Clipping device for holding a textile piece for a washing process and/or drying process

A device for holding a textile area of a textile piece is provided, for a process of washing and/or drying the textile piece. The device includes at least two opposing clamping surface elements which can be closed by means of a pre-clamping device. The pre-clamping device grips the textile area introduced between the clamping surface elements and extended parallel to the clamping surface, by application of a pre-clamping force between the clamping surface elements. The textile area can be held immovably in the extension surface of the clamping surface relative to the clamping surface elements. The clamping surface elements have a clamping surface with a surface area at least as large as the textile area. The device includes a nozzle for application of a fluid and/or a washing agent to the textile area for washing the textile area or for application of air to the textile area for smoothing drying.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Section 371 International Application No. PCT/AT2013/000127, filed Aug. 1, 2013, which was published in the German language on Feb. 6, 2014, under International Publication No. WO 2014/019004 A2 and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an clipping device for holding a textile portion of a textile piece for a process of washing the textile piece and a process of drying the textile piece. The clipping device comprises at least two opposite stretching surface elements closable by a biasing device. The biasing device clamps the textile portion introduced between the stretching surface elements and extending in parallel with the stretching surface between the stretching surface elements by application of a biasing force. The textile portion is held, without displacement, in the extension surface of the stretching surface relative to the stretching surface elements.

The invention also comprises a method comprising a process of washing the textile piece and a process of drying the textile piece.

German Patent No. DE 191.9730, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,868,835 and 3,664,159 disclose devices for washing of, among other things, non-iron clothes. Since it is not an aim with non-iron clothes to clamp a textile portion by a device part, those documents do not contain any reference thereto.

Furthermore, French Patent Nos. FR 2721625 and FR 2092259 do not disclose any device for clamping a textile portion as part of the washing and drying device.

The device described in European Patent No. EP 2209936 also does not comprise any device parts for clamping a textile portion.

German Patent No. DE10065336 discloses a washing and drying device for textiles, wherein the textiles are brought into a defined position by stretching devices and/or steam dolls for the washing process and/or drying process. The use of stretching devices and steam dolls is space-intensive.

The devices disclosed in German Patent No. DE 2035540 or in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0112095 are based on suspending the textiles to be cleaned within the device.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,484 and International Patent Application Publication No. WO 2009057177 disclose tensioning means for bringing the textile into a defined shape during a washing and drying process by the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,484.

International Patent Application Publication Nos. WO 2006134364 and WO 02052087 mention means for receiving the textiles to be cleaned, but no means for clamping the textile portion to be cleaned are explicitly mentioned.

Like the above documents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,114,919 and 3,664,159, and WO 0205087 also do not disclose any device for keeping the textile piece in the desired shape by stretching devices during the drying process.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention discussed herein to provide a method for washing a textile piece in a way that no subsequent clipping of the textile piece is necessary, as well as providing devices required for this purpose. As used in the present disclosure, a textile piece is a textile piece requiring no clipping, wherein the textile piece comprises a textile portion to be defined by a user that is substantially smooth and has no creases or crumples. The invention discussed herein can optionally also comprise the creation of desired pleats within the textile portion. Another object of the invention discussed herein is to provide a device for holding the textile piece during the drying process, the device having an effect similar to applying an iron according to the state of the art.

According to an embodiment of the invention this is achieved by using the clipping device of the present invention during the washing process and/or drying process of the textile piece. The clipping device includes stretching surface elements having e a stretching surface with a surface extension at least as big as the textile portion. The textile portion corresponds to a defined smooth desired area to be produced from the textile piece, and optionally includes a desired pleat. The textile portion is introducible between the stretching surface elements in the shape to be produced. The clipping device includes a nozzle for applying a fluid and/or a detergent to the textile portion to clean the textile portion or for applying air to the textile portion to smoothly dry it.

A textile portion can, for example, be the collar of a shirt, which is defined by its edges and a seam. A textile portion can be a part of a sleeve, part of which is on the one hand defined by the sleeve seam, on the other hand by the half pleat of the sleeve opposite the sleeve seam. Analogous to the latter example, the textile portion can be part of a pair of trousers.

