Method and apparatus for treating cloths

Abstract

Method and apparatus for treating cloths by spraying with a chemical dispersion including a liquid, the method including: inserting the cloths in a drum that is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, the drum including paddles, where for each of at least two of the paddles the paddle's longitudinal axis forms an angle α of between 5 degrees and 85 degrees with the geometrical orthogonal projection of the paddle's longitudinal axis on a geometrical plane which is normal to the drum's longitudinal axis; with a dispersion supply system providing the chemical dispersion to spraying elements; with rotation elements rotating the drum about its longitudinal axis and reversing the rotational direction at least once, and with spraying elements spraying the drum's interior with the dispersion, the spraying elements being attached a to movable door of a chamber enclosing the drum. The apparatus is adapted for executing the method.

Claims

1. A method for treating cloths comprising: inserting the cloths in an interior of a rotatable drum configured to be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the rotatable drum, the rotatable drum comprising a plurality of paddles which are attached to an interior surface of the rotatable drum, wherein a longitudinal axis of each paddle of the plurality of paddles forms an angle a of between 5 degrees and 85 degrees with geometrical orthogonal projection of the longitudinal axis of the respective paddle on a geometrical plane which is normal to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable drum; spraying, with a dispersion supply system, a chemical dispersion comprising a liquid; rotating the rotatable drum about the longitudinal axis of the rotatable drum, wherein a rotational direction about the longitudinal axis of the rotatable drum is reversed at least one time during at least part of a duration of the rotation of the rotatable drum, with the dispersion supply system spraying the interior of the rotatable drum with the chemical dispersion, wherein the dispersion supply system is located in front of a mouth of the rotatable drum and facing an opening towards the interior of the rotatable drum, located on a ring-shaped perimeter of the mouth of the rotatable drum, or attached to a movable door of a chamber that encloses said rotatable drum, and said movable door when closed faces the mouth and the interior of the rotatable drum.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the duration of rotation of the rotatable drum comprises a plurality of rotation sessions, each rotation session being a time between two consecutive reversals of the rotational direction of the rotatable drum a set of all rotation sessions of the plurality of rotation sessions comprises a first subset of rotation sessions and a second subset of rotation sessions, wherein each rotation session of the second subset of rotation sessions succeeds in time a corresponding session of the first subset of rotation sessions, and spraying occurs when either ending any of the first subset of rotation sessions or beginning any of the second subset of rotation sessions.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein an external surface of at least one paddle of the plurality of paddles has a linear segment which has two extreme points that belong to a geometrical plane which is normal to the longitudinal axis of the at least one paddle, and the two extreme points are connectable by a straight line which does not pass through an external surface of the at least one paddle, and an angle b of between 5 degrees and 85 degrees is formed between the linear segment and an orthogonal projection of the linear segment on a geometrical plane that is tangent to the interior surface of the rotatable drum at a center of an interface between the rotatable drum and the at least one paddle belonging to said geometrical plane which is normal to the longitudinal axis of the at least one paddle.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the angle a is between 50 degrees and 80 degrees.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the chemical dispersion further comprises a gas.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the gas is any of air, nitrogen, oxygen, ozone, argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and combinations thereof.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein a dispersing medium of the chemical dispersion is the liquid and a dispersed substance of the chemical dispersion comprises the gas.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the chemical dispersion is at a pressure of between 2 bars and 60 bars.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the chemical dispersion comprises any of a fabric softener, a conditioner, a detergent, an enzyme, a dye, an acid, a base, a silicone, a fatty acid, a reticulation resin, a polymerizing resin, a bleach, an odorizing additive similar to a perfume, an antimicrobial agent, a bactericide, a fluorocarbon, an antivectorial product, a pigment, a nanomaterial, a hydrophilic substance, and a hydrophobic substance.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the chemical dispersion is sprayed through at least one area which is substantially close to a mouth of the rotatable drum.

