessary.

(54) The dryer 41 has a conveyor extending through the entire drying section, preferably a belt conveyor 42. The belt conveyor 42 also has a conveyor belt extending across its entire working width. Said conveyor belt is at least air-permeable. The circulating conveyor belt of the belt conveyor 42 is preferably driven in a continuous circulatory fashion so that its upper strand 43 moves onward in the treatment direction 12.

(55) During drying, the laundry items lie in the same state on the upper strand 43 of the belt conveyor 42 as during their washing on the upper strand 13 of the belt conveyor 11 of the washing device 10. In other words, the laundry items are also dried in the dryer 41 in the stationary and spread-out state they assumed on the upper strand 13.

(56) The upper strand 43 of the dryer 41 runs in a rectilinear manner in that it lies in a plane with runs preferably horizontally. Located below at a parallel distance is a lower strand 44 of the dryer 41. Accordingly, the endless conveyor belt of the belt conveyor 42 is guided and deflected only by a front deflection drum 45 and a back deflection drum 46. One of the deflection drums 45 or 46 is configured as a drive drum.

(57) Arranged above the upper strand 43 is at least one dryer. The dryer 41 is assigned a plurality of drying units. In the shown exemplary embodiment, these are different drying units. The drying units follow one another in the treatment direction 12 at equal or different spacings. As a result, the drying units are distributed along the upper strand 43. In the shown exemplary embodiment the drying units are assigned to the large front section in the length of the upper strand 43, with the result that no drying units are assigned to a rear part of the upper strand 43 as seen in the treatment direction 12. This section corresponds to a third to a fourth of the length of the upper strand 43 of the belt conveyor 42.

(58) The drying units are arranged at a slight distance above the upper strand 43. This distance is large enough that the drying units do not touch the spread-out laundry items lying or resting on the upper strand 43 of the dryer 41, preferably such that at least in part they maintain a slight distance above the laundry items. The drying units extend across the entire width of the upper strand 43 of the belt conveyor 42. As an alternative, the drying units may have a width corresponding to the working width of the dryer 41. The drying units are then limited to that part of the width of the upper strand 43 on which the laundry items lying on the upper strand 43 may be located.

(59) In the shown exemplary embodiment, but to which the invention is not limited, two preferably identical shock wave applicators 47 are located at the start of the dryer 41 at a slight distance above the upper strand 43. It is also conceivable to provide a greater or smaller number of shock-wave applicators 47. The shock-wave applicators 47 preferably operate with sonic waves, in particular ultrasound.

(60) Following the shock wave applicators 47 is a drying unit formed by a row of air nozzles 48. The distance between the row of air nozzles 48 and the last shock-wave applicator 47 is several times greater than the distance between the individual shock-wave applicators 47. The air nozzles of the row of air nozzles 48 are spaced apart such that they generate a continuous air curtain across the entire working width of the dryer 41 that is directed, preferably vertically, at the laundry items lying on the upper strand 43.

(61) The air nozzles are fed with ambient air or discharge air still having a residual warmth from another drying unit or another laundry treatment device. A blower forces the air with pressure through the air nozzles such that the air jets discharged from the air nozzles are preferably diffuse air jets. These air jets exhibit a high flow speed and therefore impact the laundry items at a high velocity and preferably penetrate the laundry items as well.

(62) The row of air nozzles 48 is followed at a distance by a further drying unit that is configured as a hot air beam 49 which runs continuously and transversely to the treatment direction 12 across the entire working width of the dryer 41.

(63) The hot air beam 49 generates through a row of adjacent hot air nozzles, for example, a hot air curtain extending across the working width of the dryer 41. The hot air curtain has a high velocity and therefore penetrates the laundry items on the upper strand 43 of the belt conveyor 42. The hot air curtain 49 is fed hot air. This can be air heated by a burner, such as a gas burner, an oil burner or some other energy source.

(64) In the shown dryer 41, a disinfection device is provided at a distance behind the hot air beam 49 and which in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 has two successive disinfection beams 50 which run transverse to the treatment direction 12 and extend across the entire working width of the dryer 41. As an alternative, only a single disinfection beam 50 can be provided, or more than two disinfection beams 50.

(65) The disinfection beams 50 are designed for the dry disinfection of the laundry items. To this end, the laundry items are radiated by the disinfection beams 50, in particular impacted with energy beams with a high energy density, and completely penetrated. The preferred disinfection beams 50 are those configured for the plasma-enhanced disinfection of the laundry items.