For producing a smooth textile portion, the textile portion is arranged in parallel with the stretching surface elements, after which the clipping device is closed by the biasing device by activating a biasing force, such that the stretching surface elements hold the textile portion in a clamping fashion. The biasing force depends on the size and/or weight, in particular wet weight, of the textile piece, so that the textile portion is supported without displacement, including during the washing process or the drying process. The frictional forces between the textile portion and the stretching surface activated by the biasing force should be chosen to be higher than forces such as the weight of the textile piece, which could cause a displacement of the textile portion. The effect of the stretching device on the textile portion during the drying process corresponds approximately to that of an iron applied to the textile portion.

The textile portion may comprise a desired pleat. For producing a desired pleat via the clipping device, the textile portion is introduced between the stretching surface elements in two layers, wherein the desired pleat to be produced is arranged between the stretching surface elements.

The textile portion is to be introduced into the clipping device in a manner similar to the shape that the textile portion is to have after the washing and/or drying process. The clipping device prevents the textile portion from receiving and assuming a different shape during the washing process and/or drying process.

In some embodiments, the nozzle is coupled to an inlet such that a fluid and/or detergent can be applied to the textile portion for cleaning the textile portion. The inlet extends through a stretching surface element of the clipping device.

The inlet can be coupled to a pumping device for applying the fluid and/or the detergent with overpressure.

In some embodiments, the nozzle is oriented so that the fluid and/or detergent applied to the textile portion, or the jet formed by the fluid and/or detergent and oriented by the nozzle, hits the textile portion at an angle of 90°, so that the fluid and/or detergent can penetrate the fabric of the textile portion. In some embodiments, the nozzle creates a jet from the fluid and/or detergent streaming through the nozzle, so that the fluid/and or detergent can penetrate the fabric of the textile portion.

The nozzle can also comprise means for enriching the fluid and/or detergent with air, in particular oxygen, or other gas mixtures, so that the cleaning effect of the fluid and/or detergent according to the state of the art is increased.

In some embodiments, the nozzle can also be oriented so that the jet formed from the fluid and/or detergent hits the textile portion at an acute angle differing from 90°, in order to optionally remove solid dirt from the textile portion by splitting it off.

The nozzle can be formed so that air is applied to the textile portion through the nozzle for drying the textile portion, which displaces water adhering thereto.

In some embodiments, the clipping device may include a plurality of nozzles, which are distributed over the stretching surface elements.

In some embodiments, the clipping device may include a discharge device for removing the fluid and/or detergent from the textile portion.

The discharge device is coupled to an outlet, which extends through a stretching surface element of the clipping device. The outlet is coupled to a suction device, so that fluid and/or detergent between the stretching surface elements can be exhausted.

In some embodiments, the clipping device may comprise several discharge devices distributed over the stretching surface element.

A nozzle and a suction device may be arranged along an axis as well as offset from the axis in opposite areas of the stretching surface elements.

In one possible embodiment, the nozzle or the discharge device is used as a nozzle during the washing process and as a discharge device during the drying process. The nozzle or discharge device are formed so that on the one hand the fluid and/or detergent can be applied to the textile portion, and on the other hand they can be removed therefrom, wherein the pumping device is controllable to create overpressure or under-pressure, respectively.

The inlet and outlet may be coupled to each other, wherein a pumping device is arranged at the coupling point, which on the one hand creates overpressure in the nozzle area, and on the other hand creates under-pressure in the discharge device area. The fluid and/or detergent applied to the textile portion via the nozzle is discharged from the textile portion as a fluid and/or detergent enriched in dirt through the discharge device arranged at the opposite side of the textile portion. Together with the inlet and the outlet, the nozzle and the discharge device provide a cycle.

The stretching surface may be formed as a surface preventing sliding of the textile portion clamped between the stretching surface elements relative to the clipping device, wherein the stretching surface and the textile portion have a high adhesive friction number and a high sliding friction number when in contact.