11. An apparatus configured to treat cloths with a chemical dispersion comprising a liquid, the apparatus comprising: a rotatable drum configured to be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the rotatable drum, comprising a plurality of paddles which are attached to an interior surface of the rotatable drum, wherein a longitudinal axis of each paddle forms an angle a of between 5 degrees and 85 degrees with geometrical orthogonal projection of a longitudinal axis of the respective paddle on a geometrical plane which is normal to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable drum; a motor connected to the rotatable drum and configured to rotate the rotatable drum in each direction about the longitudinal axis of the rotatable drum; a nozzle configured to spray the chemical dispersion to an interior of the rotatable drum; a dispersion supply system connected to the nozzle and configured to provide the chemical dispersion to the nozzle, wherein the nozzle is located in front of a mouth of the rotatable drum and faces an opening towards the interior of the rotatable drum, located on a ring-shaped perimeter of the mouth of the rotatable drum, or a chamber configured to enclose said rotatable drum comprises a movable door which, when closed, faces a mouth and the interior of the rotatable drum and the nozzle is attached to said movable door.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the nozzle is positioned substantially close to the mouth of the rotatable drum.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein an external surface of at least one paddle has a linear segment which has two extreme points that belong to a geometrical plane which is normal to a longitudinal axis of the at least one paddle, the two extreme points are connectable by a straight line which does not pass through an external surface of the at least one paddle, and an angle b of between 5 degrees and 85 degrees is formed between the linear segment and an orthogonal projection of the linear segment on a geometrical plane that is tangent to the interior surface of the rotatable drum at a center of an interface between the rotatable drum and the at least one paddle belonging to said geometrical plane which is normal to the longitudinal axis of the at least one paddle.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: a computer connected to and configured to control the motor.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: a filtering unit connected to the interior of the rotatable drum and configured to filter out any toxic components of an atmosphere of the interior of the rotatable drum.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the dispersion supply system further comprises: a tank configured to at least contain the liquid of the chemical dispersion, and tubes connected to said tank and the nozzle.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising: a carrier gas supply connected to the tank and configured to supply a carrier gas.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The previous and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of embodiments, with reference to the attached figures, which must be considered in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, in which:

(2) FIG. 1A shows a back view of an embodiment of the drum related to the first and second aspects of the invention.

(3) FIG. 1B shows a side view of the embodiment of the drum shown in FIG. 1A.

(4) FIG. 1C shows a perspective of the embodiment of the drum shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1C.

(5) FIG. 1D shows a front view of the embodiment of the drum shown in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C.

(6) FIG. 2 shows a perspective of a second embodiment of the drum related to the first and second aspects of the invention.

(7) FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the drum related to the first and second aspects of the invention, wherein the cross section is normal to the drum's longitudinal axis.

(8) FIG. 4 shows a perspective of another embodiment of the drum of the first and second aspects of the invention, with only one of the drum's paddles indicated therein for the purpose of illustrating how the angle a is defined.

(9) FIG. 5 shows a cross section of another embodiment of the drum of the first and second aspects of the invention, with only one of the drum's paddles indicated therein for the purpose of illustrating how the angle b is defined, and wherein the cross section is normal to the paddle's longitudinal axis.

(10) FIG. 6 shows a cross section of another embodiment of the drum of the first and second aspects of the invention, with only one of the drum's paddles indicated therein for the purpose of illustrating how the angle b is defined, and wherein the cross section is normal to the paddle's longitudinal axis.

(11) FIG. 7 illustrates some of the elements of an embodiment of the apparatus of the second aspect of the invention.

(12) FIG. 8 illustrates some of the elements of another embodiment of the apparatus of the second aspect of the invention.

(13) FIG. 9 shows the position of a cloth inside a drum related to the invention, versus the time of rotating the drum.