(66) The disinfection beams 50 are followed by at least one drying unit configured as an infrared radiator 51. The infrared radiator 51 can be gas driven. An elongate radiator that extends across the entire working width of the dryer 41, or a plurality of adjacent infrared radiators 51, generate a preferably continuous infrared ray curtain, which impacts with infrared beams the respective laundry item, or in the case of a multi-track operation of the dryer 41, all laundry items lying adjacent to one another at the same time across the entire operating width. The radiated intensity is selected such that the infrared radiation penetrate the spread-out or extended laundry items lying on the upper strand 43 of the belt conveyor 43 and impact the upper strand 43 or pass through the latter due to its at least air-permeable configuration.

(67) It is conceivable to provide a plurality of infrared radiators 51 arranged successively in the treatment direction 12.

(68) The dryer 41 is equipped with at least one sensor for the direct or indirect, preferably contactless, monitoring of the degree of dryness and/or the residual moisture of the laundry items to be dried and/or already dried. For example, the sensor can be used to determine the temperature, in particular the surface temperature, of the laundry items. For this purpose, the at least one sensor can be realized as an infrared sensor 52, for example and infrared camera.

(69) In FIGS. 3 and 4 the infrared sensor 52 is provided at the end of the dryer 41, specifically of its upper strand 43. In FIGS. 3 and 4 the infrared sensor is represented as positioned in the marginal region of the upper strand 43 in order to establish the degree of dryness of the laundry items being transported along below the infrared sensor 52, for example. However, the infrared sensor 52 can also be located at another position in the end region of the upper strand, for example in the middle thereof. For multitrack operations, it is advantageous to provide a row comprising a plurality adjacent infrared sensors 52.

(70) At the end of the drying phase, the at least one infrared sensor 52 determines in a contactless manner the degree of dryness and/or the residual moisture of the respective laundry item as it passes by.

(71) It is also conceivable to provide further sensors, for example infrared sensors 52, along the course of the drying section downstream of some or all drying units. As a result, it is possible to monitor the drying process during the drying phase, for example after each selected drying unit or all drying units.

(72) At the end of the dryer 41 the dried laundry items are transferred to a following laundry treatment device in the state in which they lie on the upper strand 43 of the dryer 41, in other words in a spread-out state. Said treatment device can be a mangle or a folding machine 53 shown in FIG. 4. The dried laundry items can be directly transferred from the upper strand 43 of the dryer 41 to a intake conveyor 54 of the folding machine 53 in their already spread-out state, in other words without requiring any further reorientation.

(73) The method according to the invention is conducted with the dryer in FIGS. 3 and 4 as follows:

(74) The dryer 41 is equipped with a conveyor. The latter is employed for transporting the laundry to be dried continuously along the individual drying units and/or the at least one disinfection device. The dryer 41 is thereby configured as a continuous dryer. The laundry items to be dried lie in a spread-out state on the upper strand 43 of the belt conveyor 42. The laundry items in the resting state are therefore transported through the entire dryer 41 in the treatment direction 12 only by the movement of the conveyor belt of the belt conveyor 42. This occurs in a continuous manner.

(75) The laundry items, spread out on the upper strand 43 in the lying and resting state, are moved bit by bit in the treatment direction 12 past the successive and spaced apart drying units and, if necessary, past the at least one disinfection device by the continuously moving upper strand 43 of the belt conveyor 42. As they are further transported in the treatment direction, the spread-out laundry items lying on the upper strand 43 are preferably moved along continuously under the drying units and, if applicable, the at least one disinfection unit and spaced at a distance from them.

(76) In the shown exemplary embodiment, the laundry items to be dried in the dryer 10 are first moved past the two shock wave applicators 47, then past the at least one row of air nozzles 48, the at least one hot air beam 49, the disinfection beam 50 and the at least one infrared radiator 51, specifically under said devices. In the process, a continual drying of the laundry items takes place and, if necessary, also a disinfection process during the drying phase, preferably a dry disinfection process.

(77) Shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is merely one possible exemplary embodiment of the dryer 41. Variants of this dryer are possible which exhibit more or less drying units. The sequence and number of the different drying units can deviate from the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4. The at least one disinfection device can also be located at a different location in the dryer. A dryer is also conceivable which has no disinfection device.

(78) The infrared sensor 52 represented in a merely symbolic manner in FIGS. 3 and 4, or a different type of detection means, detects and/or measures the degree of dryness of the laundry items or, as an alternative or in addition, their residual moisture. This measurement is made in particular in a contactless manner and/or at the surface of the dried laundry items.

(79) It is also conceivable to provide at least one infrared sensor 52 or a different detection means not only at the end of the drying section but also between the individual drying and/or disinfection devices along the course of the drying section.

(80) By means of the measured values determined by the at least one sensor for the contactless determination of the residual moisture and/or the degree of dryness of the laundry items it is possible to control or regulate the drying process by altering the intensity of the individual drying units and/or by selectively switching them on or off.