Furthermore, another aspect of the invention relates to a method for cleaning and/or drying a textile piece having a textile portion. The textile piece is held by the clipping device according to the above description, wherein the textile piece held by clamping of the textile portion in the clipping device is led through a washing area and optionally a drying area.

According to an aspect of the method of the present invention, the textile portion is brought into a defined shape by introduction into the clipping device, which shape is maintained during the washing process and/or drying process via the clipping device. The defined shape may be a substantially smooth surface, optionally including a desired pleat.

clipping of the textile portion after the washing and/or drying process is omitted.

Via a movement of the clipping device, the textile piece to be cleaned and/or dried is conveyed into a washing unit and/or drying unit.

The washing unit generally comprises a container filled with a fluid and/or detergent, wherein the textile piece is moved relative to the fluid and/or detergent. The latter can be achieved by moving the textile piece through a controlled movement of the clipping device or by moving the fluid and/or detergent. Movement of the fluid and/or detergent may, for example, be achieved via a rotating drum according to the state of the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1shows a side view of an clipping device according to a first embodiment of the invention, for holding a textile portion1of a textile piece2for a process of washing the textile piece2and/or for a process of drying the textile piece2. The textile portion1corresponds to a defined smooth desired surface to be produced of the textile piece2, optionally comprising a desired pleat. The clipping device comprises at least two opposite, closable stretching surface elements4. The stretching surface elements4each have a stretching surface5with a surface extension at least as big as the textile portion1.FIG. 1shows a stretching surface element4in an opened position6. In the opened position6, a user can easily place the textile portion1in the area between the stretching surface elements4.

After placing the textile portion1in the area between the stretching surface elements4, a stretching surface element4is moved from the opened position6into a closed position7. The clipping device comprises a biasing device8, through which the textile portion1introduced between the stretching surface elements4and extending parallel to the stretching surface5is clamped therebetween, by application of a biasing force9, and held without displacement relative to the stretching surface elements4.

The clipping device further comprises at least one nozzle12for applying water, air and/or a detergent to the textile portion1. The nozzle12is coupled to an inlet (not shown inFIGS. 1 and 2), wherein the nozzle12and the inlet extent in their longitudinal directions through a stretching surface element4. In the device shown inFIG. 1, the nozzle12is oriented so that a jet formed by nozzle12consisting of a fluid, detergent and/or air is oriented to the clamped textile portion1at an angle of approximately 90°. The nozzle12is coupled to a pumping device, not shown inFIG. 1, for creating overpressure.

The clipping device further comprises a discharge device (not shown) for removing the fluid and/or the detergent from the textile portion. The discharge device is coupled to an outlet (not shown), wherein the discharge device and the outlet extend in their longitudinal directions through the stretching surface element4. The discharge device is coupled to a pumping device (not shown), for creating under-pressure.

The stretching surface5is formed as a surface preventing sliding of the textile portion1clamped between the stretching surface elements4, relative to the clipping device. The stretching surface5and the textile portion1have a high adhesive friction number and a high sliding friction number when in contact and subject to the biasing force9.

The clipping device further comprises a holding device10, through which the clipping device is temporarily introduced into a console11and held there during the process of introducing the textile portion1between the stretching surface elements4. The holding device10is also utilized in a subsequent process for mounting the clipping device in a device for implementing the washing process and/or drying process, so that the clipping device and the textile piece2held by the clipping device are movable from, e.g., a washing unit to a drying unit.

The console11is part of a placing device shown inFIG. 1, which further comprises a support16, in which the console11is provided, and a table17, which is only partly shown inFIG. 1. The textile piece2is placed on the table17to clamp it into the clipping device. For easier use of the clipping device, the table17is spaced apart from the support16.

The console11and the support16are located outside of the device shown in the other Figs. for implementing the method of the present invention.

FIG. 2shows a top view of the device illustrated inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3shows a device for implementing a washing process and/or drying process of a textile piece comprising a textile portion clamped into the clipping device.