(14) FIG. 10 graphically illustrates the execution of consecutive rotation sessions and spraying sessions as part of the second step of the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(15) A preferred embodiment of the rotatable drum 1 described in the first and second aspect of the invention is shown in FIG. 1A-1D with each of these figures showing a different view/perspective of the drum 1. FIG. 1A is a back view of said drum 1 and shows that the back mouth 12 (indicated in FIG. 1B) of the drum 1 is closed by a cap 13. As indicated, the drum 1 of this specific embodiment is lengthwise oriented parallel to the level of the ground and is supported by a supporting base 10, which also holds the rotation means 5 which are necessary for rotating the drum and in this case can be driven manually. In FIG. 1B which is a side view, there are also indicated the drum's external surface 2, and the front mouth 11 and the back mouth 12 of the drum 1. In FIG. 1C which is a perspective of the drum 1, there are shown the drum's interior surface 3 on which there are disposed four paddles 4, wherein the longitudinal axis (not indicated) of one paddle forms an angle of 70 degrees with the drum's front mouth 11 which obviously is normal to the drum's longitudinal axis (not indicated), therefore said angle of 70° is the angle a. It is noted that since the shown drum 1 is cylindrical having circular mouths 11, 12 and a disc-shaped cap 13 covering the back mouth 12, the drum's longitudinal axis about which the drum 1 rotates is normal to said cylindrical cap 13. It is also noted that the cross section of each of the paddles 4 shown has a triangular shape and does not change along the length of the paddle. The exterior surface 2 of the drum 1 is also indicated in FIG. 1C. FIG. 1D is the front view of the drum and it shows that the four paddles 4 of the drum 1 are positioned in symmetric positions around the circumference of the inner surface 3 of the drum 1 so that the drum 1 has a rotational symmetry. In this case, the central angle (not shown) subtended by the arc across the circumference of the inner surface 3 and between every two neighboring paddles is 90° (degrees).

(16) FIG. 2 shows a similar, yet different embodiment of the drum 1, wherein the shape of each paddle 4 is twisted across the paddle's longitudinal axis (not shown).

(17) FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the drum 1 having three paddles 4 attached to its interior surface, wherein the shape of each paddle 4 as viewed on the plane of the figure is triangular, and wherein as indicated the drum has a rotational symmetry because the central angle subtended by the arc across the circumference of the inner surface 3 and between every two paddles is 120° (degrees).

(18) FIG. 4 shows how the angle a related to the orientation of the paddle's longitudinal axis LP is defined. It is noted that for clarity of presentation, only one of the drum's paddles 4 is shown in FIG. 4. The shown paddle 4 is attached to the interior surface 3 of the drum 1, and the part of the paddle which is behind the shown drum's external surface 2 is drawn using dash-dotted lines, wherein the rest of the paddle 4 is drawn using solid lines. The drum's longitudinal axis LD and a plane N which is normal to said drum's longitudinal axis LD are also shown. The orthogonal projection OP of the paddle's longitudinal axis LP on said plane N is indicated by the respective dash-dotted line. The angle a is the angle formed between the paddle's longitudinal axis LP and said orthogonal projection OP.

(19) FIG. 5 shows how the angle b related to the orientation of the paddle's exterior surface 8 of another embodiment of the drum 1 is defined. As shown in FIG. 5, the paddle 4 is attached to the drum's interior surface 3, and the drum's exterior surface 2 is also indicated. The paddle's longitudinal axis LP (not shown) is perpendicular to the indicated plane NB which is parallel to the plane of FIG. 5. Said exterior surface 8 of the paddle 4 has a linear segment defined by two extreme points S, D. Said extreme points S, D are connectable by straight line SD which in between said extreme points S, D does not pass though the external surface 8 of the paddle 4. There is also shown the central point B of the interface between the paddle 4 and the interior surface 3 of the drum 1, and the plane T which is tangent to said interior surface 3 and at said central point B. The tangent plane T is perpendicular to the normal plane NB and for this reason in FIG. 5 the tangent plane T is indicated by a dashed line which is defined by the intersection of the tangent plane T and the normal plane NB. In FIG. 5 there is also indicated the orthogonal projection SD′ of line SD on the tangent plane T. The angle b is the angle formed between the straight line SD and its orthogonal projection SD′.

(20) Similarly to FIG. 5, FIG. 6 also shows how angle b is defined, and the main difference between the two figures is that in FIG. 6 the shape of the shown cross section of the paddle is orthogonal, while in FIG. 5 the corresponding shape is triangular.