(81) It is also conceivable to dry the laundry items with selected drying units depending on the type of laundry being processed. Drying is then performed only with such drying units that are appropriate or the preferred choice for drying the respective laundry items. It is also conceivable, by turning the disinfection device on or off in a targeted manner, to disinfect only those laundry items which actually require disinfection and/or which are suited for such treatment.

(82) With the measured values determined along the drying section by at least one sensor means for establishing the degree of dryness or the residual moisture in the laundry items, it is possible, by means of the targeted control or regulation of the downstream drying units, to further influence the drying process of the laundry items being handled by subjecting them to a subsequent drying process that is more intense, less intense or even with no further drying process at all.

(83) After drying, the laundry items are further transferred directly to a downstream laundry treatment device, specifically a folding machine 53 in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, in the same state as they were during drying, in other words spread out and resting on the upper strand 43 of the belt conveyor 42 of the dryer 41. This transfer is made preferably to the upper strand of an intake conveyor 54 of the folding machine 53. As a result, the laundry items are placed on the upper strand of the intake conveyor is an initial position that is already appropriate for folding. Thus, the laundry items do not need to be reoriented for the folding process. They are simply folded as they leave the dryer.

(84) FIGS. 5 and 6 show a device for the simultaneously combined wet treatment, in other words, the washing, rinsing and drying, of laundry or laundry items. This may involve all types of laundry or laundry items, preferably however flatware.

(85) By virtue of linking a washing device and a dryer, the device represents a combined washing and drying range which first washes and rinses the laundry items and then dries them. If necessary, a disinfection of the laundry items can be made during the course of wet treatment (washing or rinsing) and/or in the course of drying.

(86) For realizing the combined washing treatment and drying, the washing and rinsing device 10 as well as the dryer 41 are linked to each other by conveyors, preferably belt conveyors, which immediately follow one another in a virtually gap-free manner. As an alternative, the entire treatment range for washing and drying as well as for the drying of the laundry items can have only a single continuous conveyor or more than two conveyors. During the treatment the laundry items lie on the conveyors or, if applicable, on the single conveyor in the spread-out state. As a result, the laundry items rest in a flat state on the at least one conveyor.

(87) The washing device 10 of FIGS. 5 and 6 corresponds to the washing device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Reference is made to the relevant description as already presented. In the FIGS. 5 and 6 the same reference numbers are used for the same elements. The dryer 41 of FIGS. 5 and 6 corresponds to that of FIGS. 3 and 4. Reference is also made to the accompanying description. Here, too, the same reference numbers are employed.

(88) As seen in the treatment direction 12, the belt conveyor 11 of the washing device 10 is immediately followed by the belt conveyor 42 of the dryer 41. As a result, the laundry items are able to be conveyed by the belt conveyor 11 in their unaltered spread-out state directly from the washing device 10 to the belt conveyor 42 of the dryer 41. If necessary, at least one transition means an be provided between the belt conveyors 11 and 42 which serves to transfer the washed laundry items from the washing device 10 to the dryer 41 in their unaltered spread-out and flatly lying state.

(89) The method according to the invention is carried out in the device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 as follows:

(90) The laundry items lying flat in a spread-out state on one or multiple tracks on the upper strand 13 of the belt conveyor 11 in the loading section 32 of the belt conveyor 11 of the washing device 10 are first sprayed or sprinkled with liquid in the prewash zone 14 and subsequently a portion, preferably a major portion, of the prewash liquid is separated from the laundry items at the deflection drum 19 and between the squeegee roller 35 and the deflection drum 20 situated opposite thereto.

(91) A regular washing of the laundry items is subsequently carried out in the main wash zone 15. In the process, the laundry items are first sprayed or sprinkled with clear wash liquid and subsequently a portion, in particular a major portion of the clear wash liquid bound in the laundry items is separated from them. This occurs at the deflection drum 21 and between the squeegee roller 36 and the deflection drum 22 associated with the latter. Afterwards, the washing process is finished.

(92) The laundry items containing only a small portion of liquid from the washing process are then rinsed on the upper strand 13 of the belt conveyor 11. Rinsing is performed in succession, at first in the process water rinse zone 16 and then in the fresh water rinse zone 17. Thus, the laundry items are first sprayed or sprinkled with process water and then sprinkled, or alternatively, sprayed with fresh water. At the start, and if necessary also at the end, of the fresh water zone 17, a portion, preferably a major portion, of the rinse liquid bound the laundry items are separated from the latter, specifically process water at first and then, if applicable, fresh water.

(93) If required, the laundry items can be disinfected in the washing device. This is preferably performed between the main wash zone 15 and the process water rinse zone 16. A chemical disinfection is preferred. One or more disinfection procedures may be carried out here.