The textile piece2clamped in the clipping device is introduced into the device via a delivery opening18. The clipping device is mounted to a conveying unit19via the holding device10. The conveying unit19moves the clipping device, including the textile piece2to be cleaned, to the washing unit20. Inside the washing unit20, the textile piece2is at least partially moved into a trough21filled with a fluid and/or detergent, via a controlled movement of the clipping device. During the washing process, the textile portion1clamped by the stretching surface elements4is cleaned by the fluid and/or detergent, which are applied to the textile portion1through the nozzle12.

Afterwards, the textile portion2is moved into a drying unit22via a controlled movement of the clipping device. The drying unit22comprises a drying chamber with a height larger than the length of the suspended textile portion1to be cleaned. During the drying process, the textile portion1clamped by the stretching surface elements4is dried by air applied to the textile portion1via the discharge device and/or the nozzle12.

FIG. 4shows a cutaway view of the device illustrated inFIG. 3. For reasons of clarity, the delivery opening18is not shown inFIG. 4.

The textile pieces2are held by clamping the textile portions1in the clipping device. The clipping device is coupled to the conveying unit19via the holding device10.

The textile pieces2suspended inFIG. 4are in a pre-washing unit23upstream of the washing unit20. In the pre-washing unit23, the textile pieces2are sprayed with a fluid and/or a detergent via spraying nozzles24.

Via the conveying unit19, the textile pieces2are, optionally in combination with the spraying via the spraying nozzles24in the pre-washing unit23, introduced into the washing unit20. In the washing unit20, the textile pieces2are immersed in a trough21and lifted out of the trough21. This process can be repeated until the textile piece2is clean.

The clean textile pieces2are then, by a movement of the clipping device, moved into the drying unit22. Before the partial process of drying the textile pieces2, the textile piece2is sprayed with cold water in the drying unit22for rinsing the textile piece2according to the state of the art. The cold water is applied to the textile piece2through cold-water nozzles26arranged in the top area of the drying unit22.

Drying of the textile piece2is achieved by hot-air nozzles25, from which hot air is applied to the textile piece2. The hot-air nozzles25are arranged in the side areas of the drying unit22. Drying of the textile piece2via hot air is done according to the state of the art.

Finally, the textile piece2is moved to the removal opening27.

FIGS. 5-7show an clipping device in accordance with a second embodiment. The clipping device comprises three stretching surface elements4, through which two textile portions1of a textile piece2are stretched in a clamped manner. For applying the biasing force9acting as clamping force, the clipping device comprises a biasing device8.

In addition, the clipping device comprises a holding device10, which is engaged with the guiding unit27of the conveying unit19. Via the guiding unit27, a fluid and/or detergent is introduced into the holding unit10. Alternatively, the introduced fluid and/or detergent is released into the chamber via the nozzles12arranged in the holding device10, which achieves wetting of the textile piece2. Alternatively, part of the introduced fluid and/or detergent is also applied directly to the textile portion through the nozzles12arranged in the stretching surface elements4.

FIGS. 6 and 7show isometric views of the clipping device illustrated inFIG. 5comprising three stretching surface elements4, between which two textile portions1are stretched in a clamped manner. The three stretching surface elements4are connected adjustably to one another via the biasing device8, wherein the biasing force9is also applied through the biasing device8.

FIG. 6shows the clipping device with stretching surface elements4in an opened position6and in a closed position7. The positions are predefined by the mode of action of the biasing device8.

FIG. 7shows the clipping device with stretching surface elements4in a closed position7. A fluid and/or a detergent is introduced into the holding device10, with a substantially spherical shape, through the guiding unit27, which is part of the conveying unit19and is engaged with the holding device10.

The central element4of the three stretching surface elements4comprises a fluid channel28, which extends from the holding device10to nozzles12arranged in the two stretching surfaces5of the central stretching surface element4. After exiting the nozzles12, the fluid and/or detergent contacts the textile portion1.