(21) FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention. In this embodiment the apparatus comprises a rotatable drum 1 adapted for being rotated about its longitudinal axis. The drum comprises paddles as described further above, but for clarity of presentation said paddles are not shown in FIG. 7. In this specific embodiment, the drum 1 is enclosed within a chamber 17 which also has movable door 16 with spraying means 14 attached to it. When the door 16 is closed said spraying means 14 face the interior of the drum and the cloths that are potentially there. For clarity of the presentation FIG. 7 shows some cloths positioned/inserted within the drum 1. FIG. 7 also shows the spraying means 14 that are connected to a chemical dispersion supply system 15 and are adapted for spraying to the interior of the drum 1 the chemical dispersion. In this case the dispersion supply system 15 comprises a tank 22 configured to contain the chemical dispersion in a form that can be sprayed by the spraying means, and also comprises tubes 23 connecting said tank 22 to the spaying means 14. Optionally, the tank 22 is also configured to modify the exact properties of the therein contained dispersion, and this can for example be done when the tank comprises a generator of ultrasounds which when is operated results to a better mixing of the dispersion's components and/or the formation of bubbles within the dispersion contained in the tank 22. FIG. 7 also shows that the rotatable drum 1 is connected to rotation means 5 which in this specific case comprise a motor with a rotatable shaft, and an elastic belt connected to both the motor and the drum 1 for rotating the latter. The motor is adapted for rotating the drum in both rotational directions. FIG. 7 also shows that the interior of the drum is connected to a filtering unit 21 configured for filtering out any toxic components of the atmosphere in the interior of the drum 1, when said atmosphere is forced to pass through said filtering unit 21. The presence of the filtering unit 21 is important when the chemical dispersion sprayed into the drum 1 comprises toxic components such as bleaching agents. Nevertheless, it must be emphasized that the filtering unit 21 is an optional element of the apparatus. It must also be mentioned that the filtering unit can optionally be located outside the optional chamber 17 that contains the rotatable drum 1.

(22) FIG. 8 shows another and preferred embodiment of the apparatus wherein the chemical dispersion supply system 15 comprises more components compared to the corresponding system of FIG. 7. For clarity of presentation FIG. 8 does not illustrate several of the essential elements of the apparatus such as the drum 1, rather it illustrates in some detail said chemical dispersion supply system 15. The latter as seen in FIG. 8 comprises the tank 22 and the tubes 23 connecting said tank to the spraying means 14. The tank 22 is connected to a liquid supply unit 32 which provides at least one liquid component of the chemical dispersion. The tank 22 is further connected to carrier gas supply unit 31. The carrier gas supply unit 31 is also connected to at least one of the tubes 23 connected to the spraying means 14. The tank 22 is also connected to chemical dispersion preparation means 34 that are configured to mix the content of the tank 22, and optionally mix said content with an additional component provided by an additional component supply unit 33 connected to the chemical dispersion preparation means 34. The additional component supply unit 33 provides a liquid and/or a gas. The chemical dispersion preparation means 34 are further connected to the tank 22 for providing to the latter the chemical dispersion resulting from mixing different components of the dispersion. In one embodiment, the chemical dispersion preparation means is a unit that is configured to mix a gas and a liquid. In another embodiment, the chemical dispersion preparation means 34 are configured to generate a liquid-gas dispersion containing bubbles of the dispersed gas by ultra-sonicating the dispersion.

(23) FIG. 10 shows an example of executing the second step of the method. The drum 1 is rotated about its longitudinal axis LD, and the rotational direction is repeatedly reversed as indicated by the curved arrows. Every two consecutive times the rotational direction changes respectively define the start and the end of a rotation session RS1, RS2, R3, RS4, and the rotation sessions comprise a first subset RS1, RS3, . . . and a second subset RS2, RS4, . . . of rotation sessions, wherein each rotation session of the second subset RS2, RS4, . . . succeeds in time a corresponding session of the first subset RS1, RS3, . . . . The direction towards which the cloths (not shown) inside the drum progressively move during each rotation session is indicated by the long arrows. While rotating, the chemical dispersion is sprayed from the spraying means 14 which in this case are located close to one side of the drum, and in this case the carrier gas is ozone O.sub.3 flowing with the chemical dispersion towards the interior of the drum as indicated. Spraying is performed discontinuously in time and in spraying sessions SP1, SP2. As indicated, each spraying session is performed when the cloths are substantially close to the other side of the drum, this is achieved by executing each spraying session when ending a corresponding rotation session of the first subset RS1, RS3, and/or when beginning a corresponding rotation session of the second subset RS2, RS4. The graph at the bottom of FIG. 10 further shows the flow F of spraying as a function of time, thus showing when the spraying sessions SP1, SP2 occur, and the time of executing each of the rotation sessions RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4, . . . is also indicated therein.