(94) Following the washing and rinsing, as well as any disinfection, the laundry items are transferred in their unaltered spread-out state from the upper strand 13 of the belt conveyor 11 of the washing device 10 to the upper strand 43 of the belt conveyor 42 of the dryer 41 and transported by the belt conveyor 42 through the dryer 41 in the treatment direction 12. The laundry items lying flat on the upper strand 43 are transported by the belt conveyor 42 along the successive drying units and, if applicable, the disinfection device in the treatment direction 12.

(95) At least at the end of the dryer 41 the degree of dryness or the residual moisture of the laundry items is determined by at least one sensor in contactless manner. In case of any deviation from the desired degree of dryness or the desired residual moisture, a control or regulation of in particular the drying units of the dryer 41 is carried out. This can be done by changing the drying intensity at all or individually selected drying units, or as an alternative or in addition, also by turning a drying unit, or if applicable a plurality of drying units, on or off. The latter can also be carried out depending on the type of laundry items to be dried.

(96) The device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 serves for the uninterrupted and successively continuous washing, rinsing and drying, as well as any disinfection, of the laundry items transported through the washing device 10 and the dryer 41 on a single or double track by the belt conveyors 11 and 42 in the treatment direction 12. The device thus washes, rinses and dries the laundry items simultaneous in the run-through process. The laundry items always remain lying on the belt conveyors 11 and 42 in the spread-out and flat state. The laundry items are therefore washed, rinsed and dried in a resting state. If necessary, a disinfection of the laundry items is also carried out.

(97) By linking the washing device 10 with the dryer 41 as a result of the belt conveyors 11 and 42 directly succeeding one another, a simultaneous, continuous wet treatment and drying procedure, as well as any necessary disinfection, is performed on the laundry items as they lie in a flat state on the upper strand 13 and 43 of the belt conveyors 11 and 42. In order to ensure the continuity of the wet treatment and drying process using the device of FIGS. 5 and 6, the belt conveyors 11 and 42 are preferably driven at the same speed. If it is determined that the desired degree of dryness or the desired residual moisture of the laundry items cannot be achieved at the end of the dryer, the speeds of the belt conveyors 11 and 42 of the washing device 10 and of the dryer 41 can be altered or adapted accordingly, preferably at the same time and/or similarly in conjunction with each other. The same applies in the case of treating, in particularly washing, heavily soiled laundry items.

(98) FIG. 6 shows a device which corresponds to that of FIG. 5, but which however has a feeding machine 39 with a feed conveyor 40 upstream of the washing device 10 and with a folding machine 53, having a intake conveyor 54, being provided downstream of the dryer 41.

(99) The laundry items to be treated can be automatically spread out by the feeding machine 39 and placed lying in a spread-out flat state on the upper strand 13 of the belt conveyor 11 of the washing device 10 along a single or double track.

(100) The folding machine 53 arranged downstream of the dryer 41 as seen in the treatment direction 12 is employed for the automatic folding of the washed and dried, and if necessary disinfected, laundry items. This can be executed one or more times. The washed and dried laundry items are transferred along one or more tracks by the upper strand 43 of the belt conveyor 42 of the dryer 41 to the folding machine while maintaining their flat, spread-out state by being placed on the intake conveyor 54, namely an upper strand of the latter.

(101) The device of FIG. 6 represents a treatment range for the continuous and successive automatic feeding of spread-out laundry items to the washing device 10 and for the automatic placement of the laundry items, which have been dried after their wet treatment, from the dryer 41 onto the intake conveyor 54 of the folding machine 53.

(102) In place of the folding machine, a mangle can also be arranged downstream of the dryer 41. The dried laundry items (from the end of the belt conveyor 42 of the dryer 41) are transported in their spread-out state along one or more tracks to a loading conveyor of the mangle or directly to the inlet side of a trough-style mangle or another sort of mangle.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(103) 10 washing device 11 belt conveyor 12 treatment direction 13 upper strand 14 prewash zone 15 main wash zone 16 process water rinse zone 17 fresh water rinse zone 18 deflection drum 19 deflection drum 20 deflection drum 21 deflection drum 22 deflection drum 23 deflection drum 24 deflection drum 25 section 26 section 27 section 28 section 29 deflection drum 30 deflection drum 31 lower strand 32 loading section 33 collecting trough 34 collecting trough 35 squeegee roller 36 squeegee roller 37 squeegee roller 38 liquid cone 39 feeding machine 40 feed conveyor 41 dryer 42 belt conveyor 43 upper strand 44 lower strand 45 deflection drum 46 deflection drum 47 shock wave applicator 48 row of air nozzles 49 hot air beam 50 disinfection beam 51 infrared radiator 52 infrared sensor 53 folding machine 54 intake conveyor