(24) According to the above, the first and preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is a method for treating cloths by spraying with a chemical dispersion comprising a liquid, wherein the method comprises the steps of: inserting the cloths in the interior of a rotatable drum 1 adapted for being rotated about its longitudinal axis LD, the drum 1 comprising a plurality of paddles 4 which are attached to the interior surface 3 of the drum 1, wherein for each of at least two of said plurality of paddles 4 the paddle's longitudinal axis LP forms an angle a of between 5 degrees and 85 degrees with the geometrical orthogonal projection OP of said paddle's longitudinal axis LP on a geometrical plane N which is normal to the drum's longitudinal axis LD; rotating the drum 1 about its longitudinal axis LD, and reversing the rotational direction about the drum's longitudinal axis LD at least one time, and during at least part of the duration of rotating spraying the interior of the drum with the chemical dispersion.

(25) The second embodiment of the method is as the first one, wherein the duration of rotating comprises rotation sessions, a rotation session (RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4) being the time between two consecutive events of any of reversing the rotational direction of the drum (1) or beginning or ending rotating, and wherein the set of all rotation sessions comprises a first subset RS1, RS3, . . . and a second subset RS2, RS4, . . . of rotation sessions, wherein each rotation session of the second subset RS2, RS4, . . . succeeds in time a corresponding session of the first subset RS1, RS3, . . . , and wherein in the second step of the method, preventing executing spraying when beginning any of the first subset RS1, RS3, . . . ; and/or, preventing executing spraying when ending any of the second subset RS2, RS4, . . . of the rotation sessions; and/or, executing spraying when ending any of the first subset RS1, RS3, . . . and/or when beginning any of the second subset RS2, RS4, . . . of the rotation sessions; and/or, spraying discontinuously in time by executing consecutive spraying sessions SP1, SP2, . . . , and beginning any or each of the rotation sessions of the second subset RS2, RS4, . . . during executing or when beginning or when ending executing a corresponding one of the spraying sessions SP1, SP2, . . .

(26) The third embodiment of the method is as any of the previous ones, wherein the angle a is of between 50 degrees and 80 degrees.

(27) Another embodiment of the method is as any of the previous ones, wherein in addition an external surface 8 of at least one paddle 4 has a linear segment which has two extreme points S, D that belong to a geometrical plane NB which is normal to the paddles longitudinal axis LP, and are connectable by a straight line SD which in between said extreme points S, D does not pass though the external surface 8 of the paddle 4, and wherein said line SD forms and angle b of between 5 degrees and 85 degrees with the line's orthogonal projection SD′ on the geometrical plane T that is tangent to the interior surface 3 of the drum 1 at the center B of the interface between the drum 1 and the paddle 4 belonging to said geometrical plane NB which is normal to the paddle's longitudinal axis LP.

(28) Another embodiment of the method is according to any of the aforementioned ones, wherein in addition the drum 1 has a substantially cylindrical, or ellipsoidal or polygonal or more complex shape. Preferably though, the drum has a substantially cylindrical shape.

(29) Another embodiment of the method is according to any of the aforementioned ones, wherein in addition the chemical dispersion further comprises a gas.

(30) Another embodiment of the method is according to any of the aforementioned ones, wherein in addition the dispersing medium of the chemical dispersion is a liquid and the dispersed substance of the dispersion comprises a gas.

(31) Another embodiment of the method is according to previous one, wherein the dispersed substance forms bubbles the diameter of which is of between 10 nanometers and 900 micrometers. Said bubble sizes are measurable using light scattering optical techniques, and for example can be measured using the commercially available instrument SALD-7500 nano by Shimadzu.

(32) Another embodiment of the method is according to any of the aforementioned ones wherein the dispersion comprises a gas which includes any of air, nitrogen, oxygen, ozone, argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen.

(33) Another embodiment of the method is according to any of the aforementioned ones, wherein spraying is done using a carrier gas that comprises any of air, nitrogen, oxygen, ozone, argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen.

(34) Another embodiment of the method is according to any of the previous ones wherein the chemical dispersion is an aerosol comprising liquids and solids.

(35) Another embodiment of the method is according to any of the previous ones wherein the chemical dispersion includes any of: a chemical product commonly used for cloth finishing, a fabric softener, a conditioner, a detergent, an enzyme, a dye, an acid, a base, a silicone, a fatty acid, a reticulation resin, a polymerizing resin, a bleach, an odorizing additive similar to a perfume, an antimicrobial agent, a bactericide, a fluorocarbon, an antivectorial product, a pigment, a nanomaterial, a hydrophilic substance, a hydrophobic substance.

(36) In another embodiment of the method as described above, the second step of the method is implemented in the following mode: rotating the drum about one rotational directional about the drum's longitudinal axis; spraying to the interior of the drum the chemical dispersion; reversing the rotational direction at which the drum is being rotated about the drum's longitudinal axis.

(37) In another embodiment of the method as described above, the second step of the method is implemented in the following mode: rotating the drum about one rotational directional about the drum's longitudinal axis; reversing the rotational direction at which the drum is being rotated about the drum's longitudinal axis; spraying to the interior of the drum the chemical dispersion.

(38) Another embodiment of the method is according to any of the previous two ones, wherein as part of the second step of the method further performing any or both of the following steps, in any order between them: reversing the rotational direction at which the drum is being rotated about the drum's longitudinal axis; spraying to the interior of the drum the chemical dispersion.

(39) In another embodiment, spraying is continuous while rotating the drum.

(40) Another embodiment of the present invention is according to any of the previous ones wherein the chemical dispersion is at a pressure of at least 2 bars, and preferably the pressure is of between 2 bars and 60 bars, and more preferably between 2 bars and 30 bars, and most preferably between 6 bars and 30 bars. Said pressure values are measurable, this is to say can be measured, by optionally installing a pressure gauge installed in the chemical dispersion system 15 and for example on one of the tubes 23.

(41) Another embodiment of the present invention is according to any of the previous ones wherein further comprises stopping the second step of the method when a wet pick up value of between 5% and 150%, and preferably of between 40% and 120%, and optionally of between 5% and 50%.

(42) Another embodiment of the present invention is according to any of the previous ones wherein the second step of the method preferably lasts between 1 minutes and 120 minutes, more preferably between 1 minute and 60 minutes, and most preferably between 2 minutes and 30 minutes.

(43) Another embodiment of the present invention is according to any of the previous ones wherein the chemical dispersion is being sprayed through an at least one area which is substantially close to a mouth of the drum.

(44) Another embodiment of the present invention is according to any of the previous ones wherein the maximum duration of each rotation session is 300 seconds, and preferably is 120 seconds, and more preferably is 60 seconds, and preferably is 5 seconds.

(45) Also according to the above, a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention is an apparatus arranged for treating cloths with a chemical dispersion comprising a liquid, the apparatus comprising: a rotatable drum 1 adapted for being rotated about its longitudinal axis, that comprises a plurality of paddles 4 which are attached to the interior surface 3 of the drum 1, wherein for each of at least two of said plurality of paddles 4 the paddle's longitudinal axis LP forms an angle a of between 5 degrees and 85 degrees with the geometrical orthogonal projection OP of said paddle's longitudinal axis LP on a geometrical plane N which is normal to the drum's longitudinal axis LD; rotation means 5 connected to the drum 1 and adapted for rotating it in each direction about its longitudinal axis LP; spraying means 14 adapted for spraying to the interior of the drum 1 the chemical dispersion; a dispersion supply system 15 connected to the spraying means 14 and adapted for providing to the latter the chemical dispersion.

(46) Another embodiment of the apparatus is according to the previous embodiment, wherein the spraying means 14 are positioned substantially close to a mouth 11 of the drum 1.

(47) Another embodiment of the apparatus is according to any of the previous ones, wherein the apparatus further comprises a chamber 17 that encloses said rotatable drum 1 and comprises a movable door 16 which when closed faces a mouth 11 and the interior of the drum 1, and wherein the spraying means 14 are attached to said movable door 16.

(48) Another embodiment of the apparatus is according to any of the previous ones, wherein an external surface 8 of at least one paddle 4 has a linear segment which has two extreme points S, D that belong to a geometrical plane NB which is normal to the paddle's longitudinal axis LP, and are connectable by a straight line SD which in between said extreme points S, D does not pass though the external surface 8 of the paddle 4, and wherein said line SD forms and angle b of between 5 degrees and 85 degrees with the line's orthogonal projection SD′ on the geometrical plane T that is tangent to the interior surface 3 of the drum 1 at the center B of the interface between the drum 1 and the paddle 4 belonging to said geometrical plane NB which is normal to the paddle's longitudinal axis LP.

(49) Another embodiment of the apparatus is according to any of the previous ones, wherein the apparatus further comprises a filtering unit 21 connected to the interior of the rotatable drum 1 and configured for filtering out any toxic components of the atmosphere of the interior of the drum 1. Another embodiment of the apparatus is according to any of the previous ones, wherein the dispersion supply system 15 comprises a tank 22 configured to at least contain the liquid of the chemical dispersion, and tubes 23 connected to said tank 22 and the spraying means 14, and optionally comprises any of the following and combinations thereof: a supply unit 32 connected to the tank 22 and configured for providing to the latter at least one liquid component of the chemical dispersion. a carrier gas supply unit 31 connected to the tank 22 and optionally connected to at least one of the tubes 23, and configured to supply a carrier gas. chemical dispersion preparation means 34 connected to the tank 22 and configured to mix the content of the tank 22, and optionally mix said content with an additional gas and/or component provided by an additional component supply unit 33 connected to said chemical dispersion preparation means 34.

(50) Another embodiment of the apparatus is according to any of the previous ones, wherein the apparatus comprises a computer connected to and adapted to controlling the rotation means and the injection means, and is further adapted to execute the second step of the method.

(51) The herein described invention has been realized and implemented by the inventors as follows:

(52) A drum according to the invention was manufactured and fitted to a commercial machine (model CB320, Jeanologia). Said machine was further adapted, for example fitted with a filtering unit and adapted so that the pressure of the chemical dispersion is more than 6 bars, and the machine's computer was also programmed for executing the method of the invention. The drum had a length of approximately 1.57 m and three paddles disposed in symmetric positions around the interior surface of the drum, each paddle extending lengthwise from one mouth of the drum to the other and being disposed at an angle a=70°. 100 kg of cloths were inserted in the drum and then the latter was rotated at about 27 rounds per minute for 30 minutes while the rotational direction was reversed every 2 minutes, and while from the front mouth of the drum the cloths were sprayed with a chemical dispersion comprising water and a bleaching agent. The position x along the length of the drum of a specific cloth of red color which was easy to distinguish from all other cloths because the latter were blue, was visually inspected and recorded every 1 minute. The recorded data showed that said red cloth was reciprocating along the length of the drum, and said data are shown in FIG. 9 which contains the plot of position x (m) versus time t (min). It is noted that x=0 m corresponds to the front mouth of the drum and x=1.57 m corresponds to the back mouth of the drum.

(53) The experiment was repeated with the following modification: a=90°. The obtained data are also shown in the corresponding plot of FIG. 9. As is obvious from FIG. 9, an angle a=70° results to the red cloth reciprocating across greater lengths along the drum and at a higher and nearly consistent frequency of 1 min, compared to what happened for an angle a=90°. Consequently, when a=70° the treatment of the cloths was better and more homogeneous compared to the treatment when a=90°. This demonstrates how critical angle a is for the method and the apparatus of the present invention. By applying the present invention, it has been found that the processed cloths are treated homogeneously and present more than 50% less processing-induced defects, and also it has been found that less liquid and overall chemical dispersion is needed for treating the cloths homogeneously.

(54) While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof.

(55) The scope of the present invention is defined in the following set of claims.